Forest Spirit Plot

The Story Behind 

Virkheim could not cast spells, no matter how hard he tried. Who would have thought that the gods would bestow magical abilities upon him in such a strange manner?

Forget about magic, good sir!

Virkheim longed to learn the art of sorcery, yet he simply could not manage it. When his parents enrolled their beloved son in a magic academy, they were promptly informed that he would only be able to read spells from scrolls, and they might as well find him another form of magic. As the rector stated, sorcery is an art for the chosen few; what a pity…

The Inept Wizard 

Despite this, his parents still sent him to learn under wizards, hoping for a miracle. It was in vain. Virkheim learned alchemy and made some progress in the science of potions and transformations, but his abilities in magic were vastly inferior.

Somehow, the newly minted magician obtained a diploma, but it was as useful as goat’s milk. Virkheim frequently experienced “mishaps” even while demonstrating his abilities to potential employers. He was hired a couple of times, but his incompetence led to him being dismissed almost immediately.

Not a Wizard, So Let Him Be an Alchemist! 

Through incredible effort, his father secured him a position in the City Committee of Magic, albeit as an alchemist, since his prospects in sorcery were quite bleak. The truth was, Virkheim simply lacked magical power. No matter how hard he tried, everything went awry or failed entirely.

Virkheim gathered herbs, brewed potions, and conducted various experiments. In his spare time, he tried to create an artifact that would attract magical energy. Unfortunately, his successes in this endeavor were less than modest.

A Dangerous Journey

One day, Virkheim was sent to the Enchanted Forest with the task of collecting a whole bag of rare herbs that could not be found anywhere else in the kingdom. It was quite a perilous location!

By day, the Enchanted Forest was no different from an ordinary one. However, as evening fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, strange creatures would emerge from the thicket. Some of them despised humans! A person left in the Enchanted Forest overnight had a good chance of meeting their demise…

The Cursed Thicket 

Virkheim set out, hoping to return as quickly as possible. Upon arriving in the Enchanted Forest, he began to collect herbs, unaware that he was venturing further and further into it. The alchemist realized he was lost when he looked up and surveyed his surroundings—he was surrounded only by an impenetrable thicket!

Virkheim had no idea how he had ended up here. He tried to find his way back, but it seemed that the spirits of the forest were leading him in circles, silently “giggling” at his misfortune.

The Magical Spirits of the Forest 

The alchemist was unable to escape the Enchanted Forest before sunset. However, every cloud has a silver lining: he managed to find a magical tree guarded by spirits who appeared before him in the forms of a bear, a wolf, and a raven.

The guardians asked what the stranger sought in this place of power. Virkheim desired nothing more than to wait for morning in a safe place and leave. And if he were allowed to study the tree, that would be simply splendid! The alchemist sensed ancient magic within it and was eager to touch its source.

The Great Source of Magic

The spirits of the Enchanted Forest permitted him to remain and touch the place of power. Virkheim felt a magical current of unprecedented strength flowing through his body and suddenly realized that he had gained the ability to cast spells! The alchemist uttered an incantation for a fireball, and a powerful charge shot from his hand, nearly incinerating an owl perched on a nearby tree!

Thus, Virkheim became a true wizard. Furthermore, he noticed that gold appeared from nowhere in his pockets—this was a side effect of the magic of the place of power. Virkheim calmly sat by the tree until morning and then safely returned to the City Committee of Magic. Everyone was astonished when they learned how the inept colleague had transformed into a skilled magician!