Old Magic

Jasper had barely stepped onto the main street when he noticed that something felt off. Tidy stalls displaying fresh goods stood unattended, the spaces around them strangely empty. A sudden buzz of noise directed his attention to the centre of the street, where a small crowd had gathered. Curious, Jasper strolled over.

“Surrender yourself, mage.” A disgusted voice rang above the noise. Jasper did his best to push and slide between the crowd, eager now to get to the front. He had never seen a mage before—

Jasper ground to a halt, nearly falling forwards. He’d reached the edge of the crowd faster than he’d anticipated and had nearly charged straight into the scene that was now unfolding before him.

Two guards stood expressionless behind a mageseeker, her well-polished half-mask reflecting the sunlight into the eyes of the crowd. Before them stood a relic of a man, stooped low and leaning heavily on a stubby wooden cane.

“Me?” The old man’s voice strained under his many years, course and prickly against Jasper’s ears.

“Yes you!” The mageseeker retorted, stamping her foot.

“You think an old man like me is capable of magic? Ha!” The elderly man cackled. Jasper noticed the mageseeker’s hand close to a fist. The crowd was buzzing now, uncertainty pulling them tighter.

“Age is no defence against justice. Surrender yourself.” The mage seeker began to approach the old man. “I will not ask again.”

“This is ridiculous! I want to speak with your superior!” The old man started, waving his cane at the advancing mageseeker. But Jasper noticed something odd. Were some parts of his cane… glowing?

No sooner had the realisation spawned in his head did it happen. The old man’s scowl turned to a cheeky grin, and he aimed his cane at the mageseeker and her guards. It glowed a deep purple, before a strange clicking sound was heard. Then all the colour was sucked to the bottom of the cane, blasting forth from its foot in a gale of violet wind. Stars of blue burst and popped around the mageseeker and her guards, hiding them from view. People cried out, falling backwards in surprise and fear.

Then it was over. The magic wind vanished, taking its targets with it. The crowd was frozen in shocked silence.

“You killed them!” A voice in the crowd whispered hoarsely.

“What? No, they’re fine. Look!” The old man exclaimed, directing the crowd’s eyes to where the mageseeker had been standing. Jasper heard several people gasp and couldn’t help but let his mouth hang open. The mageseeker and her guards were standing there, fine in every way except one.

“They’re tiny!” A woman exclaimed, and Jasper heard someone fall to the ground in a faint. They were each the size of a boot, a fact they were extremely displeased about.

“Citizens! Stop this man!” the mageseeker’s voice squeaked up at the crowd. Her demand went unnoticed as the crowd rushed forward, eager to get a glimpse of the tiny figures. Jasper couldn’t help but chuckle at the comical scene.

“Old man, how did you…” Jasper had turned to speak to the elderly figure, but he had vanished without a trace.