At the end of the world, in a keep built on the highest reaches of a mountain, there lived an old sorcerer. Neither wholly good, nor evil, the sorcerer lived in solitude and shunned the human world. Spirits and demons were oft seen on the mountain, either visiting or learning from the old sorcerer, as the rumors said.

None alive knew his name save for the most ancient of magical beings. Legend says that he fought in the war that first separated the three worlds, then again in the war that brought them together again. Humans claimed him as their oldest, but none rightly knew just how old he really was.

The sorcerer, Merrick by name, fell in love with a woman from the valley at the base of his mountain. Graceful and innocent, Lady Adina quickly became his whole world. His keep was filled with light and joy after they were married, and whatever fears the humans had of him were laid to rest.

A great sorcerer, unaligned, was now held firmly in check.

Then Lady Adina died bringing their child into the world.

Overnight it seemed, the whole mountain underwent a transformation as news of her death spread. As the sorcerer retreated even further away from the world, fear entered the thoughts of the humans. They once again feared what he would, could, do with his powers.

Less and less of his visitors were demons, saying better than words that the sorcerer had lost his faith in life. Spirits from the world above came to his keep and stayed for long visits. Within the walls of the keep, the nobles, the oldest, from the spirit world spoke with Merrick for long days, trying their best to keep the human sorcerer alive and in the human world. If for naught else than for his infant son.

Indeed, it was his son, Mahli, that kept him sane and willing to greet the dawn of each day.

As the pale morning light reached his son’s crib, Merrick hovered over the sleeping child and smiled fondly as the tiny fist clenched and relaxed on the pillow next to his face. Mahli had inherited his own fair coloring, and would no doubt have his green eyes when they changed. His features were chubby, but while awake, Merrick could clearly see Adina within the child.

From his pocket, Merrick pulled a silver ring, much too small for his finger. Smooth and plain, as she had wished, Merrick had made the ring from pure magic just for Lady Adina. He spun the ring between his fingers, eyes intent on the magical metal, and the child he could see inside the circle.

A bittersweet smile curved his lips and he moved to whisper in Mahli’s ear.

“I created this ring for your mother, to protect her with my magic, even if I wasn’t there to do so. I couldn’t protect her from death, and for that I am sorry. But you are her child, and I will have you protected.”

He held the ring tightly in his fist and placed his knuckles against the boy’s small chest. Light as pure as sunlight began to pour from between his fingers and when it became too vast for him to hold, he released the ring. The ring became light, magic as it hovered inches above his chest, then dissolved, absorbed into Mahli.

The child’s hair darkened minutely, his features became less innocent, then they returned to normal, and he slept on.

Merrick patted his son’s chest lightly, letting his magic connect with that of his son’s. He was now protected from death, as his mother had never been.

He could, wouldn’t, lose him.