cover
Outside the ivy-covered tower at forest edge, midday sunlight filters through leaves. Piotrek, tiny fist raised, stands before the heavy wooden door after knocking, colorful smoke drifting from the top window.
Piotrek spotted a tall tower covered in ivy near the forest. Colorful smoke puffed from the top window. He knocked on the wooden door three times. A voice called out, "Enter if you dare!" Piotrek pushed the door open slowly. Inside, books and bottles filled every shelf.
Inside the cluttered tower study, warm lantern light flickers over shelves of books and glittering bottles. Aldwin smiles, handing a pointed hat to wide-eyed Piotrek reaching eagerly toward it.
An old wizard with a long silver beard smiled at Piotrek. "I am Aldwin, and I need an apprentice," he said. Piotrek's eyes grew wide with excitement. "I want to learn magic!" he exclaimed. Aldwin chuckled and handed him a pointed hat. "Then your training begins today, young one."
In the lamplit workshop, a single feather rests on a wooden table beside small inkpots. Aldwin gestures patiently while Piotrek, standing opposite, squeezes eyes shut and stretches hands toward the unmoving feather.
Aldwin pointed to a feather on the table. "Make it float," he instructed. Piotrek waved his hands wildly, but nothing happened. "Magic doesn't come from your hands," Aldwin explained gently. "It comes from believing in yourself." Piotrek closed his eyes and believed. The feather trembled slightly.
Morning light reveals Aldwin's garden outside the tower, rows of gray, drooping flowers under pale sky. Piotrek kneels beside a wilted rose, determination on his face as Aldwin watches sadly from the stone path.
The next day, Aldwin's garden looked terrible. All the flowers had turned gray and droopy. "A grumpy spell has affected them," Aldwin said sadly. Piotrek felt determined to help. "Can I try to fix it?" he asked. Aldwin nodded with a hopeful smile.
In the same garden, afternoon sun breaks through clouds, casting gentle light on withered beds. Piotrek stands center path, hands outstretched, smiling nervously as a single flower before him blushes bright pink.
Piotrek stood in the garden feeling nervous. He remembered Aldwin's words about believing. Taking a deep breath, he thought happy thoughts. "Flowers, please bloom again!" he said kindly. A warm feeling grew in his chest. One flower turned pink again.
Under golden evening light, the garden bursts with color, petals glowing against darkening sky. Piotrek grins proudly beside a cheering Aldwin, who claps while confetti-like petals swirl around them.
Seeing one flower bloom made Piotrek feel proud. His confidence grew stronger and stronger. More flowers began changing from gray to bright colors. Soon the whole garden was beautiful again. Aldwin clapped his hands with joy. "You did it, apprentice!"
Inside the torchlit attic, a heavy wooden chest rests on a low pedestal, lid covered with faintly glowing strange symbols. Aldwin presents the chest while curious Piotrek leans closer, fingertips hovering above the rune-marked surface.
Aldwin showed Piotrek a locked chest. "Inside is something precious," he explained mysteriously. The lock had no keyhole, only strange symbols. "How do we open it?" Piotrek wondered aloud. "The answer is within you," Aldwin hinted. Piotrek studied the symbols carefully.
By candlelight in the study, the rune-covered chest gleams bronze. Piotrek, eyes narrowed in thought, points to a sun and heart symbol while Aldwin watches approvingly across the desk.
Piotrek noticed the symbols formed a pattern. One looked like a sun, another like a heart. "These mean something," he thought hard. Suddenly he understood the message. "Warmth and kindness open it!" he declared. Aldwin's eyes twinkled with approval.
Dim attic filled with floating dust motes suddenly glows gold as symbols on the chest flare. Piotrek, hands resting gently on the lid, watches it creak open while Aldwin stands behind, awe on his face.
Piotrek placed his hands on the chest gently. He thought about helping the garden and learning. His hands felt warm and tingly. The symbols began to glow golden. The lid slowly creaked open. Inside was a beautiful crystal that sparkled.
In sunlight streaming through round tower window, a multifaceted crystal hovers above Piotrek's open palms. Aldwin stands beside him, explaining calmly, as the crystal radiates shifting rainbows onto stone walls.
"This crystal shows your magical progress," Aldwin explained. It glowed brighter when Piotrek held it. "The light comes from your growing confidence," said Aldwin. Piotrek watched it shimmer in wonder. "Will it help me do more magic?" he asked. "It will remind you of your inner strength."
Morning inside the spacious practice hall, sunlight stripes the floorboards. Piotrek sits cross-legged on a small patterned rug while Aldwin, standing nearby, instructs him to imagine flying.
Aldwin pointed to a small rug. "Today we learn to make things fly," he announced. Piotrek sat on the rug excitedly. "Close your eyes and imagine soaring," Aldwin instructed. Piotrek imagined flying above the trees. The rug wiggled but stayed down. "Keep believing," Aldwin encouraged.
Inside the practice hall, afternoon light streams through tall windows. Smiling Piotrek rides the patterned rug now hovering near the arched ceiling, while proud Aldwin steadies it with one hand.
Piotrek took another deep breath and smiled. He believed he could do it. The rug lifted one inch off the floor. "I'm doing it!" Piotrek shouted happily. The rug rose higher and higher. Soon he was floating near the ceiling.
From the tower observatory at dusk, black clouds swirl outside the open windows, lightning illuminating bookcases. Piotrek stands beside Aldwin, both gazing upward as thunder rumbles overhead.
Dark clouds gathered over the tower unexpectedly. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. "A storm sprite is angry," Aldwin said worriedly. The wind howled through the windows. "Can we help calm it?" Piotrek asked bravely. Aldwin looked at his young apprentice proudly.
Night storm lashes the tallest tower window; candles sputter in the gusty darkness. Piotrek grips the stone sill, brown hair whipping wildly, calling into the sky toward a swirling storm sprite face made of clouds.
Piotrek climbed to the tower's highest window. The wind whipped his brown hair wildly. "Storm sprite, why are you upset?" he called out. The wind seemed to pause for a moment. Piotrek felt scared but stayed strong. He waited patiently for an answer.
High above the tower at night, lightning outlines a swirling storm sprite face made of clouds among churning vapors. Piotrek leans from the window, hand extended in friendship, while the luminous eyes of the sprite soften.
The clouds swirled into a face shape. "I am lonely," the sprite's voice whispered. Piotrek felt sorry for the creature. "I will be your friend," he offered kindly. The sprite's eyes brightened with hope. "You would befriend me?" it asked. "Of course," Piotrek replied warmly.
Dawn light floods the tower roof as the once-dark clouds turn white, revealing a swirling storm sprite face made of clouds smiling gently. Piotrek stands on the parapet beside Aldwin, cape fluttering in the now-soft breeze.
Piotrek spoke gently to the storm sprite. He told it about his magical training. The sprite listened and the winds calmed. The dark clouds turned white and fluffy. Sunshine broke through once again. The sprite thanked Piotrek for his kindness.
In the sunlit transformation chamber, walls lined with mirrors, Aldwin displays an open spellbook on a marble stand. Piotrek concentrates beside him, imagining a bird as faint feathers shimmer along his arms.
"You're ready for advanced magic," Aldwin announced proudly. He showed Piotrek a spell for changing shapes. "Think of something small and simple," he suggested. Piotrek decided to try becoming a bird. He concentrated with all his might. His arms tingled strangely.
Late afternoon inside the same chamber, golden light reflects off mirrors. Laughing, Piotrek holds up an arm that has transformed into a small brown wing, while Aldwin applauds nearby.
Piotrek's nose turned into a tiny beak. Then it changed back immediately. "I almost did it!" he laughed. Aldwin smiled at his enthusiasm. "Magic takes practice and patience," he reminded. Piotrek nodded and tried again. This time his whole hand became a wing.
In a dim, circular room lit only by the silver glow of a large mirror, silent shadows cling to stone walls. Piotrek stands alone before the mirror, brow furrowed as his reflection shows a sad expression.
Aldwin led Piotrek to a room he'd never seen. "Your final test awaits inside," he said seriously. Piotrek entered and found a large mirror. The mirror showed him looking sad. "What must I do?" Piotrek asked confused. "Help the reflection find happiness," Aldwin instructed.
Same mirrored chamber, faint bluish light continues to shimmer. Piotrek speaks encouragingly, palm pressed against glass, while his once-sad reflection now lifts a tentative smile.
Piotrek stared at his sad reflection. He realized it showed his doubts. "You are brave and kind," he told the mirror. The reflection looked surprised. "You can do magic," Piotrek continued. The reflection began to smile.
Brilliant white light erupts inside the mirrored chamber, banishing every shadow. Aldwin enters as Piotrek stands radiant before the mirror, which now shines like a sunrise.
As Piotrek spoke kindly to himself, magic happened. The reflection grew bright and happy. The mirror glowed with brilliant light. Piotrek felt wonderful inside. "You passed the test," Aldwin said entering. "You learned to believe in yourself completely."
In the grand hall, midday sun pours through stained-glass windows, scattering colorful patterns across stone flags. Aldwin drapes a gleaming medal around beaming Piotrek's neck, both standing before a tall arched hearth.
Aldwin presented Piotrek with a special medal. "You are now a true wizard's apprentice," he declared. Piotrek beamed with pride and joy. "Thank you for teaching me, Master," he said. Aldwin hugged him warmly. "You taught yourself by believing."
Late morning in the tower kitchen, sunlight dances off the glowing crystal on the table beside fresh bread. Piotrek, wearing his medal, laughs with Aldwin while a swirling storm sprite face made of clouds peers playfully through the open window.
Piotrek wore his medal every day. He continued learning new spells happily. The crystal always glowed brightly for him. The storm sprite visited often. Aldwin and Piotrek had many adventures together. The tower was filled with laughter.
Evening hearth room; amber firelight flickers across shelves and comfy chairs. Aldwin touches Piotrek's chest gently, smiling, while Piotrek listens thoughtfully, the medal shining softly between them.
One evening, Piotrek sat with Aldwin. "What's the most powerful magic?" he asked. Aldwin pointed to Piotrek's heart. "Believing in yourself and being kind," he answered. Piotrek understood completely now. The real magic had been inside him all along.