Wizard War: An Introduction to Magic

By Paul Smith

Wizard War is the story of Maxwell, who discovers he has magical powers. He is trained by the council of wizards who provide Maxwell with his introduction to magic and the wizarding world while teaching him about the perils of dark magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Feb 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9780228889618

Paul Smith

PAUL SMITH is a dedicated father of two and an expert trainer in leadership and storytelling techniques. As the author of the popular Lead with a Story, he has seen his work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time, Forbes, The Washington Post, Success, and Investor's Business Daily, among others.

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Wizard War

An Introduction to Magic

Paul Smith

Wizard War

Copyright © 2023 by Paul Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-8960-1 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-8959-5 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-8961-8 (eBook)

This book is dedicated to my dad.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

About the Author

1

Across from Calvin sat a perfectly ordinary, everyday-looking boy of twelve years of age.

You have no idea what you are, do you, my boy? asked Calvin, an elderly-appearing gentleman dressed in wizard’s robes and sporting a long beard. Like a wizard from a fairy tale, he was.

No, sir, replied Maxwell timidly.

You’re a wizard, my boy!

What do you mean, a wizard? Maxwell asked the man.

Right now, you’re a muggle with your magic abilities. But with some training you could be a great wizard.

Maxwell scrunched up his forehead. Can anyone become a wizard?

No, my boy. Certainly not.

The two of them sat in Calvin’s office, a circular room, modestly-sized for its function. There were many chairs and objects about. A great desk sat between them. On it was a newspaper the likes of which Maxwell had never seen. The photos were moving. The newspaper was called The Optimist.

Most everyone in the wizarding world is born of magical parents. But your parents are pure human. No magical abilities at all.

What will happen to my parents? interrupted Maxwell.

It has been explained to your parents that you have been chosen to attend a specialized training academy. They do not know of your magical abilities. That part of their memory I had to remove, as per the law.

Maxwell didn’t like the thought of some old man playing with his parents’ memory. What do you mean, the law? inquired Maxwell.

The Ministry of Magic law. You’re a part of the wizarding world now. Calvin picked up his wand and waved it. A tingle came over Maxwell’s body. There. You are now invisible to those who cannot use magic, just like the law dictates, and in time you will no longer miss your parents.

Calvin continued, These laws came into effect following the Wizard War. Magic users are not to mingle with humans.

Are we no longer human? asked Maxwell.

We are, but my boy, you have no idea how vast the world of magic is. We are wizards…it supersedes our humanity. When you have been around for a few hundred years like I have, you will understand. We are still human. Most witches have already undergone menopause. Would think a witch would have solved that magically by now, but it just goes to show there are some mysteries still to be unlocked. Even to wizards.

Calvin’s office was located in a bastion. During the war it was to be the last bastion of hope, due to its location in Western Canada. It was a great fortress with many rooms built of brick and magic.

Suddenly a tall, thin witch appeared. She was soft and friendly-looking, and appeared younger than Calvin. You summoned me, Calvin.

Oh, yes. I’m afraid my little introduction to wizardry is over, Maxwell. Lillian is here to escort you to Prospect Street, where you can get a bite to eat at Hobart’s restaurant. A good little spot in the north end of town.

Lillian eyed Maxwell and smiled. This little one doesn’t know what end of a wand to hold yet, does he?

Maxwell reddened; he was suddenly feeling inferior. I might be new but I’ll learn…

That’s why we are we going to Prospect Street, Lillian replied, to get you your first wand, Maxwell. Then with a wave of her wand, Lillian opened a portal to Prospect Street and they both stepped through.

2

When he stepped out of the portal, Maxwell was transported to a world beyond his imagination. Rows of shops lined the street, each selling various magical bits or mystical bobs. They appeared right outside of Hobart’s restaurant, located on the corner of Prospect Street and Mystic Boulevard. Lillian led him inside, to a booth away from the crowd.

Have you ever had a meal prepared with magic? she asked.

No, replied Maxwell.

Well, this is a treat. It’s not every day someone has their first meal with me. A large, plump, mustached man had appeared by their side. My name’s Hobart. Don’t worry about menus. I’ll get you all set up on the house.

Hobart and I go a long way back, Lillian said, smiling across the table at Maxwell.

Maxwell asked Lillian How is it that there is an entire nation of wizards that humans have never heard of?

Lillian, having a sip of her coffee, replied, When the war concluded, it became necessary to construct a place for us wizards to live freely. There were restrictions that were placed upon wizards following the war—the laws that govern us, for example. Before the war wizards were free to interact with humans. Calvin was one of the wizards who conjured the original Avalon into creation, but that was before the war. Avalon just became our natural home after the war. He truly is a very powerful wizard. All of our spells must now be documented in the Circle; I will explain further when we get your first journal after our meal.

Maxwell then asked, What do wizards do all day?

Lillian smiled and replied, Most have some type of job, like running a shop or scavenging for supplies needed for potions. Even those of us on the Canadian wizards’ council— yes, each nation is responsible for their own wizards. We have our jobs that keep us busy.

Looking around, Maxwell noticed one thing: there were no other children in the restaurant. Where are all the kids? he inquired.

There are very few children left. Most wizards are hundreds of years old. Our elixirs and potions granting long life do have their limitations.

There are potions granting long life? Maxwell was surprised to hear this. He truly had no idea about the wizarding world.

Lillian chuckled. You are quite ordinary for someone with such a great destiny. Calvin saw it in one of his cosmic visions. But all of that in time.

Over lunch, Lillian explained to Maxwell that Calvin was the equivalent of the prime minister of the wizarding world. Although elections were held every four years for the wizards’ council, no one ever ran against those who held the current positions. She explained that Calvin served under the human federal minister of magic, who served under the prime minister of Canada. All of them served under the queen. There were restrictions and laws regarding what wizards could do. For the most part, all wizards and witches did good. She went on to explain that she was a member of the wizards’ council—the equivalent of the Cabinet in government. There were six ministers in the Cabinet, each with a different specialty: cosmic magic, potions, elemental magic, healing magic, time magic, and summoning magic. Her specialty was time magic.

There are fundamentals in magic you will have to learn, Maxwell. Starting with your wand.

Who is going to teach me all of this? asked Maxwell.

The council has agreed to mentor you through the basics. We felt it best since you are so very new to the wizarding world. How is your soup, by the way?

Maxwell’s face had gone purple and steam was coming out of his ears.

That would be the magic.

Indeed, this was a whole new world for Maxwell. Lillian went on to say that Maxwell should ask the council to tell him their war stories, in order to help him understand how the laws that governed wizards came to be. It was the price of peace, she said, with a sad look on her face.

The pair finished their lunch and set off for Ailen’s wand shop, a small boutique filled to the brim with wands, rods, staffs, and more. Ailen greeted the pair warmly and Lillian filled her in on what they were looking for, that this was a first wand. Ailen put in plain words that it was best to start with a wand over a rod or a staff, as they were the easiest to master of all the—what she called—mystical distributers. She showed him how the base unscrewed so that each wizard