Profiling The Magi - Elijah Hawk

Elijah Hawk:  Main character

Age:  13 

First of all, let’s start with the name.  While The Magi is not a religious story, there are many religious references throughout.  I’m sure there are some I’m not even aware of yet, but some are obvious starting with the names of the main characters (children only).  Elijah, along with most of the other children in the story, is a biblical name.  I found it more difficult than I imagined picking the name for my protagonist.  I wanted it unique yet subtle, and Elijah just stuck out to me for some reason.  The purpose of the name Hawk I can’t give away at this point because it has significance beyond just a last name.  If you read the story, you’ll probably be able to figure it out, especially at the end.  However, I also like the sound of it.  I would say that about 90% of all the names in the series have significance to me.  Some are named after loved ones, and some are just named after people that have inspired me during my life, and Elijah is on that list. 

In many ways, Elijah takes on the role of the common teenager.  More than anything, I wanted to create a character that we can relate to (yes, “we” meaning everyone, not just teenagers—but teenagers especially).  I think we can all relate to Elijah’s insecurity with his physical appearance at some point in our lives.  It’s rare to find someone who accepts who they are from the get-go (especially at 13), living their life completely secure with their appearance.  They’re out there, but it’s rare!  However, Elijah finds out that he has superior abilities (I won’t give these all away now) and others more than accept him for those strengths.  I don’t pretend to have figured out all the truths about life, but I firmly believe that people are attracted to strength, and I also believe that we all have strength somewhere.  Therefore, when used and cultivated, our strengths can overshadow our insecurities, which is one of the themes I tried to bring out when writing The Magi, and Elijah in particular.

Elijah is also an inquisitive character—something I believe I subconsciously took from my own personality.  In high school, I can remember being laughed at for asking so many questions.  I’m sure it was annoying to my friends and especially, although I never picked up on it, my teachers.  I found that Elijah was just as inquisitive, and I actually find that one of his most endearing qualities (hm…I wonder why?).  You can even read some of his inquisitive nature in the first few chapters that are posted on the blog.

Finally, in taking on the role of the common teenager, I wanted Elijah to be found in the middle of the crowd.  He’s not a natural leader.  He shies away from attention that he cannot control.  He’s intelligent, but not brilliant.  However, what makes Elijah so special is his compassion, which is a total antithesis of his enemies, the Maliphists, and is one of the few human qualities that is a choice. 

I wrote Elijah not to represent the common teenager.  I wrote him to be a model.  He’s not perfect.  He has his flaws (who doesn’t?), but he truly wants to do good and has real empathy for all he comes in contact with (including his enemies).  I hope that for all who read The Magi, I will have succeeded in creating this model.     

The First Ever Magi Archive

The first ever recorded Magi archive is from a woman named Roshena.  Roshena’s writings come up a few more times in the later part of the 9^th century B.C., and she is mentioned briefly in the Chronicles of Gormandel, which is where the Magi get the majority of their history.  I have obtained several excerpts from the Chronicles of Gormandel, which I will release later.  However, this is the first ever recorded archive period.

While her account is brief, it is rich with information.  The Magi believe that this was part of a larger scroll, which has not yet been discovered.  They believe that Roshena was writing something like a diary or journal for her family history.  As you will read, this spells out some of the first discoveries of elemental control:

(Translated into English)

            "It happened again today.  A few citizens from the Academy
                have spent days out in the natural world all alone and have
                come back saying that they think they have connected with
                the world around them.  I had been trying for weeks and
               haven’t been able to do what they claim they can do.  However,
                just like last week, I think I was able to change the wind patterns
               around me.  I haven’t said anything to anyone yet, but I think it
               has something to do with my mood.  Both times I was able to
                control the winds when I felt impulsive.  I’m not sure what this
               means, or if it means anything at all.  Tomorrow, when the
              Peacekeepers go out to search for truths, I will try
              again.”                                                                          

                                                                               
                   -Roshena (830 BC)

Again, since Roshena talks about another instance where she was able to control the wind, “just like last week, I think I was able to change the wind patterns”, there is reason to believe there is still an uncovered document. 

According to the Chronicles of Gormendel, the Peacekeepers were the group of people who looked for good in the world despite the chaos around them.  They would later call themselves the Magi. 

 

Archive: Maliphist's Youth (1050 AD)

This document was discovered earlier this century by Arthur Waterhouse, a Magi historian now living in Savenridge.  As all the Magi are aware, the tyranny of Maliphist, the man, which is estimated to be in the middle of the 12^th century, was the darkest point in Magi history.  His oppression led to the Magi Wars, which killed off almost all of the Magi.  It resulted in the separation of the Magi from the common people and the division in the Magi that still exists today.  However, what was not known until this document was discovered, were the signs at such an early age that Maliphist had tendencies towards evil. 

The Magi always wondered what their world would have been like if Maliphist had been stopped at an early age.  It was the general belief that he changed all of a sudden from good to evil in his early adult years.  However, as you will read, this dictation from Maliphist’s mentor shows that he may have had these tendencies early on.

Here is a brief letter from his mentor, named Simeon, to the trustees of the local Magi council:

            “I am writing to inform you of some concerns I have about a young boy named Maliphist.  To this day, I have never seen a youth that can do what he can do.  He has the world at his fingertips.  The other day, he summoned a large column of fire and was able to control it like an extension of his arm.  It was incredible!  Most children his age aren’t even close to training, but he uses the elements like he was an elder.  However, I am concerned with his mind.  He informed me the other day that he wished for me to leave him alone and let him work with the elements on his own.  What makes me the most nervous is that when I’m around him, I want to give in and let him.  Please advise on further action.”

                                                                       -Simeon (about 1050 AD)

If there was a return letter, I have not yet uncovered it.  I will do what I can to locate it to see what was done with Simeon’s concern.