Lock twisted open the tube and dumped the forms onto the table. They were rolled tight and bound in a single red strip of cloth. He pulled the cloth loose and the parchment unraveled itself until there was a stack of at least twenty pages neatly stacked in its place. On top of them was a tiny note.
Matlock Sharp,
I have taken the liberty of filling out all pertinent information. Your signature is required prior to enrollment, seven days hence. Completed forms will be collected at orientation. I have also arranged for accommodations in the Revenant Hall and scheduled your first semester’s mandatory coursework.
Mana Manipulation
Intro to Spellwork
Traits of the Trade
Crafting and Enchantment
Leveling Up
Dungeon Survival
Prior to orientation you must select an additional two courses from the following:
Evocation and Summoning – Elementals only.
Encountering Evil
Competitive Arts
Treasure Hunting
Best wishes,
-A. Gory Star-
P.S. The spellrod doubles as a quill and the auraband comes with a standard endless scroll enchantment.
Well, if nothing else lord Star was very thorough. Lock put the note to the side and even though he was well past exhausted, he dove into his enrollment forms.
As of now, he was officially enrolled at WayStar Academy for the Arcane.
Author’s note
I know not everyone feels comfortable reviewing books, but I enjoy hearing from readers. I love even more to hear from fans. A simple comment would be amazing. If you didn't enjoy the story, I also encourage you more to give your feedback because a high five might feel good, but criticism is what helps me to improve. And that is priceless.
Thanks for Reading,
-Brian Declan-
To read more of my work you can check out what I’ve got in the works at my website: www.briankdeclan.com or sign-up to my mailing list and be the first to know about new releases: Subscribe.
Glossary
Adept – A mage with a Blessing that has successfully completed at least one year of formal education.
Archon – A mage that has never earned a Blessing.
Aspects – Light, Fire, Stasis, Life, Earth, Illusion, Void, Spirit, Water, Shadow, Air, or Mental.
Auraband – A tool in the shape of a tight bracelet that is specifically designed to monitor an individual’s stats. It can also be used in combination with a spellrod to perform advanced targeting techniques.
Blessing – A Blessing is the reward for successful completion of an initiation. They can come in any of twelve different Aspects.
Over the generations Blessings of each Aspect have been grouped into four different tiers. Although there is great debate over the establishment of these tiers it is generally accepted. Tier one is the weakest and most common, Tier four is the rarest yet most potent.
To some extent Blessings are influenced by hereditarily though not in all cases.
In addition to the twelve aspects, Blessings also have up to three distinct subclasses.
Delve Team – A team of at most five magi that has come together with the specific purpose of venturing into a dungeon.
Dungeons – Dungeons are the most concentrated havens for wild monsters.
Ether – In short Ether is mana in liquid form, but it is far more most concentrated than the typical gaseous form of mana.
Exel – A mage with a Blessing that has successfully completed at least three year of formal education.
Guardsman – The lowest level of city defenders, they rely on martial skill instead of magical gifts. Despite their low status they are responsible for keeping pacified areas free of wild monsters and typically fight on the front lines.
Initiate – Any individual who has completed an initiation, earned a Blessing and has not yet completed any formal education.
Initiation – A formal test that takes place in rare, heavily guarded dungeons. Due to their rarity most countries conceal the location of initiation dungeons and restrict access to only the most well prepared. The actual test consists of clearing five floors; the first is a starting area, the next three are the main challenges and the last is an area reflection.
Leyline – Constantly shifting currents of mana that flow deep beneath the surface of the earth.
Mage/Magi – Any individual who has developed their ability to control their own mana. Often this is focused on enhancing their combat abilities or creating more potent magical items. Potions, spellrods, enchanted crystals, etc.
Magister – A title given to a Blessed mage that has completed five years of formal education and possess master level proficiency in at least one form of magical expression.
Magnus – A mage who has completed five years of formal education, achieved expert level proficiency in dueling, cooperative battle magic, defensive spellwork and can perform at least one area effect spell or skill.
Mana – The purest form of magic. It can come in any of thirteen different forms; one for each of the twelve Aspects as well as plain mana.
Mana Crystal – The most concentrated form of mana. Creation of synthetic mana crystals is an extensive, labor intensive process. The easiest way to obtain them is by defeating wild monsters before they have established themselves in a single location like a dungeon.
Potions – Potions come in many forms but are in short are created by fermenting ether so it can be consumed without adverse effects. The fermentation process can be altered to produce potions with a wide range of beneficial effects.
Praxar – A mage with a Blessing that has successfully completed at least four year of formal education.
Relar – A mage with a Blessing that has successfully completed at least two year of formal education.
Spellrod – The most common tool used by magi. It is a multi-use tool that enhances a mage’s ability to cast spells, fire mana bolts and create barriers.
Waygate – Stable portals that allow for instantaneous travel between two locations.
Wells of Radiance – A series of wells with a single purpose, to grant a Blessing. How they grant Blessings is one of the great mysteries that magi have researched for centuries.
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