Teliko Mageia: Curse of the Frozen Flame

by A. J. Carbonell

  Vaan rushed to Jest and carried him out of the ring, to the waiting aid of the medics.

  “It was an honour to fight you, Vaan. You showed me real power and will to fight. You also showed me my weakness. I was co-dependent on my water elements. I feared I may make mistakes if I attack with my magick. So I conjured water elements connected to me to fight for me. Again, I thank you for teaching me how to fight.”

  “The honour was mine. How else would I have learned that clay would be a great defence for water magick. I know that someday we will meet again. Try to defeat me the next time,” Vaan, in high spirits, told Jest.

  “Yes, I will train harder and next time and I will defeat you,” Jest said and both snorted.

  Back in the hospital room, Jael laughed. While he expected there may have been embellishments in the tale, he was delighted Vaan had made a new friend. And to hear he’d won the thirteenth stage. “You made a new confidant. That’s great! Where’s he?”

  “He returned to the inn to train with his friends. Oh, I redeemed the 1000 golden suns for winning the thirteenth stage. I don’t think I can fight through the next safe point. Plus, you really do need someone to look after you,” Vaan added.

  “Well, we can come back here anytime! To Belthasar!” And the conversation about their plans continued. The next day, Vaan purchased three tickets from the Valkyrie Station, and soon they were flying en route to Belthasar.

  The valkyrie, a metal magickal flying machine, worn with extensive use, glided high over the changing quilt of land toward Belthasar. Every available seat was packed with visitors heading to Belthasar, or returning home. They seemed to have concrete reasons for heading there. Jael couldn’t help but wonder what lay in store for them. “Hey, Vaan,” he said, leaning over on the old wooden bench. “What do you think will happen in Belthasar? I’m wondering what my dream implies.”

  “Don’t know. I’ve never been to Belthasar either.”

  The valkyrie soared high in the air, and they peered through its gilt windows to the sprawling landscape revealing itself between puffs of cloud. Bristal truly was an exquisite kingdom, and the majesty of the scenes below amplified the air of anticipation on reaching the city. The flight extended long into the night, and the trio slept slumped against the walls of the valkyrie.

  Morning came, and the valkyrie landed in the Great City of Belthasar, the magick capital of Bristal. Mages around the world frequented Belthasar. Here lay Via Mageia, a street famous for magickal good trade. Esoteric merchandise trade of all variety, along with mass produced elements and mystos, and for those with the sun for it, rare goods.

  Belthasar also laid claim to the largest and oldest academy in the entire kingdom, Demijia. Professors in Demijia were among the greatest in the kingdom. They trained students in their respective elements in magick, of course, but could also teach multiple elements, meaning each mage could acquire more than one magickal element. The founder of Demijia was the legendary Excalla, a famous mage rumoured to have been the greatest apprentice of Maggus.

  Belthasar was led by Imperator Piorus Lavesque, assigned by the Queen of Bristal herself to oversee the city of Belthasar. Piorus had his own royal knights to protect him from threats and to enforce the law. He acted as the city police, protecting the residents from thieves and bandits.

  When Jael and Vaan arrived, Belthasar was celebrating Salamanka, its annual magick festival. Free food was served up by small carts with little red flags indicating they had been sponsored by the city. Most were offering sweets, iced drinks, root sticks, or searing bloody rare meat kebabs on demand for the whole week. All goods from traditional merchants were on sale, from token Salamanka discounts to insane 80% of blowouts for goods the nomadic Jael knew he’d never need. There was an on-going Salamanka Tourney, a tournament for mages who wanted to gain the notoriety and experience to serve the queen as a royal knight. There was also a racing contest being held. It was no ordinary race, but instead, a contest of skill designed around obstacles.

  In a blackened patch of sky darkened by a void mage, a magnificent display of sparklers welcomed them with a shower of golden rain. Jael gazed up at the rain of coloured sparks and he ran to find a better view, pushing through the crowd towards the launch platform for the firecrackers. Dozens of red bundles of fireworks and crackers were being offered by merchants, some mundane and others powered by workings not unlike a mysto. Much of the crowd seemed to have clustered along one street, waving banners and flowers and calling out greetings. A parade made its way down the main drag. Music and dancing and brilliant flags, even some tamed beasts painted with clay paints and festooned with ribbons.

  Vaan caught up to Jael, who hadn’t stopped until he found a perfect view of the festivities. “Would you look at that! The queen is here!” he exclaimed. “What a rare sight.”

  Upon one of the parade floats, a beautiful woman surrounded by knightly guards seemed to float herself. Her hair flowed down past her waist like a waterfall of snowy mist, and her forehead, wrists, and neck were bound up in sinewy golden strands fastened by precious gems. Her garment was made of the most delicate Gaussian silk, embroidered with hair-like threads of pure gold. But no rare treasure in her array could compare with the ethereal beauty of the queen of Bristal herself. Her perfectly grey eyes deep within her radiant face were framed with dark lashes and though she was not a young woman, her complexion was flawless.

  “She is very beautiful!” Jael said. “She sure is,” Vaan replied.

  As they gazed up in awe at the queen, they drifted perhaps a little too close and a royal knight bumped into Jael accidentally. “You again!” the knight exclaimed.

  Jael recognised her voice. “You were that girl in Fulbor! In the valkyrie ticket shop.”

  “Girl?!” she said indignantly. “What are you doing here, you ruffian?! Get out of my way or you’re going to regret it.”

  The parade drew to a slight halt around them, drawing some interest, and the queen smiled and waved to the citizens before addressing her guard. “Helena, that’s enough. Be kind to the citizens of Bristal, they are our allies,” the queen said in a sweet voice. “I apologise for the harsh treatment you received from Helena. To repay you, I would like to invite you to the royal banquet tonight. Just tell the palace guards you are invited by Reina,” the queen said to Jael and immediately the parade carried on without remark or incident.

  “Wow! The queen is kind hearted. I wonder who Reina is; I know her Highness’s name is Jeannah…” Vaan mused.

  After circulating the festivities, they decided to participate in the Salamanka games. There was a booth for summoners to battle their own monsters. Jael and Frekkis tried to join the contest and Frekkis was allowed to join. After a few matches, it was Frekkis’ turn. Frekkis battled different summons, fire monsters and skeletal ones. Frekkis fought a few matches and eventually got tired. They left the summoners’ booth with a few coins in their pockets.

  In the festival amusement corridor, they gambled, played games. After they gained a small amount of coin and useless trinkets, Jael grew distracted. A tremendous proclamation on posters tacked all around the gaming arena advertised Salamanka Grand Race.

  Jael tossed a couple of the few coins they had earned into the air and caught them again. Now this was an opportunity! “What is this race? Maybe Frekkis can win this with her Full Swift! Hahaha! We could win a large amount of money!” What sense was there in playing party games run by cheaters where the earnings would be small? The pot for a grand race would surely be a worthy challenge.

  So they asked around about the Salamanka Grand Race until a fellow mage explained the details.

  “Salamanka Grand Race is no ordinary race,” he warned with a dramatic and imperious swoop of his hands. It was evident he meant to intimidate them, so it would be a clear race to the prize pot for himself. “It is a race to exploit each mage’s mental ability, magickal skills and stamina. The race is all about elimination. Each mage will need to pass each obstacle. There are a
total of three obstacles for the entire race, one obstacle per day over three days. The obstacles are given randomly every year. The first two obstacles are chosen by the imperator Piorus Lavesque, while the final obstacle is chosen by the Queen herself. Three mages will win the race, 1st, second and third place. If there’s a draw, the winner will be decided by a sudden death round given by the Queen.”

  After the mage explained the mechanics and details about the race, Jael asked: “So what are this year’s obstacles?”

  “None of us know. Each obstacle will be given on the day of the race,” the mage replied.

  “You said there is one obstacle on each day… what if you can’t finish the obstacle in one day?” Vaan asked.

  “The mages who cannot finish the obstacle in that day will be eliminated.”

  “I see, thank you so much, sir! Why don’t we join the race, Vaan?”

  “We should! We might even win the race!” Vaan clapped Jael’s shoulder.

  Jael replied in excitement. He loved a good challenge. “It is settled! We will join the Salamanka Grand Race! You too, Frekkis, you will join too!” Jael exclaimed and Frekkis agreed, bouncing around his heels in high spirits.

  The day was growing on, and there was still the feast in the evening. Jael, Frekkis and Vaan made to a nearby inn and prepared for the banquet of the Queen. Jael was excited, he didn’t know what to wear. Both were adventurers and didn’t carry unnecessary clothing. Party clothing was needed.

  So they spent that afternoon ducking in and out of shops in search for the perfect queen-ready ballroom clothing. The first shop they entered was named Fine Things and turned out to be full of dishes. Then they headed into a shop named Beautiful Chic which contained only dresses. Vaan picked a blue dress up and held it up to his body in a mirror. “Hmm…”

  “No,” said Jael.

  “I’ll buy some pants.”

  “No!” He dragged Vaan out of the dress store.

  Then they went into Black Velvet, which was full of… what could technically be described as clothing by certain occupations. Jael blushed and left in a hurry. Clothes for Gentlemen turned out to be run by an ancient mage who thought gentlemen should wear robes, and The Chopping Block carried both weaponry, armour, and adventuring clothing.

  “Jael, we need to put on something formal. Please don’t wear adventure garb. Come on,” Vaan scolded Jael, as he selected a perfectly mundane outfit to purchase–a black linen shirt, brown leather pants that would serve as adventuring wear later. It was clean and neat, and fit him like a glove, showing off all of Jael’s tight muscles.

  “What? Like you can find anything better!” “Just watch me!”

  Jael, who now had clean clothing and was satisfied, trudged after Vaan, who was not. “This store will have something good!” Vaan declared, stepping into a dazzling shop labelled Lad Night Imports, full of articles of clothing that glistened underneath the dozens of bright lights. He picked through the tunics until he found the best one, a fancy blue tunic encrusted with cheap sequins up the front, swirly embroidery everywhere else. It fell to just above his knees, only an inch or two higher than the dress he’d eyeballed earlier. This the shopkeeper insisted he pair with a belt and pants which fit so tight all the muscles of his calves and thighs could easily be seen. His boots came too short to line up with the tunic, exposing about a centimetre of skin and the top of his red socks peeked out.

  Jael snickered.

  “Now for some accessories!” Vaan paid for his fine new clothing and pranced next door to get matching pieces. Jael declined to follow and sat on the outside steps brushing down Frekkis for the night to come. At least she cleaned up fast, and he tidied up his own hair while waiting for Vaan, rewaxing the black spikes of his hair with a little tin of beeswax he kept in his belongings.

  It did not take long for Vaan to surface, having paired his gaudy outfit with matching patterned arm bracers he clearly believed to be the high end of fashion. On top of that all, Vaan was wearing a large golden medallion and a hat that Jael suspected he might have created by winding up one of his usual roguish pile of coloured scarves.

  “Wow, Vaan you look great! Like a gentleman,” Jael said sarcastically, and laughed.

  “Are you mocking me? Hah! You don’t even know what to wear. I am beautiful.” Vaan tugged on his tunic in annoyance. Frekkis barked in excitement.

  Evening came and the time for the banquet drew near. When they passed through the market, Jael dabbed a sample of perfume from a merchant onto his wrists and hoped the scent would make him appear fancier. The High Tops were where the banquet was to be held, situated at the Mount Veritia, near the Belthasar merchant centre. Steps straight up to the High Tops, decorative ribbons and banners strung up in gold and red leading straight up to the banquet hall. No windows faced the courtyard, and royal guards stood outside the only entrance from a common road.

  “Have you ever been to a royal banquet before, Vaan?” Jael asked.

  “Not yet! I’m certain it’ll be very formal,” Vaan replied. “The Queen’s amiable to us. We’re very privileged!”

  When they came to the banquet entrance, royal guards stopped them. “Halt. State your business!” one guard asked.

  “Reina invited us,” Jael said, remembering to say what the queen had told him.

  “The queen herself invited you?” The guard looked a little surprised and put out that this adventurer had received an invitation to such an affair. “Very well, you may pass. But mutts are not allowed inside.”

  “Frekkis isn’t a mutt. She’s my companion,” Jael stated. “I’m sorry, beasts are not allowed,” the guard insisted.

  Helena, the royal knight from earlier, appeared, summoned by the controversy. Exasperated, she sighed. “Let them through. The Queen herself invited these people, including the wolf.”

  “Yes, madam,” the guard replied.

  Helena was clearly here for the party tonight, and not for her duty as a royal knight; Jael tried not to stare too hard. The sight of the gorgeous Helena in a dress was incredible. She had trained as a knight for years, her body was muscular, a fierce manner always in her eyes. Every motion honed into a graceful and deadly move. Yet the dress showed off how very feminine she remained, all woman beneath every flawless muscle. The tailor had transformed her from beast into beauty. “Helena, right?” Jael said, awestruck.

  “Yes, go inside. The Queen has invited you to this banquet, but it doesn’t mean you are special and that we are on good terms. Just stay out of my way,” she said sharply, unimpressed by Jael’s wandering eye.

  “Wow, she has issues. Intense!” Vaan whispered. “What was that?” Helena said.

  “Oh, nothing. We’ll go ahead.” They moved to on through the grand hallway to the entrance into the dining hall.

  Upon entering the hall, Jael was entranced. Roasted birds and small animals were not the only meats available. A large red roast with a servant ready to carve as much as any guest desired, and large platters heaped with fruits and vegetables filled the centre buffet table. Side tables stuck out like spokes, displays of tiny plates of pickles, crackers and little appetisers on one side, the other filled with magnificent little sweets that, as soon as one plate vanished, were replenished by invisible magick. A round table held a dozen different coloured drinks ranging from fizzy to deep bloody red to a sickly orange nectar. One large fountain of creamy milk steamed in the corner, a square table of ingredients on skewers waiting to be dipped. A server with a tray of tiny eggs came around, offering refreshments for the fringe guests.

  Seats for guests surrounded the periphery of the room, small round tables each with a bottle and empty glasses. The queen moved freely among her guests, speaking and laughing for a few moments with someone here, someone there. A knight always remained close at hand, and if one could be seen there were likely three invisible watching to be sure.

  “Food festival!” Jael shouted, and rushed to the buffet.

  Vaan quickly moved to stop him and delivered
a powerful spank on the nape of his neck. “Jael, don’t act like a youngster in front of the Queen!” Vaan said and scolded Jael.

  The queen in the distance couldn’t help but smirk. More guests made their way in to the banquet hall. After giggles and distant conversation, the queen rose to deliver her speech.

  “In line to the Salamanka Festival of the Great City of Belthasar, I welcome you to this special banquet. Tonight, we shall celebrate the greatness of this magickal city’s foundation. It is because of this city we organised magick in our kingdom, Bristal. We owe our protection to this wonderful city of great splendour, full of life and magick. Truly, there is no place like Belthasar in all the land, for it is the birthplace of Maggus the Great. Nibble and indulge in all of what is there before you. Let us celebrate!” And the people applauded.

  After the speech, the queen came and turned to Jael and asked. “What might your name be, young one?”

  “My name’s Jael. Your name is Jeannah, right?”

  Vaan smacked his head and said, “Your Highness, I apologise! Be respectful, Jael, will you? Don’t speak like that in front of the queen!”

  The queen chuckled. “It’s all right, child. Yes. My name is Jeannah. Your name is Jael? I sensed something from you. The first time I saw you, you caught my eye. You are distinct.”

  “Thank you.” Vaan’s hand twitched behind him, and Jael hastily added, “I mean thank you, your Highness. May I ask who Reina is? You mentioned earlier to say Reina invited us.”

  “Reina is another name for the queen of Bristal, a lesser used term from an old language. If you will excuse me, I have to attend to some of my other guests now. Go on, eat your fill, and enjoy the night.”

  The invitation was all Jael needed to make his way back to the thrilling array of food. After long hard days with a bowl of inn’s gruel, this fanciful feast was a dream come true. Jael, Frekkis and Vaan obliged her and devoured to their fullest.