Finn frowned. He had to admit that the conditions were strange. Why a novice? Perhaps the Emir wanted to select someone untainted by the city’s politics? Or maybe this had all been set up by the developers as a way to induct the players into the game world?
“Now, of course, your class is not the only group of novices attending the Mage Guild,” Nefreet continued, turning back to the fledgling mages filling the courtyard and speaking through the incredulous stares of the students and faculty alike. “There are those who passed the initial training before you, but who have not yet risen to the rank of journeyman.
“Therefore, the faculty and I have reached a decision regarding how best to structure our guild’s tournament. Starting tomorrow, a new competition shall begin, and the novice leaderboard shall be wiped clean. Travelers and residents shall compete separately, adopting the same rules that we use for our duels.”
Nefreet hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the faculty. “The Emir has imposed a two-week time limit on this competition, and so we have been forced to change our regular schedule for the duels. Students may now initiate a challenge at will. The victor of each challenge shall receive 10 points. Their opponent shall lose 5 points. Points earned in the tournament shall continue to be redeemable at the guild requisition officer.”
The what now? Finn thought. Nefreet had mentioned this requisition officer twice now. He’d have to remember to ask Brutus or Abbad about that.
Although, that wasn’t really the biggest takeaway from Nefreet’s explanation. Finn immediately glanced at Zane, noting the large smile on his face. Finn could only assume that their up-and-coming gang leader was thinking the same thing as him. If the students could initiate a duel, that meant they could challenge their friends and have them throw the fight, beefing up their own score.
Nefreet seemed to anticipate this issue as well. “To prevent potential abuse, we are also instituting a new system for how the duels are assigned.” Finn noticed Zane’s expression fall.
“Each novice will be given a token,” Nefreet explained. His hands moved rapidly, and two dozen thin columns of stone rose around the dais, creating a circle around the headmaster. “That token will be tuned to these pedestals and the gate to the challenge arena. To initiate a duel, you need only tap a column beside me with your token. Your opponent will be chosen randomly, and their token will then light up, giving each party fifteen minutes to prepare and make it to the courtyard. For the travelers, only those present in our world will be selected.”
Nefreet took a deep breath. “If your opponent fails to appear, the initiator will immediately be counted as the victor.”
Finn’s mind was racing. That was a better system, he had to admit. But it also left some wiggle room for abuse. Another glance at Zane confirmed that the earth mage had already caught on to that nuance, a subtle grin replacing the frustration on his face.
This is about to get really ugly, Finn thought.
“With that out of the way, the tournament shall begin tomorrow morning at 8:00am and shall last for two weeks.”
The headmaster raised a hand to forestall the murmurs that were already rising from the students. “Although there is one final matter. Since we have permitted this practice for the existing novices, our teaching staff has urged me to allow faculty sponsors for each new group of mages that make it through their initial training. These represent students that have shown exceptional aptitude or dedication during their initial studies. Sponsorship grants each student a starting score of 100 points.”
Nefreet looked at the crowd, his face solemn. “Good luck. I expect nothing less than perfection from our students, and I look forward to discovering who will carry the torch for our guild.”
The headmaster stepped back, the crowd still staring at him in shock.
Into this stunned silence, Brutus’ booming voice broke over the crowd as he took the stage. “Alright! I bet you all are still reeling from that revelation. Our headmaster is a hard act to follow – promising the possibility of ruling a city and all.” No one reacted, and the fire mage frowned, murmuring to one of the other faculty, “Tough crowd, am I right?”
“Anyway, I guess it’s time to announce some sponsors!” Brutus continued. “I’ll just list the teacher and the student that they’ve chosen. If you hear your name called, then please approach the platform. Once we’re done, the losers… ahem, other students can line up to accept your tokens and class change,” he added, motioning to a group of mages that were standing along the edge of the field.
“First up, Magus Lamia. Vanessa,” Brutus called out.
“Big surprise,” Kyyle commented sarcastically as Vanessa approached the stage.
Lamia stepped forward to greet the student. Her fingers twined through a complicated series of gestures as a globe of water formed in the air. Within only a few seconds, the orb had expanded until it was nearly six feet in diameter. Vanessa strode calmly into the sphere, unperturbed by the lack of air. There was a blinding flash of sapphire energy, and when it dissipated, the water was gone.
Vanessa nodded at Lamia and then moved off the stage.
“So… uh, I guess we’re competing to be the ruler of a city now,” Kyyle offered awkwardly as Brutus continued calling out names.
“I guess we are,” Finn replied, unsure of what to say. It had been bad enough worrying about getting kicked out of the guild – now the students were all going to be ferociously gunning for the top spot.
“Not sure how to ask this tactfully, so I’m just gonna throw it out there. Does our truce still stand?” Kyyle asked. “I’m not really loving the idea of treating everyone as an enemy for the next two weeks.”
Finn eyed the earth mage in surprise. “Yeah, of course.” Then he hesitated. “Unless we get paired, I guess.”
Kyyle grimaced.
Zane’s name was called, along with someone named Magus Jax. The pair both immediately turned to the stage, their eyes widening as they saw Zane’s sponsor. The man was robed in straps of cloth that concealed his face and body. Even more strangely, nearly a dozen weapons were strapped to Jax’s body.
“What school of magic does he use?” Finn wondered aloud.
“Beats me,” Kyyle murmured. “Maybe a mummy affinity? I’ve been keeping careful track of everyone I meet, but that’s the first time I’ve seen that teacher.”
Yet the surprises didn’t end there.
“Magus Gaius. Kyyle,” Brutus barked out.
“Hey, you’ve been holding out on me!” Finn joked playfully, punching Kyyle’s shoulder. “Clearly, you’ve been more than just a little busy.”
Kyyle winked at Finn as he started toward the platform. “Hey, a guy has to have some secrets.”
Brutus continued to call out names as students stepped toward the stage, each instructor soon standing beside a chosen student. Within only a few minutes, none of the faculty stood unaccompanied.
“Well, looks like we’re done!” Brutus announced. “Finally,” he muttered to himself, yet his booming voice still carried partway across the field.
Finn actually felt disappointed. Not that he expected to be sponsored by an instructor he’d never met, but he had been kind of half-hoping that Brutus himself would throw him a bone, especially after the fire mage had spent the better part of two weeks beating the ever-living shit out of him.
“Ahh, damn! I just remembered!” Brutus shouted. “I forgot to pick my own student.”
His eyes roamed the crowd as he made an act of searching for someone. “Let’s see. Who’s the least pathetic one here…”
Then his eyes centered on Finn.
“Hmm, I guess you’ll do,” Brutus said, pointing at him. “Finn, come on up here.”
Finn had to resist the urge to sigh. Brutus might have been spending just a bit too much time with Julia. He had clearly leveled up his Trolling skill.
With reluctant steps, Finn approached Brutus.
The fire mage clapped him on the back as he neared, leaning clo
se. “Joking aside, you’ve done good, kid,” he said, lowering his voice.
“I’m older than you,” Finn replied with a deadpan expression.
“Well, that’s just what people say at a moment like this, isn’t it?” Brutus asked.
“You don’t pick many students to sponsor, do you?” Finn murmured.
“How’d you guess?”
Finn sighed. “Let’s just get on with it. We’re holding all these people up.”
“Fine, fine,” Brutus replied, backing away and ignoring the exasperated look on Finn’s face. His fingers twined through a rapid series of gestures, a small flame igniting in the air beside Finn. As the seconds ticked past, the blaze grew, the heat expanding outward in almost-visible waves that warped the air.
Once the flame towered nearly eight feet in the air, Finn knew what to do next.
Yet he hesitated, staring into the raging inferno.
Finn had the strangest sense of déjà vu. He had stood in this spot once before in the Seer’s tent, although that seemed like ages ago. In that moment, he had taken a risk – literally leaping into another world.
His gaze panned back to the students watching in the field, their gaze weighing him; measuring him. Over the last two weeks, he hadn’t given himself a chance to wallow in the omnipresent guilt that lingered at the edges of his thoughts. He had dived into his studies as a distraction. Yet in this moment it all came rushing back. Here he was again, standing on a stage. Receiving a prize. His competition staring at him from the crowd like hungry vultures, just waiting for one misstep.
The last time, he had lost everything that mattered to him.
He could give up. Right now. Just walk away.
He wouldn’t have to kill anyone. He didn’t have to fight these people. Things were about to get ugly; he could feel it. Did he even want to be Emir? Did he deserve it – deserve this second chance at life? Or should he just return to the safety and solitude of his fortress? To his routine and tedium. Return to his self-imposed prison… where he belonged.
In that moment of hesitation, Finn saw two eyes open amid the flames. They were familiar, the tendrils of fire sliding around the glowing irises like silk. The Seer’s face shone back at him, and he could almost hear the fire god’s words in his mind – the same question she had asked him in that tent.
Would Rachael have wanted that for you?
Finn took a deep breath. The answer was still the same.
He stepped forward.
The flames washed around Finn, obscuring the rest of the field from sight. His mana responded automatically, crackling in his chest. He felt the sensation burn away his doubt and his guilt, replacing it with that same feeling of weightless freedom that ignited his soul.
It was almost like a drug – the sensation addictive.
“You have done well, Marked One,” the Seer’s voice sang from the flames around him. “But now you must keep going. You have only just begun to ignite the flame of inspiration in your heart. We still have a long way to go to build that into a burning blaze.
“Your next step is to win this competition.
“By any means necessary.”
With that simple instruction, the flames abruptly disappeared, leaving Finn standing in the courtyard once again. A notification hovered in front of him, this one glowing a vibrant orange, as though the prompt was awash in flame.
Class Change: Fire Mage
You have been granted a class by Brutus himself, becoming a fire mage. During the ceremony, you were approached by the Seer, who urged you to win the competition to represent the Mage Guild in a three-way fight for control of Lahab.
The gloves are about to come well and truly off. Are you ready?
+20 Intelligence
+15 Willpower
Increased Fire Magic Affinity (Currently 41%)
Finn was distracted from the notification, as a residual trace of warmth continued to wind up his arms. He looked down to see that his left arm was now emblazoned with a small wand surrounded by flames, the tattoo marked just above the star symbol denoting his induction into the Mage Guild.
Yet his right arm was different. The skin itched and burned like he was being bitten by a mound of fire ants. Finn pulled back on the sleeve of his robe, and his eyes widened in surprise. Inky-black flames slithered up his skin like a serpent, spreading from the tattoo of the Seer’s tarot cards and coiling up his forearm, stopping just below the elbow.
Brutus abruptly stepped forward and pulled down Finn’s sleeve. “Keep that hidden,” he hissed, sparing a brief glance at the nearby mages. Luckily, no one seemed to have noticed.
“Congratulations!” Brutus said more loudly, smacking Finn on the back hard enough to cause him to stagger forward.
Then the fire mage turned back to the courtyard. “Alright, you lot, that’s the end of the show. Go line up to get your classes and tokens!” Brutus instructed, pointing at the row of mages waiting for the other students.
Meanwhile, Finn stood there, his mind reeling as he tried to process what had happened. This was the first time the Seer had contacted him since his start to the game. But why now? What did she gain from this competition? Why had the tattoo changed? What did that mean? The questions swam and danced in his head, reaching no resolution.
Yet one thing was clear. The Seer wanted him to win this competition.
The words of the prompt returned to him, the other questions melting away.
“Are you ready?” it had asked.
With his fire mana still surging in his veins, Finn couldn’t wait to find out.
Chapter 21 - Armed
“Here you go,” Brutus said, gesturing at a nearby door. After the ceremony in the courtyard, the pair had fled the crowds, with Brutus leading Finn along a winding path through the guild hall.
“This doesn’t exactly look like a spellbook,” Finn retorted, crossing his arms.
Brutus had made a promise when they started Finn’s training. Cryptic instructions from a god and some world-shattering competition aside, Finn wasn’t going to be distracted from what was really important.
He needed some damn spells – now more than ever.
Finn’s instructor arched an eyebrow. “You’re gettin’ kind of uppity now that you have a class and everything.” He cracked his knuckles. “I might just need to beat that out of you.”
“Scary,” Finn retorted, unperturbed. “But you know that threat gets weaker the more often you do it, right? And it rings kind of hollow now that every novice in the school will be ready to tear each other’s throat out starting bright and early tomorrow morning.”
Brutus grimaced at that comment, eyeing a group of students as they walked past and dropping his voice. “Some of the faculty weren’t too fond of that plan – especially including all novices in the competition,” he murmured. “Yet Nefreet wouldn’t be swayed. He only sees this as an opportunity to expand the power and influence of the guild.”
“And you don’t?” Finn asked.
The fire mage ran a hand through his closely cropped hair. “I wonder at the result. It isn’t enough for anyone to win. That person may become Emir. Which means they will have power over the city and everything inside it – including the Mage Guild. Nefreet and some of the other faculty seem to think that person will be a malleable puppet. I’m less convinced.”
Brutus looked away and his brow furrowed. “I’ve seen what that sort of power does to people firsthand.”
Finn could only wonder at that. What exactly had the guild done to him?
Brutus met Finn’s eyes. “Anyway, you should watch yourself. Even among Nefreet’s camp, there are those that insist that the candidate matters. They have strong views about just who should qualify to represent the guild. As for the rest, they don’t seem to think that any traveler is good enough.”
Finn shot him a questioning glance.
“As I said during my first class, your kind are simply different. You weren’t born here, you don’t entirely understan
d our world and culture, and the stakes are very different for the travelers. When you are essentially immortal. Would you place the same value on the lives of this world’s residents?”
Finn stared at the man in surprise. Those were actually pretty compelling arguments. Honestly, now that Finn thought about it, he wasn’t so sure that a traveler should rule Lahab – or at least not most travelers.
“Like I said, you should be careful,” Brutus grunted.
“Aw, it almost sounds like you care,” Finn replied dryly. Despite his carefree tone, Finn was already weighing the subtext of Brutus’ words. It seemed like the burly fire mage suspected the other faculty and students might interfere in the competition.
“I care about the future of this place, even if the likes of you or Abbad might claim otherwise,” Brutus snapped, his eyes flashing as he inadvertently summoned his fire mana. “We mages have lived too long as…” He trailed off as more students passed, making a visible effort to calm himself.
“It doesn’t matter,” he grunted finally. “If I had to pick someone, it might as well be you. At least you don’t shrink from a fight. Plus, you have some big flaming balls on you – which you’re going to need.”
Finn was surprised. Those were some of the few words of kindness he had heard pass Brutus’ lips. Despite the man’s surly attitude and constant attempts to kill or maim him, he had helped Finn immensely. Training him. Sponsoring him. Although, that also reminded him of how Brutus had tried to hide Finn’s tattoo – presumably to protect him from something.
“And would that reason have something to do with this tattoo?” Finn asked, touching his right arm, but not pulling back the sleeve.
Brutus grimaced, lowering his voice. “You should take care with that mark. Many might not recognize it for what it is. But there are still mages here that remember the old gods. They will not take kindly to a Marked One.”
Awaken Online: Ember (Tarot #1) Page 22