by Ben Hale
Soph, as she preferred to called, shook her head and jinked past a trap in her way. "Not that I know of. Want to do a bait and switch?"
Tess grinned and nodded. "Lead the way!"
Soph sped in front of her and then turned in a tight circle toward the outer wall. Dropping low, she flew under the lowest of the planets. A blue flyer saw them coming and turned in their direction.
"Here we go," Soph called in a rising tone, and banked upward. Tess did the same. In seconds the blue flyer was on their tail.
Tess stayed with Soph as they weaved between the planets. Twice she dodged to avoid blasts of fire, and then Soph pumped her arm and plummeted through a gap between a planet's moons. Tess maintained her direction, and swerved to avoid another ball of fire. It struck a planet's surface and exploded. Tess barrel rolled to avoid the ensuing flames. She threw a look back just as Soph rose into view again—behind the blue flyer.
Tess whirled and raced directly toward the opponent, who recognized the trap. Catching the front tip of his board, he rocketed straight upward. Tess and Soph followed suit, launching balls of fire at him. Tess's attempt grazed him, causing him to evade harder, but his path took him into a blast from Soph. Just before it struck he launched four attacks in quick succession.
The four balls impacted at a gap that Soph and been flying toward, leaving her no place to go. She tried to brake and turn away, but she couldn't move fast enough. One of the fire balls caught her across the legs. She laughed in chagrin and waved to Tess as her board turned black and headed toward the shelf.
"Good luck, Tess!" she called.
Tess didn't get a chance to answer. A pair of blue flyers had witnessed the action and were coming after her. Tess called on the wind and accelerated away. Rising above the multitude of planets, she sought to get away by sheer speed. One of the pursuing flyers did the same, and accelerated after her.
She threw a glance backwards and recognized Shorn. The sight didn't cause her to relax. His face was a mask of determination and anticipation. Accelerating as fast as she dared, she swerved back and forth to keep her path unpredictable. Shorn kept pace with her, and shifted to her right.
Sensing the trap, Tess nevertheless dodged to the left—and then plummeted through a gap in the asteroid belt. She was forced to slow as the obstacles thickened. A moment later she broke free and turned toward her own star. Her path was blocked by Shorn's companion, who had flown to the bottom of the asteroid belt. Twin traps were in his hands, marking him as a detonator just before he hurled them toward her.
The black balls flew in her direction, pulsing with suppressed power. An instant later the detonator launched fireballs after the traps. Tess desperately sought for a place to escape, but there was nowhere to go. Shorn blocked off her escape route with blasts of air as the first trap exploded beside her. She jerked away and flew toward Shorn, hoping to slide past him.
He shook his head and launched a tornado directly at her, forcing her back. With nowhere to go and only seconds before she was out, she launched a fast volley of fire at them both. Shorn managed to evade, but one of her attacks struck the detonator in his shoulder.
He growled as his board darkened underneath him, but his traps had done their work. Fire exploded in the confines of the belt and enveloped her, cutting off her vision. On instinct, Tess cast a heat shield but it proved to be unnecessary. The heat was drawn into her board and it turned black.
"Nice try, Tess," Shorn said. He grinned and sped away.
Since they'd both been hit at the same time, she and the detonator glided toward the bench together, creating an awkward moment until the boy grunted. "Nice aim, Tess."
"Thanks, Brig," she replied. "You too."
The boy cast a surly grin in her direction but didn’t say any more. They reached the shelf together and stepped off their boards to allow others their turn. Out of breath, hot, and dissatisfied with her performance, she landed next to Parker, who flashed an appreciative grin.
"Two kills and an assist," he said. "Nice job."
Tess managed a smile and retreated to join the others that had been knocked out. Soph tilted her head in praise.
"You did more than the rest of us before you got burned," she said. "You should make the team handily."
"That's nice of you to say," Tess said.
Soph's eyes flicked over her shoulder. "Hey, check out Kyle," she said.
Tess turned and watched him perform a triple corkscrew into a sweeping back flip that took him behind the two red players pursuing him. Rotating his arms backward, he launched twin jets of flame that propelled him forward. He blew between them like they were standing still, and both were engulfed in the fire trails.
Soph whistled in appreciation. "Wish I could do that."
"I'm sure if we make the team, he will teach us," Tess said.
A few minutes later the tryout ended and Shorn soared to a position above the shelf. He gestured to a one of the players in blue, who obliged him with a sound amplifying spell. Then Shorn turned to address the spectators and players.
"Excellent job, everyone. As usual, we will be posting the four players that made it in the meal and leisure halls."
As the students began to file out, Shorn dropped to the shelf and kicked off his board. His eyes twinkled as he approached Tess.
"I must admit, you impressed me," Shorn said.
"I just hope I make it," Tess replied.
He turned his back on the rest of the players and then winked at her. "You'll find out soon enough." He flashed a grin as he departed.
Tess released an explosive breath. She'd never been on a team before, and she found the prospect exhilarating—and nerve-wracking. Why couldn't Shorn have told them now? Sighing, she removed her red cloak and placed it with the others. Then she flew through the shield. A handful of people had waited for her, but Mike and Laura were the first to her side.
"You are a gold mine, Tess," Mike said.
Laura's agreement was almost fervent. "You're perfect!"
Tess laughed. "It's good to see you too. How much did you earn off me today? And did you bet for—or against me?"
Mike feigned a wounded expression. "We would never dream of gambling—ˮ
"For," Laura said, "And plenty."
Mike and Tess laughed in unison, and Tess felt a rush of gratitude for their friendship. The couple had taken Intro to Flight with her last quad, and they had been friends since. Both were quite skilled, but had no desire to play the games. They preferred counting the odds, and doing it together. Tess could not recall a time where either of them had been without the other. Then Iris, Rox, and Derek joined them, interrupting her thoughts.
"Do you think you made the team?" Rox asked.
"Did you see her bait and switch?" Iris exploded. "And two kills!"
"I thought you didn't watch this game," Derek said. He smothered a laugh as his sister rounded on him.
"Attractive boys on boards," she said sharply. "How often do I need to remind you that I am a female?"
Derek put up his hands to placate her. "Alright, I was wrong. You can watch it as much as you like."
She fell to muttering under her breath as Laura nudged Tess. "What?" Tess asked, and then turned to look where Laura was indicating.
The group fell silent as they witnessed the planets begin to move. The sun, stars, planets, and asteroids of the constellation Centaurus groaned in protest as they were moved lower into the arena. Vast doors opened in the stone on either side and allowed the celestial objects to file in. In minutes the arena was empty.
"I thought they only moved the planets before a game," Laura said.
"They do," Derek said, his brow furrowing.
Iris shook her head. "Then why do it now?"
The answer came as a handful of cloaked teachers strode onto the ground at the base of the arena and set to work. Whole trees blossomed into view, rocks appeared and hardened, and small forts ballooned into shape. Piles of rock and scattered trees littered the groun
d, creating a labyrinth of twisting paths and hiding places. Small hills and valleys gave the new terrain a realistic feel, and fortified buildings dotted the space. A moment later the huge bubble shield that had protected the crowd flickered and faded from sight.
"What is it?" Rox asked.
"It's a battlefield," Derek replied evenly.
Tess blinked in realization. "The new Melee," Tess said. "This is where they want us to fight."
"But the Melee isn't for five weeks," Rox said. "Why are they doing this now?"
Mike issued a grunt. "Look at Grayson. He's over there talking to a couple of other teachers. I would bet anything they are planning what they want the Melee to look like."
"Of course they are," Laura said. "They've put a lot of planning into this. Besides, when Hawk suggested the idea to the school—"
Tess whirled to face them. "How do you know about Hawk?"
"It's our business to know," Mike said with a shrug. "Hawk is the leader of a secret organization dedicated to protecting the peace between mages and aurens."
"You don't tell anyone about it, do you?" Rox demanded.
"Of course not," Laura scoffed. "I did say it was secret, didn't I? We only manage the betting for those who already know about the Guild."
"Wait," Tess said. "Hawk is the reason for this new Melee?" she turned to Iris, who nodded.
"I thought you knew," Iris said apologetically.
Tess’s stomach felt heavy as she turned back to the changing arena. Like adding a crucial piece to a puzzle, she now understood the reason behind the Melee. Hawk wanted to prepare much more than just her.
He wanted the entire school trained for combat.
Chapter 16: Trained by a Swordsman
The next few weeks passed quickly, and Tess felt a steadily rising tension within her, like a chain tightening to the breaking point. She wondered which link would snap first. She suspected it would be one of her classes.
Every day was a blur of classes, tutors, homework, and Tempest practice, which was quickly becoming the only thing she did not dread. She hardly noticed the colors of the school changing to fall until Derek pointed it out to her. Tess had felt a twinge of guilt when he did, because she'd been forced to turn down his invitation for a fall picnic. She had too much on her schedule to think about him, even if she wanted to.
Rubbing the ache in her neck, she donned her glasses and checked her schedule for the hundredth time. The symbol for a new tutor appeared, and she activated her compass to know where to meet him. Numb with fatigue, she slowly climbed into the air, not really caring who the tutor was or what his subject would be.
She thought of Iris as she flew, and wished her roommate had found out something about the Crest. Tess had taken to asking her every evening, and last night she had snapped.
"I'll tell you when I find something," Iris had responded. "Now stop nagging me or I won't get anything done.
Tess sighed, and tried to the put the encounter from her mind. Iris was right. She would tell Tess when she succeeded. It was just that Tess felt like nothing was progressing. Hawk had said nothing about the Sword, and Iris had found nothing Oracle's Crest. Tess would have started searching on her own, but knew it would be a waste of time. Iris worked far faster than she could.
Grunting in resignation, she followed the gold filament her glasses displayed to the library south of the stadium. At one time the ancient castle had represented the entire Tryton's Academy of Magic. Relegated to the position of school library, the building was rapidly fading into obscurity due to the rise of techno mages. It seemed few students had a desire to read a book anymore.
The moment she stepped inside her glasses led her downstairs to the lower levels of the fortress. She'd never been in this part of the castle before, but she wasn't surprised to find it filled with books. Odd circles and runes were carved into the floors, walls, and even the ceilings, but were faded with time and covered with tall bookshelves.
Turning the last corner, she entered a chamber similar to those she'd passed—but its contents were vastly different. Rectangular in shape, the chamber was the size of a school gym. Rusted brackets were mounted on every inch of wall space, and the floor boasted several large circles. Old wood railings bordered the rings, and she vaguely recalled they were training circles.
The moment she entered her gaze fell on the single occupant. Tall and slender, the man wore a black shirt, dark pants, and an odd cloak. She blinked as she stared at it, unable to identify its enchantment. Then she met the man's gaze. His eyes were a forbidding grey, and seemed to bore right through her.
The man's expression inspired caution, so when she joined him inside the nearest ring she kept her distance. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Are you my tutor?"
The man didn't move for long enough that she considered repeating the question. Just as she opened her mouth he exploded into motion. She flinched in surprise, and by the time she'd blinked he'd crossed the distance and placed a sword at her throat.
"Lesson one," he said mildly, "is to be wary. The wise warrior has open eyes."
She was breathing hard, both in disbelief at how fast he'd moved, and the edge of steel at her jugular. "How did you do that?"
His sword disappeared, causing her to flinch again. "I am the Swordsman, and I will be your tutor today. To answer your question, I used a speed spell."
"What's a speed spell?" Tess asked. Her heartbeat had regained its normal rhythm, but she still had to force the question out.
"Body magic encompasses a broad spectrum of spells," he said. "But they essentially fall into two categories. Draining spells weaken your enemy. Enhancement spells increase your own abilities, or that of an ally.
"A speed charm increases response time, acceleration, and muscular speed. I have been informed that you do not have the time to master body magic, so I will focus on the most useful spells. If you can learn them, you should be able to learn the others on your own."
"I didn't think I was studying body magic this term," she said.
He shrugged. "Mastery is gained from the acceptance of opportunities. If you don't care to use this one then you are free to go, and I won't waste my time."
"No," she said hastily. "I would rather learn when I can. What's first?"
"Lesson two," the Swordsman replied. "Never place two enhancement spells on the same person."
"Why not? Wouldn't that make them stronger?"
"You should know by now that every magic has its weakness. Healing magic cannot create energy, it can only help a person heal themselves. Techno mages see all live signals, so they struggle with distractions. Fire magic is volatile, and difficult to control, and so on. The weakness to body magic is temptation."
"What do you mean?"
"Casting an enhancement spell is like a drug. With such a spell active you will be able to perform feats of strength, speed, and movement unlike anything you have ever experienced. You can enhance your vision, healing, or even your senses. If you apply more than one, it can be intoxicating—and causes a withdrawal effect when the spells are terminated. It will leave you shaky, weak, and confused. Doing so repeatedly can lead to addiction-like symptoms."
The Swordsman's expression was sufficient warning for her to take his words seriously. "I understand. What happens now?"
He flashed a slight grin and swept his hand at the circle. "You practice. Normally this is the point your professor would tell you to use your magesight, but we will skip that. In most cases, you will need to call on your power of instinct. There won't be time for you to think about what you want, use your mage sight, and then cast a spell. Just like with stone and healing, body magic is more of an innate sense than a visual one. Are you ready?"
"I think so," Tess replied.
"Then stand in the middle of the training circle and jump to the ceiling," The Swordsman replied. "And don't use your gravity magic."
Tess stepped to the middle and looked up uneasily. "It's over thirty feet high," she said
. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"Take a deep breath and use your magic to feel the energy in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Draw more energy into your legs, your stomach, and your arms. When you feel ready to jump, don't hesitate."
Tess bent her knees a little and did as he suggested. She closed her eyes, and tried to feel the energy within her body. It was easy to feel the strength in her muscles bunch and gather, as if they wanted to do more. Adding her magic was a different matter. She hadn't realized before, but her magic was used to gathering in her chest and arms.
Spreading it to her feet felt like pushing against an unfamiliar dam. She strove to push the energy through, and a single drop coalesced near her waist and melted into her muscles. It sent a spark of heat through her. Taking that as a sign she was doing things correctly, she pushed harder.
Drop by drop her magic trickled into her muscles. She marveled at the resulting surge of strength. The dam that held her magic gradually allowed more through, but retained its resistance despite her effort to dispel it. After another few minutes she grew frustrated, and opened her eyes.
"I think I'm ready," she said.
The Swordsman gave a curt nod. "Then jump."
She did, and for a split second felt a surge of might. It was like striking a pure note on a musical instrument, and her body responded with perfection. She felt her feet leave the floor, and her body lifted upward. The result was disappointing. She doubted she'd gotten more than a few feet off the ground.
Granted, it was higher than she could have jumped. The one time she'd played basketball the kids had said she jumped like a T-Rex. Jumping had not been a frequent occurrence after that.
"It was good—for a first attempt," the Swordsman said.
"When would I use this spell?" Tess asked. "I can fly."
To emphasize her point she kicked off the ground and floated in a lazy circle around him. His look of disapproval was all the warning she received. Then he leapt across the distance and caught her throat in his free hand. Startled, her magic evaporated as he slammed her into the ground. She fought for breath as he withdrew.