The Sword of Elseerian: The White Mage Saga #2 (The Chronicles of Lumineia)

by Ben Hale

  They launched into a discussion of how Brokins School of Magic favored the Oritz defensive layout, and how Tess's dual fire and wind ability could break through it. Tess listened and responded, but most of her attention was on her roommate. Due to space limitations, each player was allowed to bring just one friend for the game. Tess had chosen Iris, but now wished she'd gone with her first instinct and invited Derek. The occasional hostility between him and Shorn had made her reluctant, but now she thought it would have been fine.

  The hour passed quickly, and Tess did the best she could to relax. This term was being anything but mundane, and she found herself envious of the other students. They speculated about the Magtherian reports as if they were distant events, and segued directly into classes and girlfriends. Tess almost laughed as she heard it. To her the mage world was deadly serious, and school was about trying to prevent a war, not hanging out with friends. Worried about her roommate, she tried to relax as the hour passed.

  She was pulled from her thoughts as the sundrop tipped downward. They descended quickly, but the vessel stayed mostly level throughout the decline. Soon they were just a hundred feet off the Pacific Ocean, and then fifty. Tess began to feel nervous as she saw the water begin to react to their passage, and she imagined the sundrop shattering on impact, sending glass shards through its occupants.

  "Where's the city?" Tess asked. There was still nothing but ocean in every direction.

  "Just ahead," Parker said, and grinned at her discomfort.

  Tess felt a flash of annoyance at him, but didn't get the chance to act on it. Ahead of them, a whirlpool had appeared in the ocean. Curling in ever faster circles, the small whirlpool sucked down into the water, creating a dark hole into the depths. Then it shifted sideways.

  Like a slanted underwater tornado, the whirlpool created a tunnel that bored into the water at a casual slant large enough to accommodate the sundrop. A moment later they flew into it.

  Visible through the glass exterior of the sundrop, the swirling water calmed, until it resembled the surface of a pond. Tess was stunned. As far as she could tell, nothing held the water at bay. There was no thick plastic, like in an aquarium, or anything else keeping the water in place.

  Ahead, Tess spotted an underwater object that resolved into clarity as they approached. She gasped as she realized it was a massive dome of air that rested on an underwater island. The city of Brokins wasn't on the water.

  It was under it.

  Chapter 27: Brokins

  They began to decelerate as they approached the dome, and a moment later burst into open air. Tess's gaze was drawn upward, and she saw the entire dome was well beneath the surface of the ocean.

  They had entered Brokins close to the underwater island's beach. The sundrop swept into a banking curve that left it pointing back to the sea, and then settled into a hover off the ground. As the students began to disembark, Tess gazed at the secret city in wonder.

  The city of Brokins was almost as large as Auroraq, and was built on a pinnacle of rock rising from the depths of the Pacific. The dome that protected it was an enormous bubble of smooth water. Sunlight streamed through the water and into the city, dampened only slightly by its depth from the ocean surface.

  The center of Brokins was built like a tiered cone. Rising to a point, the tower displayed mostly blue and silver coloring and was supported by great, sweeping arches. The top of the water dome had been left open, allowing seawater to fall into a large waterfall. Cascading onto the tower, it split into three branches. The trio of rivers created a network of smaller waterfalls that coursed over and through buildings on its way to the bottom.

  The various levels of the city carried an air of pristine elegance, and were fashioned of a mixture of coral overlaid with water. Residents wore blue or silver cloaks, and strolled through meandering walkways that crisscrossed the city and curved between waterfalls. Reservoirs of seawater dotted the tiers, and each was filled with an abundance of plant and animal life.

  Bridges arced their way across the streams in a graceful counterpoint to the rivers beneath, connecting the various tiers, buildings, and gardens. Statues of liquid water stood wreathed in light amidst the paths, adding to the atmosphere of the city.

  Marked by a quartet of smaller towers, the school of Brokins was easy to locate on the northern arc of the city. Dominating almost a third of the space, the school mirrored the architecture of the city, yet was separated from it by a meandering wall of water that connected to the dome. Fish swam directly from the ocean into it.

  Brokins School for Mages was shaped like a giant eye. A stadium similar to the one at Tryton's dominated the center. Buildings of coral, shells, and dark stones surrounded it. Sloped and rolling, a wide section of grounds ringed the school, and was filled with underwater and surface flora. A small forest grew thick across one point, while a lush garden grew across the opposite end. At the extreme ends, small inlets contained sandy beaches. Waves rolled like a breaking surf onto them, unperturbed that they were hundreds of feet underwater.

  Despite the grandeur of the city, it was the region outside the dome that drew Tess's attention. On all sides the ocean had been visibly brightened, allowing for an unprecedented view of the sea's denizens. Schools of fish swam around a vibrant coral reef that grew just outside the dome. Several dolphins played and careened above the city, disappearing from view as they jumped into the air above.

  Bright colored fish swam through the aquatic ferns and tendrils of coral plants while stealthy reef sharks hunted in their wake. Stingrays glided across the sandy bottom, and an octopus lurked in the shadows nearby. The stunning display was panoramic and backlit by an ambient light, giving it an almost aquarium feel.

  "What's the dome made of?" Tess asked. She stepped out of the sundrop and glided to the beach.

  Parker flew to her side. "Come and see for yourself," he said, and led her closer to the dome. "Touch it."

  She hesitated, and then reached out to the smooth surface. To her astonishment her fingers passed right into the material. She flinched away, and her hand came away wet.

  "It's aquaglass," Parker said with a laugh. He reached out and shoved his hand right through the barrier, causing a pair of striped fish to dart away. He withdrew it and wiggled his drenched arm. "It's incredible, isn't it?"

  She followed his example, and inserted her arm into the water. It felt like plunging her hand through the surface of a lake, and she had a brief sense of vertigo that it was sideways. On impulse she pushed her face into the dome wall. Water washed over her and she tasted salt. She withdrew and dried herself with a wave of her hand. Then she dried Parker's hand.

  "Thanks," he said.

  "What's it made of?" Tess asked in wonder. "It feels like water. Shouldn't it be solid?"

  "Aquaglass is water," Parker replied. "Have you ever seen how water seems to have a solid surface to it? Like if you put a few drops on a penny and it makes a bubble? Aquaglass is a charm that enhances that natural bond. It sounds simple, but I understand it's an incredibly complex spell."

  The octopus slid out of its hole in the coral and began to hunt. Tess gestured to it. "Do the fish ever pass through the aquaglass?"

  "Not really," Parker said. "The nature of the enchantment creates a slight current. They kind of get shocked if they do."

  "How does that work?"

  "How should I know?" Parker said, his voice amused. "I'm not a water mage. You can ask one of the Brokins professors, though. They are renowned for their water mastery."

  "You guys coming?" Shorn called, causing them both to turn.

  The rest of the team had already gathered their boards and were hovering in the air waiting for them. Parker grinned and jumped into the air with Tess right behind. A couple of the other players tossed them their boards as they approached.

  "Enjoying the sights?" Shorn asked.

  "You could have warned me," Tess said.

  "And given away the surprise?" He laughed. "Not a chance. But w
e need to get going. The game starts in an hour."

  Tess glanced around for Iris, but saw that the other students from Tryton's were gone. Then she spotted them walking down a path toward the stadium. Iris stalked in the middle of them, and didn't look back. Tess felt a flash of annoyance and decided to ignore her for now. She had enough to deal with already.

  "Let's go," Tess said. For the first time in a long time, she felt a touch of excitement. "We have a game to play."

  Thirty minutes later Tess was donning her white team cloak. She felt a flutter in her stomach as she did. It was the first time she'd ever worn a team uniform. She found it to be both exhilarating and sobering. It didn't help matters that her mind was a tangle of contradicting thoughts.

  Iris was prominent in her mind. Tess struggled between annoyance and regret toward her, and couldn't seem to resolve how to handle the situation. Underlying every thought, her knowledge about the Harbingers had a nasty habit of cropping up at inconvenient times. Since she'd arrived it kept reminding her that she needed to get to know students and teachers from Brokins. Hawk had said repeatedly that they needed allies outside of Tryton's.

  Despite her convoluted emotions, she felt a rising sense of worldly anxiety about the impending game. A part of her wanted to prove that she was deserving of her spot on the team. It may have been a game, but if she burned out early there would be many who would likely lose faith in her.

  Her hands shook, so she clenched them into tight balls and tried to breathe her emotions out. It didn't help, but it did distract her. Iris, the Sword, Tempest, allies, the thoughts bombarded her, demanding her attention. She jumped when a hand settled onto her shoulder.

  "You alright?" Parker asked.

  Tess sought to calm her rapid heart rate and forced a nod. Then she shook her head.

  "Don't worry about it," Parker said, and settled into a seat beside her. He was already dressed in his cloak, gauntlets, and gloves, and had his helmet in one hand. "I nearly puked before my first game."

  "How long did you last?" she asked.

  "I burned out in sixty seconds," he replied. He flashed a wry smile. "I got better."

  She opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated. She threw a glance around the chamber but no one was paying attention.

  "Can I be honest with you?" she asked quietly. If anyone would understand, it would be him. And she did need allies.

  "Sure," he said. His smile faded as he seemed to hear the seriousness in her tone.

  "The reason I was stung before . . .," she began, and then sighed. "I just feel the weight of everything, you know?"

  "I do," he said, and his characteristic smile was gone. "I don't think I've told you, but I'm an only child, and my parents were aurens. They didn't find out until I was older that I was a mage."

  "What happened?"

  "I went to dive into a pool and floated up to the roof instead."

  "Oh."

  He smirked, but it held no humor. "Yeah. A mage came within an hour and told my parents I carried enough magical blood to be a mage. I thought my dad was having a heart attack."

  "So what's wrong?" she asked. His tone was darker than she would have expected from the story.

  "They were terrified others would find out," Parker said quietly. "For a while they forbade me from practicing. My older brothers were jealous, and knocked me around whenever they could. When I defended myself with magic I was punished. When I didn't I got hurt. I didn't show up for my first term at Tryton's and a mage came to find out why. My parents were adamant that I not attend, but I went with him. I haven't talked to them since I came to Tryton's."

  He withdrew a small letter from his pocket. It was sealed in a clear container to keep it from being damaged. "Someday I hope to return home and give them this, to let them know I turned out alright. I don't know if it would make a difference after all this time, but I want to give it to them anyway."

  "I'm sorry, Parker," she said. "Families should never do such a thing." Was mine so abnormal?

  He shrugged and grinned, but it seemed forced. "I just thought you should know that I have something to live up to as well, and it isn't easy trying to prove yourself to parents that don't even want to know you."

  His comment hit home, and she swallowed at the sudden knot in her throat. Then Shorn stood up and addressed the team, ending their conversation.

  "Stick to our strategy," Shorn said, "and we should be fine." His gaze swept the room. "We represent Tryton's. I know you won't let me down."

  The team gathered their boards and swept from the room, excited and ready for the game. Tess caught Parker's arm. When he turned back she said, "Thanks, Parker."

  "For what?"

  "For telling me what I needed to hear," she said.

  He grinned, and she was grateful to see it was genuine. "Let's scorch 'em," he said, and donned his helmet.

  She grinned, and joined him as they walked to the great doors that swung open as they approached. A rising roar swept the stadium as they exited onto a porch that overlooked the stadium. Unlike at Tryton's, the team shelves were located at the two ends of the stadium, and were elevated to the height of the stands.

  Spreading out before her, the constellation Orion waited for them. Three suns formed a belt across the center of the arena. Large planets were fixed in space around it, and were positioned to look like legs, arms, and the head of a hunter. Their exit had brought them out to face the feet of the formation. Smaller planets, asteroids and a single comet floated and drifted under, above, and through the figure, presenting an ever changing battlefield for the game.

  A cacophony of emotions swept through her as she looked down on the tremendous crowd. At this point she was certain everyone knew who she was. She had no doubt everything she did would be scrutinized after the game. Along with her team she smiled and waved, and buried her uncertainties where they wouldn't show.

  "Brokins and Tryton's students," a voice boomed, "Take your positions."

  Shorn gave the traditional salute and then kicked his board off the shelf. It tumbled downward, but he leapt after it and smoothly landed on its surface. Banking out of the fall, he headed for the Tryton's star. The crowd cheered as the rest of the team followed suit. Tess was near the rear, and it gave her the chance to collect her resolve before she tossed her board off and dived after it.

  She caught the board with her feet and swerved after her team. As she'd been trained, she took up a position at the back of the starting formation. Her teammates glided into a spherical shape around their star. All the fire mages stretched their arms to it, preparing to gather their magic. Tess did the same, and hoped the tremble in her arm was not visible to the spectators.

  In the stillness before the whistle, she tried to calm her racing heart.

  Chapter 28: Orion

  The whistle blew, and their formation disintegrated in a burst of movement. Wind flyers bolted toward the belt of suns for the preliminary reconnaissance. More than one team had lost because the opposing players had assaulted early. Their first job was to warn the fire mages if the other team did that.

  Tess sucked fire onto her forearms, but did so cautiously. Shorn had repeatedly said that he preferred them to be a few seconds late over having a hasty spell blow up in their faces, an accident that could decimate their team. Still, she finished fourth out of the flyers. Kyle sealed his spell a fraction behind her, and flashed a grin at their timing. All of them listened to the reports coming from the speed flyers up front.

  "Detonators are moving to lay traps below and behind their star," Brig said.

  "And on the right flank," Julian said. "It looks like they are going for a left sweep. Speed flyers coming in now."

  Shorn called out their orders in response, using the helmet coreless link to speak to those not present. "Parker, take Kyle, Tess, and Lisa up the right flank. Take the high road and go for the belt. If they are going to abandon the right sun, take advantage of it. Speeds, drop to the deck and make them think you are try
ing for their star. Try to distract them while our detonators get their traps into position. Detonators, you know what to do."

  Their team burst into motion, and Tess followed her lieutenant. As the newest member of their team, she took up the trailing position in the diamond formation, and guarded their backs. This early in the game it was unlikely there would be anyone behind them, but she took her role seriously and constantly checked their wake for signs of pursuers.

  In the lead, Parker swerved hard to avoid a coasting planet and dodged its rings as it rotated. Then he accelerated between two larger moons. Passing the center of the arena, he rolled into a dive that headed straight for the right sun.

  "Incoming on the right," Parker yelled, and stabbed a finger at a similar quartet of flyers racing to intercept them. "Lisa and Tess, flank from below. Kyle and I will engage."

  They split, and Tess followed Lisa around a swirling blue planet. They hugged the outside wall before arcing underneath its moon. In unison, they stepped on the back of their boards and pointed upward. Above them Parker and Kyle were hard pressed from the four in blue. Their leader must have decided to eliminate them before going after the girls.

  Blasts of flame closed the distance from both sides as everyone fought for an advantage. In the span of three seconds four fireballs grazed Parker and Kyle, with each getting closer than the last. Then Lisa and Tess struck from below. Tess launched a ball of fire at the underside of one board. She missed, but it caused the blue flyer to flinch away as it streaked past him. Lisa took advantage of the boy's reflex. Her blow struck true, and the boy's board was enveloped in fire. He shouted a warning as his board turned toward the Brokins bench.

  The other three turned to see what was occurring, but that was a mistake. Parker and Kyle struck from the front at the same time Lisa and Tess attacked from below. Caught in the middle, the Brokins players unleashed a barrage in both directions. Tess swerved apart from Lisa as a torrent of flames blossomed toward them.