by P. Tempest
“What will you have sir?” the waitress asked as her shadow fell over me.
“Could I have the bacon, sausages and eggs please and a tea too?” I asked.
“Of course you can, we have a wide selection of teas. Do you have a preference?” she queried
“Not really” I answered, choices of teas were beyond me this early in the morning.
“Okay then, your breakfast won't be long and I’ll be over with your tea. I’ll pick something, if you don't like it we can always try something else.” she sauntered off with what could optimistically be called a spring, but more realistically a lurch would describe it better.
Within moments she was back with a small ceramic pot and a cup. Steam was curling from the spout, the delightful no-nonsense scent of black tea was wafting gently from it.
“Here you go. This one is my favourite a strong tea infused with a vigour charm. It’s grown in enchanted soil. It stays fresh for a long time as well as tasting great.” her voice nearly vibrating with eagerness.
“It smells wonderful, thank you.” I said. I breathed deeply of the invigorating fragrance. It smelt perfect.
She rushed off to the kitchen. I guessed to fetch my breakfast.
While I waited I reached out to pour a cup of the tea. My left hand grasped the smooth handle of the pot. It was surprisingly cool as I poured the tea steam rose in gentle eddies from the cup.
The waitress was just coming out of the kitchen carrying a large plate.
“Here you go, I’ll be back in a moment to take your payment.” she said as she placed my order in front of me.
My stomach chose this time to demand food, I agreed. I picked up the utensils in front of me and attacked the bacon, lightly crisped, it was perfect. I lost myself momentarily, in the act of eating. Obviously I wasn't paying attention, my new and fairly annoying sight chose that instant to manifest.
My food glowed. My tea unsurprisingly had glimmers of what felt like the vigour charm, but my food glowing was a slight shock. I knew the meat would likely be kept in a chill-charmed room. This glow seemed to be something else. The glimmers had a depth that I would never have guessed while it was faint it was pervasive. It was safe, maybe I just hadn't been able to truly see the world until now.
The glowing food tasted exactly the same as before. What the glow was must have been the essence of bacon.
That thought made me attempt to laugh. Laughing with bacon in your mouth is not a good plan. I started choking.
The waitress had heard me and was rushing over. She smacked me on the back, hard. The offending bacon flew out of my throat. Sweet air flowed in. I gasped out my thanks.
She nodded, an indecisive look passed over her face before she said “That will be two knacks please”
I held out my credit shard, a tiny touch of magic transferred the money to the business’ account. Their payment device was behind the counter. The touch just said how much and to where it went. Nearly dying ignobly on bacon would have put a lesser man off his breakfast but I am made of sterner stuff. I thought while ignoring my shaking hands.
I wrapped my hands around the warmth of my teacup, few gentle sips. The warmth coated my tongue bringing with it the earthy, faintly nutty taste of the tea, a strong after taste of nutmeg lingered in my mouth. It left me with the greatest feeling of being in the woods in the autumn, the crunch of the leaves, the scents in the air. My shaking vanished. I could feel the vigour seeping into me from the tea. This was good tea.
I put down my cup and resumed eating, splitting my focus between eating, drinking the wonderful tea and keeping my sight under control reduced my enjoyment slightly. I finished quickly. I stood up feeling strong and ready to face the day, bacon incident not being counted. A nod to the waitress who had once again saved me, this time from bacon instead of the curious probing questions of a child, then I walked slowly through the door.
“Good morning Tristan” Jase greeted me as I walked into Rysan’s office.
“Morning Jase, do we have any news on the seniors?” I asked. Taking a look around while we spoke. Jase was sat at Rysan’s desk, Orb hovering around him. A mess of shard littered the desk, Orb was extending faint threads to them, uploading and downloading was my guess.
“Actually we have. The conclave is ended. Rysan should be on his way back soon.” Jase said, a smirk creased his lips, merriment glittered in his eyes.
“Well at least it’s over, any idea on what it was about?” I asked, ignoring his amusement.
“No, seniors only. I'm sure we'll find out what we need to know when he's back.” Jase said his smirk fading slightly.
I didn't ask about the haunted look that had appeared on his face, some things I just didn't need to know, one of them is his past.
“Orb tells me you have developed reading. You can handle it?” Jase asked. Concern tinged his voice.
“Apart from the visions and a couple of control hiccups, I'm doing alright with it, I think.” I answered hesitantly.
“Good I will inform the wizards, they will plan your training accordingly.” Jase waved his left hand in a sweeping gesture. “Do you know when you are back at the stone guild?”
“No, Lyphia was vague. Did you know about the guild master?” I asked
“Yes, we used to work together, he's actually one of the reasons I got assigned here. You know about the project, don't you?” Jase said.
“No I don't” I answered.
“I won't go into to the details but the general idea is, to promote magic. To show its use in everyday life. The wizards don't want to just rule, they want to usher in an era where there is no needless suffering. No hunger. No disease. It’s idealistic but it could be possible. The project takes place here and in Greenlaw. Think of here as a trial run. The few other areas are far less developed due to the wave’s damage," Jase briefly explained. His doubts were plain in his tone but so was his hope. He wanted it to work.
“That is ambitious," I hedged.
“Yes it is, but its early days yet. The mages have only recently gotten established. The foundry was a setback. It never worked as well as some of the other trial designs. We have so few talented enchanters so we couldn't spare them to work there, but look how far we have come in the last few years.” Jase’s movements had gotten more pronounced as he spoke, his excitement was infectious. He had stood up and walked closer, almost pacing as he tried to convey the majesty of the project.
“Yeah we have come far. You brought up the foundry, do we have any leads on what happened?” I asked forcefully, I had heard nothing more about the explosion, the silence was bothering me.
“A few, nothing substantial yet. Don't you worry, my boy, we will get to the bottom of it.” Jase said sympathetically, his hand came to rest lightly on my shoulder giving me a gentle squeeze before letting go.
“Thank you Jase. I need to know that so many didn't die for nothing. I failed to save them but I will not let them have died for nothing.” my eyes welled up as I spoke my fists clenched the pain of failure burned through me. The cost of it, still staggers me. I brought up a fist to dash the tears from my eyes.
Jase was clearly uncomfortable with my outburst, he cleared his throat and turned away briefly. Giving me a moment to collect myself.
“Jase, what am I doing today?” I asked my voice slightly choked up still.
Jase turned back his smile creeping back slowly. “You have advanced enchanting today. You may remember I fast tracked your training, enchantment, battle effects, crafting. As you develop, you may get more say over the direction of your training. I would give you some alchemy but you never showed any aptitude for it.” Jase’s smile was huge by this point.
I groaned, Jase would never let me live down my early failures, it was one of the few that could be looked back on with amusement though at least by others. I had been green for a month.
“I have no idea how you messed up that badly,” he stuttered out between laughs. “A simple cloth dye. You were gr -gre- green,�
� he finally gave in to the laughter, tears streamed down his face as he hooted.
I gritted my teeth and waited as patiently as I could. It was a few moments till Jase could finish explaining my day’s duties to me.
“Your training will be with enchanter Fion for your enchanting. Your stone guild placement should assist with enchanting and your crafting.” Jase informed me, his face still wet and red from his little fit of amusement at my expense.
“I have never heard of this enchanter before," I stated.
“He's just come to Westhaven, he's old and doesn't enjoy having students. He designed most of the systems we use today. I told him about you and your abilities with golems. He's curious but I couldn’t get more out of him. Don't annoy him. He's an unpleasant person to deal with," Jase stopped briefly to look at me sternly.
I looked him straight in the eye and nodded seriously, I wanted him to know I had taken his warning.
“He's brilliant, focus on what he says and does. Please bear in mind that he's rather odd like most of the older mages.”
I smiled, remembering the guild master.
“He should be at the academy but he could be anywhere. He won't wear a pendant and he doesn't answer to anyone but the wizards, so no complaining to me, understood?” he asked almost off hand, he was already walking back to Rysan’s chair.
“Yes I understand Jase,” I said before turning towards the door.
“Oh Tristan, Rysan will be back soon, so I may not be around headquarters as much. Do stop by the academy, I have enjoyed working with you again,” Jase said plaintively.
I turned to look over my shoulder, he was looking hard at the glyph-screen, I couldn't see his face. I didn't know what to say to that.
“Of course Jase” I said my default response.
Why was Jase sad, what was I missing here? I asked myself before going through the door.
The way to the academy was busy, it was still early in the morning. There were a great many people on the streets, clearly going to and from work. So many were smiling which I took as a good sign. Clouds drifted across the sky slowly, occasionally blocking the sun, creating shadows that ran through the streets like children playing.
The academy loomed above me, despite coming here fairly frequently lately, the prison of my own choice intimidated me still.
The entrance was well lit again, as I walked along the smooth hard stone, I noticed more of the glyph screens on the walls were active, more than I had seen in my years here. At the reception desk was a real person, I almost walked past her out of habit. I had never seen anyone man this desk, Jase had been waiting for me what was her reason.
“Excuse me Sir you can't go down that hall” she said calmly, her dark eyes firmly locked on me.
I stopped in my tracks.
“I’m Mage Representative Tristan Sodden, I'm here to see Enchanter Fion, he is expecting me.” I replied firmly
She tucked a stray lock of her brown hair behind an ear before speaking. “Enchanter Fion may well be expecting you, but I can't let you down there without notifying him or checking your clearance.”
“Who are you and why are you here?” I finally asked. It had been bothering me.
“Me? Well I'm Kristina Iris, I'm part of the enchanters team.” she checked the glyph-screen, her eyes widened in surprise “I'm sorry Sir I didn't mean to disturb you, I was only doing my job.” she continued, gradually getting more upset.
“You still haven't told me what you are doing here? And why are you snivelling at me?” I asked bewildered, crying women again.
“Sir, I'm sorry, Sir. I'm here with the enchanter’s team, to help preparations for the restoration of the great road.” she sobbed out.
I walked closer to the desk to offer some comfort, she recoiled as if I was some sort of monster.
“No, Sir I’m fine, sorry Sir.” she babbled out in what sounded like fear.
“Why are you scared of me?” I asked gently
“It’s nothing Sir, please I'm just being silly, you are cleared, you have full access to this facility," she rushed the words.
“Can you please tell me where to go?” I enquired.
She nodded before tapping lightly on the glyph-screen a glowing green wisp appeared to my right.
“That will take you to the right place Sir.” she said her voice still affected by the emotion of a moment ago.
“Thank you” I replied softly.
The wisp seemed to detect my intent to move and went ahead of me. I did the only thing I could I followed it.
My path through the academy, was swift thanks to the wisp, the change in this place startled me. There was light everywhere, glowing screens in the walls displayed various abstract images that after about the sixth one I realised was a colour coded map of the building.
The wisp led me higher than I had been before, the ninth level, senior mages' residence. The hall was sumptuous, with old style paintings of landscapes places I had never seen. I stopped at one. It was a scene of the ocean, small scaled figures danced on the crests of some of the waves. I leaned closer, the scent of the oils in the paint was faint, a sharp sting in my nose, I could see the figures were female, they must have been sprites, water spirits.
The wisp had carried on without me a few paces ahead it stopped in front of a door. Wooden and old the varnish had chipped in places. I could hear a man's voice clearly through the door.
“What do you mean you have sent a murderer up to see me girl?” He screeched, “Pull yourself together I don't care for your nonsense.”
He was clearly talking to someone but I couldn't hear the other side of the conversation. I contemplated knocking but decided against it. Whatever was going on in there I wanted no part of.
“Girl, did you say Tristan?” he asked then nothing for a moment. “Jase’s boy?” silence again.
Who was he talking to about me? I wondered.
“His file? For magic’s sake, make sense Kristina. What about his file?” another lull. “That boy is no murderer, you stupid girl. He's a mage, he walked out of a nightmare and you treat him like that. Jase told me all about it. Stop your blubbering. Enough," he shouted the last loud enough to make me start.
I very nearly lost my balance when the door opened suddenly. Standing in front of me was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall, shoulders that could carry me easily. A compact frame that still had a respectable about of muscle despite his age. He had to be in his late fifties judging by the deep wrinkles on his face. His mouth was set in a harsh line.
“What are you doing? Listening at my door?” he shouted, his voice was strong with an accent I couldn't place.
“I’m sorry sir, I heard a conversation I didn't want to interrupt you.” I said apologetically. I had to take a small step back to see his face clearly.
His bright blue eyes shone down at me as if searching for something. “Well no harm done. Don't be snivelling at me boy, I get enough of it from that knacking pixie downstairs.” he said firmly with a shrug of his massive shoulders.
“I’m Tristan Sodden, Sir I was sent for training with you I believe.” I stated as calmly as I could. I met his eyes, the glow in them was intense, a strange blending of colours that somehow enhanced the blue of his natural colouring
“Your Jase’s boy, he's spoke about you for years. I’m Enchanter Mage Fion Devin if you want to get all fancy about it. Don’t. Call me Fion,” he said before stepping back into the room. “Come in and dismiss that wisp," his arm swept in front of him as he turned allowing me passage and a clear indicator of where he wanted me to go.
I took a moment to dismiss the wisp with a faint thread of magic, dispersing its matrix.
A step took me inside.
The room was decorated in the old style, like the paintings everything was handmade. The furniture was beautiful, each piece crafted with care and delicate magics. A door in the far wall told me it wasn't just a room but a suite, similar in function to my apartment. Where my place was basic, this
room was complex. There was a large desk of a rich red wood just off the centre of the room with a matching chair. The walls were covered in some patterned cloth somehow affixed to the wall, also in reds. The carpet was thick and deep except in a large oval around the desk. My inspection of the room was interrupted by Fion. He had closed the door and was walking quickly to the desk. A few crystal disks were upon it, along with various things I had no name for.
“You done?” Fion asked impatiently. His large hands were shifting a few items on the desk around.
“Yes sorry,” I said. I had stood stock still while I was gawking at his home.
“Stop with the sorry’s, I'm not interested.” he said turning to look at me. His white eyebrows lowered in a frown. “What did Jase tell you? Be honest with me, I don't care about pretty lies,"
“Jase told me that you were hard to deal with, unpleasant and if I had any problems not to complain to him, because you only answer to the wizards.” I said shifting my stance slightly uncomfortably.
Fion laughed a deep rumbling laugh.
“That Jase and his jokes,” he said. “He’s done that since he was a boy, never you mind what he said. In some ways he’s right. I can be hard to deal with. I don't care. You were sent here to me, you will put up with it,” his tone was still amused, “You are here because Jase thinks you should be here. That and that alone is the reason. The wizards don't command me. I go where I want, do what I want. It just so happens that I enjoy what I do, and it’s useful, so I occasionally deign to take a wizards commission, you following me boy?” he barked
“I think so you knew Jase when he was young?” I asked. I hadn't ever really thought of Jase as a boy before.
“That's what you ask?” he said, rolling his eyes. “Who do you think trained him? I was Jase’s master, back when being a master was something different. So what do you know of enchanting? No don't answer me. Throw it away.” he said with a smile.
“What?” the revelation about Jase and Fion was one thing, but surely my enchanting skills weren't that bad.
“You heard me, throw it out, you've done wild enchants, I can hear it, whispering to me. That means you can handle the free form.” his smile grew with every word as did my confusion.