The Crimson Road

by William Wells

  Olivia dropped her pack, which thudded with a healthy jingle. “Running for two weeks carrying half a human in weight will tell you when you aren’t being economical with your cycling.”

  “It does at that.” I gave her a smile, “Charon had me swim against a river while cycling until I reached the source. I almost grew gills.”

  She laughed, and her father came out of the house to see us. The first thing he did was sweep her up in a hug, “You’re safe!”

  “I’m perfectly healthy.” Olivia laughed as she was twirled around. “How is everyone?”

  “Philo and Kane are both wanting to join the Warriors Guild when they come of age. Your mother is worried, but she hides it well.” Ash sighed, setting his daughter down and giving her one last squeeze. “Any news?”

  She nodded, “The King is putting in orders for more blades and armor. It looks like war.”

  Ash snorted, “War with who? We are the largest kingdom on this side of the Great Ocean. The Accords prevent us from waging war like we used to when Charon was a Battlemage.”

  The Battlemage was more than just a description, it was a title that had to be earned after defeating half a dozen battle-oriented Experts in combat. During that trial by magic, a couple blademasters sworn to defend the mages would join in the fray to simulate a real combat zone. Only a handful of mages ever passed and been useful afterwards. Most of those who attempted the test either died from ethershock or lived as cripples.

  At 32, Charon had become the youngest Battlemage, and passed it without receiving a scratch from any of his dozen opponents. He was a living legend, and I was his only known apprentice. For the next decade, the kingdom expanded with him at the helm of the army. Then just before being confirmed as an Archmage, Charon retired from conquering. He found me a few years later, just before he turned half a century old.

  “Either way,” they both turned as I spoke, “There won’t be a war before the Equinox.”

  “And I have a commission that takes me to the end of summer to complete.” Ash picked up Olivia’s pack, and staggered a little from the weight. “You were running with this?”

  She shrugged, and took the pack. Her father’s eyes bulged a little when she held it like it was only a small amount of weight. “Cycling is a wonderful thing.”

  I yawned, “It is. Now it is time for me to sleep.”

  Olivia put the pack on her back and hastened to catch up with me after giving her father a kiss on the cheek. “I have some questions.”

  I groaned, “Can this wait until after breakfast?”

  “You promised to answer my questions when I got back.”

  The sun’s position was still hidden by the trees. “You get three, make them count.”

  “Only three?” She pouted a little.

  “Yes. Now you only have two left.” I waited outside the house door, where the bacon was being fried.

  “You told me cycling works by sending the ether contained in my body throughout everything.”

  “Is there a question somewhere?”

  “Why can’t I cycle with the ether outside my body?”

  “Good question,” I said in spite of myself. “What does the ether in your body look like?”

  “Kind of…. Green.”

  I nodded, “And outside?”

  “It depends on where I’m looking.”

  “The ether in your body is tuned to you, making it easier to manipulate especially in something as dangerous as cycling. When you begin to draw ether into you in order to cast spells, it takes more effort because it isn’t attuned to you and requires more precise control. Cycling with outside ether would take longer, and not bring any benefits with it.” I sniffed, and began to salivate over the breakfast that was almost ready. “Last question.”

  “How does cycling improve ether capacity if you don’t take in the ambient ether?”

  I sighed. Having an intelligent student was both gratifying and infuriating, especially at a time like this where my stomach protested having skipped dinner. “When you cycle, you master the amount of ether that is currently in your body. As you become proficient in its manipulation, you’ll realise that the ether is becoming….ingrained with the organs in your system. That creates space, which you fill automatically with the ambient ether and then cycling proceeds to change the ambient kind into your personal ether. You can force the process, and risk ethershock. Or you can cycle all the time and build a firm foundation for the higher levels. The more saturated your body is with your personal ether, the more powerful you’ve become.”

  Olivia nodded, “What about-”

  I cut her off, “That was three. I need food and sleep.”

  Chapter 10

  The enchantments on the shortsword were finished the week before the Equinox, and rather than begin on the long dagger, I suggested to Ash that the family take the day and go join in the celebration at the town. I also casually suggested that all expenses would be paid for by me as thanks for housing me.

  Everyone agreed wholeheartedly to taking a trip to the nearest City for a few days of fun. It would take us five days of traveling, which would put us in the city the day before the celebration. Ash had a former apprentice in the City, so lodging would not be a problem, and I politely informed him that I had some business at the Tower. Olivia and I would not be boarding with his apprentice.

  Olivia grew visibly worried at the thought of being tested, and the nervousness showed in her training with me. I decided to stroke her ego a little, and told her that she would probably be ranked as a high-level Trainee. At that, she asked me what the difference was between the levels, and I sat her down on the edge of the stream.

  “A Novice in the study of ether manipulation has just been introduced, and from there they are expected to learn certain methods that create the foundation of how they will manipulate the ether from that point until the end of their life. Once the foundation is deemed solid enough, a test is given by the Instructors, or in you case, Instructor. This test determines if the Novice moves onto Trainee, or needs to be retrained.” I looked over at Olivia until she looked at me, “If a Novice fails too many times, they will be sent from the Tower. About half of all Potentials drop out at this point.”

  Olivia nodded, “Is this the point where my father is at?”

  I shook my head side to side, “Yes and no. Your father could probably have been a Journeyman if he had been found early. As it stands, he did well with having no knowledge, and learned a skill well-enough to be recognized anywhere by name if not by face.”

  “Hmm.” She looked back over the stream. “So what was my test?”

  “You had several.” I listed the few tasks I had given her in ward manipulation, “Your final task was to learn cycling. Officially I should have announced you as a Trainee, but I’m only an Adept and cannot declare you as having advanced.”

  Olivia frowned, “But you could take me as a student?”

  “Unofficial student.” I grinned, “I was declared an Adept two years before Charon disappeared and haven’t been to a Tower to get tested for advancement since then.”

  “You’ve advanced beyond Adept?”

  “I don’t know for sure.” I shrugged, “There are some known differences between the levels, but the details get shaky after Journeyman depending on what your discipline is determined to be.”

  “My discipline?”

  “Once you get to the threshold of Journeyman, that’s when you figure out which field of ether manipulation you excel. They all interact with each other some way, so most mages have a basic knowledge of all fields.”

  “Gantz…. What’s your field?”

  “You’ll find out at the Tower.” I stood up, “You should help your family pack, just work on your cycling until we arrive.”

  Olivia left, and I began to weave my hands in a complex pattern. There was a pause as I held the spell in place, and then in one quick movement I let it go. Anyone attuned to the ether would feel it as small shockwave, but it
was meant as a signal for one person.

  That night, I laid down to sleep after leaving a special opening in the wards that normally protected me from all manner of intruders both physical and not. My eyes opened into a pure white landscape, and Charon stood before me looking much the same as the day he had left. Admittedly with a little more gray in his hair, and a couple more wrinkles on his face.

  “Gantz.” He scrutinized me, “I’m glad to see you haven’t started sleeping naked.”

  I looked down at myself, before willing my usual outfit to take place on my body. “Apologies, Master.” I bowed at the waist.

  “What made you decide to summon me now?” A chair materialized as Charon sat. I may have been the host, but anyone as powerful as him could hijack another person’s dream with ease. The hole in the wards made it that much easier for him to come and go. “Have you given up?”

  “No.” I sat in my own chair, and a glass of liquor showed up in both our hands. “I found Ash, and commissioned a set of Hel-forged blades.”

  “It took you long enough.” Charon sipped, and surprise flitted across his face. “You figured out my favorite drink.”

  “People talk, and some people have a nugget of truth buried in all the lies.” I shrugged, “It turns out that Ash’s daughter has Potential. She is now my student.”

  Charon nodded, “I thought I felt something when I saw her, but I already had you to look after. Ash didn’t want to hear anything about it, so I left him to deal with it as he saw fit.” He smiled at me, “You must be confident to have taken a student already.”

  “Confident? No.” I looked down at my drink, “I was stuck. I had no idea what to do, and then I stumbled across her. Teaching her helped me open my own eyes, and pushed me to new heights.”

  “Are you a Master already?” Charon’s eyes narrowed a little. “It’s hard to tell from so great a distance, and with you hiding like a Common.”

  “I haven’t been to a Tower since before you left. I don’t know what I am currently… “ I trailed off.

  “... But according to tradition you aren’t allowed to call your own advancement.” Charon finished. It was an old tradition of the Tower, one meant to consolidate their power. It did, however, make sense. Any mage could claim to be any level, and some dishonest mages in the past and even now risked the wrath of other mages by fluffing themselves up. Any mage caught lying about their level would be in for a harsh lesson, and anyone caught a second time would be stripped of their connection to the ether. It often left that person scarred for life if not brain dead.

  “I’ll be at a Tower in a week to be tested, and to have Olivia tested as well.” I finished my drink, “My blades will be ready in two months, and then I’ll begin my journey again.”

  Charon finished his in a single swallow, “Hurry up, I don’t want to die of old age before I see you again.”

  “With your skills, you might live forever.” I grinned in jest, but my grin slipped a little at the dark look on Charon’s face.

  “That, my student, is a goal only the evil and heartless pursue. Death has its place in life, for without it we may as well be stuck in a single endless moment. Do not chase after death, but do not try and run from it.” Charon looked up, taking a moment to compose himself. “Goodbye.”

  I bowed, “Goodbye, Master.”

  Chapter 11

  The travel to the City was easy at first, but soon the roads were well-rutted with other travelers on their way. Once we began to encounter other travelers with regularity, I had Olivia concentrate only on cycling. It kept her mind off being stuck in the wagon with her little brothers that had long since grown bored of being cooped up for such an extended amount of time. Ash and Lorraine sat next to each other up front, while I rode my horse a little to the side.

  The two completed swords were strapped to my body, and the inscribed sheaths drew a lot of interest from others until they looked in my eyes. My glare sent them scurrying back to their own parties, and whispers of an evil-tempered mercenary traveling with Ash made their way up and down the road.

  When we reached the City, everyone stalled for a second to take in the sight of the towering structures behind the high wall. The original kings of this land had taken great foresight into the care of their citizens. There were ten realms to the kingdom, and at the central part of each was a city that acted as the seat of power. If a realm was under attack, citizens could take refuge in their city.

  In return for such protection, taxes were paid and excess food was stored to be consumed in the event of such a siege. The King ruled from the largest city, and he left the running of that realm to the Lord of the City. Once a year, the Lords would convene in a city that was next in the rotation, and policies for the next year were decided.

  A Tower was located on the outskirts of each city, and they too answered to the Tower located in the city that the King resided in. I spotted the Tower on the western side of the City, and bid a brief farewell to Ash. It would be rude to not immediately ride to the Tower, and introduce the newest mage.

  Ash understood, and knew that I could contact him if something went awry. Olivia was a little less enthused about leaving, but she promised that on the Equinox she would spend it with her family.

  There was no line at the Tower, and Olivia asked my why.

  “Scan it for wards.” I replied.

  “I don’t… Oh.”

  “What do the wards do?”

  “The strongest ward is to keep out those who have no talent to manipulate the ether, and the second is to keep out any with malicious intent towards the residents of the Tower…” Olivia looked at me.

  “Good.” I nodded to the Tower, “The first ward prevents Commons from coming together and attacking the Mages in fear. It also prevents Commons from being abducted and brought to the Tower, something that a few fear-mongers try and peddle every couple of years. The second ward is to prevent an attack, but you can mask intentions if you know what you are doing.”

  “Do the wards really work?”

  “Most of the time, and if those don’t work…” I glanced at the stone sentinels ringing the Tower, “There’s always the defensive measures put in place of an attack that gets by the first two wards.”

  “Whoever designed those must be a genius.” Olivia had scanned the instructions of the stone sentinels that had been named gargoyles.

  “Thanks, I always thought most people wouldn’t appreciate the artistry that goes into their orders.” A young, male voice popped up just behind us. “Now why, if I may be so bold as to inquire, are you here?”

  I kept my hands visible as I turned, “Oh, just making sure something worth stealing is here.”

  Olivia shot me a nervous look, and some of the gargoyles shifted into a more ready crouch.

  “I see a young maiden’s heart that would be worth assaulting a castle single-handedly, but nothing so valuable in the Tower.” The speaker was a man, just fresh into adulthood. His eyes sparkled with mirth, and I assumed the smile was an almost permanent fixture on his face. Right now, the smile was directed at Olivia, who blushed a little and began to nervously fiddle with her hair.

  I rolled my eyes, “We’re here for Testing, and to celebrate the Equinox.”

  “Ah, saving a trip by doing two things at once. I do love a pragmatist.” The man drew himself up, and I could see that he was a couple inches taller than me. “I am Expert Anwher, currently Head of Tower Defense.”

  “Expert?” I gave a quick scan of the ether, “Very accomplished for someone so young. You have my congratulations.”

  “Mine too.” Olivia blurted, and then blushed even harder.

  “Thank you both.” Anwher bowed a little. “I was taken to the Tower when I was seven, and now I’m three times that age. My master was a stickler for pushing oneself, and apparently it works.” He looked expectantly at both of us.

  “Adept Gantz,” I pointed to myself, “And this is my student, Olivia. She has never been tested, so no rank as of
yet.”

  He looked puzzled for a second, “A little old for testing, and your name….”

  “She’s a late bloomer,” I attempted to distract him. “I found her in a remote area a few months ago.”

  “Ah.” Another smile was beamed towards Olivia, “Well let me get you both checked in, we always have rooms available. If you aren’t too tired from traveling, I might suggest testing today.”

  “If you can set it up, I’m sure Olivia would appreciate having her mind put to rest.”

  “Of course,” Anwher took a single step, and went from being behind us to in front of the horses. “Follow me.”

  I shook my head at the display, but true to his word, Anwher got us checked in and the tests scheduled for after lunch. The Mages assigned to the Testing were eager to get it out of the way with the Equinox the day after tomorrow.