The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1

by Tim McFarlane

  “He attacked Vanessa,” Greg said straining against the vines. “Knocked her out. We were trying to get him to bring him to a teacher.”

  “And you expect her to believe that?” I asked disgusted. The vines tightened around me and I groaned.

  “Why shouldn’t I?” Teacher Jarvis asked. “You are as much a liar as they are.”

  “They attacked me in the library,” I explained as the vines tightened and loosened. “They attacked Tom then tried to attack me. I was fleeing from them.”

  “It appears something isn’t as it seems,” a soft voice said.

  Teacher Jarvis’ face tightened as she looked to the newcomer. “This doesn’t concern you, Francis.”

  “Everything in the tower concerns all of us,” the voice continued getting closer, “and you would do well to remember your place.”

  A little venom seeped into the soft voice and it made Teacher Jarvis’s face twitch. I was finally able to turn enough around to see who the newcomer was. He was unmistakable with his touch of grey hair, plump facial features and bright purple robes: Master Larose of the School of the Spiritual.

  “I am a Master of the Order and you will show me respect,” he continued in a voice both calm and commanding.

  “You are not my Master,” Teacher Jarvis muttered too quiet for Master Larose to hear.

  It was strange to see such a display in front of the Apprentices. There has always been tension between the different Schools but for a Teacher to openly back talk to a Master was rare.

  “Now, let’s go to the library and trace the magic used,” Master Larose said, “and if they are both correct, there are two people that need our attention.”

  Teacher Jarvis slowly released us from the vines and they retreated back to their respective plants. She gave a look to the gathering Apprentices and they scattered towards their classrooms.

  “I have a class to teach,” she said to Master Larose. “You can handle it from here.”

  “Yes, that is for the best,” he responded as he walked by her without looking.

  He led us back down to the library. The old man from earlier was kneeling over Tom trying to revive him. In a seat, Vanessa sat holding the back of her head. When she saw us approaching a look of fear crossed her face.

  “Master Larose,” the old man said getting up. “I assume you are here to trace?”

  “Yes I am,” Master Larose answered pleasantly.

  “I was in the other section of the library when this happened,” the old man explained. “By the time I could get over here, it had already ended.”

  I replayed the events in my mind, trying to remember where he had been. He was in my section up until the fight. He then mysteriously vanished. Odd.

  “Very well, let’s hear what happened,” Master Larose said.

  “The three apprentices approached Mr. Holcombe as he was returning a book,” the old man explained.

  I don’t think I’ve ever introduced myself to him. He must be a Teacher, though I’ve never had one of his classes nor do I recognize his black robes.

  “Thomas here,” he continued as Tom was starting to stir and sit up, “approached them and was thrown in a table by Mr. Babcock. There was a brilliant display of magic used before Mr. Holcombe fled the scene. I was able to help Miss Swanson, who had been knocked out by Mr. Holcombe in the scuffle.”

  “Ok,” Master Larose said before turning to Greg and Todd. “Two months wearing the Binds of Silence. That goes for you too, Miss Swanson.”

  “That’s not fair, we didn’t do anything,” Greg complained.

  “The magic used here would be enough for me to have the three of you Silenced permanently, but seeing as that Mr. Holcombe isn’t hurt and you are Apprentices, you are fortunate that this is a far as I can go,” Master Larose stated.

  The Binds of Silence was the nastiest punishment a Master of the Order could hand out. The Binds sapped your energy and made it impossible to feel or use magic. It is a form of punishment rarely used, except as a scare tactic to make the Apprentices compliant.

  “What a mess,” Tom said as he shook his head. “I have to clean up now.”

  “Take it easy, Thomas,” the old man said softly, patting him on the shoulder. “There’s time for that later.”

  “And you, Mr. Holcombe,” Master Larose said turning to me. “For knocking out a fellow Apprentice you have detention in my office for the rest of the day. It seems like you can’t go one day without stirring up a wasp nest. I’m glad that this is your last.”

  Same here.

  Chapter 3

  Although I was out of everyone’s way, the rest of the day in Master Larose’s office crawled by slowly. I spent the entire day staring at the wall or reading whatever books he left open. When he finally returned from his lecture, he talked about my Demon Dream and tried to recruit me into the School of the Spiritual. The way these Masters are aggressively recruiting one would think they were forming an army.

  For an hour he tried to play to my ego by complimenting my work in the library and how he was ‘always impressed’ by my use of Illusion to escape trouble. He then tried to glamorize using Mind control and Healing to become a great Mage. The whole thing made me sick and it was the only time I was glad to have no self esteem. I’d hate to think I could be swayed by such simple minded flattery.

  After the hour, he grew tired of my indecision and sent me back to the Apprentice quarters. I was told a Mage would come for me that evening to take me to the Coming of Age Ceremony and I left without further word.

  I dragged myself down the stairs to the Apprentice quarters and collapsed on my bed and stared up at the underside of the top bunk. The poorly drawn night sky looked down at me. Whoever had owned this bunk before me had crudely drawn this picture. Despite the poor quality it is still a brilliant display of colours that always helps me clear my mind. Tiny stars dotted the entire surface and there was a long stretched out ‘S’ that was coloured in green, blue, white and purple.

  I stared up at the mock night sky, hoping for an answer to my future. This Apprentice had, no doubt, wanted to be an artist and had to choice a School anyhow. I had no secret talent like that but I could understand the Apprentice’s turmoil.

  How do you choice to be something for the rest of your life when the choices aren’t right for you?

  I sighed and knew it would be time to decide on a School: Natural, Elemental, Spiritual or Demonology.

  I have nothing against Nature. In fact Alchemy is interesting to me, but the last thing I want to do is spent the rest of my life studying with egotistical tree huggers, so Natural Magic is out of the question.

  There is always Elemental, but I don’t know if I want to train to be a Battle Mage. The dream I had this morning had been cool but the reality is that I don’t think I could kill someone with a flick of the wrist and a smile on my face, so that is out.

  After the talk with Master Larose, any interest I had in the Spiritual is out the window. As much as being a healer is helpful, controlling people’s mind and body to do anything I want is wrong in my books. It is bad enough to have to use Illusion to get out of trouble. At least nobody gets hurt by my tricks.

  I guess that leaves Demonology. The Lizard fulfilling his destiny and studying Demons.

  Great.

  I held my head with both hands and tried to block my eyes from reality.

  “If you’re crying, I can just come back,” Lily joked.

  I moved my hands away and looked at her. She stood by the bed looking down at me with a smirk on her face.

  “This was the spot I left you in this morning,” she continued. “Please tell me, you’ve moved at least once today.”

  “You didn’t hear?” I asked as I sat up and moved my legs off the bed. “Master Larose issued The Binds of Silence to Greg, Todd, and Vanessa.”

  “Who hasn’t heard that,” Lily chuckled as she sat down beside me. “I can’t believe they would go that far. They got what they deserved though.”
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  “They won’t learn anything though,” I said.

  “You never know,” she said hopefully then clapped her hands. “Anyway, have you made a decision yet?”

  “Still undecided,” I answered looking down into my hands.

  “You know why I think you can’t decide,” she said.

  I looked up at her. “Why?”

  “Because you only look at the negatives of magic,” she said. “You should see the positives of it.”

  I chuckled softly. “I haven’t seen too many positives of it yet.”

  “Yes you have,” she laughed. “How do you escape being bullied?”

  “That’s just simple little spells though,” I countered.

  “They work,” she smiled. “Imagine instead of fleeing bullies, you’re tricking bandits while you help the villagers escape. Isn’t that a positive of magic?”

  “I guess,” I said thoughtfully. “It would be better to have a Battle Mage in that situation though.”

  “You’re missing the point,” she said shaking her head. “The point is that you have a chance to go out and use your magic to help people. No more classes, no more bullies, and definitely no more excuses.”

  We both laughed.

  “So why do you want to get into Elemental?” I asked after we had stopped laughing.

  She looked down at her hands. “When I was little, the village I lived in was attacked by raiders. They killed everyone including my parents. When the guardsmen came and drove them out they found me with the bodies of me parents. I had thrown up a shield to protect their bodies and myself. That’s how they discovered I was a mage.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “How old were you?”

  “Four cycles,” she answered. “My parents hid my magic so I wouldn’t be taken away. As to why I want to get into Elemental. I don’t know, I guess I just want to be able to go out and defend the villages with my power.”

  I nodded slowly. It made sense. She wants to right the wrong in her life the only way she can.

  In all the time of known Lily, it’s funny that it isn’t until my last day that I actually learn something about her past. All our usual interaction is mainly about classes or teachers. We never got close. And after tonight, there won’t be any other chances. She’ll go one way and I’ll go the other. This is life in the Order, she’ll have all her friends in Elemental and I’ll be long forgotten.

  She sighed. “But enough of the past. What’s your future?”

  “Maybe Demonology,” I shrugged. “It goes well with my nickname.”

  She chuckled. “There you go being a Negative Nancy again. Demons are serious business and if anyone can understand them better, it will be you.”

  I shook my head but smiled. “You’re crazy. But thank you.”

  “No problem, Andy,” she said shooting to her feet. “I’ve got to study history. I’ll do my best to stay awake to wish you luck for the ceremony but don’t expect miracles. If I don’t make it, good luck.”

  I smiled. “You too.”

  She hopped up onto her top bunk and I lay back down and thought over what she had said. She was right. Maybe there is a chance to do something positive. Demonology would mean that I could study in peace. That will be positive. Dreams and Demons could be interesting.

  “Andrew Holcombe?” a male voice said.

  I looked up at the young Mage and nodded. He didn’t look like he was very much older than me and wore the purple robes of Spiritual School.

  “I am to lead you to the Ceremony,” he continued.

  “I’m guessing that Master Larose sent you to continue his recruitment pitch,” I stated.

  The Mage looked confused. “Pardon?”

  “Never mind,” I said as I stood up. “Please lead on.”

  “There ARE many good things about the School of the Spiritual,” the Mage pitched.

  Here we go.

  ***

  The Coming of Age Ceremony was held in the largest library, closest to the Teachers’ and Mages’ floor. I rarely visited this library because it was often used by the Teachers and Mages and was very crowded despite its size.

  The tables and chairs in the seating area had been moved to create a large open space with a row of tables set up at for the Masters. The Ceremony is well known to everyone but I still felt like I didn’t know what to do. The feeling of uncertainty only made me more anxious.

  The Mage that escorted me turned around and left as soon as I entered the library. I was glad to be rid of that snail. I know I wasn’t in a hurry to get there but that didn’t mean we had to spend a whole night on one staircase. I crossed the library and joined up with two other Apprentices, a boy and a girl. I didn’t recognize either of them from my classes but after I introduced myself, their expressions changed slightly, suggesting they had heard of my exploits.

  The boy, Jeremy, was lanky looking with longer hair then the girl. He had Nature Mage written all over him and, when asked, it was no surprise what School he was thinking of joining. The girl, Riley, was plump with red hair and a great smile. She said she wanted to be a healer and was considering Spiritual as her school because of its ability to control the body.

  They both seem disinterested in me and settled back into the conversation they were having before I had arrived. Though the topic of Alchemy and herbs is interesting to me, I decided it would be better if I didn’t say anything. Jeremy seemed like a bit of a know-it-all and I wasn’t in the mood to argue his wrong facts. I wandered away to admire the library.

  When the Apprentices’ conversations died instantly, I knew the Masters had arrived. I turned around and watched them head for the tables at the far end of the wall. They were dressed up in a dark brown ceremonial robe and the looks of boredom on their faces suggested that this was the millionth time they had done this and they just wanted it over with.

  A fifth person followed them in. They were dressed in a black robe with a hood covering their head and face. As the Masters sat down behind the table, the mysterious figure remained off to the side, watching over everything.

  “On your knees,” Master Larose said as he pulled up a piece of paper from his robe.

  We all dropped to our knees in front of the Masters. Jeremy was to my left and Riley was beyond him. I hope they choose her first to pick a school. I didn’t have any desire to go through this ceremony first.

  “As you may already know, I am Master Larose of the School of the Spiritual,” Master Larose continued. “To my right are, Master Baker of the School of the Natural, and Master Pryce of the School of the Elemental. To my left is Master Gerth of the School of Demonology.

  “Last night, you all had your Demon Dream. This was than confirmed by a Master and you have been invited here to swear an oath to one of the Schools of Magic in which you will serve and study. This is a very serious matter as once you have chosen a School; you will be a member of it for life.

  “We will start with,” he looked down at the piece of paper, “Riley Simpson, age 17, as confirmed by Master Baker this morning. Please rise and tell us what school you have chosen.”

  Riley stood up and bowed nervously towards the Masters. “I have chosen the School of the Spiritual.”

  “Was there a particular subject that swayed your decision?” Master Larose asked.

  “I wish to become a healer,” she answered.

  “Interesting, we could use more healers in Kalenden,” Master Larose smiled. “Please stand before me and take the oath.”

  Riley walked to the spot in front of Master Larose’s table as he stood up.

  “Repeat after me,” he started. “I pledge myself to the Order of Magic and the School of the Spiritual. I will serve my Master as they see fit for the good of Kalenden. Should I break the laws of my oath, I will surrender to the judgement of the Masters. May magic prevail or Silence take me.”

  Riley repeated each line as Master Larose said. This was the first time I had heard the oath and I enjoyed the way it flowed.

/>   “Congratulations, Mage Simpson, please go upstairs to be assigned your new sleeping quarters,” Master Larose said as he sat back down.

  “Thank you, Master,” Riley said with a very large smile. She turned and tried not to hurry out of the library. Jeremy was called next and went through his choice and oath just as quickly as Riley. With the others gone it was finally down to me.

  “And finally,” Master Larose started, “Andrew Holcombe, age 18, as confirmed by Master Pryce. Please rise and tell us what School you have chosen.”

  I took a deep breath and rose to my feet. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. The Masters just stared at me waiting to hear my response, except for Master Pryce who smirked and watched with interest.

  “I...I don’t know,” I croaked.

  “You still haven’t made a decision?” Master Larose asked shocked.

  “Yeah, I mean no, I mean...” I fumbled.

  “Masters, a moment of your time,” the mysterious figure in the corner said stepping forward.

  “Go ahead, Keeper Anderson,” Master Larose said.

  “I have been the Keeper of the Archives for a long time and it is time for me to choose a successor,” the hooded man said. “I believe the Apprentice here, would be a fine fit.”

  “What say you, Mr. Holcombe?” Master Larose asked.

  “What does a Keeper do?” I asked.

  “He keeps things, obviously,” the hooded figure said sarcastically.

  “He is in charge of recording and protecting the history of the Order,” Master Larose answered ignoring the hooded figure.

  “You also aren’t restricted to one school of magic and, perhaps more importantly, you get to study in peace away from everyone else,” the hooded figure said in a more serious tone.

  It really did seem like a good offer. I already spent most of my time hiding away from everything. Maybe this would be the best way for me to still be me.

  “I accept then,” I answered.

  “Good,” the hooded figure said as he removed his hood. Hiding away behind that hood the whole time had been the grandfatherly face of the old man from the library earlier. “Now we should probably do that oath. Repeat after me.”