by Rick Field
Three flights of stairs later, she followed him into what she immediately knew to be the Lord Master’s office. One wall held a display cabinet that contained no less than half a dozen staves, all of them glowing in a different light and with different intensities. A second cabinet held, what at first glance appeared to be, knives. Only, these knives were very ornately designed and glowed a murky red that reminded Liane faintly of the color of blood.
“Please sit down, Young Lady,” the Lord Master spoke as he stepped behind his desk, and indicated a comfortable-looking seat in front of it.
“Thank you, My Lord,” she said, snapping away from staring at the Lord Master’s collection of elaborate knives, and sat down.
He drew a wand from somewhere on his person, soon followed by a knife that resembled the ones in the display case. Both items were placed on the desk between them. Liane couldn’t help but stare at them – the wand was glowing in green and white, while the knife mimicked the ones in the case, as it, too, glowed a murky red.
“If you wish, I can explain the tools of our trade, Young Lady,” the Lord Master offered.
“Please, My Lord!” Liane said eagerly, almost bouncing in her seat. The Lord nodded.
“It shall be a short introduction, for I cannot go into the deeper subjects before you attend the Academy. The Rules of Equality require all students to start with similar levels of expertise and experience.” He picked up the wand. “The wand is used in certain ancient magics, magics of long-forgotten realms and civilizations. It is, however, predominantly used in rituals and ceremonies, for it is an excellent tool in gathering and focusing magical energy.”
She nodded. “Ancient magics, ceremonies, and rituals, and good for focusing energy,” she repeated softly to herself. The Lord Master, although not intended to hear, still picked up on her muttered words, and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, My Lord.”
“You need never apologize to me for trying to learn, Young Lady,” the Lord Master spoke. “I merely find myself wondering as to the reason you repeat my informal explanation regarding these items.”
“I love to learn, My Lord. And If I repeat things, I usually don’t forget them.”
He nodded, and put the wand down. He picked up the knife. “The athame is a very specialized tool, used only in the magics relating to the blood, and nowhere else. I cannot go deeper into the subject, for it requires a solid grounding in various other disciplines before I can do so safely. Know that the athame is used to draw blood and focus the power of magic through or on blood.”
Liane nodded, and softly repeated the key words back to herself. This time he did not hear her, and had he not seen her lips move, he would have continued. As it stood, he waited for her to finish.
“In order to see the damage done to your magic, I will be drawing a minute amount of your blood using this athame, and cast a focus spell on it. This will draw the focus of my testing spells to your magic, some of which will require the use of my wand. Do I have your permission to continue?”
She blinked, not having expected him to ask for her permission. In fact, it was the first time anybody had ever asked her permission for something. Recognizing her look, the Lord Master explained. “As you are now a Noble among Nobles, nobody may demand anything of you, and as such, permission should always be asked, in one form or another.”
She nodded. “O-of course, Lord Master,” she finally said.
“I thank you,” he said formally, standing up. “Please hold out your palm. I shall be drawing a bit of blood from your palm. I will endeavor to make this quick and painless, Young Lady.”
Liane bit her bottom lip in an effort not to cry as the sharp athame pricked through the skin at the center of her palm. The moment the Lord Master withdrew it, a soothing sensation spread through her hand, numbing the pain. By the time Liane looked, the small pinprick had already healed.
She looked at the man, who had retaken his seat by now. He focused on the sharp blade, and Liane could see the red glow increase around it, before a tiny tendril connected it to the palm of her hand. Startled, she looked at her hand, but saw nothing there, yet the tendril still connected it to the athame in the Lord Master’s hand.
A second spell was cast, and Liane could see the tendril of connective light shift from the athame to a small clay figurine situated on the Lord Master’s desk – a small figure she hadn’t noticed until now, as if it hadn't existed until the magic brought her attention to it.
The athame was placed down on the desk, and the wand was picked up. As the Lord Master focused his attention on the small figure, his eyes were sharp and pronounced, and Liane edged closer. She wasn’t about to miss what was to happen.
The Lord Master’s wand came up, the tip aimed dangerously at the figurine, and magic fluttered through Liane’s chest. Her heart skipped two beats as the Lord Master’s magic started to overwhelm her. She saw the energy gather in the wand, the white overwhelming the green glow, and when the Lord Master barked out a single word, the resulting flash burned with sudden intensity into her eyes.
She yelped, closing her eyes and averting her head instinctively, clamping her hands over her eyes, which continued to burn, even then. It was as if she had stared too long at the sun!
“May I ask why you are crying?” the Lord Master asked, seeing her head averted, holding hands over her eyes, and tears streaking down her cheeks.
“It was so bright, My Lord,” she said. “It hurt my eyes!”
She couldn’t actually see the Lord Master blink, but the silence that hung in the room told her just as much as the eye-blink could. “May I ask what you mean by, ‘it was so bright’?”
“The glow of your wand, My Lord. It was glowing white, and when you spoke that word, it… flashed. And it was so bright, it hurt my eyes. I’m sorry, My Lord! I shouldn’t have stared!”
“It was not that you should not have looked, it was that you should not have seen anything, Young Lady,” the Lord Master said. “Contrary to popular belief, most magic does not result in visible light, for visible indication to a spell would indicate a spell’s position, and thus, opens it up to interception or interference. What you have described to me, is impossible.”
Liane opened her stinging eyes, and bright spots danced through her vision. The pain had subsided a bit, but now she tried to focus her vision through stinging eyes, shedding tears without stopping. “My Lord?”
“May I ask, Young Lady, what you see when you look at my wand and athame?” the Lord Master asked, indicating the items in question, as if she had already forgotten which was which.
“Your athame glows red, My Lord. Almost like blood, but different. Your wand, My Lord, is green and white – although the white is stronger now,” she said, looking at the items.
The Lord Master was writing in a book she hadn’t seen him pick up, nodding to himself. “May I ask if you see anything else that glows?”
Liane was hesitant. “I see a red beam connecting me to that doll, My Lord,” she finally said. “And the staves in the display case over there, as well as the a-tha-mes in the other display case. But, the staves are all glowing in different colors, but the a-tha-mes are all the same color,” she finished, stumbling over the unfamiliar name of the ceremonial daggers.
“As I have explained,” the Master spoke as he wrote in his book, “an athame is used solely for Blood Magic. The staves are made of different materials, and are good for conducting excess energy from various different schools of magic. I believe you are able to perceive magic in a way most other people cannot, more than likely because of what has happened to you. May I ask whether you have noticed anything else?”
Liane hesitated even more. “I noticed a lot of pretty symbols on the front door. They were glowing in all kinds of different colors, and they were always changing. They were really pretty. But when we came inside this building, I noticed the same symbols on the floors, but they were not glowing. My Lord,” she added the last part just soon enough to still be respect
ful.
The Master, ignoring the eight-year-old’s remarks of ‘pretty’ colors, noted down what was said. “The symbols you saw on the front door, Young Lady, are various magical writings – some are runes, others are glyphs, even others are from more esoteric alphabets I cannot divulge to you. They are an active part of the wards that protect this school. The symbols on the floor are mere representations, and hold no power. It appears thus that you are able to perceive actual magic as it is in use.”
The Master looked at the statue, and the line connecting Liane to it went out. “I have deactivated the spell, Young Lady,” the Master said when he noticed Liane's startled look from her hand to the statuette. “As you have noticed, it is rather easy to connect an item to a person using blood magic; I therefore urge you to be careful where you leave your blood, as it may be used to trace back to you. I believe we will stop here today, I must study this phenomenon first.”
The Lord Master paused, and thought for a few seconds. “I believe I will be arranging for some time of the Academy's Doctorii to assist you with the non-magical courses, such as history, politics, and mathematics, Young Lady. I will also be arranging for their time to assist you with healing your magic. If you are prepared to work hard, you should not have any problems entering into regular classes at the Academy at age ten.”
Liane just nodded, too shocked to really reply. The Lord Master, however, went on as if she had given a full verbal reply. “Excellent. I shall arrange for a wake-up call at eight tomorrow morning, to ensure you are ready. Someone will come for you at nine. Please be ready, Young Lady.”
She nodded again, a smile blossoming on her face when she realized that she was actually going to go to school – a dream every orphan shared, but so very few ever realized. School meant learning a trade, and learning a trade meant being able to buy food! And she had landed the best school of all – the Academy of Magic! She wouldn't learn just a trade... she would be a Noble!
The Lord Master reached for his desk, and pressed a spot where Liane could see more magical writings – only, these symbols held a single and even purple color. He proceeded to tap one of the symbols. “I have summoned a guide for you, Young Lady. I do not believe that it would be productive for you to be confined in your rooms.”
She just blinked at him a few times. “T-Thank you, My Lord,” she said, still feeling overwhelmed by everything, especially at how everyone seemed to be going out of their way to help her, and make her comfortable.
A few minutes later, a tentative knock sounded on the door.
“Please enter,” the Lord Master spoke, looking up from where he had been keeping an eye on Liane, who was staring intently at his various display cabinets, her hands clasped behind her back, as if afraid to touch anything. Knowing her background, the Lord Master was appreciative of her concern.
The door opened, and an eighteen-year-old young woman entered.
“Thank you for arriving on short notice, My Lady,” the Lord Master spoke to the newcomer. “I have a request to make of you.”
The young woman had noticed Liane staring curiously at her, but ignored her in favor of the Lord Master. “Please ask, My Lord,” she replied.
“As you have noticed, we have a guest at the Academy. This is the Young Lady Liane. She was attacked recently, and her magic has suffered damage. As such, it has been decided that she will be staying here at the Academy until she is old enough for her regular classes to start, in an attempt to heal her magic. May I ask you to show her around?”
The young woman looked at Liane, who was still staring at her with open mouth, staring at the young woman's posture, robes, and just about everything else. To the young orphan, this young woman seemed like a goddess.
“It would be my honor, My Lord,” the lady replied.
“Young Lady,” the lord Master addressed Liane, who startled, jumped, and squeaked at being caught staring.
“My Lord?”
“This is the Lady Mariam Firemistress, Young Lady. She is one of the three Prime Students of the Academy. She will be showing you around. Please do not abuse her time, as it is very valuable.”
“Yes, My Lord,” Liane said, then turning to Mariam. “Thank you, My Lady,” she spoke, feeling star-struck again when she addressed her guide.
“You are welcome, Young Lady,” Mariam spoke. “May I ask you to accompany me?”
“Thank you, My Lady,” Liane said. “Thank you, My Lord,” she said before turning to leave with her new guide.
“My Lady Prime Student?” the Lord Master's voice said, stopping both of them from completely leaving the room.
“Lord Master?” Mariam's voice sounded, even as she turned back to look at the Lord Master.
“Our guest enjoys learning. May I suggest you start in the library?”
Liane blinked. “What is a library, Lord Master?” she asked, confused.
“It is the room where our books are kept, Young Lady,” the Lord Master explained.
Liane nodded, then started to look down before catching herself. “I don't know how to read, Lord Master.”
The man nodded. “I will ask the Doctorii to teach you how to read and write in addition to the other non-magical courses. Do not let yourself worry; we'll do our best to help you with both your background and your injury, Young Lady.”
“Thank you, Lord Master,” she said, her voice strangely thick with emotion. She did her best not to cry.
The man nodded again. “You are welcome. Now, I suggest that you leave with your guide. Her time is precious.”
“Yes, Lord Master,” the girl quickly agreed, knowing a dismissal when she heard one, and followed her guide out of the room.
Mariam spoke in precise tones as she recounted the various offices, rooms, and places at the Academy, and soon Liane's head was spinning with the new information: offices of the various Lords and Ladies that taught at the Academy, the communal dining hall, various ritual chambers, laboratories for experimentation, classrooms of various sizes and with various levels of protection depending on the subject matter being taught.
“And finally, this is the library, Young Lady,” Mariam finished, her arm outstretched as she motioned to the humongous room filled with racks and racks of bookcases. “The library takes up the underground of the laboratory building, and is four stories deep. This is the first level, accessible to everyone. There are four levels at the Academy – each student starts as an Initiate; after three years they can graduate, and become an Assistant. Two more years of study, and an Assistant-level student can graduate to become an Apprentice. Two more years of study and an Apprentice can graduate to become a full Mage, Warlock, or various other types, depending on their area of study. A final year allows for a Mastery level in their chosen field.”
Liane nodded. Three years, two years, two years, and another year. Easy.
“An Initiate may be chosen to become an Assistant to a sixth year student. If both parties agree to this, a bond based on blood is formed, a bond we call a Proctor-Assistant bond. Such an Initiate will be called 'Assistant', even though not having earned the status. It is a tremendous honor.” Mariam motioned to a staircase. “Initiates are restricted to level one. Please follow me, Young Lady.”
Liane nodded. “Yes, My Lady,” she whispered, although she was still trying to come to terms with what she had been told. Initiates becoming Assistants because higher level students asked them to. That sounded strange. She followed on automatic as Mariam guided them down the stairs to the second level.
“This level houses more in-depth works of magic. They explain not just the what, but the why. This level is accessible only to students of Assistant-level or above. Initiate-level students that are chosen as Assistants are also allowed on this level. It is why becoming an Assistant by being chosen is such a tremendous honor. Not only does an Initiate join their Proctor in class, they are allowed higher privileges. Come, Young Lady.”
Liane nodded again. “Yes, My Lady,” she said, not really knowing wh
at to say, but knowing that becoming an Assistant to a Proctor sounded better with everything she heard. Again, Mariam guided Liane to a staircase, and down they went.
“The third level is equally restricted to Assistant-level and above,” Mariam said as she descended the staircase even further. “The Fourth Level is restricted,” she said as they emerged on a landing that held only the staircase they had just descended, a staircase leading further down that was sealed by a metal grate, and a large door. “That staircase leads to the advanced ritual chambers on the fifth underground level,” Mariam explained. “In most cases, you will never need to enter those rooms – they are needed only for advanced rituals discussed solely in Rituals & Ceremonies classes.”
The Prime student then turned to the door. “Prime Student requesting entrance,” Mariam spoke to it, which opened obediently as she finished. “Come, Young Lady.”
Liane just nodded, and followed. The Fourth Level didn't look any different from the other three, except that there were far, far fewer students at work here. “The Fourth Level houses the most esoteric, dangerous, and unique books. Some volumes have their only copy here. As such, access to this room is restricted to those studying esoteric arts, such as Blood Magic and Deep Secrets or those working on a Mastery. Everyone must request access each time they enter this room, and their entrances are recorded.”
Liane swallowed.
“Come; let us go back to the first level, Young Lady. I have some work to do.”
“Yes, My Lady,” the girl whispered, following the Prime Student, feeling bad that the tour was at an end. She loved hearing about the Academy, and she loved the fact that this important student actually took the time to explain things to her – and take her places she obviously wouldn't be allowed to go to until she officially started at the Academy, years in the future.
“The Lord Master said that you were interested in learning, Young Lady. Is this still so?” Mariam enquired as they ascended back to the first level of the library.
“Yes, My Lady,” the girl answered.