by Rick Field
The young Assistant nodded eagerly. She had been looking forward to Deep Secrets since learning that Liane would be taking the class.
Little did the young girl know that her Proctor had been looking forward to the class as well.
They made it to the appropriate classroom with plenty of time to spare, and Liane took the opportunity to grill her Assistant on what she considered to be basic magical knowledge. It wasn't until the Lord Master appeared that Liane realized that the other students had been – subtly or unsubtly – listening in to the questions and the answers.
Only four other students were present, two other Mages and two Warlocks. None of the them had an Assistant with them, and Amy's presence got a few raised eyebrows from the other students, who had assumed Liane would send the girl away once class started.
However, the fact that the Lord Master did not comment kept them from questioning the younger girl's presence.
Liane looked around. The classroom was not one they had ever been in before. It was large and spacious, far larger than was necessary for three dozen students, let alone three Mages, two Warlocks, and one Assistant. The Lord Master waved at the door once they were all seated, and it immediately blended into the wall. A shimmer ran up the windows, momentarily blurring the sight outside before subsiding.
“My Lords and My Ladies, permit me to welcome you to this first class of Deep Secrets and Ancient Lore,” the man spoke, and Liane had an uncomfortable flashback to when she was a mere eight years old as her magic fluttered in her chest.
No longer did she feel frightfully intimidated by the man's incredible magical powers; now she only felt his power resonate with her own. “During this course, you will expand upon the abilities you have learned in the prerequisite classes of Transmutation, Rituals, Runes, and Blood Magic. You will learn to call upon powers that have not even been hinted at in previous courses, and you will learn to combine magic in ways you never imagined.”
“However, before I begin, I am afraid that I must insist upon verifying your loyalty and binding oaths. May I ask everyone to hold out their right hands?”
Liane felt herself complying without a conscious decision. The Lord Master asked, and her body obeyed, such was the power the man still held over her. Or rather, the power he held over all of them, Liane determined, seeing as the others reacted just as quickly as she had.
The Lord Master approached them, and spoke two words Liane had learned during Rituals & Ceremonies, words that demanded the physical manifestation of previous oaths and vows.
Her right hand glowed, a miniature circle of symbols showing on the back of it. A second-tier circle then appeared, signifying her bond to her Assistant. The Lord Master calmly checked each and every circle, not even batting an eyebrow at the fact that Amy was present – and had sworn herself to secrecy and loyalty.
“I hope to see you in my classes under your own power at some point, My Lady,” he spoke softly to her after inspecting her oaths.
“It is my sincerest hope as well, Lord Master,” Amy replied, just as softly, obviously feeling some of the same effects as Liane had once felt. The man was a powerhouse, the magic under his command was similarly frightening, more so to those younger and less experienced.
The Lord Master nodded, and walked to the front of the class. “As this is the first lesson, we will begin with some administration, and then a general overview of the things we will be discussing this year. I will expect everyone's full attention, and prompt answers to any questions that I pose.”
Nobody said anything, but Liane did notice that the two Warlocks stiffened their spines.
“Good. Let us begin with the administration duties. As those in Deep Secrets & Ancient Lore are only those with the necessary dedication and work ethic take the necessary prerequisite classes and attain the grades required, you are hereby considered the elite students of the Academy.”
The students all sat up straighter. “I must also congratulate our new sixth year Prime Student, Lady Liane, The MagicWarper, for making Prime Student for a second time. Congratulations, My Lady.”
Liane gave a small smile and dipped her head in gratitude as the other students stared at her. “Thank you, My Lord,” she spoke hesitantly.
“As elite students, you will be required to fulfill the roles of elite students. The graduating students have left the Academy, and the Student Council requires two new Vice-Magi. I shall require at least one Lady and one Lord to come forward for this responsibility.”
“My Lady?” the Lord Master asked, motioning for one of the other Mages present.
“My Lord, I would recommend the Lady Liane, the MagicWarper,” she stated calmly, before sitting down.
The Lord Master blinked. It was unusual for anyone to recommend another. Finally, he looked at Liane. “My Lady?”
Liane spared the girl a dirty look. The Mage in question had an impish little smile, making Liane realize immediately what this was about. Revenge for what had happened to Florindra.
In that case, she had no choice, and her path forward became clear. The gauntlet had been thrown. The magic in her chest constricted, turning from regular earth into dark and heavy clay. She stood up. “I gracefully and thankfully accept the recommendation, My Lord. I am gratified to hear that my classmates hold me in such high regard as to nominate me for such a prestigious position.”
The Lord Master dipped his head, the twitching of his lips showing that he had known exactly what had happened here, and that he approved of Liane's way of handling it. The girl who had made the recommendation fought not to scowl.
The two Warlocks looked at each other, before one of them nodded, stood up, and announced his entry as well.
The Lord Master made the necessary notations. “Very well. My Lord, My Lady, barring overriding events, you will become Lord and Lady Magus next year. I will take you to the Council chambers after your final lessons for today, so that you can meet the other council members.”
Liane and the Warlock nodded. She hadn't been paying attention and hadn't heard his name. Sometimes, she cursed her ability to focus on one thing to the detriment of all others.
She glanced at Amy, who looked back angelically, especially now that her Proctor was going to become Magus of the Academy next year. Shifting a glance at the sheet in front of the Assistant, Liane read the name of the Warlock Magus. Dion Woodmaster.
Liane blinked, and shot a glance at the Warlock. Of course, he'd be very good at magic if he was in Deep Secrets & Ancient Lore, but to have a person with a Master rank before graduation? Liane only knew of Cassandra, who had been Airmistress even when she accepted Liane as her Assistant in her sixth year.
“Now that the administration is taken care of, let us begin with a small overview of Kirian history – the history that is not usually taught.” The Lord Master smiled slightly. “After all, the reason this class is called 'Deep Secrets' is because it teaches secret things.”
Liane accepted the little wordplay at face-value. She enjoyed it when the teachers introduced a bit of levity into their lessons, it made things more enjoyable. The Lord Master turned to the blackboard, and waved at it. It filled immediately with dates and events.
“Kiria was an uneventful island populated by regular people in the year 1307 by the reckoning of the calendar used beyond the Great Barrier. Then, across the Atlantic Sea, upheaval wrecked a large society that had sprung up there. A fleet of ships managed to flee.”
“They landed on these shores late in the year of 1307, and founded here the nation that would eventually become Kiria. They were white people, calling themselves Templars. They were foreign to these lands, and conquered the indigenous people with deceptive ease through the use of their magics and advanced technology.”
“They founded the nation, started construction on the capital, and generally exploited the people and the natural resources. They set themselves up as a ruling class, and enslaved the native Kirians. But, the Kirians were inventive. They learned from their forei
gn masters, and they intermixed with them, as these men brought no women. Within 80 years, there was no distinction between Templar and Kirian, and the society as we know it today came into being.”
The Lord Master stopped, and looked at his attentive audience. “Those with Magic became the Nobility. Those without were the Commoners. Rules and limitations were established, allowing both Nobility to rule and Commoners to be happy, and the results are the society we now live in.”
“After all,” the Lord Master said, “it is impossible to rule without people to build your homes, to grow your food, to clean your streets, and make your clothes. And it is impossible for the people who do all those jobs to live happily without the protection offered by a ruling class. There would be no roads to clean, no houses to build or an army to clothe if there was no ruling class. And this, Lord and Ladies, is another lesson that you will learn in this class. Both subject and ruler are depending on each other. Do not believe one to be more important than the other, for neither can survive on their own.”
Dion lifted his hand. “My Lord,” he said when the Lord Master called on him. “A common peasant could survive on the proceeds of their lands, could they not?”
The Lord Master's lips twitched in what Liane had come to associate with a smile. “Good question, My Lord. In theory, you are correct. A peasant could survive off the proceeds of his land, but only if the peasant grew a variety of foods, as well as tended a variety of animals. And even then, who will build the roads to the farm, who will defend the farm from attack, either from other men or from wild animals? Who will make his clothes, roll his candles, and build his home? We live in a society where men and women have learned to work together, and each has a place in it. Each is important.”
The Warlock nodded, understanding the lesson taught.
The Lord Master looked around for any other questions, and received none. “Good. We will be discussing this subject more deeply during the rest of the course.”
He waved at the blackboard, clearing it. “Allow me to progress. Next to the secret history of Kiria, we will also be discussing the secrets of magic.”
Another wave of his hand created a square on the blackboard, each labeled with an element. “The Mages among you study the power of the eight elements in an effort to manipulate them. However, contrary to previous teaching, not all elements are created equal.” he pointed to the square and the four elements. “Air, Earth, Fire, and Water are what we call the four primary elements.”
He waved his hand again. A second square appeared, this one superimposed over the first, yet rotated forty-five degrees, so it was on its tip, each corner now pointing across the sides of the original square.
“These are the four secondary elements, built from two of the primary elements. Water and Air give Ice,” The name of the element was filled in next to the tip of the second square pointing between Water and Air. “Air and Fire provide Lightning, Fire and Earth result in Metal, and finally, Earth and Water combine into Wood.” The secondary elements filled in as the man spoke.
“In this class, we will deal mostly with the primary elements.” He stopped and turned to face his students, looking them in the eyes, one by one. Without a word or motion from him, the blackboard cleared, and a grid took its place.
“Each of the four primary elements has three spirits, spirits which embody the physical incarnations of their elements. They can be called upon when the need is great, and when the situation is dire.” His stance shifted, and his face darkened. “The twelve elemental spirits can do the most outlandish things, things that neither Mage nor Warlock could do on their own. In return for these fabulous powers, they demand two things. The first is a tribute, paid in your blood. The second is a sacrifice – paid with your lives.”
Liane blinked. If this was the level of power they would be learning here – and this was still only the first class – then things would be incredible by the time the two years were up!
“There are three levels of spirits for each of the four elements,” the Lord Master spoke on, the grid behind him on the blackboard filling in as he spoke. Across the top, the four primary elements appeared, while on the left, the three levels were filled in. “These are Minor Spirits, the Regular Spirits, and the Major Spirits. The Minor Spirits can be called forth with no more tribute than half a pint of blood, and depending on the task you set for them, they can claim up to a week of your lifespan as sacrifice.”
Liane swallowed, and started writing down information. She could see why these things were kept classified as 'deep secrets'. “Regular Spirits,” the Lord Master explained, “can demand a pint of blood as tribute, and they can demand a sacrifice that may cost you several weeks' worth of lifespan.”
“Regular Spirits can already do very potent things. Shields can be set that are incredibly powerful, assistance can be granted in the most powerful of rituals without the need of additional people, and more things you will learn as this course progresses. As the cost can be quite high, it will be up to you to decide whether or not to call upon these spirits and strike a bargain.”
“The final category, the Major Spirits, can call upon the full might of their elements, and can thus create incredible influences. Major Spirits can demand tribute that is up to two pints of blood, and depending on the task, can lay claim to several months of your lifespan as a sacrifice. As two pints of blood is not to be taken lightly, it would be best to avoid calling upon Major Spirits when injured.”
Liane stopped her note-taking, and looked up at the Lord Master as he paused in his speech. Only when everyone stopped writing and looked up at him, did he continue. “I must demand full confidentiality upon this information from you, My Lords and My Ladies.”
Liane blinked, feeling the confidentiality vow form a shield in her thoughts. It felt most curious, as if there were a transparent barrier of magic separating her previous thoughts and memories from the thoughts and memories she was about to form. “I will be forced to call upon this vow quite often in this class, My Lords and My Ladies,” the Lord Master explained. “Let us continue. For Earth, the names of the spirits are Oroglali as Minor Spirit, Iaertu as Regular Spirit, and Rothauguror as Major Spirit. For Air, we have Alniel, Mefriel, and Omkiel as Minor, Regular, and Major. For Water, Hatu, Haturori, and Havaurantutha. For Fire, Saeguror, Thegulkari, and Ercharthaetuli.”
Behind him, the grid filled itself in as the Lord Master spoke the names. Liane could feel the information passing through the shield and store itself in her long-term memory, yet she was oddly aware of the fact that the magic would safeguard the information when she was not in private, or talking to a person who did not already know it.
He hadn't spoken in several seconds. He just stood there until they had digested what he had just said. Finally, he appeared to be ready to proceed.
The board wiped itself with neither a word nor gesture. Liane wished that she was able to command magic as easily or as readily as the Lord Master seemed to. Her chest constricted painfully as her magic reacted to her subconscious anger towards her handicap.
The Lord Master then finally spoke. “As we are nearing the end of this period, I will finish with a small overview of the secrets of life. Secrets that, just like the secrets already divulged to you, must be treated with the utmost confidence.”
Liane felt herself nodding, and realized that everyone else had been doing the same.
Such was the power the Lord Master held over them. He went on, “The secrets of life can be broken down into two areas. The first area is to manipulate life, the second area is the creation of life itself. I am sure that most of you have a passing knowledge of these two fields.”
He licked his lips, as if preparing himself. “The first area will teach you to manipulate existing creatures, to build new beings out of existing ones. The results of this field of study are called chimerae. A chimera is a being composed out of several parts of totally unrelated creatures to create a totally new being with abilities greater than the sum o
f their parts.”
The man looked them all over. “One of my previous students in this course was exceptionally gifted in the area of manipulating life. Her masterpiece was the creating of a powerful chimera.”
Liane swallowed heavily as she remembered being pulling aside by Cassandra to let the then Magus pass. A Magus with a chimera on her shoulder.
She could still feel the red eyes of the creature on her.
“The second area of study in the secrets of life is the actual creation of life itself, life built out of parts that were not alive themselves. The results of this area of study are called constructs. A construct can be built of clay, or metal, or mud, or crystal, but remember this: the clay and mud and metal and crystal were not alive before this. It has no concept of what it is to be alive and so a construct will feel no pain, no hunger, nor exhaustion.”
He fell silent, silence he used to look them all in the eye for several seconds. Nobody dared look away or become impatient. “Constructs are powerful, and very dangerous. But, at the same time, that is also their weakness. A construct will not feel pain, and may not realize the existent of its injuries or the threat to its life. It feels no hunger and therefore is prone to starving itself. It feels no exhaustion, and may therefore die of it.”
Liane nodded, and went back to her own note-taking. There were some things she would rather write down herself. “A construct, My Lords and My Ladies, needs constant care. It needs to be fed or the magic holding it up will exhaust and perish. It needs time to rest and recuperate, and it needs to be treated when injured. A chimera can be counted on to take care of itself. A construct will not do so as it has no instinct of life.”
They were all still and digested that. It made a strange sort of sense that a creature built out of other living beings would be able to survive on its own, but a creature built out of inert materials would not.
The Lord Master allowed them close to ten seconds to do so before speaking. “In a way, creating a chimera is akin to playing god, while creating a construct is actually doing so. As always, actions have consequences, and if you create life, be it chimera or construct, you will need to take care of it.”