by P. Tempest
Chapter 8
I awoke to the bright sunlight streaming through my window and a flashing mirror. I groaned at the thought of a waiting message. I pulled myself out of bed quickly in case it was important. A touch of my hand activated the recording. Master Jase appeared replacing my own reflection.
“Junior Mage Tristan,” came the message, as I finished pulling on my uniform. Emotion bubbling in my chest “You are hereby reinstated. Report to headquarters for briefing.”
Finally, with a sigh, I was ready. I had been cleared yesterday. I was going out of my mind alternating between fear and boredom. I really wanted to be back in action.
“Confirmed. I’m on my way.” I mirrored back, not even waiting for someone to answer. A message worked fine. I was out the door before the mirror even stopped flashing.
The short walk, was one of my first since the incident. The sun shined down on me helping show me the beauty of this town. The white stone was brilliant. The streets were level and wide. Even the people were pleasant. I was nodded at and greeted with smiles by all. There was no fear or indifference, even from the older people. While it was nice, it made me wonder what had been happening. I had only been out of action a few weeks.
Headquarters looked the same, but the doors were open and the place was actually busy. All sorts of people were going in and out. Mages were everywhere. The foyer was packed. Snatches of overheard conversation told me, bits of why it was so busy.
“Thank you for fixing my heater.” an older woman said.
“My house was damaged. Could I get a stone man round?” asked a heavyset man.
So this was all about the incident. I thought as I made my way through the crowd getting buffered about I did my best not to bump into anyone. I wasn't successful.
“Watch where you’re...” an older man started. His voice dried up as he turned to look at me. “I'm sorry Mage I didn't mean to.” he finished lamely. He looked worried, his wrinkled face dropping.
“That's quite alright,” I said affably. It was nice to see the people involving the mages. We had only been set up properly for the last two years, apart from the mage academy which has been here for centuries but that had been under control of the Solem family, the nobles that controlled the area. “It was my fault, I was looking for Master Mage Jase and didn't see you. Have you seen him?” I asked.
“Um, he was behind the desk, just a moment ago,” he helpfully offered.
“Well he's not there now. If you will excuse me, I shall continue seeking him," I said.
“Of course” he said moving to the side to let me pass.
Seeking Jase was not as difficult as I had made out. I could feel him with my othersense. While it wasn't as precise as when I summoned it, the general awareness was enough for locating the man that had trained me. He was in Rysan’s office.
Once I got past the desk, the crowd thinned considerably. A few steps and I knocked on the door.
“Yes?” came his raised voice. I took this as an invitation. Opening the door to see Jase sat at the very large desk holding a glyph-screen. Orb was hovering around flickering.
“Master Jase, I’m reporting for duty” I stated, really hoping that he wouldn't take one look at me and decide I wasn't fit.
“Tristan my boy, I'm so pleased to see your well. I didn't want to call you in yet but the powers that be have decided we need to take advantage of the sudden goodwill. To that end, we are appointing you as Mage Representative.” Jase said while looking very closely at me. I was uncomfortable with the level of scrutiny.
“Sorry Sir, I may have misheard you.” I ventured. I had no clue what he was telling me.
“No you didn't. You are a member of the new mages. You are one of the first of the wizard councils trained mages. You have family in this town. You are young and you were also the sole survivor of the foundry incident. These make you a perfect figure to represent the mages.”
“But Sir, I have been a mage for just over a month, most of which I have been on leave.” I insisted. I wasn't ready for this.
“Not to worry, you don't have any bad habits to break. You don't know anything really. Your training only makes you able to use magic easily you won't be alone. It won't be that different to how it was before. You will still receive tasks for headquarters. You will just be the public face of things. If we need to send someone to one of the guilds, we will send you. Nothing has really changed, you just have a different title.” Jase reassured.
“Yes sir.” I said. Not sure what else I should say. While inside I was thinking, this is weird, I'm new why would I get advanced so quickly.
“Wizards orders Tristan. That's why this is happening.” Jase said with a smile, answering my unspoken thoughts. “Go think about it for a little while. Be back in an hour, there is a task for you,"
“Yes sir” I answered turning to the door.
“Mage Representative Tristan. You are dismissed," Jase barked jokingly
I was less amused, grumpily I left.
I wasn't expecting to be handed a new position, to be honest it worried me. The whole thing stank of politics. My knowledge of politics could barely fill a micro-shard. I took a slow stroll through the streets. Just seeing the town now, brought back memories of my childhood. Coming into town from the family farm. To buy the stuff we couldn't make ourselves. The trip wasn't long, a few hours, but for a young boy it felt like forever. The old town was so very different. Dirt roads for all but the very centre and the road leading to Haven. Only the mage academy was anything like it is now. No fountains. No lights. No real magic apart from the conscription. The conscription was the bane of this town. The nobles sent their bound mages scouring their domain for gifted knacks, mostly teen boys. I wasn't old enough to get taken, but I had heard the stories. Families that didn't agree to the boys being taken. Made examples of. Fire consuming them and the mages taking the boys anyway. The boys were trained to be mages and soldiers in the noble’s service. I shuddered at the thoughts. The wizards had changed it all though. Mages were now a sign freedom instead of oppression. Well we were supposed to be. Minds take a long time to change. But seeing the people smiling at me gave me hope for the future.
My walk had helped clear my thoughts slightly. I still didn't want the job. I had only just started as a junior mage. Still there were worse things. It was a good idea to have a representative. I just didn't think it should be me. Someone older, more experienced would be better suited. Fighting against things I couldn't change wouldn't help, the will of the wizards was one of those things. I resolved to do my best. Somehow my walk had taken me right around the block. Staring up at the headquarters I braced myself and walked in.
The mob of people were still there. Taking care to weave through without any collisions this time. I quickly made my way through to Rysan’s office. Master Jase was where I had left him. Although this time he was giving orders to Orb.
“Orb, I need to change your permissions. You will need to be able to act more autonomously than you have when Rysan is around. The sudden surge in numbers of mages could be a problem.” Jase said.
“Master Mage Jase. Only you, Rysan and the wizard's council can change my structures.” Orb cautioned. “Anyone else forcibly doing so, will result in my deactivation,"
“Yes, yes I know Orb,” Jase dismissed with a wave of his hand. “This isn't a change in structures, it just adds a new rank and permissions. More specifically, it adds Mage Representative to your list of authorised senior personnel.”
“Yes Master Mage Jase, that is permissible. What level of access will Mage Representative have?” Orb queried. Colours flickered rapidly through it before settling at a deep blue.
“Senior but locked. He can access everything but cannot change any of your functions, and only in the pursuit of his duties. Please use your discretion functions to determine what is needed.” Jase replied firmly, his eyes locked on Orbs form.
“Rank added. The Wizards confirmed your request.” Orb announced its form res
umed its pale slow shift in colour. “Mage Representative Tristan Sodden is at the door.” Jase turned to look at me a smile spreading across his face.
“Tristan, Nice to see you’re back. How are you feeling about the promotion?” Jase asked gently.
“Startled, Sir to say the least.” I replied trying to be honest with him.
“Well yes, I can imagine," He chuckled softly “Being startled is a common thing for us mages in the new era," His eyes went distant. Humour drained from his face.
I had no idea what was going through his head.
“Well on to your task," He said forcefully, his eyes coming back to me. “It’s quite simple. Head down to the stone guild and offer our assistance. No task stone though.” a smile flickered on his face at that.
I stood there facing Jase, with no idea what to say. I closed my eyes and took a breath, trying to get my thoughts in order.
“Sir, I have no experience dealing with people. You above all should know that," I pleaded. My people skill were appalling.
“Tristan” Jase started. Standing then walking around the desk towards me. “How do you think you will get experience?” his tone told me it was rhetorical, his eyes focused intensely on my like he used to during my training “Think of this as a chance for learning.” no matter how gently he said that I still shivered. Jase saw my discomfort. “I doubt it will be painful”
“Alright Sir. I will do my best.” I said hesitantly after swallowing my fear. I didn't want to promise more in such an area of weakness.
“That is all we can ask for.” Jase replied “As you heard you now have access to Orb, It is a wonderful tool, all sorts of information. Your amulet was damaged during the explosion. This promotion has been planned for the last few weeks so a modified enchantment has been designed for it. I have the transfer shard here if you will do the honours.”
“I haven't touched my magic since then” I responded uncertainly, the lingering fear that my channels were permanently damaged forefront in my mind.
“Don't worry. I've seen your Healer's reports.” a comforting hand placed on my shoulder as he continued. “You are fine.”
“You’re sure?” I insisted. Looking him straight in the eyes. I didn't need false comfort.
“Very. I examined you myself when you walked in.” Jase firmly with a small nod.
“Okay. Where is the shard?” I asked.
Jase walked over to a small green shard on the edge of the desk. “Here it is Tristan.” he said before handing it to me.
I looked at the shard with my active othersense, it was swimming with forms, far more than I could understand with my limited experience of enchanting. I knew the process though. One of the few useful things we learnt at the academy. It was one of the simplest. Just a touch of power pushed into the shard. A shaped link to the item being enchanted, in this case my amulet... Knacks could do this if provided with a shard and had very fine control of their power.
“Done I think Sir.” I announced. The enchantment had settled nicely, far easier than things like the irrigation system, as they need to be tailored.
“Yes. Very well done.” Jase said proudly not hiding the fact he had been supervising the process. “It will provide a link to Orb greater than the one previous. It’s far more direct. The exact details will need a bit of work to get a handle on. Now you need to be heading to stone guild. The offer of assistance is limited to you.” A smug smile appeared on his face. The bastard just turned and walked back to his chair picking up his glyph-screen
Feeling a bit unwelcome. I saluted and turned on my heel. Quickly walking through the door.
Chapter 9
The way to the stone guild was one I had never been despite living all my life near town. It was new as in built in the last few years. Taking a turn at the fountain outside headquarters took me down the wide pale cream streets, glow globes hung on either side of the street. Unlit for now. I went slowly taking in the scenery. The buildings on either side of me were tall but with separate small gates between, I assumed for access. The sun cast stripes of light and shade across my path. The streams of people about their business continued. I had never seen the town so alive. Even at the height of the waves, the town had been quiet, but after a lot of the survivors in the area migrated here, it had livened up, but then the town had been traumatised. Rebuilding had been slow while the wizards set up an infrastructure, but their hard work could be seen everywhere. The paved streets. The lights, the cleaning systems. We even had a basic sewer network. Running water. Disease while not eliminated was greatly reduced. Crime was rare. Theft was pointless as the credit shard couldn't be tampered with. While not everyone was in work all were paid a basic amount. The rich and the poor were as equal as the had ever been. It was amazing that just the sight of a town could bring such a wash of pride. I was a part of the organisation that had done all this. The wizard’s council was still young. The future looked bright.
My reverie had distracted me while I was still on the right path I was no longer focusing on the way. Signs made it unnecessary. Arriving outside, all I could do was stare.
The sheer mass of the stone guild stunned me. A massive flowing building of almost white stone. The guild house rose higher than it neighbours by a large margin. Sweeping artistic flows of green-flecked marble wove up the building ending in a green arched roof. Windows were everywhere. I had thought the mage academy was impressive, and it was. It couldn't compare to the utter majesty and beauty of this. Magic used for the practical was good but magic for the sake of it had never entered my mind. I was overwhelmed to say the least. Lots of men were going in and out of the arched entrance. Most were wearing heavy boots and tough overalls. Skilled knacks mainly earth focused, by my othersense of them. Magic had flourished since the wizards had taken over. I shook myself out my head. Time to focus on work.
Taking myself through the arches took every scrap of willpower I had.
Knacking people. Why couldn't I be given a task that didn't require interactions, or even a few classes?
The smooth stone of the floor echoed with every step. Light poured in through the large coloured windows. Creating intricate patterns on marble that reminded me of the transfer shard. Swimming forms that sense could be pried out of if I had enough time. A shadow fell across my vision.
“Hello mage-” came the gentle request. A young woman had approached while I was contemplating the patterns. Looking up to her brought me the sight of long red hair framing an oval face with bright hazel eyes standing out from pale skin. A small smile twisted her lips.
“Mage Representative Tristan Sodden. I’m here to offer my assistance to the stone guild” I blurted out. Heat rushing to my face. I'm a knacking pixie again. What is wrong with me? I reprimanded myself before doing my best to pay attention
Her smile had grown. Suppressed amusement radiated from her face. “Well Mage Tristan I am Lyphia Terra, the guild master's daughter. If you would follow me, I will take you up to Master Terra’s office. He should be able to slot you in if you don't mind waiting.” she said. Looking expectantly at me. Her smile still very much present.
“Uh yes of course, lead the way please.” I hesitantly replied. Embarrassment can be a great motivator. I had moved past my discomfort of dealing with people to annoyed with myself for being so clumsy with women.
Lyphia guided me through the beautiful building.
Thick columns reached to the high flat ceiling. Hidden behind one at the back of the foyer was a deeply recessed door. Large and densely covered with incised with flowing patterns. As we entered and trudged our way up the stairs a thought occurred to me. Well two.
One was Lyphia really filled out her dress in all the right places. Two was once this place would have been a sign of wealth the sort of extravagance the nobles lorded over us poor unfortunates. Now it was a show of expertise. You don't contract a tailor who can't dress well. You equally wouldn't hire a stone guild member if he couldn't build. The stairs turned once to the left as we n
eared the top. A huge window was centerplace in the wide open hall. A similar door to downstairs on either side.
Lyphia headed to the one to the right of the window. A quick look thrown over her shoulder, I assumed to make sure I hadn't got lost. I smiled at her. She quickly turned back, her red hair flicking with her. A moment later she rapped on the door with her knuckles. “Guild master, its Lyphia.” she called through the door. She rolled her eye at me. I assumed about the obsequious manner she had adopted.
“Come in” came a sharp command.
Lyphia opened the door. It led to large office that would have been plain if not for the intricate models scattered about. Tiny structures of houses, larger buildings that looked similar to the mage headquarters. Others were around, that I couldn't begin to guess at. Many glyph-screens with drawings of buildings were scattered about. While I was taking this in Lyphia had walked through the obstacles to the desk. An older man, almost entirely average looking apart from the strong green glow in his eyes and the delicate look of his hands.
“Father, this is Mage Representative Tristan Sodden. He is here to offer his services to the stone guild.” Lyphia said to her father. A quirk of an eyebrow and a slight head tilt indicated me. Her voice was still amused.
The guild master glanced over to me, his green-glowing eyes brightening. He put a hand out to shake.
I stepped forwards as quickly as I could being careful not to knock anything in this tangle of a room. I placed my hand in his, a tingle of magic ran through me.
