MageLife

by P. Tempest

“How come you and the academy weren't affected?”

  “The academy is…. I don't know how to explain it. As for me, my forms aren't as rigid as most of the constructions, I'm closer to a spell than an enchantment. I was still affected, my connections to things outside of myself were disrupted.”

  “Really?” I asked as forced my feet into my boots.

  “I don't know exactly, Orbs are not allowed the design schematics of their own construction. I only know what I know through observation.”

  “That’s very clever.” I commented as I stood. “How do I look?”

  “The same.”

  “Very helpful. I know you don't need clothes, but you can do better than that.”

  “You are now wearing your uniform.”

  I sighed.

  “Shall we go then?”

  “Yes.”

  (---------)

  “Representative Mage Tristan Sodden, I have heard some very disturbing news. Explain yourself,” Rysan ordered me.

  Orb had escorted me to Rysan’s office, where I was confronted by a rather stressed out Rysan and a placid Jase.

  “You will have to be more specific about the news you have heard... sir,” I said.

  “Don't be glib with me boy!” Rysan shouted into my face.

  I leant back.

  “Sir, I don't know what incident you are talking about.”

  “You killed a mage, not just a mage but my friend, in cold blood. That is what I am talking about. Explain before I do the same to you.”

  “Rysan, don't threaten the boy. That is not your place.” Jase snapped at Rysan. “Step back from him and compose yourself as befits your position.”

  “Fuck you Jase, you've pampered and protected this little shit since day one. He is reckless, disobedient and downright murderous. I should put him down like a dog,” Rysan screamed at Jase. Spittle flew from his lips as he spoke, his face was red and his fists were clenched.

  “Rysan, compose yourself or I will dismiss you.”

  “He murdered my friend, give me a single reason why I shouldn't bleed him here and now.”

  “One, Tristan will have a good reason for what he did. Two, you do that, you even attempt to and I will burn you to cinders where you stand,” Jase replied calmly. There was nothing in his tone or manner to indicate that he had just issued a death threat.

  “Give me your fucking report, Tristan.”

  “I had just finished restoring a wall strengthening charm in a shop on the edge of the residential district. My Apprentice Sophia came to find me as I had taken longer than expected. We were on our way back to the academy when we encountered a mage threatening a man in his own home. We witnessed the mage…”

  Rysan grabbed my shirt and pulled me to him.

  “Use his name. Say the name of the man you killed. You little shit, I will not stand here and hear you make up lies to cover your actions.”

  “You asked for my report, now unhand me and listen to it.”

  “Or what? You going to get Jase to fight your battle for you?” Rysan looked to Jase who hadn't moved at all.

  “No I fight my own battles, you want to hear this or not?” I grabbed Rysan’s arm and calmly pulled myself from his grasp.

  “Speak the truth. No more lies.”

  “Sir, he has spoken no lies, the only stress in his voice seems to be from being threatened by a superior,” Orb interjected from behind me.

  “Silence Orb, I neither need nor want your opinion.”

  “Sir you made this an official matter, in which case you are required by law to have an Orb present for truth reading. If you disregard the law I will have no choice but to suspend you and contact the wizards for further instruction.” Orb said in its monotone official voice. I was starting to see the massive void between Orb as a being and Orb as a tool.

  “That's the last thing we need, the wizards have only just left. Fine make a note that I'm listening to the opinion of the West Haven Orb acting in its professional capacity.” Rysan’s gaze rested on Orb, you could have melted stone with the heat in it.

  “So noted.”

  “Continue your report representative mage, use names where possible.”

  “Very well sir. We came across a man being threatened in his home by Mage Selac Freant, he used magic to damage property to intimidate the man, from the conversation I overheard it sounded much like extortion. Some form of protection racket.”

  “Speculation,” Rysan barked.

  “It may well be speculation sir, but I feel it is relevant. My apprentice is a child, she is eight, if you don't remember. She felt the need to inject herself into the situation. Mage Selac Freant used magic to harm her, he left a large bruise on her face, for her interfering in his wrong doing. I had to intervene.”

  “Rysan, Selac harmed an apprentice, Tristan was well within his rights to do what he did.”

  “I don't care.”

  “I named him, Ventrastus, for his abuses of the people and for his harming of my apprentice, I executed him for it.”

  “You jumped up little fucker, you killed my friend on a pretext.”

  “No I killed your friend because he was abusing the people he had sworn to serve. I named him oath breaker for it. I killed him because he tainted all mages by association. But the real reason I killed him is because he harmed a little girl. My little girl!”

  “Fuck you, she isn’t your daughter. She’s an apprentice, she means nothing,” Rysan spat.

  “I have had enough of this. I was justified, I broke no laws. He earned it. Now either punish me or shut up,” I found myself saying.

  Rysan’s eyes went wide, he roared then turned to swing at me.

  I stepped back and raised my own fist.

  “Tristan don't,” Jase shouted, he rushed out of the corner in an attempt to stop what was happening.

  It was too late. I was faster than Rysan. My fist connected with Rysan’s eye. I could feel it squish slightly under my blow. Rysan staggered back. I grabbed at his collar and swung again and again. My heart pounded in my head. My breath came in short, ragged gasps. Each blow hit with the dull thud of flesh striking flesh.

  “Tristan, get off him,” Jase ordered from the corner.

  I pulled myself off of Rysan who had fallen under my uncontrolled flailing. I was breathing hard, almost dizzyingly hard.

  Rysan stood, bruises were just beginning to show around his eye, his lip had swollen and spit.

  “Orb what is the punishment for striking a Senior mage?”

  “Depending on the circumstances: relocation, dismissal, suspension, permanent severing of his links, bar his basic link.”

  Rysan’s swollen lips, pulled back into a grim smile, blood was visible on his teeth.

  “Jase, strip his links,” he ordered. “This boy isn’t fit to be a mage.”

  My blood ran cold, I could feel the heat leave me in a rush.

  “Sir, that is not possible in these circumstances,” Orb said.

  “I'm the one in charge here. Do it Jase.”

  “Sir, you can’t overrule the wizard laws,” Orb said, his monotone voice loud over the beating of my heart in my ears.

  “I don't give a fuck. Strip his links.” He spat blood in my face.

  “Rysan, I won't, Orb has told you that it’s not allowable. So pick another punishment,” Jase said, his face was tight with tension.

  “You are always defending him Jase, he is not your son. He doesn't deserve it.”

  “It doesn't matter what you think Rysan, you are wrong. Choose another punishment.”

  “Relocation then, I won't have to see his face. You hear that boy? You are going away from the only home you will ever have, and I've done it to you. How’s that make you feel?”

  “Just fine, sir. In fact, far better now that I've punched your face into a swollen, bloody mess.”

  “Get out! I don't care how special you think you are if I see you again I will kill you!”

  “Take it back Rysan. Now!” Jase calle
d out.

  A sense of power flowed into the room, faint but unmistakable

  “Why should I?”

  “Because you are about to be oathed, you fuck wit,” I shouted at him.

  “Fine I’ll take it back, I'm sending you to Nelar. Hopefully that will do my task for me.”

  “You can’t send him there! It’s out of our jurisdiction,” Jase said.

  “I can. Orb replay the message,” Rysan said as he turned to his desk. He rooted around in a drawer to pull out a small cloth. He sat in his chair and dabbed at his face, flinching.

  I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a great deal of satisfaction every time he winced.

  “To all Seniors, we would like to restart efforts to increase our holdings. We are facing increased pressure to expand from the lower council. Please do all in your power to expand your regions, increase trade and productivity. Use your resources carefully, we don't have as much to spare as we would like.” Velar’s voice came from Orb.

  “End of message.” Orb said.

  Jase looked between me and over my shoulder at Orb, I assumed. “That said nothing about Nelar. In fact, that said nothing about anything really.”

  “I don't have to explain myself to you or to him. I'm well within my rights to handle this matter in the way I have chosen. Aren't I Orb?” Rysan said smugly, the effect was ruined by the wince he made as his lip split again.

  “You are, technically correct sir. I feel it is…” Orb said.

  “I didn't ask how you feel Orb. Now Mage Representative, I want you out of my town by dawn. Dismissed.”

  I stood looking at Rysan for a moment, my mouth twitched in an attempted grin.

  “Didn't you hear me? Get out of my sight.”

  I turned and walked out, passing Orb who was flickering again. Steps followed.

  “Not you Jase, I want a word with you.”

  I left on my own.

  I walked back to the academy is a daze, my skin still felt cold with fear, the risk of having my links severed, I would have just been a knack.

  I found myself dragging my feet over the paving as I realised something. The early morning sun shone through the clouds, illuminating the tops of the buildings. This was my home, and I was being forced to leave it. Nelar? I'd never heard of it. Some tiny little backwater no doubt. This was my home, I had ties here. My family, who I admittedly never saw, lived a short distance from where I stood. I had visited the market with them long before I wanted to be a mage. the academy where I now resided had been my prison, while of my own making it was still a cage, had become my home filled with my family, Jase and Sophia, Airis and Lyphia.

  I sighed as I thought about Lyphia, there was no way I could take her with me. She had her work here, and I had mine. It was debatable if I could take anyone with me. I didn't know what I would be doing, exile that's what this really is.

  I passed people in the streets with smiles on their faces, I received many a nod and greeting. I didn't feel like it but I forced a smile onto my face and nodded back.

  I walked with as much speed as I could, I didn't want the people to think there was something to be running away from, but I did want to get home quickly. Sophia should be awake, I knew Airis would be, that boy never really sleeps.

  What would I tell them, ‘sorry kids I have to leave because I killed a mage and punched Rysan in the face repeatedly," I didn't think that would go down too well.

  I looked at my home. The looming mage academy made of stone blacker than night, its high walls stared back at me revealing nothing, the people in the street walked by as if this massive edifice wasn't here, it was normal, a part of their lives, nothing to be remarked upon. For me it had always been more, even as a child it had been a constant it was visible everywhere in town, it was the core that Westhaven had grown from, once just a breeding ground for knacks to feed and provide for the mages, now it was a relic struggling to be relevant to them, is this what we were? Were we needed anymore? Yes we did good work, but many were not entirely as good as they proclaimed. Men like Rysan who followed the rules except when it suited them, men like Selac who broke them for profit and pleasure. Would the world be better off without us? I didn't know.

  I stepped inside the lobby to see a woman arguing with the receptionist. I aimed for the corridor I needed and walked as fast as I could. I didn't need to be a part of anything today. It wasn't my problem.

  “There he is!” a voice announced, the sign of relief that accompanied it was also announced.

  “That’s Mage Tristan Sodden?” The woman that had been arguing with the receptionist said in a tone laden with doubt.

  “Mage Representative, yes that’s him.” the receptionist said.

  I didn't make it to the corridor without notice, the arguing woman headed right for me. I stooped and plastered a blank but hopefully polite expression on my face.

  “What appears to be the problem... madam?”

  “You are the mage that abducted my niece” she accused me, her finger inches from my nose.

  I could only stare at her.

  She was an older, medium built woman, short red hair, with grey eyes. She looked familiar. She also looked really angry.

  “I have no idea where you have gotten that idea from but I assure you that is not the case. Mages do not abduct children.”

  “You have my niece. I requested she be sent to me so that I can care for her, but no one answered my letter. That is kidnap at the very least.”

  “Who are you talking about?”

  “Sophia Leif, daughter of my brother. Who are you talking about?”

  “I wasn't talking about anyone. I was saying we don't abduct children. This now makes far more sense.”

  “Are you sure I'm talking to the right person. This one appears to be an idiot.” Sophia's aunt called over her shoulder at the receptionist.

  The receptionist, who I should really learn the name of, paled and nodded solemnly.

  “Miss Leif, I don't really care who you are right now, I have a lot to do. But please remember that I am a Mage, you should treat me with respect.”

  “Why?”

  I didn't have an answer for her.

  “I guess it doesn't really matter, not all of us are worthy of respect, but a word of caution, not all mages are restrained either.”

  She did nod at that, slowly. The first bit of thoughtfulness I'd seen from her.

  “If you will follow me, I can take you to see Sophia. There have been issues regarding her care, which I'm going to have to tell you about, but that can wait until you have seen her.”

  I started off down the corridor.

  The woman matched my pace

  “Why did she pass into the hands of a mage? She should have been with her family.”

  “Her family died, we sent out the call for relatives the night they died. No one, and I mean no one, came forwards to claim her. She is my apprentice. My responsibility. I claimed her. Where were you?” I said.

  “I was at home. I don't live in Westhaven I'm from Greenlaw. I was coming to visit my brother and his wife. I've not been here for years. Sophia was a baby when last I came. I sent a letter ahead of me. But it turns out they were dead before it arrived. I don't know what happened to it.”

  “Sophia doesn't know you then?”

  “I don't know what she remembers or what she was told. It’s a long journey. I can’t make it as often as I would like. I have work commitments.”

  “What do you do?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “I'm getting to know you.”

  “You haven't even asked my name, its Clarise by the way.”

  “It’s been a rough day, I'm sorry that I'm not at my best.”

  “And my niece is in your care? You’re hardly more than a boy yourself what do you know about raising a child?”

  “Do you have any of your own?”

  “No but that's hardly any business of yours.”

  “What do you do for a living?” />
  “I work for the wizard council.”

  “So do I, but that doesn't answer my question now does it?”

  “If you must know I work in a teaching capacity.”

  “Teaching what?”

  “Magic of course.”

  “How? You aren’t a mage or a wizard.”

  “I don't need power to teach. I can see you are bursting with it, and I'll bet you know nothing.”

  “Hey, that's not true. I do well enough.”

  “Magic isn't just about power is about knowledge and thought.”

  I groaned as the line reminded me of something Jase had said.

  “There we go, you are exactly like some of my students. Disdaining knowledge over power.”

  “No, you just reminded me of my master.”

  We reached the door to my apartment. I turned to her.

  “Now let's cut the lecture short. I want what's best for Sophia. I'm not convinced you have the space in your life for a child but I have to leave soon. So I'm not overwhelmed with choices, that I can dismiss you out of hand.”

  I raised a hand to cut her off.

  “Don't interrupt me. I'm in earnest about this. You speak with great pride about you work but there is no mention of a husband or children in your life. There is no warmth apparent in you. You have been harsh and dismissive to me. A grown man and a mage to boot. I have fears as to what you would do to a child in your care. There are things I will discuss with you once Sophia has seen you but do not think that you can lay claim to her without her consent. Am I clear?”

  “How dare you, she is mine by blood. I can claim her by the laws of the wizards themselves.”

  Not really, you can't. I thought. I felt a smile curve my lips in response

  “You arrogant child.” she raised her hand to slap me.

  I grabbed it, “I've already been in this position today. Make no mistake, it will be something you regret. The law isn't as clear cut as you might think. Now I'm going to release you and you are going to calm down. I won't take you in to see her in this state.”

  She pulled her hand out of my grasp and stood glaring at me before nodding shortly.

  I opened the door and walked in, leaving the woman

  Inside was Sophia and Airis both seated at the dining table. Lyphia was talking into a mirror. She absently waved at me before walking back towards the bedrooms.