MageLife

by P. Tempest

  “Good morning Sophia, Airis. I'm sorry I had to leave so early.”

  “Tristan, we saw you weren't here but Lyphia said you would be back soon enough.”

  “I have someone here to see you Soph she says she is your aunt. Her name is...”

  “Aunt Clarise? Really? I thought she lived far away, I never met her. And dad didn't like her much.”

  “Well, that sounds like her. She has come to see you. I left her in the hall to give you a moment to process the news.”

  She sat looking at me blankly for a moment, then nodded, looking me straight in the eye.

  I smiled at her then I turned and gestured Clarise into the room.

  She stepped in with a kind of trepidation as if she was walking into a room of wild animals. She stopped just inside and looked, really looked at Sophia.

  “You look just like your mother. I'm so sorry child. I wish I could have been here sooner, then you wouldn’t have needed to be with strangers.”

  “They aren't strangers. Airis is my friend, he’s looked after me and we play and have fun. Tristan is nice, he is my master, but he isn't mean or bossy. He loves me. And Lyphia is very pretty and we dress up and talk and stuff. I miss mum and dad but I'm not with strangers. You are family, but I don't know you. You are a stranger. So I would have been with strangers if you had taken me away. I would have been away from my home and I wouldn’t be able to come back or see the places that I saw when I went shopping with mum. Or the places I went to with dad. And all my friends from school would be here and I would be away.”

  “Shush child. I'm not a stranger. I came to take you away from all this. I live in Greenlaw do you know of it? It’s a big city on an island. It floats above the ocean. Have you seen the ocean?”

  “No but Tristan will take me, won't you Tristan?”

  I stood there wanting so much to tell her I would, but I couldn't

  “Tristan is something wrong?” Lyphia asked from the other side of the room. She had just re-entered, the mirror in her hand just a blank mirror now.

  “No, could I have a word with you though. Work stuff.”

  “Of course. Sophia, Airis be good for this lady. We won't be a moment.”

  The kids nodded.

  I fixed Clarise with a glare. I hoped she got the message. I then walked to the table grabbed the letter and went to my room with Lyphia.

  As soon as the door was shut she asked “what’s wrong? You left so early this morning and without saying a word.”

  “Orb came. I was summoned to appear before Rysan and be judged for my actions. It didn't go as well as I had hoped.”

  “But you were in the right.”

  That doesn't matter. What is right anyway? I still killed a mage and apparently he was Rysan's friend. It didn't help that I punched the Rysan a bit.

  “You punched Rysan a bit?”

  “Eh, just a little bit.”

  “You are a very stupid man.”

  “I have my moments yeah. Well Rysan wanted to kill me on the spot. Then he wanted to strip my links, which I didn't think was possible.”

  “It is, most go mad though. My father mentioned it’s like having a part of your mind just torn away. You don't even know what is lost but you can feel the hole,"

  “That's what happened to him?”

  “Not quite, but the generalities are the same. It wasn't done to him so much as his oath had merged with one of his lesser links. I don't know the details I doubt he does either. Anyway that isn't the subject at hand. You aren't dead and you are still a mage. So what punishment have you been given?”

  “I’ve been reassigned. I have to aid the expansion efforts in a place called Nelar, I've never even heard of it.”

  I have but I can’t place it, did you get told anymore? How long will you be gone? Is it permanent?

  “I have until dawn to be out of town, on my way I assume. I didn't really want to press for details, it was a bit touch and go if I would even walk out for a moment or three.”

  “What are you going to tell Sophia? She will want to come with you. Is she allowed?”

  “I don't know really I don't. I have no information about the place, other than it’s not a good place to go, Rysan was gloating about sending me there.”

  “Appeal to the wizards. Explain the situation.”

  “They won't believe me, I've been an active for how long now? A few months. Rysan has been here for years and he served the council before coming here. Who would take the word of such a junior mage over a senior? It’s not like I've even got a perfect record as it stands. Suspended for medical within a week of service. Disobeying a lawful command. I have years of my debt still to serve. It’s just not going to happen. Even if they did believe me. I've just killed another of their servants, I would be pissed in their shoes.”

  “You have to do something, you can't just meekly accept your lot in life. You have to fight this.”

  “Why? I'm tired Lyph it’s been a few months, that's it. I'm tired already. I have an apprentice, Sophia who looks up to me, should I show her that she should fight everyone? Should I show her it’s okay to disobey her superiors? Or should I show her what it means to fulfil her duty even when it’s unpleasant. To do the right thing? I don't know what to do, I don't know where I am going or why. I just don't know.”

  “Tristan of course you should show her the right way to fulfil her duty but you should show her how to think. Show her when to fight and why. You both need to learn how to fight. Clearly you are going to come off worse on of these days.”

  “You’re telling me, I lost against Selac, it was the people who won that one for me. I can’t rely on it all the time. I don't know what to tell Sophia. If it’s a dangerous as I'm guessing I can’t take her. How can I leave her after everything?”

  “We will cross that bridge when we come to it, but for now you need to put a smile on your face and go back out.”

  “I need to read this letter. Sophia never mentioned an aunt neither did Orb. It seems strange that she has just appeared.”

  “Orb doesn't know everything. You know most of the older people aren't in the census. The nobles didn't care that much as long as they had all the soldiers they needed and trade didn't dry up.”

  “I know Orb doesn't know everything but surely if she is who she says she is, she would have shown up, she said she teaches magic in Greenlaw.”

  “That is odd, she didn't look like a mage or a wizard.”

  She isn't, I didn't look but there is no sense of that about her, and her eyes are normal.

  “Sophia doesn't have the eyes yet either.”

  “I guess. But she is really young there is nothing to say she will get the eyes for a while.”

  “Read the letter I will go out and see to the children for a few moments, come out when you are ready.”

  Lyphia headed to the door, kissing me on the cheek on the way out.

  I stood gazing at the letter for a moment before opening it.

  ‘To my dearest brother,

  I'm sending this letter on my way out of the city, it may reach you before I will. I have come to collect Sophia as we discussed in previous communications. I will never understand why you don't use the mirrors. But that is neither here nor there. Please make sure she is informed of my arrival. I don't have the patience to deal with a reluctant child. She is to be provided with all she needs, clothes and essentials. I believe you are doing the right thing sending her to me. Westhaven is a backwater compared to the floating city. She will do far better here and I can educate her, make her ready for work. I wish you would reconsider joining me, but I suppose you never will. I will be arriving as soon as possible. A few weeks is likely as I can't use the new transport systems, the golem birds, they make me sick to my stomach. Those self-powered carts confuse my senses, and they are expensive for such a long journey. I will be there soon, keep looking for me.

  Your loving sister Clarise.’

  I folded the letter up and looked at the envelope,
there in crossed out and faded ink was Sophia’s old address. Someone had added in directions to the academy. So someone knew that Sophia had been relocated. It wasn't important. In a town this small everyone knew everyone, although the mages were outside of that. Town gossip didn't pass the academy doors.

  I still had no idea what I was going to do. Reading the letter hadn't told me all that much. It certainly hadn't given me any answers to my questions. If anything it had taken one away. Clarise felt cold, Sophia was such a warm child, it just felt wrong to leave her with a child.

  I took a deep breath and walked out to the main room.

  Clarise hadn't moved neither had Sophia they remained looking, more like glaring at each other. Airis and Lyphia were stood to the sides, both waiting to intervene. Not a word was spoken.

  “Is everything alright in here?” I asked.

  Clarise stalked towards me. “This child is disobedient and insolent. She should show respect to her elders.”

  Sophia bristled and opened her mouth to respond.

  I raised a hand to forestall her outburst.

  She closed her mouth but continued to look angry.

  “She is a wonderful child that you have come here out of the blue to take away from the home she has, you have undoubtedly commanded her, instead of asking her. She has no reason to respect you, she doesn't know you. I don't respect you, I can barely stand the sight of you and you have been in my home for no more than a few moments. Don't start. I haven't finished. She is my apprentice, she is my responsibility, and blood means nothing to me. If she wants to live with you, then that is her decision.”

  “The law clearly states…...”

  “Did you not listen to me? She is my apprentice. The law doesn't apply to me. She is my ward until such a time as I release her. I will not release her into the care of someone I don't trust nor someone that she doesn't want to live with.”

  “That's illegal, you abducted this poor child from the site of parent’s death. She is my flesh and blood, you can’t keep me from her.”

  “I can and I will. Sophia, what do you think about living with your aunt?”

  “I don't want to. I don't know her. I don't want to move away.”

  “Then you don't have to.” I turned back to Clarise. “You will not try to press your claim to Sophia. It will go badly for you. You will not attempt to remove her from the home she has chosen. Am I clear?”

  Clarise said nothing.

  “Am I clear?” I repeated louder. I could feel my eyes flare with power as my anger rose.

  “Yes,” she answered sullenly.

  “Good, now I'm not going to be unreasonable. If Sophia is willing, I'm more than happy for you to spend time with her. Get to know her.”

  “I will have to find accommodations, I hadn't planned on staying in the area.”

  “I will ask Orb to see what he can do as a family member of a mage in training we can provide temporary housing. If you can go down to the reception, I have some things to take care of.”

  She left.

  “Right now that that is dealt with for the moment I have something to tell you all.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. “I’ve been reassigned. I will be leaving first thing.”

  Sophia burst with questions. Airis wasn't far behind. In the end they both had the same questions.

  Could they come with me? How long would we be gone?

  “I don't have any answers for you right now. I need to get with orb and find some things out, like where the forsaken place is and how to get there. Sophia from what little I know I'm not sure if taking you is a good idea.”

  “But you just sent her away, if I can’t go with you who would look after me? You promised you wouldn't leave me.”

  “I know I did Sophia and I don't want to. I will do everything can to stay with you but this isn’t in my hands. I'm bound to the council, I have to do my job wherever that may be.”

  “Lyph make him stay.”

  “I would if I could, I can’t leave I have the guild.”

  “Then you can move here. You are here all the time anyway. And we can be together until Tristan comes home.”

  Lyphia smiled gently.

  “We will see Soph,"

  Well I need to do some research before I can do anything else. If you need me I will be in my work room please knock first.

  I got a round of nods of varying degrees of certainty. I walked back to my room.

  As I entered I noticed the sword on the wall. The thing that had caused all this. I was reminded that I could have found another way to handle things if I'd just used my mind, a bit of thought and I wouldn't be having to deal with all this. Research and arrangements for Sophia, not even counting travel and what I would actually need to do when I got to Nelar, wherever it was. I continued through to my work room and sat at the control terminal. I lay my hand on the panel to activate it. My hand stung as I lay it flat. My knuckles were skinned and bled lightly. I fought a grin off my face at the reminder of punching Rysan in the face. I sobered quickly, I needed to find out what mess I was being sent into. I swiped my fingers over the screen looking for the archives, there was a tiny glyph in the corner that I tapped. It pulled up a voice search.

  “Please state your request," The terminal said.

  “Nelar.”

  “That information is restricted to masters and above. Please present your ident.”

  I channelled a tiny glimmer of power into my hand.

  “Access has been granted. No copies of this information are allowable. Do not repeat this information to anyone, this is punishable by suspension, and an inquest.”

  I felt my eyebrows rise at the warning, I'd never encountered it before, although I didn't use the archives as much as I should. My studies had taken a blow since I'd become an active.

  On the screen were rows of scrolling glyphs in mage. But for all that the information was thin.

  I read parts that seemed pertinent aloud to fix them in my memory.

  “Nelar was once a large town in the holding of the Vestris noble house, due to various factors the town declined till barely 12 structures were left.”

  In the area surrounding the holding of Nelar is a disturbance in the ambient energy, this has caused large alterations in the way people can live their lives. All enchantments fail abruptly. Wild elementals roam the area. Use of magic is strictly controlled, it often has unfortunate side effects. As well as the corrupting influence on a mage or a wizard. This town has been struck from the list of viable trading areas.

  Efforts to address the distortion have failed. The distortion has grown over generations. The cause of the disturbance is unknown. Why the small population of Nelar have stayed in the area is unknown. Allowed uses of magic are unknown. Golems are prohibited. Untrained mages are prohibited. Enchantment is prohibited. Prolonged exposure to the area is inadvisable. There are a few unconfirmed reports of ghosts and spirits. The local populace seems to have a deep distrust of magic users.

  I stood up feeling rather overwhelmed.

  I couldn't take Sophia into that mess, nor Airis. I still didn't know how to get there but I at least knew where it was now. Up near the mountains quite a way from here, but there was a broken road I could use for most of the way.

  I looked down at the screen that was now flashing at me, a small map was showing but it wasn't a terrain map, it was an ambient map the magic plane was superimposed over the land in washes of colour. Nice healthy, light colour everywhere except a patch of darkness in a part that without even checking I knew was Nelar. I couldn't look anymore.

  I walked out to my room and started collected everything I thought I might need. Enchantments were a no go. So it kinda made up for the fact my bracer was nowhere to be found, it was odd that I could now do the effect myself but handy. A pile of clothes formed on my bed, all mage uniforms, I should really get some other clothes but they were durable, it served my purposes. I looked at the sword, I didn't want t
o take it with me I barely knew how to use it. But without my magic I was helpless. In the base of the wardrobe was a bag that I'd found in my rummaging. It was sturdy hide, it looked as if it would fit all my stuff in it. And it had a strap so I could sling it over my shoulder.

  I needed supplies, and I needed to talk to Sophia and Lyph and Jase.

  Armed with slightly more information and the start of a plan I headed out to the main room. Lyphia and the kids were sat around the table with matching expressions of confusion and hope on their faces.

  “Soph, I don't think I can take you with me, it doesn't sound like a good place for anyone let alone someone as young as you.”

  “But you promised you wouldn't leave me.”

  “I'm not leaving you, I'm still with you. I will always be here for you but my duty comes first always I'm sorry.”

  “Tristan do you have to say it like that?” Lyphia said.

  “It's the truth, Sophia means the world to me but I have a job to do. Part of that is doing things that I don't want to. Like being away from you all. I can't take Airis for reasons that I can’t go into. Lyph you have the guild, if possible would you be able to look after Sophia while I'm gone, I'm going to ask Jase too,” I turned back to Sophia. “Is this alright with you? I can't change having to leave but I will come back. I need to make sure you are safe and well before I can do anything.”

  Sophia nodded reluctantly.

  “Good, Airis I need you to make sure she stays out of trouble too, can you do that for me.”

  The golem boy saluted with a closed fist to his chest.

  I responded in kind, a smile quirked my lips.

  “I need to finish getting together what I will need, I saw Jase earlier do you have any clue when he will be back?”

  “No, but I think he is due to visit Avery soon. They spend their afternoons together.”

  Perfect.

  I avoided looking at Sophia, I didn't want to see her cry. I turned and walked out to the hall. I shut the door behind me. It may have been the hardest thing I'd ever done. I didn't want to leave her, but…