by Daniel Ruth
“Life is full of surprises,” she replied bitterly. “When I became a council member I had no idea that the best way to serve my people would be staking them and hiding them until a miracle happens. That damn Sebastian rampaged around the city turning or killing hundreds of people. Now there’s a horde of feral vampires I have to clean up before the city realizes what happened.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty inconvenient,” I said with mock sympathy.
“You may not care but if this gets out all the headway we made will vanish. My people will be hunted, dead or actually be the monsters that humans once thought we were. At least Sebastian seems to have left the city. The newborns are weak and confused without him.”
“Well, I suppose you’re taking responsibility. I’m surprised you still have room in the basement.”
“We don’t. I’ve been stopping by your house and dumping the bodies on the front lawn.”
I stared at her for a moment. Was she joking? Then I realized what she meant. My wards would vaporize the vampires and keep them in that nebulous state until I deactivated the wards long enough for them to regain their corporeal state. “Ingenious. Space saving too.”
“Anyway, you called me because you have a solution? What is it?”
“I have a way to contact your god.”
“The one you theorized was cut off when Jin, or rather Vatapi did his ritual. It seems dubious but we are doomed if we do nothing. What do we need to do?”
“Step one is to go to Mars or Pluto.”
Vivian stared at me, obviously dumbfounded. Then I heard the sound of flesh being pierced and the bloody point of a stake erupted from her chest. She looked down at her chest and a sneer formed as she staggered to the side, revealing a young teenager. He was clearly completely feral, eyes bloodshot, straw-like hair and fangs extended and bloody.
A vicious smile had just formed on his lips when Vivian’s form blurred. In a moment, his body was thrown out of the terminals field of view. The entire scene shuddered and pixilated as the council member’s own terminal attempted to correct for the shaking and motion but I was fairly certain the young vampire now had a stake in his heart.
Seconds later the scene reformed and Vivian stood, once more a proud scowl on her face. She took the point of the stake jutting out of her breastbone in two fingers and with a grimace pulled it out with a grating sucking noise.
“Stupid younglings,” she spat with distaste, tossing the wood off to the side. “They don’t even know where the heart is. Mars. Well, I don’t have a plan, so I guess we’ll go with that.”
“Or Pluto. Both are locations outside the influence of Vatapi’s ritual. We can contact your god and try to re-establish his domination. There is just one thing missing.”
“Only one,” Vivian questioned severely. “Like how to get there? It’s no secret that this planet is quarantined.”
“No, I have a plan for that. The issue is going to be that I don’t know the name of your god.”
“Ah,” she nodded in realization. “That is going to be difficult.”
“Can you find out?”
“At this time I wish those stupid legends were true. If it were Kain it would be simple. However, it’s not. I’ll contact what’s left of the council and see if the old ones know.”
“Are they alive and lucid?”
“They have all hidden away in their keeps and fortresses. Only a few remain lucid but I think their age is helping them resist descending into mindlessness. Fewer still are making themselves useful and policing the wild ones. Fortunately, we are the most powerful ones. At least the senile old fools are keeping themselves alive. I think I can find this for you. They need something to justify their existence, after revealing how craven they are.”
“To be fair, it was pretty obvious considering they were letting Vatapi go unopposed when we merely suspected he was a wizard, out for world domination.”
“True. I need to finish cleaning up Sebastian’s mess for tonight. Tomorrow I will contact the old ones.”
Chapter 23
Although the older classes started in a few days, the freshman classes started the next day. They were more informal than not. More of an introduction really. Stella went off the explore the city, leaving Beth and me to our classes.
The first teacher looked more like a teacher’s assistant than a wise old mentor. He wore a frilly frock, glitter and was dosed to the gills with perfume. He also couldn’t have been older than twenty. If his voice cracked during his lectures, I would have to assume they didn’t take this course seriously. Never the less, we were handed several tomes as we entered the class and told to take a seat.
“This is ‘Mana Gathering’. This class will guide you to become one with the universe in order to channel the primal energies of creation. Pay attention and when you graduate you can take advanced coursework in the inner academy!” Just this one sentence gave rise to a slew of doubts.
As the class went on I found I was fully justified. The teacher was indeed useless. No doubt his sole purpose was to give the students just enough information to hobble through the related course. If they dutifully followed the lackluster instructions the students could look forward to barely scrapping by the companion courses ‘Basic Spell Preparation’ and ‘Elementary Spellcraft’.
To kill time and drown out the sound of the student teacher I browsed through the tomes. It was slightly more useful. They contained introductions to meditation states and helpful mental awareness levels that promoted the correct frame of mind to access the firmament. It was a decent grounding for the first-time mage except for the dressing. It framed everything incredibly obscurely. It came across more like a philosophy book than real instructions. If a child actually followed these instructions, they would probably stumble upon the correct methods within a few months. In other words, about a semester.
I sighed and looked over at Beth. She was glancing from the teacher to the tome in front of her with a look of confusion on her face. This actually matched the expressions of the other children, so she fit right in.
I had already taught her how to meditate in order to facilitate the regeneration of her psychic energies, she already had effectively mastered half the class. I would talk to her later about the variations she would need in order to touch the firmament. Circulation of the energies found there would replenish and expand her magic reserves. I expected her to master it within a week, two at the most.
The last part of the class involved practical applications. This wasn’t as fun as it sounded since it involved a hundred children trying to meditate for the first time in their life. There was a lot of peeking, whispering, and spitballs. I found this distasteful, so I telekinetically guided the spitballs I noticed back up their noses. After a spate of choking there was only peeking, whispering and much less giggling. It was definitely going to take a semester for most of these kids to initiate a real trance state.
The second course we chose was ‘Basic Spell Preparation’. It was taught by a slightly older man. He at least needed to shave. Like our first teacher, he didn’t look like he really wanted to be here. Perhaps that is a look all teachers share. I wouldn’t be able to tell you since these were the first formal classes I have ever taken in my life. I wasn’t missing the experience so far.
This man at least sounded less like a hippie and more like a teacher. He also looked a bit listless. After listening to him for a few minutes and reading through the manual he had handed to us upon entering, I realized why. This class was about how to use the mental states taught in the previous class to tap into the firmament and trigger a spell formation. A very fine goal, however, the students actually needed to complete the ‘Mana Gathering’ class to make any progress in this class. Most of the students here would not be able to use anything taught here until next semester. This was a flaw the instructor obviously knew. I suppose I would be depressed teaching a course no one would be able to understand too.
Beth was frantically looking through her
books as if they would have the answer to why nothing the teacher said made the slightest bit of sense. The glazed look of the other students showed they shared this state of mind but were afraid to say anything. I sighed and memorized the book.
Unlike the first class’s book, it wasn’t like reading a fortune cookie. It was simply that the class was ill-timed. Fortunately, it was exactly what I needed to guide my ancestral memories along the right path. It was significantly different from circles, wards and alchemy, but they say all roads lead to Rome. Likewise, all paths of magic lead through the firmament. No spells were taught but I nodded to myself as the descriptions of the methods to find, synchronize and trigger spells was described.
Mind you, again no actual spells were taught, simply the methods to prepare and access one. Most of these students would be taking this class again next semester. I frowned to myself and wondered exactly what most of these children were doing. Surely they didn’t waste all their time on classes that they couldn’t possibly understand?
I was wondering this as I finished the textbook and began the exercises within. Almost immediately I heard a flutter of robes and I found the teacher staring intensely down into my face.
“Excellent! Well done,” he declared with an almost manic grin. “What is your name.”
“Derek,” I offered. Beth coughed loudly and gestured wildly behind the teacher’s back. I looked blankly at her before I started. “Um, sir.”
“I see you starting the exercises in chapter six,” he nodded and patted me on the back. A few of the other student glared at me. “Did you have some prior experience? Perhaps your family has a history of magicians?”
“As a duke, I had excellent tutors,” I said humbly.
“Oh? Which country?”
I paused. I hadn’t actually found out which country. “Merely the third largest compared to this our present illustrious kingdom.” Beth coughed into her hand and I gave her a dour look.
“Hmm, I had heard your kingdom had some excellent academies. Still, you should be careful. People might think your family circumvented the Fundamental Accords,” although his voice was not accusing I heard an undertone of warning.
I froze. Good grief, another entire world that had mysterious garbage happen. I felt like when Jeremy used to mention some disaster, law or ban that was so universally known that it was unbelievable not to be aware of it.
“That would be silly,” I waved my hand confidently. “No one would dare such a thing. They simply went over the basics that anyone could master if they bothered. There was nothing forbidden.”
“Good,” he nodded congenially. “I am glad to have such a talented freshman in my class.”
Feeling like I had dodged something, I slouched back down. I didn’t dare go back to my practice at this point. I sighed, as I settled in for several boring hours.
By the time it came for ‘Elementary Spellcraft’ I wasn’t surprised. Books were once more handed to us at the door. Another bored middle-aged teacher stood at the front of the class to disseminate knowledge. Once more the freshmen glanced blankly, as knowledge far in advance of what they could possibly use was showered upon them.
Yes, again this was a class that required the knowledge from the previous class to understand anything. This class was more practical in that it, in theory, taught several utilitarian spells. Flipping through the book I may have had a tiny manic grin on my face. Finally, I had a spellbook. This may have been useless to the other students but for me, it was perfect.
It was rather strange to allow freshmen to take these classes. To be honest it was a waste of time. Generally speaking, teaching a mage enough to cast a few rote spells would only take a few months. Admittedly, becoming a decent mage with a flexible repertoire would take longer, perhaps a year. To become good enough to research or modify your own spells could take several years, to a lifetime. However, in this kingdom, the elite academy had staggered and mystified the classes to such an extent that basic competency would take about two or three years.
On the surface, it was infuriating. I could only assume that they didn’t want a horde of children slinging destructive spells as they grew up, yet wanted to train the children early enough that they could expand their energy reserves. Most of the children would drop these two classes, likely today. I suppose it could also serve to identify the occasional genius. I had my doubts in this regard since all I had received was a warning.
I shrugged to myself. It didn’t matter. These simple spells would let me practice the basic spell casting elements that the Preparation class had taught. My inherent understanding of magic should let me have a deeper understanding of the mechanics. With these basic spells and a few more complex ones, I should be able to comprehend enough to modify the minor variables such as duration, area, range. It would be a start.
My feeling of victory was interrupted when a man in scale mail burst into the classroom. “Is Duke Derek in the room? His bodyguard is under detainment and he is called upon to make a statement to the judge!”
My head thumped upon the desk in front of me in defeat. Next time I was dragging Mei with me, instead of a bipolar elf.
Apparently, court bailiffs are provided griffins. I waved to Beth as I was swept outside and helped onto the beast. I made sure the harness was on tightly, since if I fell off, it would be awkward to explain my being alive and unhurt. Again, I felt a tightness in my chest as the creature flew through the sky. It was much slower than a floater but the wind and openness of the experience made me miss the sensation of flying under my own power even more. My pouting was one part missing this and another part being pissed off beyond believe at Stella.
“So did she kill any dwarves,” I questioned tentatively from behind. The man was silent.
“Elves?” More silence.
“Did she dance a jig or ride a donkey down Mainstreet on Sunday?”
“Quiet,” the guard stated in an ominous tone. It was quite good, I made notes on the authenticity. “You’ll be informed when the Justice tells you.” While true, by definition, it wasn’t very helpful.
We soon landed in front of a huge building that encompassed the entire block. Portentous gargoyles sat high on the ledges and wards glowed dimly on the cornerstones. Guards with the kingdom’s coat of arms were stationed at the entrance and dozens of robed individuals that looked suspiciously like mages stood at attention at intervals. I concentrated a moment to check their aura and confirmed it. Then something caught my attention from the corner of my eye. A coach waiting by the entrance was drawn by four beautiful horses. They were dead, but a gorgeous brilliant white.
“So zombie horses,” I tried again to strike up a conversation. “I didn’t realize necromancy was popular in West Noland. Are you sure that’s legal?”
“No law against raising animals from the dead,” the guard said with a slight curl to his lip. I got the feeling that he didn’t approve of the technicality. It seemed he was willing to talk as long as it didn’t involve his task.
“Is it a popular occupation? I didn’t see it on the catalog of classes. Even for the senior years.”
“No, not popular at all. Necromancers and circle masters have reputations that are hard to live with unless you’re a noble or simply powerful enough not to care.”
“So not an option in the Royal Academy.”
“If you want to deal with such things you’ll have to find an apprenticeship under a necromancer once you graduate. I wouldn’t bother if I were you.”
We made our way inside, past more guards and meandering crowds until we stood in front a set of sturdy double doors. Wards were engraved on them and I could feel the waves of energy bearing down on me light sunlight in the desert. Wards against illusions. Wards against lies. Wards against shapechangers.
I paused for a moment. The last few times I had come across powerful enchantments against lies and illusion it had impacted on the rune engraved on my chest causing me exquisite pain. Although the rune had rebuffed the opposing magic
it had left it slightly askew. Perhaps not damaged, more redefined. Looser. Subsequent applications of the same effect did nothing, but the first exposure hit me like a freight train and left me a little more unrestricted.
“In you go lordling,” the guard patted my back, reminding me to move forward. Perhaps he meant to be comforting.
I stepped forward and as I expected, was engulfed in a world of pain. It felt as if an ancient dragon of incalculable might has his hand wrapped around my chest and was squeezing me tight enough my head might just pop off. Yeah, it felt familiar enough to match my nightmares and memory. Then it was over and I the pressure was gone. My chest felt loose and free as if I had a bout of coughing but was able to breathe a bit more freely. There was no time now but I wondered what my new limits were.
Passing through the doors, I saw a room in turmoil. There was Stella standing in front of the judge’s podium. Her arms were folded across her chest and she stood in obvious defiance. Around her were dozens of robed mages, fellow elementalists from their aura. Some waved their arms angrily at her, others shouted at the judge. A good number were shouting at each other.
Onlookers sat in the rows of seats in front of the judge, eyes glued to the events unfolding before them. These were prosperous people, dressed in fancy robes or well-tooled leathers. If I had to guess, I would say this was a spectator sport for the nobility. One distinguished man with coffee colored skin and long braided hair caught my attention. He was as well dressed as any of the others but that wasn’t what caught my attention. His aura reeked of death. Obviously, a necromancer.
“Your honor, she has to die,” one of the elementalist stated with suppressed emotion. “It’s the only way to undo what she did!”
“She just did what any decent thinking elementalist should have done,” another stridently shouted. “If I had the strength, I would have done the same thing!”
“And then it would be you that we would need to put to death,” the first one snorted in disdain. More shouts immediately erupted.
