by Eden Redd
The spellsword clamped a hand on Dax’s shoulder, “But now, those were just typical days for champions. Since I’ve come home and had a chance to think it over, this will be my life from now on. I have to embrace it or I’ll end up running home and never the leaving the grounds.”
Symon looked to his friend, “Besides, a true champion never abandons his duty of rehabilitating a former criminal.”
Dax let out a laugh loud enough for several dock workers to turn their heads and look in their direction.
“Good to know. If I see any former criminals, I will be sure to send them your way,” Dax grinned.
The two young men laughed again before turning and walking along the dock to the waiting ship.
The breeze picked up as the two academy students stepped aboard and stowed their packs on the main deck. Many other students were aboard, looking out to the black sea. The captain nodded to his first mate. The gangplank was pulled into the ship and the sails glowed with mystical power.
Dax looked up to the sails. It amazed him every time he saw it. Since he was young and visiting the docks when he could, he often watched the Heroes Light depart with its magical sails. No matter if there was a breeze, a wind, or still air, the ship would move with magical power. Winds would appear the moment it cast off, filling the glowing sails before turning and making its short journey to Mist Haven Isle in the distance.
Symon stepped over to a bench and sat down, arms along the railing and breathing in the salty sea air. Dax looked down to his friend and made his way over. The mage sat down not too far from his friend.
“What do you think we will expect this year?” Symon asked in a low tone.
“Not sure. If I were a betting man, I would think that there will be less hand holding and more thrusting us into danger.”
Symon nodded. “Since you are a betting man, I’m betting you’re right.”
Dax looked to the wooden floor, dark thoughts caressing the edges of his mind and the mage desperately trying to keep them at bay. Despite the exciting escape from Hydale, it could not chase away the images of Dax’s mother and a certain beautiful mage he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“I miss the others,” Symon said flatly. “Letters are nice, but it’s never truly the same as being together.”
Dax nodded. “I miss them too.”
Symon looked over. “Do you miss everyone? Even her?”
The mage scowled before he caught himself. Purposely smoothing his brow, Dax simply shrugged.
Symon leaned forward, elbows on knees and looked to his friend. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit a sore spot. I just thought you were ready to talk about it since you haven’t mentioned her name in months.”
Dax chewed on his tongue for a moment. The nervous habit annoyed him and he forced himself to stop.
“There’s nothing to say. She pushed us all away after the Trials. She pushed me away.”
Symon nodded. “I’m here if you want to talk about it?”
An image of Nuria touched Dax’s mind’s eye. An ache clawed at his heart, their last moment in the Raven Tower, spilling secrets to each other. The pact they agreed upon held, but the yearnings were still there. No one would know about Dax’s past just as no one would know Nuria’s true self. It still stung the mage to see her pull away with each passing day. When the first year of the academy was over, he tried to say goodbye and she was nowhere to be found.
“Thank you, Symon, but there’s nothing to talk about. She’s with her people and I am with mine. I think it will be like that for the next two years and when we leave the academy, fate will take us where it will.”
Symon nodded. “You still have me to kick around.”
Dax’s somber expression turned into a smile. “Kick around? Isn’t that what you were doing to me during sword practice?”
The spellsword chuckled. “Ha! That’s right! You did make an excellent practice dummy.”
“Thanks,” Dax smirked.
“I mean it. For practice dummies, you’re slightly above average, which is saying a lot.”
The mage’s smile grew wider. “I’m not sure I like this new Symon.”
The spellsword grabbed Dax’s shoulder and pulled him in close. “Too late! You’re family.”
The mage growled outwardly, but from within, he felt blessed to have such a good friend.
The Heroes Light pushed through the inky darkness, only the lights of the Academy towers guiding it through calm waters. Students crowded along the edge, looking out, many with smiles. Dim starlight covered the heavens as cool air flowed over the deck.
Dax was up and leaning against the railing. He stared out, drinking in the celestial magnificence and drowning in its beauty. His thoughts flowed to possible ideas and what to expect for the new academy year. The professors were extremely secretive with their plans and very little to nothing ever leaked out to the student body. From what Dax could gather from previous years, Kinarth Academy changed much of their curriculum year to year. They kept some things, but changed it just enough to make it challenging, intensive and exciting.
The mage pondered, wondering if he would be able to keep his former coterie together. Fern, Vance, and Zarra worked well with him and Symon. They fell into a nearly practiced groove where they overcame problems fairly well. It helped that they all got along, even when Nuria was with them.
The sudden thought of the beautiful mage caused Dax to sigh.
It’s better that we stay apart. She’s a woman with a void spawn soul and I’m a slum runner with a dark past. It will never work.
Dax looked out to the black waters.
I’m so full of shit.
Dax cracked a small smile to himself as he took another deep breath and looked up to the stars.
Three hours slipped away before the Heroes Light docked at Silver Port. Lines were cast and the ship was anchored to the dock. The gangplank slid out and touched the weathered dock before students began to file out.
Dax and Symon hefted their packs and made their way down. The mage looked to the port town and then past it to the high walls and towers of Kinarth Academy. A sense of home washed over the mage and he couldn’t hold back his smile.
“If we hurry, we can still get a bite to eat at the Dining Hall,” Symon said as they walked down the gangplank.
Dax stopped in his tracks when they reached the bottom and put his arm out in front of the taller man.
“Hold on, someone owes me a keg of mead and I’m ready to collect,” Dax said with a snarky smile.
Symon’s eyes widened a hair and looked down. “Damn, I thought maybe you forgot.”
Dax looked over across the docks and saw a familiar tavern in the short distance, “Let’s go see Tofer.”
“He still doesn’t like us,” Symon sighed.
“We’re paying customers, he has to like us.”
The spellsword looked to his friend. “Are you going to cause trouble?”
“I hope so,” Dax said with a wide grin.
Three
Dax huffed and puffed with a smile on his face. In his arms was a keg the size of a large baby. To his right, Symon walked along, making no attempt to help the mage.
The journey to the academy was slow, Dax lugging the keg of mead the entire way and thinking about him and Symon’s quick stop at The Drinking Serpent. The owner and bartender, Tofer, was all smiles with the local patrons until Dax stepped in. The content smile faded before he stared at the mage and spellsword. Dax greeted the owner with a happy smile, but it wasn’t enough to sway him. When the two men stood at the bar, Tofer ignored Dax and looked to Symon. The spellsword asked for a small keg of mead. Tofer left, heading to the back. He returned with the keg and placed it on the bar top. The gold barely exchanged when Dax opened his mouth.
“I’m looking for a game,” the mage winked.
What followed next was a string of curses and a fist hammering down on the bar. All heads turned in their direction as Tofer unleashed his fury with venomo
us words. When his rant was over, Dax simply blinked and smiled wider.
“Have you ever thought of becoming a dishwasher?”
Symon’s arms lashed out, one grabbing Dax and the other grabbing the small keg. Tofer tried to scramble over the bar, but his knee hit the edge, which caused him to bark out in pain. Dax stared with a wide smile before Symon pulled the mage by the robe. The yelling and cursing continued, even when they were outside. Symon thrust the keg into Dax’s arms and the two moved quickly as curses and laughter rang out from the tavern.
“Tofer is going to poison you one night,” Symon said with a tired edge as they walked.
Dax guessed his friend had spent the whole-time thinking about what happened at the tavern.
“He doesn’t have a sense of humor,” Dax huffed as his arms strained.
The spellsword shook his head. “Why do you do this to yourself? And I don’t just mean what happened at the tavern. The people who surrounded you back in Hydale and even people at the academy want to hurt you. You give them every reason to justify it.”
Dax’s small smile melted away as he walked. “Would it help to tell you that Tofer was rude to me the moment he met me? Would it help that the slum runners and thugs in Hydale cheated many people and never had a nice word to say to me because I was one of the better runners?”
Symon looked down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off harsh.”
Dax looked over to his taller friend and his smile returned. “I know it seems like I’m just poking the bear, but if I don’t say anything, all those people would walk all over me and take what they wanted. I know my history, but I won’t let it define me. Many people look down on me because I’m not like them. I don’t want to be like them and I let them know it. All they respect is power and cunning.”
Dax stopped walking, placed the small barrel on the ground and sat on it. Looking up, he saw the concern in Symon’s eyes. Behind the spellsword, the black sky shined with stars.
“You know what I respect? True friendship and kindness. The Void War left our world in ruins and only now, we are coming back. But it didn’t take away the mistrust and vile anger everyone felt in their soul.
“I didn’t just want to become a mage or champion because of magic and a better life. I wanted to become a champion so I can help those who really need it. Tofer doesn’t need help. The people I used to run with don’t need it. The people who need it are the good ones. The ones who help without thinking or make you feel bad because you’re poor.”
Symon gave a small nod. “Dax, you have every right to be mad about how some people act but shouldn’t we set an example for all people? Even the bad ones?”
The mage stared at his friend for a long moment before he looked away. “Maybe, but I’m not there yet.”
Dax stood up and bent down to pick up the keg.
“I can help carry it,” Symon offered.
Dax shook his head. “Thanks, but I have it.”
Dax hoisted the small barrel onto his shoulder and began walking. Symon followed and soon walked side by side with the mage.
The rest of the walk was in silence. Dax’s mind thundered with annoyance as he tried to not point his anger at his friend.
Symon only wants to help, but he will never know what it was like to grow up in the slums. I hope he never does. I hope one day, no one will know what it’s like to go hungry or wonder where they will sleep next.
The main gates to Kinarth Academy appeared as the two friends approached. Dax let out a relieved sigh, the barrel on his shoulder beginning to send sharp pains into his back.
A banner hung across the top of the open gates that read, “Welcome Back Champions!” Some students stepped beyond the gate as the mage and spellsword made their way closer.
Dax’s heart lifted in his chest, ready to sleep in his dorm room once again. Faces of his friends danced in his mind and a growing excitement for his second year at the academy.
A figure stood at the entrance, arms crossed and short white hair covering his head. Dax and Symon made their way closer, seeing the scarred face and hands of Counselor Edrin Skullcut. The imposing man had a small, welcoming smile, but his mere presence spoke of something he had to address.
“Welcome back to the academy,” Counselor Skullcut smiled as he held out his hand.
Dax let out a small, painful groan as he swung the small barrel and placed it on the ground. Symon stepped ahead and clasped the counselor’s forearm. When he let go, Edrin eyed Dax as he stood huffing like he had been running for days.
“We have mead here,” the counselor smiled.
“I won a bet,” Dax informed.
The counselor nodded. “Understood.”
“Are you greeting everyone who is returning?” Dax asked as he composed himself.
The counselor shook his head. “No. I was meeting you two. I was informed there was a magical scuffle on the streets of Hydale and you both were directly involved.”
Dax’s eyes narrowed. “It was self-defense.”
The counselor chuckled. “Yes, I know. Which is why you’re not in trouble. I’m here to give a friendly reminder that unsanctioned spell casting is not allowed.”
Dax and Symon stood with blank gazes.
“I’m also happy to see you both return,” the counselor smiled.
Dax stepped forward and clasped Edrin’s forearm. “It’s good to be back.”
“Walk with me,” The counselor said, turned and began walking.
Symon followed. Dax lifted his keg onto his shoulder and walked with an annoyed grunt.
The entrance opened up into the massive courtyard of the academy. Small groups clustered as friends and classmates met each other. Some of the faculty walked around, greeting some groups and waving to others. The air contained a charged electricity as almost everyone appeared happy to be back within the academy walls.
“I wanted to take this moment to inform you both of what is expected for this year. Normally, I would just speak to Dax but there should be a witness to the conversation,” Edrin stated.
Dax and Symon looked to each other for a second before they both looked over the imposing counselor.
“I’ll be brief. This year is going to be difficult, but it will be harder for you Dax. The High Dean and I discussed this at length and we agreed to begin showing students how to use Dax’s card magic technique.”
Dax’s eyes widened. “I thought we were a few years away from actually training champions? What changed?”
Edrin looked over with a kind gaze. “It was the initial plan, but it seems Ikkudran had other plans. In the last several months we received letters and demands to meet with kingdom officials. The card magic technique has caused some disruptions across the lands. I personally made journeys to several kingdoms and was questioned at length.
“They know who you are, Dax, and they are not happy. We here in the academy know and understand why you gave away the technique, but the rest of Ikkudran does not. Many demanded to shut this new technique down and others demanded we train their court mages and champions immediately. I was informative, but High Dean Luthis does not want to strain our resources trying to train every kingdom on the ways of card magic.
“A compromise was reached.”
Dax stopped and put his keg down. “Train here first and then train the kingdoms.”
Edrin and Symon turned around, the three men facing each other in a triangle.
“High Dean Luthis, Professor Frost and I believe it will be in everyone’s best interests to have proper training with the technique. Professor Plume and Frost discovered that mages are not the only ones who can wield card magic. It’s true, mages can create the cards, but since the cards are charged with mana and they regenerate on their own, others can use them too, to a degree.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready,” Dax said as he looked to the side.
Edrin nodded. “No one is truly ready. That is why we must rise to the occasion. As you already know, people are experimenti
ng with the technique and some with disastrous results. Order must be made with this new kind of spell casting or terrible outcomes will accelerate.”
Symon looked to the counselor, “I thought most kingdoms already banned card magic use?”
The large counselor nodded. “They have, but there will always be those who don’t listen or understand. We are currently running out of time to establish proper training and usage of the technique. The next year will be crucial to setting a standard.”
Dax stood straighter and looked Counselor Skullcut in the eyes. “What will you have me do?”
The counselor nodded. “Right now, unpack and enjoy your return to the academy. I’m sure you have friends to see again. Tomorrow, the High Dean is holding a welcoming lecture in the auditorium, informing everyone what to expect for the new year in the Academy. After that, I’m sure you will be approached by Professor Frost and Plume to discuss how we will proceed. I simply wanted you to know so there are no surprises.”
Dax bowed deeply. “Thank you Counselor Skullcut for telling me.”
Edrin bowed his head. “You’re welcome, Mage.”
Dax stood up with new light in his eyes.
I’m going to help train the academy and then the world with how to use card magic!
Edrin stepped in a little closer, his gaze on Dax. “I suggest you bring that barrel to the Dining Hall. I thought I saw a berserker, cleric, and mage who might be glad to see you.”
Dax and Symon smiled.
The counselor smiled, turned and walked away.
The pair watched as the counselor continued to walk, waving to groups of students as he passed them and disappeared through a tower door. Dax lifted up the small barrel and nodded to Symon. The spellsword nodded back and both men turned and marched toward the Dining Hall.
After a few minutes, they stepped into the grand hall side by side. Most of the tables were empty. Some had a few groups, but one table glowed in their eyes. A blonde woman in white sat with a red head with fairy wings and a spikey haired mage with them.
