Fifteen Years Later
Deep within the hallowed halls of the Magus Academy, the premier institution of the Atrasal Society. Many classrooms fill with eager young minds, ready for education. Throughout these halls is one particular classroom. Written upon the door are the glyphs of the old tongue, passed down since the age of the Magus Kings. In the common language, it reads the fundamentals of magic.
Within this room, many students sit with awed faces. Their teacher, an elderly man robed in white extols the virtues of magic and its trials. As his lesson commences a man can be seen just outside the classroom. Leaning against the wall to the right of the doorway. He eavesdrops on the class while it's in session.
The man is moderately tall, almost six feet with the looks of being in his mid-twenties. He has dark short hair, blue eyes, and pale yet fair skin. Having faint but visible scarring on his face, as well as a scar on his chest just peeking out of his shirt. Wearing a flowing dark coat with a hood trailing down the back. He appears rather at odds with the grandeur that surrounds him.
Raising his right hand towards his chest, he gazes down at a decorative silver ring with a red stone in the centre. The ring is worn on his index finger. "Ignis." He chants, turning his hand over to cup a fire sprouting from the ring's stone. The fire plants itself into the centre of his hand. "An all-consuming fire, ready to spread my desires across the land, scorching the earth." The stranger mutters quietly while gazing into the fire. The flame flickers within the reflection of his iris. Gazing intently, he can almost see a vision in the fire. Blinking a few times, he clasps his palm, smothering the flame.
Turning to his left he walks past the closed classroom. Peering in through the window, he spots all the students and teachers in attendance. Continuing down the corridor without a single thought to the passing architecture. Various classroom doors on each side can be seen in equal intervals. Above is a con-caved ceiling depicting various decorations and artwork. Denoting the academy's excessive wealth and prestige.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted, got to learn a little magic which is just another step closer I suppose." He whispers softly with a shrug before continuing on.
Coming to a large door to his left, appearing to be a visual marvel being at least twenty feet high. Above a decorative tapestry denoting an image of a hooded man with a staff. He is fighting a demonic being with cloven hooves and horns. The door itself was composed entirely of silver and precious metals. At the centre are two door handles, both made up entirely of gold.
He reached for both of the door handles, pulling them open. With little effort, the doors swung inwards as sunlight seeped through. What appeared before he was a majestic garden. Sunlight enveloped the area in a beautiful orange hue, accentuating the view. The garden has two hedges on either side. In between a pathway out of the academy and towards the unknown. Further hedges beyond them were carved into various decorative shapes that could be seen from a bird's eye view.
Making his way down the steps, he catches a glimpse of a figure to his left. They are slanted against the wall as if waiting for him to exit. "Orpheus!" The voice of a young woman can be heard. Glancing to the side the figure of a woman comes into view. Her fiery red hair is the first to be noticed. Fastened into the form of a ponytail.
She is around five and a half feet tall, barely reaching his neck. Upon her button nose are circular horn-rimmed glasses. Her face has noticeable freckles on both of her cheeks. Her clothes are a traditional black pantsuit with a white tie.
"Oh hey, Leila how are you on this fine morning?" Orpheus says with a sarcastic tone, stopping just short of the bottom step.
The so-named Leila scowls in annoyance. "Morning who cares about that, what in Vera’s name are you doing?" Practically spitting the words, she questions him harshly.
"Oh, invoking the goddess of wisdom, is that blasphemy I wonder" Replying innocently, he steps forward onto the stone path.
Stepping forward to block his path, Leila glares at the man as if he was a stubborn child. “I think she would make an exception. You are abandoning your studies and an institution she built.” Countering his statement with her own chastising words.
Shaking his head in annoyance, Orpheus speaks up. “I think you are confusing the academy with the temple. There is no proof the Goddess built this place, that’s just something the archmages say to feel important.” Spewing words of blasphemy, Orpheus speaks them without hesitation
Slightly offended, Leila quickly switches gears. Shaking her head, she shifts to another subject. "Orpheus, I know your grades are only average, but I have been helping you out with that. Besides your magical affinities put many mages to shame." Leila continues, extolling his virtues and earnestly attempting to persuade him. Orpheus instead had very little reaction, he had heard it all before. He had become numb to the words. "Please I don't understand you have a bright future ahead of you and only a semester left. Why are you going now?" Finishing that series of questions and statements, she awaits his answer.
Exhaling a tired sigh, Orpheus shakes his head visibly exhausted. "Subcinctus Egomet." Instead of an answer, he quickly chants in an arcane tongue and his form vanished in a flash.
The sight would naturally surprise anyone. Leila on the other hand released a tired sigh before turning around. Casting her gaze to the path leading to the exit of the grounds. Sighting the form of a man, a short distance down the path.
Standing dumbfounded at his surroundings, Orpheus looks around confused. Soon realisation dawns on him, only it was far too late. “Gravitas Contundito” The whisper of arcane words met his ears. The reality of those words became apparent as the world suddenly became heavy.
A heavy invisible force descended upon his shoulders. He felt weight heavier than any he had endured. Forced to his knees, he struggled against the crushing weight. Realising it was futile, he uttered the arcane words that would save him. "Subcinctus Egomet." His surroundings changed and the heavy force vanished instantly.
At that moment he was free, but not for long. Looking around he noticed his position. He had shifted to only a few metres to the right, next to the hedge maze. Glancing to the side he could sense a powerful repulsive force coating the area. Enlightenment dawns on him before annoyance boils in his chest.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Rising to his feet, he smiles wryly, gazing intently at the smug form of Leila. Her arms crossed; she glared down at him from the top of the stairs. Appearing like a ruthless dictator, displeased at her treasonous subject. “A barrier spell, really?” Tilting his head to the side, he questions her.
Unfurling her arms, she places them behind her. “Oh, it’s just a little barrier spell.” She explains with a wide grin. “It repels spatial magic, so you aren’t going anywhere.” She spoke with finality in her voice.
Orpheus cracked his neck to the side, replying with a defiant look. “You think this can hold me?” Spitting those words, he gestured with his arms raised.
Ignoring his provocation, Leila assumed the combat stance of battle mages. Readying an attack spell in her right hand and a defensive in her left. Throwing in his face her skill at non-verbal spells. A green shield manifested in front of her. Her offhand crackled with electricity. “You will have to get through me to break this barrier.” She declared with finality in her voice.
Orpheus nodded, accepting those terms. Realising he will have to fight for his freedom. He removed all hesitation and chose to take up arms against his friend. “Don't go crying when I kick your ass.” He taunted, putting on a fake grin.
Shaking her head, she repels the attack with a mental shrug. “As if you could even touch my ass.” She struck back with a grin of her own.
Leaning forward, Orpheus readies himself to lunge. “Is that an invitation?” He queries with a smug smile, taunting her once more.
Before she can reply, he quickly chants. "Subcinctus Egomet." His chant was fast, faster than normal. Like a flash he disappears, leaving only air in his wake.
With his disappearing act, Leila stiffens. Casting her gaze left and right she surveys the area. Soon a notion breaches the back of her mind to the forefront. “He wouldn’t.” She mutters, both in disbelief and true expectation.
Mentally commanding her shield. The ethereal force shifts to her back. None too soon as Orpheus manifests behind her. Striking down with a concealed dagger. The blade sank into the shield, cleaving through the barrier.
The blade sank down to the hilt, stopping just short of her shoulder. Prompted by the attack, she swiftly turned to meet her attacker. With her movement, the shield waxed and waned. Pulling the dagger from his grasp and sending the weapon flying.
Now face to face, Leila glared at the man who had just tried to stab her. “Did you just try to shiv me in the back?” She questioned her disarmed assailant.
Shrugging slightly, Orpheus replied mockingly. “Only a little.” He spoke cheekily as if he was innocent of the crime. Soon after he noticed her fury building and like lightning, she thrust her right palm at him.
The weapon that was in her hand, crackled with lightning. Appearing like a deadly five-pronged taser, she aimed for his neck. Deftly dodging the strike, Orpheus crouched down, performing a commando roll to the side.
Rising to his feet, he switches positions, placing his front facing the opponent. His eyes drew to her stationary form and chills ran down his back. She was mad, that was obvious at a glance. Orpheus found himself contemplating fleeing. But without his spatial magic, he would not get far. “She is going easy on me, if I push her too far, she will start pulling out spells difficult to contend with.” Whispering those thoughts within the confines of his brain. He clenches his fists, ready to act, but still reluctant to do so.
Her gaze bored down on him before she spoke akin to a disappointed mother. “Well, if you want to play it like that.” Lowering her shield, she thrust forward her right palm. Electricity crackles with greater intensity as she places her palm covering his entire form.
His eyes widen in realisation. None too soon before an arc of lightning spews forth like a dragon. Aloft through the air, the stream of energy singes the skin of reality. Barrelling forward, Orpheus turns to dodge only for a wall of stone to rise in opposition. Without a moment to lose, he shifts focus to the lightning. Throwing his hands up as if to catch the deadly strike. “Contego Murus.” Chanting the arcane words an ethereal barrier manifest before him. None too soon as the lightning strikes the shield.
The impact was great and nearly knocked him back. Concentrating he held on, enforcing the shield with further energy and draining his reserves. Glancing behind, the sight of another stone wall rises. Soon he is encased on all sides, save for the front.
Eventually, the electric barrage ceases, forcing a lull in the battle. His hands drop to the sides, exhaling a deep breath, releasing all his pent-up exhaustion. Rising to meet her smug gaze, he noticed her slow gate.
“You have lost, just surrender... We both know your low mana pool has always been your weakness, like most men they hit hard but don’t last long.” Delivering that ultimatum with a smug, satisfied grin on her face. She stops just short of him, ready to receive his surrender.
Shaking his head in one last act of defiance. Orpheus verbally hits back. “Your right, I can’t go for long.” He says whilst raising his right hand and fluttering the appendage. Soon a glass vial appears in his palm, containing a blue liquid. Uncorking it with his thumb, he gets in one final word. “That’s why we have good old drugs.” Before she can protest, he downs the vial in one gulp.
Leila was shocked at her own folly, quickly raising her palms to cast again. Before she can even chant a spell, Orpheus beats her to it. Still chugging the vial, he raises his left palm. Pulling his lips away he mutters a spell. “Contego.” Upon casting the spell, a barrier manifests and quickly propels forward and slams into the surprised Leila.
Crashing into her head first, her nose cracks and bleeds. The momentum forces her back, landing on her behind with a dull thud. Upon descending to the ground, she clutches her face. Glaring back at her attacker, her eyes turn to slits. “You broke my nose!” She chastises him with muffled yells just as blood slowly seeps down her hand.
Throwing the empty vial, Orpheus feels invigorated. “Oh yeah!” He yells, completely ignoring the fact he injured his long-time friend. Looking back at the barriers that constrain him, arcane words flood forth. “Elementum Terra Confractus.” Letting loose the words, he gestures his fists to clench. In time with his action, the stone walls fracture and collapse. Slowly coming down from that high, he stretches forth his hand. “Sanguis.” Chanting the words of power, the blood seeping from her nose comes to life. Floating in the air, droplets of crimson glide across the distance.
Settling within his palm, he shifts his gaze back to the downed Leila. “Come on, you were top of your class in healing.” Pointing out that fact, he lifts his eyebrow sarcastically.
Indignity swells within her, now bursting at the seams. “That’s beside the point!” She roars still muffled by her hand, compressed against her face.
Shaking his head, he shifts back to the floating blood hovering above his palm. Raising his palm to the skies he starts chanting. “Mutare Sanguis Magicae.” Upon chanting those arcane words, the blood evaporates, replaced by glowing specks of light.
Leila’s eyes widen, confounded by the unfamiliar spell. “What in Vera’s name is that?” Having subtly healed her nose, she questions the strange spell just uttered.
Ignoring the query, Orpheus simply smiles and sends forth the specks to the heavens. Ascending to the sky, they reach the barrier. “Abstergo.” He chants softly, just as the specks of light collide with the barrier. Suddenly the barrier waxes and wanes, gyrating violently.
Rising to her feet, she watches confounded as her spell slowly shatters into specks of light. Prepared to query Orpheus, she returns her gaze to him, only to find a fissure in reality. A spatial portal slowly closes on a remote forest just on the opposite side. Within that fissure, the figure of Orpheus can be seen waving goodbye.
The portal closes and silence descends on the courtyard. The lull remains only for a short while before voices can be heard getting closer. “That asshole!” She spits those words before seating herself on the steps.