Kayetan

Yoszovar, 5 years before the Rise

“Right.” Haenar appears from behind Elrick, a hint of a smile on his face. “Mageling Kayetan, you can leave your bag here, if you’d like.”

My stomach clenches ever so little. This is everything I own. If I were to lose it…

Elrick looks at the bag and his lips curl up in a knowing smirk. He doesn’t carry anything — not even a small suitcase. Just as I’m wondering what that means, he clears his throat. “I take it that my belongings have arrived safely?” he asks Haenar, with the arrogance I’d expect from someone as highborn as Elrick. To him, servants are probably just a step up from utensils and tools.

Haenar doesn’t seem fazed in the least by the attitude he’s been given. He nods politely. “They are already in your room, sir.”

“Good.”

I don’t like Elrick’s tone. It reminds me of my more difficult customers, who were impossible to satisfy. After I’d used every bit of Magic I could muster to repair their clothes, shoes or trinkets, they wouldn’t thank me but make me feel like I was the cause of the tears, dents or mud stains, and I needed to thank them for overlooking my flaws. Those were the people who never tipped.

My mouth goes dry. What will happen when the flaw in the Vorvalus symbol is discovered? I need to figure out how to repair it — there must be Magic to grow crystal, or to locate the shard, or… I could work it out myself, but it takes time and I’d need to be very close to the object to find its true nature and frequency. Crystal is one of the hardest materials to work with, since it has an energy of its own. How can I study it without drawing attention to the fact that I smashed it?

“If you would follow me, please.” Haenar’s voice pulls me out of my angsty thoughts.

Elrick darts after him straight away, making me jump into action as well, while still holding on to my bag. I’m not leaving it anywhere close to the diamond and square, that’s for sure.

Haenar opens an elaborately decorated door below the grand stairs that lead to the next floor and ushers us through. I leave my bag against the wall with a certain amount of low-grade anxiety. Haenar nods encouragingly before taking the lead again. His shoes click almost cheerfully on the polished hardwood floors, and I take a deep breath before I follow him again.

Everything about this house is so clean, spacious, and fresh. It emanates power and Magic. Too bad about Elrick's presence. He makes me feel small. Like the kid that stepped into the classroom four years ago, who’d just come of first age, and didn’t even understand the language fluently, let alone have any understanding of the ancient tongue. Elrick elevated the art of ignoring me to unknown heights, but was more than capable of finding me whenever he needed somebody to vent his frustrations on. And if I stepped out of line by even my pinky toe, he was the first to point it out and mock me for it. Of all the students in my class, why does it have to be him who’s here now? I already know his stuff is here, so my hopes of him being wrong are reduced to nearly nothing by now. It almost makes me want to turn around and leave.

But I won’t I’ve come too far to allow myself to shrink back into the boy I was once. My letter specifically stated that I was to apprentice with the Grand Master. I was expected to move here, and I belong here. I have to.

A tiny, laughable voice at the back of my head proposes that Elrick is here to teach me — a test object to try all sorts of Magic on. In school, we barely got beyond studying Magic on inanimate objects, the next logical step will be Magicking living things. Right?

But a human test subject? It is a thought so far off the trail of possibility that I almost laugh out loud; it would be the most useful the boy will ever be, but I don't think a boy this rich would ever be awarded a position like that. If it even exists, that is.

Suddenly I swallow. What if the position of a test person does exist, and it is me it’s assigned to? After all, I am the foreign Mageling who shouldn’t have been allowed to enter Magical education in the first place. It doesn’t matter that I understand the Magic, whereas Magelings like Elrick only know how to use what they’ve been taught. I take a deep breath, hoping Elrick won’t detect my nerves.

Haenar leads us through another door. We are now at the beginning of a long corridor that is lined with shelves and cupboards filled with all kinds of trinkets that seem to have nothing else in common than being Magically touched — I can feel the presence of Magic tingling just below my skin and the little tell-tale signs of when it’s been used. The slight deflection of light. The air that seems to behave differently around a Magicked object. An inaudible humming of energy that has been added to something to change part of its nature, the kind I only started to notice when I was in my final year.

Elrick hardly spares a look at all the wonders accumulated here, but I cannot keep my eyes to myself. These shelves are full of items I long to explore. There’s something that looks like a handkerchief glowing inside a glass case. There’s a brush normally used on horses chained to the wall. It keeps stroking the wallpaper that has been polished to the point of shining. I wonder how long it’ll hold, and I’m glad this brush didn’t find a horse to comb until the poor animal would have been seriously injured — or brushed into oblivion. I know the basic spell for cleaning things, but somebody clearly overextended the Magic here.

I could get lost in this corridor forever, but Haenar turns a corner and vanishes through a door I hadn’t even noticed. I should go after him, but this hallway is just too fascinating. My lingering allows Elrick to enter the next space before I do and I don't even mind, for I feel the Magic radiating from another artifact. It looks like a normal vase, yet upon a second look it seems to be holding a glow that I have never seen before. What does it do? Who made it? Could I make such a thing of beauty for Master Iacopor’s daughter?

I can't ask any questions — not now. I've taken too much precious time gawking already, so I make haste to step into the small room that is also filled with both strange and familiar items, books, and… well, energy. The whole feel of this room is Magic, even more so than the corridor. Small stained glass windows above the larger, clear panes bear the mark of the House of Vorvalus in beautiful colors — the diamond and square glistening in the sunlight, casting colorful beams onto the chairs that are set up — two simple ones, and one cushioned armchair that seems to have threads of gold woven into the fabric. In it, Grand Master Vorvalus is seated. He looks like a king, sitting up so straight and tall. His rich green cloak, fastened with a clip of pure gold, is delicately embracing his broad form clad in the finest silks and velvets. Not that he needs the garments to look impressive — his tall build, coal-black hair and ring beard do more than enough to inspire awe. Not to mention his eyes which are a bright, almost luminescent green. I always get chills when I behold them — like he can see right through me. High time to get used to that and find a way to be comfortable in his presence.

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It helps that I am no longer one of the eleven students in our class, or one of the many, many more at the school itself. I’m his apprentice now. I am, no matter what Elrick implied earlier. He can talk all he wants, but I am here, learning from the Grand Master who is an esteemed member of the Council and the chairman of the board of Magic Education. His former apprentice became one of the teachers at the academy immediately after receiving his Mastership, and the one before that is now the head of the Healer’s Circle. When I heard he’d be taking on a new apprentice right after I finished my exams, I was as resolved as I was nervous to become that apprentice. Now that I'm here, knowing that I'll be learning the finesses of Magic from him fills me with more awe, excitement and humbleness than I’d ever imagined myself capable of feeling. Yet, in my heart, a little fear still hammers. It can’t be that something’s off. Two chairs. No bewildered looks. Elrick and I are both meant to be here.

My heart skips a beat. What if there’s some kind of trial period? Do I need to prove myself worthy of staying here? Instead of Elrick? I cannot accuse Grand Master Vorvalus of valuing money over talent and skill, but… Elrick is the son of a prominent Mage and nobleman. His status alone will ensure that he’s successful in whatever he does — even if Young Master Sufka is not that good at whatever he’s set his sights on. How can I compete with that? I swallow my unease and focus on remaining calm. After all, what good is any Mage if he can’t even bring himself to the state of peaceful calm all Magic needs to arise from? My heartbeat is already calming down and I look at Grand Master Vorvalus with what I’m fairly sure is open expectation.

Grand Master Vorvalus’ bright green eyes twinkle with a hint of austerity, which makes the nerves in my stomach flutter even faster. I can feel Elricks short gaze on me, the disdain in it barely concealed, sending a jolt of unpleasant tingles through my stomach. But I won’t let him push my buttons. To try and forget that Elrick is even there, let alone posing some kind of threat, I focus on the Master, who is now looking at the both of us.

Elrick clears his throat and I can’t help but be annoyed. Doesn’t he realize the magnitude of this moment?

The green of my Grand Master’s eyes is brighter than I have ever seen eyes to be. And that says a lot, for everybody descended from this region has green eyes and pitch-black hair. It was so hard to keep everyone apart when I first came here — and that while everybody recognizes me within a fraction of a heartbeat with my blond curls and grey eyes.

As Grand Master Vorvalus breathes in to speak, I hold my own, bent on taking in every syllable and voice inflection.

“Welcome to Vorvalus Manor, your home for the years to come,” he says. I know why he’s keeping it vague — the length of our time here will be determined by our accomplishments; both lack and mastery will see us leave the Manor faster. “I imagine you are a bit perplexed that you have both been selected to apprentice under me.”

Next to me, Elrick draws a sharp breath. I release mine slowly. Two apprentices. No trial. No test subjects. Only me and this… bastard.

“Grand Master Vorvalus,” Elrick begins.

“Master Iacopor will suffice.”

“Yes. Thank you, sir. Master Iacopor, I can’t help but wonder… How come you have chosen to educate two apprentices?”

A mild smile graces Master Iacopor’s lips. “This is completely in line with the goals of the board. We aim to train more Mages. Thus the school was founded, and now it’s time to drop the notion that a Mage can only educate one Mageling at a time. This year, it’s the two of you. Next year, I intend to bring in even more students.”

I blink as I wrap my head around this. Magic has always been taught one on one. Yes, the school was revolutionary, but I hadn’t expected it to extend into the personal Magical training as well. Then again, I should have seen it coming. I remember the speech Master Iacopor held on our first day of school, “The subtle art of Magic has been spread through the generations in small, private settings, each Master passing his knowledge on to one pupil at a time. Though it has protected the sacred knowledge, it has also led to the uncontrolled proliferation of the craft. Too many Masters teaching their many methods and philosophies have sown discord. Principles and skills vary like the fur patterns on cats. Magic has become fragile and dispersed, fundamental knowledge has been lost. Our aim is to centre the Magic, so we can use it to its fullest and create an abundant world in which Magic is safe and accessible to anyone.”

I remember how proud I felt for being part of that movement, yet the thought of one Master having multiple students leaves an uneasy twinge in my abdomen. Everyone knows the bond between a Master and his apprentice is personal and so deep that they become almost the same entity. How will Master Iacopor do that with both Elrick and me? And do I need to get as close to the rich stinker sitting next to me as well? The very thought makes me all but wince.

“The future is here,” Master Iacopor says, as if he’s also had a flashback to that speech from four years ago. “Two extremely talented apprentices in front of me, your higher education about to begin.”

I can't help but straighten up a bit more. Next to me, Elrick gleams as well.

“We will make Yoszovar rise above all else,” Master Iacopor says.

His words echo through the room and reverberate in my heart. I can't wait to begin, can't wait to help make Yoszovar great, to make the whole known world better. It is overwhelming, humbling, and most of all, exciting beyond my wildest imaginations.

“Now, today will be all about finding your footing here. After this conversation, we’ll take a tour around the Magic wing where you'll be spending most of your time. Your rooms are also in this wing. The other wings in this manor are reserved for my family and the servants. I ask you to respect everyone’s privacy.”

“Of course,” I quickly say.

Master Iacopor gives me the tiniest of nods in appreciation. Elrick probably nods too, but I am not about to look at him.

“The only time everybody will be together is at dinnertime,” Master Iacopor goes on. “Attendance is required by all people living under this roof — that is to say, all who are not servants. They have their own quarters and meal times. The staff is also divided into roughly two groups; the personal servants that tend to the family, including my own personal assistants, and the servants working in this wing. You will recognize the latter by the blue on their uniforms, and of course, the family symbol. Haenar you’ve already met. He’s the head of the servants here. If there’s anything you need, you can call on him.”

A servant to call on… My cheeks must be flushing, for I can feel them heating up.

“Haenar will also show you to your rooms later today,” Master Iacopor says. “Make sure you spend ample time there to rest and replenish because I will work you both hard. You'll have days off of course, and you can use the facilities of this manor and outside. You probably know the bathhouse is just around the corner.” He looks at me when he says that, as if I wouldn’t know. Still the poor, unknowing foreigner, right? I bite my lip hard not to show my distress.

“You'll be working on personal assignments in your spare time as well. This will not be an easy ride.” He voices it like a threat, but I hear nothing but the promise of growth and mastery. I will gladly spend every waking hour in Master Iacopor’s presence or working on his assignments. Sylva will understand that I don't have that much time to spend with her — of course I'll squeeze her in whenever I can.

Master Iacopor stands up and walks over to a closet, but I’m not really watching him as my mind goes over everything he said. Anticipation washes through me. We’ll be having dinner with the family. Which means that I will meet Master Iacopor’s lovely daughter. I'll spend time with her every single day. I have to make sure Master Iacopor won’t fire me.

I suppress a shiver. Challenging as it might feel now, I can't wait for this new life to unfold. This is the beginning of everything I ever dreamed of, and I will take it all in with eagerness and gratitude. Even the dunce sitting beside me.

I make the mistake of looking at him. He smirks and I’m not sure why. Didn’t Master Iacopor just tell us we’re both supposed to be here, and that there’s wonderful Magic to be learned?

Master Iacopor noisily pulls something out of the closet, and Elrick leans toward me. “He said it nicely, but make no mistake. There were ten Mages taking on apprentices. We were eleven. You are still the pity project.”