In the streets of Lancea, a rumor floated about, one in regards to the enrollment of a particular apprentice. It had only been a single day since the new apprentice arrived, but the whispers had already spread far and wide.
Originally, the hearsay of the elders holding a special exam outside of the four-year cycle had already roused great envy from the many apprentices who had managed to pass the exam just a year prior, but the news of this apprentice being placed under the tutelage of an elder set their covetous hearts ablaze. That being said, the information in regards to which elder the apprentice had been placed under was greatly confused and no one was sure which of the elders actually took in this newcomer.
There were others rumors out there, none of which seemed to be telling the same story. It wasn't even clear as to what this new apprentice looked like. Some had whispered that he was a large man. Some claimed that he or she was a descendant of ancient witches. Others told tall tales of a prodigy with the blood of demonkins. It was even said that the new apprentice was made to fight one of the masters during their test and came out victorious. Some said it was an elder they fought. There were even a few who were caught murmuring about how the apprentice brought a corpse back to life during their exam.
The rumors were numerous, each iteration more superfluous than the last, each retelling muddling the truth further. It was likely that the Circle of Mages, the foremost authority in regards to mages and all things magic, had spread the rumors intentionally to obscure the truth of the matter so as to hide the fact that they had taken in a Demon Lord Larva.
Whilst the city was in an uproar in regards to this enigmatic prodigy, however, Theodore himself remained oblivious to the goings-on at large.
***
The first thing in the morning, he woke up to the pressure of something atop his body. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring into a pair of round, ambers pupils belonging to a small, fluffy creature.
It was the hare from yesterday. Not knowing what to do with it, Theodore brought it along with him. He could have left it in the examination room or with Annaliese, but considering how casually Annaliese had slit its throat back there, he felt that it wasn't quite the thing he wanted to do.
"I probably should have fed your something before going to sleep, huh?"
Feeling a little bad about his negligence, Theodore lifted the hare off of him and began to pull his sluggish body out of the bed. It was only then, did he notice a presence in the room.
"The lifeforce is strong with this one," said a familiar voice. "It looks no wear for worse after what happened yesterday."
Turning towards the voice, Theodore found Annaliese, standing in his room by the door. It gave him a shock, till he remembered that the doors within the tower tended to open on their own accord.
"You can lock the door to your room with this..." Annaliese began to explain to him unprompted upon noticing his surprise, showing him how to operate the locks using a panel next to the automated door.
"You could have said something before coming in, at least," Theodore protested even while Annaliese was explaining how the doors in the tower worked.
"I did, but there was not a single response. I thought I should check just in case. It wouldn't be a good look if something were to happen to you right after a meeting with the elders."
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"I must have slept like a brick then. It's a no wonder, I suppose, considering how much happened yesterday."
"Well, I hope you've had a good rest. We'll go have breakfast first, and then I'll take you to where you'll be staying in Lancea."
"So I'm not staying in the tower?"
"Usually, only those with the title of 'master' or 'elder' get to stay in the tower. You being given a room was a consideration from the elders. From today onwards, you'll be staying at the lodging provided by your master. Regardless, we'll talk about it later. How about you go wash up first?"
Later, during breakfast, as Theodore ate with one hand and fed the hungry hare with the other, he received the news that he was going to become the apprentice of one of the elders, Kalman, the quiet old man with bushy eyebrows that was present during his second exam. Theodore will be brought to Kalman's personal workshop, where a place was prepared for him to stay.
Once he had his fill, Theodore and Annaliese left the tower and boarded the carriage they rode in the other day, whereupon Theodore found his suitcase still where he left it, having forgotten about it amidst all the excitement the day prior. Annaliese couldn't be bothered to remind him about it at the time either, since she knew that he would only be staying at the tower temporarily, making it more convenient to just leave his baggage in the carriage.
***
In Lancea, the elders each oversaw a section of the city. To the north, there was Elder Kalman, overseeing the alchemic workshops. To the east, there was Elder Gesborne, overseeing the hospitals and the medical research facilities. To the south, there was Elder Darius, overseeing the training grounds for battlemages. To the west, there was Elder Anna-Marie, overseeing the magic forges. Then, finally, there was the tower that stood at the center of it all, oversaw by the Archmage Stellaria, who presided over the entire city and the Circle of Mages. There were other elders, but their duties take them elsewhere, usually outside of the city.
To the north of the tower, in a rather quiet corner of the city of Lancea, there stood Elder Kalman's workshop. Though, rather than a workshop, it resembled more of a large garden with a building to the side.
With one hand carrying his suitcase and the other holding the hare that he still had no idea what to do with, Theodore and Annaliese arrived at the entrance of the massive garden that Theodore presumed to be a part of Kalman's workshop. There to receive them was a young woman with a vibrant smile on her face. For a moment there, Theodore wanted to ask if she was Kalman as a joke but quickly decided against it.
"Long time no see, Annaliese, you look well," said the woman, looking rather happy to see Annaliese's masked face. "And this must be the new apprentice."
"It's good to see that you are well too, Fiana. Is Elder Kalman not available?" asked Annaliese. From her words and tone, she sounded like she and this woman were on rather good terms.
"He's engrossed in his study, as usual. I think he's already forgotten that he's supposed to have a new apprentice arrive today."
"I suppose nothing's out of the ordinary then. Well, I ought to be going. I'll leave the boy in your care."
With those brief few exchanges, Annaliese prepared to set off.
"Going already?" Theodore called out to Annaliese with some reluctance. With Annaliese about to leave, there was a sense of loneliness surging from Theodore's chest. After all, he had been in her care for quite a while, certainly longer than anyone else he had met since leaving his hometown.
"Something wrong?" Annaliese asked without turning.
"It's... It's nothing."
In the end, despite calling out to her, Theodore could find no words that were appropriate. He considered thanking her, but it was not as if being taken to this place, away from this home was a good thing for him.
In the end, she was just a stranger he spent a few days with.
"I see," replied Annaliese curtly before beginning to leave once more.
After taking a few more steps, Annaliese paused momentarily.
"I'll come check on you every now and then. Do try to not get into too much trouble."
With those last words, Annaliese hopped onto the carriage with hastened steps and went off into the streets.
"My, it's rare for Anneliese to become attached to someone so quickly," remarked the young woman, Fiana.
"I guess I'm just that charming," said Theodore, his humility, the lack thereof, was in full display.
"Well, aren't you a cheeky one?" Fiana chuckled, finding the ten-year-old Theodore's unrestrained confidence to be somewhat adorable. "Come now, I'll show you to your room."
And so began Theodore's life as an apprentice of the Mage Tower. It would be many things, but it certainly was not going to be peaceful.
***
End of Chapter 30
***