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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - On the way (see footnote for link)
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It was a cool morning when Elenael and Alric set out for the capital, one of those mornings when the fog covers everything with a thick blanket and all seems strange. They had borrowed their neighbour Dunal's cart as the child did not yet have the stamina of his grandfather. Alric, despite his age and salt-and-pepper hair, was still as solid as a rock. Elenael was sitting in the seat and was quietly watching the landscape while they were driving. Amid the steady creaking of the wheels, he watched with interest all the new things that presented themselves to his eyes. The first evening they slept in the vehicle. They had already left the foothills of the mountain where the boy had spent his childhood. It was warmer now and the fir trees had been replaced by leafier, greener forests. Two days later, the forests had in turn given way to an endless plain covered with fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. As soon as the wind rose, the wheat danced, like the waves of a great sea of the color of gold. This magnificent spectacle soothed Elenael and took his mind away from the anguish of the ordeal that awaited him.
At night, they either slept under the stars or under the tarp of the cart. When the clouds allowed it, they looked together at the stars. The boy was always able to link the stars to a funny form , much to his grandfather pleasure. On the sixth day, they came in sight of Alnaet, the capital of the kingdom of Alneatis. The same morning, Elenael had seen a squirrel that had ventured onto the road, barely a few meters in front of them. The boy had found it strange and amusing, but suddenly, with a piercing cry, a sparrowhawk had swooped down from the sky to try to catch the little animal. Its target didn’t panic at all: instead, it had raised his head to look at the raptor and, suddenly, he had burst into flames. There was no other way to describe what had happened: without any warning, the squirrel was just… burning. The bird, seeing this, had tried to avoid the danger as best it could and had managed, somehow, to straighten its flight. He then flew away, letting out a new cry that almost sounded like a complaint. As if nothing had happened, the little squirrel reverted to its original state. As if nothing happened, he had jumped back on the tree from which he had come out moments before. Elenael was left speechless, under the amused gaze of his grandfather who explained to him that the magic animal, which was usually nicknamed "the backgammon of fire", had the reputation of bringing luck to those who crossed his path. Elenael nodded energetically in wonder, and announced with certainty that nothing could impress him more than what he had just seen...
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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - Kingdom rises (see footnote for link)
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How wrong he was! When, at the turn of a hill, he saw Alnaet, the capital, the excitement he had felt in front of the squirrel disappeared, replaced by a deep amazement. The huge city that loomed before them was surrounded by tall walls and was bisected by a great meandering river. Metal bridges connected the two shores and a small island in the heart of the city. Elenael had never left his village before and Alnaet was so big he didn't know where to look. What was most striking was that all the buildings had been built from the same white colored stone which seemed to sparkle in the sun. It was beautiful, immaculate and huge ! The only exception to this rule was a tall green tower that rose to the sky and whose base was on the island, not far from a majestic palace. Alric, seeing the emotion of his grandson, explained to him that the castle was the residence of the king and his family. The tower, built of some sort of shiny jade-like material, was the headquarters of the mages and also their destination. Elenael was speechless for a long time as they slowly approached the walls.
About an hour later they entered the city on foot through a large gate in the rampart, having left their cart in a guarded enclosure outside the walls. Guards, all dressed in the same red armor, watched them pass with vigilance, but without stopping them.
Once they were inside, Elenael was once again struck by the beauty of the city. While it appeared white and uniform from a distance, the boy discovered in the streets a mixture of colors, sounds and smells. The inhabitants seemed to compete in ideas to embellish the capital with all possible shades: the clothes they wore, the fabrics hanging from the stalls and facades, everything caught the eye. The cries of the merchants to praise the merits of their products or to try to make the customers come by mingled with the discussions of the passers-by in a strident and yet pleasant urban symphony. Many fruits, spices and foods of all kinds filled the air with strange and exotic smells. Elenael observed all of it, impressed, and Alric - who had already been in the city before - explained the scenary: "The North Gate area is where the traders congregate, especially those selling groceries and clothes. The further into the heart of the city we go, the quieter it will be."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
It was just as his grandfather had said, and they soon entered more residential areas: the few inhabitants they crossed, all richly dressed, paid them no attention at all. The houses along the street grew larger and more beautiful the closer they got to the river. They finally arrived in front of a bridge and Elenael was finally able to look at the castle. In the middle of centuries-old trees, it was massive and its white facade was decorated with statues and bas-reliefs. He proudly wore the coat of arms of the royal family: a wave surrounded by a sun, both of the color of gold on a deep red fabric. Not far behind the palace, Elenael could also see their destination and, perhaps, the place where he would spend the next years of his life: the mage tower.
It was large, monumental even, and the sight of it filled the boy with a newfound respect for the wizards who had erected it and who lived there. Built of shiny green material, it looked like a pile of gems pointing skyward. In the dazzling whiteness of the city, the mage tower was a jewel of unearthly beauty, and the architecture of the building defied all logic. Alric explained to his grandson that it had been built years before by enchanters with earth and crystal affinities.
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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - Adventure (see footnote for link)
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When they came closer to it, they noticed a lot of activity in a corner of the park. Large tents had been pitched on the grass and Elenael felt his heart sink: this was where the detection ritual took place. Each child of Alneatis, when he was about 9 years old, went to the capital to take part in it: there were therefore always many people. A palpable tension was present in the air, because both the tested and their families were well aware of what was at stake: potential was the key to their future and sometimes also to the one of their loved ones. Elenael was also anxious and he waited his turn with a mixture of excitement and panic. After more than an hour of watching the other participants enter the red tent full of hope and come out a few minutes later, often wearing a disappointed expression, it was finally his turn. When he crossed the threshold, he was terrified, even with his grandfather's reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Inside the tent, Elenael first saw the rugs that covered the floor and gave the place a cozy feel. Behind a massive wooden desk sat an old man with full, chubby cheeks and a skull almost completely devoid of hair. In the background, three other adults were standing and talking to each other in low voices, completely unaware of the boy's arrival. The bald man finally looked up after finishing writing down something on a large book in front of him. His attention fell on Elenael and he smiled at the boy. In a weary but benevolent voice, he asked him: "Hello, my child, do you know how the test works?"
"Yes," Elenael shyly replied "I have to put my hand on the stone and if it shines, that means I could become a magician."
With a wave of his hand, the official told him to get closer to a small table where what looked like a gray stone was displayed on a slightly worn green cushion. The rock would have looked like any pebble on the side of the street if it wasn't covered in strange and mysterious runes. Without saying a word, Elenael gave his grandfather a quick, hesitant look, and then placed his hand on it.
At first, nothing happened, except that the stone began to emit a kind of whirring sound, similar to the sound of a purring cat. It was quiet at first, but it grew louder and louder. Suddenly the pebble began to glow. Not on lot, just like the light of a small firefly, right under the boy's fingers. Elenael smiled: that gleam, even if it was tiny, meant that he could become a magician. Then, slowly, gradually, the radiance grew in power: at first it was only a spark, but as the seconds went by, it grew. Quickly, the room was lit more by the stone placed on the table than it was by the openings which gave on the outside. However, this was not the end: with each passing moment, the light became stronger and more powerful! Everyone around Elenael now had to squint as the pebble shone so brightly that it looked like it had been replaced by a tiny sun. It was blinding! It was only when an ominous cracking sound was heard that it all stopped, leaving all onlookers speechless.
The stone, in the center of the tent, was broken in two. Everyone was silent as this was something that hadn't happened since the mage tower was built. The shock was such that everyone felt like they were holding their breath. Finally, the official came to his senses and stood up suddenly, scaring Elenael who backed away, afraid of being scolded. However, on the contrary, the old man gave him an excited smile and turned to his companions. In an urgent voice, he shouted, "Tell the prince and explain to him what happened. And fetch me another stone." He looked at Elenael again and said, "Congratulations, my boy, you have passed the test brilliantly. We will do it a second time to be sure of the result, but you have within you the potential to become a great magician."
When he heard that, Elenael turned to Alric and gave him a euphoric smile, filled with joy and pride. His grandfather, happy, took him in his arms to congratulate him. His eyes, however, could not hide a slight worry: what would become of his grandson, now that he had demonstrated his exceptional gift? Maybe, they should have remain isolated in the mountains, hidden from the world…
Anyway, the dice were now cast...