I shove my hands in my pockets as I start to walk back into the city, if I were to walk the entire way back it would take hours. However, being a mage does have its perks. After a rather brisk ten minute walk I reach a Conclave outpost. While it was not one of my outposts, I belong to the Moon Conclave, as a mage I would be allowed access to the teleportation circle. Besides this outpost is run by my master, the woman who took me in at a young age and taught me how to control my rather unstable powers. I’m greeted by a young male receptionist, he wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he is half-fae. His pointed ears being a dead giveaway, though the lack of fae magic surrounding him tells me that he chose his human half. He looks up at me and smiles “Oh Jason, Lady Cecilia told me to expect you. She is waiting for you in her office I will buzz you right in.”
I sigh softly as I walk through the now open electronically locked door, I raise an eyebrow as I step on through. Wizards could wreck electronics at will and this seemed to be a rather lax security system for the magical world. When I step through however I realize my error, complex wards surround the door frame. Those that weren’t invited would be leaving their magical prowess at the door. A shiver goes down my spine as I notice this, my mentor could be a terrifying woman at times. Thankfully I had access to all of my magic, but in a building with no threshold that level of ward is terrifying. The hallways are simple, painted white with sconces lining the walls giving the building a clinical vibe. Personally I find it very unsettling, though that may be caused more by the rather irrational fear of my master. I continue walking down the hallway, noticing the door at the end. It was a simple door with frosted glass, gold lettering sat in the center of the glass. Cecilia Rencroft, Sun Conclave District Leader.
I knock on the door twice before stepping into the office, compared to the hallway her office is like a completely different world. The room is warm and inviting, candles keep the room lit. The room smells of spruce and cinnamon, wooden bookshelves line every wall filled to capacity with magical tomes. Set in the center of the floor is a magic circle, imbedded into the floor with what I assume to be silver. It spans the majority of the room, a pentacle shone in the center each point touching the inner line of the circle. A thin circle surrounds the pentacle filled with various runes. Several different types of runes can be seen, everything from Nordic to ancient Sumerian. To be able to create such a complex circle is well outside my current level of skill, I doubt I would be able to attain this for several decades of study. Set along the back wall is a large desk, made of dark wood and humming with magical power. Sitting in the chair is an older woman, looking to be in her mid to late thirties though I knew better. She is well into her three hundredth year on this earth. Long, voluptuous red hair cascades down past her shoulders. Bright red lips and a button nose, the most striking feature is her bright cerulean eyes. Fire dances in those bright orbs, an ancient power of arcane proportions hidden behind the youthful playfulness her aura exudes. My eyes trail downwards, she is wearing a red business suit, a bright red tie lightly tied around her neck.
A bright smile spreads across her face, deep smile lines visible on her cheeks. Her teeth are a brilliant white. She stands up stepping away from her desk, she quickly moves past the desk I notice that she is wearing a pair of black heels. Her arms wrap around me quickly pulling me close to her. A smile spreads across my face as I hugged her back. Her frame is lithe, though she is far from thin. Condensed muscle like a gymnast or a swimmer, her rather sizable breasts pressing against my chest causes a light blush to spread across my cheeks. She pulls back and kisses my right cheek, thankfully she always seals her makeup and she wouldn’t leave a stain on my cheek. “Jason, it’s been far too long. How are you doing?”
She steps back a youthful pep in her step, her attitude far younger than her appearance would have you believe. I stretch my collar forgetting about the hickeys that Anastasia left on me from earlier. Her eyes zero in on my neck and a smirk crosses her face but she says nothing, thankful for that small reprieve that she lent me I respond. “I’ve been fine, just busy working within the city is all. They have us take on every minor crime a Supe commits, most of these could be handled by a normal officer.”
She sighs nodding along to my statement, she leans back against her desk her shoulders slouched in relaxation. The pose causes her chest to jutt out, her curves accentuated by the dim lighting. The candles flickering causing a rather intimate atmosphere to settle over the room. It had been years since the two of us had been alone like this. It brought back memories of my younger years, running around her office and learning my magic. Things had changed around my sixteenth birthday, our relationship became much closer than master and student. She had helped me through my first real relationship and my first real heartbreak. When I turned eighteen things really changed, the day my apprenticeship was officially over we slept together. This was far from unusual, masters and apprentices often form romantic relationships. Some would even say it’s encouraged by the various Conclaves. Those with an affinity for the arcane live far longer than a normal human, some claim that we are immortal in the sense that we cannot die, but we can be killed. So relationships between Mages is heavily encouraged between those that can actually trust each other.
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“I’ve really missed you Jason, please reconsider transferring here.” She looks directly into my eyes, her gaze held many promises. Her feelings were clear she wanted me here with her, not just as coworkers but as friends and maybe more. It was more than tempting, no matter how scared of her I could be, I do care for my master. For Cecilia as a woman. I swallow my immediate reaction, I really wanted to work with her once more. We made an incredible team, but I also wanted to prove myself. Show the world I wasn’t just my master’s student.
“I would love working with you again Cecilia, we make an incredible team.” My eyes lock onto hers, she deserved to hear the honest truth from me and I wouldn’t shy away from her. I would meet her eyes as an equal and explain myself. Her shoulders slump slightly, obviously she could tell where this conversation was going, hell we have had this conversation several times before “But you want to rise up on your own merits. You want to lead your own office.”
I nod once feeling regret come into my thoughts, I still wasn’t completely certain I was making the correct decision but it is what I want. “Yes, the Conclave of the Moon offers me that opportunity Cecilia.” She shakes her head a couple of times with a smile on her face, she looks back into my eyes “You can’t blame me for trying Jason, just please keep in contact with me. I don’t want another year to pass without seeing you.”
I smile and wrap her into a hug once again holding her close to me, the lilac scent of her shampoo invading my nose. My voice comes out soft and tender “I’ll make sure to come here more often.” I pull back smiling our hug having lifted both of our spirits quite visibly, “Well I have to get to work, I’m sure you’ve heard of the explosion by now.”
Her head nods in reply, her face becoming much more serious with the change in topic. “I have, I assume you’re here to use the teleportation circle. Feel free to use it, and keep me informed of any developments. I’ll let you know if we have any suspicious activity outside of the city”
“Thanks Cecilia, I appreciate the help.” I take my hands out of my pockets knowing that our conversation was coming to an end. She gives me one last smile before I spin around leaving her office and making my way to the teleportation circle. The bare halls giving off the same unsettling vibe as before. Knowing my master she did this on purpose, wanting to have any advantage possible in a potential political scenario. As I enter the room marked as being the teleportation circle I notice that the room is slightly darker than the hall. Not enough to impede vision, but enough ambiance for the spell to go smoothly.
Teleportation magic is tricky, very few mages can do it without a circle. Even fewer can accomplish it without a second circle as the second destination. Each field office has a circle so that members can get around the world quickly. I also decided that it would be advantageous to have a circle keyed into my apartment. Personal circles are rather common and can only be accessed by those whose magic has been used to make the circle. It was a minor risk as it can be traced with any tracking spell, but the expediency in most cases is invaluable. Plus it has saved me countless taxi fares when I’ve been out drinking.
I crack my neck letting out a stabilizing breath bringing myself to a state of complete calm. I move to the center of the circle closing my eyes. Magic is intimate in the purest way possible, each Mage would have their own list of spells. Their own incantations, you would be hard pressed to find two wizards with the exact same incantation. “I beseech thee oh glorious Nyx. Grant me passage through the unrelenting darkness. Allow me safe travels to my destination.”
My voice is soft, just barely a whisper but I can feel the magic course through the circle into me. My will directing the flow of arcane energy, I picture the circle in my apartment. The complete darkness of my lab. Within moments I am whisked away, allowing my form to be swept into the darkness.