Lowering her hand, Ariel Marchal shifted her gaze from the latest contender to a dilapidated tower that loomed on a small lake island two hundred and fifty meters from the shore. Over the past week, this tower, untouched for many years, had lost much of its already limited appeal. Its walls were now covered in soot, and the only relatively intact wall that rose several stories above the water's surface had acquired numerous cracks of varying depths. Another such crack, stretching three meters down from the very top, appeared just a few seconds earlier due to a lightning strike conjured by Ariel. One of the blocks was slightly shattered by the lightning's impact, and a few stones, the size of an adult man's fist, fell into the water, making the best among the present earthlings mage shudder. For some reason, this splash reminded her of the name her father had given her.
Ariel. How she hated that name and that damned cartoon. Many tears were shed in school because of that damn name and the jokes mercilessly directed at her by classmates. The situation improved in university, but even there, she didn't dare join the swimming team. The girl loved water and swimming, but as soon as she entered the pool, those who knew her name would instantly start making the flattest and most offensive jokes. One would think that, over time, as one matures, a person gets used to such trifles and stops paying attention to them. But Ariel had such a temperament that never allowed her to get used to it or start ignoring it.
To put it mildly, Ariel had a complicated character. But it was this character that helped her make her way in the scientific community and earn a respected name. Even in the relatively tolerant Western society, it was far from easy for a woman. But she made it; many articles authored by her were published in the most cited scientific journals. Her discoveries were discussed, and her latest work on high-temperature superconductors caused a real explosion in the scientific community. And every time she opened websites or magazines with her works, she winced at seeing the byline: Ariel Marchal.
As a child, Ariel Marchal longed to grow up and change her despised name. Alas, adulthood came, but in all documents, she remained Ariel. Because if she changed her name, which she could legally do, she would offend her father. And this offense would mark the end of her scientific career since her dad was the chief editor of the magazine "Science" and could, using his connections, deny his disobedient daughter the opportunity to be published. In the modern world of science, where the citation of your works is the primary measure of a scientist's success, this could adversely affect both her career and scientific work. Only after finding herself in another world did Ariel Marchal dare to take another name, slightly altering the one given to her by her father. Now, she is known as Arien, and no one guesses what name it is derived from.
Another contestant, almost the hundredth she had seen in the past week, tucked his head into his shoulders and hurried away. One could say - fled. The girl heaved a heavy sigh. What do people like this hope for? The skills and abilities of this contestant weren't even enough to ignite the numerous vines on the western wall of the tower remains.
By arranging her exam and sending out invitations to all interested parties through merchants and the Great Guilds, she hoped for at least three dozen worthy recruits. These hopes were not meant to be fulfilled. She was even ready to accept locals, not just earthlings. She raised the rank bar to Wootz, but even that did not bear fruit.
Arien looked at the large table under the awning on the porch of the country villa she rented, illuminated by two large fires and a hearth at this sunset time. Only ten people were sitting at this table. Just a ten who somehow completed the task necessary for joining Ainuminati. And among these ten, there was not a single local, not a single native of Ain. Even though numerous local magicians of the Metal Coil of the Great Spiral expressed their desire to take the exam and join Ainuminati, a guild recognized by all three Great Guilds. But almost all of these applicants, upon learning about the task, immediately gave up, and only a few really tried their strengths. Unlike the earthlings. Those, even understanding that they would not cope, still tried.
It seemed that the task was straightforward: to damage the old, semi-ruined tower in such a way that the result could be seen from the shore. By Arien's standards, it was a trifle. Unfortunately, aside from her, no one else found this task to be trivial. Mages of the Metal Coil, especially those who had reached Steel or Wootz, could shatter a massive building block. With one motion of their palm, they could knock out the sturdiest front door of any tavern. But their powers were greatly limited by distance, and the further the target, the more challenging it was to inflict damage. The distance from the shore to where the old tower stood, approximately two hundred and fifty meters, was considered unreachable for mages who hadn't reached the Precious Coil. But Arien knew this wasn't the case. One only needed to think, not throw standard spells towards the tower, which indeed were powerless at such a distance. You just had to rack your brain, combine at least a couple of ordinary spells, and what was previously impossible suddenly became difficult yet attainable. Much to Arien's chagrin, even in this world, people behaved as usual and flatly refused to think.
Of course, the local mages had ways to enhance their abilities. Anyone who had reached Steel or even Bronze could increase their power using artifacts or by applying one-time scrolls and inflict decent damage to the old tower. But Arien banned the use of both artifacts and scrolls in her exam, which seemingly baffled the local mage community. Some earthlings turned out to be more resourceful than the locals, but only a few. Yet, even among them, many lacked the power, skills, or simply the number of learned spells to create a correct combination. Arien had gotten used to being one of the best, if not the best, in her field, even back on Earth. And she devised this test considering that less talented people would be taking it. But even this concession proved insufficient.
The girl shifted her gaze to the table where those who had passed the exam and joined the Ainuminati were seated. Only ten. So few... Even with her, they wouldn't make up a full dozen. A slight anger, or rather irritation, almost overwhelmed her. The breathing exercises, which had become habitual, allowed Arien not to let the anger grow into something more. She had such plans for this exam! And almost failed, having thought of people better than they actually were, yet again. Out of more than a hundred applicants, only ten passed her test. And those who did - performed at the "lower bar." The fact that these earthlings, unlike her, were still at Bronze did little to justify them in her eyes. This morning, she even considered extending the testing for a couple of days, but the evening showed that this idea would lead nowhere. Unlike the first days, when people eagerly participated in this new entertainment, even if in the form of a test of magical powers, an hour had already passed since the sun began to set, and the candidate who just failed the exam was only the second. And what's worse, it seemed no one else intended to try their luck.
Arien's gaze, sliding across those seated at the large table, shifted slightly and momentarily fixated on Brunge, who stood aside. This local woman, just over thirty, owned the villa that Arien had rented to conduct the exam. And it must be said, Brunge looked, mildly speaking, impressive. Standing over two meters tall, with arms as thick as Arien's torso and legs like barrels. Her gigantic bust, at least a size G, was lost against the backdrop of the woman's enormous belly. When Arien first saw her, she mistook her for a legendary troll of those who guard bridges in fairy tales. And her face matched that of a troll's. Large, irregularly shaped teeth weren't even concealed by the woman's massive, fleshy lips. It seemed she was always smiling. A rather eerie smile. But this time, this evening, Brunge was indeed smiling and looked very pleased. Which made this woman multiple times scarier.
Arien's thoughts, upon looking at this majestic woman in every sense of the word, once again leaped to a topic vastly different from the exam. Because the earthling girl understood perfectly well the reason for the villa owner's good mood. Unlike Arien, Brunge had had a lot of sex over the past week. An abundance of it. Probably more than in her entire previous life. And this clearly pleased the large woman. Pleased her greatly. And her satisfied look, like a cat that had gorged on cream, ignited something akin to burning, irrational envy in Arien. Although the reason for Brunge's sexual "popularity" was Arien herself.
Clutching her fists, the earthling girl sharply shook her head, trying to dispel the intrusive thoughts, but this gesture didn't help.
Arien was beautiful, and not just by local standards, but also by those of Earth. She was tall, with a figure as if sculpted by a talented artist. She had perfect long legs, envied by many professional models, a high, almost ideally shaped bust, and an extraordinary, non-standard, yet beautiful face. Arien didn't hesitate to accentuate her splendor, dressing provocatively by local standards but maintaining an element of strictness. At the moment, she was wearing tall, narrow boots reaching up to her knees, tucked into pants that highlighted the curves of her hips. She wore a semi-transparent beige blouse, and over her shoulders, she donned a stylish jacket that resembled the attire of ancient Earth hussars. When Arien first spotted this unique jacket at Gianni Armani's shop, she couldn't resist spending over fifty gold coins on it! But it was worth every copper, as it became a central element of her exterior image. The final touch to it was an unusually long and thin rapier sitting in the hip sheaths. To be honest, Arien didn't know how to handle the rapier yet, but she planned to learn after the examination.
Her beauty and appearance, unconventional yet attractive to local men, led to numerous awkward and spicy situations. Arien had lost count of the number of times she'd been proposed for a night or even marriage. Of course, she refused them all, even the prince, the younger son of King of Ilomen. However, her rejections only incited some men. The woman, who looked like she was in her twenties but had almost spent thirty-one years on Earth, skillfully used this to her advantage.
As soon as the exam began, her local suitors became active. They came to the testing not intending to join her guild; they were attracted by something other than membership in the Ainuminati. They were interested in her, or rather, her body. Arien managed to turn even this to her advantage, using such candidates as part of the show and a demonstration of her powers.
Those who came to the exam aiming to win a magical competition with Arien set a condition that if they won, the woman would spend the night with them. Being a smart girl, she didn't dispute these demands. On the contrary, she gladly agreed but set one additional condition. If the contender lost, he would spend the night not with Arien but with Brunge. And in the case of such a bet, it was not enough for the contestants to simply damage the tower - they needed to do it better than Arien.
By the beaming, radiant appearance of Brunge, it was clear how these magical duels ended. The numerous spectators at the exam were also thoroughly entertained by this unexpected diversion. They particularly enjoyed the downcast looks of the men who, strongly embraced by the gigantic woman of Sapphire rank, were led into Brunge's bedroom. There wasn't the slightest chance for ordinary candidates - who were on the Metal Coil - to break free from this "gentle" grip of the giant woman. However, some tried, adding even more amusement for the multitude of onlookers. And, it must be said, no one felt sympathy for these unlucky fellows – after all, a loss meant they had to fulfill the condition.
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Arien was justifiably considered an outstanding scientist and understood perfectly that any venture should not only bring primary profit in the form of new Ainuminati members but also enhance the image, both personal and that of the newly established guild. This was the reason why numerous tables for guests were arranged along the shore. The people seated there could not only watch and enjoy the magical prowess of the contestants but also order food and drinks. Moreover, at the cost twice as much as the city prices. Yet, usually, all the tables were occupied, bringing a substantial profit to the Ainuminati's treasury.
This evening, which was already turning into night, all the guest tables were occupied. Even the one a bit aside, which Gianni Armani had "permanently" reserved for himself. The master designer had booked it on the first day, but after attending the "show" twice, he didn't show up for several days, still keeping and paying for the reservation. But now, even this table was occupied. However, it was not Gianni with his usual bottle of wine sitting there, but entirely different people.
More precisely, a couple. A young girl whose beauty could compete with Arien's and who was dressed in a dress so elegant and stylish that Arien felt purely feminine envy. And an unfamiliar young man who, judging by his behavior and manners, was a local tunneller with a Steel Guild Sign. Though, he was dressed in Earth style, or more precisely, his shirt was undoubtedly made by none other than Gianni Armani. Arien's seasoned gaze picked out this detail instantly. However, her eye didn't linger on the local tunneller. The mage straightened her back and attentively looked at the earthling girl who sat leisurely sipping expensive wine.
Miranda. This name had been a thorn in Arien's mind for the last two days. The only one among all candidates who passed her exam cleanly and without any leniency. And the only one who, after receiving an official invitation to Ainuminati, responded with a refusal! Undoubtedly, without any "buts," a talented mage, who, if she fell short of Arien, it was by a tiny margin.
'She could have been my right hand,' Arien thought for the umpteenth time, openly scrutinizing the girl. 'But she refused! And now she's come to show, with her mere presence, how much weaker all the other members of the Ainuminati are compared to her! And she's clearly enjoying the spectacle! The witch!' As usual, anger ignited easily within Arien. But as was her custom, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. No, the emotions didn't dissipate or evaporate without a trace from this simple exercise, but Arien was able to dampen them and gain control.
Arien loved her anger; it gave her strength, added motivation, made the world around her more vibrant, painting it with brighter colors. But she also despised it when her emotions got out of control. Control over her anger was her power. In such a state of cold rage, Arien pushed the boundaries of the possible and achieved what she previously couldn't. Now, her Affinity with Fire pleasantly warmed the Core as if pushing her forward. 'Approach, wipe that smirk off her face! Burn those insolent eyes! Respond with fire to her humiliating refusal!' The Fire seemed to whisper in her soul.
Of course, Arien knew the local beliefs that the acquired Affinity changed a person's soul, slightly adjusting it. But she also understood that the degree of this influence depended on human will. Therefore, after letting the Fire blaze, she habitually subdued it with her Affinity with Water.
Usually, few could possess both these Affinities - with Fire and Water. These Powers were considered hostile to each other, and if someone managed to become the bearer of both, it usually ended poorly for them. But Arien didn't worry about this. She had a little secret.
In addition to the Affinities she had shared with others, Arien had another one - an Affinity with Nature. As this particular Affinity was ranked higher in the hierarchy of Powers, all other Elements bowed to Nature. Therefore, Arien was unafraid to embrace both Fire and Water simultaneously. It was not difficult for her.
Miranda met Arien's gaze calmly, withstood the fire in Arien's eyes, then boldly and independently smirked, becoming even more beautiful at that moment. She leaned towards her companion and whispered something in his ear. The man's attention shifted from the wine to Arien with a curiosity, as if she was an unseen creature being showcased at a zoo. His gaze was remarkably pure, clear, and seemed to storm with a flurry of vague yet intensely bright emotions. The young man was quite appealing, even handsome. His beauty was slightly marred by his overly sharp, bird-like facial features. However, if he changed his hairstyle, any Earthly fashion magazine would accept his photograph without hesitation. Not for the cover, of course, but he certainly wouldn't mar a colorful spread. The clothes tailored by Gianni suited the man well, making him resemble an aristocratic dandy at leisure, or rather, a bored pirate from the novels by Rafael Sabatini that Arien adored in her childhood.
'Where did that wretch find such a specimen among the local nobodies?!' Another spiteful thought slid into Arien's mind. 'And he's Steel, judging by the Guild Sign! How did this Bronze upstart snag someone like him? She must've found him somewhere and specifically brought him here, sparing no gold to dress him in Gianni's shop!'
For a moment, Arien imagined this guy beside her, and her knees traitorously trembled.
'That witch!' Arien's anger towards Miranda doubled at that moment. She was certain that Miranda had deliberately found this admittedly attractive man and brought him here. Rumors that Arien supposedly couldn't find a worthy partner had been circulating around Katiyer for weeks. And this insufferable girl was now practically rubbing Arien's nose in it, showing that, if desired, one could find a worthy suitor even here! Arien's anger was also fueled by the fact that this upstart, though undeniably talented, currently looked even more beautiful than Arien in her magnificent dress, overshadowing her.
The noise at the entrance to the trial clearing allowed Arien to break off the stare-down with Miranda without losing face. The girl welcomed this respite, realizing that she had thoroughly lost this duel of glares. However, by turning towards the source of the noise, she didn't show her defeat. Demonstratively turning her whole body as if indicating that both Miranda and her companion were of no interest to her, Arien looked at the road leading to the city.
A flamboyant young man, no older than twenty-five, stepped onto the large clearing in front of Brunge's villa. He stood out among the residents of Katiyer, akin to a pedigree dog amidst a group of mongrels. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed according to the latest fashion trends from the capital. Unlike Miranda's companion, he was undeniably handsome, as if someone had blended Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt together in a test tube. A straight sword, its scabbard adorned with precious gemstones, hung at his hip as if it were an extension of his body. A Wootz band, framing the Brooch of Nobility, embellished his magnificent doublet.
From the numerous whispers around the tables, Arien gathered that this man was not a local. He had arrived that morning with the entourage of the duke's envoy. Rumors had it that the same envoy was to invite Arien to a grand ceremony tomorrow and confer noble status upon her. But that was for tomorrow. For now, the girl greeted the aristocrat with a light yet incredibly graceful bow, as dictated by local customs.
"Brilliant Arien!" Approaching within three steps, the nobleman stopped and bowed with equal grandeur. "Allow me to introduce myself, Dentor Om Rallizor."
"I am infinitely pleased to make your acquaintance, Dentor Om Rallizor," the girl politely replied, unable to tear her gaze away from his beautiful blue eyes, reminiscent of the spring sky.
'Calm down, Arien! Calm down!' She mentally shouted at herself at that moment, dissolving in those fathomless eyes and feeling her legs betray her. 'It's that damn Affinity with Nature speaking in you now! Hold on! Hold on, you fool!' This self-scolding allowed Arien to keep her thoughts in order, yet it had no effect on her body, which took a step forward, as if wishing to be in the arms of this impossibly beautiful man. 'Hold on! You've always been able to control your desires!'
"How may I be of service to Om Rallizor?" With incredible effort, the girl cast her eyes to the ground.
"I've heard much about you, milady, during my brief stay in the free city of Katiyer. Don't blush; this address is rightfully yours, and tomorrow will be a mere formality," the aristocrat's voice, like a siren's song, penetrated the depths of the sorceress's soul, awakening the most lascivious desires.
"I am but a simple mage of Steel," Arien replied, her voice deepening and acquiring husky tones.
"No simple mage of Steel would be called Brilliant! And I must say, the title suits no one better than you!" the aristocrat dismissed her objection.
And from his gaze… Arien was ready to slap her cheeks right then to quell the riotous imagination that had completely escaped the control of reason. But such a gesture would be misunderstood by all, so, biting her lip to blood, she responded to his gaze with a somewhat angry look.
"At your service," said Arien with a light curtsey, belatedly realizing how ambiguously her words had sounded.
"Officially, we were supposed to meet tomorrow, but I couldn't contain my curiosity," the aristocrat spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, yet intimate as if his words were meant for Arien alone. For her alone... "The envoy will not be pleased with my premature visit, but I took the risk anyway. And..." He spread his arms as if inviting to his embrace, or so it seemed to Arien. Every gesture he made felt like a deliberate invitation to her. Another painful bite to her lip was the only thing that kept her in place. "I have no regrets. Seeing you, I am prepared to endure any punishment from the envoy!"
His words were honey to her ears. Even on Earth, she hadn't encountered people of such natural beauty, not the kind crafted by neural networks or the skilled hands of Photoshop masters.
"It wasn't necessary..." Arien whispered, aware of the blush creeping up to the roots of her hair.
"It was, Brilliant Arien, it was! Tales of your beauty," the nobleman spoke, and Arien could distinctly hear Miranda's sarcastic laughter, "have been understated manifold!"
"Thank you," was all the mage could manage, her throat parched.
"Oh! I should be the one thanking Providence for granting me the sight of you!" The aristocrat's warm, enticing smile...
Arien's Affinity with Nature raged like a tempest within her soul. It pleaded, demanded, implored, ordered her to follow the feminine Path, to walk the Road of Fertility. With every passing second, the sorceress felt her strength to resist the Call wane and weaken. Mustering the last of her willpower, Arien straightened her back and met the irresistibly attractive gaze of those eyes, blue as the purest mountain ice, with determination.
"Did you come just to introduce yourself? If so, allow me to offer you a place at the spectators' table. Now, excuse me, but as pleasant as our conversation is, I need to return to the exam." Each word was excruciatingly difficult for the girl to utter.
"Oh!" Om Rallizor exclaimed quietly as if recalling why he had come. "Of course, I can't join your guild since I am bound by a family oath. But if the Brilliant Arien doesn't mind, I'd like to take the exam you've devised personally! Yes, I am at the Wootz Stage, but I believe that's allowed by the rules you've set milady?"
"It's allowed." The girl's throat was as dry as the Sahara at that moment.
"In that case, since I can't claim the main prize of joining your guild, I would like to claim the second prize in the event of my victory!"
"Second prize?" Arien didn't understand him.
"A night with you, Brilliant Arien!" The aristocrat replied firmly and alluringly, his gaze unwavering. "As I understand, you accept such a wager."
"I accept..." the girl whispered quietly. "But then you should also know the condition of losing."
Arien turned to Brunge. The giant woman was leaning on the table with her enormous palms. Unbridled lust shone in the eyes of the villa's owner, and thick saliva stretched from the corner of her mouth.
"I know." The aristocrat shuddered at the sight of Brunge. "And I'm ready to take the risk. I'd even risk my life if that were the losing condition!"
Locking her eyes on the evening's guest, Arien firmly decided that she would lose. Even if Om Rallizor showed nothing outstanding, she would still play into his hands…
"Let's seal our wager, then," the evening guest said and took a step forward.