Kella Vine

The wind was calm and gentle, even this high up in the air. It blew against me, its power desperately trying to push me along with it. I didn’t let it, instead just feeling its strength and relishing in its cooling effects. I really didn’t mix well with the summer. The heat and humidity were deadly foes, and ones that I hated to fight. Perhaps that’s one of the reason’s he went so far north.

The gentle breeze moved past me and into the study behind. Without looking, I could feel it push against the many scrolls laying on desks and the ground, lifting them upwards and around the room. The wind explored the study eagerly, taking in everything it could, then bounced against the walls and back to me, where I was hanging my legs off the balcony.

Calling it a balcony was giving it too much credit, though. It was more an open doorway in the room, leading out to a sheer drop that no one could survive a fall from. It was a design choice favored by most Sorcerer’s who had a Soul of air and ended up taking a room within the Magic Tower. I understood why. It was nice to always have the flowing wind around me, being able to feel and see things without even looking. Plus, the view of the City of Marble was not to be ignored. However, he was not a wind Mage. I never understood why he’d chosen a study with one of these openings. At least, I didn’t until he’d left, and given me the study instead.

“Where are you?” I asked the air, not even hoping for an answer.

Instead of hearing a response, a knock at the door came. The person outside didn’t even bother for me to let them in, instead opening the door themselves. It was a small, frail woman who came in, her eyes darting back and forth and her mouth chewing on the ends of her fingernails. She was a High Mage, like me, the two silver rings around the pointer finger of her right hand giving her rank away. She spoke frantically, her curly black hair bouncing as she looked to and from me and the door, “Lady Kella, I apologize for the sudden disturbance, but I came to warn you. They aren’t pleased. Not one bit. You should prepare–”

“Stop!” I commanded the woman, using the air to carry my voice and make it louder. The woman quieted in an instant. “Who are you? Why do you think it is okay for a High Mage to enter a Sorcerer’s study unannounced?” I wasn’t the Sorcerer who owned the study in question, but I’d been given authority over it in his absence.

“I’m– I’m so sorry Lady Kella. I merely–”

“You shouldn’t call me that. Not here,” I said annoyed. Any self respecting mage knew that using noble titles within the tower was not only rude, but strictly forbidden. Many Nobles gained recognition from the Magic Tower, but it was illegal to use one’s influence to force your way up the ranks.

“I apologize again… Kella. Your– Lord Vine sent me here to warn you.”

I sighed. Even though it was illegal, many Lords and Ladies still did it. Including, not surprisingly, my father. “What did he send you to tell me?” I asked.

“The King is,” the woman lowered her voice and began to whisper, “He’s been influenced by the Archmage. At least that’s what Lord Vine says. His majesty is reluctant when it comes to any conversation about war or new soldiers and mages, but it seems the Archmage shares the opposite sentiment. The King has given him permission to start a push for more apprentices among the nobles, and Lord Vine is worried about your well being. He wishes for you to leave the magic tower so you won’t get caught up in any of the Archmage’s politics.”

I felt my lips rise into a smile, then a loud laugh erupted from me. I tried to hold back, embarrassed by how undignified I was being, but what she’d just said was too hilarious. “So he wants me to escape the Archmage’s politics, just so that I can get wrapped up in his?” I finally asked when I could speak.

“Yes… wait no! I meant to say–”

“It’s alright, dear. You can return and tell my father that I will heed his warning, but that my duties as a High Mage of the Magic Tower are much too important to abandon.”

“Yes. I will, Lady Kella.”

She looked less than thrilled to bring the news back to my father, but she started to head out anyway. When she opened the door a towering figure stood behind it. The man was wrapped in all black robes, the hood pulled over his head so far that I could barely see his face. He had his hands clasped in front of him, a common stance mages gave when presenting their ranks. On his hand, around his right pointer finger, were two golden rings, of which were only accentuated further by the two silver rings on his left hand.

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I held in a gasp and quickly bowed at the waist, forming a visible gust of air just above my head at the same time. I didn’t want to find out what would happen if I didn’t properly show respect to a superior I didn’t know, let alone to a Master Sorcerer.

“Wind,” the man’s voice came out as soft whisper, “I never would have expected Restivus to take a disciple outside of his own element, nor for her to be his favorite.”

I kept quiet, still in a bow.

“You can stand up straight,” the man finally said, “It is nice to be given respect, but rather boring to talk to someone who can’t respond. No real work gets done that way.”

I did as he said, and released the spell above my head. I turned to the other person in the room, and found her still bowing, a flame dancing at the top of her head so close that I worried her hair would catch on fire.

“You can leave, High Mage. I’m sure someone else will come for you eventually.”

The woman sprang up so fast she almost jumped, then hurried out the door.

“To what do I owe this visit, master?” I asked the man.

The Master Sorcerer sighed and took a seat in the lone chair of the study. He was so tall that, even when seated, I was still eye level with him. He reached down to the floor and picked up one of the many scattered papers on the ground, simultaneously pulling down his hood with his other hand. Underneath was a man with dark skin and a bald head. His brown eyes looked lazy, like he was examining the paper in front of him for no real reason.

“What is the purpose of this research,” he said, turning the paper over for me to see.

It was a sketch of an oval shaped stone, with one end coming to a point. Several scribbles were written around it, but I couldn't make out what they said. Restivus was notorious for his terrible handwriting.

“He spent most of his time researching the unknown properties of Nex. I’m not quite sure what that illustration is, but it’s most likely something to do with that.”

The man turned the paper back to himself, then threw it behind him. “An… inconsequential path to follow. It saddens me to see so many mages, especially ones as promising as him, to run down rabbit holes that have already been filled. Some mysteries end up not being mysteries at all.”

“Many have said his pursuits are foolish,” I said, holding back my irritation, even though I agreed with them.

“I never said it was foolish. Now, that’s enough chat, though you are a wonderful conversationalist,”he said, but his lazy eyes said otherwise. “I am here on business, and it’s rude to keep you waiting.” The Master Sorcerer stood, looking me straight in the eyes now, “I, Master Averitt of The Magic Tower, under orders and obligations from the Archmage himself, order you to take at least one apprentice before the end of the year, or face punishment.”

I stared blankly at him. “Pardon me, Master Averitt, but I don’t quite understand. Why am I required to take an apprentice? What do you mean by punishment?”

“You have already completed the requirements to be considered a High Mage by successfully training an apprentice into acceptance by the Magic Tower, but that was ten years ago. Since then, your usefulness has not shown itself to the Archmage.”

I bit back my tongue, wanting to protest, but not daring to speak out against one of my superiors. If he wanted to, Master Averitt could have me thrown from the top of the tower in an instant. I didn’t think he would do that, but there was always the risk when talking to a Master Sorcerer.

“The Archmage is not only displeased with you,” Master Averitt continued, “But with most other Mages as well. Many have not bothered taking apprentices since the end of the war. The Magic Tower is weaker, and the Archmage is not happy. If you do not have an apprentice by the end of the year, your rank will be demoted, and you will no longer be a High Mage.”

I sighed internally. That wasn’t really an issue. High Mages were more respected, of course, but I had no real reason to care about keeping my rank.

“Of course, that also means you will no longer have access to this floor of the tower, and this study.”

I stiffened. “Where do you recommend I begin looking, Master Averitt?”

“Fear not, the year has just recently turned, so you have plenty of time. If you find all your prospects lacking, however, the Archmage has already set some plans in motion. At the end of the summer, a… demonstration will be held for the young nobles at the royal palace. A chance for each of them to show off their talents, and for our Mages to find promising apprentices.”

Master Averitt paused for a moment, then let out a loud sigh. His voice came out two octaves lower, “That’s all then, High Mage. Do well to remember all that. I don’t wish to say it again.”

“Yes, Master Averitt. Thank you for the information.”

I bowed as he made his way out, then straightened my back when I was sure he’d left. I slumped into the chair he was just sitting in, letting all of my muscles and bones relax. The wind blowing in from the balcony felt empty now, barely blowing in as dusk started overtaking the sky. I sighed, “A new apprentice.”