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Namar was woken abruptly when his father violently shook him out of his restful sleep; his dirty gloves leaving ashen markings on his skin.
"Hey! Wake up it's your coming of age ceremony, you only get to do this once so hurry up."
"Alright, Alright." Namar slurred, trying weakly and failing to get up off his bed, at which point he'd decided to remain in blissful slumber. Unfortunately he'd really no choice in the matter as he was dragged off the bed like a piece of scrap metal and made to stand upright.
It was at this point that his mother walked in carrying hand made clothing specifically for this occasion, his mother, one of the finest tailors in their small village, had dark clothes with fanciful red embroideries. Namar was fully aware of the situation but he'd never been an early riser, still he done his best to work with his parents to get himself into proper clothing and moved as quickly as he could to get himself clean. Hurriedly his parents pushed him out the door and guided him through a crowd and onto a stage where he was... the first one there. As always they exaggerated just how little time he really had left, but they seemed to care little about any of his petty grumbling, instead they took their place at the front of the crowd where they sat, looking as eager, if not more so than a small child, they practically squealed with excitement.
It was only a few minutes longer when the others showed up, one in particular was his childhood friend Barlor Brown, the farmer's son took his place next to him, wearing clothes made by Namar's mother. They grinned at each other and shared a fist bump once settled into place. It must've been the crowd, the excitement, his friend or the presence of a mage that made him suddenly so aware, but it all felt less like a dream and he realized that the day had finally come, where he could follow in his father's footsteps. The crowd went silent.
Taking his place infront of them the mage stood as tall and imposing as ever. He read them their rite of passage something he'd hear many times as a child, he had glossed over the rites of passage, only half paying attention to the familiar recitations.
"... and so it is, on this day... entry into a life of.... and wonder... may they have great fortune in all their journeys" The mage droned on.. And finally... it was over. It was at this point that he said something that put him on edge, he could feel the steady beat in his chest, sheer anticipation built up and bursting at the seams, he could hear every rustle of movement and every whisper in the streets
"And now it is time to determine who, if any, among you have the talent for magic."
The first two passed without incident, no flashy shows of power or glowy displays of magic occurred, in all his time there he'd never really seen anyone come of age with the ability to use magic. A couple more, then it was Barlor, he layed his hand on the gray orb. He seemed to buckle and shake before them eventually collapsing on his knees before the orb, it was instinct to turn and help Barlor at this point but before he ran to help him Namar came to a stop and realized the orb had started glowing with the light of the sun. He'd done it, the little farmer's boy had really done it he was a mage! Namar' pride swelled for his old friend, after all this years his wish just might come true.
"Impressive! Your reserves of mana are simply amazing, and to think I get to take the credit for discovering you!" The mage had a hint of greed in his eyes now, seeming a little impatient. "Let's see how your mana reacts." this time he placed his hands on the orb causing the color to drain out from the orb. Lines raced downwards from the pillar which it stood on and on to the large circular stone pedestal that every town and city had. They surged outwards from the stone pillar, fraying and splitting here and there like lightning, they spiraled outwards forming a multitude of concentric rings along the way and eventually stopping to form a circle at its edge. The mage was grinning from ear to ear now. And the crowd was cheering with fervor that had gone previously unmatched
"Right, right, let's get this over with, alright you next boy." he quickly gestured at Namar to place his hand on the orb. As always he took his time, making his way leisurely towards the orb. He stopped to look at the crowd, and then the mage, who was now tapping his foot. That didn't matter though, the chances he'd have power too, were unlikely but he felt it nessecary to make something of a production out of the moment, he was after all, a craftsman, and enjoyed making things even out of abstract concepts. Raising his hand slowly and placing it on the orb he closed his eyes. As expected he didn't really feel anything. He lifted his hand off the orb, or at least, that's what would've happened had his hand been able to actually come off of the orb, he tried feebly to take his hand off the damn thing, but before he could begin to panic in earnest the orb began to pull at him.
He was getting tired now, his whole body felt like it was being dragged through a stream of water. He began to stagger a little, and then it was over; he. Namar lifted his hand off the orb and wiped his brow, he'd realized he was sweating profusely. He opened his eyes to stare at the orb. It too, was visibly glowing yet not quite as blindingly as when Barlor had placed his hand on the orb still it was there. There was cheering for him as well, just as loud as it was previously although a decent amount of that came from his parents telling rival families that they should, what basically amounted to: suck it losers!
Somehow grinning even wider than before, the mage walked at a brisk pace, practically running to where the orb was located. The lines had completely receded now, and the mage had placed his hand on the orb. They retreated to the edge of the platform, and again lines began to crawl down the spire from where the orb sat. Lines radiated outwards from the pillar in curves and swirls extending to a certain point before stopping and drawing inwards, the lines began to move again, boldening and compacting whilst creeping towards the center of the pillar, rotating now they swept around the center of the pedestal wavering and sweeping across it before finally fading.
The mage stood, hand on his chin thinking to himself; before turning to the crowd and raising his hands "Let the celebrations begin!"
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The sky was arrayed in hues of red and pink, all around him the people were dancing, the hired musicians played on their guitars, violas, and violins, the four other celebrants were off drinking and dancing with the rest of the crowd. He'd done his fair share of dancing, although he didn't drink; preferring to have control over his actions. He talked with others, shared terrible jokes, and told more than his fair share of stories, something which he'd always enjoyed even at the expense of himself.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Now, however, he sat, isolated from the rest but watching the festivities and the sun dip just below the horizons; beneath the distant spires of stone and marble to paint the far off mountains in shades of crimson.
He saw in the crowd a skinnier figure walking over to join him. With little decorum he sat right next to him, he was practically bouncing up and down in his seat.
"Enjoying yourself out here?" He wore a bright smile that practically glowed with happiness.
"Definitely it's been an eventful day, and things seem to have gone right for you, about time I'd say." Leaning back to rest his hands on the tree behind him he closed his eyes and reveled in the moment.
"And what about you? You've also got magic."
"What about me, I'm a blacksmith and a craftsman, I want to make good tools and equipment, this doesn't really apply to me."
"You know there's plenty of skills to learn when it comes to making things right? You know, they've got enchanting, alchemy and whatever other stuff they have out there."
"Well, yeah but I mean I'd have to learn an entirely new craft, I'm not sure I could do that when I've already dedicated my life to smithing." He sat upright. The music was hitting its crescendo.
"Pfffft you'll be fine, besides you get to combine those skills to together, imagine it dude! All the possibilities how often does someone with your skill learn that they can also do magic, plus I sorta would rather have you there with me you know?" He ran his hands through his hair. "Big city seems kinda scary."
"Dude you've got tons of magic the host mage said it himself."
"Look, thats not the point, it's better to tackle this with a friend, plus imagine how much you could create with those, magicky things." He gestured with his hands as if that might help get the point across.
"Magicky things?" Despite his tone his mind raced with possibilities; armor that moved with the user, shields that could spit fire. The possibilities were endless.
"Come on dude, do it for me?" His tone was pleading now. Namar dragged it out and pretended to consider it, although his decision was already made.
"Yeah alright".
"Hell yeah! Dude I can already see it you and me, mage extraordinnaires."
"Yeah yeah," that man, always so optimistic.
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"So, you're leaving the craft to become a mage?" Father sounded disheartened, Namar understood why, he'd been willing to give up almost anything to learn blacksmithing; from starving orphan to expert smith, he'd fought every step of the way for a stable life. He admired him, it's why he followed in his father profession so vigorously.
"No dad I'm improving it, imagine for a second; Brandy's magical arms and armor, think of all the uses rich folk over in the city have got for magical tools and equipment; we'll be rich, famous even."
"But-" mom laid a hand on dad's shoulder
"He needs to take his own path in life honey, just like you did."
"The city; it's just so far away and-"
"I know honey, I know."
"Well, alright." Dad sighed he pulled us all in for a hug, father was crying now and mom wore a sad smile.
"I'll write to you every month."
"Sure honey that's what they all say." She was being smug now, Gods knows why but she was, she clearly knew something he didn't.
Eh... Whatever
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After both he and Barlor had said their goodbyes, they got in the wagon, and rode off towards the dawn; the sky streaked with rays of gold, the light bathed everyone in warmth as they rode into the sunrise, waving their hands at the gathered townsfolk, he would remember this day in incredible detail, from the dusty oaks that built the houses to the gilded fields of wheat and the lake which mirrored the sky in its image, every bit as beautiful as the heavens themselves.
The mage left them to their farewells for a while, he didn't really have any attachments to this place although he saw how someone might've liked it, in a mundane, sort of way. They were a couple hours into the trip when he decided it was time to discuss how things were going to work.
"Alright you two, listen up and listen well."
This caught both of their attentions, and they visibly perked up to listen to him.
"The Academy of Arcane Core Teachings is one of the smaller schools out there and more obscure than others you've likely heard of before." He paused to consider his next words.
"It's also more selective, focusing on students who meet a certain requirement, you'll have access to more tools there but you'll also be under more scrutiny so don't screw this up you hear?"
They both nodded.
"You'll be able to learn from your choice branch of magic after you've completed basics, and you'll be able to choose what time to take your classes. Take the morning classes, they have better instructors during that time period. Dorm rooms are limited so chances are you won't be paired up next to each other, women's dorms are to the left men's dorms are to the right. You've both got potential and are enrolling at a relatively new school so you'll have plenty of freedoms; make use of it."
"The more you do well, the more you and I both will profit, make me plenty of money and I'll be inclined to help you."
The thin one with the large mana reserves spoke up, his brown eyes gave him a questioning look.
"You're getting paid to do this?"
"Yup, you think I do this for fun?" They were passing a set of lakes now, the waters were clear enough to see all the way to the bottom. They looked backwards, then at each other, and then to him.
These kids had a lot of learning to do. Might as well start now.
"Look, few mages are so generous as to do a task they would consider beneath them, even fewer would do so without pay. Some mages are paid by schools to host the coming of age ceremony, if they find people with mana; if said person chooses to come with, they are brought to that respective school and the mage who hosted the ceremony is paid, the more successful you are in school, the more I get paid every month and the more reason I have to... invest in your success got it?"
They both looked considerably dispirited.
"Look, it's nothing personal ok? It's just how things work."
It was then that a titanic, four winged brid swooped in from the skies to attempt to grab the horse. It's long hooked talons wrapped around to grasp onto one of the horses. The mage leapt to action, a swirling jagged blue vortex burst into life in his hand he swung it at the silvery avian form before them, it was halfway to the lakes when the vortex approached the bird. It dropped the horse and with a flap of all four of its wings took off soaring into the sky like a silver lance.
The unfortunate horse however, was skewered a hundred times over when the vortex unleashing a storm of azure nails on the falling beast. The creature flicked a long fin like appendage on the end of its tail and made a sharp turn barreling directly at them, again he prepared a vortex, a larger one, a more unstable version, the spinning mass of energy appeared to vibrate moving more slowly this time, he released the vortex and it moved a few feet ahead of them when it collapsed and burst in front of them.
It unravelled all four of its silver wings, stopping just short of the blue waves fired outwards in rapid succession; fading before they reached it,and during that split second in which the creature had stopped to avoid the blast, the mage flicked his finger, firing a long blast of thin spiraling energy. The bird was speared through its chest, immediately arresting its movement. The bird fell, a glossy silvery mass that plummeted into the lake, painting it crimson, and leaving a bleeding corpse until it, and the blood too, was devoured. Leaving the lake as clear as ever, as if nothing out of the ordinary had even happened.
"Well shit, it's gonna take us even longer to get to the capital now." Both the mage and the smith looked at the farmer boy.
"What? They took one of the horses. We're going to be on the road twice as long now."
The mage looked at the smith, he simply shook his head and shrugged, both completely dumbfounded by the unassuming child's apparent apathy towards a giant bird attack.