The courtyard where Rastfian Earth-Master held command of one of Wolfsguard's Tier 5 teleport stones was slowly returning to order. The events of the day had worried the crowds of travelers milling around the edges of the courtyard or in the streets. The dozens of mages called in to help with the emergency had been terrified. Every Tier one, two, and three Fire Mage from the Academy had been assigned one of the four teleport stones and worked until they dropped, warming the stones and dispersing the ice-tainted mana that accumulated on them.

Later the surges of wild magic had come that threatened to crack or explode the stones. Pushing the mana from one stone to another took a toll on their stamina, not something many mages had an abundance of. Couriers had run through the city going from tavern to tavern recruiting adventuring players, and any of the townsfolk that could lend a hand. Rastfian was relieved to have no less of a mage than Master Caldrius assisting him.

The old Fire Mage had vast reserves of both mana and stamina and treated the event as a chance to teach the next generations. His lectures on commanding fire inspired the younger mages, and his reputation had reached new heights on the news that he'd destroyed a cabal of Ice Wizards and saved the Duchess from assassination. Hearing the story directly from him made them re-evaluate some of their decisions.

"Please don't misunderstand, the Academy will always be a wonderful place to study the theory of magic and spellcasting, but you have to go outside at some point and get your hands dirty with practical magic. The impressive young man who assisted me in my latest adventure is a prime example. It might even be said that I assisted him. He was in front, after all, and I'm not sure I could have shrugged off those cannons as easily as he did. He made a wonderful large target, and our combined shields merged to create potent magical protections for the soldiers behind us. And do you know what astounded me? He hasn't had any proper classes in magic. His lessons were found inside dungeons and on the decks of a ship in the Plane of Smoke. Think how much he can improve when I force a little book learning into his head, and contemplate how much more powerful you could be with some hard-earned experience from a dungeon."

"But sir, aren't dungeons rare? I've heard that there are more now, but the competition to join a group of players is difficult."

Caldrius pointed at a large group of players forced to wait for the teleporters to work again. "Do you know where they are going? To Gadobhra. Word is slowly spreading about the old city. I confirmed some of it with my new friend, Ozzy. They have at least four dungeons in the area, possibly more along with wyvern-infested swamps, and perilous woodlands. Plus, simply walking through the City of Gadobhra is perilous. The place is a gold mine of experience fighting dangerous monsters. I understand you all have studying to do, but you might contemplate a visit over fall or spring break. Now, why don't some of you warm this stone a little, and the rest of you send all of its mana on to Rowan Keep? You can stop when you pass out and I'll let the next person have a turn."

Rastfian found that he wasn't exempt from lessons. Caldrius kept him working all through the day, reaching deep into the earth until he was comfortable using magma instead of cold stone for some of his spells. Along with that, he was pulling Heat directly from the earth and into the teleport stone, a process that bypassed the use of Fire Magic altogether. Over and over, he pulled Heat to disperse the cold mana on the stone, while others pushed the mana to Rowan Keep. When half the day was done, they were joined by the Duchess leading an exhausted Butcher. The man barely took a break before he was helping with the stone. Rastfian could see that he had a well-honed affinity for Heat, barely exerting himself to warm the stone, even after fighting two battles during the day. When he was almost at the end of his endurance, the Lord of the System surprised him with a reward.

Hands-on learning and personalized lessons from not one, but two Masters of Heat have helped you to learn the basics of using the Aspect of Heat.

You have gained the skill: Aspect of Heat (INT) Rank 0.

Caldrius patted him on the back. "Excellent work. You'll have to take a sabbatical with me when I visit the Fireflumes and I can teach you Magma Casting. It's a little dangerous to teach the basics anywhere else.

Ozzy stood up, "I need a little refreshment. Mind if I pull out something to help with our stamina?"

"Please do, I'm at the end of my stamina and can barely stand."

The Butcher pulled out a keg stand from his bag and put a 50-gallon barrel of Apple Kick-Ass on it, then a dozen mugs and a small table. Tapping the kegs he filled the mugs and passed them around to Rastfian, Caldrius, and the other mages. "We drink this all night when Butchering. It really helps keep you going. A little apple wine, a lot of radiant mana, and enough spice to give it some kick. Go easy though, every glass is equal to a stamina potion."

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The exhausted mages all perked up after a half mug of the fortified wine and most kept drinking. Caldrius laughed when he saw that stamped on the side were the words, 'Produced in Sedgewick at the Lonely Lass Tavern.' It only reinforced his desire to visit.

Hours later, the surging mana reached a crescendo and the icy mana formed the illusion of a dragon hovering over the stone before disappearing. Rock and odd bits of metal and crystal exploded from the stone. And then, it was over. Everyone sat for ten minutes and finally, a group of players marched in, demanding to be sent to Rowan Keep. Rastfian stood, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Why not? We have the mana, they have the money, and we need to test the system. Caldrius agreed.

"Step right up folks, hand over the small fee and we'll send you on your way." The Mage's Guild was back in business, with only the small problem of 'Where the hell do we get the mana?'

Ozzy stuck around, talking with Cauldrius and Rastfian until the lines of players, merchants, and other travelers had all disappeared. He was just about to head home when Duchess Claudia rode into the courtyard at a gallup. "Good, you're all still here. We have to talk. Crystalstone Academy is in contact with us again. They are still under siege by an army of Winter, but the blizzard that blocked any travel is over. The Emperor has sent word that he is authorizing an expedition of fast cavalry to do what we can to relieve the siege, scout the area, and bring supplies."

Caldrius bowed. "I would be happy to lend my magics to the war against ice and snow. What about you, Rastfian? Feel like getting your hands dirty?"

The Earth Mage looked around the courtyard. His position here was safe and he had tenure. He could earn good coin with easy work for several decades while slowly gaining a couple of levels. He looked at the Butcher and then at Caldrius, thinking the old mage's words hadn't just been for the youngsters from the Academy. "I"m in."

There was a flash of light on the Teleporter, heralding the arrival of General Themis with her honor guard. She walked over to the group, bowed minimally, and then shook hands with Claudia. "I see you're already gathering the firepower we need. Good to see that. I don't know what we're up against."

The two mages bowed. "Caldrius, at your service, madam. Fire, Heat, and a few other talents."

"Rastfian, ma'am. I am an Earth Mage, and recently have acquired some talent with heat."

"Good. I need you both, along with any of the Fire Mages of the Academy you can beg, borrow, or steal."

Themis looked at the Butcher. "You're going too."

He grinned, "I am? I think you'll have to talk to Baron William about that, Ma'am. I'm already a day overdue back at my job in Sedgewick. But it does sound fun. Not sure I can keep up with fast cavalry though."

She grinned back at him, "That's why you'll be in charge of the wagons. I want supplies. I'm not heading into an icy wilderness and a possible siege only to starve to death. I checked what we have on hand at Rowan, and it isn't enough. So while you're asking the Baron for permission to come play for a few days, you can hand him my shopping list. Tell him the Empire is paying in gold at higher than his normal rates to the Legion and that we need to buy heavy wagons to haul it all, and rent contract workers to act as teamsters. I've seen how you people can run up and down that road from Rowan to Sedgewick and you're better than teams of mules. I need forty heavy wagons of supplies. Sausage and hardtack for the men, and groats for the horses."

"And check with the little barmaid about picking up some of her concoctions. I'm buying any kegs she has ready of Healing Beer, Apple Kickass, and any potions she can supply in bulk. Pack it up, hand me an invoice, and I'm not going to be picky. Bring along enough contract workers to haul the wagons at a fast pace behind the cavalry. Horses have to rest, you people don't seem to, so I'm hoping you won't lag too far behind us."

Caldrius added, "And any of your special foods that enhance mana or firepower."

The Butcher grinned wide with a predatory gleam in his eye. "I might have a few barrels of hot stuff sitting around. Anything else?"

Themis looked at him and considered her next words carefully, but with House Franklin along, any conservative planning was already off the rails. She didn't have time for careful planning, so maybe rolling the dice would make up for it. "Be creative. If you think it will help, bring it along. We're staging in StoneBurrow. Teleport here and they'll send you on. We leave at dawn."

The Butcher took the list, picked up his bag, saluted, and headed for the teleporter before she could change her mind. "I'd best get moving then. Lots to do, especially if I get to be creative."