NIALL, MONDAY, MERCHANTUS 9TH

Niall’s thirteen students were all in attendance the day they were to submit their arcane focuses. An arcane focus was used to channel all magic. Niall told his students they could provide their arcane focus, but there were requirements.

First, the arcane focus had to be made of a material that could channel higher-level magic. Precious stones and metals were the most common arcane focus, but magic-infused woods, such as Elemental Willow or Core of Nedra, also worked. Alyviah’s staff was made from Elemental Willow.

Second, the arcane focus must be unenchanted. Enchanters at Spire will add pattern defenses to prospective focuses. These enchantments prevent mages with different patterns from using or casting against another mage’s arcane focus. A sorcerer could easily be disarmed if their focus was unprotected against opposing magic.

Finally, Niall recommended that there be enough components inside the arcane focus to cast all of the elements of magic that students needed. For example, Marin’s arcane focus required her to be able to channel four different schools of magic.

Paris was the top of Niall’s class, and he was the first to step up with his proposed arcane focus. The first Electromancer held what looked like a sword handle with two massive gems embedded into each side of the crossguard.

Niall was excited by the development, “I’ve yet to see you fight with a weapon. You will only get this enchantment done for free once. Are you sure you want it done to such a bulky item?”

Paris smirked, “If I were allowed to use my sword that first day, I would be ranked higher than eighth. Once I get this back, I think I will challenge Terra for the top rank.”

Niall clapped once excitedly, “The passion on this man! It makes my hair stand on end. Is that Ruby and Amethyst?” Niall asked.

“Ruby and purple diamond,” Paris boasted. The following two in the class would be Electromages, and Paris knew neither of them could afford such an extravagance.

“Someone is going to steal that thing, and it might even be me,” Niall said with a hearty laugh. “Thank you, Paris. I will give it back to you next week.”

The next student was Behngi. Behngi had a core sampling from a Nedra tree, a wand about a foot long. The sample had been split down the middle and then molded back together with gold.

Niall took the unenchanted wand from Behngi and closely inspected it. “This wood, does it hold an importance to you?”

Behngi nodded, “The core is from a Nedra tree, and the gold is for Pride.” He explained, invoking both the elven goddess of medicine and the elven goddess of nobility.

“Wonderful. Behngi. May Nedra and Zobu bless this pairing,” Niall said as he set the unfinished wand next to the sword handle.

Drakon, the most formidably built man in the class, was an Electromancer who fancied himself a musician. His arcane focus was a tambourine made of Elemental Willow. It had the checkered pattern of Jest scorched throughout the wood.

Badnel, a quiet young man with sandy blonde hair and a slim build, was a Cryomancer. He and Drakon sat next to each other in class and always practiced together. He brought up a silver amulet with a modest sliver of Aquamarine.

The fifth-ranked in Niall’s class was Olyza. Olyza was beautiful. She was one of the few of Niall’s students who had decided to retrim her robes. The unflattering sorcerer robe that the other students wore was trimmed and rehemmed into a tight-fitting dress. Like Niall, Olyza had also dyed her hair. Her stylish hair was swept to one side and almost glowed a beautiful mint color. Her arcane focus was the guiding candle of Ozyid, the god of travel. It was a pendant, and the candle's flame was a latticework of beautiful small gems.

Syn was next, and she had her beautiful silver Phoenix holy symbol encrusted with rubies. The Phoenix wings cradled a beautifully cut ruby that shimmered at any angle.

As Niall held the beautiful piece, he acted like he was sobbing at its beauty. “It is so beautiful. Elegant. Phoenix would be proud to have a paladin wearing this around her neck.”

Flair whispered something in front of the class, making Alyviah smile and giggle. Alyviah covered her mouth when Niall glanced pointedly at the two of them.

Syn closed her eyes, and Niall appreciated the Pyromancer’s patience. “Thank you, professor.” The strong woman said before walking back to her seat. She made a point of not looking at Flair or Alyviah.

Phia was next and stepped up, handing over an unassuming wand. Phia was one of the few students in the class who wore her hood up, and she didn’t wait around for Niall’s comments on her Elemental Willow stick.

Chlora, who goes by Cohly, was the opposite and skipped forward to the front of the class. Her bubbly personality showed with every step. Her arcane focus was a simple blue glass bulb securely fastened to an amulet.

Olyza’s twin brother Ozzy was an overweight Aeromancer who wasn’t nearly as flashily dressed as his twin sister. He clumsily stood up and shuffled his way to the front of the class. He offered another holy symbol of Ozyid. This time, it was a three-foot length of woven silk ropes. At two points in the rope, golden rings bound the strands together.

Aellaria produced a custom-made trinket— A Lily. The flower fit in the palm of her hand and was made of rose gold. Three sepals and three petals held inlaid gemstones. Each petal represented an element, and the opposite sepal was the opposite element. Air, Cold, Water, Earth, Heat, and Electricity.

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Niall took the beautiful trinket and held it in his hands. Paris' sword handle was the only arcane focus worth more than the precious bundle of gems in his hands. “You want all six focuses? That is quite a bit of work for the enchanting guild. Especially considering you…”

Flair shot a hand up, saying, “Professor Niall, you might as well let her have it. This is going to be her only year at Spire. It’s like a souvenir for her.”

“Flair…” Professor Niall warned with a stern glance. He turned back to Aellaria. “You have demonstrated ability with earth magic. I can’t approve the full suite of enchantments. I’m sorry, Aellaria.” Niall went to dismiss Aellaria, but she had a different idea.

Aellaria cast a series of cantrips. Five spheres appeared. Three were made entirely of water, and two of stone. The class watched as the five orbs started to orbit each other. After casting more cantrips, one of the orbs of water froze, and one of the stones glowed red hot.

Aellaria cast verbally because her hands were too busy casting cantrips, holding all the balls aloft. Niall could see that Aellaria was beginning to show signs of mana deprivation.

Next, sparks began flying from the next orb of water, demonstrating an understanding of five schools of magic all at once.

Finally, Niall realized in wonder that there were six. At the center of the showcase was a vortex of swirling air. The Master Aquamancer had never seen anyone use their natural abilities to simultaneously display their competence and control over all six elements of magic.

To punctuate the spells, the vortex of air in the middle began dropping each of the orbs at Niall’s feet. Niall was forced to summon water to cool the chunk of molten rock.

Aellaria put a hand to her head and held it. She gasped for oxygen. Niall went to catch Aellaria, but she pushed him away. “Niall. Don’t you dare limit your student of her potential,” Aellaria chastised, referring to herself in the third person.

Niall couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked down at the beautiful trinket– The lily. He nodded and gently set the prospective arcane focus down with the rest. “You can go visit the infirmary if you need to.”

Aellaria shook her throbbing head and walked back to her seat. Niall’s perceptive eyes caught her subtly sipping from a mana potion.

FLAIR

Flair’s anger was boiling on the surface, but there was more to it than that. She was hurt. She felt pain at Aellaria’s flashy display, Aellaria’s beautiful arcane focus, and Aellaria’s dominance over her in every way. Flair was always unique. She was the richest, the most talented, the cutest. Back in Frostholm, she was a bright burning star, but now there was nothing special about her. She wasn’t even the best female Pyromancer in a class of thirteen students. If she counted Aellaria, then she was third.

Flair felt Aellaria punching her in the face all over again, and she felt fear swim in that space between her eyes and mind. ‘A real bad motherfucker,’ Flair heard again and couldn’t yet discount the claim. Then she realized she was next. She shook with anger as she stood up; not anger– terror. The terror that she didn’t belong. The terror at realizing she wasn’t as exceptional as she always thought.

Flair went up to Niall and handed him her beautiful ruby necklace. It was worth a small fortune but nothing compared to Paris and Aellaria’s beautiful pieces.

Niall looked excited for some small talk, but when he saw the look in Flair’s eyes, he just set the necklace down and said, “It is very beautiful, Flair.”

Alyviah went to comfort Flair, but Flair shook her off. Alyviah walked forward, holding her giant painted staff. She handed her cousin’s old arcane focus to Niall.

Distantly, behind the haze of fear, Flair heard Niall talking to Alyviah. “Ahh, Alyviah. You cannot use someone else’s arcane focus as your own. It must be exclusive to your pattern.” Niall said, having expected Alyviah to bring her familiar staff up to him.

Alyviah smiled under the hood of her robes. “My cousin never got the pattern enchantment for his staff,” she said, longingly looking up at the long piece of painted element willow.

“You sure?”

“Yes,” Alyviah said. Knowing full well the oversized staff might be a hindrance.

Finally, Marin went up to the front of the class. She had her holy symbol, but it was completely retouched by a professional jeweler in Mistfall. Shimmering resin reinforced the twine, and tasteful golden trims were added for the gem inlays. The four scores atop the bread loaf held four perfectly cut gems.

Niall smiled at the holy symbol of the god of the sun and baking. “What a charming little piece. Wonderful, Marin,” he said supportively.

Niall opened his arms and said, “The arcane focus is a window to the soul.” He then pulled out his focus, a two-foot-long gnarled club made of enchanted roots. The tip of the root looked like a whale, with two gems for eyes. “We push our willpower out from it, and if we lose it, we are naked and weak. Your arcane focus will become a part of your mind and body. Please remember that lesson, students. These will be enchanted, and I will give them back next week. Then we can start discussing your midterm appraisals.”

Flair waited in her seat for the rest of the class to leave—even Alyviah. Niall went to comfort his student, but she rushed out of the room.