Chapter 5 - Lukedonia
“Hey Irene,” I said smiling at her dumbfounded expression.
“Are you really Oliver?” she asked with a bit of hesitation.
“Of course, who else would I be?” I replied sarcastically.
She gave me an irritated glance and turned her head.
“Stock bickering you two. I have much business to do so I don’t have the time to accompany you to Lukedonia. I may be busy, but I’ll still be watching the annual ranking tournament so you better not let me down. Especially you Oliver, Irene was able to reach the quarterfinals last year, but I expect you to do better,” he said with a stern voice. In the corner of my eye, I could see my sister restraining her anger. She was so easy to read I thought.
“I’ll do more than just better father I will win.”
“Good,” he said before he started to walk. Falling in line behind him, we followed him. I’ve been in this forest before but it was really easy to get lost. My father once had an illusionist as well as an enchanter work together to cast an high-level Bewildering spell on this forest. Which would even confuse high-level magicians much less us. An only father who had a high level of mana sense would be able to make his way through here. He also had a runic engraver set up a huge array around the forest clearing to prevent anyone without Kai blood from entering it.
After walking for a while we arrived in a wide clearing. It was open and had runes all over the place, it looked like some childish scribble but to a true Rune Master, it would look like complex formulas. Maybe I should study runes in the academy I thought. My father was only proficient in the combat ways of magic, so he never taught me or even permit me to learn the other ways. Still, I’ve always had an interest in the other forms of magic, this was probably my only chance to learn it.
My father went towards the center of the runic formation and started chanting. Yeah, he started chanting, and he barely ever chanted. The only time he chanted was when it was magic that required a lot of mana and concentration. Chants were used only as a form of guide, a true magician who was proficient with his magic wouldn’t need them. The chants he used were in Ley, the elvish language. Not only were elves the race with the greatest amount of magical prowess, and knowledge they were the inventors of magic casting.
After at least two minutes of chanting in a rhythmic trance, the runes started lighting up. It started out as a dim yellow but within moments, the light was blinding. He opened his eyes and let out a voice that was a bit strained.
“Get in the middle now!” He yelled as he backed out of the formation. We instantly did as we were told and stood in the middle of the array. He kept chanting a few more lines, and then the intensity of the array reached it’s highest. It takes this much concentration to activate this array I thought. Too bad for me I didn’t know how monstrous it was for my father to activate it alone at the time. It would usually take at least one grand master magician, as well as ten supporting master magicians to activate this formation. For my father to activate it alone could only be considered freaky.
We both walked and stood in the center of the array. This wasn’t my first time using the teleportation array so I was familiar with the procedure. After a few more lines of rhythmic chanting, the yellow light started to surround our bodies. It covered every inch of our body and invaded our body, within moments our whole body was covered with light. As my surroundings changed I heard my father’s voice.
“Work hard and do not disappoint me, Oliver.”
“I won’t,” I thought with a smile before pulling up the hood on my robe to cover my face.
**
A feeling of nausea welled up in me as we teleported but I gritted my teeth and suppressed it. One of the cons of long distance teleportation is the uncomfortable feeling it causes. It’s the same with short distance teleportation but it’s barely noticeable. Looking around at my new surroundings I saw a group of mages surrounding us. They mostly wore luxurious robes all with a golden insignia in the top left with the Magical Association logo. Each had a reserved aura but my Intuition was telling me that any of them could easily defeat me.
“Welcome to Lukedonia young master Oliver and young lady Irene,” said a black robed man as he stepped up towards the platform we were standing on, and gave a bow. The Magical Association was powerful in terms of influence and power but they still had to be respectful to the main members of the Ten House. Since after all, the foundation of the Empire itself was built by the Ten Houses. Which allowed for the Ten House to garner huge amounts of influence in the empire making them comparable to nobles. There were three groups in the Empire that were extremely influential. first being the Council of Ten. Technically since the members are the lords of each respective house they aren’t a separate entity but still their word is greater than one or two of the houses. The second influential entity would be the Ten Houses themselves, which is self-explanatory and last but not in the least being the least influential is the Magical Association.
When I first heard about the Magical Association I was surprised. Since after all why would the council let such an influential organization be within its border. But after a careful investigation in our library, I found out a big secret about the Magical Association. It was actually nothing more than a prison. Any renegades of the Ten Houses themselves were hunted down by the Magical Association which put them high on my destroy list. Since after all I thought coldly, I plan to be one. But for now, I still have to gather some information. So with an amiable smile, I walked towards the black robed man.
“It’s my pleasure,” I said. Glancing to my left I saw that Irene already disappeared leaving me alone. What a reckless girl I thought doesn’t she know how powerful these magicians are. “Sorry for my sisters disrespect,” I said with a sigh looking at the place where she stood before.
“It’s no problem,” he said waving his hand. “It’s not the first time Miss Irene disappeared like this, but don’t worry young master. She knows her way around and our members will be looking around for her.”
I nodded my head in acknowledgment, “Thank you, sir, for looking out for my sister, and please just call me Oliver. I feel uncomfortable with honorifics.”
“Ah well then Oliver, then please refer to me as Romani. I hate honorifics as well but it’s proper etiquette so please excuse me if I made you uncomfortable.” The mage replied with a bit more warmth to his words.
“It’s no problem,” I said.”So, Romani can you please show me to my dorm room if it's not a bother.”
“Alright Oliver please follow me,” he said gesticulating for me to follow. I fell in line behind him as he walked towards a wide double door. The place that I was transferred to was probably just a Magical Association branch. The room I was in was white and was filled to the brim with runes, and judging by my limited mana sense defense spells as well. I noticed Romani tap three times on the double door to open it. It opened with a click and barely noticeable mana fluctuations. It was odd. Ever since my tattoo activation, my mana sense became so much more powerful. Mana sense was short for mana sensitivity which is the sensitivity you had for the fluctuations of mana in the air. There was a particular legend that some mages had such great sensitivity that they were able to learn a spell after seeing it once. They could see the mana fluctuations not only in the environment but also within a magician's center. Still, it was nothing more than a legend and no evidence to prove it was found. Either way, the increase in my mana sense was still helpful.
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As I followed Romani down the hall I surveyed the area. There wasn’t anything special about it other than the runes which littered the place. Reaching the end of the hall we came out into a bustling lobby. It was the first time I’ve been in a place with so many people so I was a bit dazed.
“So, many…” I muttered under my breath.
Romani glance behind and noticed my anxious expression,”Haha don’t worry Oliver they don’t bite. They’re just new mages that passed the entrance test.” He said with a warmly.
Cracking a smile I replied,”If they’re mages why don’t they just enter the academy. No offense to the association but the academy is famous for its teaching capabilities.”
“True, but what the academy is also famous for is its rigorous selections. Only the best of the best are able to get into the Imperial Academy. It’s pretty much the foundation of the empire so they only want geniuses there. Some hopeful young mages come in hope of joining only to fail the test. Most of them would’ve spent their parents whole life savings to even get to Lukedonia with the hopeful dream of entering the academy and making money. Unfortunately, they have no way to go back so they come here, and we accept them with open arms. After all, we have our own agendas to look out for.” He ended his speech with a little chuckle.
“I see, so would they be accepted as members or disciples?”
“Hmm, they would be apprenticed to a ranked member according to their skills and with due time would be able to get their qualifications as a Copper ranked mage. If you didn’t know the association ranks go from copper, silver, gold, and black. With white robes representing extremely high authority members. Either way, they’ll eventually be able to join the organization officially with due time.”
“I hope it’s not a bother but may I join as well?”
“O-of course.” He replied with shock on his face.
“Is something wrong?”
“No no there's nothing wrong. It's just unusual for a main descendant of one of the houses to join us. After all they have their own heritage which extends way further back than us.” He replied with some suspicion in his voice.
“Our family has their own heritage as well and I have already inherited it. My father just wishes for me to work for my rewards instead of spoon feeding me.” I replied with a smile trying to ease Romani’s suspicion.
“Ah your father seems like a great man, and he raised such a respectful young man such as yourself,” Romani replied reevaluating his opinion of my father. “Well, if you want to join it’s easy just pass the test that’ll be held within a few days.”
I nodded in agreement not bothering to ask when it was. Joining the association is not really important. It would be helpful getting spells but for now, the tournament is more important.
We walked for while bypassing the bustling lobby and stepped out into the even more bustling street. If the lobby had me then this had me completely stunned. I saw people in all different types of garbs rushing around on the cobblestone road. The buildings were all compact and close together and it was extremely crowded. Looking more closely I could see high-level mana fluctuations around some of the people rushing around. They all seemed to be at the least be initiates. I stopped for a minute just gazing out at this bustling, energetic crowd and I felt a sense of longing,
“Haha Oliver don't worry you're not the first to be dazed by this,” said Romani bringing me back to reality again.
“Thanks, Romani it’s just I’ve never been out a lot,” I said with a laugh just as I took a step to leave someone bumped into me. Looking to my left I saw a silver robed person walk by without even excusing themselves. I heard the silver robed person mutter “Country bumpkins,” under their breath before they disappeared into the hubbub of the crowd. Stepping out on the cobblestone road I narrowed my eyes. People are really disrespectful I thought. Glancing to my right I saw Romani tense as he stared at the silver robed person.
“Please forgive her Oliver she’s the head’s daughter,” Romani said as he turned to me. I couldn’t see his face, but I could sense that he was apologetic.
“It’s no matter,” I said with a laugh.
“So, is there any specific place you want to see before the dorms?” He asked in a subtle way to make it up to me.
“No not really,” I said. I did want to do a lot of things before I got to the dorms, but not with magical association mage watching over me. “But can you perhaps give me a map of Lukedonia?”
“Of course Oliver,” he said as he reached into the inside of his robe. Pulling out a small, yellowy scroll. “Oliver you must understand some parts of Lukedonia are not allowed to be mapped. So I can only give you this incomplete map,” he said passing the yellowy scroll over to me.
“Thanks it’s no matter, and quick question can’t you just teleport us to the dorms?” I asked as I placed the scroll in one of the pockets on the inside my robe.
“Well, I can, but teleporting is not considered safe unless you have an Insignia,” he said.
“Then, Irene has an Insignia?”
“I assume, so Lord Kai must’ve given it to her. Each ten houses only get one, but considering the level of prowess your father has I don’t think he needs it. The insignia is a key in the Citywide array which lets you teleport. Otherwise, at the least you’ll be teleported outside the city or worse get stuck in limbo.”
“My father likes to dote on her so it’s understandable that he gave her the insignia,” I replied with a tinge of bitterness in my voice. “Either way thanks for the map Romani. I don’t want to bother you too much so I’ll go alone the rest of the way to the dorms.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Oliver. I wish you the greatest of success on your path of magick,” he said with admiration in his voice. “It’s not every day I meet such a respectful, talented young man such as yourself.”
“Ah, you praise me too much Romani. I’m nothing more than just your average mage trying to find his way,” I said giving him a firm handshake. “I too wish you much luck on your path of magick.” I ended giving him a final wave before entering the bustling, crowd of mages hurrying throughout the cobblestone roads.