County Wycliffe

Magic Chamber

“Come now, Q! You aren’t scared of a few norms, are you?” Taunted Cedric, wiping the sweat from his brow. They had been practicing their telekinesis for the last half hour, and they were both covered in a fine layer of perspiration.

Elara believed that for young mages just learning how to use their Gifts, they needed a regiment of training that would improve both, the strength their mind could apply, and increase their level of finesse. Elara’s favorite exercise, the spinning and rotating coins, quickly increased in difficulty, as the patterns she demanded they follow, grew increasingly complex.

Q and Cedric were fairly well matched. Though, Q was quickly catching up and in some ways, surpassing his friend. Considering that Cedric was already a year into his study of Mental magic, the difference in their capabilities proved why he had chosen to focus on his other gifts instead. That did not mean he hadn’t improved, just that when compared to Q, it was clear where his real abilities lay. He could now manage up to three objects at once if he kept them moving in a basic shape. Q, meanwhile, could manage five projectiles in what Elara considered patterns of middling difficulty.

Luckily for Cedric, today was geared toward training their Mental strength, which likely led to his friend’s cheery mood.

“It’s my sixteenth name day. I don’t think that’s worthy of a celebration.” Argued Q, preparing for the next round.

Focusing their minds on the half-full containers of dirt. They each lifted their box to roughly waist height before holding them in place, continuing to do so until they reached failure, and were forced to drop their heavy load. The fact they were able to do this much at their age was something Elara claimed they should be proud of.

“Well, I think it’s an important milestone… Aaaaand if you’d been with me on my sixteenth name day, you would agree with me,” Cedric said with a grin.

Q, blushing at the thought, scrambled for a comeback and something to divert the conversation. He finally settled on, “If you can talk, you can add more weight.” A favored saying of Elara’s that Q knew her son hated.

It worked for the moment. This was a topic that had come up more and more frequently as of late. A few months prior,, Cedric had been off with his mother, checking in on their own lands. One night during their travels, he’d slipped away. Taking the opportunity to visit a nearby tavern to celebrate his name day with live music and ale. The merry tunes and the strong drink led him and an equally drunk barmaid, to his first time with a woman. And to hear him tell it, becoming a man. He’d made it his goal to convince Q to visit a tavern for his own night of revelry and fun ever sense. Q was ashamed to admit it, but his friend would likely get his way.

Panting, Q struggled under the mental strain of the heavy box. He couldn’t tell if he was caving because of Cedric’s relentless pestering or if it was the promise of a carefree night, despite knowing better, that had finally swayed him. Either way, he found himself offering, “I’ll make you a deal. If you can go another round with an extra 10 pounds, we’ll visit town.”

Cedric grinned and slapped him on the back. “Deal! Now go toss in some more dirt. We don’t have all day. I need to pick out what to wear, and you need a shower. I can’t have you showing up, smelling like that.”

*****

Cedric led Q, Garrick, and their two additional guards through town. Q had been through several cities over the years, but he was always interested in the variety of people and various items for sale whenever he traveled. Q could recognize the fact that he was fortunate to be born into a family with means, let alone one of noble blood. Money had never been a concern as a child, and he’d inherited much from his parents after they’d passed. He still received an income from the Earldom he’d inherited from his father. Even though it was currently being managed by his grandfather Henry, who refused to take anything as payment. Henry instead told Q to invest it, something he did with his grandfather Ed’s advice.

They stabled their horses and approached the promised tavern. Q could hear music coming through the walls, and when the door opened, the sound poured out like a raging river. The place buzzed with energy. It’s mismatched wooden beams and flickering lanterns invited just the right ambiance to instill a feeling of mischief and possible adventure.

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“Tonight is going to be life changing, don’t you worry, my friend!” Cedric called back to Q, leading him toward a free table. . Garrick and his men split off, taking seats at a table near the door, where they could keep tabs on their charges and see the whole room.

The next several hours were spent in a blur. Between the drink, the dancing, and the merriment, Q was having a great time.

“She’s the one.” His friend declared, leaning over the table and poking Q in the chest. “See how she keeps touching your arm and leaning in close? Even telling you her name. She’s the one!” Claimed Cedric. He was a few cups deeper than Q by this point, and talking much louder than he likely meant to.

Ducking his head, Q tried to hide his blush. But he was feeling the alcohol, and couldn’t lie to himself that he hoped his friend was right.

Q’s largest concern with losing his virginity revolved around the chance of pregnancy. The thought of growing up without his father burned deep in his chest and was not a fate he would force on a child. He’d made the decision not to have any bastards of his own running around, regardless of the King’s Edict, making it socially acceptable.

When Cedric had first told him of his night, Q remembered bringing up the possibility of him getting the woman pregnant. Cedric quickly shushed him, leaning in close, he whispered, “Sssh! That’s not something I have to worry about. Um… a few years ago, I found an old book in our library that described how a man could use their Physical gift to turn on and off their ability to have children. I’ve practiced the method a few times, and I couldn’t feel any issues. My birthday was my first time actually using it, but as far as I could tell…? it worked perfectly. But, uh—I’ve heard that any hint of magic like it has made the banned list.”

Q looked at his friend in confusion, “I didn’t even know there was a list of banned magic.”

“There are a few. Mind mages are the most notorious. Just the accusation that a mage took control of someone with their Mental gift has resulted in several mages being killed in the past. And The Council of Mages really does not want anyone going around transmuting someone’s skin or blood into something else. Apparently, it sends a bad message to the norms. The banned list isn’t something they talk about much. I think they’re hoping that if it isn’t common knowledge, no one will think to use their Gifts in such ways.” Answered Cedric.

Q nodded. That made a disturbing amount of sense. “Hmm… I bet sex magic wasn’t banned before the King’s Edict went into effect. They probably banned it because they want as many gifted children as they can,” Q said, puzzling out the logic. Hesitating for a moment, he asked, “You wouldn’t happen to still have the book, would you..?”

Q’s musings were cut short when the doors were shoved open and three young men walked in. Nobles by their quality of dress, they were a stark contrast to what most in the tavern were wearing. Q and Cedric themselves decided not to dress like nobles and instead chose to wear clean and serviceable workwear. Aiming to be seen as two regular young men out to have a good time, and not the young mages they were.

Q tapped the table to get Cedric’s attention. Nodding toward the men pushing through the crowd on their way to a nearby table.

“I don’t suppose you recognize any of them?” He asked.

Cedric squinted and shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. They don’t look familiar, but it appears they had the same idea we did. Let’s hope they don’t turn out to be a bunch of assholes. I’d hate to see you lose your chance with the young lady.” Cedric said with a grin. Q kicked his friend under the table, earning him a laugh.

Another hour passed without incident, and Q finally started to relax. He still felt a sense of nervous anxiety, but it had lessened as the night wore on and the ale continued to flow.

The barmaid, Vera, with whom he’d been trading glances with all evening, walked by their table and shot him a smile in passing. Gathering his courage, Q reached out and snagged her wrist. Letting go once he was sure he had her attention, he ask, “Will you get a break soon?”

Vera’s smile widened, highlighting her cheeks when they reddened in an attractive blush. “I have one coming up in the next fifteen minutes. As long as this place doesn’t go crazy in the meantime.” Giving him a smirk, she asked, “and just what would a handsome young man like you want with a simple barmaid like me?”

Q’s own blush burned so hot, it felt like his face had caught fire. She laughed at his innocence, but placed a hand over his on the table and said, “I’ll come grab you when my break starts. You have a room here, don’t you?”

Unable to speak, Q just nodded.

She hit him with another grin, this one with a little more heat, and said, “Good, I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

Cedric, who had somehow managed to remain quiet by biting his fist the whole time, waited until Vera disappeared into the crowd before he let his amusement burst out in a roar of laughter. Q had never seen the man laugh so hard. Tears and a bit of snot ran freely down his clean-shaven face. Taking a deep swallow of ale, Q placed the drink to his cheek, hoping its cool glass could counter the heat of embarrassment filling his face.

He will never let me forget this, Q thought. Looking up from the table, he saw Vera smiling at him from across the room. Stars above, maybe it’ll be worth it.