THE TOWER APPRENTICE

Chu sat on a stool in the corner of the store while drumming his fingers on the counter. Years of wear from countless transactions with the rubbing of sleeves and sweat smoothed the rough wood.

A welcome sign for a merchant.

"Who was that old fowl?"

John shifted uneasily on his chair as if navigating around protruding nails. Only this boy could poise such a question. When he had slapped the pride off the old man's face, he now wanted to know the background and status of the man.

Ignorance sure was bliss for some folks.

"He arrived with a caravan a day or two ago bearing a letter from the Tower Mages in Limerock. People from the Tower have high stature and would never set foot in our plebian village. I also have no idea why the Garrison Commander would stand up for you knowing this."

John replied.

Chu knew exactly why the Commander would not hesitate to side with him. When he glimpsed the crest on the scroll he recognized it as the one General Kettle used. Although he had slapped the faces of his accusers, it left a bad taste in his mouth. Simply because he had to borrow power from another person.

"One day. One day I will create a backing of my own power, so when I beat the crap out of an annoying fly it wont dare bring its friends."

He muttered while clenching his fingers. He looked across at his companions who chattered with the assistant clerks while browsing in the store. John looked at the frowning face thinking the kid finally realized he kicked a stone.

"Boy, you have to know that even seeing a person from the Tower is the dream of many citizens, much less a real mage. Unlike Frost City, Mages don't just waltz around in shops like mine out here in the boonies."

John said while spewing this burst of enlightened thought. He straightened his posture to appear more sagely. Just as he was going to dispense some stellar advice, a newcomer interrupted him.

"Hello, I am looking for the Trading Post Master. I require assistance in finding a certain place near this village."

John frowned as he stared at the tall young man dressed in a plain blue robe. The person had an air of pride, but not one that approached the level of arrogance. John beckoned the man over. he had learned long ago to treat everyone with a sliver of caution.

"I am the Trading Post Master, the youngest ever in these parts, I might add. How may I assist you?"

The inquirer walked over while reaching into his large sleeve. He fumbled around and then pulled out a small token which he placed on the counter and slid it with his index finger towards the center of the two seated people. The aura of pride expanded as he raised his face to look down on these ignorant commoners with slanting eyes.

"I am Apprentice Tye from the Tower Mage division in Limerock City."

The young man spoke the words clearly and concisely such that it reached the ears of everyone in the shop. He raised his lips on seeing the pride shatter on the face of the Trading Post Master as the man's eyes bulged out while nearly falling off the chair in a comical attempt to stand.

Apprentice Tye swelled with pride as he heard the gasps and clattering of slipping items from shocked hands within the store. The word Tower and its effect on the residents of Limerock, much less here in a small village never ceased to amaze. He expected the leader of this village and the garrison to come stumbling and slobber him with greetings.

However, there were always exceptions...

"Why is this one made of black iron? Disparte had one made of gold right?"

"Don't you think this design looks similar to the one from Lowe? He did say the Tower and the Union have good relations."

While the Trading Post Master fumbled around, two children had appeared, poking the token while chatting as if oblivious to Tye. Sitting on the opposite end of the counter, another boy wore a frown on his face watching the two bicker. Tye had never met commoners who showed composure on hearing the words Tower Mage.

These three plebs had probably never heard stories of the Tower Mages out here in the boondocks. Still, ignorant children needed to be taught a lesson in respect. Chattering so freely about token this and that, Disparte, Lowe and who knows...

Wait.

His face dropped as he gawked at the bickering boy and girl.

"Seems like you caught on to those idiots conversation, Mr. Apprentice Mage. Pull a stool, and please forgive the Trading Master, he has never met an Apprentice."

Chu said while reaching over the counter and knocking Ming and Miki on the head with two well-deserved karate chops.

"Why can't you act more restrained huh? And why are you over the counter, treating this as your home."

He sighed while sitting back down. The information he had on mages, came from the discussions with Mage Disparte. Chu had not much information on the types of attacks Mages used on their opponents. Luckily this apprentice was not the kind to attack first and ask questions later.

Miki and Ming left the corner with sheepish grins, while Tye and John sat down. Since there were no customers in the shop at the time of Tye's revelation, there would be no interruptions from outsiders. The assistants in the shop did come to deliver cups of hot, watered-down tea, using the opportunity to glance at the Mage.

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Apprentice or not, an actual Mage differed from a Scholar from the Tower, their positions as distant like heaven and earth. Chu did not have information about this division in the Tower. As for John, he regained his composure somewhat, shooing the clerk away. Again he felt he received a slap on his face.

He had just mentioned that Mages don't just waltz into a village, and presto, one dropped in. Glancing at his ring, if he talked about gems, would they appear?

"I guess from your reaction to those two impolite children that you are looking for the Thomas Farm? I take it you are familiar with Mage Disparte?"

Chu asked while gauging the apprentice.

The bright eyes lay in sockets surrounded by dark bags from tireless work, a sharp beak-like nose, and a bushy unkempt beard. With scruffy short yellow hair, and a thin and tall body wearing a plain blue robe, the young man portrayed an apprentice life of difficulty and hardship.

When compared to the fancy clothing and arrogant demeanor of Scholar Rang, this guy seemed to live a life of untold suffering.

"That is correct, Mage Disparte has advised my master to send me to that farm. The inventor there has earned the respect of my Master and also the Senior Mages in Limerock City. I am supposed to help answer certain questions."

Apprentice Tye replied. He just arrived with a caravan and had already found people acquainted with his destination.

Chu nodded, thinking that Mage Disparte had lived up to his promise, in sending an apprentice to him. In this world, the Tower Mages commanded the most power, independent from even the Emperor of the Empire. Hopefully, he would glean some knowledge to become stronger straight from the source.

"My companions and I are from the Thomas farm, the Trading Post Master here can vouch for us. As for your identity, I don't believe there are many folks who would dare to impersonate a person from the Tower."

Chu stated. Even out in the remote villages, very few con men would use the Tower as leverage. Since they enjoyed a reputation that spread to all corners of the human world, revealing and torturing an impostor was child's play.

"Wonderful. Have your friends collect my chest from the caravan and lead me to your farm. I expect the inventor there has been waiting impatiently for me."

Tye said, hoping to regain his lost momentum. The shock from earlier had dispelled his pride and also his commanding aura.

"No problem, I am sure our inventor would be happy to meet with you. Master John, can you loan us a wagon?"

Rose drove the wagon with Lucy sitting beside her. The two had naturally silent dispositions and suited each other's thoughts perfectly.

Chu sat in the tray with the others, as the wagon bumped along the dirt road. Turning from the chatter coming from the rear, he looked at the apprentice.

"Hey, Tye do you know someone named Scholar Rang from the Tower?"

"Scholar Rang? Never heard of the person."

Came the quick reply.

Chu nodded, understanding that a low-level apprentice might not know of the man.

"How does he look like? Don't get me wrong, it's just that a Scholar in Limerock is worth a dime a dozen."

Tye sighed while seeing a face of disappointment. He felt this uneducated brat looked down on him because of his lack of connections.

"An old man with white hair and long whiskers and beard. He also walks around like a noble with decorated robes."

"Huh? That's like describing nearly half the Tower. Wait you also mentioned decorated robes? Rang, Scholar Rang... I think I know who you are talking about. That old man likes strutting around on the invitation of nobles and officials in the city. Scholars remain in the outer circle of the Tower so I don't have much interaction with them."

Tye said while scrunching his eyebrows in thought. He placed a finger on his hidden chin as he continued

"Apprentices in the inner Tower have no dealings with those Scholars. Most of them can only use a letter to display their affiliation with the Tower. I only remembered this person because of how he acted. When Mage Disparte brought the clock invention he voiced that these inventions paled in comparison to true research."

Chu nodded since he now understood the reason for the Scholar's conduct. The old goat had simply been jealous of his invention and decided to take it out on them because they belonged to the farm. He snickered on thinking about the contortions on the face of the old goat if he found out the identity of the real inventor.

The next time this Scholar decided to cross him, he won't escape unscathed.

"Ah, what's that? Could that be the so-called windmill?"

Tye shouted as he noticed the large structure in the distance. The slow turning of the large vanes in the distance seemed magical to the first-timer.

"Hey don't stand up on the wagon before you fall out man. Hey Chu, could I ride with an extra horse when Rose returns the wagon to bring her back?"

Miki said while holding Tye's robe and jerking the astonished man back down. Chu looked at her raising an eyebrow.

"She wants to ditch Sakura. She has to recite her four times tables and she skipped out last night with Dyna, hunting white hares out in the grasslands."

Lucy snitched bluntly.

"Damn you, Lucy, I will so tell Chu about our secret chats at night..."

"Hey what about this table thing, so what is that about?"

Tye inquired.

"You know multiplication tables, hey Miki can you say the two times tables, because I have to recite mine this evening."

Ming replied while Miki began her recitation.

Apprentice Tye listened to the girl rattle out some numbers and then rushed over to a chest and rummaged through it. Holding an abacus he asked the girl to start over her recitation. His eyes popped open and jaw dropped as he certified her complex addition.

For the first time, Tye admired the beauty of this girl who seemed hallowed within golden rings.

"How... How did you do that? Who is this girl?"

Tye chattered with Ming and Miki for the remainder of the trip. He displayed respect and appreciation for the girl since he had never seen a girl possess such skill in his life. Passing the large blacksmith and windmill, they had to literally prevent the curious man from jumping out of the wagon.

"When can I visit the windmill and also see the other inventions?"

"Soon enough, settle down first and then we will have a chat."

Chu replied to the impatient man while waving for some help to remove the chests.

"Can I walk around and stretch my legs?"

"No, because you might get eaten by mistake."

Chu advised the impatient guy. He pointed towards a large wolf sunning itself near a large tree. Next to it, swung a small girl with a well-wrapped little toddler sleeping on her lap.

"Then when can I meet your leader or the Heaven's sent inventor?"

"You already have. Now follow that guy towards your lodging."

Chu had Ming settle the man in an empty room in the dorm. During the delivery of the chests, did Tye finally realize the boy spoke the truth.

***

"Curse that stupid brat and also that imbecile of a commander. Don't they know who I am, soon the Emperor himself will ask me to grace him with my presence."

"Master speaks with rage, but no one knows how smart Master is."

"Ah, only you know me so well since I have trained you like my little butler."

The old man sighed while sitting on the bed in the near darkness. A single candle flickered in the room, shedding light on the two occupants.

"Soon my name will resound over the entire Empire. A clock, what a joke, those fools think such an invention can eclipse my research? Curse that inventor for trying to steal my thunder and glory!"