The army stretched for over a mile of road ahead and behind Ori like a winding snake of dusty leather and clanking steel. His boots scuffed loose gravel and flat pieces of shingle as he stomped at a pace just above a jog. They had been on the march since dusk and it was now close to dawn, despite being mostly left to his own devices, the time since had passed quickly, being simply overwhelmed the sheer scale of mostly human activity around him.
Preceding departure from the city of Astor, he’d been shuffled from one assembly to another muster point. Handed off from one squire to another page between varied regiments, officer or non-commissioned officer groups in a whirlwind of briefings, never quite knowing for certain if he was in the right place or not.
Things had settled down during the march as Ori, using Mana sight, caught glimpses of B and C rankers using magic while Sera talked in his mind about their shared observations.
Ori had seen magic healing arrow wounds to the chest, that would have overwise been have been fatal. He’d seen earth magic clearing debris from the road or firming up muddy stretches of ground. Even now, hundreds of glowing, floating orbs of magic hung several feet above the heads of the army allowing them to march through the night as if street lamps illuminated the road.
Despite the numbers, the pace had been at something close to a jog which had been fine at first, but had begun to chafe in spots Ori hadn’t expected. Within the first hour, blisters had formed on his foot, and instead of Sera using her magic to cure his wound, his Mistress had used the ailment as a teaching experience.
They first returned to and expanded upon their previous lessons of Mana Sight and Manipulation. Sera demonstrated how Mana's sight was independent of his normal field of view and encouraged Ori to expand his awareness using this sense for obvious benefit.
They covered the universal and most common spells for White Mages; Light Orb, Cure Wound, Purify, Lesser Banish, and Lesser Restoration. She had explained why the spell Cure Wounds, was in this instance, the best spell to heal his blisters as even though it was an on-contact spell that required mental focus and anatomical knowledge to use correctly, was a channelled spell that required focus and was much less Mana efficient than Lesser Restoration, it vastly improved conditioning of skin, muscles and bones, while Restoration spells reverted the targets health to the targets natural ideal template for the temporary cost of lifeforce.
This difference between progressive or accelerated healing that sped up the natural healing processes, and regressive healing that reverted patients to a previous state of health at the cost of lifeforce and ultimately life span, was a fundamental aspect of life magic and the difference between specialising between one or the other had profound implications for one's career as a mage. There were other considerations such as the differences between mortals and Awakened and how the healing spells Ori had learned could not mend an Awakened’s lifeforce.
There were also lessons on how range affected spell choices or how lingering Mana with spell-wrought wounds interfered with healing, the effects of curses, artefacts and enchantments, and the differences between races.
Without the growth of Ori’s mental faculties and physical stamina, there would have been no way he’d been able to assimilate over ten hours of arcane lectures while jogging and wearing around forty kilograms of armour, weapons and supplies.
Reports of contact with the enemy from the scouts had filtered through the ranks, and now the group of ten thousand or so men were forming up into ranks hundreds of men wide, and dozens deep.
Ori watched Lady Jasmine’s light display through Mana's sight while Sera provided commentary. As the army formed up, her lights seemed to form lines from which rows of Pikemen assembled, unaligned Mana from staffs and other artefacts whirled through the air as if they were off-gassing pieces of machinery that had cryogenically cooled before operation.
‘What are those symbols? Do they have any meaning?’ Ori asked as he watched the light-aspected spell specifically designed for Mana permanence hang in the air like a ghostly hologram. In some ways, marching and organising at night, which to Ori’s understanding was something that likely never happened in the medieval wars of Earth’s history for obvious reasons
‘Those sigils refer to regiments, I’m assuming they’re to help them assemble. Though I can’t be certain as I haven’t been in a war or a battle on this scale. In many ways, this is all new to me too.’
‘Never been in a battle? What about a fight?’
‘Well, I have been called out before,’
‘Called out?’ Ori asked, his tone puzzled.
‘For a duel. It… was a matter of honour.’
‘An honour duel? So when you say called out, ‘you mean someone demanded satisfaction?’ Ori laughed. ‘Seriously? With magic and stuff or did you have to use swords? And whose honour were you defending, and please tell me you won? Unless it was to the death then obviously you wouldn’t be here…’
‘Oh, it was indeed a duel to incapacitation with magic, although participants often die, my particular duels were never to the death. With a bit of skill and unconventional tactics, I managed to prevail, but I fear I was very much in the wrong.’ Sera sighed, her voice burdened with resignation. ‘I suppose as your mentor, it’s time that I teach you about what we in the White Chromatics call our shadows.’
‘Shadows?’
‘Every class that leans heavily on the power gained from the comprehension of affinities comes with risks. Do you know what an Elemental is?’
As Ori searched his memories, knowledge courtesy of Freya’s bond came to mind:
> Elementals are the primordial personifications of lesser essences and paracausal energies such as fire, water, earth, air, Mana or aether. Born from these essences, their forms and behaviours mirror their origins - for example, a fire elemental appears as a living flame while an earth elemental may resemble a mound of soil or rock. Their existence embodies the characteristics of their respective elements, with behaviours and appearances reflecting their elemental nature.
>
>
>
> Their sentience is uniquely shaped by the essence they represent. A fire elemental, for instance, might exhibit impulsive behaviours akin to a forest fire, whereas an earth elemental could display a more grounded, resilient disposition. Their intelligence diverges from mortal understanding and with wants and needs differing greatly from the vast majority of sapient creatures…
‘I do now,’ Ori confirmed.
‘It can be confusing keeping track of what you know and do not know… I digress. Most elementals emerge from natural concentrations of wild energies, but every so often, a sapient, an Awakened, turns. This happens when in striving to comprehend their affinities, they wholly embrace its nature. It can become an attractive option for many who have stalled on their advancement as on the surface it guarantees a form of immortality.
‘However, this comes at the cost of self. All that drove you, your motivations, your personality, everything incompatible with your affinity is shed, as you become a servant for the very power that once aided you.
‘To avoid this, many classes that benefit from having a high comprehension of affinities and lesser essences have what is more wildly called an Antithesis. White Magi call this their shadow. It is a part of ourselves, in the case of a white mage, a negative characteristic that comes close to but not quite being against the ideals of our order. Our shadows are something private and often hazardous to well-being or reputation. It's something intrinsic to our nature each of us carefully cultivates, else it have detrimental effects on our lives, society and class progression.’
‘Err… Okay…’ Ori said, taking a moment to process Sera’s revelation. ‘I’m not sure I really understand. Could you give me an example of someone's shadow? I mean, that’s how you got into that duel, isn’t it? You have a dark side and it got you into trouble. So what is it? Don’t tell me it’s something kinky?’ Ori prodded, trying to get a rise out of his mentor.
‘If you must know…’ Sera seemed to hesitate before continuing.
‘You don’t actually have to tell me, you said these things are private, just wanted to get an idea but you really don’t have to...’
‘I have a thing for married men.’ Sera said in a rush and sighed. ‘I suppose it's less about the men themselves but the fact that I can lure them away from women who I’ve come to despise. For the most part, I did it to prop up my self-esteem as a form of petty revenge. There, it’s done.’ She exhaled, and Ori waited. ‘It is something of a right of passage for one to bear their shadow to their apprentice, so regardless of my sensibilities and despite your accelerated tuition, I do intend to keep to traditions, or at least the most important ones. Other examples of shadows include destructive, spiteful, malicious or sadistic tendencies or an excessive drive for power or control.
‘Our shadows are not inherently evil, but they are aspects that, if left unchecked, could lead to one's downfall. In our order, acknowledging and controlling one's shadow is crucial for preventing one's transformation into an Elemental of Light, Life, Law or Order, which from historical records have caused untold devastation to the civilisations they have emerged from.
'It's a delicate balance, nurturing a part of oneself that is contrary to the order's principles, yet essential for our growth as it isn't just about self-preservation; it's about understanding and being honest with yourself and embracing the full spectrum of your nature, as individuals often are more complex than simply white, black and shades of grey.’
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
‘I have so many questions.’ Ori wondered as he digested Sera’s bombshell of a confession. While he wanted to pry into the details of her shadow, it wasn’t important for the right now. ‘Do I have to know my shadow now, before I can become a mage I mean? And tell you what it is?’
‘No, but you should reflect on it, the reason why masters tell their apprentices is it’s a requirement of mentorship and class progression from Journeyman to High, so by the time you come to advance, you should know your shadow and be prepared to bare it to your apprentice.’
‘That’s…’
‘Daunting? Excruciatingly embarrassing, mortifying? Also, should you tell anyone else about my shadow I shall haunt you from now until the end of fate.’
‘Understood. Also, I’m sorry for making fun of it before.’
‘You’re forgiven. Besides, telling a relatively new acquaintance was nothing compared to the mortification my mother likely felt when she revealed her shadow to me.’ Sera shuddered.
Ori chuckled in commiseration as his attention returned to the gathering army around him. An hour passed In the time they had conversed, the trailing elements of the ten thousand or so infantrymen and supply wagons had gathered into a clearing several football pitches in size.
Dawnlight illuminated the edges of the horizon while the smoke of several cookfires were seen over the heads of helmed warriors, the standards of various regiments and houses and the spears and pikes that made their way from back to front.
If it weren’t for Sera, Ori would have felt oddly left out. With the men beside him huddled into their groups for banter and camaraderie and with Baker flitting in and out of awareness throughout the march he was left mostly to his own devices.
Knowing this to be the calm before the storm that it was, he took the opportunity to wander and saw the same scene of clueless newbies left to their own devices while more experienced men clustered in groups, likely discussing previous adventures and conquests, though by the sounds of the bawdy tales, not all conquests were on the battlefield.
Between the knights and mages, a network of squires, pages and runners, young boys and girls, crisscrossed the field with messages. Knowing what Ori knew about magic, he supposed that communication of this scale was a specialised type of High Magic, that they either didn’t have the expertise for or were used sparingly for some reason or other and after forwarding the observation to Sera, she agreed.
As he moved through the army, Ori caught more sights of magic. Blue and Green Mages tended to horses or mules that had been pulling carts while Enchanters and Clerics used Mana and affinities in completely different ways.
Instructed to see with Mana Sight as often as possible, Ori caught himself mesmerised by the swirl of Mana in the air, the way unaspected Mana changed when touched upon by another's will, and how spell forms shaped out of Mana became engines for miraculous effects.
----------------------------------------
‘Ori, I believe this would be the best time to take your Apprenticeship practical exam.’
“Exam?” Ori wondered aloud.
‘Yes, successfully cast these three examples of spellcraft and you’ll become a Journeyman under the traditions of the Chromatic Order of the White, and Fate itself.’
Ori wandered to a quieter spot beyond the edge of the clearing. Men gathered at the tree line, often to relieve themselves out of sight or to snatch quiet moments as they whittled wood or attended to their gear. He sat down on a fallen log with few eyes on him and laid down his shield and travel satchel.
“Ready.” He exhaled, finding himself surprisingly nervous.
‘Now, make a small incision that breaks the skin, an inch long on the palm of your off-hand.’
Fumbling through his belt to find the knife sheaf, he drew the blade out and sliced his palm open. Blood appeared under the edge of the sharpened blade as he waited for Sera’s next instruction.
‘In a clinical environment, what would be the best way to deal with this wound? And how would it differ if you were in a combat environment.’
“In a safe environment with no time or Mana pressures, Cure Wounds to stop the bleeding followed by a focused Lesser Restoration would be the most complete way to deal with a bleeding wound as Cure Wound’s diagnostic ability confirms what is wrong and how to fix it, while Lesser Restoration can remove scar tissue and reduce the amount of bodily resources the patient would expend to heal. In combat, I would probably use Lesser Restoration, as it would conserve Mana and require less focus…”
‘Show me your clinical environment treatment using ambient mana.’
Before reaching out using his Mana sight and manipulation, Ori went through the basic checklist of safety procedures, starting from inside out, he measured his mental and physical health levels, checking himself for the effects of lingering magic or curses, before checking ambient Mana levels, the location of other people and his clearance for any spells that worked at range.
Ori then grasped at the Mana in the air turning its unaligned aspect into life and light-infused energies. These then coalesced into the spell Cure Wounds, a spell that required focus as it acted like a new set of senses that connected him with the local area of flesh that he touched. With a small nudge of will, Or could reset broken bone, suture and repair torn arteries while encouraging the body to accelerate with just the limited Mana around him. When that was done, Ori cast a small pulse of Lesser Regeneration. It was the spell he now knew the will within Greater Channeling Wand of Light had cast on him back inside the armoury of Ghigrerchiax, except that had been on a much larger scale.
‘Now repeat, same incision and treatment, but this time, channel Mana from your source instead.’
Ori did so, drawing in Mana from his wand instead. After completing that piece of spellcraft to the best of his abilities, Ori demonstrated his combat healing abilities with Lesser Restoration, his ability to cast light orbs with and without permanence, using ambient Mana and his source. By the end of the examination, Ori had likely cast Light Orb, Lesser Regeneration and Cure Wounds over a dozen times over an hour.
“Done,” Ori said with finality, his head dizzy and breath heavy.
“Who were you talking to?” Lady Jasmine said as she emerged from behind a tree, her expression was guarded but curious. Ori’s soul had all but jumped out of his body. While he had expected casual observers and passersby, he had largely hoped to avoid the attention of the officers.
“I… How long were you watching?” Unsure of how to reply, Ori answered with a question.
“Long enough to know what you’ve been up to. I originally intended to spare your you privacy, but became curious after sensing the disturbances in the ambient mana” She said, her formal manor giving little away of her impressions.
‘What should I say Sera?’ Ori asked internally. ‘Should I say you're a wand spirit?’
‘No, that wouldn’t work. Just say that you can’t say.’
“I’m sorry, I can’t say,” Ori said aloud.
Lady Jasmine simply shrugged and folded her arms. “Very well, I’ll stand as witness as you conclude your exam.” She looked around as if trying to find a ghost. “As this is a benign if not beneficial matter, I have no issue keeping things between just us, however given the circumstances, we should conclude things, sharpish. So then apprentice, continue.”
‘Did you know she’d react this way?’ Ori wondered internally.
‘I suspected as much, few would stand in the way of the worthy joining their order. Which fortunately means she sees you as worthy.’ Sera said with a chipper tone.
‘So, does that mean I’ve passed? Also, she wasn’t one you, err, duelled was she?’
‘Ori! And no, I actually like Jasmine. Besides, she’s more married to the sword than any man and would absolutely squash me in a duel.’
‘Oh, okay then. So what’s next?’
‘Yes, well, this will be a bit awkward with her watching, but I suppose it won’t matter after today. Hold me up as if you're about to cast a spell at one of the trees.’ Ori did so, as he felt Mana deep inside the wand accumulate. ‘I, as your Master, in confirmation of your abilities, knowledge and temperament in the best traditions of the Chromatic order of the White, call on Fate to bequeath you the status of Journeyman, with my unique spell Death Ward, as blessing and inheritance.’
Sera completed the cast of the spell, its form taking place over Ori’s body. Without his newfound sensitivity to his soul, Ori would have felt the tingle across his skin and an inner warmth he wasn’t sure was real. But with his new awareness, Ori felt something akin to a suit of armour or iron maiden form around his soul, anchoring it in place.
“Interesting, never suspected she had that spell. Very well, I Lady Jasmine of House Mc’Alister, Journeyman White Magi of the Chromatic Order, as a Witness, in confirmation of your abilities, knowledge and temperament in the best traditions of the Chromatic Order of the White, call on Fate to bequeath you the status of Journeyman, with my unique spell Purifying Light, as blessing."
Ori felt a similar, but far more intense version of the spell she had used to clean him up after his ordeal at the Chapel. Like the spell Sera had cast, Ori felt the knowledge settle into his soul deeper and more personal than the way memories often came unbidden to his mind from Freya’s knowledge.
‘Now cast the spells to become a Journeyman.’ Sera said. Ori did so, drawing on the Mana of his wand.
An invisible pulse shot out towards the nearest tree in front of him, wrapping around it a protective shell of spirit affinity-aligned mana. Shortly after, a cone of dazzling light shot out of his wand in the same direction.
Before he could lower his head, Ori’s soul awareness could see an influx of something crashing into him before being funnelled away into separate streams. A small measure went to Lady Jasmine as she grunted in suppressed amusement. A larger stream flowed to his wand, imagining it pouring through his bond to Sera, while the overwhelming majority disappeared into somewhere that was simply beyond.
“Congratulations, Mortal Journeyman.” Lady Jasmine smiled and shook her head in wonder and mild consternation. “Come, you're probably wanted by now, let's make our way back to camp.”
Sera sighed. ‘Indeed. Congratulations, though that much Peritia should have been enough to awaken you many times over. That was a flawless examination at any level of awakening, and to do so without your Mana Nexus. You have no idea how proud I am of you, and how lucky I feel to have summoned and instructed such a wonderfully diligent apprentice. Well done.’
“Thank you,” Ori said to both.
----------------------------------------
“Specialist Ori of South Lundon?” One of the squires dressed in the colours of Baker's district of Cudanow snapped Ori out of his thoughts as he followed Jasmine back to the main body of the army.
“Yeah? Yes?”
“Your presence is requested.”
“Right, lead the way.”
Baker stood atop a mound of earth risen to be two to three feet taller than the surroundings. From such a vantage, Ori supposed even he would be spotted from the crowd with keen enough observations. Still, with the way he casually stood above the troops, his chest out, arms resting on his belt, his stance valiant, gave Ori an impression of a man far too accustomed to the environment around him.
“Specialist, ‘you ready lad?”
“Yeah, though it would help if I knew of the plan?”
“The plan is we march. To the enemy, we’ll appear as yet another task force, our shield mages will cover us from their bone archers well enough with Lady Cordelia personally seeing to your protection. This will get us far enough into the host just before we start to sustain casualties from Eltitus’s corruption. From there it’ll be down to you. As soon as your Aura ignites, you’ll be a beacon to every single horror within ten thousand acres and so it’ll be a mad dash past whatever ghouls and nightmares that lie between us and the Lich. Assuming we succeed in keeping you alive, those of us who remain will strike down Eltitus before we’re all fucked.” Baker returned to watching the assembling troops, his voice growing distant. “Another two hundred thousand men remain on Astor's walls with only three B rankers between them. So even if every single one of us is turned undead except you, there’ll still be a chance if you can retreat back to Astor. Without your aura, we’d be well and truly fucked so your life, or shall I say, continued participation on this plane of existence even should all seem lost, is paramount. So no heroics. Sit nice and snug in the middle of the formation and concentrate on your aura, understood?’
“Yes, Baker.”
"Get some food, take a piss and a shit now, as when come dawn, it’ll be nonstop. You understand laddie?”
Ori nodded. “Anything else?”
"Lieutenant, give our esteemed specialist a tour of the shit pits and the mess, and make sure he’s where he needs to be by dawn.”
“Yes, Sarg.” She saluted before turning to Ori. “Specialist, with me.”