Archmagus Ena approached Velaya, Athone and their limp companion.
“Who was the Sorcerer responsible for this?” she asked, placing both hands along the sides of Max’s face and gently lifting his head up.
“I’m not sure, Headmistress. By the time I arrived they were already on top of one another,” Athone said.
“He had a large scar and his right ear was missing,” Velaya said, watching as the Archmagus pulled back each of Max’s eyelids.
“Zyler Vance,” she said, more to herself than to them. Her slender pale fingers began to glow and a warm yellow light wound through them. She ran her fingers softly across Max’s nose and within an instant the bleeding stopped and his nose realigned itself. “He’s lost a fair amount of blood. He’ll require a concoction of pennantia and some crushed ginger. Please bring him inside to Magus Ossacus. The infirmary is down the hall to the right.”
She stepped aside, allowing them to carry Max past her, and cast her gaze beyond them towards the student’s residences. She disappeared a second later.
The room they entered was not the same grand hallway with marble floors and stained glass windows as earlier that day. They had walked into a grand entrance hall. Before them was a massive stone staircase with a deep violet carpet running up the middle and rich wooden railings. It twisted and turned around the circular space, so high that it disappeared from their vision, with hundreds of windows and wooden doors branching off at various intervals. There were desks and tables sprawled under high windows, each full of teetering piles of books, scrolls, orbs and Magi knew what other magical instruments.
Purple banners with golden trim and stitched symbols hung from the bannisters of the staircase, mimicking the design of their Tides’ cloaks.
The floor beneath their feet was made of large cut stones, worn completely smooth over time.
Every inch of the walls not occupied by the windows and desks were lined from floor to somewhere high in the ceiling with shelves full of books. Velaya’s heart beat excitedly in her chest. There had to be hundreds of thousands of them.
Magi and alumni of all ages wandered back and forth from door to door. Some carried odd objects, books or long scrolls. Some stopped to chat with each other. Some were sitting at desks, pouring over their research and notes. None of them seemed to pay any heed to Velaya or Athone.
All sound outside the Tower had ceased to exist the moment they stepped inside. Instead, soft sounds of music playing from somewhere deep within the tower drifted in from above mixing together with strange clicking, whirring and bubbling noises, along with voices and sounds of many people shuffling about, all creating a symphony of intrigue.
Standing there was an awakening. Until now, it felt as though she’d been walking through life half asleep. She’d never felt more alive, her mana a kinetic torrent within.
“This way,” Athone said, hefting Max further over his arm. His voice and the jostle of Max’s frame, snapping her back to reality.
Athone guided them off to the right where a large arched entrance led to curving steps below. Thankfully the stairwell was short, only a handful of steps that twisted downward into a long, wide, straight hallway. Where upstairs had been round, this space was flat and rectangular.
The infirmary was a grand open space with high walls, which somehow had tall windows - despite them having walked downstairs below ground. Deep violet curtains flanked the windows and surrounded the beds that were pushed up against them, acting as partitions. Beside each bed was a small table and stool.
Ahead of them was a half wall of stone, the top left open to the space behind which appeared to be an office or laboratory. Behind it, various heads were just visible jutting back and forth to cabinets and desks. Their chatting voices and the sounds of potions bubbling echoed through the empty hospital space towards them.
“Hello?” Athone called out as he and Velaya guided their unconscious companion to the closest bed and deposited him there. “Magus Ossacus?”
The voices in the back stopped and four sets of eyes peered out from over the wall.
“Oh my, what have we here?” called out a deep, soothing voice.
Magus Ossacus said something quietly to the other Magi and stepped out from behind the wall, heading towards the three of them. He was a tall, skinny man with powder blue hair jutting out in a ring around his head. His ears were very long and very pointed. There was no telling how old he was. A pair of crooked glasses framing soft turquoise eyes were perched at the end of his rounded nose. He wore the Tides but had a long white apron draped over the front of his grey pants and white buttoned shirt. He didn’t so much walk as he seemed to float in the air as he drifted over towards them.
“Well it’s not the school record, but you certainly gave it a go,” he chuckled as he came up to the side of the bed to look down at Max.
“Archmagus Ena said he requires pennantia and crushed ginger,” Velaya said.
Magus Ossacus just hummed something inaudible and lifted Max’s arm, checking his pulse. He then placed his hands on the man’s chest and soft green light appeared under his touch.
“Quite the nasty curse on the lad,” he glanced up at Velaya and Athone. “Did one of you do this to him?” They shook their heads, and Magus Ossacus just chuckled again.
“Mograg!” he yelled suddenly, causing Athone and Velaya to jump. “Two vials of pennantia root and a thimble of crushed ginger please, my good man.”
“Yessir,” a set of eyes from behind the wall called out in return.
“Will he be alright?” Velaya asked.
“Oh heavens yes. The curse did little more than cause him excruciating pain. I’d imagine his muscles may be sore tomorrow from all the seizing and convulsing,” he said far too cheerfully. “Though I cannot say the same for his Tides,” he added, taking in the vomit and blood splattered across Max’s clothing.
Velaya and Athone exchanged incredulous looks.
“There’s nothing more you two can do, why don’t you hurry along before Mograg tries to test his latest antidote on you.” He waved his hands and a flash of green light later, Max’s Tides completely disappeared - replaced by a light purple hospital gown.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Velaya and Athone turned and hurried back down the hall and up the stairs.
“Not so fast,” came the clear, deep voice of Archmagus Ena, just as they were about to exit the Tower.
She was standing at the base of the grand staircase. Beside her, the Sorcerer Zyler Vance, stood with his head down. Dark black hair hiding his features. He stood taller than the Headmistress but he seemed to dwarf below her.
“The three of you, follow me,” she said shortly and turned on her heel and started marching up the stairs.
Velaya and Athone fell in line behind Zyler and no one spoke for several moments as they ascended the winding stairs.
It seemed to stretch on forever. When Velaya was nearly out of breath and beginning to wonder why they couldn’t have just teleported further up, the Headmistress stopped suddenly before a large, arched wooden door. She tapped it with her hand and a few clicking sounds rattled off between the wood and stone walls until it popped open.
They entered into a round office. A grand mahogany desk stood in the middle of the room with stacks of neat paper, scrolls and books piled across it. Behind the desk was a large window with more violet curtains framing it. The window was open, and overlooked Navalonge’s bay, facing towards Moongate City. The fresh smell of salted seas, mingled with grass and musty books hung in the air, seeming to wrap comfortably around Velaya. Like everywhere else, there were bookcases and shelves covering the walls and she could hardly decide where to look next. So many strange objects sat between the books and scrolls.
On the shelf closest to her, a wonderful whirly device with a central blue glowing orb was set inside a golden holder. Four other orbs of red, green, black and white spun slowly around it. She had to fight the urge to keep her hands to herself and decided putting them in her pockets was for the best.
“Have a seat,” Archmagus said, waving her hand in the air. Three simple wooden chairs appeared in front of the desk. She rounded the other side and took a seat in a large purple cushion wingback chair.
Zyler took the seat on the left, Athone the one on the right, leaving Velaya to squeeze in between them.
“I trust that Mister Cobb is now in Magus Ossacus’ care?” she said to Athone and Velaya.
“Yes madam,” Athone said, bowing his head slightly.
She nodded and fixated her stare to Zyler, “Seeing that he is indisposed, I’d like for you to explain yourself. When he wakes, I shall get the story from his perspective and from there, I will determine a course of action.”
“Respectfully Archmagus, he started the whole thing,” Zyler said, his voice was greasy and Velaya had to fight against the urge to recoil away from him. “The other Sorcerers and I were minding our own business, exploring the residence. We were heading to the commons when that self-righteous asshole cut us off. Knocked Marika Dipit flat on her ass. I don’t take too kindly to that short of shit, so I let him have it. The bastard started spewing off about Dark magic being the source of Corruption and that we were an abomination to Aesor.” He shrugged and added, “Figured I’d show him what a little Dark magic was capable of.”
Velaya was taken back by his abrasiveness but Archmagus Ena’s face was stoic as she turned to Athone, “That’s when you cut in?”
“Yes Headmistress. They’d already levelled the area by the time I arrived. He had Max defenceless. I was simply trying to protect him from further harm and put an end to the altercation.”
Zyler cast an odious look at Athone and Velaya could swear she felt heat radiating off of him.
“I see,” Archmagus Ena said. She looked back at Zyler, “But this did not deter you?”
Zyler hesitated, his shoulders curving in, “Regretfully I was too caught up in my own anger.”
Velaya could feel the periwinkle eyes on her before she looked over to meet them.
“The ice was yours, Miss Rosemore?” A strange twinkle gleamed for the briefest of moments in the corner of her eyes. It passed so quickly that Velaya was sure she’d imagined it.
“Yes, Headmistress,” Velaya said quietly, casting her gaze to the desk, feeling rather exposed under the Archmagus’ stare.
It was quiet for a moment, with only the sounds of strange clicking from the instruments in the room, before Ena spoke again.
“Thank you all. Mister Vance, you are prohibited from casting magic outside of your lessons until I’ve had a chance to meet with Mister Cobb. Is that clear?” her voice was hard and Zyler shrunk further in his chair.
“Yes, Archmagus,” he said.
“Good. You are dismissed,” she said as Zyler stood and exited the room without a second glance to Velaya or Athone. She waited until he left before addressing them.
“Thank you both for stepping in today. I cannot say that I’m surprised by your redemption but must caution you both against future acts of deliverance. You arrive here under unique circumstances and, as I am sure you are aware, represent a target towards others of opposing opinions. I’d advise you both to maintain a low profile and exercise caution for the time being.”
“Yes, of course, Archmagus,” Velaya said.
When Athone was quiet, Velaya shot him a look. He was staring at the Headmistress, defiance in his eyes.
“With all respect, Archmagus, I will not stand around bearing witness to others’ cruelty.”
“You are at Manatide Tower, Mister Valreale. Those burdens of responsibility are not yours. The Magi here will see to these types of affairs,” the Archmagus said.
“Where were they today?” he said evenly, his confrontation surprising Velaya.
The Headmistress evaluated Athone, her face never changing. “Mister Valreale, Manatide Tower has a long and rich history. Not all of the moments are wondrous or worthy of celebration. Quarrels between the different magical classes or Kingdoms are not uncommon. By this time last year, twelve students were sent to the infirmary. If there was ever any reason to suggest the situation today was out of hand, action would have been taken to prevent any serious incident from occurring.”
For a moment Velaya thought that he was going to argue further, but he simply nodded his head.
“Understood,” he said.
Looking over at him, Velaya saw that his hands were balled into fists in his lap.
“Good. You are dismissed.”
Athone and Velaya stood.
“I’d still like a word with you, Miss Rosemore,” she said.
Athone raised his brows at Velaya before turning and leaving the room, closing the door softly behind him. She sat back down.
“That was quite the display of Elemental magic,” Archmagus Ena said, staring directly into her eyes.
Velaya shifted in her seat, “I really didn’t intend for that to happen. I just reacted, or rather my mana did.”
The Headmistress’ full lips flatten slightly. “I would suggest that makes it even more impressive.”
Velaya shook her head quickly. “I had no control. Ever since I arrived here my mana has been tugging away inside of me, begging to be released. When I saw Athone in trouble I just - I let it loose.”
Archmagus Ena tilted her head to the side slightly. “Your mana is reacting to being here on the island?”
“Yes. At least, I think so. Perhaps it’s the ley lines below?”
The Headmistress leaned back in her chair, and folded her hands within her lap, watching Velaya with a curious look on her face. “There are very few spellcasters in all of Aesor who are capable of that. It takes many years of study before they are able to attune themselves to them and even then, some never do.”
“Why can I?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Archmagus Ena’s voice was gentle when she answered, “That is what I would like to find out.”