At sixteen, Velaya Rosemore was the youngest pupil to have ever been recruited to study at Manatide Tower.
The legendary school was home to the most celebrated and renowned magicians. You did not enrol, you were recruited. Sought out by the Magi, they scoured the world of Aesor searching for only the most outstanding spellcasters, plucking them from a farmer’s field or from the courts of Kingdoms. Where you originated from did not matter. They only wanted the best. More often than not, it meant that the school was full of Mages, although talented Paladins, Druids, Shamans and Sorcerers completed their ranks.
“Don’t you get yourself so lost in a book you fail to come home,” Velaya’s brother, Doriel said.
The two of them stood side by side at the docks of Moongate City, staring out across the waters of the Navalonge Sea towards the school's island.
Like her older brother, Velaya was already quite tall. They shared similar facial features, high cheekbones, thin lips and noses and bright blue eyes, but where his hair was black, hers was blonde. It was plaited and fell down to the middle of her back. She wore an elegant navy blue dress, its skirt pleated with a delicate gold lace pattern throughout. The style of it was quite simple, but the material was luxurious and it was tailored perfectly to her slim body.
Doriel’s black hair was always windswept, and fell to his shoulders. He wore a white buttoned shirt beneath a deep blue vest, matching in colour to his sister’s dress. It too was cut for royalty, yet the style wouldn’t be out of place with his fellow navy crew.
“And leave you to rule Bellaurose?” she laughed, nudging into Doriel’s side, “I would never subject you to such torture.”
Smiling, he threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“Be sure you tell Father that,” he said.
They stood there quietly for a moment, listening to the sounds of the busy city behind them, the roar of the Sea thrashing against the rocky shores below. She looked up at her brother. He was staring out towards the waters, his eyes unseeing.
They’d had this type of conversation many times in the past. Everyone in the Kingdom of Bellaurose knew that Doriel would abdicate the throne to his sister once their father eventually passed. Doriel was born for the Sea. At twenty he was the Captain of their family’s greatest vessel, with a promotion to command the remainder of the fleet to come soon. He had no desire to rule the Kingdom from inside on a throne.
“I’d rather mop the decks of every ship in the fleet than listen to another member of the court!” he’d told her countless times before.
Her recruitment to Manatide Tower came as no surprise to anyone who knew the Princess, but it did complicate her brother’s plans.
“This doesn’t change anything,” she said, drawing his attention back to her. “I’ll learn all that I can and when I return, I’ll use that knowledge to make us stronger. To keep us safe.”
“Mother would have preferred if you continued learning court protocols instead of how to rein fire upon our enemies,” he said.
Velaya rolled her eyes, “I’m sure the court won't mind if I learn how to turn water to wine.”
Doriel threw his head back and laughed. It was deep and comforting, and with a sudden lurch in her stomach Velaya was reminded of how much she was going to miss him.
“Once you’ve mastered teleportals, you can come and visit us anytime you know,” he said, noticing the sudden change in her demeanour.
“I know,” she said quietly.
But would he be there when she visited? Likely not. He had agreed to escort her across the world to the Kingdom of Ayradora and see her off. Normally he’d be traversing the Cenavalis Seas, gone for months at a time. She doubted she’d have much time off from her studies anyway. Manatide Tower was notorious for its gruelling dedication to the magical arts. They both knew this.
“Just be sure to write to me… preferably every day,” he said, earning a smile from her in return.
“Now that’s something I can do. But you must promise you will too,” she eyed him suspiciously.
“Uh…” he hesitated.
She playfully pushed him off of her. Her hands began to glow a soft blue.
He raised his arms in defence.
“Alright, alright,” he laughed again, “I’ll write to you! Though I cannot promise to do so every day. Nor should I. You will need to focus on your studies and not worry about my daring adventures at sea”
The glowing stopped and she nodded, smiling.
“But those are my favourite stories.”
“And I’ll tell you all about them when you come to visit us. Now come,” he said, holding his arm out for her to take. “We’d better make for the Castle. Queen Valreale has promised quite the feast before you depart and I would hate to miss it.”
Sighing, she took his arm and together they turned and made their way back through the streets of Moongate, aiming for the magnificent castle on the hill.
~~~
Valreale Castle was home to King Arthur Valreale and Queen Eloyese Valreale of Ayradora. When they heard that the young Princess from Bellaurose had been recruited to Manatide Tower, they insisted she and her brother stop and visit on their way. Despite being an Ocean apart, the two Kingdoms had always been close. Valaya’s parents, King Edward Rosemore and Queen Ashaula Rosemore were dear friends. Their families often visited with one another outside of formal war meetings and council affairs.
It had been a few years since she last walked through the grand stone halls of the castle’s keep, but she smiled as the fond memories of summer's past returned to her.
“It’s cleaner than I remember,” Doriel whispered to her as they followed behind a steward.
“That’s because you were always covered in mud from days spent out in the woods with Athone,” she said.
“You were there with us too,” he retorted.
“Yes, but I was always better at staying in the saddle than you.”
Doriel scoffed, “You just didn’t want to get your pretty dresses dirty”.
Smiling to one another, they were led through large opened doors and into the great hall.
It was a magnificent space. A grand marble fireplace sat within the centre of the tall western stone wall which was flanked by two ornate stone pillars. The eastern side was home to three large picture windows, framing the city of Moongate and the sea beyond. The sun was setting and orange luminescent light spilled into the hall, casting a golden glow across the dark oak floors. A large table capable of holding well over twenty people spanned the length of the space. The King and Queen were already sitting at the far end.
King Arthur was quite a broad man, with long brown hair and a jolly, welcoming face. He wore a sharp dark green dinner jacket that matched Queen Eloyese’s stunning emerald dress. Her long brown hair was eloguently braided and pinned up in a makeshift crown around the top of her head. Her smile made her face all the more beautiful. The table was wide enough for both of them to sit at each other’s side. To their right sat the only other person at the table, their son, Prince Athone.
Athone was Velaya’s current age the last time she saw him. In the two years since, he had grown. Not only did his stature seem bigger, but the soft boyish features of a sixteen year old had matured into that of a young man. His once unruly light brown hair was cut short and proper. He wore a silver embroidered green suit jacket that matched his father’s. There wasn’t a speck of mud on it. If the sight of him looking so straightlaced wasn't enough to hitch her breath, the look on his face did. His green eyes found hers and his full lips turned up in a charming smile. When did he get so handsome?
Doriel gently guided them into the room and the three royals stood and bowed when they approached the table. Returning their bows, they took their seats. Velaya sat opposite of Athone, to the left of Queen Eloyese with Doriel taking the seat next to her.
“Lady Velaya my dear, it is so good to see you again,” Queen Eloyese said, once they were seated and the wait staff began to file into the room to fill up their goblets. “We are so pleased you were both able to visit. Why, when your mother first told us you had been recruited to Manatide, Arthur and I were delighted for you.”
Velaya smiled and raised her glass, “Thank you for your hospitality, your grace. Lord Doriel and I are grateful to you both.” She nodded in King Arthur’s direction.
She could have sworn she felt Doriel’s knee bang against her own from under the table. Doing her best to ignore it, she kept her attention fixed on the King and Queen.
“Sixteen years old. Their youngest recruit,” King Arthur whistled and shook his head reverntly. “Why, I still remember the day I awoke to find my beloved fountain covered in ice.”
The King and Queen exchanged fond smiles and Velaya could help but blush.
She had been seven years old at the time. Her family was engaged in political councils with the other Kingdoms and had thought it best if they all spent the summer in Moongate City. The courtyard of Valreale Castle had one of the more magnificent fountains on the entire Eastern Continent. Its ornate centre pillar featured a carving of a large dragon billowing out a stream of water from a toothy open maw, launching it high into the air before cascading down into a grand marble basin below.
Velaya, Doriel and Athone were splashing around in the basin. The water from the dragon’s mouth had soaked the young Princes’ clothing, but Velaya had remained completely dry, much to Doriel and Athone’s musings. All their attempts at getting her pretty little blue dress wet had failed. In the end they resorted to pinning her arms to her side and dragging her directly below the dragon’s mouth.
Before the first droplet of water could reach her it froze midair. Doriel and Athone released her and looked up in surprise. A frozen wave of ice was suspended above them.
She didn’t remember drawing on the power of the water Elements. Up until then she had been harnessing her Physical power to create a small shield around herself. The intention was to stay dry and frustrate the Princes but once she found herself trapped in their hold, her magic had reacted instinctively.
It took two days for the water to thaw and for the fountain to begin working properly again. Consequently, they were all forbidden from playing within it.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“I’m surprised a Magus didn’t show up right then and there to whisk you off to Manatide,” Doriel said, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement in the golden sunlight.
“The Magi had been studying your sister’s abilities for quite some time,” King Arthur said, as platters of food were placed before them.
Doriel had been correct, Queen Eloyese Valreale had quite the feast prepared. There was stuffed chicken, freshly caught fish and veal loin covered in a sugared plum sauce. They were acompanied by an assortment of roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes and various offerings of fruited pastries and pies rounded out the meal.
“I’m surprised they waited as long as they did before recruiting you,” the King said, placing an entire chicken leg on his plate.
“Our parents would have never allowed it,” Doriel chuckled as he filled his plate with sweet potatoes. “I practically had to steal her away from them to get her here.”
“I can hardly blame them. Even at eighteen we’ve been reluctant to let you go, my dearest,” Queen Eloyese smiled fondly at Athone while delicately slicing up the carrots on her plate.
Looking up in time, Velaya caught the sudden pink flush across Athone’s face and had to restrain herself from smiling.
“Fortunately, we’ve little say in the matter,” Athone recovered quickly. “Everyone knows you do not decline recruitment to Manatide Tower.”
His voice was compellingly strong and seemed to resonate deep within her. Their eyes met and for a moment a strange expression crossed his face. She was unable to determine what it meant and a second later it disappeared as his attention was drawn back to his meal.
“And why would you? It’s the greatest magic school in all of Aesor,” Doriel stabbed at a potato. “Tell me Athone, do you still believe you’ll be the top pupil now that Vel is joining your year?”
“It’s not a competition, Dor. It’s an opportunity for us to hone our skills to better serve our Kingdoms. Not all of us are so eager to cast off our duties and set sail across the world.”
Doriel chuckled at the jab. He was used to hearing them by now. Their flippant banter was a testament to their lifelong friendship.
“Do you have everything in order for tomorrow?” Queen Eloyese asked Velaya, who nodded. “Not nervous are you?”
For some reason Velaya couldn’t help but look across to Athone. Was he just as aprehensive as she? He didn’t seem nervous as he continued sharing verbal barbs with her brother. Why would he be? He had two years on her and a fully matured mana pool.
A mana pool served as one's internal source of power, the more mana you had, the more capable of power you were. Recruitment to Manatide Tower didn’t start until spellcasters came of age at eighteen. They were only interested in those whose mana pools were fully developed. Velaya’s mana pool was not, but her well was already more vast than most adults. It would be two more years before she would know the true depth of it. It’s why she was recruited so early.
“Yes, I am a little,” she admitted quietly.
Queen Eloyese reached over to squeeze her hand, “That’s to be expected my dear. But you’ve always been brilliant and I’ve no doubt you’ll have a wonderful time. You’re only a quick boat ride across the bay to us here and you are welcome anytime you need a reprive.”
Queen Eloyese glanced out the window behind Velaya. The Tower’s island was barely visible on the distant horizon, no more than a tiny black silhouetted column framed against the ocher sky.
“Thank you, your grace.”
“Be sure to bring Athone along with you when you do visit. He’s always been too ambitious for his own good. Once he gets caught up in his studies, I fear we may never see him again.”
Velaya smiled and gently returned a squeeze of her own, “That sounds like something Mother would say of me.”
The Queen laughed softly and returned to her meal.
The men at the table had somehow started debating over which hooks were best for fishing and Velaya was content to finish her meal in silence, enjoying the familiar company. She tried not to dwell on what was to come tomorrow.
~~~
Standing beneath the stars, Velaya idly spun her signet ring around her finger and let the cool salted air blow strands of unbound hair across her face as she stared out across Moongate City towards Manatide Tower’s island in the distance.
Finding herself unable to sleep, she had draped a large quilt over her shoulders and left the comfort of her guest suite to wander the castle’s battlements in need of some fresh air and to quell her wandering thoughts.
Despite the late hour, Moongate was alive with activity. Lights shone from various buildings, smoke billowing from chimneys and people wandered about the city streets. The ships in the harbour rocked gently as crew members worked through the night to restock and prepare for their journies.
One of the larger vessels belonged to the Rosemore fleet. Her brother’s ship was the jewel of the seas. By this time tomorrow it’d be long gone, setting sail towards the Western Continent to return home to the Bellaurose Kingdom.
Only Mages were capable of casting teleportation spells that allowed them to travel across great distances in a matter of seconds. A talented Mage may be able to teleport themselves from Moongate City in the north to Goldwell City, the capital of the southern Trelladain Kingdom, but only a handful of the most powerful could teleport themselves across the Cenavalis Sea. Doriel had never doubted for a moment that Velaya wouldn’t be capable of such a feat.
A month ago she said goodbye to her parents and set out with him for Moongate, the capital of Ayradora. Leaving them and Bellaurose behind was hard enough, but the thought of not seeing Doriel for months at a time felt as though some great pressure was squeezing at her chest, threatening to choke the very breath from her.
She hugged the quilt closer when she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
“I know I should be asleep. Spare yourself the lecture,” she said without turning to look at her brother.
She heard a soft chuckle and whipped her head around. That was not Doriel’s voice.
Athone, still dressed in his dinner attire, approached and stood quietly next to her. He didn’t look over. Instead he took up the mantle of her vigil of the city below.
Suddenly thankful she had thought to throw the quilt over her nightgown, she took a step away from him. He didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to speak with you earlier,” he eventually said, keeping his eyes forward.
“That’s alright. You and Dor had a lot of catching up to do.”
“So do we.”
They turned to face each other. Despite his matured features, the smile he offered was one she remembered fondly. His cheeks always had a rosy hue against the peach tones of his face and she doubted that would ever go away with age. She frowned.
“When did you get so serious?” she said, nodding towards his jacket, “Do you sleep in that too?”
“I missed you too Vel.”
She couldn't fight the corner of her lips from twitching up.
“We’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other,” she said. “Unless you’re too distinguished now to be seen around me.”
“You’re the infamous Lady Velaya Rosemore, Princess of Bellaurose. It’s always an honour to be seen with you.” His voice had taken on a honeyed tone and she rolled her eyes, winning a chuckle from him.
“You do bring up a good point. Has Manatide ever had two heirs studying there at the same time?” she asked.
He shook his head, “I believe the last monarch to have studied there was King Robert Trelladain.”
“Didn’t his oldest son, Lord Theon, attend Manatide?”
“No, he was never recruited. He ended up studying with the elven Druids in Elyzeme.”
The Trelladain Kingdom was the most grand of the four Kingdoms of Aesor and the Trelladain family ruled over the land for as long as scholars had been keeping records. Queen Ilyana, Robert’s wife, had always fascinated Velaya.
She was from the elven Kingdom of Elyzeme, which shared a border to the south of Bellaurose on the Western Continent. She was a Druid herself, a spellcaster with the ability to draw on magic from the physical world. Elves were blessed with long lifespans and no one knew for certain how old she was. She always appeared to be in her mid-twenties.
Velaya remembered reading about Ilyana having been a pupil at Manatide Tower hundreds of years ago and how she ended up staying there as a Magus, teaching future generations. It’s believed that’s where she met Robert Trelladain. King Robert Trelladain was a Paladin and studied in the art of Light. The two of them had fallen in love and she eventually left her post at the school to join him in Goldwell City.
Given his parent’s standing and their magical powers, Velaya was surprised to hear their son wasn’t recruited to Manatide Tower. Not that lineage had anything to do with one’s magical abilities.
In Aesor you were either born with mana or you weren’t. It seemed random and unpredicatble. One sibling could be born with magical abilities, and the other may not be. As was the case with Velaya and Doriel. Those born without mana were never regarded as anything less than those who were. It was just the nature of things. A soul could be born into a bear or it could be born into a human. There was a certain balance to it that Velaya always found beautiful.
The differences between the people of Aesor was based on their standing in society; haughty nobel to humble farmers, Lords and Ladies to beggars and orphans. Knowing that Manatide Tower accepted anyone, regardless of their social status, made Velaya a little uncomfortable if she was being honest with herself. She was heir to a mighty Kingdom and while her people have always regarded the Rosemores with kindness, she worried what it would feel like to be stripped of her title while she was studying.
“I for one think it’ll be nice to get away from all of this,” Athone said, waving his arms about him.
His mind must have wandered down a similar train of thought as hers did.
“Careful, you’re starting to sound like Dor. Only you don't have any siblings to fall back on.”
She had meant to say it casually but when Athone raised his eyebrows, she knew he’d picked up on something more. Something she didn’t want to address.
“Most days your brother is a fool. But he is right to leave you in line to Bellaurose.”
The intensity of his stare forced her to look away. She cast her gaze back out to the city. It reminded her of home.
Evertide City wasn’t as densely populated as Moongate. It sprawled out across a large inlet connected to the Cenavalis Seas and boasted a robust fishing industry, not to mention the world’s most formidable navy. Fortified by mountains on its western sides, it was a safe haven for many. Doriel never stayed at shore long enough to appreciate it, but she loved it there. Her family, its people, the culture.
And yet the thought of ruling over the Kingdom frieghtened her. She always took her schooling seriously, and was attentive during the long hours at court. When she wasn’t shadowing her father everywhere she could, she’d accompany her mother and the other noblewomen about the city. She wanted to be a leader worthy of her people and worried if she’d be able to live up to their expectations.
She also wanted to disappear and study magic forever, which she would never admit to anyone. She was concerned that studying at Manatide Tower would only serve to fuel this desire.
“Thankfully Father is in good health. It’s not something I’ll have to concern myself with for a while yet,” she said.
Athone looked as though he wanted to say something more on the subject but decided against it.
“I did debate it, you know,” he said quietly
“Debated what?” she asked, looking back over at him. His eyes were downcast, staring at the parapet.
“Declining recruitment.”
She blinked in surprise, “What? Why?”
He looked back up at her, “There’s a lot of sinister things going on in the world right now, Vel. My parents seem reluctant to do much about it.”
Velaya was well aware of the state of affairs of Aesor but was surprised to hear him speak of it. “And what would you do?”
“Gather an army and fight back,” he said firmly.
The idea was unfathomable to her. “You would turn down studying at Manatide to lead an army?”
“As I said, I only debated it. Ultimately I’ve decided that furthering my studies is for the best,” he hesitated for a second before adding, “I’ve you to thank for that.”
Her brows furrowed, “What do I have to do with it?”
“You have the potential to become one of the finest Mages in all of Aesor. I’d hate to miss out on seeing that,” he shrugged and smiled at her.
She narrowed her eyes. She didn’t believe for a moment that was the reason.
He laughed, “And it’ll be nice to have a friend there.”
She had to admit the thought reassured her too. When he opened his mouth to speak, she quickly cut him off.
“I should try and get some sleep,” she said, not failing to to miss the look of disappointment that flashed across his face.
She doubted if she’d be able to sleep but the longer she stood there with him, wearing nothing more than her nightgown and a quilt, the more uncomfortable she felt.
“Shall I walk you back to your quarters?”
She smiled politely, waving her hand dismissively, “That won't be necessary. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He nodded, “Goodnight Velaya.”
Walking back down the rampart, she wasn’t sure what to make of their conversation. They had spent hours playing together as children but there was a seriousness to him now that was unfamiliar to her. Athone felt like a stranger and yet she was comforted to know that he’d be attending Manatide Tower with her.