All of the first-year Mages from Manatide Tower, along with two Druids, three Sorcerers, four Paladins and a Shaman had been suspended from using their common building for a week and were forced to spend every evening after dinner with the old Mage, Magus Allistair.
When Magus Allistair wasn’t escorting the new recruits through the Gate, he spent his time in the Tower’s massive archives. A place full of books, scrolls, prophecies, magical artefacts, potions, the occasional caged creature, ley line maps, star charts, clothing and equipment and Magi knew what else. The space appeared to be as grand as the Tower itself, as though they’d walk through the main doors and this was all that was ever intended to be in it. There were staircases, ladders, shelves and desks everywhere, each overflowing with more stuff.
“A glorified, chaotic storage room,” Otto had whispered to Velaya on their first day there. The entire place had a silent hush about it and even though they didn’t need to, they all worked as quietly as possible.
It was the first-year’s punishment to have to file through the items that Magus Allistair had left out and for them to organize and put away. They were not permitted to use magic to help them and the space was so large that often they went through long stretches of time where they didn’t see each other as they roamed through the floors and aisles of shelving.
Despite it eating into valuable time they could have spent studying, Velaya had to admit she liked being there. Everywhere her eyes looked they caught on something strange and fascinating. She could spend a lifetime here and still never discover half of its secrets. Her mana pool simmered away pleasantly.
Ever since her outburst and release with Athone she’d felt far more in control of herself. When she had met with Magus Tessa early in the week for her individual Dark lesson, the Sorcerer had been impressed with how calm she appeared. Whether she knew about her actions or not, she didn’t say. She had Velaya let go of the Dark pools that had been stored up and had then tasked her with creating a small shield within her mind. Instead of taking sips of Dark magic to store, she was to begin feeding that to her shield. It wasn’t strong, and Tessa had penetrated it instantly, but it was something she would be able to hold onto for a long time. Over time, as she continued to feed it, it would grow more powerful and more capable of protecting her. For the past week she'd been dripping Dark magic into it in tiny doses and most times barely realized it was still there.
A sound from down the aisle she’d been standing alone in caught her attention. Athone appeared at the end of it, wheeling a small metal cart full of books. He smiled when he caught sight of Velaya, and steered his cart down the row towards her.
Velaya didn’t think it was fair that Athone was punished for his involvement in the fray, but he accepted his fate with all the humility and grace of a King. As far as he was concerned, if his friends were involved he’d take the fall with them.
“I’m fairly certain I already filed this book away an hour ago,” Athone said, picking up a tome from the cart and scanning the shelves beside him before locating its home and replacing it.
“They’re being teleported in and out of classrooms,” Velaya said, standing on tiptoe and attempting to squeeze a book between two others on the shelf above her head.
“Is that how it works?” Athone asked, as he moved over to grab the book from her hands and fit it on the shelf for her before turning to look down at her. They were suddenly standing very close. “I always wondered how the non-Mage Magi were able to make books and items appear.”
“Yes, it’s the magic of the Tower itself,” Velaya said as she took a step back towards her own cart and picked up another book. “The Magi can draw from the school what they need.”
Athone shook his head, and stared around the narrow aisle. “Why would anyone ever want to leave here then?”
“Most don’t,” Velaya said quietly, more to herself.
He turned his attention back to her and took a step forward, removing the previous distance she’d created. She cradled the book she’d be holding against her chest and stared up at him.
“Is that what you’d prefer, Velaya?” his voice low, his eyes darting back and forth across her face. “To remain here at Manatide long after you graduate?”
“We both know that we can’t,” she whispered.
“No, we cannot,” his eyes settled on hers. “I know you do not believe it now, but you will make a great Queen someday.”
“Magic is something I understand. Ruling a Kingdom of people is still something I do not know enough about.”
“You’re still young, you’ve plenty of time to learn.”
“I’m not that young,” she couldn’t help but pout and Athone’s lips twitched upwards.
“No, I daresay you’re not,” Athone said quietly, his eyes darting down to her lips and back up again. Velaya could feel the heat rising within her and felt as though the shelves beside them were pushing in on them, her heart hammering against her chest.
She needed to take a step back, put some space between them so she could resume breathing. But need and want are two different things, and she inexplicably found herself wanting to move forward and not backwards.
Athone’s eyes didn’t leave hers as he slid the book from her hands. Only once he held it did he break contact to look down at it. He frowned, before looking back up at her.
“What’s this?” he asked, holding the book up so she could see the cover.
DEMON OR DEITY?
The book’s title was hand written, scrolled across a white nameplate along the surface of the dark leather. It wasn’t an overly large book, relatively thin compared to the others they’d been filing away.
“Looks like a journal,” Velaya said, finally catching her breath and taking a step back. Athone didn’t appear to notice, or catch the flush on her cheeks. He was flipping through the pages, a strange look on his face.
“What’s the matter?” Velaya said, moving to stand beside him so she could get a better look at it.
Athone closed the book and flipped it on its side to look at the spine. “It doesn’t have a catalogue number.” He looked back up over the shelves. All of them had tiny golden plates mounted to the front with identification markings. “Maybe it doesn’t belong here.”
“Then why would Magus Allistair place it on my cart for me?”
Athone looked over at her. “Did you see him put it there or was it already on the cart when he gave it to you?”
“I don’t remember. I’ll go return it to him.” She put her hand out and Athone placed the book in her palm, but did not let go immediately. He was staring at her in a way that made her feel he was trying to solve some sort of problem.
“Thank you,” she said softly, gently pulling on the book. For a second it seemed he wasn’t going to let go, but when he did, he offered her a sly smile that forced her to look away.
A loud chyme caused them both to jump.
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“And so ends our reign in the archives.” Athone mused as they returned to their carts and the two of them pushed their way back down the aisle towards the exit.
“For now,” Velaya joked. “We couldn’t even go a month without getting into trouble.”
Athone laughed. “Just like old times. Only now you’re the one dragging me into trouble and not the other way around.”
“You should’ve just let me hit him,” Velaya said quietly as they entered the open lobby space where the other students were returning their carts and filing out.
Magus Allistair shot them a reproachful glance and they shut their mouths.
“See you tomorrow,” Athone mouthed to her after they dropped their carts off and she turned towards the old Magus carrying the journal.
Magus Allistair was sitting at a large desk off to the side of the doorway. He held a quill in his hand with a long feather that reached way out above his head. He didn’t stop his scribbling when she approached, nor did he look up.
“Yes, Miss Rosemore?” he drawled.
“I found this book in my pile, but it didn’t have a catalogue number. Shall I leave it with you or on the cart?” She held the book towards him.
“You can keep it.”
“I’m sorry?” she said, confused. “You want me to leave it on the cart then?”
“Take it with you,” he sighed, still not looking up.
“Why would I want to keep it?”
“Why indeed,” he said to himself before his icy blue eyes finally looked up. “I understand you’re quite fond of studying.”
“Yes…” Velaya replied slowly.
“Then keep it. Perhaps you will learn a thing or two.”
“Are you sure? Does it not belong here?”
Magus Allistair put the quill down on the table, the feather’s tips flowing over the end, and leaned back stroking his long white beard. “Do you belong here, Miss Rosemore?”
Velaya blinked. “Pardon?”
“You’re a sixteen year old Princess of a powerful Kingdom, studying powerful magic far from home without a developed mana pool,” he said evenly.
“I’m not sure I follow…” Velaya’s mouth felt dry.
“By all our accounts, you are a challenge to catalogue.”
“Well I’m here now,” she said defiantly, beginning to feel as though she may need another training session with Athone if this conversation kept up much longer.
A whisker from the Magus’ long beard twitched. “And so is that book. It’s yours to keep.” He returned to his scribbling and Velaya tucked the journal into her bag before leaving without another word.
“Freedom!” Otto hollered as he and Velaya, Ingrid and Rose stepped out into the evening air. The others in detention with them were already making their way back to their dormitories just ahead.
“It really wasn’t that bad,” Rose said, and Velaya nodded in agreement.
“Except we’re never going to find time to finish our assignment for Magus Erich now,” Ingrid groaned. “And when are we supposed to practise our astral attunement? The Druids are already so far ahead.”
“Don’t worry Ingrid, I’ll help you. It’s the least I can do after getting you all into this mess,” Velaya said.
“Nonsense Vel, you know we’ve got your back,” Otto said and Velaya smiled at him. “But maybe we can go a week or two without so much drama? Iggy’s head here is going to explode.” They all laughed when Ingrid gently shoved him.
Rose stopped suddenly, kneeling to the ground to riffle around in her satchel. “You all go on ahead, I’ll catch up.”
Otto and Ingrid continued bumping into one another as they walked off, but Velaya stayed behind with Rose.
“Have you forgotten something?” Velaya asked.
Rose looked up, her eyes tracking Otto and Ingrid before she stood again. “No, but I wanted to talk to you alone.”
Velaya raised her eyebrows. “What if I went with them?”
“And leave me behind?” Rose smiled. “You wouldn’t.”
She was right. Velaya and Rose had gotten very close over the past couple weeks. Rose had kept their conversation in the hallway to themselves and they spent most evenings together in Velaya’s room long after the others had gone to sleep. Velaya had mentioned nothing of the prophecy but did speak to her fears of being pushed into the role of Crown Princess. Rose knew there was more to the story but didn’t push her further on it. In turn, Rose shared that she was a descendant of a very old elven bloodline, distantly related to the Queen of Elyzeme. According to an elf, “distant” meant hundreds of years worth of lineage to a point where her family would never be considered part of the line to the throne. However, on grand occasions and festivities thrown by the Queen, her family was often invited. The last such occasion had been the Queen’s daughter’s wedding, seventy years prior. Rose’s parents had attended, but her and her two younger sisters had never been inside the Queen of Elyzeme’s fortress.
“What did you need to talk about?” Velaya asked.
“That book you and Athone found,” she said and when Velaya looked surprised she added, “I overhead you two. I was a few rows over.” Velaya felt her face flushing and Rose let out a light laugh. “I promise I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. It’s just one of the side effects of these,” she said, wiggling her long ears.
Velaya pulled the book out of her bag and passed it to her, telling her about the strange conversation she’d had with Magus Allistair.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence this ended up on your cart or that he let you keep it,” Rose said as the two resumed their walk back to their dormitory.
“You think he left it for me?” When Rose nodded, she added, “Why?”
“That’s what I want to know. Perhaps if we ever find a free moment we can review its contents together?” Rose handed the book back to her.
Velaya frowned, and flipped through the pages. “It appears to be nothing more than a journal cataloguing the differences between demons and the beasts of Corruption.”
“You don’t think that’s important?”
“Well, I already know there’s a difference. Demons are evil creatures born of this world. The animals and beasts affected by the Corruption were turned evil. They weren’t that way to begin with,” Velaya said, revealing a bit of what she knew from her time back home in council meetings.
“You don’t find it strange that a book like this lands in your lap?” Rose pushed.
“Why would I? There’s a lot of strange things in this Tower. Especially in those archives.”
“Velaya, you’re still a Princess,” Rose said, stopping to grab her arm so they stood facing one another. “You still have an obligation to your people, even when you’re here.”
Velaya’s eyes narrowed. When they spent time talking late at night, Rose always seemed sympathetic towards her hesitance of being Queen. She'd never said anything to her about her future obligations.
“I'd even argue that this is exactly why it's important you're here,” Rose said.
Velaya looked down at the book in her hand again, running her fingers along the ‘DEITY?’ lettering. “The first week we were here, didn’t Magus Rufina from Theology say something about the Gods being responsible for the Corruption?”
Rose nodded. “Exactly. She suggested that Saeligos himself was responsible for it. You now hold a book that seems to build off that theory.”
“So it’s something we need to look into further,” Velaya said, understanding what Rose was getting at.
“Yes. Well, I think it’s something you and Athone should,” Rose said.
Velaya felt suddenly flush and started waking again, keeping her eyes forward. “Perhaps you can help me instead? It’ll be easier for us to work on this in our rooms. We can later share what we discover with him and see if it’s anything we should let our parents know of.”
Even without looking at Rose, Velaya could feel her smirking and knew her eyes were watching her closely.
“Perhaps that’s for the best,” Rose said with amusement. “We wouldn’t want you too distracted afterall.”
Velaya’s blue eyes seemed even brighter against the pink on her cheeks as she finally looked at Rose.
“Why would I get distracted?” she said defensively and only flushed further when Rose continued to smile at her without saying anything. “You’re as bad as Lilian,” she muttered, earning a delightful laugh from Rose. For someone whose face was often serious, anytime Rose smiled or laughed it only served to enhance her beauty.
“In any case, I’d be honoured to help you with this, Princess,” Rose said, thankfully steering the conversation back to a more reasonable topic. “Any idea where we start?”
It was Velaya’s turn to smile. “I think I know just the person to talk to.”