Richard had been apprenticed to Yelxiodre for six months now. He had graduated from Basic Magical Theory to Advanced Magical Theory. He could now cast any of the basic Elemental magics, a handful of support spells, and had even begun learning healing magic. Without the mana restrictions other Mages had, Richard wanted to be as well-rounded as possible. It was actually pretty easy now that he understood more about Magical Theory. Mana basically did whatever you wanted it to as long as you had some basic understanding of what it was you wanted it to do.
The Elemental magics were your basic RPG elements, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Fire could create and control fire, Water collected and controlled water, Earth and Air allowed you to manipulate... well, earth and air. It was all very straightforward. Support Magics allowed him to enhance himself or his allies in various ways. And Healing magics did exactly what you would expect healing magics to do.
His favorite magic though was Kinetic magic. This magic was a little different than other magics. It didn't use up your mana, though it was still mana-based. A person could use their mana to push or pull against the mass of an object to manipulate it or themselves. Unfortunately, Kinetic magics mana usage wasn't one for one. You could move a pen or book without much loss, but a sword took as much mana to manipulate as most basic level spells took to cast. Most mages didn't use Kinetic magic for much due to these diminishing returns. Kinetic Magic had been his first success. He had felt like he could conquer the world, standing there flipping that pen over on the table in front of him.
For his physical training, Yelxidor had managed to find an Orc named Grogg. Grogg was a hulking wall of muscle that did not attempt to hide his dislike of training a human. Not that he refused to teach Richard or that he taught him poorly. But Grogg didn't miss a single opportunity to point out how weak or clumsy Humans were. Or that had he been an Orc, Dwarf, or any other race, Richard would have learned whatever it was he was being taught by this point. Richard had talked to Yelxidor about asking Grogg not to treat him like this.
"To what end?" Yelxidor asked, continuing to slice into his dinner.
"To the end that I'm a person and deserve to be treated with some kind of dignity!" Richard couldn't believe he was having to explain this to his elderly Master.
Swallowing his food Yelxidor responded. "And what about when you leave here? That day will come eventually. Will you come running back to me every time you are treated in a way you deem inappropriate?"
"No, of course not. I just..."
Yelxidor interrupted him. "This is the world we live in, Richard. Maybe whatever town you come from is a haven for humans, but here things are different. I would be doing you a great disservice to let you think others will treat as I have." He started cutting a new slice of meat. "If Grogg crosses a line, then I will intercede. Thus far, I have not seen anything I do not think you will encounter on a day-to-day basis once you are no longer under my care. "
He had managed to convince himself that he had just had a run of bad luck at first. He thought back to the small group of Elves he had run across who had laughed at him. The desk Gnome, who had refused to hide her contempt. The Elven Mages, that had decided he was too unimportant to talk to while they detained him. It was a sobering reminder that Yelxidor was in the minority in his treatment of Humans. Richard hadn't felt much like finishing his meal after that.
Richards time in the Concentration Circle had become his least favorite part of the day. Yelxidor had started changing his Focus each time he was in the Concentration Circle, a different image, word, or sentence. Once he could last thirty minutes without losing his Focus he had been given an extra hour after lunch. Then he was given texts to read while having to maintain his Focus.
One day, Richard had finished his text with some time left in the Circle. He decided to run through some exercises Grogg had taught him. He noticed Yelxidor watching him out of the corner of his eye, a pensive look on his face. The next day Grogg was brought in during Richards second hour and instructed to train Richard as normal. Richards Focus was to remain within the Concentration Circle. Richard had many failures that day. This also seemed to prompt Yelxidor to add physical requirements during his pre-lunch training on top of his texts. Hop on one foot. Balance a glass of water in each hand. Solve a sliding metal puzzle. Then he started making Richard do multiple objectives at once.
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Richard wondered if he had somehow made Yelxidor angry with him. His current situation would indicate that he indeed had. He was once more in the Concentration Circle, and he was having a hard time with it today. Yelxidor had given him the Focus of an Elvish poem. Using Kinetic Magic, he held up a scroll that held an account of the official founding of the city of Bolgarum. He was once again standing on one foot. Atop his head, he was balancing a jug of water. In his left hand, he juggled three colored balls, and with his right he was, for lack of a better term, playing whack-a-mole.
The silver-haired Elf was strolling through the courtyard pruning his rosebushes, his robes of dark green almost blending in with the green of the garden. He was almost back to the entryway. That meant that Richards time in the Circle was almost up. He had failed three times already today and was looking forward to it ending. This was the most he had failed in a long time, not counting his afternoon training with Grogg.
A soft tinkling sound filled the courtyard. It reminded Richard of wind chimes, but he knew there were none near. Yelxidor lay his pruning shears down and sat on a nearby bench. Richard looked at him expectantly, but he motioned for Richard to continue his training and pulled a small crystal ball out of his sleeve. Yelxidor created a barrier of air around himself, and Richard could see his lips moving, but couldn't hear anything. A soundproof wall of air. Richard made a note to try that out later.
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The ball must have been some kind of communication device. Yelxidor continued to talk into it inaudibly. At first, the conversation seemed cordial, but as it continued, Yelxidor got more and more visibly upset. Shaking his head, exaggerated hand movements, it even looked like he had raised his voice towards the end. With a look that would have sent Richard running had it been directed at him, Yelxidor nodded sharply, shoving the crystal ball back into his sleeve.
Clapping his hands, the Circle deactivated, and Richard could finally relax. At least that's what he thought as he lowered his leg and started removing the jug of water from his head.
"You will bathe and dress in your best clothes." Yelxidor said shortly.
"Ok? Is everything alright?" Still holding the jug in his hands, Richard looked at his Master, wondering what that call could have been about.
"No, it is not." The Elfs eyes were hard, and he was tugging his long beard. Something Richard had never seen him do before. "You have been called to appear before the Council of Mages. Richard dropped the jug, already running to get ready.
After a quick bath, Richard was looking through his clothes. He didn't have many options to choose from. Three pairs of identical black robes, three linen shirts, two pairs of linen pants, the pair of leather pants he had upon arrival, and a handful of long underwear and stockings. That made up his entire wardrobe. And none of it was particularly fancy. He chose one of the robes with the thought that since he was to be brought before the Council of Mages, he might as well look like a Mage himself.
After readying himself, he waited at the main door to the apartments and followed Yelxidor out into the city proper for the first time since arriving. When he had arrived, six months ago, it had been just before dawn, and the whole of the city had been asleep. Now, however, everyone was out and about. Richard wondered how he hadn't heard all the noise while living in Yelxidors home for so long. Maybe he had a sound barrier placed around the house as he had done earlier. Now, though, the sounds of horse-drawn carriages and people talking filled his ears.
Elves were the dominant race in this section of the city. Pointed ears and unnaturally lithe forms surrounded them. Richard felt like an ox made out of thumbs in a river of ballet dancers. Thankfully it didn't take long before they exited the residential area and entered a more common district. Dwarves were working a blacksmiths hammer, the cries of shopkeeps hawking their wares. The smells of cooking food were drifting from taverns.
They had been walking for about 15 minutes when Yelxidor turned into a large building. Following him in, Richard suddenly found himself in the main hall of the Explorers of the Gray. It was even the same desk Gnome. Richard couldn't help but smile when, as they passed her, sudden recognition came over her face, and she paled. Navigating a maze of corridors, they went deeper into the building until they came to a large, gilded set of double doors. Yelxidor spun to Richard and held him at arms length.
"Listen to me well, boy. They will not tolerate you the way I have. I see past your physical appearance and know you to be kind, educated, and thoughtful. If, a bit headstrong and hotheaded at times." A slight grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. "But you will do well to speak, only when spoken too. Keep your hands visible and still. Do not look any of them in the eye. Remember; to them, you are nothing but a tool." He was unnecessarily straightening Richards robes when a bell sounded from somewhere, and torches flared to life around the door as they slowly swung open. "You will do well." Richard had been nervous before. Now, he was just plain scared.
The doors opened to a medium-sized room with a raised platform on one end. On top of the platform, was a long solid wood table, at which sat seven robed individuals. Richard counted four Elves, and one each of a Dwarf, Tabaxi, and... Kenku? Some kind of black-feathered avian species. At the center of the table sat one of the Elves in a larger more elaborate chair. 'He must be the one in charge.' That was all Richard could think. A loud, echoing thud startled him, but it was only the doors closing behind them.
"I call to order this meeting of the Council of Mages." The Elf at the center chair intoned. "On this, the 28th day of Autumn of the year 1328." One of the other Elves was writing, most likely noting down everything that happened. "This meeting is called to evaluate the progress of the human placed in the care of Elder Yelxidor Gembell and decide his fate moving forward."
Richards eyes felt like they might pop out of his head. He didn't know what he had thought this was going to be but hadn't considered that he wouldn't just be sent back with Yelxidor once it was all done. His Masters words from before the doors opened held new meaning. He was just a tool for them to use.
They ran him through multiple exercises that he had learned throughout the past few months. He had to recite Magical Theory. They put him in their own Concentration Circle and attempted to break his Focus. They had him cast spell, after spell, after spell. Nothing they had him do was anywhere near as hard, nor intense as the training Yelxidor had put him through. After two or three hours of tests and trials, they finally seemed done. Setting back in their chairs, they cast those same sound barriers and talked to one another.
Yelxidor took this moment to nod at Richard with a slight smile. This small gesture made him swell with pride. He smiled back in gratitude. The council sat behind their barrier for only a few minutes before returning their attention to him. The lead Elf cleared his throat.
"It is the finding of The Council that the Humans skills have reached a point where he can be of use to The Council. He will remain in the care of Elder Gembell, but moving forward, he may be called upon by The Council to perform job duties as they see fit." Richard noticed Yelxidors shoulders relax. "His first duty will be to join a party tomorrow morning journeying into the Gray, where he will assist in the eradication of a Wyvern den."