I'd done it. I'd passed my Testing. Me, the orphan girl, the blacksmith's twin, plain Rilan Etch, had passed my Testing. And if I survived my Journey...
Mage Heevenstrof, my Tester, smiled at me, and said, "Now off with you! Go tell your twin brother the good news." I smiled one of my rare smiles and raced to obey.
My brother, Coman, was a Third Rank blacksmith's apprentice in Ancentialle, the Mage City. He wanted to help us Traditionalists win the War, but we were orphans, and he couldn't join the Army of Elements. So he chose to become a blacksmith, and make weapons to help our side. If only he was gifted with Magic, like me, for then we could battle side by side against the Imperialists. But as a Magic-less orphan, he couldn't be a First Rank blacksmith, or Blacksmith Mage. And he couldn't be a Second Rank blacksmith for the same reason. In fact, be began his training under a Fifth Rank, and only his skill and fine work caused him to be offered the chance to learn from a Third Rank.
I often felt sorrey for Coman. After all, I had become a Mage of Darkness without any trouble, as Magistry was the only profession one could pursue regardless of station and parentage.
And now I was a Darkness Mage. I only had to complete my Journey...
I don't suppose you've ever been to Ancentialle. Believe me, it's an amazing sight. Even after living there for nine years, there were still places I hadn't seen- it's that big. And the architcture was amazing. The entire city was made of marble. I'd once overheard a merchant commenting on the exquisit carvings on a nearby building. He had been in the middle of the Slums, fifteen minutes away from where descent folk lived.
Of course, I rarely saw anything other than the Citadel, where young Mages trained and lived.
I came out of my reverie as I approached the Smithy District. I never liked the area, so mky brother normally visited me. Smithies are stuffy, hot places. They are also dakr. I may be a Darkness Mage, but Darkness Mages rarely used their power, almost hated it.
I had to pay attention as I could never remember which Smithy was Coman's. But it wasn't too hard to find. It was fairly small, with a small window through which you could see Master Fich's wares. The hammer-and-anvil sign was over the door, which had an itracate iron handle (made by Coman two yeasr before). I grabbed the handle, pulled the door open and stepped in.
It took my eyes a moment to adjust. Then I looked around. I couldn't see anyone, but I could hear someone in the the back room. I headed over to the door and peaked in.
It was Coman. I couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like he was working on some sort of blade. I stepped into the room, causing Coman to look up.
"Rilan!" he exclaimed. "So good to see you! How've you been? I haven't seen you for over two weeks! I was going to visit, but Master Fich requested that I make a sword for one of the guards, and I was busy..." He chattered on, pulling me to his masterpiece.
"Made of iron, not steel, but still nice, don't you-" He stopped abruptly and I knew he'd notice dmy hair and eyes. When he'd seen me last, my hair was the same chestnut colour as his, and my eyes had been hazel. Now my hair was blue-black, and my eyes were a deep purple.
"Spirits... Ri, you've passed your Testing, haven't you?" he asked, using his nickname for me. I nodded. "Wow!" he said. "So now you're a Darkness Mage! That's extra!" He used the slang term for extraordinary. I smiled at him.
"Now I must simply pass my Journey, and I will be an official Mage of Darkness." He looked almost as excited as I felt. "Of course, I won't see you for a long time while I Journey." He shrugged.
"Oh well. It's still totally awesome. Let's celebrate. Master Fich is out right now, but once he's back, I'm going to ask him if I can have the rest of the evening off." I started to protest, but he stopped me. "It's not like I'll be takin' too many days off while you're on your Journey. So whad'ya say we go have some fun?" I answered with a grin.
Master Fich returned a few minutes later, and was only too happy to let us go celebrate.
"Take him!" he said. "Once you're gone, Coman'll stick around more, and he attracts a lot of young ladies who need to buy a weapon for a father or brother or uncle or som'in'." I grineed at Master Fich. Coman scowled. My poor brother. He was fifteen and quite handsome.
Coman and I decided to go tell some of our friends first, and then figure out what to do. So we headed for the slums, where we had lived until the age of nine,
It took us a while to track down our firends. Litti was failrly easy- she actually owned a house, and had started a medicine shop. Litti was delighted by the news.
"We'd better go out for dinner 'n celebrate!" she exclaimed. Coman and I aggreed to meet her at "The Mage's Dish", a popular restaurant, for dinner.
Next we tried to find Hets. He was hard. He was a profesional thief, and therefore was in hiding. We had to try three hideouts before we found him.
"'T's to'lly ex'r'!" He spoke in a strange matter, and sometimes even I, who had known him for a long time, had trouble understanding him. "One 'f ou' o'n, a ma' 'n all. Ri, yo's no' semi 'sp'tabl'! Bu' yo' a'n' go'a tu'n mey i' righ'?" I grinned. "Grea'!" he said.
"We're headin' to The Mage's Dish for dinner," Coman told Hets. "Litti's gonna be there. You game?" Hets nodded.
"Coun' mey 'n! Mey'l' bey th'!" he told us. We assumed he was saying yes.
"Wonderful! But do you know the whereabouts of Mizzie?" I questioned.
He grinned at me. "O' course mey d'! Shey's mey gi'lfr'n', a'n' shey?" he exclaimed. "Shey's a' some pla', do'n' a li'le they'vin'." I sighed. Som epeople change, and some don't. I could speak in a civilized manner, but there was no chance of Hets speaking properly.
It didn't take us too long to locate Mizzie. We simply waited until we heard a great deal of noise in the Shopping District, and then ran towards the area, and we found Mizzie.
"Coman! Ri! Where've ya be'n? I ain't seen ya for-" Then she spotted my hair. "Ri! ou passed yer Testing?" I nodded. "Right on!"
We talked with Mizzie a bit, and she agreed to go to dinner with us if she could, but she was'nt sure. It depended on whether the guad were still searching for her.
We bid her farewell, and headed off. We had found our firends, but it was several hours until dinner.
"Now what?" Coman asked.
"Well..." I said, "I could take you to the Citadel, and we could explore." We had yet to discover it all. Coman nodded.
"Lead on!" he told me.
So we went to the Citadel, and explored. We found another library (it was full of old law books), some empty teaching rooms, an aviary, another aquarium, and another courtyard.
The courtyard was empty. But as we turned to go, he pointed to a small door in the wall. "What's through there?" he asked me. I shrugged. "Then let's go find out!" he suggested.
We tried the door, but it was locked. That would have kept out most people, but not all. Within moments, a lockpick was inserted and the door opened. We peered inside, then stared.
This room was not a normal one. Thather than the marble I had been seeing since I arrived at the age of five, the room was made of a cold grey stone. There was a rug in the center of the room, but it was made of undyed wool, and was soven, not latchihook. The fireplace was unadorned, without carvings or even an iron-wrought fireguard. There was a plain, uncarved table in the center of the room, with a matching, cushionless chair to go with it. On the table were a multitude of scrolls. Curious, Coman and I stepped forward. Coman, who was illiturate like all the non-Mages, to examine a sword hung on the wall, me to read the scrolls.
They were written in the Language of Old, but I could, of course, read and speak it fluently. SO I read the page.
It is happening. They are leaving. They don't like our ways, saying that Mages should rule, and that otheres are beneath them. And there are non-Mages that agree. The followers of the New Way have strange thoughts. They say that orphans are lesser people. But I disagree. Is the child responsible for their parents' death? I think not. But us who follos the Olden Way are no longer listened to and respected. And the New Ones have created new elements: Light and Darkness. But they kept Life and Death. I do not understand.
Then the paper ended.
I realized that this was the record of an ancient Imperialist. But the Imperialists were only twenty years old. And htese "New Ones" sounded like Traditionalists! It didn't make sense.
I reached for another paper.
It has been ten years since they came. There are less of us now. People prefer the New Way. It is not law to be learned, so people spend their money on luxaries. There are plans of building a marble city! How ridiculous! Even if such a city is built, it will cost a fortune. But if it is built, I should wish to see it, as it will be a spactacular site!
I realized that this paper spoke of the original idea to build Ancentialle. I wondered if the city was built when the writer was alive to see it.
I read several otehr scrolls, which spoke of the creation of Ancentialle, the rise of the New Way, and the fall of the Olden Way. And then I graspped the most recent scroll.
I am alone. Completely alone. Mage Annimar Les died yesterday in an attack. Now I am alone.
That's not quite true. My wife follows the Olden Ways. But I had her go pretend to follow the New Ways, as she is with child. I wonder if it will be a firl or boy. I wonder if my wife is safe.
They have locked me in a foom in their marble palace. It is a plain room, in the style of an Olden house. They tell me to die here, as I am alone.
And I am dying. They left me with no food or drink, and I am starving. Soon I will die, and with me will die the last true opposition against the New Ways.
And at thebottom was a signiture. It was rather smudged, and I could't quite read it.
Coman Hetch
"Hey! What's up?" I jumped. I'd completely forgotten about Coman. I smiled.
"Nothing. I am simply reading these historical scrolls."
He grinned. "So do the scrolls say who he is?"
I looked around. "Who whom is?"
My twin jerked a thumb at a dark corner. "Him. The skeleton."
Sure enough, a skeleton lay sprawled in the cornor.
"He's just th elast of an ancient group of Imperialists. They locked him in here. He starved to death."
Coman walked over to the skeleton. "He's got pretty nice clothes. Is he a mage?" I nodded. "well, let's see if he's got anything interesting."
While Coman searched the body, I turned back to the scsrolls. I wanted to study them. But I'd have to get them to my room.
"Coman!" I called. "Do you see anything I could carry these scrolls in?"
He gestured to a corner of the room. "Over there!" he told me. I walkedover, and puhsed aside several random items. I found a book bag that was in fairly good condition, and I filled it with scrolls, then turned to Coman and said,
"Are you finished? We should probably depart. We have been here a while." Coman nodded, got up, and we left.
Later that evening, we met our friends at "The Mage's Dish". Litti and Hets were on time, but Mizzie was "delayed". But she finally arrived.
"Sorry I's late! But I's delaed by th' guards," she said, panting. We grinned.
"Bu' ya's wor'n' mey!" Hets said. "Ya bey ca'f'l, ya? A'er al', th'm guar's'll ca' u' on' o' thi' da's!"
I made a mental note to myself to teach Hets how to speak properly. There was no reason he shouldn't know.
Then the waiter came, and we ordered our meals. We talked for a while, but I won't bore you with the details. Then our meals arrived.
"Aw'om'!" Hets exclaimed. "Ya kno', thi' 'as go' 'o bey th' bes'' di'in' pla' 'n tow', no?"
"Completely!" Mizzie agreed. "Whadya think, Ri?"
I nodded. "The food is much better then what we dine on in the Citadel."
Coman rolled his eyes. "Talk like a normal person, won't ya?" I shrugged.
"I have been trained to speak in this manner. Do you think I sound odd?"
Hets nodded. "Ya soun' li' a s'uff' gro'n'u'. Tha's a ba' thi'."
"Oh, who cares!" Litti said. "I think she sounds wonderful!"
And we carried on eating.
When I returned to the citadel, I saw that the messageboards had been updated. I walked over to investigate.
On the messageborads was a fresh sheet of parchment, with the following upon it.
Journey-Partners
The following are to prepare for their Journey which will begin on Monday, Spetember 9, fived days from today.
Rilan Hetch, Mage of Darkness
Sirenia Lin, Mage of Light
Xiala Abeida, Mage of Fire
Morette Liaki, Mage of Water
Hestora Vra, Mage of Air
Linia Himes, Mage of Earth
Aveniale Sucratchi, Mage of Life
Wicastera Amon, Mage of Death
My name was on the list. These were the people I was going to spend the next year with.
That night as I lay in bed, I tried to remember what my Journey-Partners were like. I had met them all before, but only once or twice in the five years I had been training.
The Ligh Mage, Sirenia Lin, I knew. Mages often learned with Mages of the opposite element, as we needed to learn counter-spells. Sirenia was nice enough, if a bit self-centered. But Light Mages are often like that. She was fairly pretty, and a strong Mage. I'd seen her cast Liquid Light, a praticularily hard spell, one that I rather like. Liquid Light looks like molten gold, except that it radiates a brilliant light.
I liked Sirenia. Travelling with her would be pleasant.
I'd heard of Xiala Abeida, the Fire Mage, although I'd only met her once. Everyone knew that she wanted to be a Warrior Mage, although her gender forbade it. She had a quick temper, and people never crossed her. She was beautiful, and also a strong Mage. She had never cast Liquid Firee before, but only because a Mage forbade herr to. She picked fights, and fought with Magic and fists. Rumour had it she once pulled a knife on a classmate.
And she was one of my Journey-Partners.
I'd met Morette Liaki three times, and hated her. She was a self-centered arrogant fool. She spent her spare time flirting, something we Mages are forbidden to do. We are also forbidden to marry. But that didn't stop Morette. She was also a beautiful woman, not to mention a powerful Water Mage.
I began to wonder if I could request new Journey-Partners.
The Air Mage, Hestora Vra, was nice. The Air Wing is next to the Darkness Wing, so I knew most of the Air Mages. Tora, as she was called, was pleasant, and made an effort to be liked. But she was slightly vain, and a bit self-centered. But that is normal for an Air Mage.
When we camped, maybe Sirenia, Tora, and I could stay on one side of the campsite and Xiala and Morette could stay on the other.
I knew Linia Himes. Her mother and my mother were childhood friends. Lin was cheerful and nice, although she was definately absent-minded. Although she was an Earth Mage, she was not quite "down to Earth" as the saying goes. But she was also smart, likely due to the large bumber of books she had read.
She could join Sirenia, Tora, and I on our side of the camp.
Aveniale Sucratchi; Mage of Life. I didn't know her at all. I'd seen her once, maybe twice. Life Mages rarely associate with others. But Life Mages are supposed to be nice.
She was probably nice.
And then there was Wicastera Amon, a Death Mage. I hate Death Mages. They are not nice people, as they are self-centered and distant.
I was doomed.
And all the others were most likely evaluating me. Perhaps they thought I was nice...
I hurried to Coman's workplace. I burst in the door, shouting,
"Coman! I shall leave for my Journey in four day's time, and-"
I stopped. Standing next to Coman was a Mage. But not just any Mage. He was a Mage from the Mage Council, Fire Mage Tonanio Helene.
"When I was a boy, Journey-Partners were quiet and obediant, not loud and obnoxious!"
I nodded, bowed my head, and stood quietly.
He turned back to Coman. "Hmph! Now, Mister Hetch, you will consider what I said? Good. Please get back to me when you have decided. And make sure you decide soon. When I was a boy, we never kept our elders waiting. That's the problem with the young people of today. Always in a rush, unless they have to be quick, in which case they're slower than syrup in midwinter! Hmph!" Turning to me, Mage Helen said, "Now you may tell your brother. Only don't interupt an adult again!" And, muttering something about when he was a boy, he walked out of the shop.
"What's up?" Coman asked me.
"I'm going on my Journey in four days."
"So. It's not that surprising."
"But one of my Journey-Partners is Xiala Abeida!"
He stared at me. "You're doomed."
"So what was Mage Helene speaking to you about?"
"Uh... You know how one of the Journey-Guardians is always on eof the brothers of one of the Mages?"
"Yes..."
"Well, none of your Journey-Partners have a brother. They all have sisters, or are only-children."
"But... you are an orphan! It's forbidden! How did they...?"
"They... um... "bent" a few rules, so you guys could have the correct number of Journey-Partners."
"Interesting..."
"So, I think I'm gonna accept."
"Wonderful! But... what about your apprenticeship?"
"Oh well. Maybe I can continue it when we get back."
"I suppose that would be alright... Perhaps we should go tell Mage Helene that you accept."
"Let's just wait a moment. Master Fich is delivering a battle-axe- he'll be back in a moment. I want to check with him before I accept."
I nodded, and sat down in a nearby chair to wait.
Master Fich was delighted by the news. He even agreed to let Coman finish his apprenticeship when he returned.
The day before we left, the Journey-Partners and the Journey-Guardians attended a meeting.
"Welcome!" Mage Heevenstrof siad. "Now, why don't you introduce yourselves. Let's start with our Darkness Mage. Tell us about yourself, Rilan."
"Um... My name is Rilan Hetch, I'm a Darkness Mage, I'm an orphan, and I have a twin brother, who is one of our Journey-Guardians."
"I'm Sirenia Lin, Mage of Light. I am from the town of Riverside, in Henavrae. Uh... I suppose that is all."
"I'm Xi. Mess with me and I'll break your arm."
"I am Morette Liaki, a Water Mage. I grew up in Wishimi, Plateaunia. My parents are merchants. I have a younger sister, training to be a Mage of Air, and a brother, a Light Mage, currently on his Journey. I have three pet cats, Missy, Sissy, and Kissy, all white persians."
"I'm Hestora Vra- Tora. I grew up in Littlefair, Henavrae. I'm an Air Mage. I have thirty-two friends and sixteen enemies."
"My name is Linia- Lin- Himes. I'm from Marketon, but moved to Ancentialle when I was three. Oh, and I'm an Earth Mage."
"I'm Aveniale Sucratchy, a Life Mage. I'm from Blamp, Plateaunia."
"I'm Wicastera Amon. People call me Wiccy. I'm a Death Mage."
"Wonderful!" Mage Helene exclaimed. "Some of you were a little... lacking," he glanced at Xiala, "in your description, but I'm sure you'll all learn more about each other soon.
Now, why don't I introduce you to your Journey-Guardians."
He pointed at a tall, dark-skinned man. "This is Leno Hames, your Sergent-Guardian." Then he pointed to the Council Death Mage, Mage Salia Linaide. She smiled, and tossed her red-streaked blakc hair. "This is Salia Linaide, your Magic-Guardian." Next was a man with pale blonde hair, pasty skin, and pale blue eyes. "This is Marneen Corenof, from Northland, your Guiding-Guardian." Now Mage Helen smiled. "I did find you a City-Guardian, but he is not here yet, so we can go on." Next he pointed to a brown-haired and eyed man. "This is Hanomen Tieni, your Night-Guardian, from Plateaunia." Then he pointed to another Northlander. "This is Haynen Haninof, your Archer-Guardian." Now he pointed to a man with the brown eyes and hair and tanned skin of Henavrae. "This is Maisen Higgs, from Henavrae. He is your Attack-Guardian." Finally, he pointed to Coman. "And this is your Brother-Guardian, Coman Hetch, Rilan's twin."
"And now, if Mage Linaide will explain what Guardians do."
"Of course, Mage Helene."
"Your Journey-Guardians are the people who will guard and, in some cases, guide you during your Journey."
"Each Guardian has a certain role. The roles are as follows: Serfent-Guardian, Magic-Guardian, Guiding-Guardian, City-Guardian, Night-Guardian, Archer-Guardian, Attack-Guardian, and Brother-Guardian."
"The Sergent-Guardian leads the Guardians in the event of a fight, and is in charge of the party. The Magic-Guardian guards you against Magic, and answers any questions you may have. The Guiding-Guardian guides you through your Journey. The City-Guardian guards you when you enter a city. The Night-Guardian protects you from those that use cover of darkness, and acts as a sentry. The Archer-Guardian is an Archer, and will cover your backs. The Attack-Guardian leads the attack during a battle, and scouts ahead. And the Brother-Guardian is someone to talk to, and he will act like a councillor."
Suddenly, the door burst open, but I was studying my Guardians, and didn't look to see who it was.
"Ah!" Mage Helene exclaimed. "Our City-Guardian has arrived. Although when I was a boy, we never kept our elders waiting!"
"S'r'ey!" he said apologetically. "'El', 'rey'b'd'! Gl' t' mey' y'." I looked at him, then stared.
"M' n'm's H's!"
"Hets?!" I exclaimed. "You are to be our City-Guardian?"
"R'?!" he asked. "Y's w' o' th' J'n'ey-P't'n's?" I nodded. "'N C'm'n? Y's h'r' t'? W', th' i' g'a bey f'n!"
That night I carefully packed everything I would need. Then, exhausted, I fell asleep, and dreamed of the papers I had packed.