MageLife
Authors: P. Tempest
Magelife
By P. Tempest
2
nd
edition.
Contents
Chapter 1
Oh boy not this again, I thought as I was woken up by a small glowing Orb. The same Orb from yesterday’s orientation. It hovered flashing next to a potted fern then a voice came from it.
“Mage, you are summoned to headquarters for assignment.”
The voice was a recording which the commander had dispatched to fetch me. The Orb had barely enough intelligence to do that, but it didn't know that. We mages had been told to treat the summoned or constructed beings with respect.
Orb continued in its own voice, which was rather childlike: “Do you need any help to get there?”
Poor thing, I doubted it could find its way back on its own.
“Sure why don't you ride on my shoulder, you can give me directions from there. Sound good?” I asked.
The Orb just blinked. I pulled myself out of bed and looked around proudly at my far larger room, courtesy of passing my Mage exam.
As part of being a Mage you end up working for the Wizards' Council, that’s where I was being summoned to.
The regional offices.
“Give me two minutes to get dressed.”
I pulled on my Mage uniform: Simple black trousers and shirt. A full length leather overcoat with colour-coded bands at the wrists: green on one wrist, blue on the other for me, and tough leather boots. Nothing I was wearing was enchanted. I had to do that myself, once I got the chance.
“Right I'm ready,” I said with more cheer than I felt.
The Orb floated over to my left shoulder.
And off we went.
Headquarters wasn't too far away. It was one perk of my new Mage apartment, I only had to travel 100 yards. The poor Orb was fading slowly. The boss must have forgotten to feed it.
I picked up the pace. I really feel for the conjured, they have no life of their own, but what we grant them. Even if I wasn't ordered to be nice to them, I would anyway. I remember my first golem as a kid. He’d died because I didn't know how to look after him. It still hurt, but was a valuable lesson now.
I got to the headquarters doors, a large oak double affair, sending my magic ahead of me, the authentication charm detected me, opening the doors.
My boss was sitting at the big desk in reception, staring right at me, red in the face and glaring fiercely.
“Junior Mage Tristan! What time do you call this?”
I mumbled out an incoherent mess of syllables that was supposed to be an excuse.
“No, don't answer, Orb, you get over here, you took too long.”
Orb floated over to my boss, flickering slightly.
“Sorry dad.”
It brightened as it got closer to its ‘father’ absorbing the ambient energy of its creator.
“No! How many times have I told you we are at work? You call me Senior Mage or Sir at work.”
Orb shifted colour from a pale blue to light pink.
“Sorry Sir.”
I felt my anger stir, you don't treat created beings like this. They can't understand at their age and power. I remained silent through great effort and gritted teeth. It was only my second day as a qualified Mage. I didn't want to get on his bad side already.
The boss turned back to me. Looking mollified by the submission of his “child”.
“Junior Mage Tristan as this is your induction week. You are to attempt as many tasks as we can find for you. I have your testing shard here. It says you were top of your class in earth, Is this correct?”
I drifted off slightly as I remembered my earth classes. I missed that he asked a question.
“Is this correct?” He shouted at me.
Wow, where is my head today. I'm not normally this much of a pixie.
“Yes Sir it is. Golem creation and skill implantation are my best earth skills. I’m okay with plants and infused enchantment.”
I was understandably proud, my voice just vibrating with pride.
“I didn't ask for your life story, Junior Mage, a simple yes or no is more than enough for me,” He reprimanded me, before continuing,
“And it says here you have water skills as well?”
“Yes sir,” I answered.
“Well, Mud boy, let’s send you out to help the farmers today.”
I did my best to hold in a groan. Not only was he calling me names, he picked the most boring task ever.
“The farmers west of the town are having an irrigation problem. Do you think you can handle it?”
I hate this man, doesn't he know what I can do. Was all I could think.
“Yes Sir,” I voiced sullenly
My boss just looked at me doubtfully.
“We shall see. Remember this is induction, if you can’t handle it report back to me or send a message, and we shall find you a simpler task.”
He handed me a small rock.
“Dismissed.”
I went, carrying my rock.
To be totally honest I wasn't feeling too great as I left, my second day and the boss was already giving me a hard time. I will show him. Maybe he will give me a better task once he sees what I can do. So I turned my attention to the rock. I used my magic to access the information stored in this innocuous piece of flint. It played like any other recording but this one in my head, guiding me to the mission.
Hmmm would I? Not really but I best had in case the boss checks. I directed the thought
“Really monster attacks? How is that a possible cause?!”
I exclaimed momentarily forgetting to silently say it to the rock. Monsters and magical creatures hadn't been seen in a decade. I got some very funny looks from passers-by. I guess I did look strange.
I was young for a full Mage, just turned twenty, most were in their late twenties by the time they took their tests. Long black hair, tall slim. Even my faintly glowing eyes setting me apart. Not all the looks I received were funny. The ladies loved me. Although the older ones just wanted to fatten me up. I have no idea why.
I approached the farms appropriately named East farms. I could see golems in the fields watering the crops. Large man shaped rocks, I assumed as a temporary measure till water was arranged.
Looking around I didn't see anyone about. Where are they all? As I wandered I thought maybe they are at the irrigation system. Looking toward the east I saw a bit of movement. As I got closer I could see it was the farmers, standing around a stone plinth. It had to be the irrigation system access point.
“Hello?” I called.
The oldest, had to be in his fifties, just looked at me. I thought, more than a hello may be needed here.
“Hello, I'm Tristan Sodden. I'm your assigned mage for this incident. Can you please tell me what the problem is?” I declared as assertively as I could. The farmer, still not looking very happy with me, just snorted
“You're a full Mage?” The other three farmers behind him sniggered quietly. Now I felt rather insulted.
“Yes I am, just qualified,” I rather stridently stated.
“O boyo we were specting an older one. Didn't know they made them so young,”
He smiled at me with a glint in his eye before saying.
“We just messing with ya, don't take it personal like. Rysan at the office mirrored us saying you would be young, sorry if we upset you.”
“That's quite alright Sir, I understand. So what seems to be the problem?”
I felt much better now, and I now knew my bosses name.
“There ain't no water in the system is there?”
For some odd reason it sounded like he was asking me. I mean, wouldn’t he know? Apparently this was part of my task. I should have listened to the rock.
“I shall investigate Sir” I responded in my most authoritative voice which wasn't that authoritative but I needed the practice.
I sat down on the edge of the plinth, trying to remember my water lessons. I still wasn’t very good, but I passed. Water is supposedly a good second knack if you have earth because they are often found together, they affect each other. Like earth but wetter is all I really got out of that lesson. Not the most helpful. Instead I resorted to my natural knack.
Earth has always felt right to me. I sent my senses into the earth around the well looking for anything that changed. That's odd, the earth and stone had no trace of powered enchantment. Coming back to myself. I looked around at the expectant faces of the farmers, they just looked back, the stares made me forget what I was going to say, so I just blurted out
“The system is empty, like it’s never had water in it!”
The lead farmer looked so disappointed
“Did you not pay attention to your task stone? This is a new system, you are supposed to do the final shaping and enchant it, to summon water, boyo.”
I flushed angrily at being made to look stupid by my boss. Keeping my anger hidden from the farmers I responded
“I’m sorry Sir. My boss didn't say anything about it, and my stone didn't inform me.” The lead farmer softened at that
“Well no harm done, can you do it or should we sent for someone else?”
Proudly I declared, “I can do it.”
The lead farmer seemed to think about it for moment then slowly nodded his head and walking off,
His fellow farmers followed him.
My boss had set me up to fail, intentionally but I would show him that I was better than he expected.
I sat there for a few minutes thinking about what I needed to do. The final shaping needs to go last after the enchanting.
For this device I needed to summon water. Stone isn't normally great for water based stuff, but it would work in a pinch, so I got to work on the stone base of the system. An hour later we were done with the enchantment. Now to move on to the shaping. A nice smooth finish and a bit of strengthening seemed right. Pushing my power out to surround the structure. I had it smooth the edges helping the individual pieces feel part of the whole structure. A feeling of oneness with each other before my eyes I saw imperfections fade and the whole device shift slightly fitting together far better. A faint chill touched me as the device activated, drawing some of the moisture out of the air. Condensation beaded on the surface briefly before being sucked deep into the stone. Then it was done, just in time for lunch.
I bid farewell to the farmers as I was doing that I turned towards the road, back towards the town wondering what I should have for lunch. I passed through the market looking for a good meal when I felt a heat pulse on my chest. Puzzling. I pulled out my pendant, it had warmed. The pendant was a clear green stone set in silver and one of the first things I made with my magic, all my magic. To look at, it was nothing special. But a look with my othersense revealed a knot of magic in the centre. It had appeared during my tests, it seemed stronger than yesterday.