Firebrand

Who Talked About Sparring Guild

Martel's prediction came true. As he slept, his dreams moved through dark tunnels, full of familiar people and strange creatures, where he walked endlessly without ever finding the way out. It felt eerie to wake, his head overtaken by all these thoughts, but he could take comfort feeling magically refreshed with his spellpower restored to him. His leg had also improved; it still hurt a little when he walked, but otherwise did not trouble him.

Even though he had to save some of his spellpower for tonight, Martel put in more of an effort during his first class with Master Alastair, knowing he had something to prove after a lacklustre performance of late. He was still miles away from summoning anything that resembled a rain cloud – his natural affinity for fire made it harder for him to master anything advanced concerning water – but at least he could not be faulted for his effort.

"Martel, there's something I've been meaning to do," Master Alastair informed him as they took a break to let the novice catch his breath.

"What is it, master?"

"I have a friend working in the Imperial administration. He used to be a clerk in my legion, now he has a cushy job pushing paper around," the former battlemage laughed. "He works in the office handling logistics of Imperial assets, first and foremost its mages."

Martel chewed on the unfamiliar words. "Like, where mages are assigned to work?"

His teacher nodded. "Exactly. Now, you will be learning similar spellwork regardless of pursuing weather work on land or at sea, so even after you become an acolyte, there's room for you to change your mind. But I thought now was a good time for you to meet him and learn about where you most likely would become posted, if you become a weathermage or a seamage or something else entirely."

"Certainly, that sounds great." With everything that had happened in the last month or so, Martel had practically forgotten about his future. It was good that he had Master Alastair to look out for him. And getting a glimpse of where he might spend the next many years of his life, the sort of work he would do, excited him.

His teacher nodded again. "Good. I'll reach out to him and arrange a meeting one of these days."

~

Martel felt a little strange, almost nervous as he watched the hands of his clock. Last bell had rung a little while ago, and he wondered how long to wait before it would be appropriate to make his way to the Chamber of Earth. It struck him as a bit silly to feel these tingles of nervous excitement, given that he had already fought another mage with no holds barred, life and death hanging in the balance. Not to mention all the other scraps he had taken part in.

But his feelings did not stem from any fear of losing. Rather, these were his peers. Similar to him in not only age, but also talents and position. As much as Martel was accustomed to spending his time alone, impressing some of these acolytes might lead to a less lonely year at the Lyceum going forward.

When half an hour had passed since the bell rang, Martel donned his leather armour under his robe and left his room. Other students could still be found around the castle, especially the common room; it would still be an hour or so before most of them went to sleep. But boys were not allowed in the girls' dormitory tower after last bell, not even just passing through, so Martel had to take the slightly longer route down the southern corridor, across the dining hall, and past the Hall of Elements.

He met a few servants cleaning up, gathering laundry, or other such chores, and he waited until he was alone in the hallway. At that moment, he quickly opened the door, ignited a small light, and descended the familiar stairs to the Chamber of Earth.

He had not arrived too soon, it appeared. Someone had lit the torches, and a handful of acolytes were present. Martel was glad to recognise Maximilian among them, making him feel less alone.

"Martel!" Henry, the airmage who worked as a clerk in the entrance hall and usually handed him his letters, waved. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"We can guess who told him." Eleanor cast a pointed look at Maximilian, who mumbled something while glancing down.

"We don't allow novices here," said a battlemage in a shrill voice.

"Martel is better than he looks," Maximilian intervened, finding his voice. "Let him have a chance."

"Yeah, before we kick him out, let's see what he's got," assented Henry.

"Very well. Anyone who is here must fight their first night anyway," Eleanor declared. "I will be happy to test his mettle." She took position five paces away from him, standing ready with a short sword and a shield. Martel hoped the blade was blunt, at least.

"Alright." This was one reason why he had come, to prove himself. Though he lacked a weapon. He glanced at the other elemental mages, all of them wielding a staff.

"Here." Henry threw his for Martel to catch.

Armed, Martel arranged himself in a fighting stance, just like in the pit at The Broken Crown. "Ready when you are."

Despite his words, Eleanor took him by surprise with her swiftness. He barely had time to blink before she stood before him, striking down. Desperately, he parried as best he could with his staff while stepping backwards, still taking hits on his arms.

As Eleanor moved forward to stay in close range, hampering his ability to use his longer reach, Martel decided to use his own abilities. With a quick stomp into the ground, he raised a small mound of dirt right where Eleanor walked to trip her.

Without even looking at the floor, simply from seeing his leg move, Eleanor jumped up as she moved forward, avoiding his obstacle entirely. For all his efforts, he received a blow on his shoulder with enough force to hurt.

Trying something else, Martel raised the wind and pushed it towards her while expending spellpower. In response, Eleanor anchored her feet, turning her body sideways while raising her physical shield to stand firm.

Martel had to be smarter. Just like he wanted, he was fighting another mage who knew all these little tricks. Meanwhile, she continued to hammer blows against him.

Eleanor knew his moves, but maybe not if he combined them. He waited until she had finished an assault and readied the next. Summoning his shield, he bought himself a few moments and the opportunity he needed. As Eleanor attacked, he allowed his shield to receive the blow. Besides giving him the opportunity to retaliate, it also meant Eleanor was off balance from her forward strike. Calling on both air and earth, Martel raised the wind behind him and a small peak of dirt behind her.

Even while raising her physical shield, Eleanor could not anchor herself as before, and she staggered backwards only to stumble over his small obstacle rising from the ground. As she landed on her back, Martel held his staff by her throat, as he had seen the mageknights do when convincing a fallen opponent to yield.

"Well done by the novice!" Henry applauded while Maximilian looked satisfied.

Eleanor got on her feet, staying quiet, while the others assented their acceptance of Martel's presence. Now he knew where he would spend his Pelday evenings in the future.