Firebrand

Land or Sea

The column of water rose into the air in the Hall of Elements. It held its structure against the laws of nature for several moments before it finally disintegrated, falling back into the channel. Sweating slightly from the exertion, Martel wiped his brow.

"Well done, boy," Master Alastair told him. He narrowed his eyes. "It takes its toll on you?"

"It's hard," Martel admitted.

"You haven't begun training your spellpower yet," the teacher considered. "I forgot. Usually, theory of magic is the first course a student has with Master Fenrick."

"Spellpower? How's that related to theory of magic?"

"Well, besides teaching you where your magic comes from, Master Fenrick will also train you how to unlock its potential. Increase your capacity for casting spells, like building up your strength."

"I see. Well, that'll be good. My focus breaks whenever I do magic for an extended while."

Master Alastair nodded. "That's how it is. But you seem to be doing well with water. We will soon move on to practising your skill with air. With those two covered, you are on course to be a weathermage."

Martel hesitated before he asked. "What about fire? Shouldn't I learn that?"

"Well," the Master of Elements considered. "All students are expected to have a basic grasp of every element to become an acolyte. But your innate talent for fire covers that. What matters is that you can control water and air well enough to impress your teachers in those subjects, that they'll agree to train you further."

"It won't be you?"

Master Alastair shook his head. "I only teach basic elemental magic. To be a weathermage, you need specialised training from our Master of Water and Mistress of Air."

"Oh. Well, I'd like to be well-versed in all the elements." Martel refrained from mentioning why he wanted to practise fire – he imagined Master Alastair would not approve.

His teacher gave him a scrutinising look. "Are you having doubts about your chosen path?"

Martel was not, but he figured it best to deflect. "Just thought about – seamages. Yeah, I was at the harbour, watching the ships. Looked exciting."

"Well, that would be the exact same skills you need. Weather or sea, it's all water and air," Master Alastair remarked. "I'll tell Mistress Juliana to have a talk with you."

"Oh – no, that's not needed. Really –"

"Nonsense, that's her job. Now, back to practising."

~

After lunch, a message summoned Martel to the overseer's chamber. As he ascended the stairs, he felt slightly apprehensive; while he had done nothing, the strict overseer made him feel guilty just by proximity.

Once admitted inside, he took one step beyond the door, but nothing more. Mistress Juliana looked up from the letter she was writing, set aside her quill, and turned her chair around.

"Martel. Have a seat."

He took the offered chair.

"Master Alastair told me you have been considering your choices."

"Oh, just – idle speculation. Not worth troubling you over."

"I am the overseer for the students, Martel. Nothing concerning you would be trouble," Mistress Juliana assured him; with her stern eyes on him, he did not feel particularly comforted. "Besides, you have been here nearly a month. Given you are here under unusual circumstances, it is only fitting that I check on you."

"Alright," Martel mumbled.

"Master Alastair tells me your elemental skills progress as they should. And I have no doubt you can pass your other courses, putting you on the trail to become a weathermage. If that remains your desire."

"Oh yes, for sure."

"But you have expressed an interest in becoming a seamage as well." The way she said it, her gaze locked on him, it felt like an accusation. "Understandable. You have seen a little more of the world than Nordmark, only to discover there is far more."

"I have," Martel replied, and to his surprise, he meant it. He thought about the ships leaving harbour and imagined where they might travel, and what experiences awaited. "But I still want to return home. Be a weathermage and help everyone there."

"Well, one doesn't have to exclude the other. You will be learning and using the same skills. Besides, your town currently has a competent weathermage in Master Ogion, if I recall."

"Yes, that's true. He moved in a few years back."

"You could conceivably spend some of your years of Imperial service as a seamage. If you did well, you could ask to be sent to Nordmark once the position in your town became available," Mistress Juliana suggested.

Suddenly, Martel found himself interested. He had not considered this angle. "That is possible?"

The overseer nodded. "It is. The only issue is that you cannot choose which vessels to serve aboard, not while you perform your dutybound service to the Empire. You could be expected to sail on a warship." If possible, her gaze became even more intense.

"Is that likely?"

"Hard to tell. The Khivans keep a healthy distance from our ships, I am given to understand. Their cannons cannot compete with the range of our wizards. But we do sail supplies up the Savena river, which is hotly contested territory."

Martel scratched his head. "I'm not sure about that. Sailing sounds interesting, but not into war."

"Well, you are not obliged to decide. Weather or sea, you can train as a watermage at first. You can make your decision once you finish your schooling," Mistress Juliana told him. "Who knows? Perhaps the war will be over at that time."

"Thanks. I'll give it some thought."

"My door is open should you require advice."

Martel could not imagine willingly disturbing the overseer. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

~

Although it was by happenstance, Martel found himself imagining a future as a seamage. Growing up inland, he had not been to a port city before Morcaster. He had never thought about seagoing vessels, or going to sea himself, for that matter. He remained committed to returning to Engby, but the overseer had been right; while Master Ogion lived there, Martel could not expect to be sent home. The Empire would require his services elsewhere; perhaps aboard a ship crossing the southern sea to Sindhu? Curious to know more, Martel did what seemed most sensible and went to the library.

"I need to read about seamages, and about Sindhu, please," he told the librarian.

"Expanding our horizons, are we," the scribe said with a dull voice. He left his seat to go through the shelves, locating a work on each subject.

Martel dug into the business of sea magic first. Most of it seemed obvious; the most important ability was to keep waters calm and the wind in the sails. Yet it did contain a few extra challenges. Earth magic to help repair a damaged ship. And a strong knowledge of astronomy that the seamage could serve as a navigator if needed. Martel's interest took a blow, and he set the book aside to look at the other.

Sindhu, the land of a thousand princes. All manner of wealth could be found. Diamonds, gems, gold, and silver. Spices, cotton, and the best wood for shipbuilding. More than that, the Sindhians had perfected the art of elixirs. In the spires of the Sindhian cities lived sages, who could make potions to grant immortality. Or draughts so powerful, one drop would revive a man at death's door, but two would stop his heart forever.

Engrossed in the descriptions, Martel almost missed when a door opened that he had hitherto only seen closed. Guarding the stairs to the upper floor, forbidden for a novice like him, the door slowly creaked open.

Glancing over, Martel was surprised to see Eleanor. In part because so few other students seemed to use the library; in part because he wondered what need a mageknight would have for the advanced topics.

As she entered the main floor, their eyes met. Always feeling awkward, especially around Eleanor, Martel raised one hand and waved. He immediately regretted it, knowing how foolish he had to look; yet she had helped him on two occasions now, and he did not wish to be rude.

She stopped, looking indecisive. Finally, she walked over to him. "Unusual to see someone else here."

"Right?" Martel glanced up at the tall shelves. "All this knowledge, and nobody here seems to care." Nearby, the librarian coughed, looking distressed.

"What are you reading?"

"Oh. Just about Sindhu. I was curious."

She leaned forward a little. "And seamages. Planning to sail the salt?"

"Just thinking about it." He shrugged. "What about you?"

"Me?"

Martel nodded towards the door leading upstairs. "What led you to the restricted floor?"

She laughed a little, which sounded enchanting. "You make it sound like a trove of forbidden knowledge. They are simply tomes on more advanced matters."

"Like what? What did you read about?"

"Oh. Magic of the mind."

He frowned. "That's a thing?"

"You do not remember from Master Fenrick's class on the theory of magic?"

"I haven't started it yet. I will after astronomy, I think."

"That explains it. Speaking of which, I will see you for class tomorrow. I have another I should get to."

"See you then." As she turned around and walked away, Martel gave another awkward wave she was unable to see, reproached himself silently for it, and finally turned his attention back onto his book.