Casting Shadows

Cormac

The school’s rampart walls stretched backwards out left and right with the school as front point. Both stone walls essentially led back at angles before hitting one large tower each.

New rampart walls angled in towards the area’s largest dam in the back. It was essentially a caged water fall as large as the school that was steady churning up and down over a chasm running along that end.

Cormac was nestled in the middle between the vast square that was those rampart walls and contained falls surrounded directly by lush farmland and colourful orchards.

Angelina’s mind went to the falls.

They fuelled elemental keys and magical conduits. StarBen had explained it all, but it was overly complex. Even Dansh, StarBen’s apprentice he’d sent north ahead of them, he’d tried to explain things, but it was no use.

Basically, the Castle and two large towers created a shielded power grid to channel the local rune stones, cast spells, and crystal system. The dam and its water element were tapped to power and maintain their heat and other spells.

Angelina got the basics.

The rest always went right over her head.

The bridge led out onto a cobblestone road that started to weave its way through the first of those many farms. Wagons waited to take them along, and they quickly filled. Angelina accepted the ride. At least it would be free today. On weekends, the wagon drivers charged a hefty fee for their services, student or not.

She settled in up against a bumpy wooden back panel, setting her school bag to a side, and gazed out watching the tall cornstalks and hay fields slowly come and go. Farmers reaped with their long sickles, and hand ploughs were pushed along distant fields. Of course, the sickles and ploughs were magically charged and did the work of ten men with one swing or push. Harvested cane and grains were gathered up by cast magic to be carried to barns or prepared for a trip to market.

Simple, yet magical.

Where were the Magical Ethics in farming? How did the farmers decide where and when to use magic to get their job done? Was there a standard rule? She frowned. The Council of 5 made those rules, so she knew that standard existed. But who governed those few who made those standard rules?

That answer was none.

And the school preached to them of Ethics.

Country cobble stone took on coloured patches as they passed under tall iron lampposts burning a clear yellow. Roadway fences became thicker with iron corner supports, and the road evened out a little.

Angelina recognized the town’s outer buildings as the wagons pulled up outside hitching posts. Students emptied out, and horses were given time for food and drink. Angelina hung her bag over her back again, stuffed her hands into her pockets, and followed the crowd.

She noted the ward signs carved into the bricks under her feet as she walked - constellations symbols carved into granite giving their own power to the spells and surrounding enchantments.

She’d mentioned she’d seen them there one time, but the teacher had corrected her for having made it up. Magic was held within talismans now like the wands and staffs the farmers waved about to gather up the harvest and command the wagons.

Like the bronze medallions fixed to their scythes that gave them their enchantments. Every teacher wore a pendant or such, their talisman of choice. The stars held no sway in current magic. At least, that’s what her teacher had said. That’s what every teacher said.

And every student believed.

The truth was something quite different. Those ward signs were real, but the school didn’t want to admit to such things. That would mean students didn’t need to use their wands or medallions. That would mean less structure.

Those with power feared losing it.

And if no one teaches the old constellation magic, it will dwindle until all those who know of those old practices die. And then, she quietly rued standing there, considering the ward signs, it truly will be the end of old, true magic, and everything we know in this secluded little world will be held within stone, bronze, and wood. She frowned, shook her head, and walked on. I don’t want to see that world.

Sorry.

Angelina side-stepped the elbow and hip! She glanced left feeling quite startled. Oh, sorry, she said as well, blushing badly and wiping her hair behind her right ear. I didn’t see you there.

The fifteen year old blushed as well. I didn’t mean to intrude.

Angelina recognized him as the same fifteen year old who’d spoken up in class that day. She’d been noticing him a lot lately with that wavy brown hair and broad shoulders. Those blue eyes. Angelina realized he’d overheard her talking to herself and blushed anew.

Oh, that, she mumbled, that was nothing.

He shrugged, falling into step beside her. She realized she’d never asked for his name before. She was walking right beside him and didn’t know his name!

Nice going in class today with that Blending Stone bit, he noted with an awkward grin. I know the teacher didn’t say it. It made her look stupid, and the other students, well, they don’t seem to like you much.

Angelina frowned. That’s okay.

No, it isn’t. A group of teens laughed as they passed, nudging him after them. I’ll see you later, he added with a sharp inhale. Until then.

He pushed on ahead of her. She bit her tongue a moment. What’s your name? she called after him.

He half turned with a shrug before disappearing into the crowd with his friends. Lance.

She stopped again, this time forcing herself to breathe. Lance. Maybe school wasn’t all bad, at least, not anymore. The whole day somehow felt ten times better already.

Introductory storage buildings became houses and shops, and then, a quick step after that, Cormac fanned out around her.

Angelina couldn’t see Lance anywhere amongst the merchants with their stalls and those calling out to entice shoppers to come in and spend their coin. There were journeymen repairing benches and hanging shop signs; farmers selling their wares; local families stocking up on what they needed; and now, students filing in to check out the town board mounted between the Candy Shoppe and Fruits Vendor.

Angelina couldn’t help but notice the music and laughter coming from the town square just three blocks further in, and she wanted to see what was happening, but she let the crowd take her up to the large board. There in the centre left was a stiff parchment listing off upcoming Workshops for interested students and locals.

Transformation, Basics; Enchanting, Basics; and Elements, Basics – none of them interested her. Well, not the basic version of any of the above. They practised fire and water and wind magic in Spell Casting, but it was passing a simple little flicker around a room or summoning a gentle breeze, nothing too dangerous.

The stage in Spell Casting’s classroom was enchanted by runes to contain any magic that got loose, but they weren’t allowed to do anything real with magic. They were in their first semester, fine. That didn’t mean they were babies!

Basic workshops weren’t her thing.

I thought they were offering something to do with runestones this time around? a girl was mumbling beside her.

Her friend snickered. Arthur Tsy, she mocked, he’s related to that Council Member. Did you know that? The first student shook her head. One of the Sub-Council of Mages, her friend spoke on, glancing around conspiratorially. Not the Council of 5, but just one tier down, she continued a moment later in a slightly lower voice.

Angelina closed her eyes. Her words still carried to anyone within a ten student radius. What was the point of lowering her voice at all?

Well, anyway, that friend continued with a broken snort, it’s no doubt how he got the post to run the workshop, and word got out to that effect, so they cancelled the workshop this semester. They’ll bring it back when everyone’s forgotten. I was looking forward to taking Crystals myself.

King’s sick, the first girl mumbled.

Yeah, I know.

Angelina broke from the crowd finding the town road once more. She pushed through between the shops into the town square beyond to find the source of that music and merriment.

Three large tents had been erected to one side, and live music was being played to a livelier dancing crowd. Jugglers made flaming batons do wonders, and entertainers pantomimed comical acts for groups of awed youngsters.

Banners announced the upcoming Eclipse Celebrations, and stalls boasted signs advertising information, celebration hats and clothing, and various other moon and sun paraphernalia. The tents offered local ale, so they had long lines and the loudest patrons.

Adults and their ale.

It was a sizeable crowd and good jig the band had going. She wasn’t usually impressed with what lutes and the more basic instruments could do, tambourines and their like.

She wandered around staying to the back of the crowd, nodding and kind of dancing her way along, just so as no one could see what she was doing.

She made a conscious check for Council of 5 members in their red and gold robes, even members of the Sub-Council of Mages wearing their dark greens, but there were none to be found.

She’d been taking note where their servants and underlings shopped and hung about, who they spoke to even. She couldn’t even see any of those servants today.

She focused on the entertainment once more.

Side streets offered bowling and target games. One merchant had set up a strength tester and had his own line up of proud men trying to force the brass knob up to the bell mounted against a tall tree.

She wondered if anyone had succeeded.

Gordon passed by in a group of ten and eleven year olds. He waved amid their laughter before carrying on. She waved back. They’d celebrated his eleventh birthday a few days before signing up for school.

She still saw him some times, like now. He was always laughing and carrying on with friends, and he still always knew everything. He’d always been the smart one. The short hair cut fit somehow. He’d certainly had no trouble fitting in.

She shook her head wondering how he did it. Finding no answers, she kept walking, taking in all the colour and music she could handle.

Dunking booths and ring tosses were matched with men trying to hold back horse teams and pie eating contests. It was an odd mix, but Angelina couldn’t help but smile. She’d needed this today of all days.

Hey, you, someone shouted, let’s have at it!

Angelina stopped and turned around. Others were doing the same, but the pint-sized, red haired squirt wasn’t looking at anyone around her. He was pointing at her.

Or are you scared?

The jibe brought on laughter from the midget and his miserly crew. Each co-patriot wore their school garb though some of them had covered up with capes or replaced school cloaks with more comfortable collared shirts. They couldn’t be twelve, more likely ten, and they were gathered around a raised stage, one oval lip on either end.

It was an average duelling stage. They boasted rune stones to contain magic gone awry like any school classroom.

Some idiots never learned.

Give it up while you’re ahead, Angelina barked back, or a ruined school bag will the least of your worries.

The boy sneered his disgust and summoned a fireball in his right hand. So you’re scared then, that’s it! Too scared to take me on in a real fight with no teachers holding us back. He laughed derisively. Told you she was a chicken.

Angelina so had to teach this cretin when to hold his tongue! She stepped up on the stage brushing the merchant and his store-bought talisman aside. She didn’t need some medallion to burn this poor example of a human to bits.

She paused. She wasn’t supposed to know true magic. She was supposed to be reliant on talismans like everyone else. Right.

She found the copper medallion Dansh had given her during their last private lesson before dropping her bag off stage. With a quick loop, she’d lashed it to her right wrist and held it firmly in the palm of her right hand.

This would be some kind of show.

Theel.aree, the brat shouted thrusting his hand out towards her.

Fire shot forth. It was rather diminutive. In fact, it was more of a spittle of flame that had been spat one lazy spark after the other. Angelina wanted to laugh. This was her challenge? This was it?

She projected her mind outwards feeling the flame coming at her. Allowing the wind around each separate bit of fire to swirl, she formed the words Arriess.aree.ina – change, fire, wind.

Change this fire to wind. She mouthed and projected the command calling upon Arriess and the elements in question, and the attack was thwarted.

To the naked eye, she seemingly batted the fire away with a thought. The fire just fizzled and died between them.

Mumbling overtook those who’d gathered to watch. Even the merchant was staring from one youth to the other as if wondering what had just happened. The fire attack had just died mid-air with nothing said and little done.

Angelina frowned. Shit.

She had to speak talisman words when doing magic in public, not just hold the medallion for the token illusion! She kept forgetting that.

Her opponent was not to be denied. Scrunching up his face, freckles folding inwards, he curled his upper lip. Arash!

Angelina sighed. Another fire strike. At least this one formed a fair-sized funnel that was coming at her at a respectable speed.

Talisman command spoken.

Fire was coming at her. She could have sensed the attack in her sleep. She could feel the heat and angle. She’d sensed the friction chill as the gnat had cast his spell.

For what it was worth, she’d sensed the friction chill and known what he was doing before he’d cast the spell, but none of that mattered. The point was that she knew what she could do. The only question was which of the many responses she’d give.

Angelina allowed instinct to take over. She formed the response and counter spell. He wanted to play with fire so badly. She’d give him fire to play with.

Her thoughts and inner focus didn’t target him. She targeted the spiralling flame itself. In her mind, she found the words: Arriess.aree.inee.ina.theel .

Change, fire, time, wind, you.

Change this fire into wind.

The final word was more commanded than the others. Theel was spoken more in a focused mind than through mouthed words. With that mental enhancement, theel directed this counter back at her opponent on a rather direct path. For show, she found talisman commands that kind of fit. No talisman commands actually supplied the counter she was exacting.

Her mouthed counter flowed straight into barked words: ina.arash.

The talisman amplified the wind and forced attack she was casting. The flame spiral was seemingly caught mid air before being rocketed back at her opponent knocking him off stage to fall on his ass and slide before finally coming to a stop up against an equally collapsed stack of feed bags!

The flame was captured by the rune stones at the edge of the duelling stage and faded to nothing. Angelina grinned. The mumbling rose in the crowd around her, and she screwed up her face. Maybe she’d cast a spell no first semester student should know?

Again.

She jumped off stage, scooped up her bag, and hurried off trying to find somewhere private to figure things out. Maybe she’d keep going this time and never return. What would they do then?

She noticed the guards moving through towards the town square as she fit through between stalls and out the other side. The chain mail was for show, but their uniforms were powered by talisman magic, enchanted for speed and strength, and their dungeons were real. Simon had boasted of that fact shortly after they’d signed in the first day.

She saw him now and then too.

But only when she had to.

There was a dark green robe in the crowd as she turned making her way towards the outer wall. The Sub-Council of Mages were about after all; only, now she had to leave to vanish until people stopped talking about her so much. She wouldn’t know where this one was headed.

Great. And things had been going well.

If just for a moment!

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