Slave to the Empire: Sorcerer 3
For the record, all that Savren was required to do was light a candle.
However, it wasn't just the candle that was lit. The flame burned brightly for
the briefest moment like a new star, then it melted the candle, the candlestick
holder, the table, twenty six flagstones, three statues, incinerated a tapestry,
and singed the tips of his Master's hair. The scorch marks alone would take
weeks to scrub off the walls and ceiling of the casting chamber. Lady Esmerelda
stood with crossed arms and blew a stray singed hair out of her face.
"My apologies Master." Savren sputtered at the devastation wrought with
a single spell.
"I see we are going to have to start back at the beginning." She took
her hair into her hands and restored it slowly. "Your power reserves have been
greatly enhanced, as well as the level of power in each casting." She motioned
for him to follow. "You are not to use any magick for the time being. I will
work up a revised training regime for you. In the meantime, I want you to
meditate and study on how your abilities have changed."
"Yes Master." Savren bowed and returned to his room. His room was
different from when he was a childe, the most prominent feature being the desk
and bookcase. When a new supplicant was accepted for training, s/he was
assigned one of the trainee rooms, spartan in nature, with a simple bed,
wardrobe, and clothing provided by the school. Students were often gifted with
an allowance from their sponsor, which allowed them to personalize their rooms
if they wished. The allowance was small, and most students purchased books and
writing supplies which were stored in a trunk at the foot of each bed. A desk
and bookcase were often moved into the student's room after making their
Offering, signaling their elevation to adult responsibilities. For Savren, that
meant a black oak desk and cedar bookcase. He took a seat at his desk, opening
a leather-bound book and began to study a spell. His collection of spells has
grown over the years; however, by his very nature he could only learn a handful
of them at one time.
After several hours of meditation and study, he changed into padded
armor and took up the steel bound quarterstaff, a gift from his mother, and
reported to the training hall for his scheduled period. He enjoyed these brief
interludes in his magickal training, where he could practice on his staff work.
The training hall was mostly empty, with the exception of a few of his friends
practicing their own staff work under the tutelage of one of the various
Marshals that maintained law and order in the Prefecture. He adjusted his
training uniform before approaching the group.
"Welcome student." The marshal spoke. She peered at his collar
closely. "Good, you are in the advanced class." She pointed to one of the boys
present. "Kaylis, go and spar with Savren." A dark haired youth retrieved his
staff from the wall rack and moved across the great hall towards the sparring
circles that were in the center of the hall. Along the walls were several
alcoves with doors that led to shielded rooms where magick could be employed in
combat. Banners lined the walls of the training hall, each signifying the many
regiments sponsored by the Grand Duchess for inclusion into the Imperial Army.
Kaylis bowed and stepped to one of the sparring circles and waited.
Savren approached the circle and bowed to his opponent. He took up his quarter
staff and waited. Savren knew of Kaylis, but did not include him in his close
circle of friends. The young man came from the Western Prefecture, and was in
training to take his place amongst the hierarchy of the Necromancers.
"I heard you chose Lady Trelyana to assist in making your Offering."
Kaylis spoke, his staff flashing out to be intercepted by Savren's.
"Indeed." Savren replied, his own staff lashing out. The two staves
slowly started tapping each other, the sound of the wood on wood clicking
rhythmically, slowly speeding up.
"A pity Lady Trelyana had to leave the school."
Savren blinked, and the hard wood staff of his opponent rapped him
soundly on the head. Savren stepped back and rubbed his head, feeling the knot
that was slowly rising. Kaylis returned to a ready position at the far end of
the training ring and waited. Savren shrugged the blow off and returned to a
ready stance to match his opponents.
"Distractions will get you killed my friend." Kaylis smiled wryly.
Savren grinned and spun his staff around the center point and leapt into
the fray. Both staves blurred in activity as the two advanced students fought
furiously. Imperial law forbade the males of the population to actively take up
arms; however there was the need for the male to be able to defend himself when
the situations warrant it. Quarterstaffs were the weapon of choice amongst the
male population. There were freeman battalions amongst the Imperial Army, but
those were strictly regulated, and they were usually irregulars, support, or
archer units. Marshals were usually retained by the school to oversee the
training of the young male mages and sorcerers of the Empire. Savren, and a few
others like Kaylis, had the benefit of mothers who were in the military and
could provide the basics of instruction to their sons, so that they were more
able to deal with the fluid situation of combat. In rare instances, the young
trainees were inducted into the ways of using the short, long bladed leaf spear,
to complement their basis in staff work.
Savren spun the staff slowly with one hand out to his left side, and
angled his body with his right hand out, palm facing his opponent, one of the
basic ready forms of Zha-sen, the accepted marital art of the Dragon Riders.
Kaylis slid his right foot out as he brought his staff to face his opponent, his
hands holding one end of the staff and the butt cap facing his opponent. Savren
sped up the spinning staff, shuffling forward as he spun with the force of the
spinning staff. Kaylis blocked the weapon once, but had to retreat as Savren
reversed the spin of his staff to knock Kaylis's out of position. He followed
the attack up with a second, spinning the staff around his abdomen and finally
reaching out to tap his opponent on the side of the head with the spinning
weapon. Kaylis backed off and shook his head, then spun himself and used the
staff as a spear, attempting to score a disabling hit on Savren. Savren blocked
the strike with a downward stroke of his staff, leaping up to dropkick his
opponent out of the ring. Kaylis tumbled backward out of the ring as Savren
landed in a defensive stance. Kaylis rolled back and popped his body forward,
landing on the balls of his feet before bouncing forward, spinning his staff
around his body before extending it into a side strike. Savren spun his staff
in a counter fashion, blocking the strike and forcing his opponent back again
with and elbow strike to the solar plexus. Kaylis fell backwards and landed
with a thump. Savren danced away, his staff arched for a killing blow.
"HOLD!"
Savren held and retreated, and then stood and looked at the Marshal.
She knelt down to check out Kaylis, who stood shakily. While the fighting style
was not the issue, the level of violence unleashed was. He stood quietly as the
Marshal berated him for the unwarranted increase of combat.
"This matter will be referred to your Master young man. You could have
seriously injured Kaylis."
"Yes Marshal." Savren replied. "I'm sorry about that Kaylis."
Kaylis shrugged it off. "No problem. I keep forgetting who your mother
is."
"That is all for today." The Marshal spoke. "And next time you decide
to up the ante, you and I will go a round boy." She warned.
Savren bowed respectfully. "Yes Marshal."
The trainees filed out of the hall and made their way to their
respective rooms, changing for the afternoon meal. It was quiet as usual as
they ate, instructors making their rounds to see to that the students spent
their time eating, and not talking. Savren felt a bit of sorrow at the fact
that Lady Trelyana was not present, but he focused on his meal until one of the
instructors tapped him on the shoulder.
"Your Master will see you after your meal."
Savren bobbed his head in acceptance of the order, and then quickly
finished the meal. It lacked the flavor he normally found with such meals, but
then again, he did not have Lady Trelyana watching him. He realized that he did
miss Her, and that part of him yearned for Her touch upon him. He stood quietly
and took his empty tray to the serving line where a pair of servants took it
from him wordlessly. Without another thought he turned and approached the main
table where his Master sat along with several other senior instructors. He
waited patiently for his Master to acknowledge his presence. It was several
minutes before her eyes flickered to his and she nodded imperceptibly. She
stood and motioned for him to follow her to her office. She sat in her chair
after a few moments and ordered him to sit in one of the two chairs before her
desk.
"I am sure that you know that Lady Trelyana has been called away on
urgent business." She began. "I know how you feel about her. She is quite the
dominant, is she not?"
"She is very...intense." Savren replied.
"On other matters," She began, "I believe I have found out the cause of
your increased abilities. Yes, they do stem from your Offering, but not in the
way you would think." She paused and looked at him. "As you know, all those
who are able to wield sorcerous powers have an internal reservoir with which to
draw magickal power for their spells. Your own internal reservoir has been
increased, along with a rather unique secondary reservoir that can function as a
backup to your main power pool. I believe this extra power pool can only be
filled by pain."
"Pain?"
"Your Offering was potent in both pain and pleasure. Your main
reservoir will recharge normally when you rest, but this reserve can only be
filled with your pain and suffering."
Savren blinked. It seemed strange, yet relieving to find out why he his
simple spell exploded in such a fury.
"The simple fire spell was boosted by my reserve?"
"In a sense." She replied. "Your level of power has been increased to
near Adept level, but you are still a noviate in experience." She shook her
head. "It almost seems we will have to start from the very beginning with your
training. A few corners may be cut in this, but the core criteria will have to
be enforced."
"Yes Master." Savren took a deep breath. "I guess there is no time
like the present to begin."
"A commendable attitude Noviate." She said, rising. "I will summon a
conclave of Masters to assess your current level of training to your ability
level. Return to your chambers until you are summoned."
Savren stood and bowed before returning to his chambers. As he made his
way back though the labyrinthine halls of the Tower. There were a few students
waiting for him as he reached his room, his small group of friends that he had
made over the years. Since his Master did not tell him he could not have
company, he ushered them in and closed the door behind him. The small group
numbers only four, three of them males like himself, but curiously, one of them
female, and a Moon Elf at that. Of the three males, Talberion was from the
Southern Prefecture. He was the oldest of the group and was closest to
completing his trials. The other two males, Jorge and Daven, hailed from
Western Prefecture. Both were studying the necromantic arts, which were no
surprise since nearly all of the mages and sorcerers that came out of the Dark
Prefecture were inclined to such arts. The last, Elisia, also hailed from the
Southern Prefecture, and, if one was inclined to believe the rumors, niece to
the Grand Duchess of the South and High Inquisitor of the Empire. Savren
offered his chair to the Moon Elf, who accepted it with grace and sat in one
smooth motion. Savren sat on his bed, as the other boys took whatever seat they
felt most comfortable in.
"I heard you had an accident in one of the casting chambers." Elisia
laughed, pulling out a scroll.
"I heard it took them three hours just to get rid of the burn marks."
Joked Talberion.
"What can I say?" Savren shrugged.
"Perhaps we should continue our discussion from yesterday." Daven
spoke, his voice serious. The two young men from the Dark Prefecture were
always serious in everything they did.
Jorge only nodded solemnly.
"Very well." Savren replied. "Since Master Corrie saw fit to assign us
this little project, I have done an in depth study through the library on the
ethics of experimentation." He took a deep breath. "The core of the argument
for the use of intelligent beings for experimentation is for the benefit of all,
the primary kingdom behind this rationale being Iceholme. As we all know the
nature of that realm, how can the 'benefit' be for all, if in fact, the ruler of
that kingdom is a psychopathic killer?"
"I would say Makiri is not really a psychopath." Elisia spoke. "He is
in fact, dead, or rather, undead. I would hazard a guess that he doesn't see
himself as evil."
"Are we rehashing the perception argument again?" Jorge said. "The
Arch-Lich of Iceholme is the greatest threat to our home, trying to rationalize
his actions isn't what we are supposed to be doing."
"Ah, but he is in truth a being who has no regard for the sanctity of
sentients and will not hesitate to experiment on them to pursue his own goals."
Savren opened a scroll. "The great plague in the Year of the Comet was a result
of his experiments. Twenty thousand people died in Iilead before the cause of
plague was discovered, and the cause was in fact a rare fungus that the normal
human is quite allergic to."
"Are you saying that we all must take in consideration the effects of
our actions?" Daven asked.
"In a way, yes." Savren leaned forward. "Take the four of us. We are
all training to utilize great power. We must keep in mind the effects of using
such power."
"Some of us already live with that." Jorge rubbed his chin. All males
that have grown in strength are usually hobbled in some way to minimize their
power. The Grand Conclave will lay a geas upon the male to prevent his power
being used to the detriment of the Empire. Savren knew that he himself would
have to undergo such a geas in order to leave the Tower. Even in the current
age of liberal thought males of great ability and power are kept chained. Even
being born into such chains can be weary to the soul.
"Enough." Elisia commanded. Savren found himself bowing to her
authority automatically and instinctively. Sometimes he wondered how his life
would be like if he lived in one of the other kingdoms. The argument continued
for several hours before the consensus was reached that experimentation on
intelligent beings, or any life for that matter, fell into a very gray area that
often left it up to the experimenter how far they should go, and if the answers
found would be worth the price.
"Is it true Savren?" Elisia asked. "Do you really have the blood of
Dragons in your veins?"
Savren thought about the question for a moment. It was not common
knowledge about his lineage, and though he was not forbidden to speak it, he
found himself loath to do so.
"Sort of."
"Sort of? Yes or no." Her voice would brook no opposition.
"Yes." Savren capitulated. "My great-great-granddam is
Virago'Dre'Kamisa, one of the Great Dragons. She has slumbered in her lair for
the better part of a hundred years. All those of the Sorcerer line have the
blood of the Dragons in their veins. Nearly all of us are from the North."
He kept a frown from forming on his face. In reality there were so few
of the sorcerer line in the Tower. His Aunt was the first to detect his nascent
abilities, and quickly placed him on the list for training.
A knock on his door broke up the meeting as Savren followed the
messenger not to his Master's chambers, but to the formal meeting hall of the
ruling Conclave. All matters pertaining to the Tower were decided here. The
meeting hall was small, with a long rectangular table in the center surrounded
by twelve great chairs. At the head of the table was the chair reserved for the
Grand Duchess. Banners and tapestries hung along the walls. Behind the
'throne' of the Grand Duchess was a massive coat of arms that dated to the
beginning of the Empire. He waited as his Master finished conferring with
several others before motioning him forward. All the Masters of the various
schools of Magick were represented, and their expressions contrasted each other.
"Savren, it has been decided to place you under accelerated tutelage
until such a time as you have demonstrated complete control over your powers."
His Master spoke. "It is not to retrain you, but help you become used to your
new abilities. Once you have proved your mastery of this, it will be decided
whether to allow you to learn some of the more potentially destructive magicks.
You do realize should you learn such magicks, you will have to be bonded to
prevent misuse."
"I understand Master"
One of the Masters present slid a candle across the table, to be picked
up by another. The ebon skinned woman held the candle before her.
"Noviate Savren, light this candle."
Savren thought back to his previous test of the candle. His mind raced
to what he had done, how he had used his power as he normally would have. This
second chance he chose a different path. Instead of just unleashing his power,
he let it slowly out. He wrapped the energy around just the tip of the wick.
As much as he tried to slowly light the candle, it flared to life like a small
sun. The Master that held the candle made a gesture and the candle flickered
out.
"Explain." She commanded.
"I attempted to release the power to light the candle slowly, unlike the
earlier trial where I released my power all at once."
"How did it feel?"
"Unnatural." Savren replied. "Trying to control it seemed wrong."
"Interesting." The ArchMage replied. The rest of the masters present
raised candles. "Light all the candles."
Savren gathered his power, his mind focusing on the ten wicks. His
power erupted forth, yet it was spread across a large group of targets. Ten
micro suns flared, and all of the candles wicks danced in flame.
"Do you understand?" The Master asked.
Savren blinked in sudden awareness. Much of his power expended in one
single blast, and yet, when dispersed over a wide variety of targets, his power
seemed as it was when he was younger.
"On a single objective, my power is at full strength, but divided
amongst several tasks, it is of a more controllable level."
"The Noviate learns."
"Indeed." His Master spoke. "We shall be anew at dawn."
The next morning found Savren in the same room with the same Masters.
All stood at certain spots in the room upon thaumaturgic symbols. Each Master
wore her formal robes with their staff of office. His Master stood near the
center of the ritualistic circle, and motioned Savren to take his place at the
center. He stood easily at the center as the ritual began.
"Savren, open yourself to the magick." His Master spoke.
Savren closed his eyes and entered a medative state. There were
currents of power in the room, each representative of the different schools of
Magick taught at the Tower. He rode the flows of magick around the room,
tasting the power as it were. The power slackened and finally dispersed after
an internal instant as he saw and understood the way magick interacted with the
world.
"Each school has a specific function." He spoke. "With each function
comes a 'flavor' of magick. All the magick is similar, yet different, like a
rainbow after a storm. Magick is the cause and affect of the world around us."
He opened his eyes to find his Master smiling at him.
"Finally you begin to understand." Esmerelda dispelled the wards in the
room and stepped forward to embrace him.
"I spent last night thinking about it." Savren blushed. "Is it always
like this?"
"Simple concepts are the hardest to teach." She looked at the assembled
Masters. "You have passed your noviate training."
"But the retraining?"
"Will continue." Esmerelda replied. "We teach you to think, to reason.
You reached the next level of knowledge on your own. Many students to not even
reach your level and remain of the Noviate level. You are now an Apprentice.
From here on out you will be given more responsibility here in the Tower as you
learn. Now you must be selective in what you learn, for as a Sorcerer, you do
not have the luxury of a vast library of spells."
"I am ready."
"Then I will turn you over to your first instructor." Esmerelda nodded
behind him. A familiar cold hand strokes the back of his neck.
"Are you ready to learn my pet?" Lady Trelyana whispered into his ear.
The fire was banked low in the hearth as Esmerelda finished the reports
on Savren's progress. The temperature in the room dropped. The half elf mage
looked up as the shadows formed into the shape of a woman.
"Welcome Lady Murelle." Esmerelda rose from her seat. With the wave of
her hand a large chair silently slid across the room.
"Thank you." Red eyes flashed in the darkness. The vampire slid across
the floor and sat quietly in the chair. "How is the boy doing?"
"He is progressing well. He will be ready soon."
"Good." She relaxed in the leather seat. "My daughter is quite taken
with him."
"I suspected as much."
Murelle smiled. "If it is a true match, then he will have no trouble
adapting to her...peculiarities when she crosses over."
"She is in between?"
"Yes."
Esmerelda sipped her tea and sighed. "He is strong of spirit, not to
mention a massive power sink."
"He will need that power for the time to come."
"Regrets?"
The red eyes formed slits. "We all have regrets."
"Cymra."
"Yes." The alabaster face flushed pink with anger. "It should have
ended long ago."
"And now our hopes ride with four young men into the heart of darkness."
Esmerelda sat the tea cup down and crossed the space between them. She unlaced
the front of her bodice and bared a breast to her visitor. The vampire stood.
"You do not have to do this." Murelle spoke. Esmerelda reached up to
stroke a cold cheek.
"When was the last time you fed from a willing partner?"
"Too long." She whispered.
Esmerelda brushed her golden tresses over her shoulder. Her lips met
those of her lover's and she tasted the faint hint of jasmine. Esmerelda
stretched forth her tongue to intertwine with Murelle's. She felt the fangs of
her lover follow the trail of her lips down the side of her neck, down to the
pale flesh of her breast. She took a deep breath as Murelle took her nipple in
her mouth and sucked gently, her tongue working the hard nub. Esmerelda's
breath quickened as she felt the incisors scrape her flesh, then strike. She
moaned at the penetration, and felt the blood flow into her lover's greedy
mouth. Her eyes fluttered, pressing her lover's head further into her chest.
It seemed like an eternity before the mouth left her breast.
Murelle looked almost...human.
"Thank you." She whispered.
