“Well, when the Magister himself requests my presence, I try my best to make it.” Magister Atan laughed as he motioned Insei to sit in the chair facing him.
“The matters we must speak of are serious, “Magister Atan said after he slowly sobered up. The Magister could always be seen smiling or laughing, and Insei found the serious face to the Magister a bit unusual. Insei shifted in her chair, knowing what was to come. A long talk about something boring... Didn’t she get enough of this in her lectures?
“You know of the five elements, correct?” Strange question, she thought. The whole story about the five elements was like a nursery rhyme to her. She just nodded her head with a puzzle look on her face, wishing for the Magister to continue on.
“Magic rules the lives of all, even those who cannot touch or control this magic. Mages can tap into magic, and are able to control air, earth, water or fire. But the fifth element, Ether, is hard to tap into, and even harder to control. Only few since the Four Towers were made have there been people who can tap into the Ether. Insei, you are the only one I know, who is still living to this day, that can tap into the Ether.”
“Yes, I know this. What exactly do you mean?” She wanted to ask more, but knew if she did, the Magister would not take it lightly. The Magister was the head of the Four Towers, the Schools of Magery. So she quietly sat by, watching the Magister pick at his thoughts.
“There are some things that are not taught to students in their tutoring. There was a fifth tower built, dedicated to the element Ether. Not many people know of it, for it has been abandoned for centuries.” the Magister folded his hands together and looked down at the floor in thought. Insei sat quietly by, letting her eyes search the contents of the room.
The furnishings were lavish; paintings and wall hangings covered the carved wooden panels that made up the walls. Plush rags covered the floor, silencing any footstep that might make its way inside. And all over everything was the five symbols of the elements. A tree for earth, a flame for fire, a wave for water, a cloud for air, and above all of those was the star, representing the element Ether. The same star symbol hung around her neck, proclaiming to all of her powers. The Magister was the strongest of all, being able to tap into four of the elements, and thus was awarded with the best of everything.
“The only ones who can enter the Fifth Tower are the ones who can wield Ether.” Insei’s eyes snapped back to the Magister’s. “Insei, our Seer has had a troubling vision. Something of great evil is coming... Something horrible that will destroy us all. Already we have seen some of it in our homeland.” Monsters had ravaged the country; killing without thought the people of the countryside. Perhaps these monsters were just the first wave of the coming evil.
“So, what are you and the Archmages going to do?”
“We want to put the Five Crystals together to form an even greater power than we can do alone. But the fifth and last crystal is in the Fifth Tower…”
“Let me guess… You want me to get this crystal…”
“That is correct. Will you do it?”
“I do not have much of a choice… When will I leave and will I be going alone?” Insei was beginning to question the methods of the Magister, but kept her doubts to herself. Maybe he was crazy…
The Magister’s face hardened and a strange gleam came to his eyes. “This will be a hard task, but I know you will accomplish it well. You shall leave tomorrow. A man named Rinn will accompany you. He will come to your room in the morning when it is time for you two to begin your journey.”
Insei looked down, wondering how in the world she would be able to accomplish this. She stood up quietly, still looking at the floor, and said, “I’ll start my preparations now.” She headed to the door, leaving the Magister in his thoughts.
“Insei,” he said as her hand rested on the door handle. “Tell no one. We do not know which way the evil will come, so the less who know, the better.”
She nodded and left Magister Atan and his thoughts alone.
***
“So, what did the Magister want?” Her friend, Misora, detached herself from the wall, and came practically bouncing up to Insei. Insei stared at Misora, panic beginning to start in her mind. This was her best friend, the friend that was always there with a kind smile and a cheerful word. Could she lie to the one person who showed kindness to Insei when she was in her darkest hours?
But the Magister’s last words came back to her. Even though she could trust her friend with everything, her first loyalty lay to the Magister, her teacher and mentor. No matter the love or loyalty she felt for her friend, her task must be kept in the forefront of her thoughts.
“Oh, you know, the usual. Magister Atan wanted to lecture me once again on the uses of my power,” she said, keeping up a false joyful demeanor that she did not feel. She felt horrible, but forced a smile onto her lips.
“Well, that was bound to happen,” Misora began with a laugh, “Especially after you ruined his last class!” It was true; she had made the objects he was using for the lecture hover into mid air when he wasn’t looking. It brought many laughs, but not without many stern rebukes. Oh well, she had done worse, and would do worse still.
“He never does give up,” Misora said with fake exasperation. “He needs to make his class more exciting but they seem only to get duller. Come on, we’re missing the midday meal.” Misora began to pull her down the hallway in the direction of the stairs, giving Insei only enough time to check her balance.
“Hey, Misora,” Insei began when she leveled with her friend. “I’ll be leaving for my Uncle’s home early tomorrow morning, visiting all the relatives. I’m not sure how long I will be gone for.”
“You’re leaving me?!?” The fake exasperation that was clearly heard in Misora’s voice made Insei laugh, and forget somewhat of her current troubles.
“Don’t worry about me,” Misora continued once they both stopped laughing. “Just make sure you write to me all the time, I want to know what a boring time you will be having there!”
“All right, I will!”
Our bishel dragon has come from Bishen Realm, no stealy!
Images for this dragon home were made by me,
do not use unless you ask.
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