The Royal University of Galland

[Gisk]

A young man walked through the stone corridors of the Royal University. During the day, the halls were lit by the sun filtering through stained glass windows. At night it would be torches, but Alphonse was glad for the warmth that came with the light. The University got drafty at night, and when it rained. And all the time. When he'd first arrived he had thought of it as a fortress, but now he saw it for what it was; a building of cold stone that was damp more often than a building full of wizards had any right to be. He wasn't going to be sorry to trade it for cozy log cabin inns with soft down pillows and heavy quilts. A different bed(and maybe a different girl) every night...
His daydreaming got away from him, and before he knew it he was standing before the Archmage's door. Time for the last bit of ceremony he would have to stand on. He rapped on the door and called inside, "You summoned me, Archmage Chevelier?"
"Yes, Alphonse. Please come in."
Al opened the door and stepped inside. The Archmage had a large study, the far wall had an enormous bookshelf packed so tight that friction guarded his collection. The rest of the walls were covered in charts, maps and diagrams, except for the East facing wall to Al's right, which was all window. The glass was crystal clear, not colored like most of the glass in the University, and there were potted plants sitting nearby to absorb the light. Al had learned the names of most of these plants, but that didn't mean he remembered. The Archmage himself was standing in front of a chalkboard in the corner, still tapping away symbols and numbers for some physics problem he was considering. He was a man nearing sixty, with graying brown hair and a face that looked remarkably like Alphonse's. His calculations seemed more important than his nephew, so Alphonse stood silently for about ten seconds, then got bored and walked over to the window to look out at the Capital. The University and the King's Palace sat together on a hill, overlooking the walled city, and from here on the third floor Alphonse could see most of the Eastern side of the city.

Just as Alphonse was about to lose patience and break the silence himself, the Archmage finally spoke. "Yes, I called you," he moved behind his desk and gestured at the seat in front of it, "Please, sit down." Alphonse sat. "You have been here eleven years, is that correct?"
He knew full well that it was, "Yes sir."
"That's an awful long time. Do you think you've learned much?"
Al measured his response, "I know a lot more than I did."
The Archmage smiled at that, "A good answer. I think you're long overdue to depart."
Alphonse grinned back at that, "Thank you, sir!"
"You're very welcome," he picked a heavy piece of paper, bearing a blue wax seal, off his desk and presented it to the student. "I bestow upon you, Alphonse Chevelier the rank and title of a Mage of the King."
And finally his uncle would release him and he could do as he pleased... Alphonse had been waiting for this for so long. He had already begun to leave his seat when the Archmage held up a hand for him to stop.
"And with this title you have the honor of performing your first assignment."
Alphonse has never been dumbstruck before, and even now it only took him a moment to get his voice back, "An assignment?" he croaked. All the graduates he'd spoken to said they were free the moment they'd received the blue seal.
"Yes," The Archmage looked uncomfortable, and he broke from his strict adherence to the role of teacher, "I'm sorry Al, really. But it is your duty."
"What must I do?" he was still shocked, but he was hopeful that the task would be simple. Sometimes Magi would get assigned to engineering projects. Just help build a bridge or pave a road. The better he worked the faster, and the sooner he'd be free.
"Raids by Mardian tribesmen are getting more and more frequent. You and a few others are to be stationed up North, under the command of Captain Bell."
"Bell!" this was getting worse and worse, "The man who put me in the stocks when I.. I mean, when he thought I sneaked into the palace kitchens?"
"As I recall, your mouth was still full of sweets when he caught you. But yes, the very same. You'll be in good company," the Archmage added dubiously, "Giles and Edgar are going too. I sent their orders by courier this morning."

The thought of seeing Giles(and trouncing Edgar in historical knowledge)brightened Al's mood somewhat, but he was still gloomy when he sat out in the courtyard for the last time. It was a mercifully sunny day, and many students young and old were practicing magic under the watchful eye of one of the University's teachers. Al watched too, glad that he at least wouldn't be stuck with these classes anymore. And who knows? This whole adventure might turn exciting.

[Superfly]

The letter arrived at dawn, handed to Edgar by a rather flustered courier who looked like he had travelled way further than he had originally thought. He looked half-starved and his horse looked no healthier. It probably pleased the young courier to hear the noise that slipped from his mouth when he recognised the seal, something between a sigh and a moan in anguish told the Courier that news from the king was not good news at all. He dismounted and Edgar allowed his horse to drink from the river nearby.

“You’re a hard bugger to find, you know?” The courier said, as he chewed on some exotic plant he had probably got during his time in Lithos. “I been north and south, and east and west twice over looking for your damn expeditions. But thas’ just who I am, get the job done for good or ill, for King and country. Yep.”

“Yes, I’m very grateful. Now quiet.” Edgar ordered and flipped him a gold coin as he opened the parchment and allowed his eyes to read the text.

“Dear Lord Von Hassan,

It comes with great difficulty that I am to announce the cancelation of your expedition west to find the relic that you have high hopes in reaching, and summon you north to the borders of Mardia post haste to fulfil your duty to the crown. You will report to Captain Bell at our border garrison immediately.

Yours sincerely,
Archmage Chevelier.”

“—Then he says to me, ‘Jimmy, you’ve no right swining from buffalo horns like a monkey, you gots to swing from ‘em like a gorilla!”

Edgar started to laugh, then the courier started to laugh with him. Edgar had no idea why the courier was laughing, and didn’t really care. Just when he was low on luck and grace, some miracle happens to drastically change the tides. He had lost the expedition team, all the equipment, and all the money to fund excavations to traitor mercenaries. They had stormed the camp, tied Edgar and tossed him into the ruins and left him to die but not before taking every bit of gold and valuables he had left. They had seemed like a good investment at the time, but Edgar now seriously regretted hiring a group that referred to themselves as “The Bloody Nut-kickers.”

“My good man,” Edgar said, laying his hand on the couriers shoulder. “Jimmy, was it?”

“Yes, Milord?” He said, cringing somewhat from Edgar’s friendly touch.

“Jimmy, I can make all your dreams come true! How would you like that?” Edgar replied nodding his head.

“Hows that, Milord?”

“Very easily, I’m a mage you see, and we have certain magics that can bring us anything! I want you to close your eyes.” He said, wrapping his arm around the mans back and resting his hand on his shoulder, while his other hand pointed to the horizon. “Close your eyes!”

“Y-Yes Milord mage.”

“You seem the ambitious sort, and that is very wise. It is a cutthroat world out there. I can’t tip you, or give you money and send you on your way, but I can give you the best advice of all.”

The young man opened his eyes. “What’s that milord?”

“Shut your eyes! Or the spell won’t work!” Edgar yelled, taking his arm away from the man. “Picture everything you desire and scream it to the world. Scream it to the heavens, to that pretty girl back home and that awful older brother who acted like a gorilla! Tell them you are Jimmy the courier and you want what iss yours and then some! Scream it, Jimmy! Keep screaming and I promise you it will all come true!”

“I am Jimmy the courier, and I want a girl with big tits--, I want my brothers wife to choke on my—“

Edgar tucked the roll parchment back in his coat pocket and stepped towards the couriers horse. He had several books, maps, ointments, quills and unused parchments tucked away in a large sack that was thrown over his back and tied firmly around his chest, but the most important one was a small map that had foreign lands. He recognised them as he thought of the foreign girl he used to know in the university. The map showed beyond the border of Galland, into the heart of Mordia. It had taken five long years to get this location, and now he had the perfect excuse to get beyond the border perhaps.

“—I want a gold mansion! I want to Usurp the throne! I want to push my brother off the highest tower! I want WHAT IS MINE!—“

Edgar had never resorted to thievery before, but the letter had come late and the mage had spent too long pushing through foreign lands while he could be finding his relic. It made him feel bad, but if he ever saw Jimmy the courier again he would repay the debt. Right now, however, the only thing that mattered was the relic, Captain Bell and whatever other atrocities would come after.

[Koleigulis]

Felix became accustom to the quiet plains of Lithos. He could do whatever he wanted without anyone to tell him otherwise. Even if what he did seamed unreasonable. He could practice manipulating the air to his heart’s content and if there was a rock that bugged him or looked funny he could simply blown it up with one of his trademark potions.

The tell you the truth the main reason Felix traveled so far east is because of the abundance of herbs that grown behind the rocks. The herbs were exactly what he needed to experiment making bigger and better potions. The rocks also acted as good test subjects being quite dense the rock allowed Felix to measure how effective his explosive potions actually are. Now Lithos may be abundant of herbs but other than that there isn't much wildlife. Felix sustains himself by trading rare herbs to couriers and traders for information and basic survival gear. It hasn’t been long since Felix left the University and even though he has travelled far he still keeps in contact with his friends by letter. Although he hasn't expressed his reason for learning magic in the past and he hasn’t taking up an occupation Felix deep down is training himself to be the best he can be so one day he will be able to find and personally introduce the other realm to the cultists that killed his family.
One day just like any Felix began collecting rare herbs waiting for gthe distinct sound of Forgin feat clacking against the rounded stone those envelopes the paths and roads of Lithos. It wasn’t long until Felix heard the click of four hooves making their way down the road. The shape of a man on horseback came in vision. Felix raise his fingers to the sun counting the distance of the sun and horizon. He counted three fingers which ment ti was about 8:00.

“A traveler on the roads at eight?” Felix said in confusion

“Well he must have been traveling all night. Let’s have some fun with this drowsy fellow.”

Felix disappeared onto a rock that overviewed the road and waited.

When the traveler passed by a powerful gust of wind whooshed by and scared the horse onto its hind legs and began to whinny. Felix of course was the cause of this gust and blasted himself high up into the air. Felix soared down and landed on the back of the saddle causing the horse to gallop forward.

He then said “Good morning chap. Where we headed on this fine misty morning?”

The Rider startled beyond belief almost fell off his saddle. He managed to calm the horse down to a stop.
“By the other how’d you do that?!?” The Rider said

Felix Chuckled “Just a mage with a sense of humor.” He said as he dismounted the horse.

“So what are you doing travelling the plains of Lithos at a time like this?” Felix said

“Official university business S-Sir.”

“Ho-Ho well my fine sir you look quite tired. How about I slip you some Night shade leaves. They will make you feel full of energy and you tell me that official business you’ve got there?”

Felix pulled out the leaves from his pouch. He held the leaves in his palm and blew a small gust of wind that directed the leaves through the air into a side pouch of the traveler.

The traveler seen the leaves fly and said “Well I’m delivering a private message to a man called Edgar.” That’s all I know.”

Felix bade the courier farwell and then began a journey back to the university. He thought to himself “If the university has business with Edgar then something bad is about to happen.”

[Rtron]

Fredrick walked forward through the ruined raiders camp, twirling his spear in hand. Their were tents burning everywhere, along with supplies. Quite a few corpses crushed by boulders as well. He walked to what appeared to be the only survivor of his attack, and crouched down in front of the man, who was bleeding quite badly, and had propped himself up against a boulder. "You're quite certain that everyone in your raiding party was here when I arrived?" Fredrick asked in Mardian, a language he found useful when speaking with Mardians. "Yes, everyone was here when you arrived." The man responded in kind. "Good." Fredrick said simply, before standing up. "Before you go, I've a-" The man began.

He was suddenly cut short by Fredrick's spear going through his throat. Fredrick walked away from the corpse of the man, and out of the camp, heading to the town that had recently been raided. He would deliver the news that that particular raider party wouldn't be bothering them again, and where to locate their supplies stolen, which he had secured.


An hour later, and that business was done, and he was off again, heading towards the next town down along the border. He fully expected them to have been raided to, the way the raids have been increasing the past weeks. Fredrick walked along the path in silence, absorbed in his thoughts, when he heard something peculiar to the northern border. Fredrick stopped and tilted his head. "Is that....army..?" He asked incredulously, as the sounds of armored foots marching, orders being snapped, and the jingle of equipment. He picked up the pace.

And was met with the sight of a Captain leading soldiers. The company came to a halt at the captains bequest, and he stopped. "Are you Fredrick?" Fredrick shifted his position to grip the spear better. "Who's asking?" The Captain narrowed his eyes. "Captain Bell of the Galland military." Fredrick smiled beneath his helmet. "Then yes, yes I am. What brings the army so far north?" "The raids by the Mardians have gotten to frequent. We are to be stationed with several mages, yourself included, and patrol the border." Fredrick shrugged. "Okay.....took ya long enough though." The Bell glanced at him sharply. "What was that?" Fredrick smiled once more "Nothing to concern yourself overly about, just saying I'll go with you."

Thus, Fredrick got into the company, and headed to wherever they were specifically being stationed. Much to his mixture of despair and satisfaction. One because he'd be stuck in an area at the Captain's decision, the other because something was actually being done. He still remembers the electric feel in the air after the raid, the sounds of electricity as he was trapped, the smell of electrified corpses....he would find that mage. And he would kill them. This he swears..

[Madysen]

The courtyard was gorgeous today. The sun shone down, flooding natural light down amongst the students and grass and stone. With the sunlight, there also came other forms of light from the various student magi practising their craft. Lightning flashed, the colours ranging from violets and blue to violent oranges and reds. Fire flared from hands, the colours as diverse as the lightning bolts. Nemain watched carefully as the various casters worked. Though the courtyard was large, and everyone had adequate room to work, accidents could always happen. Nemain walked around the courtyard, watching the students as they worked.

She felt a slight swell of pride as she watched two students in the corner of the courtyard working with lightning. Two young girls, both of whom she had given permission to practice electrical magic in the courtyard for the first time. Usually, she would end up revoking her permission after a few minutes. Practising in the classroom, under her supervision, was one thing. But out in the courtyard, surrounded by people and magic and distractions...many lost focus.

Watching the two girls shoot bolts of bright white lightning with perfect precision, Nemain knew there would be no need to send them back to the classroom. She passed by the two girls silently, giving them a nod of approval and a small smile. The highest praise a student could get from the former barbarian.

Nearby, another student, this one a young lad by the name of Leto, attempted to be having a staring contest with a tall blade of grass. Nemain watched in slight amusement for a few seconds, listening to his garbled pronunciation of a fire-based spell. Despite having lived in Galland for the majority of her life now, Mardian was still Nemain's first language, and she would always have the slight accent. "Layto, you pronounce t'is wort wrong. Say it Igneere planta, not Ignire," she instructed him, struggling with the 'ee' sound in the correct pronunciation, but managing it.

As she continued to walk, Nemain's gaze settled briefly on another student, Alphonse. No, she thought to herself, [/i]He's not a student anymore, is he? A full Mage of the King.[/i] She had heard about his graduation earlier that week, and had added her vote of approval when the Archmage had asked. Alphonse had joined the University the same year as Nemain. He was more than ready to graduate and start working as a freelance mage. Nemain crossed the courtyard, intending to go and congratulate the new magician.

“allo, Alphonse,” she began, but the congratulations stopped in her throat. Despite what should be for him an exciting day – surely the Archmage would have told him by now – Alphonse didn't look it. If anything, his expression hinted at gloomy. “Now...you appayre un-appy. Why is t'is?”

[Gisk]

"Oh, hello Nemain." She was a teacher, and he had only minutes ago achieved the rank of a Mage, but he still couldn't shake the habit of addressing her informally. "I'm not terribly unhappy, I suppose. I got the blue seal today, I guess you know. Giles left ages ago, Edgar too. And they just went off to do whatever they pleased," he reached inside his tunic and produced a folded piece of paper, bearing a red seal. "I got this too, though. It's not what I expected, that's all." He handed her the paper, allowing her to read it.

Alphonse Chevelier, Mage of the King,
You are hereby ordered to report to Captain Theodore Bell of the Royal Guard at his garrison in Stoneburg. You will be briefed and given further orders. You are to arrive no later than the eighteenth day of June.
Sebastien Chevelier, Steward to the King.

"First time Uncle Sebastien ever bothered writing me, by the way," he grumbled as she read it. "The Archmage reckons it's to do with Mardian raids," he continued thoughtlessly, "He usually knows what's going on."

[vTempest]

Temple of the Other

Giles was asleep in his temple room when he heard the sound of knocking at his door. He opened his eyes and groaned before sitting up from his "bed". The monks did not allow the luxury of mattresses so all the students had to sleep on ragged mats on the floor, given a single pillow and cotton blanket to keep warm. He stood up, cracked his back, and walked over to the single circular, glassless window in his room and peeked his head out. Judging by the position of the sun Giles figured it was maybe 3 in the afternoon. He heard another knock at his door, louder then the previous ones. Given that it was one of the only days Giles had to take a break from the rigorous training he is put though by the monks, he was hesitant when he approached the door. That coupled with the fact that he only had on pants when he awoke, his hair was a mess that was only matched by the state of his room kept him from opening the door. "This is the one day a month I get a day to myself. This better be important." He said through the wood of the door.

"I would like to think my job is important, sir." Said the man standing on the other side. "I'm here to deliver a message from the University for a Giles. One of the monks told me he was in this room."

Giles' eyes widened from excitement. The university? I haven't been there for three years!. "One moment!" Giles said as he ran over to his dresser, and put on the cleanest shirt he could find. He cursed the difficulty of cleaning laundry in this damned temple. Giles ran back over to the door to his room and opened it, finding a young man holding a letter in his hand, sealed with the stamp of the University of Galland. The young man handed it over to Giles, told him farewell with a small bow, and walked off to deliver whatever other messages he needed to on that particular day. Giles closed the door, and removed a small dagger from his bag. He flustered as he opened the letter, and read what was on it.

Dear Giles Ashdown, Graduate of the Royal University of Galland,
I apologize from disrupting your studies with the Monks of the Other, but I am formally summoning you to take a break from your studies and travel to the University today. Thankfully the temple you are residing in is not far so I am expecting you to arrive around 6. You will be informed on why you have been summoned when you arrive.
Sincerely, Archmage Chevelier.

Giles beamed with joy and quickly began packing his possessions. He packed all his clothes and enchanted trinkets and ran out of the temple, informing the head monk of his summoning. He was granted a temporary leave of absence and wished a good journey.

~

Royal university of Galland

After traveling for three hours on horse back, Giles had finally arrived at the gate of the his former school, grateful of how short of a distance it was from the temple and the University. He entered, and left his horse at a nearby stable, paying the owner to take care of the horse until he returned. Giles began walking to to the main building, taking in all the sights and smells of the campus. He had missed the beauty and sense of knowledge that had accompanied the school. Every time he saw something he remembered, whether it be a bench or small store he had used to visit, a feel of nostalgia would wash over him. He also made sure to keep an eye out for familiar faces, and whenever he would find one, he would greet them and they exchange pleasantries. Then he spotted a face he was all to familiar with, a great friend of his when he was being taught, Alphonse. With him, another friend of Alphonse was present Nemain. She had graduated and went on to become a teacher. Giles walked over to the pair and greeted them with a smile. "Al. Nemain. How are you two? Have you also been summoned Al?"

[Superfly]

The journey was long and made Edgar very stiff, but the journey was not without some merits. He had the unfortunate luck of participating in wolf hunt in which he had to ride his horse so hard his crotch had begun to ache. Further along the road was a small bandit ambush which thankfully was evaded with ease, but the mage was fairly certain an arrow flew directly past his head maybe with about a metre of distance. Finally, Edgar found a large orchard full of ripe and tasty apples. He took a fair amount, and allowed his horse to eat a couple while resting.

Stoneburg looked pleasant and warm. Edgar tossed a half-eaten apple to the side. There was quite a few tales about how grand this fortress had once been, and maybe it had been once upon a time. Time, however, was as merciless as ever, the walls were crumbled into mere rubble in some spots of the large structure.

The town was quiet, it had nothing but stone houses and small ore deposits. Some houses were empty and abandoned, but most had some source of light or smoke that filled Edgar with a strange sense of comfort. The noise from a distant pickaxe against stone was welcomed. Edgar dismounted off his horse, patting his horse on her hind legs before being approached by a soldier.

“Evening, sir. May I ask your business?” He said in a politer tone than Edgar had come to expect from the military.

“I have absolutely no idea.” Edgar smiled. “She’s nice, no?”

“What?” The soldier straightened his posture. “Sir, if you are not here to work then I must ask you to leave.”

Edgar ignored him. “The horse, she’s nice and strong. Feed her well and make sure she has rest. She’s half dead from tiredness I’d wager.” He ruffled in his pockets for the letter that brought him here and handed it to the soldier. “I’m Edgar Von Hassan, summoned here by Archmage Chevelier. I’d like you to take this horse to your stables, and then take me directly to this Captain Bell.”

“I—uh, I’m not in charge of the stables sir.”

“Then tell a stable boy. You’re not that bounded to orders that you can’t use your own initiative, I hope?” Edgar took an apple out of his rucksack and tossed it towards the soldier gently. The apple bounced off the soldier’s chainmail and the soldier stared down at it blankly. Edgar sighed. “Take me to Captain Bell, please.”

[Rtron]

Fredrick was in the middle of an argument with Captain Bell when the soldier arrived with Edgar. "You can't just keep me here!" Fredrick said heatedly. Captain Bell glanced up from the map. "I can. And I will. Camp is still being set up, and more mages are arriving. I'd prefer to have you all in a group before sending you out." Fredrick threw his hands up in despair. "But I could track down a raiding party, or stop a raid!" Bell didn't even bother glancing up this time. "And you could also die, be it through luck, skill, trickery, or what have you. The men I've with me would just be in your way, that, and they're to suspicious and scared of you to work with you successfully."

Fredrick was about to say something else when the soldier walked in with Edgar. "Oh. Hello there Edgar." Fredrick said, changing what he was gonna say at the last second. His helmet was in the crook of his right arm. His spear was in his left hand. "They've brought you here to deal with the raids as well? Or are you here about that artifact you were searching for?"

[Superfly]

“Freddy!” Edgar smiled, overhearing some of the argument with the captain and his old friend. He offered his hand to shake. “I had no idea you had been stationed up here. The years haven’t been kind, I see.” He said in jest, taking note of his friend’s facial scars and bent nose. He avoided conversation about the artifact. He did not think Frederick to be one that would use the information he had gathered to further his own academic career but it never helped to be careless about the things you were passionate about.

“As for why I’m here, I have absolutely no idea.” He said folding his arms, he looked towards the man who looked the most self-righteous. “Captain Bell, yes? Could you answer Freddy’s question for me?”