Author's Notes: Hi all. This is a really random idea I got about 2 weeks ago, and I couldn't get it out of my head so I figured I may as well write it down. I tried to edit it as best as I could, but it's possible some things slipped through the cracks. I will be continuing this as I have a bunch of ideas already for what will happen next, but I'd love to hear what people think about it.
Nathan held the round, flat object in the palm of his right hand, knowing full well that doing so could kill him. One stray thought and he could wind up incinerating himself. Master Eckart had assured him the amulet itself no power and only served as a focus, but he could almost swear there was energy vibrating within it.
"Put that down before you kill yourself," a stern voice said, jolting him out of his thoughts.
"Master Eckart!" He quickly dropped the amulet on top of his study table, remembering where he was.
Shelves of books on magical theory lined the walls, making the library seem smaller than it was. He was seated on one of the chairs around a sturdy, oak table. Master Eckart stood at the doorway, his tall frame radiating the authority and power befitting a mage with a seat on the Circle Council. He wore a clean, black suit and matching trousers that went well with his graying hair. He did not look pleased.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to fondle your amulet so absentmindedly? Magic is not a toy." He strode forward, snatching the amulet out of Nathan's hand before the boy could respond. "In case you forgot, this device makes it easier to cast magic. What if you'd accidentally thought of a flame and set the library on fire? Hm? Would I mail you back to that father of yours in a box?"
"I'm sorry, Master, it won't happen again." Nathan reached for the amulet, but Eckart kept it firmly out of his reach.
"I've heard that before." Eckart slipped the amulet into one of his inner pockets. "You'll get it back when it's time for live practice. Not a moment before."
"Yes, Master Eckart."
"Fortunately for you, that's in about an hour, anyway." The older wizard turned to leave. "Until then, prepare yourself as best as you can."
Despite getting his amulet confiscated, Nathan couldn't help but grin. Live practice was always his favorite part of this apprenticeship. "What are we doing today, Master?"
"You three are going to work together to fight some monsters," Eckart said. "I won't tell you which ones. Be prepared for anything."
"Will do, Master." Nathan bowed his head respectfully, and then he was alone in the room once more.
Other than himself, Master Eckart had taken in two other apprentices: Megara Brightmore and Landon Alister, both of whom he'd met in the Academy. While magic was generally taught at the Academy, gifted mages like Richard Eckart had the prerogative to invite students to become apprentices, learning the tricks of the trade straight from them. Academy graduates tended to be more well-rounded due to having a regulated curriculum, but apprentices got farther in their chosen spheres of magic thanks to their additional freedom and their master's teachings. Fortunately for them, Master Eckart was proficient in every sphere of magic, although better at some than others.
Nathan sighed. If the three of them were going to fight as a team, then it would be best if he found the other two and shared what he knew. With that, he left the library, hoping he wouldn't get lost in Eckart's massive home. As he reached the hallway, however, he stopped. There was no guarantee he'd be able to find either Megara or Landon in an hour, and trying to send them a Message by magic would be a pain without his amulet. Instead, Nathan turned around, heading for his quarters. He'd prepared a little something he'd been meaning to show off.
They assembled in what used to be one of the manor's gardens, now re-purposed to be a training yard where they could practice magic in relative safety. High walls surrounded them, all stronger than they looked thanks to warding magic. Master Eckart was nowhere to be seen, but Nathan had a feeling he'd be along any moment. By the time Nathan arrived, his fellow apprentices were already there. He walked over to them, the suitcase he'd taken from his room in hand.
Landon saw him first. "Nathan, there you are. We were wondering if you'd gotten lost again."
"That happened one time, Landon," Nathan protested. They'd been in the house three months, but he'd never admit he still got lost on occasion.
Landon just grinned at him smugly, his spectacles twinkling in the afternoon sun. He was a lanky fellow who stood half a head taller than Nathan, with a head of light brown hair as opposed to Nathan's jet black. Despite how Nathan was in slightly better physical condition, having a little more muscle because of the field of magic he studied, Landon was the superior caster, and never wasted a chance to rub it in.
"Have you seen Master Eckart?" Megara asked. She was the only female caster in the household, wearing the same tunic and trousers they wore. Her hair was cut short, not even reaching her shoulders. Whatever color it had originally been, it was doubtful anyone remembered, as she'd made it a point to learn how to change its color with magic before almost any other spell. Right now, it was a pale shade of pink.
"I saw him in the study about an hour ago," Nathan said, omitting the part where his amulet had been confiscated. "He said we'd be working together for today's practice."
"And what, exactly, is today's practice?" Landon looked down at the suitcase. "Wait, what is that you're holding?"
"A little help, should we need it." Nathan placed the case on the floor. He'd been working hard on getting this spell right and now seemed the perfect time to show it off.
Megara watched their exchange, but said nothing.
Master Eckart's voice startled them all to attention. "Well, you seem to be in high spirits this afternoon, my apprentices." The aging wizard seemed to have appeared as if by magic on the terrace overlooking the former garden. Just how long has he been watching? Nathan wondered.
"Master, is it true we'll be working together today?" Megara asked.
"That is correct, Megara." Master Eckart leaned forward, then inclined his head in Nathan's direction. "Did Nathan tell you what you'll be doing?"
Landon and Megara turned towards him, looking annoyed.
"I was going to tell you, but then you asked about the case and-"
"You're going to fight monsters today," Eckart said, once again commanding their attention. "Well, just one, really, but I dare say it might take all three of you to keep it under control."
Landon grinned. "I see. Is this because of the tensions forming between us traditionalists and the reformists?"
Nathan quirked an eye at that. He'd never really paid much attention to politics, but even he knew that their master was a staunch traditionalist.
"Bah. Tensions." Eckart grimaced. "We're a few months away from civil war, mark my words. However, now is time for practical training, not a lesson in politics. Observe, the tool of our enemy!"
Master Eckart performed a gesture, clasping the amulet that hung around his neck. Nathan couldn't hear them, but he had an idea of the words his master was using to focus the mana in the air. Casting a flame or forming a shield of rock took simple commands in one's own language, but summoning took precise articulation of words of power. When the spell was complete, a bright flash erupted in the area. A hole formed in the very air, like an open doorway connecting two places.
A large beast stepped forth from the tear between worlds, landing with an earthshaking impact as its four short legs hit the ground. It was a creature of stone, yet unlike any golem Nathan had ever seen. There was a sentience, perhaps even intelligence, in its eyes that said it was alive despite how its body was armored in rocky plates. A single horn protruded from the top of its snout, not particularly large or menacing, but Nathan held no illusions that it wouldn't hurt.
As with all the other monsters, this one spoke its name and nothing else.
"Rhyhorn!"
Nathan's heart hammered in his chest. It was bigger than he'd expected, almost as tall as he was even on four legs. Eckart had always been a firm master, but he didn't think he'd start them off with something so intimidating.
"And Nathan, here," his master said, hurling a bundle of cloth at him. He caught it, looking inside to find his amulet. He nodded in thanks before slipping it around his neck, feeling complete once again.
The beast pawed at the ground as if preparing to charge. Nathan's fingers found their way to the suitcase's locking mechanism. With a swift click the case fell open, and out tumbled what he'd been preparing for weeks. As the pieces fell to the ground, Nathan began to go through the gestures, chanting words of power that he'd spent days committing to memory. He felt the mana in the air enter his body, and manifest as a spell. Pre-constructed spells like this one were all about the words, but the hand movements made it easier, more mana-efficient.
Within moments, the bones he'd gathered, a full skeleton, joined together. The undead construct rose to kneel before him, its empty eye sockets pointed towards the ground. Nathan nodded, glad he'd managed to pull it off properly.
"Rise," he said, and the skeleton obeyed. "Pick up your weapons." The skeleton took the buckler and short sword he'd placed with it inside the suitcase, taking up a ready stance. In retrospect, he wished he'd packed something else in there. He doubted a short sword would do much against the Rhyhorn.
"That's totally not freaky," Megara said.
"Hey, if Master Eckart can summon a fighter, so can I," Nathan countered.
Master Eckart couldn't help but comment. "A decent skeletal warrior. Looks sturdy and clean. Where did you get the bones?"
"Supply room," Nathan admitted. "Actually, I think they might not be real bones. They felt too smooth."
"You're not wrong. I kept a few artificial skeletons in there for practice," Eckart admitted. "Shall we see how well it does against this Rhyhorn?"
"I'd rather not," Nathan said, not falling for the bait. "The beast's opponents are all of us."
"Good, then let us begin."
Before anyone could say another word, the Rhyhorn charged forward, scattering earth in its wake. Nathan thought fast, focusing his thoughts into a command.
Earth, protect.
He formed a fist with his hand as he imagined the soil forming around his skeletal fighter, hardening into armor. A surge of heat flowed through his body, blurring his vision. He swore, realizing he'd used too much mana in quick succession, and it was taking its toll.
The charging beast collided with the skeleton's shield, and he heard Megara let out a gasp when the humanoid figure held firm against such a heavy-looking opponent. The others wasted no time in taking advantage of the opening.
Megara hurled blasts of fire and lightning at the Rhyhorn with her hands, each strike strong enough to maim any man. Nathan felt the heat in his body dissipate as a cool wind blew over him. Surprised, he looked for its source.
Landon smirked. "Fool, don't use so much mana at once or you'll burn out."
Nathan nodded, grateful to be able to cast again despite the insult. The Rhyhorn pulled back from the skeleton's shield, completely unfazed by Megara's bombardment. In fact, its horn seemed to even absorb her lightning bolts.
Megara frowned. "My attacks barely scratched it."
"Maybe if we all struck together?" Nathan suggested.
"Couldn't hurt."
Nathan focused the the ambient mana once more, this time for offense.
Earth, bury.
He thrust his arms forward, visualizing waves of earth rising to swallow the Rhyhorn. Instead, chunks of soil flew from the ground, striking the Rhyhorn with force, causing it to reel backwards. It wasn't as good as he'd hoped, but then, offensive Sourcery had never been his forte.
Megara followed up with another volley of flame and lightning. Landon didn't attack, but the refreshing breeze that kept Nathan's body cool told him he was helping out in his own way.
The Rhyhorn fell to its knees, face almost buried in the ground. Just as Nathan was about to yell they'd done it, however, a green glow surrounded the creature. Nathan looked up, sensing the use of mana from the balcony. Master Eckart was healing the beast!
"Master, I believe you said we were fighting the monster, not you," Nathan protested.
"Don't be naive, my apprentices," Eckart answered. "If the Reformists come after you, they will support their beasts with magic. Of that you can be sure."
As the Rhyhorn got back on its feet, a red aura surrounded it. Nathan had never seen such a spell before. Fortunately, he wasn't dealing with it alone.
"It's a Lesser Strength spell," Landon said. "Bolsters muscle strength by a percentage for a few minutes."
"We can still take it," Megara said, throwing a ball of flame at the Rhyhorn, and then a second one. They made direct hits, exploding on contact. The Rhyhorn looked annoyed, but not particularly harmed. Well, Nathan could play this game, too.
Stone, bolster.
Rocks flew towards the skeleton's blade, forming a weapon that resembled a stone club more than a sword. "Attack!" he said, and the skeleton dashed forward, earthen armor and all. The club came down on the Rhyhorn's face, but it seemed to shrug the blow off like nothing. Nathan shook his head. The earth attack from earlier had worked, but now a direct hit from the stone club didn't? Had the beast's power increased that much?
The Rhyhorn's eyes practically gleamed with delight as it threw its head back, throwing the heavily armored skeleton airborne in a single movement. Then, just as it was about to crash to the ground, the stone beast charged and slammed into it a second time, sending it flying into a wall. The skeleton burst in a loud crash, scattering earth and bone on the ground.
Nathan felt his knees go weak, but did his best not to fall to the ground. He'd spent the better part of a month preparing to use that spell, and his master's summoned monster had destroyed it in an instant. The Rhyhorn roared in victory before turning to the three apprentices. Nathan gathered himself and refocused his efforts. Now was not the time for weakness.
Earth, bury.
He'd already tried that phrase, but now he visualized the earth opening up to swallow the Rhyhorn. He began gasping rapidly as sweat poured from his brow, the exhaustion driving him to his knees. A hole appeared beneath the beast, but nowhere near as large as what Nathan had imagined. He cursed. Why was he so weak?
The Rhyhorn's left foreleg sunk into the hole, and the beast lost its balance. As if he'd been waiting for just such a chance, Landon spoke a brief incantation, blasting the Rhyhorn with a barrage of blue energy bolts. They struck true, erupting into small explosions on contact. Once the smoke cleared, the Rhyhorn was on the ground, unconscious.
All were silent for a moment, as none of the three teenagers felt assured that they'd actually won. Nathan expected it to open its eyes at any moment and finish them off, although he doubted Master Eckart would go that far. An unusual sound coming from the balcony broke the silence. It took Nathan a moment to realize it for what it was: Applause.
"Excellent work, my apprentices," Master Eckart said. "I'd fully expected the beast to win this one, but you did well."
"That beast was ridiculously powerful," Megara said, staring at her hands. "My attacks had no effect on it at all."
"Actually, the Rhyhorn isn't particularly strong," Eckart said, shocking his apprentices. "Far from being the weakest, but not particularly powerful. Do you know why you had such difficulty with it?"
Nathan wondered about that, too. It seemed some attacks worked better against it than others. It was unharmed by fire and lightning, but for some reason it had flinched when he'd pelted it with earth. After some thought, he had an idea. Landon, as always, beat him to it.
"It has an elemental affinity," Landon spoke. "Each of these monsters does, actually, and it grants them both weaknesses and resistances."
Nathan sighed. He'd been so close to saying the exact same thing.
"Very good, Landon, I see you've done your research," Master Eckart said. "We don't have an exhaustive list of their abilities, but there is a tome on the known monsters in the library should you wish to learn more. This Rhyhorn is weak against water, nature, and earth, to name a few, but there are others. It is resistant to fire, and completely immune to lightning."
"That explains so much." Megara shook her head. Nathan couldn't tell if her annoyance was directed towards the creature, or herself.
"I chose it to teach you a lesson in particular, Megara," Eckart said. "You're very good at rapidly attacking with fire and lightning, but sticking to only two methods of attack will get you nowhere against these beasts. That's why Landon's decision to use a non-elemental spell was effective, if somewhat inefficient."
Meg nodded her head, but said nothing else.
"I'm fine, master," Landon said. To his credit, he was the only apprentice not gasping for air. "Second tier spells like that are no longer a problem for me."
"Be that as it may, try not to limit yourself to constructed spells, boy," Eckart said pointedly. "They're versatile, but they lack the punch of Sourcery."
"And you, Nathan," Eckart finally addressed him. "I am impressed you can already reanimate bones on the spot, but a single skeletal warrior will do little by itself. Now you must choose whether to focus on controlling multiple weaker minions or a single, stronger one."
"Yes, master," Nathan answered, bowing his head. He'd already known the skeleton wouldn't be able to win by itself, but he didn't think the difference in power would be so huge.
"You're dismissed," Master Eckart said. "Good work overall. You may use the rest of the day as you see fit. The servants will call you for supper."
"Master, what about the Rhyhorn?" Landon asked.
"The binding spell has a safety component built into it," Eckart said. "If the summoned beast is ever in critical condition, it will be returned to its own world. Of course, when it is returned it will have to fend for itself, but it certainly will not die while on this side. As you can see, this one is still fine, but you're right. I have no further need of it."
Their master waved a hand and then brought his two hands together, releasing the magic that allowed the creature to stay in the world. It disappeared in a flash of light, back to wherever it had been summoned from.
Nathan stared at the crater he'd made to trap the monster, remembering how powerful it had been compared to his skeletal construct. As he moved to pick up the pieces of his shattered creation, a single thought dominated his mind: I want one.
Author's Note: And there you have it. I hope you found it as interesting as it looked to me when I first thought of it. Let me know what you think, and hopefully I'll have the next chapter fleshed out soon.