Chapter One- The Springs of Fortuna
If you translate Fortuna you get Fate, and it was fate that took Sekka to the springs that day…or was it destiny?
Magicians had always been despised by the lower classes of Imardin, the Higher Classes always hoped that their sons or daughters would show some magical talent and would be accepted into the Magicians Guild, they would boast of it to the other houses and it would increase their favour with the king.
Sekka cursed under his breath as his shirt snagged on a branch and ripped, he was climbing up through the forest to the fresh water springs. Most people brought their water at the market but as Sekka was young and full of energy he would climb up to the springs and fill the two water caskets they had. He lived in the West Quarter with his mother and father, his brother had died when Sekka was nine. He was now thirteen but he still felt sad whenever he thought of his brother. The empty caskets bumped against his back as he scrambled up the slope, he neared the spring when he heard two people talking, creeping to the bushes he peered to the spring. His heart caught in his throat. Two magicians in purple robes were stood by the spring, filling ten caskets with water using magic, he watched them, hardly daring to breath. "Do you think that we'll get any good novices with the winter intake?" One asked, the other shrugged, concentrating on filling the caskets.
"I hope so." He said, after sealing the caskets. "I want to take on the apprenticeship of one, hopefully someone powerful." Sekka felt a knot tighten in his stomach as they finished filling the caskets and lifted them into the air with magic, they were still talking as they walked off down the hill, passing within a foot of where Sekka was hiding. He stayed where he was for a few minutes after they had gone, not believing his luck, he'd been so close to them. Sekka didn't exactly like Magicians, but he had great respect for them, he wanted to be able to talk to one of them, but he wasn't part of the houses, so they would never listen and he would never have the courage to talk to them. He walked up to the water and took the stopper from the first casket, he was about to fill it when he saw something from the corner of his eye, they had forgotten a casket. He glanced back down the hill, would they notice? He saw the two magicians leaving the forest and he grabbed the casket and took off down the hill, he skidded slightly and grabbed a tree to slow himself down slightly. As he came to the edge of the forest he saw that another magician had joined them, he was in a red robe, Sekka sprinted towards them.
"Hai!" He called to get their attention, only one of them turned, the second one that had spoken, the magicians hair was a light brown and he had soft blue eyes, he tapped his companions and they turned and regarded the boy running towards them in confusion. When Sekka reached them he was out of breath. He bowed to them quickly, remembering his manners. "My lords, you forgot this." He said, holding out the heavy casket. The brown haired man did a quick count of the caskets that they had floating in the air, nine.
"So we did." He said, accepting the casket. "Our thanks." Sekka bowed again.
"You're welcome." He was breathing heavily, the red robed man was looking up at the hill.
"Have you run all the way down that?" He asked once Sekka had got his breath back.
"Yes, my lord." The red robed man smiled slightly, he turned to his companions and his smile widened, they seemed to be talking silently and Sekka remembered what he had learnt a while back, about how Magicians could communicate with their minds. That must have been what they were doing now, they all began to smile and the brown haired man glanced at Sekka, he felt uncomfortable under his gaze but kept still and didn't let the Magician get to him. After a while the red robed man spoke.
"What's your name?"
"Sekka, my lord."
"Would you mind accompanying us, Sekka?" He stared at the red robed man, his eyes reflecting the shock he felt.
"Well, um…" He started but the brown haired man put a hand on his shoulder and guided him along.
"Don't worry, it won't take long." They all set off through the streets, people stopped to bow to the Magicians while Sekka studied their faces, he didn't know why two were in purple and one was in red but he didn't really care, he was just worried what they wanted with him. He didn't notice that his mother was at the market, buying bread and milk, she looked up as the Magicians approached the gates to the Inner Gates, she bowed then caught sight of Sekka, walking between them, had he got into trouble with them? She stared as her son put his hands in his pocket and glanced up at the Magician with his hand on his shoulder. She quickly slipped out the market and hurried home to tell her husband.
They had reached the gates of the Guild and the knot in Sekka's stomach had tightened so much that he felt like he would suffocate, he bit his lip as they walked into the grounds and the gates swung closed behind him. There were novices in brown robes walking about with books or sat in the shade of trees studying, he glanced at them and looked away as one looked up and met his eyes, he felt himself flushing as the novice stood up and walked over. Sekka stared at the ground, biting his lip so hard that a bead of blood appeared there. He saw the novice bow to the red robed man in the corner of his eye.
"Lord Rufan," The boy started. "I have a few queries about the homework, may I speak with you later about it?"
"Of course Lucas." The boy bowed again and walked back to his friends. Sekka let out the breath he had been holding in, he glanced at the red robed man, Lord Rufan. He wondered vaguely what the other two were called but as they entered the hall he forgot all about it. It was the most grand place he'd ever seen, the ceiling stretched on, never ending, he stared, open mouthed at it. The floor was made of black marble, two staircases ran along the curved wall and there was a corridor running underneath them, the Magicians led him up the stairs, he received many confused glances from the Novices and Magicians he passed but merely stared at the floor, avoiding their eyes. They continued up another set of stairs and walked along many corridors before they reached a door with the words High Administrator, Lord Lorlen he wondered what they were doing here and why he had come with them but before he had a chance to contemplate this the door swung inwards and revealed a man sat at a desk, he was wearing sky blue robes and was writing on a long scroll of parchment.
"Ah, Lord Rufan, Lord Samsa, Lord Thorn." The man said, rolling the scroll and standing up. The three men bowed and Sekka followed suit, it was only then that Lord Lorlen noticed him, he raised his eyebrows to them and gestured to the seats. They all sat down, Sekka had wanted to stay standing but Lord Rufan had pushed him into one. "May I ask why you have a non- magician with you?" Lorlen asked and Sekka forced himself to pay attention while staring at the floor. Rufan began to explain how they had met him and what he had discovered.
"I knew immediately that there was something different about him, while he was distracted with talking to us, I searched his mind and found something that shocked me more than anything that has ever happened at the Guild."
"What was that?" Lorlen asked, he seemed to be showing some interest now.
"That he has a pool of power within him," Sekka felt something shout inside him and he wondered if they meant what he thought they did. "I wondered why it hadn't shown itself and it seems that, as Lord Coen said, power only shows itself if it has nothing else to do with itself,"
"What would magic be able to do in a teenage boy?" Lorlen asked and Sekka almost collapsed, magic? He had magic inside him?
"It can help him heal quicker than most and judging by the speed that he ran down the hill, improve balance and speed."
"So, he has been using up some of his power in everyday things without realizing it?" Lorlen said, not wanting an answer, he considered Sekka for a few moments then addressed him. "Sekka?" He looked up, "Would you like to join the magicians guild?" He asked, Sekka gaped, the Magician on his right, Lord Thorn, burst out laughing at his expression.
"High Lord," He managed to splutter out, "With the utmost respect that was very tactless."
"Really?"
"Yes, you can't just ask him and expect him to have an answer, he'll probably want to consult his parents and ask what they think. Remember, he's not one of the Houses." Lorlen rolled his eyes.
"You have to make things complicated don't you Lord Thorn?"
"Yes."
"Very well, can you accompany Sekka to his parents, then, if he chooses to join, bring him back here and if he doesn't, bring me his answer." They all stood up and bowed. Sekka was lost in thought, what would his parents say? Would they be angry? Or would they be pleased about it? He barely noticed as Lord Thorn walked along side him back down into the West Quarter, he came to reality for long enough to find his house, it was a two story wooden house and compared to the others it was quite grand. Thorn waited outside and Sekka took a deep breath and entered, his parents were in the living room and his mother hugged him as he walked in, Sekka collapsed into a chair, putting his head in his hands, his father ran to get a cup of raka, he handed it to Sekka who stared into the cup at the liquid, his eyes glazed over, deep in thought.
"What happened Sekka? I saw you walking up towards the Guild with three magicians, did you get into trouble?" His mother asked, kneeling in front of him. He shook his head.
"Did they hurt you?" His father asked, he shook his head again.
"Did they mess with your mind?"
"In a manner of speaking." Sekka muttered.
"What happened?" His father shook his shoulders slightly and Sekka looked up, he told them how he had seen the two on the hill then realized that they'd forgot a casket, how he'd run down after them, how he'd found out later that lord Rufan had entered his mind. When he said how he had magic inside him, they froze.
"They offered me a chance to join the Guild." He finished, closing his eyes, they stared.
"What did you say?" His mother asked.
"He must have said no." His father said, looking at Sekka from the corner of his eye. "You did say no didn't you?"
"Lord Thorn said that I should consult you two about it first."
"Then go and tell this Lord Thorn that you're not joining!" His father shouted. "I wont have a magician in the family!" He picked up a glass and threw it at the wall, the front door burst open and lord Thorn ran inside, his eyes swept over the scene, from the smashed glass to Sekka sat in the chair, his eyes closed and his father with hands on hips stood above him. "What do you want!" He yelled at Lord Thorn, the magician ignored him and walked over to Sekka, he crouched beside the chair.
"Are you alright?" Sekka nodded and Thorn patted his shoulder. He stood up and answered the fuming man before him. "I heard raised voices and a glass smash so I came to see what was going on." He said simply.
"You may be a Magician but you have no right to walk into my house without permission!" He was about to carry on ranting when Sekka spoke.
"I'm coming with you." He pulled himself out the chair, rubbing his head. Lord Thorn smiled slightly, his father yelled and grabbed Sekka by his throat, before Thorn could do anything Sekka kicked out and there was a flash of fire, his father dropped him falling back, his shoulder on fire, he dashed to the sink and quickly poured water over the fire, it went out with a hiss. Sekka was lying on the floor where his father had dropped him, his eyes were closed, but he was still breathing, from under his eyelids, tears flowed. Lord Thorn knelt down and pulled him up, Sekka shrugged his arm away and curled into a ball, sobbing. He hadn't asked for this to happen, if he'd never ran after them then he wouldn't be here, he'd be at the springs, admiring the view and wondering who the two magicians were. Not here, why did it have to happen to him anyway? He'd lashed out at his own father, he'd hurt his own father.
"Sekka, come on." He heard Lord Thorn mutter and felt the Magician pulling him to his feet, Sekka wiped the tears away and tried to pull himself together. There was a carriage waiting outside and they climbed into it, Sekka was deep in thought for the rest of the journey and barely noticed as they walked back towards the High Administrators Office, he paid little attention to Lord Lorlen, only just enough to answer any questions about his health and the incident at his house. After the interview, Lord Thorn led him to the guest rooms telling him that he'd be moved into the Novice Quarters tomorrow. He fell onto the soft bed, closing his eyes and drifting into sleep, his dreams were filled with his father yelling and fire, over and over again someone called his name but he always ran from them.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window and when he opened his eyes he was surprised to see a servant had laid breakfast on his bedside table, they had also put the cover fully over him and he yawned as he sat up, trying to forget about the previous day, but the memories came back anyway, as he ate breakfast he wondered if he'd made the right decision. He had done what he wanted to, his dream had been to become a Magician but, he'd never have thought that it would come true. There were clothes on the end of the bed and Sekka got changed into them, he stared out the window, Novices were sat on the grass in the morning sun, studying, he watched them for a while before wondering if he could leave the room, surely he would be allowed to leave to look around the Guild, he smiled to himself and tried the door, it swung open at his touch and he left the room. He spotted one of the female Magicians, she was carrying a pile of books and even more were floating in front of her, students bowed and hurried out her way, as she reached the corner, she mistimed it and a pile of the floating books knocked into the wall, her will over them broke and they tumbled to the floor, before they hit the marble they stopped and Sekka realized that his mind was focused on them, his tried to make them move up and they did, grinning he made them float back into a neat pile, he walked over and made the books drop into his arms, the Magician looked at him in surprise, he bowed and smiled. She smiled back and watched him slightly. "You must be Sekka." She said, he nodded. "Lord Lorlen told me about you, I didn't expect you to have such control over your powers so quickly."
"Me neither, I keep using magic without realizing it." He shrugged, "But, it means I'm learning to control it."
"Yes." She glanced at the books at his arms. "Thank you for catching those,"
"It's okay, where do you need them?" She smiled and carried on down the corridor.
"This way." He followed her and soon found himself at a classroom, the name on the door read, Lady Tarnsburn, Alchemy. He looked at her, Lady Tarnsburn. She took the books out his hands and put them into the bookcase that ran along the far wall, the room was packed with desks, there was a candle on each desk, a few Novices were sat at the tables, they all had their eyes closed and were making the candle light and go out, he watched with awe, Tarnsburn noticed and gestured to an empty table. "Would you like a go?" He smiled and walked to the table, as he sat down the person across from his opened his eyes, it was the boy he'd seen yesterday, Lucas. Sekka averted his eyes and closed them, he pulled the image of the candle into his head and forced his will onto the wick, he thought of fire and tried to bend his will to it, but it didn't work, he felt someone next to him and there was a whisper.
"Focus on something that you associate with fire." He recognised the voice of Lucas and did as he said, anger was what he associated with fire, he focused on the day that a kid from one of the Houses had knocked his lunch from his hand, the candle flared into life. He opened his eyes, the candle was burning brightly, he smiled to himself, he saw that Lucas was grinning. "Hi." Lucas said, looking at him.
"Hi, I'm Sekka."
"I'm Lucas." They shook hands, Sekka noticed that the rest of the Novice's were watching him in surprise, he flushed slightly.
"Nice job," He glanced at the door, a girl was leant on the frame, she was wearing a short black dress with red roses on, her novices robe was open showing the dress, her black hair hung about her shoulders, she smiled at him, walking over.
"This is Suki." Lucas said, she smiled, sitting on the desk opposite his.
"I'm guessing that you're the Winter Novice that everyone's talking about." He stared.
"Who's talking about me?"
"Everyone." She said, starting to grin, "You've created quite a stir in the Guild, you're the first in fifty years to be brought into the Guild and not be one of the Houses."
"So I'm guessing that the Houses aren't happy." Lucas said, he was half grinning.
"Yeah, I just overheard Lord Thorn and Lord Thanil talking, well, arguing, Thanil's furious that he wasn't consulted first." Suki was laughing now.
"Just because Thanil's powerful in the houses, why does he think that he can control the Guild?" Lucas sighed, leaning back in his chair, Sekka frowned slightly, had he made the wrong decision? Suki smiled at him.
"Don't worry about the Houses, they'll get over it, or the High Lord might have something to say about it." He clicked her fingers, "I almost forgot, Lord Thorn asked me to tell you that your initiation test is in two days, he'll teach you what you need to pass."
"Oh, do you know where he is?"
"Back at your room I think." He stood up.
"Thanks." He left the room, bowing to Lady Tarnsburn, he hurried down the corridor, he'd better get started straight away, he didn't want to have to go back. He surprised himself by remembering the way back to his room, when he reached the door, it swung open at his touch, as soon as he walked in he spotted Lord Thorn sat in a chair by the window, he bowed quickly. "My Lord," He murmured.
"Ah Sekka, I'm guessing that you met Suki."
"Yes my Lord."
"Good." He stood up, facing Sekka. "Shall we begin your training?"
"Yes my Lord." Lord Thorn walked across the room and blew out a candle, he put it on the desk and motioned for Sekka to sit down, he did so and smiled inwardly as he realized what Thorn wanted him to do.
"Try to light this candle." Sekka stared at the wick, gathering his will he brought the anger into the candle, a small flame seemed to grow from the wick, soon it was a tall flickering flame. He looked at Lord Thorn who was staring at him in surprise. "Try to put it out." Sekka turned back to the candle, he closed his eyes and with his will snatched out at the flame, the real flame wavered and grew smaller, he tried again and this time the real flame vanished too. When he opened his eyes he saw that Lord Thorn was staring at him in shock. "Try to relight it." Sekka did just that. "Put it out." He pinched the flame out. "Try to relight it by warming the air around it." Sekka stared for a moment, he imagined a bubble around the wick and filled the bubble with gentle heat, he felt himself growing slightly tired but when he was about to give up the wick burst into flames. He let the bubble fade, sitting back and closing his eyes. "I thought as much." He opened an eye as Thorn spoke. "You find it easier to use your will and emotions to control something, which is very good if you can control it, you'll probably be best working with Alchemy or Healing." He considered Sekka thoughtfully. "Can you read and write?" Sekka sat up in shock.
"Of course I can!" He snapped, folding his arms. Thorn shrugged.
"Just checking." There was a knock at the door and Thorn answered it, there was a man stood in the doorway, he was quite old and had grey hair with his glasses on his nose. They spoke in hushed voices and Sekka closed his eyes while they spoke, he searched for his power but instead he found himself observing the power in the around and in his room. Thorn had quite a large amount and so did the man stood outside the room, he found his own and was amazed, he had nearly triple what Thorn had, it was a globe of swirling silver, he stared at it. Then noticed something else, there was a small ball of power heading straight for the window, he sped towards it and saw that it was a stone, he guessed that it had been coated in magic, he wondered what to do, if it hit the window then the glass would break, he reached towards the stone and sent his own power towards it. As the two powers collided something hit Sekka, another mind was attacking his, he tried to prevent it but the mind was more powerful and Sekka couldn't tell where the attack was coming from, he opened his eyes and saw someone stood with a hand raised towards him, they were hidden in the shadow of the trees but Sekka knew that it was them, he sent a blast of power towards them, the glass smashed as his power passed through it and the attack ceased to block his attack, Sekka collapsed to the floor and Thorn ran over, he checked the window, Thanil was stood by the tree, he was smirking. Sekka had passed out and Thorn could sense a shield around him.
When Sekka woke again he was in a white room, people in green robes hurried here and there and he saw that there was a pile of sweets on his bedside table, there were just as many cards and he was about to look at them when he saw Lord Thorn walk into the room. He smiled when he saw Sekka awake and sat up in bed, as Thorn drew near Sekka spoke. "What happened?"
"Someone attacked your mind."
"Who though?"
"I'm not sure, I have a few ideas but I can't prove anything." Thorn sighed, Sekka's gaze wandered to the pile. "Get well gifts from your friends." Sekka's brow furrowed.
"Friends? When did I make them?" Thorn couldn't help but laugh.
"Lucas and Suki were here as soon as they heard, you've made quite an impression on them I've heard. The others are from other people in their classes and the people in the Lady Tarnsburns class." Sekka was still confused, he opened the first card.
Dear Sekka,
Get well soon, see you then,
Lucas.
He smiled slightly, the next was more or less the same but from Suki, he opened the next, closely watched by Thorn.
Sekka,
You better get well soon, or the things that I taught you will be for nothing! Just kidding,
Lord Thorn.
Sekka laughed when he read it. He turned to face Thorn who shrugged, "It would be." Sekka couldn't help but throw a pillow at him, Thorn laughed, throwing it back. Sekka moved back to the cards.
Hi Sekka,
Get well soon, hope to meet you then even though I've heard almost everything about you,
Maria.
He progressed through the cards, each carrying the same message in varied words, he'd never even met them and they were sending sweets and cards. He inwardly shrugged, it was odd. A gong rang in the Guild and as he glanced out the window he saw Novices leaving the University. "I've heard that you can leave the hospital wing if you're feeling better." He smiled and pulled himself up and out the bed, he stretched and felt his power flooding his mind, he rubbed his eyes and looked at the sweets, he picked up the top bag, they were sherbet lemons, he took one out and offered another to Lord Thorn, he took one and popped it into his mouth, Sekka focused his will, the sweets and cards lifted into the air, sorting themselves into neater piles, Thorn was half smiling, he wondered how Sekka could have so much control over his magic when he'd only just started using it. Lord Thorn led him out the hospital and across the lawn, back towards the university building where his room was, when they walked in, Sekka noticed that the window was repaired. He made the sweets and cards land on a desk and he sat down in a chair. Lord Thorn watched him closely. "Before I forget, the tests are tomorrow," Sekka sat bolt upright in alarm, "But you're more than ready, so all you need to do is get some rest." He sat back with relief. "I'll move you into the Novice Quarters when you pass." Lord Thorn left and Sekka fell asleep.
He was woken up a few minutes later by a loud knock at the door, he sat up and willed the door to open, it did and Lucas and Suki walked in, they were both beaming. "Hiya!" Suki said, sitting down opposite him, she was in a different outfit, a black skirt with red cobwebs on and a top with spiders on.
"Hi." He replied, sitting right up, grinning himself.
"We went to the hospital but they said you'd left." Lucas said, he was looking at the pile of sweets and there was a look of confusion on his face. "Besides us, who're they from?" He asked, pointing.
"Er…everyone in your year I think." Sekka said, offering them some sweets, they accepted them happily.
"Bloody hell, we told them about you but we didn't think that they'd send so much stuff." Suki said, reading a few of the cards.
"I didn't expect anything." Sekka confessed. Lucas shrugged.
"Believe me, us second years are much nicer than the new first years are gonna be."
"Hey! I'm a first year!" Sekka said, laughing.
"Except you then."
"Yay!" They all laughed.
"Oh, I forgot to ask, when're your tests?"
"Tomorrow."
"Bloody hell! Shouldn't you be practicing?!" Suki cried, jumping to her feet,
"Lord Thorn said that I only really need to get some rest." Sekka said, shrugging. Suki sat back down, Lucas was smirking at her.
"You know Suki, it looked like someone had sent a firework up your but!" He said laughing, they all joined in, Suki was pouting slightly. There was another knock at the door, Sekka focused his will, it opened. The two second years stared in surprise as it sprang open, a woman in green robes entered, they all jumped to their feet and bowed.
"Lady Tya." Lucas and Suki murmured and Sekka copied. There was a few books floating in front of her, she handed them to Sekka.
"Lord Thorn asked me to drop these off, he says that you should have a read of them." He bowed to her and took the books, she smiled and left.
"A History of Magic." He read the title aloud, Lucas patted him on the shoulder.
"Feel sorry for you, I had to read that, it's quite boring."
"I think it's interesting." Suki said.
"Not when, like me, you've got two brothers and a sister who are all magicians and are reading it aloud every month so that they don't forget." Lucas said, looking at the other book titles. "Altdorf." He said, reading the title of the thickest book. "I've never read that one."
"It's about the Colleges of Magic." Suki said.
"Ah." He looked at third one, "Darkovia. Isn't that the one about Vampires?" He asked Suki. She looked up from decided which of the sweets that Sekka was offering her to have.
"Ooh! Gimme!" She said, he threw it to her, Sekka had sat back down, Suki looked at the book, she read the first page. "I'm gonna friggin' kill Lady Tya!"
"Why?" Sekka asked, he was reading the back of Altdorf.
"I asked earlier if she had Darkovia in and she said no, well it seems she did!" She sat down, pulling out a scroll of blank parchment and a quill from the desk in the corner, she began to take notes on the book. Sekka watched her, his eyebrows raised.
"You can borrow it you know."
"You need to read it."
"I read it two years ago."
"Seriously? How?"
"The library in the Inner Circle, it was in there, I was very bored so I read that."
"Oh, I'll bring it back tomorrow then." She said, he grinned.
"Have you got any chocolate?" Lucas asked, looking at the pile of sweets, Sekka focused again and a box of milk chocolate slid out from the bottom of the pile, it landed in his hands and he passed it to Lucas who took a while to decide which one to have. There was another gong and Suki jumped in surprise. "Lunch!" Lucas exclaimed in delight. "Coming to the Food hall?" He asked Sekka.
"Where is it?"
"We'll show you, if Suki will grace us with her presence."
"I've gotta take this back to the Quarters, I'll see you in the next revision lesson." She said.
"No you wont."
"Why not?"
"Yesterday, you arrived almost at the end of the lesson, I was there by myself for ages!"
"I fell asleep!" She argued.
"Well, I don't wanna be the one who looks like an idiot because I'm there by myself."
"Please…" She made puppy dog eyes.
"No. I'm studying outside, I'll be able to see the new Novices' arrive that way."
"Pretty please…"
"No." She pouted.
"Sekka, will you come?"
"Don't drag him into this!"
"Come where? Term hasn't started yet has it?"
"No, it's revision classes, most the people we hang round with are at the Houses, I don't go back to the houses because everyone asks me to sort out their stupid little problems and Lucas doesn't go because all his brothers and sisters go back for Winter."
"Oh…that helps."
"It's revision, but because we don't really know any of the others in the classes, we drag each other along, Lucas is being a pain and refusing to come, so will you come?"
"What's the revision for?"
"Today, Alchemy."
"Like yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Sure, I should be able to come."
"Yay! Thank you!" She cried, hugging him. "I'll meet you in the food hall." She waved, leaving the room. Lucas was muttering under his breath about how she always got her way, Sekka laughed. They left the room, Sekka taking a bag of sweets with him.
"Hold on," He said, looking at the bag.
"Yeah?"
"If all your friends are back at the Houses, how did they send the sweets?"
"They're the Houses, Suki normally goes to see them everyday of the holidays, she told them the night before last and they sent the sweets and cards this morning."
"Ah." They reached a pair of double doors, there were banquet tables running the length of the room, they were only half full and there was the murmur of low chatter. Lucas sat down and Sekka sat opposite him, they both began to eat, Sekka asking about the revision classes and Lucas mumbling about how Suki kept annoying him. Sekka jumped slightly as someone sat down next to him, it was Suki, she spooned some soup into her bowl while reading Darkovia, she appeared absorbed by her reading but looked up as a group of people entered the hall, she marked her page and put the book on the table.
"Novices'." She said, looking at Lucas.
"They're early." He replied, watching them, there was someone near the back of the group that seemed a bit alone, he had red hair and icy blue eyes, he looked round the hall. "Be right back." Lucas got up and walked over to the Novices', Suki rolled her eyes. Lucas smiled as he reached them, fearful eyes turned to him, "Hi, I'm Lucas." He said to them, they smiled slightly and he grinned. "Do any of you know where you're going?" Most of them shook their heads, one in the middle of the group scoffed.
"Of course I know where I'm going." He snapped, Lucas recognised him as Vanir, Lord Thanils son.
"Well, for those of you that don't would you like me to show you around?" He asked, Suki heard and groaned.
"I'm gonna kill him, he did this with the Summer Novices', we'll be stuck doing this all damn day now." Suki said, shaking her head, Sekka laughed slightly. Lucas was walking back over, leading a group of Novices', they all looked a bit scared.
"And this is my fellow second year- Suki, and my new friend who is in your year, Sekka." They both waved and smiled, Suki's was forced but Sekka was looking forward to knowing someone in his year. "So, who're you then?" He asked them, sitting down and motioning for them to do the same, Sekka found himself next to the boy that was at the back.
"Hey, who're you?" Sekka asked him, smiling.
"Gaara." He seemed shy and unwilling to talk much.
"Nice to meet you, Gaara."
"D'you know much magic?" Vanir had walked over, addressing Sekka. "My father heard that you're "The best Novice this year." Vanir scoffed. Sekka smiled slyly, he focused his mind on the chair at the table behind Vanir, his mind dragged the chair forward, making Vanir fall onto it. He smirked at the new boys obvious surprise.
"Sekka!" Suki called him. "Are you coming to revision?" He glanced at Lucas and found him deep in conversation with one of the Novices'. He smiled and nodded to Suki, Vanir glared at his back.
"Can I come?" He turned to Gaara as the boy spoke.
"Sure, if you want to." Gaara smiled gratefully and followed Suki and Sekka out the hall. Suki led them down the corridor and up some stairs until they came to a different room to the one he'd been in yesterday. As they walked in, all three of them bowed to the teacher.
"My lord." They murmured and took seats next to each other, Sekka being in the middle. There were small balls of water on the desk, the teacher- Lord Lareg- addressed the class.
"Your task for today is to heat the water in this ball, if you heat it too much it will turn purple, if not enough it will turn yellow but if you heat it just right then it will turn red. Continue." The classroom was almost filled and everyone was silent. Suki had closed her eyes, concentrating, Gaara was staring at the ball and it was slowly turning orange an slipping between red and yellow. Sekka turned to his own, he closed his eyes and reached towards the ball with his mind, he created a ball of heat and placed it over the water ball, opening his eyes he found that it had turned red. Smiling he let the magic fade after the teacher had seen it. "Very good." Lord Lareg said to all three of them, a gong rang, Sekka hadn't realized that an hour had passed. He grinned at Suki and Gaara, they grinned back.
"Shall we go and rescue Lucas from the Novices'?" Suki asked as they left the room, bowing to Lord Lareg.
"Or we could go and eat sweets." Sekka suggested, Suki shrugged.
"I prefer your idea, coming Gaara?" They all walked down the corridor, they passed an arch that had the words Novice Library on and many classrooms, all dedicated to Alchemy. "This floor is Alchemy, the floor below us is the Administrator Offices, Food Hall and Magicians Library. The floor above us is for the Healing Classes and the Hospital, the floor above that is for Warrior Classes and they've also got the Arena in the grounds for Practical Warrior Lessons." Suki explained as they reached Sekka's room. Lucas was inside, he was reading Altdorf. Suki cleared her throat as she walked in.
"I take it you've demolished the sweets." Sekka said, half smiling,
"No, only a box of chocolates." He replied, laughing. They all sat down, Gaara looked around the room.
"No fair, your's is bigger." Gaara said, folding his arms.
"Really?" Sekka asked.
"Yeah, mine's about half the size." Sekka laughed.
"Ha-ha! Poor you!"
They carried on talking until the sun had vanished and the other three headed back, Lucas and Suki back to the Novice Quarters and Gaara back to his room. As Sekka fell asleep he remembered the test that he had the next day and his dreams were plagued by the thought of failing.
-Note- I don't own Naruto, The Black Magician Trilogy, Final Fantasy (Coming in chapter 5), I only own the charters I've made up, Lucas, Suki, Maria, Thorn e.t.c -Note-