The blood mage Jowan was standing in front of his victims. A moment ago, the templars, along with the first enchanter and his apprentice was standing in front of him. Now, almost all of them lie fainted on the floor. All, except one. The first enchanter's favorite apprentice and recently harrowed Daylen Amell stood between him and the door leading to his freedom. Jowan had known Daylen was strong, but he did not know he was strong enough to overcome his blood magic. Even the first enchanter and knight-commander Greagoir fainted.
Jowan stared at the Apprentice. Daylen was eyeing him with an icy cold stare. He had told him that escaping with Lily was impossible, much less living a good and honest life as an apostate. But Jowan was not convinced. He was about to be made tranquil, which means he would lose his emotions and with it, his love for Lily. And if Daylen was to separate him from Lily, then Jowan would need to take him down. Jowan picked up a sword from a Templar's body and brandishes it towards Daylen. "Stay Back!!" he barked. "Don't make me use this!!". Daylen smirked, and said "give it up, you know damn well you cannot defeat a mage with a mere sword".
He then flicks his hand, conjuring sparks on his palm. "If you are a mage, use your so-called blood magic and try to get through me". His tone sounded so calm, but very demeaning. Jowan dropped the sword and began casting blood control. He manipulated the unconscious Templars to his whim and made them their slaves. He made the Templars charge towards Daylen, but the mage threw the spark on his palm towards one of the Templars. The bolt hit the body and transfers itself to the others, breaking Jowan's spell. Jowan did not expect this. He knew that as the master of both spirit and primal thunder magic, Daylen is able to interrupt and destroy other people's magic, but not to this extent. In desperation, Jowan casted an Arcane Bolt spell towards him, but Daylen conjured up a quick arcane shield and blocked the spell. "Come on, Blood Mage!" Daylen taunted "Is this all you got?! Pathetic!!" Jowan was angered. Even by using blood magic, he could not defeat Daylen. However, he has an ace up his sleeve. He tapped into his life energy, using it to fuel his magic. This way, Daylen would surely ran out of mana before he ran out of both mana and health.
Fifteen minutes into battle, and things looked bleak for Jowan. He had used Blood Magic to fuel his spells. He even sacrificed the fainted Templars and first enchanter's life energy using Blood Sacrifice. Yet, Daylen stands before him, not even panting. Finally, Jowan fell to his knees. Weakly, he asked, "w-why aren't you exhausted?" Daylen answered, "The first enchanter's necklace connects him to the lyrium vein, fueling his mana with an almost-unlimited supply of energy. I simply put a Death Siphon spell on it". Jowan was shocked. He thought Daylen had used black magic. Turns out, he was simply using cheap trickery and intelligence. He felt his energy weakening, and eventually collapsed. Daylen withdrew the mana siphon spell, and lay down on the floor. Bloody Idiot, he thought didn't he knew that magic artifacts cannot be charmed, I simply drained your mana pool and added it to my own. He heard voices, and saw first enchanter Irving stood up. Before he could speak however, his exhaustion got into him and he fainted.
When Daylen woke up, he was already in the sick bay. Beside him, smiling weakly is First Enchanter Irving himself. Apparently, some apprentices found them in front of the gate, and carried them into the sick bay. Irving said, "You have done quite well, Daylen." Daylen humbly said "I was lucky first enchanter, I am sorry my barrier cannot reach all of us" Irving chuckled weakly, and said "don't blame yourself, this old body cannot take as much punishment it could take twenty years ago." They laid in silence, before Irving said "you displayed remarkable talent, Daylen. More than any of the senior enchanters can perform". Before Daylen could answer, Irving said, "Maybe you are ready to become the youngest first enchanter yet." Almost immediately, Daylen protested, "No, I am not! There are other senior enchanters like Wynne or Uldred! Besides, the other enchanters will certainly resent me!". Hearing this, Irving simply chuckled and said, "They are just jealous of your talent, you will see soon enough." Before he could protest, Daylen heard a knocking noise.
Jowan had entered the room. He had been made tranquil. Daylen noticed the absence of emotions on his face. "First Enchanter," he calmly said. "There is a letter from the grey warden Duncan for you." Irving read the message, and said, "He wanted the best mage in the tower to recruit into the ranks of the Grey Warden". Hearing this, Daylen woke up, and said "send me, first enchanter!" Irving was puzzled by this reaction. Daylen was never this enthusiastic, except when learning a new spell. "I have been longing to escape the tower, and this might be the chance I could do it with your permission!" Irving smiled and nodded. Daylen rushed to his chamber, looking forward to fighting darkspawn. So far, he had only read about them in books. Now, he is sent to fight the blight and save the world. And for somebody whose life has been spent confined inside a tower, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.