Chapter 12: A Man
"Arcane magic provides structure. Despite the common misconception that arcane magic is inherently chaotic, it provides structure to all basic non-light magic spells. Even advanced spells such as Pyroblast, Blizzard, and Dragon's Breath require arcane components to function on a more stable scale."
The water level lowered to just beneath my knees. It was the same thing every morning. Wake up; gather six eggs, two loaves of bread, a jug of juice, a jar of jam, and a slab of bacon and ride for the woods just outside of Dalaran. Once there, I would wade out to the center of a small pond, and Antonidas would raise the water level just under my chin and I would answer questions. For each correct answer, the water level would lower, for each incorrect answer, it would rise. It was a great teaching mechanic for being taught to think clearly and calmly under pressure.
But Aspects above, it was dreadfully cold and I could feel my soggy socks even once I was dry. Let's see, I suppose some catch up is needed at this point, hmm? It had been four years since Arthur's death and most had mourned and moved on, including myself. Magdalene had, sadly, passed not long after, but unlike her husband, she was quickly forgotten. Such is the life of those who work to keep the peace in their own image.
"Good. What is the basic fundamental rule of fire magic?" Antonidas asked as he flipped the eggs he was cooking.
"Fire magic is inherently destructive." I responded. "I…"
He was patient. Much more patient and understanding than I would have thought, even when I was being bullheaded, he was calm and rational. Not always very kind, but the lack of constant praise only made me wish to prove myself.
"Well, go on." He motioned as he cut up some onions to go with the eggs and bacon, the onion floating as an invisible knife sliced and diced it perfectly.
"My apologies, master. Fire magic is inherently destructive. However, it is not inherently evil. It should be respected, as one would a forge or a bonfire, but not feared."
He clicked his tongue and the water lowered a bit more, just to my ankles. "Good. And why do we do this every morning?" He set out two plates in the grass for our breakfasts.
"Because one cannot hope to advance if they do not remember the basics and should be reminded that they have to start walking before they can really run."
"Come eat," He said, waving me over as I began to wade out of the pond. "It's almost summer, you know, time for the holidays."
I nodded as I took my plate. "Yes."
I had grown to respect him. It was not the love I had for Arthur, no, but it was a respect that was quickly turning into admiration, and his kindness was far reaching. I was eighteen now, a man grown, and he had since taken me to court several times now, during our study times to deal with matters of Council. I had learned so much. He even taught me to shave. Imagine that? It was odd, though; he always seemed to be thinking. Even when he was doing, always thinking.
Let's see, what else? I had spent the last four summers in Silvermoon as was becoming tradition. I even managed to make Circi smile and laugh when I accidentally landed on a crab that pinched my backside on the beach. Andris was always by my side when in the city, even taking me out to the Wayfarer's Rest for mead, I even got to hold Ti'tanya's hand during a rendition of Romulo and Julianne.
Life was good. I was content. I was happy.
"What do you, yes?" He stacked everything on his jam toast as he always did. "Are you going to Silvermoon again? Your Adept training is just about finished with top marks, as always."
"Even being the Archmage's apprentice?" I ate everything separate as I smirked at him.
"Don't make me send you to clean the constructs. I'm not sure which is worse, seen cheating for you on your exams or you failing them miserably. Do neither and we will be fine, hmm?" He took a large bite of the stacked jam-bacon-egg sandwich, getting some of the yolk on his whiskers.
"Will you be going with the Dawnshatter's again?" He asked after wiping his mouth.
"Yes."
"There's that word again. Yes does not answer an entire question, Matthew. What have I always taught you?" He cocked his head to the side.
I chuckled. Four years and he still hadn't grasped when I was teasing him. "Think. Then speak."
"Yes, I am going to Silvermoon with the Dawnshatter's, sir. I have a gift for Andris."
"A gift, a surprise, is it? Well, what is it?"
I laughed at him. "Must you be so nosy, master?"
"Constructs, boy, and don't you forget it."
"It's a new sword. He sent me a letter a week ago or so, broke his claymore during training." I laughed as I munched
"Elves," Antonidas muttered.
"And so I had the smiths make him a new one."
"Is it his birthday?" Antonidas asked as he poured two glasses of juice.
"No. Just something nice I'm doing for him." I said, swallowing my glass in a few gulps and finishing my breakfast.
"Oh. Well, isn't that nice." Antonidas managed a half smile. "While I have you before I let you off for the day, oh don't smile at me like that, there are a few things that I need to discuss with you."
"My Master training," I said knowingly.
"Correct you are, De'tylmarande. Will you be continuing your training and studies in Dalaran?"
"Yes, master." I replied without hesitation.
"Alright, and what will your study focus be?"
Again, I would answer without hesitation, "Fire."
"Is that so?" He smiled once more. "And that means another four years as an adept, after which you will become a Master. Nothing more, nothing less, but that begs the question, what will you do after?"
Antonidas always had a habit of looking far, far into the future, farther than even the elves thought to see at times. "I will continue my training in Dalaran, master."
"Do you have a goal in mind? The Council of Six, perhaps?"
"No. I just want to be an instructor."
"That's another four years of study, Matthew, for instructor training. You'll be twenty-six when all is said and done, practically an old man." He sipped at his juice. "Is that would you want? Do you not wish to settle in the magister's guild of Silvermoon perhaps? Wed a young Lady Dawnshatter, perhaps?"
I coughed and sputtered on my juice, thumping my chest with a fist, "M-Master!"
"I only say so because there are enough old mages in the world, one more only bloat the system more. Is that what you want?" He stared down at him past his horn-rimmed glasses.
"Yes. I have time to wed…err…beg pardon, Master, court Lady Dawnshatter. She is an elder race after all."
"Touché," Antonidas said with a smirk.
"And I would like to be the best I can be before joining any magistry guilds or companies. I may even enlist with the magic corps to serve Dalaran as a Battle Mage."
"Slow down, boy, one step at a time. First, we'll begin your master training when the summer is over and we can go from there. You rush life too much, Matthew. Slow down. Smell the maple in the air once in a while. Elder as she may be, you are not. You will not be young and beautiful for all your days. Look at me." He said with his hands folded in my lap.
It was true; I had changed much in those four years. Courting and…well, Ti'tanya in general was moving further and further from my mind. I was far more focused on my studies and learning all I could from Antonidas. I only nodded at him. "Yes, master."
He frowned at me. "Heed my words, boy. One day, I won't be here. And then who is going to tell you when you're being a fool?" This made me frown. "Go on. Go, then! Don't let me keep you." He sighed. "Enjoy your summer, Matthew. Give my regards to the Lord and Lady."
"I will, master. Take…" I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I'm a young man, Matthew. No disease is going to take me anytime soon. You do this every year." He pointed to my palfrey. "Go."
"Take care of yourself?" I said as I gave a bow and went to my horse.
"Matthew?"
"Yes, master?" I said, looking over my shoulder.
"You are a man, now. Remember that. But also remember that men can enjoy themselves too." He nodded as he poured himself more juice. I smiled at him and mounted the chestnut mare and road off back towards the city. As per usual, the city was all hustle and bustle this time of year, with student leaving to go home. Andris and Circi had no arrived yet, and Ti'tanya had gone back to Silvermoon ahead of us this year, which means I had time to return to my quarters. I lashed my horse to the post outside and headed up. The translocation orb had become much each to handle, even on a full stomach, thankfully. I headed into my chambers and my face lit up to see the large zweihander on the bed, delivered as promised. I flicked my hands and wrists to quickly levitate all of the belongings I'd be taking and left my room.
"Matthew! Hello! Summer already, hmm?" came a voice to my right that made me grin.
"Hello, Master Sunreaver. Will you be going back to Silvermoon as well?"
He huffed. "Sadly, no, not this year, I have too much to sort out with your master, as it were, what, with the new Guardian and all. Honestly, the boy is…well, never you mind." Aethas smiled at me.
I nodded. "You're talking about Medivh. He's my age, isn't he? They called him the Guardian of Tirisfal, but the records don't really talk much about it."
Aethas frowned grimly. "No talk such as this should happen before a vacation. Be content to know that the Archmage will likely drag you into it before too long." He raised his eyebrows and regarded the zweihander. "What is that?"
I flicked it over to him and he took it in his hands. "Heavy."
"It's a gift for Andris Dawnshatter. He broke his sword in training and hasn't gotten a new one yet. So…" I shrugged. "I made him one."
"Investing wisely, hmm?" He gave me a scrutinizing eye.
"It was a one gift, Master Sunreaver." I said with a smirk.
"Next you'll be buying Ti'tanya pearls."
"Perhaps," I said with a shrug.
"When did your tongue become sharp, De'tylmarande, and why hadn't I noticed?" Aethas said, cocking his head to side and crossing his arms.
I laughed and flicked the blade back towards me. "I sharpened it from talking to you over dinner, when you'd had too much wine."
He pointed a finger at me. "Fair enough, young adept, fair enough, so, how about before you run off with your friends, you and I have just a friendly duel, what do you say?"
"A duel, right here, in the hall" I asked, looking behind me and then over Aethas' shoulder. "Is that safe?"
Aethas nodded. "Don't tell Antonidas. Just a little bit of sparks, nothing major, just to see how you've done, hmm?"
"Alright," I said, nodding once.
"You honor me!"
I flicked my stuff to set it all gently against the wall and Aethas and I stood several meters apart from each other. He was still over a head taller than me.
"No referee. Honor system, then?"
I nodded.
"On three," Aethas said, rolling up the sleeve of his robes.
Aethas counted to three and stepped forward, flicking his fingers towards me and sending small embers towards me. I used my left hand to quickly extend an anti-magic field from my person.
"Is that an anti magic zone, without the use of a focus? That isn't…"
"Antonidas taught me in lessons."
"Bully!"
I cast a counter spell cantrip to block his next spell, stepping forward and unleashing my own volley of embers. He extended his own anti-magic field.
"Your countering is excellent. But your offense is weak."
"Is it?"
The embers I had cast flared to life inside of his anti magic field.
"Anti-magic embers, now that is impressive and very creative." They exploded on his robes, singing them a bit. "You dog."
"I learned from some of the best." I said as I unleashed another volley, but he countered with his own and then locked my magic with a counter spell cantrip.
"What say we call it there? They say I have some of the best counter spell cantrips Dalaran has ever seen."
"Who says I need to break the cantrip?"
I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded, my form suddenly becoming encased in a massive block of ice. I couldn't hear what Aethas said, but I was willing to bet it was a swear word. The ice block wore off and I stepped forward, extending the anti-magic field once more. He extended his own.
"Now it's a draw." The elf said with a grin.
"That it is. You went easy on me."
"Nothing like a little confidence boost before a long trip, hmm?" He chuckled as he patted my shoulder and began to walk away.
"Take care, Matthew."
"And you, Master Sunreaver."
I gathered my things with a flick of the wrist once more and headed down the tower. I waited by the town's gates for only a short time before I saw the familiar gleam of white and gold armor and white and black robes. I ran towards Andris and thumped his shoulder.
"You're late."
"And you're in a dress."
I laughed and we quickly embraced. Circi smiled at me and hugged me. "Hi, Matty, it's good to see you."
"Circi, you're looking very lovely today."
We all hugged again and I turned towards my things. "So I got your letter."
Andris rolled his eyes and Circi let out a loud laugh. "I'll have that blacksmith's job."
"No need!" I said as I hefted the sword up and offered it to the Paladin.
"Matt…what is this?"
"A sword," I said, trying to fight back the laughter as I shifted my eyes to the left.
He rolled his eyes once more. "Yeah, I see that, but…" He removed it from its sheath. It was freshly oiled and shining in the morning sun. "Matt…This must have cost a fortune."
I shrugged. "Not really. The smiths here made it," He gave it a few gentle practice swings.
"It's so well balanced. It's perfect." He twirled it. "Big, but…"
"Big man needs a bigger sword. Do you…like it?" I asked with a nervous smile.
He looked at the sword. "Matt. I think it was destiny that we met you. So it was destiny that broke my sword. And you brought me Destiny. So its name will be Destiny."
I smiled brightly as he buckled the sheath around his chest and sheathed the blade. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. Now, let's get going before we lose too much daylight."
It was always the same. The same route, same campsites, same breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Now, I for one hate routines. But this routine, this one I was just fine with.
We finally arrived in Silvermoon like we always did and I climbed down from the carriage and was greeted by Lord and Lady Dawnshatter as well as Ti'tanya.
Ah. I was a fool from the moment I saw her each time. My heart pounded and our eyes met and she smiled. The three of us approached them, and I bowed.
"Lord and Ladies." I said as I spread my arms.
"Hello, Matthew," said Lord Dawnshatter with a bow of his head.
"Sir De'tylmarande," said the elder lady.
"Matty," Ti'tanya said with a teasing twinkle in her eyes. I approached her and she couldn't wait any longer as she lifted her dress and threw herself out me, wrapping her arms around me in a suffocating hug. She kissed my cheek and I kissed hers.
Sadly, all was not perfect in my paradise. Circi accidentally let it slip that I fancied Ti'tanya. Were they racist? No. Not really, but they would not abide their daughter courting, much less marrying a human. It was noble elven blood or none at all. Since it happened two summers ago, I spoke little to them and no longer stayed at their home or ate with them. I paid for my own room at the inn and Circi, Andris, Tanya, and I would have our own fun.
They each made a disgusted face when they saw the display of affection. Andris had a brief, private word with his father, and Circi barely looked at them, outside of saying hello to her mother. Their relationship always seemed strained, but I didn't really realize how badly so it was and how distant they were with their parents. I didn't remark on it, but I could see it.
They left without saying goodbye to just their children, and that was fine by me. It was the usual visit, going to the bazaar, swimming; enjoying everything Silvermoon had to offer.
And then it was time for the Fire Festival. The Midsummer Fire Festival was a celebration of the heat and the flame and kept the chill of the north at bay. I asked Ti'tanya to the dance, and thank my lucky stars, she said yes. Andris helped me pick out a tuxedo that actually fit me. It was a black jacket with a white undershirt, a red bow tie, ruby cufflinks, and fine shoes all to celebrate the Fire Festival which was to be held in the Bazaar of Silvermoon City itself.
Andris swatted me. "Stop playing with it. You're gonna rip it."
I tore my hands away from the bowtie and smoothed out the tuxedo. It had been the first time I had wore something other than robes in a very long time.
"You look fine." He remarked as he fixed his own bowtie.
"Are you going with anyone this year?" I asked as I fiddled nervously with the cufflinks.
He smiled and chuckled. "In a matter of speaking, yes, I am."
"Oh?" I looked over at him, cocking my head to the side with a bemused look.
His smile got wider. "I'm sure you'll see her in due time."
"Where are the girls?" I asked as we left Andris' bedroom and headed downstairs.
"Already there, Circi is likely stripping off her dress and high-tailing it from the dance as we speak." He said as he slipped a dirk inside of his jacket. "Well?"
I gave him a once over and nodded. "Like a million gold."
He chuckled and we were out the door in the next woman, greeted by the warm night air. The streets were lit with lamps of fiery red orbs of magic and paper lanterns, streamers and banners strewn about every corner of the city to honor the Fire Festival, with vendors on every corner hocking their wares. I purchased a small ruby barrette from one vendor and Andris purchased a small ruby bracelet he thought Ti'tanya would like, slipping it into my hand.
"Nervous?" Andris asked me as we went through the corridors to the Bazaar.
"Do I seem nervous? I'm not nervous, do I look nervous?" I fiddled with my cufflinks again and he put his hand on my shoulder.
"You'll be fine. Just…tell her how pretty she looks." He smiled at me as they continued to walk, the music becoming louder as we approached until we turned the last corner and were greeted with so many wonderful sights and smells. We could see the bonfire roaring off in the corner of the Bazaar, people tossing the mementos into the fire, causing it to spark up and reach higher. There was a platform set up not far from the fire for dancing, and the band was playing a happy, cheerful, and very rhythmic ditty with violins and drums. People were linking arms with the partners and dancing in circles, then switching partners to dance with others, even strangers. It was really mesmerizing to watch, and the smells! Oh, the smells of the barbeque hawkstrider, the roasted fish and boar, the sweet smell of cherry and lemon cakes. I couldn't resist, and nearly made my way to where the stalls were, but Andris put his hands on my shoulders and steered me towards the dance floor.
After leaving me there to do whatever it was noblemen did at these kinds of festivals, I stood there awkwardly until I felt a light touch to my hand. I turned and saw her.
I can still imagine her in my mind. Her ocean blue eyes were such a stark contrast to her long, flowing red gown. She had ruby studs in her ears, near the tip and in her ear lobes. The dress was low cut enough to show off her…assets without being trashy, and it was split up the side to her left thigh. There was golden filigree around the hem of the gown, as well as up both sides.
"You…look very pretty." She giggled and reached out, taking my hand.
"Dance with me." She said softly as we went to the dance floor.
The ditty had ended and was replaced by a slow moving melody, a soft, gentle, romantic song. Partners had turned and embraced each other, hands on sides and arms around necks as they swayed to the music.
"Put your hands here." She took my hands and placed them on my sides as she draped her arms around my neck and we began to sway to the rhythm of the music, slowly turning.
"This is nice. You smell…nice," I said, my cheeks flushed.
"As do you, Mister De'tylmarande."
I grinned at her and we just looked into each other eyes as we danced.
"You're starting your master training in the fall, no?"
"Yes. Antonidas will be taking more to court more often."
She made a face. "Don't fall for any of those ladies at court, hmm? They'll steal your soul." She said, brushing her fingers through my hair.
I blushed darker as I gently guided her closer, licking my lips slowly.
"Tanya…"
"Matthew…"
"May I court you?" I asked softly, barely above a whisper.
She flinched as if she had been struck, her body going rigid, causing us to lose step suddenly, my foot nearly kicking her ankle. I cleared my throat. "Tanya?"
She stared at me, like a frightened doe, her eye wide with horror. My mouth fell open and my throat became tight and my chest hurt.
"What?"
"May I court you?" I asked again, a bit louder.
"Matthew, I…" She started as she pulled her arms from around my neck and put her hands on my chest.
"What? What is it?" I asked, fear gripping me as I was pushed away, stumbling backwards. It was then that I realized just about every couple was staring at us, some with apologetic glances, others with looks of disgust or snide satisfaction.
"No! No, I can't." She shook her head. "We were just…friends, Matt. Court me, no, absolutely not." She shook her head and tears began to flood her face. "I think you should go."
"What? Tanya? Why?" I said, reaching my hand out towards her.
"Just go!" She almost shouted and I flinched and pulled back my hand immediately.
I turned and made my way quickly off of the dance floor as everyone's eyes were on me. I hurried out of the Bazaar and turned back only for a moment to see Ti'tanya had replaced me with her brother, her face buried into his chest as they danced, his eyes looking towards me with an apologetic, somber stare. I pulled off the bowtie and cufflinks and abandoned them in the street before I even made it back to my room at the inn, spending the entire night training and practicing until my body gave out from exhaustion.
