VILLAGE OF THE BLACK MAGES
They slept late the next morning, without really meaning to; the town seemed to radiate a peaceful air which kept them from rising quickly even after they had wakened. The Black Mages, for their part, seemed content to give them plenty of space, not even approaching them as they finally got around to taking up the tent and clearing their campsite. Finally, however, one of the Black Mages, who they somehow identified as one of the two who had shown them there the previous night, came up and began to speak to them.
You can stay here as long as you like, he said, but we don't have visitors very often. You're the first people I've seen who weren't one of us.
Is our being here causing you any trouble? asked Kestra.
The Black Mage cocked it head at her. Trouble? No, but some of us aren't sure how we should treat you. What do you do to strangers when they come to your villages?
The five looked at each other. That's a complicated thing to explain, said Darren.
Could I ask you some questions? Gavin asked. I'm curious about this place.
The Black Mage nodded. Of course. But perhaps you should ask the Warlocks; they might know more than I do. I'll show you to them if you like.
Gavin shrugged.
As the Black Mage led Gavin off, Linnis took Darren aside. How much do you know of the Black Mages? she asked softly.
Only the knowledge that is given to any in the Spirit Order, he replied. Have they done something to cause you concern?
She shook her head. Nothing like that. But I have learned very little about them from any texts in Cardinal, and I... She paused, glancing around at the villagers. I do not wish to offend by asking the wrong thing.
Darren nodded. These people don't seem to be easily offended, and they appear to know as little about us as you do about them. But of course I'll tell you what I know.
He paused, collecting his thoughts. Imagine you're looking at a mural. You can either study it closely, picking out every detail, or look at it from a distance and take in the whole picture. The different approaches to the Forces of Magic work in much the same way. Black Mages immerse themselves in the pure, elemental Forces of Nature; in this way they can truly become lost in the magic in a way neither you or I could. Thus, they can channel raw, elemental power, but they forfeit the ability to tap into the encompassing Spirit Force at all, as the harmony is drowned out by the power of the Forces they channel.
You make it sound almost primitive, Linnis said, frowning.
In a way, it is. Black Magic, remember, is inherently destructive. There is no order to its manner; it is simply the release of pure energy. But no magical skill exists that can be attained without a great deal of dedication. He glanced out at them. You can see what effect their path has had on them, simply by looking.
You mean their faces?
He nodded. Remember, I'd never seen a Black Mage before; I'm only speculating based on lessons I learned years ago. But I was told that one who can immerse oneself deeply enough in the magical Forces may begin to fade from this world, leaving only their shadow behind. Once again, White Mages cannot reach this level of detachment from this plane of reality, for then we would lose our perspective on the unifying Forces and with it our ability to channel White Magic.
Linnis was nodding slowly. she admitted. I've learned more about the different facets of Magic in the few days since I left Cardinal, than in the years of study that came before.
Darren smiled. My apprenticeship taught me a great deal about magical lore, but I found most of it to be completely useless when the time came to put my skills into practice.
A short distance away, a cluster of children, dressed in light brown robes not too different from those of the Mages save in color and size, had gathered around Aster and Kestra. Linnis frowned, looking at the group. Those children look perfectly normal, she observed.
Probably because they haven't become Mages yet.
Of course. She paused. It just seems a little strange, seeing ordinary children in such an unusual place.
Darren raised his eyebrows. To them, your home would likely seem the unusual one.
Aster, who looked more than a little uncomfortable around the children, glanced up to see Linnis looking in his direction. She quickly averted her gaze, causing him to frown at her behavior.
Why do you look like kids? one child prodded. You're way too tall!
Aster blinked. What are you talking about?
You aren't faded like all the Mages, the child said with authority. So you must still be a kid. But kids never get as big as you are!
We're not Black Mages, said Kestra. We don't fade like you do.
If you're not Mages yet, then you must still be kids! insisted the child. Why haven't you become Mages yet?
Maybe they're like those other guys, another child said. You know, the bad Mages!
Aster gulped.
They don't look bad to me, said the first child. You're not bad guys, are you?
No, we're not, Kestra said. I promise.
Told ya! said the child. Sides, if they were bad, why would all the other Mages be letting em just walk around here?
I guess.... The other child appeared deep in thought.
Aster, more than a little uneasy around the children, began looking for some way to extricate himself from the conversation. he said, I'm going to see where Gavin got off to. And he immediately set off.
What are you doing? asked Kestra, following him.
Aster asked. Gavin just took off after these Warlock guys, and I wanted to see what the story was.
The kids were scaring you, weren't they?
This whole place scares me, Aster said. I mean, I've never seen anything stranger than a couple Korels in with a convoy from out West, so getting stuck out someplace I've barely ever heard of with a bunch of people whose bodies absorb light is enough to scare me a little.
Kestra didn't reply, watching Aster as if she expected him to say more.
How am I supposed to keep all of this straight? Aster continued. Two weeks ago, there were the Layfolk and the Mages. Now, I've got Black Mages and White Mages and Red Mages and Blue Mages and I go to sleep wondering what the hell I'm going to run into tomorrow. He shook his head. I'm just a dumb city kid, okay? This is way too much for me.
You know, Kestra mused, for as clueless as the both of you act, you've got a strangely good survival sense. Most cityfolk would have ended up dead a long time ago.
Aster frowned. Was that supposed to make me feel better?
Yes. Really, you could make a decent knight if you tried. But right now you've still got a problem with whining about things instead of doing something about them.
Aster paused on the path which led up the way he had seen the Black Mage taking Gavin. Is there some reason you're out for me all of a sudden?
I'm not out for you,' Kestra replied. I'm giving you some advice, because I've gotten to like the two of you. Your friend Gavin seems to be coming along, but you're still stuck in your hatred of the Red Mages. Trust me, that'll get you nowhere.
Aster, unsure how to take Kestra's unexpected assertion, found himself lost for a reply, and simply continued up the path.
Before they were required to go door to door checking for Gavin, the other member of their party appeared from the farthest opening from them, at the very end of the path. he called, seeing them. Come on!
As they came to the doorway, they saw inside a room which resembled a small cave. The room seemed poorly lit, despite a number of glowing crystals set on poles around the room, almost no light seemed to reach the walls. Gavin was inside, along with four other Black Mages. One looked normal, but the other three stood almost a full head taller; and though they wore cloaks of the same fabric as all the others Aster had seen, there was a difference in their design. Instead of single, solid robes of dark blue, these wore cloaks of that color which reached down to about where their waist would be, and underneath was a brown robe, about the color of tree-bark. Their straw hats, for their part, seemed to be of a darker shade. But the strangest feature of these Black Mages were their eyes; instead of yellow, they glowed a deep blue.
Hey, guys, Gavin said. You remember...uh, this guy who showed us here last night? He nodded to the first Black Mage. He was just introducing me to the Warlocks here. They're like the leaders of this village.
said Aster, unsure of what he should do. The tall Black Mage was staring at him with that intent manner which they all seemed to exhibit, and somehow the blue eyes made it even more unsettling.
said one of the Warlocks, nodding to him. This individual's voice seemed to echo more than it should, although it seemed somehow perfectly natural. I hoped you'd come to see me soon. We've been expecting you.