Tags: au-fantasy; magic; bullying

Blaine was proud of the city he grew up in. He liked to sit by the fountain while reading and take in the beauty that was Wellume. It really was an idyllic place to live and grow up. Set at the base of a waterfall, the town of Wellume was home to wood elves and high elves led by Lord Kindroth. With its elmwood rooftops, intricate vine-inspired walkways and bridges, blackwood walls, and flowing waterfall, Wellume had a glamorous atmosphere. The fountain at the center of the city was Blaine's favorite place to escape to and relax.

Blaine was the only child of Saria, and she loved him with all of her heart. Saria doted on Blaine and gave him everything she could. She often felt as if she had to make up for his biological father's absence, as he had gotten her pregnant and then never wanted anything to do with either of them. Roglen Fenfir, the King of the land of Cretopia, was Blaine's deadbeat father.

Saria thought back to the day she found out she was pregnant. She had reached out to Roglen, informing him of the pregnancy. When he had received the note from Saria explaining to him that she was with child, he had weighed his options. He did not want a bastard child and did not want to marry the elf woman, so he did not respond and burned the letter. After several weeks with no word from Roglen, Saria had realized that she would get no help from the human king. She told her father what had transpired and was surprised by his gentle and caring reaction to the news.

King Roglen Fenfir had been invited to attend a gathering of dignitaries in Wellume the summer that Saria had turned 17. At the opening ceremony, they had first caught a glimpse of each other. Saria was the only daughter of Kindroth, the head of the Council of Elves of the village, so naturally, she was included in all of the banquets and balls that were held to entertain the traveling guests. The gathering had lasted a couple of weeks, and in that time, Roglen and Saria had spent many hours together, both in public and in private. As the assembly came to a close, Roglen had assured Saria that he would send for her to visit his kingdom…he never did, though. She soon found out, by way of overhearing other elven ladies in the town gossip, that he wasn't the type of man to be faithful to just one person. Disappointed and heartbroken, she vowed to forget Roglen. Two months later, however, she discovered that she was with child.

Not too long after Saria had Blaine, she met Elwin. Elwin was an elf from another village that was wandering from place to place, looking for something different in his life. He was not scared to take on the responsibility of raising someone else's child, especially after hearing how Blaine, the now almost one-year-old, came to be in the world. He never let Blaine feel that he was not his child, and the boy never knew any differently. Saria and Elwin married a few months after Blaine turned one. It was a simple ceremony that their closest friends and family attended. The love exuded from the two that day was palpable to everyone around them, and all that attended could see how much Elwin loved Blaine.

Elwin spent time with Blaine each day, teaching him all of the things that his own father had taught him. Soon enough, Blaine could use a crossbow and bolt arrows to hunt for his own food, build a fire, pitch a tent, and look for shelter from the elements if he needed. Elwin was proud of his son and knew that he was teaching Blaine skills that everyone should know.

Because of Roglen's human blood running through his veins, Blaine looked a little different than the other kids in his village. He was shorter, and his ears were less pointy than his full-blooded elven kin. He was a little less lithe and thin. That did not mean that he was large by any means; he was just a bit broader than the other kids his age. The other children frequently left him out of social gatherings and mocked his ears, his height, his uniquely shaped eyebrows, and his curly, sometimes out-of-control hair. As a small child, he never knew why he was being made fun of, and would often keep it to himself since they also ridiculed other kids for various things. When he was around 10 years old, Blaine asked his parents about why the other kids were making fun of him. He did not understand how he was any different than them. Saria and Elwin told him about his true lineage. Blaine was confused and hurt, mainly because he couldn't think of anyone besides his dad as his dad, and he was thankful that they both loved him as much as they did. At least now he knew why he was being targeted.

After one particularly rough day at school, Blaine found sanctuary in a place it did not seem like other kids his age often went: the library. From that day forward, he went there as often as he could and read anything and everything he could get his hands on, soaking up the history of his village, learning about the creatures of the world, and even learning some other languages.

When he was 15 years old, he stumbled upon a book of magic that described its noble history. He was astonished by what magic could do and how helpful it could be. When he finished it, he found and read all of the other magic books the local library had. Consuming every bit of magical knowledge took him just under two years as the selection available to him was quite extensive. He learned about abjuration (spells of protection), necromancy (manipulating life and death energies), divination (revealing of information), conjuration (moving items/creatures from one place to another), transmutation (changing properties of an environment, creature, or object), illusion (deceiving the minds or senses of others), enchantment (affecting the minds of others), and evocation (manipulating the mind of others). Blaine saw merit in learning about each type of magic, though it was abjuration that seemed to fit his core beliefs the best. In the first history book he read, Blaine learned that "The School of Abjuration emphasizes magic that blocks, banishes, or protects. Detractors of this school say that its tradition is about denial, negation rather than positive assertion. You understand, however, that ending harmful effects, protecting the weak, and banishing evil influences is anything but a philosophical void. It is a proud and respected vocation."

"That's what I want to do. That's how I will help people someday," he thought after reading that passage.

He asked his parents their views on magic the day he finished the last book the library had available.

"Momma, Papa, what do you guys think of magic?" Blaine cautiously asked one night after supper.

"I've seen wonderful things done with magic as I've traveled the lands before settling down here with you both," Elwin explained. "I've also witnessed the darker side of it. Why do you ask?"

"Well…" Blaine hesitated, afraid of being rejected.

"Blaine," Saria asked gently. "You can tell us anything, you know."

Blaine took a deep breath and prepared himself to talk about what he had been through the past few years. "I didn't want to tell you guys because I wanted to be able to handle it myself. And I did to an extent. A few years ago, some of the kids at school were making fun of me pretty badly. They would call me names and trip me sometimes. Other times, they would just give me really hateful looks. So, one day, after things had gotten a little more heated than they previously had, I ended up in the library when they chased after me. I wasn't sure what they were going to do to me if they caught me, and I was scared."

His parents didn't once interrupt him while he was telling his story, and they sensed he wasn't done yet but needed a moment to calm himself so he could continue. "I think I was 10 then, so the librarian, who we should totally buy a gift for, pointed me in the direction of the kids' section," Blaine explained with a smile on his face, recalling the day his life had changed.

"I went there every day after that, even when I didn't need solace. I just found comfort in the books, especially when I felt like I had been transported to a far-off fairytale land. Anyway, when I had devoured every book in the kids' section, I moved on to the rest of the library, reading everything I could, no matter the subject." Blaine took another deep, grounding breath and peeked up at his parents to see how they were taking the news thus far, glad that they were actively listening to him and not shutting him out.

"A few years ago, I stumbled upon my first book about magic, and it felt like coming home. It gave me such a sense of peace and warmth to know that something like that was a possibility, and I was drawn to it. So, naturally, I read anything and everything I could until I had gone through all of the books. The librarian sent me to the university library after that, where, again, I read everything I could, especially in regards to magic," Blaine continued.

He took a fortifying breath and finally looked up to make eye contact with his parents. "I want to help people. And I want to do it with magic. I feel like this is what I was always meant to do what I was born to do. I want to protect people and give them a voice when they can't use their own. I want to make a difference in this world. I've never seen magic in our town, so, back to where my original question was leading: how would you both feel about me going away and studying magic?"

Saria and Elwin took a moment to absorb everything their son had just told them. They were aware that things were not always pleasant for him. He had never once complained, and they never saw any physical evidence of any harm being done. Saria didn't notice the tears running down her face until Blaine leaned forward and wiped them away.

"Don't cry, Momma," Blaine pleaded. "I'm ok. Really. I just feel like I need to do this."

Elwin and Saria made brief eye contact, both knowing that the other agreed; their little boy was getting ready to leave their home.

His parents told him to speak to Alok at the local university if he was serious about pursuing his magical journey. He did the very next day. Alok asked Blaine about himself, about why he felt magic was the right path for him. Even more specifically, he asked if there was a particular school that interested him more than others.

Blaine said he wanted to help people, especially those who got made fun of, picked on, and harmed simply because of who they were. A person can't help the way they are born, and Blaine wanted to be the one to encourage and assist them while educating those in power of the injustices that were happening around them.

Seeing the conviction in his eyes and the sincerity he was exuding, Alok recommended that Blaine go to the Deswore School of Magic and ask for Edryin who was an Abjuration master. Alok would send a letter to the school to let Edryin know to expect Blaine at the beginning of the next term, which started in three months.

"Can't you wait a few years to start school?" Saria asked, nowhere near ready to let her baby go.

"Momma, I need to do this and right now feels like the right time, not in a couple of years. There is nothing left for me here," Blaine stated that night while trying to convince his parents to let him go. At seeing his mother's brokenhearted demeanor, he quickly amended, "You know that you and Papa are the most important people in my life, and I love you both with all of my heart. I don't fit in here, though, and it hurts in the depths of my soul some of the things the others call me. Everything within me is telling me that now is the time for me to do this."

"Oh, my Blaine," his mother lamented. She looked at her husband, who gave an almost imperceptible nod, and then, she looked back to Blaine. "Please, please write to us often, and let us know how you are getting on. Who knows, there might even be a spell you can learn so we will not have to wait for a letter to be delivered."

They all laughed when Blaine said, "I read about this spell..."

Over the next couple of months, Blaine gathered up his belongings and put them into his newest accessory, the bag of holding that his grandfather had given him upon hearing what his plans were.

B~B~B~B~B

"Blaine," Kindroth said to him the day after he had learned of the journey Blaine planned to embark on, "I want you to have this. It is called a bag of holding, and it can hold much more than it looks like it can. The man I purchased it from told me that it can hold up to 500 pounds inside of it, though the bag will never weigh more than 15 pounds. I thought it might be useful. I am assuming you are taking all of your journals with you?"

"Yes, Grandfather," Blaine said with a shy smile. "I was wondering how I would choose between them, and now I do not have to. Thank you so very much for this wonderful gift."

"I am so proud of everything you have accomplished and endured during your short time in this world, Blaine," Kindroth said with pride in his eyes and voice. "Your perseverance, strength, and compassion astounds me every day, and I pray to Ghyra that you find a place that is as wonderful and unique as you are. I am so sorry that that place is not here, and I hope to do a better job at changing that for future half-elves that might be born into our community."

"That really means a lot to me, Grandfather," Blaine said with tears in his eyes as he hugged Kindroth tightly. "Not everything was bad for me. Sure, some of the teachers at school would pass over me when I knew the answer to something the other kids did not, and of course, there were bullies both in and out of school. I always knew I was loved, though, and if anything had become too much and I was getting seriously hurt, I would have come to you, Momma, or Papa."

"I still don't like that you were subjected to the harassment, whether they hurt you physically or not, Blaine," his grandfather admonished. "Not all wounds can be seen."

"Honestly, I'm alright," Blaine replied. "I know why they said the things they did. The majority of elves see themselves as elite and above anybody else. It is the way it has been for thousands and thousands of years. I am not fully elf, so naturally, they are going to ostracize me. Part of why I want to study magic is to help others learn and accept that one race is not superior to others and that we are all beings of the land of Ichion."

"You are very ambitious, young one," Kindroth said with admiration in his eyes. "There is no doubt in my mind that if anyone can achieve this task, it is you." Little did Kindroth know at the time, but Blaine would do just this.

B~B~B~B~B

The journey to Deswore was somewhat anticlimactic. Blaine anticipated feeling differently, more grown-up perhaps, as he made his way, but nothing changed. Thanks to his dad, Blaine was confident in his ability to survive on his own. In the weeks leading up to his departure, he worked with his father on tuning up his survival skills. Blaine was now more sure of his ability to find his own food and prepare it in the wild, pitch a tent and make sure he was secure while he slept. He knew how to look for shelter when the elements became harsh. It took him about a week and a half to reach Deswore.

Upon arriving at the school, Blaine met immediately with Headmaster Edryin. He was somewhat surprised to see that she was a halfling, though if you asked him, he could not tell you what it was he was expecting. She was kind but firm when telling him about the rules and expectations he would be following while at the school. She also gave him a gift of his choosing.

"It is beneficial for all wizards to have an object to channel their magic out of," she told Blaine. "From what I understand, you are quite well versed on the history of magic and what goes into producing a spell. Surely you know what an arcane focus is?" At Blaine's nod, she continued. "Mine is this necklace I wear. Since I know that you had little to no exposure of magic in your hometown, allow me to demonstrate." Just then, a floating, ghostly hand [Mage Hand] appeared.

"That's amazing," Blaine replied in awe. He knew, of course, that there were different things that went into spell casting. Many spells had to have verbal, somatic, and material elements to make them work. The point of having an arcane focus was to essentially get rid of the materials component to make it easier to cast spells.

"Since you do not have one, you may choose from one of these as the school's gift to you," Headmaster Edryin stated and showed him the wands, scepters, necklaces, and rings.

Blaine was drawn to a silver ring with a spinel gem in the center of it and what looked like clouds around the gemstone.

"Excellent choice as this ring has magical properties as well," Edryin explained. "When you have this ring on, you will have resistance to any magical thunder damage that is cast upon you."

"Cool…" Blaine said quietly. He recalled reading about all of the different types of damage. Magic could cause multiple types of damage (cold, lightning, poison, thunder, acid, necrotic, psychic, radiant, force, and fire) whereas weapons dealt a different type of damage (slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing). Magical weapons, though, could deal both types of damage. Blaine did not own any magical weapons and was only equipped with a crossbow for hunting purposes, but he knew if he needed it, the weapon could harm another person.

For the next seven years, Blaine studied under Headmaster Edryin's watchful eye. She sensed something special about Blaine, though she could not quite pinpoint what it was. She was impressed with the knowledge he already had and the reasons why he wanted to study magic. Too many times, she had seen people come to the university seeking only power, their intentions less than pure. Blaine, however, really seemed to want to help people. Edryin also saw a darker side of him that she did not think Blaine even recognized. She saw that there might come a day that Blaine's pure desires would change, that he would see the world as it was now instead of how it could be. She did know, however, that Blaine would always protect those who could not defend themselves and would strive to leave this world in a better place than he found it.

Blaine took to abjuration spectacularly. He was a hard worker and wanted to soak up as much knowledge as he could. The masters that taught him were all amazed by his thirst to learn and would often stay after the class period to answer any questions he had. His peers looked up to him as well. Unlike many others their age, Blaine was not hotheaded and would listen to every side of a situation before he would weigh in on a possible solution. Since he practiced and honed this skill during his down time, when it was time for practical examinations, he was able to think quickly on his feet. For the first time in his life, he was the popular one, and he loved the attention.

During Blaine's second year at the school, a new student entered mid-term named Sebastian. Sebastian was a human, cocky in his abilities, wanting to learn the most complex and damaging magic without putting forth the effort. Since he was not picking up the magic that he was being taught, he would lash out at the other students verbally and physically. Sebastian would pick on other students behind the teachers' backs and would somehow always get away with it. One day, Blaine was walking down the hall, and he heard Sebastian's distinct voice.

"Tell me what I want to know," Sebastian threatened a much older student.

"I can tell you. I can even show you, but you have to be able to master the simple spells before you can manage Finger of Death," Wesley, an air gensai, said.

"Listen here you little shit…" Sebastian started before Blaine intervened.

"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" Blaine asked in a calm tone, already having magically messaged [Message] the teacher he could make out at the far end of the hallway. [Sebastian is in the alcove at the end of this hall threatening Wesley. I have stalled him but come quickly, please.]

"This is none of your concern, 'short-tips,'" Sebastian spat.

"You say that like it is a bad thing," Blaine chuckled, used to the name so many of the kids in his old village used to call him. "I am very proud of where I came from and am secure in who I am."

Sebastian turned from Wesley and started to walk toward Blaine, irritated that the shorter boy was standing up to him.

"First of all, I am way better than your half-breed ass," Sebastian began. "I have heard about you in my travels, how your daddy did not even want you after he used your whore of a mother for a good time during the dignitary meetings. My father was also there, and King Roglen boasted to him how easy your mother was to get into his bed. Both of my parents wanted me and made me into the elite human that I am. If you were not so gods damned pretty, I'd smash your face into the wall for being the tainted goody-two-shoes you are. Then again…"

Right then Master Sunydae walked into the alcove and put up an invisible circle of magical force [Wall of Force] around Sebastian which efficiently cut him off from both Blaine and Wesley. Sebastian walked into it and bounced backward, having not been able to see it. "I would advise you to stop speaking and follow me to Headmaster Edryin's office, Sebastian," Master Sunydae said with a firm voice.

Blaine had never been more thankful to see a teacher in all of his life. Sebastian bringing up his mother and hearing what his biological father had said surprised him; this was not something he had ever planned for so he had no idea how to respond.

Knowing he was going to get kicked out now as this was not his first time doing something like this at a school, Sebastian said, "How about no? This place sucks and cannot even teach the most basic of magic. I'm going to get my shit and then get out of here." He stalked off to his quarters to gather his belongings, Master Sunydae right behind him, ready to reconstitute the invisible wall again if need be.

"Are you alright, Wesley?" Blaine asked as he rushed over to his peer. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that this was not the last he would see or hear of Sebastian of Smythe.

"Yes, I am," Wesley answered. "Thank you so much for your help and for 'messaging' Master Sunydae. I really don't want to know what would have occurred if you had not happened upon us when you did."

"I'm sure you would have thought of something," Blaine said. "You are a very talented wizard, Wesley."

"But, I don't think as quickly as you do when trouble arises," Wesley said deprecatingly.

"If you would like, we could study together once a week and run scenarios together," Blaine offered. "Honestly, that's what I do in my free time. I think up situations and solutions, making sure I think of as many contingency plans as I can."

"That would be amazing, Blaine," Wesley said. "Thank you very much! Would Saturday work well for you?"

"Saturday works perfectly!" Blaine agreed. "We should meet in the library after lunch and go from there. That way, if we come across something we might not know how to handle, thousands of books are available for us to look through."

From then on out, Blaine and Wesley met every Saturday that they could. Blaine was happy to help his new friend and proud of him when he graduated in the top of his class, earning him a high honor in a court near his hometown.

During the last two years of his studies, Blaine continued to take in every bit of information he could. In his spare time, he read almost every book in the school's library. He was now well versed in a few more languages and had become proficient in recalling information he had read about the eight schools of magic practiced on Ichion. Blaine also learned spells from all of the other schools, though his primary focus would always be on those spells to protect himself and others.

Blaine was aware that he could not spend the rest of his days at the school; at some point, he would have to leave if he wanted to accomplish what he wanted with his life. Edryin sent Blaine to the Festival of Clane in the village of Devale the year he turned 25. It was speculated that the great Abjurer, Alin, was going to be there, and Edryin felt that it would be an excellent opportunity for Blaine to talk to and learn from him. So, his magical journey continued as he made his way toward Devale, officially a mid-level wizard. He knew that his skills and knowledge of magic would grow with time and practice, and he hoped that he could begin his new quest for knowledge with the great Alin as his teacher.

A/N: The quote that talks about The School of Abjuration is taken directly from the D&D Players Handbook by Wizards RPG Team.