Chapter Two, because I count the introduction as the true number one chapter.
I don't have a beta so this is bound to have several grammatical screw-ups.
Also, language.
'That was not fun,' Alim thought as he sat on his bed cradling his head.
"You're awake!" Jowan's voice ripped through Alims head like shrapnel from a bomb.
"I wasn't aware of that, thanks for telling me."
"When they dragged you in this morning, I didn't even know you'd been gone all night!" Jowan said in genuine worry, "I've heard of apprentices who never come back, was it really that dangerous?"
Alim nodded his head, causing a mixed look of joy and frustration to flicker across Jowan's face.
"I'm glad to hear that," He said in relief, "What was it like?"
"You know I can't tell you that," Alim said softly so as not to aggravate his head.
Jowan quirked an eyebrow, "Which means you'll tell me later right?"
"Of course," Alim snorted.
"Hope you remember me, up there in those nice mages courters upstairs while I'm stuck down here," Jowan said, somberly slumping himself against a nearby wall.
"I don't even know when I'll be called for my harrowing."
Alim rolled his eyes at his friend, "You'll be called when they think you're ready."
"But I've been here longer than you!" He said in frustration, "I sometimes think they don't want to test me."
"You're just being paranoid," Alim said softly, placing a gentle hand on the older man's shoulder. 'Or they caught on to your practicing blood magic.' Alim thought to himself as he searched his friend's hands for scars.
"Oh, by the way, Irving wanted to see you as soon as you woke up."
"I'll hurry along then," Alim said with a final pat on his friend's shoulder.
The elf turned away and swiftly walked towards the first enchanter's office, smirking as he overheard gossip about his Harrowing being the quickest and cleanest yet.
'Maybe that could earn me some favors, speaking of.' Alim thought as he entered the tower's library, and also ignoring the apprentice who managed to set himself on fire.
"Hey Finn," Alim called out to the older mage, "How's the project coming along."
The ginger turned at hearing his name called, a smear on his face at having his studies interrupted, only for it to fall away when he saw Alim, "Oh, it's you."
The bookworm turned to a pile of books and pulled out a severely worn journal, bits of scrap paper seeming almost haphazardly stuffed in, as well as a stack of bronze discs, framed with dark oak etched with dozens of magic symbols.
"It's going well, I've managed to make several prototypes," Finn said offhandedly as he handed the stack to the younger elf, "It was an interesting concept, trying to replicate the communication ability of Eluvians by connecting smaller mirrors through the fade."
'Probably because that's how the Eluvians basically work.' Alim thought as he put away the new tool.
"Thanks for helping me, man." Alim said as he placed a hand on Finn's shoulder and handed him one of the disc's back, "You'll be the first to know if I have any more dumbass ideas."
The human took the disc and tried to subtly move the elf's hand off his immaculate robe, "I'm sure you will."
Alim gave a quick smile as he turned back on his original journey, 'That most certainly cost me a lot of favors.' The young elf thought.
'At least it's worth it to get a fucking phone.' He rubbed his fingers over the disc in his bag, oh the plans he had for these.
Alim swiftly moved past the storeroom, trying not to make eye contact with Owain and any other tranquil.
'Fucking unnerving.'
"What's up Cullen," Alim said as he approached the somewhat nervous templar.
"I'm glad your Harrowing went well," The knight said with a small smile, "I was the one who would have had to strike you down if you failed."
"Sometimes it does be that way," Alim said offhandedly,
Cullen shook his head at the odd elf before waving his hand towards the opposite end of the corridor, "You must be terribly busy, perhaps we can talk another time."
Alim nodded and continued on his way.
'And to think, he'd be a heartthrob in little more than a decade, the noodly haired fuck.'
Alim slowed his step as he approached the First enchanter's office, Greagoir's voice echoing out from the open door of the office.
"Most of the Senior enchanters have already been sent to Ostagar, we've committed enough of our own to this war effort." Greagoir angrily argued.
"Your own?" Irving gave a mirthless chuckle, "Since when have you felt a kinship with mages?"
A joyless smile formed upon Irving's lips, "Or are you afraid to let the mages out of your sight?"
"How dare you-" Greagoir said, gearing himself up for a yelling match, only to be cut off by an up until that moment silent third party.
"Gentlemen please, There is someone here to see Irving." The darker skinned man said in a calm voice.
"Don't mind me, I can wait," Alim said with a mocking grin.
Greagoir sneered at the wise ass remark, but Irving smiled, "If it isn't our new brother in the circle, come closer child."
The man from before stepped forward, "Is this-"
"Yes." Irving preemptively answered.
"Well, you're obviously busy," Greagoir said, "We'll finish out discussion later." He said walking away, making the author joyful at not having to type his name again any time soon.
"Of course," Irving mumbled as the templar walked away.
"Now where was I, oh yes." The greying mage gestured toward the darker skinned man, "This is Duncan of the Grey Wardens." The man tilted his head at the mention of his title.
"Sup." Alim chirped.
Duncan looked towards the First enchanter with a quirked brow and was met with a hand wave in return.
"You know of the war brewing in the south, Duncan is here to recruit mages to aid the king's army at Ostagar." Irving exposited.
"With the darkspawn invading we need all the help we can get, especially from the circle." Duncan continued.
"Makes sense," Alim nodded his head, "Mages are good at taking on groups."
"Exactly, if we don't drive back the darkspawn, I fear we may have another blight on our hands.
"Oh hush now Duncan, you'll frighten the poor lad with talk of blights and darkspawn." Irving said as he gestured to the nonplussed elf, "This is to be a happy day for him."
Duncan's face hardened somewhat, "We live in troubled times, my friend."
"We should seize moments of levity, especially in troubled times." He sagely rebutted.
"The harrowing is behind you," Irving looked back to Alim, "Your phylactery has been sent off to Denerim, You are officially a mage within the circle of magi." The man finished the speech he had undoubtedly given dozens of times before.
'Nothin says hypocrisy like legalized blood magic.' Alim thought bitterly to himself, 'I should see about fixing that later.'
"You have proven yourself responsible enough to handle your power, I present you with your robe, your staff, and a ring bearing the circles insignia." The old man said as he handed Alim the stack of listed items, "Wear them proudly, for you have earned them."
Alim nodded his head in thanks, "Glad its official, Only took me a decade but hey."
"It goes without saying, you won't discuss the Harrowing with those who have yet to take it." The old man gave a stern, but gentle glare. "Now take your time to rest or study, the day is still young."
"I am done here," Duncan announced.
"Would you be so kind as to take Duncan back to his room child," Irving asked in a grandfatherly voice that left little room for choice.
"It would be my pleasure," Alim said as he turned and gestured for the Grey Warden to follow him.
"Remember the guest quarters are on the east side of this floor, near the library." The old man massaged his temples, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have matters to discuss with Greagoir."
"Thank you for walking with me, I'm glad for the company," Duncan said after several minutes as the two strolled around the large tower.
"No problem," Alim said as he tested the weight of his new staff, "So have there been many darkspawn attacks?"
"A horde has formed in the Kocari wilds, If they are not stopped they will strike north. We Grey Wardens believe an Archdemon is leading the horde." Duncan explained.
"Sounds shitty," Alim said nonchalantly.
"Yes," Duncan said solemnly.
The two walked in silence down the stone hallways towards the Wardens lush room.
"Thank you," Duncan said as he walked towards his desk.
"Enjoy your stay," Alim said as he walked out the door, and into an out of breath Jowan.
"I'm… glad… I caught up with you." The shaggy mage gasped as he tried to control his breathing, "Are you done talking with Irving."
"Yeah, Whatcha need?" Alim asked as sincerely as he could, already knowing the shit storm that was about to unfold before him.
"Do you remember what we discussed this morning?" Jowan asked in a hushed tone.
"Yeah, why are we whispering," Alim asked in a stage whisper.
Jowan quickly whipped his head around to see if anyone noticed their conversing, "Shh! Let's go somewhere else, I don't feel safe here."
The skittish man turned and started quickly walking down the halls, "Your starting to worry me Jowan." Alim said feigning worry.
"We should be safe here," Jowan said as the two stopped in front of a young chantry sister.
Alim gave his friend a deadpanned stare, "You do realize there's an initiate standing next to you… right?"
The young lady giggled.
"Jowan, the fuck is going on?" Alim asked his longtime friend.
"Remember a few months ago when I told you I met a girl?" Jowan asked, "This is Lily."
"Oh, Makers sweaty ballsack your actually a real girl." Alim reacted overdramatically just to be an ass.
"Hah, hah very funny, you also remember when I said they didn't want to give me my Harrowing, I know why," Jowan looked at his hands in frustration, "They're going to make me tranquil!"
"They'll take everything that I am from me, my dreams, hopes, fears, and my love for Lilly. All of it, gone!" He said in anguish.
"That's rough buddy," Alim said trying to sound sympathetic, and almost not completely failed in doing so.
"They'll take my humanity, I'll become a husk!" Jowan said, seeming to become slowly more embedded in his grief.
"And how exactly did you learn of this?" Alim asked, trying to make it seem like he didn't already know why. Luckily neither noticed and Lily stepped forward.
"That would be me, I saw the document on Greagoir table, authorizing the right on Jowan, and Irving signed it." She soberly explained.
"The fuck did you do to get yourself tranquiled and why wasn't I there to help?" Alim asked.
"I didn't do anything, there's a rumor going around that I'm a blood mage, I'd be a danger if they made me a circle mage." Jowan defended himself.
'I'd be more inclined to believe you if you weren't lying through your teeth like a politician.' Alim internally bitched.
"...Shit, that's bad."
"It's not safe here for me anymore, I need to get out and destroy my phylactery. They can't track me if they don't have it." He gave his old friend a pleading look, "We need your help, we can't do this on our own."
"Give us your word that you will help, and we'll tell you what we intend." Lily chimed in.
"Alright, I'll help." Alim said as he crossed his fingers behind his back, "But when your out, you best send me sweets."
"Thank you, we will never regret this," Lilly said graciously.
'Yeah, but you will.' Alim thought bitterly to himself, "What's the game plan."
"I can get us into the repository, but there's a problem, there are two locks on the door, each key is held by the First Enchanter and the Knight commander. But what is a door to mages."
"So we break in?" Alim asked.
"I once saw a rod of fire melt a lock, but Wynne doesn't release such things to apprentices."
"Good thing I'm no longer one, Ay?" Alim nudged Jowan in the shoulder.
"Me and Jowan will stay here, We'll attract less attention that way," Lilly said wisely.
"I'd help but it'd look suspicious," Jowan apologize.
"Good luck, our prayers go with you." Said with a tilt of her head.
"Alright, you two lovebirds try not to get too nasty with each other while I'm gone, It'd be a shame if you had to drag a kid around," Alim said as he left the now blushing couple to go change into his new robes and hold up his end of the plan.
'No matter what I do though, I'm still going to get screwed in the end.' Alim chuckled to himself, 'Now all those late nights studying are going to pay off. Here I come Archdemon, prepare to get fucked.'
That seems as good of a point to stop as any. Took me way too long to write this. Hope the next one will come out sooner. Also thanks to the guest reviewer Judy for your kind appraisal of my story.
Have a good whatever now!