Recap: No. He would need to take a few years before he could even think about escaping. He would need a few years to learn some new tricks and figure out how to combat Reaper's magic. For now though, he was going to need to get used to this place and that meant templars who will be looking for any excuse to be mean.

Now-Aedan Hellathen, age 5: First day at the Circle Tower.

Aedan was sleeping in his bed soundly before someone shook him awake.

"Ugh, Kallian just give me 5 more minutes." He mumbled before taking his pillow and covering his head with it. The voice that answered him was unfamiliar.

"I'm not Kallian, besides you can't be late for your first day of lessons." Replied a young boy's voice. Aedan was awake at that, quickly pulling his head out from under the pillow. He looked up to see a 6 year old human boy with dark hair and grey blue eyes. He also had a somewhat pale complexion.

"Who are you?" Aedan asked.

"I'm Jowan. The girl behind me is Neria." Jowan replied making Aedan realize the small elf girl hiding behind him. From what Aedan could tell, she had black hair came down past her ears and dark brown eyes. She looked like she couldn't be any older than four. She was also looking at him shyly from behind Jowan.

"Hi, I'm Aedan." Aedan said as he got out of bed. He then looked at his attire and their's. All of them were wearing the same blue robes. Jowan noticed his gaze.

"Yes, these are the robes that all apprentices must wear. Trust me, I wouldn't wear them unless I had to too." Jowan joked. Aedan actually cracked a small smile before it vanished. He couldn't smile now, not until Reaper was gone. He looked around and noticed that everyone in the room was filing away in separate lines.

"Well, it beats having to go into a lesson without anything at all." He casually replied back as he began walking to where he saw the other new additions going. Behind him he heard Jowan snort and a giggle that must have come from Neria.

"Good one." Jowan complimented.

"Thanks." Aedan said before they got in line, Aedan followed to where the more newer kids went when he felt someone gripping his sleeve. He looked down to see a demure Neria looking up at him. Confused, he looked around for Jowan only to find that the boy had disappeared.

"Why aren't you with Jowan?" He asked as he looked back ahead.

"H-He's been here for a year. I've only been here a few days." She said softly. She then looked at him pleadingly as if to ask him not to make her let go. Aedan noticed her look before rolling his eyes but didn't do anything to make her let go. After a minute of walking, they reached the area where everyone was going for the lesson, held by a senior enchanter. Aedan looked around and noticed that there couldn't be more than 9 children. The senior enchanter gestured for all them to take a seat. All the kids, who couldn't be older than six years old, all looked around for a chair or something. Aedan, seeing none just sat down on the ground. Everyone followed his example with Neria sitting right beside him.

"Well now, welcome! Welcome to your first lesson in magic. Today you are going to be introduced to the usage of magic and how to use it properly. This will be done by going over what magic is and how to apply yourselves through the arcane school. A basic magic school, perfect for beginners like yourselves. Now let us start." The senior enchanter said as he began talking about the theory of magic and applying it. After nearly 4 hours of the history of magic and its effects on the world, how to use mana in the first place then how to control and direct it, Aedan found his head bobbing trying to stay up which was actually better than most of the others. Neria was leaning against him with her thumb in her mouth while some were flat out asleep on the floor. Aedan looked behind himself to see that there were only 2 others that were awake... wait make that 1 other. Turning back to the senior enchanter, he could see that the man hadn't noticed having his back turned to them.

"Excuse me, Sir?" Aedan asked but the senior enchanter kept going.

"Sir?"

"-and that concludes the arcane bolt. Now we get to the arcane shield-"

Aedan rolled his eyes and clapped his hands loudly once, startling everyone including the senior enchanter. The kids woke up dazedly from the sudden loud sound.

"Who did that?" the senior enchanter asked looking at his audience upon realizing that they had been asleep. Seriously, children these days. Aedan raised his hand to say it was him. The senior enchanter looked at him as if trying to place a name on him.

"Ah, the new arrival. Uhhh, Aedan Hellathen was it?" The senior enchanter asked. Aedan nodded. The enchanter's brows furrowed.

"Why did you feel the need to interrupt my lesson, Aedan?" He asked.

"First of all I'm sorry to have done so, but all we've been doing is talking about magic for the last 4 hours since we got up today. I know it's not really my place to interrupt you during a lesson, but I'm just wondering if we could take a break or get something to eat." Aedan stated calmly. The senior enchanter's eyebrows raised upon hearing the explanation as if just realizing that it was lunch time.

"I see. Forgive me, children. I do tend to ramble when I teach a lesson. Come, get up. Time for some food." The senior enchanter said ushering them to get up. They were led to the stairs going further up before they were joined by a group of older kids including Jowan who came up to him and Neria.

"So how was your first lesson?" Jowan asked with a teasing smile. Aedan glared at him. The little brat! He knew!

"A word of warning would have been nice. Everyone nearly fell asleep, including her." Aedan said nodding to Neria who had let go of him and grabbed Jowan's sleeve.

"I figured you'd find out soon enough." Jowan said shrugging, his smile turning into a grin. Aedan just shook his head at Jowan's nonchalance.

"So where's the food exactly?" Aedan asked as they walked up to the senior mage's quarters.

"We eat in the Great Hall on the third floor." Jowan stated making Aedan snort. Jowan and Neria looked at him wondering what made him snort.

"It's funny how the older mages are closer to the food. Don't you think?" Aedan asked. They just looked at him strangely. Aedan just said, "Never mind." That was when he noticed that they'd just gotten to the third floor entrance. After getting through it, Aedan saw a big, wide open area that held several tables with food already on them. Everyone quickly sat down and grabbed what they could to eat. Aedan managed to grab a few rolls of bread, some ham, a chicken leg and broccoli.

"UGGHHH! You eat broccoli?" Jowan asked seeing it. Aedan looked at him like he was crazy.

"Broccoli is good for you. I'd add more vegetables but I ran out of room. These plates are small." Aedan said before grabbing a fork and began eating. In the Alienage, you didn't complain about what you got so long as you got edible food. As he was eating his chicken leg, his eye caught Neria trying to reach some biscuits. He was about to reach over and help her until the biscuit suddenly jumped into her hand. Aedan and several others were in mild shock at how Neria just used magic. She was that sensitive to it. Wow.

He shook his head and just went back to eating his food. When he was done, he grabbed some more food. He hadn't gotten a lot to eat in the Alienage but his father did manage to give him and his mother enough food to stay healthy enough. By the time lunch was over Aedan had eaten more in a single lunch period than he usually did in a day. Over the course of lunch, he had asked Jowan what to expect from the class. He was disappointed to learn that all they were going to do were really talk about magic and only do a few spells here and there for the first year. Afterwards they all then continued their lessons with Neria sitting beside him again. Why the little girl attached herself to him, he didn't understand. They all then got to the part where they could try their hand at casting a spell.

"Okay, apprentices. You will now use what we talked and try to cast your first spell. Now don't be disappointed if you don't get it right on the first try. Very few ever do." The senior enchanter said as he lined them. He then walked in front of them before standing still. Then he was enveloped in a pink barrier that pulsed around him. Everyone was muttering, oohing and awwing at the spell making the senior enchanter smile.

"Now this is the arcane shield spell. I know it looks incredible and I will teach it to you as soon as you are able to fire an arcane bolt at me 3 times which you will begin doing now." Everyone groaned at that. Before long, everyone was trying to fire a successful arcane bolt at him. 15 minutes passed and the best that was done was a small spark of energy. The senior enchanter merely smiled before saying that they had five minutes left before they were dismissed so they had to keep trying. After 2 more minutes passed someone finally got it right. The arcane bolt crashed into the shield causing it to ripple momentarily before it steadied itself. Everyone was looking in Aedan's direction but they noticed he was looking down at the little elf girl who still had her hands out.

Her eyes were wide at how she had finally managed to do it. She was so excited! She did it! Yay! Then she looked at everyone and slowly her smile faded then her cheeks turned red at how all the attention was on her now. She wanted to hide behind the human boy she and her friend Jowan woke up today. When she came here, all the human kids looked at her and just dismissed her. There weren't any elven children close to her age and then she met Jowan who had befriended her. That was why she walked with him to wake up that other boy. When he did wake up, he looked at her like she was just anybody else. Like Jowan looked at her. That was why she stayed with him. He was the only one in their group that she actually felt safe around. That wouldn't ignore her and he even talked to her a little. But now he was staring at her too. Unlike the others, who had looks of total shock and some of jealousy, he looked surprised, but that was it.

"Good job Neria! I'm impressed. Let's give her a clap." The senior enchanter said before he started clapping making her ears turn red now. Everyone else hesitated to join in before someone began clapping alongside the teacher. She looked and saw it was the boy beside her. Aedan, that was his name. Then everyone else followed. She smiled. He was definitely a friend.

Aedan felt it necessary to clap for her. She did do a good job better than the rest of them. He noticed however that some were grimacing while they joined in the clapping, like they tasted something foul. So even here, they had some racist people eh? Figures. Then he looked at the senior enchanter still clapping but he hadn't stopped the arcane shield. Then he thought of what he learned today. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Everything disappeared. No one else but him.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Focus on the energy inside. Feel it flutter around. Direct it to your hands.

Feel the Fade around you. Almost in a trance, his hands moved to his chest as he felt the energy move.

Merge it with the Fade energy and fire! His hands shot forward and a bolt of energy flew before slamming into the senior enchanter's shield. There was stunned silence at first before the senior enchanter began clapping.

"Well done, Aedan. Very well done!" The senior enchanter applauded, followed by his other classmates. He noticed how all of them seemed to be clapping with much more feeling than they did for Neria. He wanted to frown but he kept his face stoic. Class was dismissed and everyone was told to study or do whatever they wished as long as they didn't cause trouble. The kids went all around everywhere including the second floor. Aedan decided to look through the library for anything that may help with his training. He looked through the indexes and found the mage training section. He took out a small notepad that came with his personal effects last night. He wrote of it before continuing to find mage weaponry. He took note of that as well knowing he would need it later. Suddenly he found himself taking note of all the sections and certain books that caught his eye.

"What are you doing, young man?" Came a familiar voice from behind. He nearly jumped at it. He turned around to see Wynne who had her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised at him.

"I'm just taking note of a few interesting books. That's all. I figure this will help my studies later on. I'll be looking into that smaller library upstairs too." He said before finishing and moving towards the stairs.

"It looks like more than a few." Wynne said as she followed him up the stairs, having seen what he had scribbled down.

"Better to be more aware of what to read since I'm staying here all my life and never seeing the outside again." Aedan said as he trudged up the steps. Wynne frowned at his comment.

"Now wait just a minute. You will be able to go outside." Wynne said causing him to stop. He turned back to her.

"When will that be?" He asked with some measure of hope in his voice.

"After you become a full circle mage." Wynne said.

"And how do I become that?" He asked now fully turned to her.

"After your Harrowing." Wynne said simply.

"When will that be?" He asked.

"When the First Enchanter and the senior enchanters feel you are ready." Wynne said making Aedan groan and start walking again. She followed.

"Of course it will. Well, as far as I'm concerned, that's not happening for at least decade. Maybe more." Aedan said as he finally made it to the second library. Aedan immediately made a B-line for the index with Wynne staying by the doorway.

"Hmm. If you want it to happen faster, study diligently and show you can control your magical powers." Wynne said.

"I'm way ahead you." Aedan said as he began looking through the index for the current library. Wynne chuckled at the boy.

"Then keep up the good work." Wynne said before leaving him alone. Aedan stayed there for an hour looking through what he could find until he heard something. He focused on the sound and noticed that it was... crying. He followed it to find Neria being picked on by two of the older boys in their class.

"Think you're so clever do ya?"

"You little knife-ear. Being a showoff!" The two said pouring what looked like grease in her hair. Aedan hadn't known the little elf girl long but she didn't deserve that. She kind of reminded him of Soris actually just more clingy. With those thoughts in mind he marched up to them.

Wynne and Irving had been having a nice chat over in the hall over the last hour.

"So you really think we have a promising generation this year?" She asked. Irving nodded.

"Yes, I'll personally be keeping my eye on two in particular." Irving replied. Wynne crossed her arms.

"Let me guess. One of them is Aedan Hellathen?" Irving nodded to which she chuckled.

"Don't think I haven't noticed you take an interest in him." Irving said with a small smile. Wynne merely laughed.

"Well of course. I heard the reports of how he used his magic on someone. Besides, have you heard how he was one of the two who managed to conjure an arcane bolt after his first lesson?" Wynne replied. Irving merely snorted.

"Heard it? I was there to see it. And then Senior Enchanter Sweeney wouldn't stop bragging about how he already had him as one of his two star pupils." Irving said making her laugh even more. They stopped laughing when they heard someone go, "What do you think you're doing?" They looked at one another before listening more.

"Just making sure this knife-ear knows her place. Wanna join in? She managed to fire a bolt before you, right?" Another voice said. Both of their eyebrows rose at the language and who they realized they heard and was talking about.

"No. I want you to stop." Aedan's voice now clearly said.

"What? You some sort of knife-ear lover?" A third voice said in a hostile tone.

"Yea actually I am. In fact I'm half 'knife-ear' you stupid, ignorant chamber pots! Now leave her alone!" Aedan said back with more than a little fire in his voice.

"What did you call us!?" demanded the second voice.

"Chamber pots! Are you deaf and stupid?" Aedan snapped back. Both of them looked out the doorway to see Aedan confronting two of his classmates and he was between them and Neria! They were about to go in before the other two suddenly lunged at him. What happened next surprised both of them. One second, Aedan was shielding Neria from them, the next the two bullies were thrown back by an invisible force. Both older mages knew that Aedan had just used an advanced technique called mind blast. They knew he had done it unintentionally by the look on his face. Wide eyes and shaky arms. They noticed the two bullies.

"You're a freak of nature!" One said

"No wonder you were cast out!" The other said. They saw Aedan start to shake while his eyes were covered by his hair. Neria was looking at him in shock. Aedan then ran out of the area. The two human boys were about to go after Neria again before Irving grabbed the two of them by the ears. He turned to both of them.

"Oh First Enchanter uhhh..."

"We were just uhhh..." Irving actually gave the boys an angry stare.

"Causing trouble for two gifted mages. We saw the whole thing." Irving said for them. Their eyes went wide in fear at being caught. That was when Greagoir came into the hall.

"What is going on Irving?" Greagoir asked. Irving looked at him for a moment before turning to Wynne.

"See too Neria. I think she could use someone to comfort her." He told her. She nodded before walking over to the child. He then looked back at Greagoir.

"I've got too troublemakers who apparently believe that just because someone is of elven blood, they feel the need to make them feel lesser than they are. Greagoir could you please take these two to my quarters while I go tend to something? We'll discuss their punishment when I arrive." Irving asked. Greagoir nodded and took the two boys by their shoulders and led them to Irving's office while Irving walked down the hall Aedan took. He eventually found the boy sitting in the chantry of all places, quietly sobbing. He walked beside him and took a seat next to him. He didn't say anything and neither did Aedan for a few minutes.

"I wasn't cast out." Aedan said between sobs.

"You're right. You weren't cast out. Merely taken and you are most certainly not a freak of nature. Those boys are foolish to think of you like that." Irving said placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "And unlike those two, I see you and Neria both have the potential to become truly great mages. Wynne sees it as well. I saw your's and Neria's performances today. Not only that you used an advanced spell earlier. Did you notice?"

Aedan nodded.

"Those boys were frightened of you. They were frightened by a small 5 year old boy who had just arrived and had already passed them. Did you know they had been here for a month and were no closer to casting an arcane bolt than they were today as when they started?" Irving continued. Aedan smiled at that. Those two must have been real losers then. Then another thought came to mind.

"Yesterday... you and Greagoir... were talking about Reaper weren't you?" He asked. Irving's eyes widened at the name.

"How do you know his name lad?" Irving asked.

"He spoke it to everyone after killing my parents." Aedan replied as fresh tears came down.

"When I was unconscious, he spoke to me in the Fade." Aedan confessed causing Irving to go completely wide-eyed.

"How?"

"I don't know. All I know is he was recovering from the injury I had given him. He told me he killed my parents because they had gotten in his way. He then warned me that if I ever got out of the Tower, he would kill me." Aedan said causing Irving to nearly shudder in fear.

"First Enchanter... who is Reaper? Who is he really?" Aedan asked drying his tears. Irving weighed the pros and cons of answering the boy before deciding to let him know a little.

"All you really need to know about Reaper is that he came to the Circle when he was around your age and he quickly became a prodigy. He studied everyday and would keep himself separate from the others. Eventually his thirst for knowledge became a thirst for power and one day he went too far. He used blood magic and escaped the Circle. So many of died because of him. Promise me Aedan that you won't go after him." Irving said making Aedan look into his eyes.

"I...I'll... try." Aedan said weakly.

"Good lad. Now off to bed. Your lessons will continue tomorrow." Irving said as they both got up.

"Right." They both walked out and went separate ways.

"Oh and First Enchanter?" Irving turned toward the boy.

"Thanks." Irving smiled.

"Anytime, lad. Anytime." With that, Aedan went to bed feeling much lighter than he had the previous 2 days. Maybe the next few years wouldn't be so unbearable.