Circles within Circles
Chapter Four
By Of Quirky Excellence aka LyriumGhost18
A/N: Caroline turns nine in this chapter, Jowan is eight and Anders is fifteen years old, just to eliminate any confusion about their ages.
Caroline ducked her head as Jowan walked by her hiding place behind the pillar of a bunk bed in the girls' quarters. She suppressed a giggle as he absently strolled past her without even so much as a glance in her direction. Anders winked at her from his hiding place, high in the rafters. He had climbed up there off one of the bunk beds. It was low enough that he could do so, and high enough so the Templars and senior mages wouldn't notice, which would result in him being lectured on reckless behavior and safety.
It was also, however, low enough so he could jump down without injuring himself if he landed properly, and Anders knew this because he'd done this several times before, unbeknown to Jowan, who walked right under him. As Jowan walked past, Anders swung down and jumped to the ground and landed behind his friend, when Jowan turned around, startled by the thump, and he shouted, "Boo!"
Jowan cried out in a panic and Anders nearly fell to the ground laughing."The look on your face!" he cried out with delight in his voice. "Priceless!"
Caroline frowned as she came out from her place behind the bunk bed, and looked, a scolding gleam in her eyes, at Anders, who stopped laughing when he'd seen her face.
"What?" he asked innocently, almost an angelic tone in his voice.
"That's so mean, Anders! You have to say sorry!" she cried.
"Don't be such a girl! It's just a joke!" he replied. There was a slight hint of impatience in Anders' voice as if he wanted to continue their game of hide and seek before they had to return to history lessons.
Jowan took Caroline's side, naturally. "She's right, Anders. That wasn't fair, nor was it nice." He scolded.
Anders sighed, and Caroline and Jowan looked expectantly at him. "Go on." Caroline urged."Say it."
"Alright, alright, kiddies." Anders said, still teasing. Caroline shot him a dirty look." Alright. I'm sorry Jowan."
"It's fine." Said the younger boy. "Just don't do it again."
A few days later, on her ninth birthday, Caroline went for her very first spellcasting lesson. When the mage who'd taught her the History of the Chantry, Fereldan and the Circle came, she was more than thrilled, and Jowan was the first one she told. He was not amused.
"No fair." He pouted. "You'll be able to cast spells and I won't!"
Karl, the laid back Harrowed mage who was no older than eighteen or nineteen at the time, placed a steady hand on Jowan's shoulder.
"You'll get there in good time, lad. She tested higher in her knowledge of spells than you did, which is alright. She is older and you're both still very young. Be patient. Once you can complete your drill on healing spells and Chantry Law with no faults, we'll start some casting classes with you as well. For now, keep your chin up, and do your best, boy. Your time will come."
And so on their was to the library Caroline bombarded Karl with enthusiastic inquiry.
"So what kind of spells will I get to cast? Lightning sounds fun-"
Karl cut off Caroline's zealous chatter, and laughed as he told her, "Take it easy, we're only doing ice today, in small amounts to start."
In the library was a table surrounded by some chairs. On the table sat a single glass of water.
"Now, Caroline," Karl said as he sat down in the chair across from the cup. "Sit in the chair close to the cup and look at the water."
Caroline trustingly obeyed the instructions as they were given." Now what?" she said, not taking her eyes off the water in the cup.
"Hold out your hands. Channel your energy, your mana, I should say, into your hands. If they begin to shake it's alright. Now think cold, colder, good….I see condensation, now think frozen."
As she did this, she began to feel a tingling sensation in her palms to the tip of her fingers, and they felt very cold. She looked up from the cup for the first time and at Karl's face. He was calm. All of a sudden, the tingling and chills stopped, and she felt an overwhelming weakness sweep over her and she began to sweat. "What just happened?" she asked, obvious fear in her voice. What she didn't know was that she had just used her mana to cast her first intentional spell!
Karl remained calm and motioned towards the cup with his head. "Look." Then he began to get more excited. "Normally it takes much longer the first cast. You are gifted. The First Enchanter will hear of this, you are the youngest mage to ever complete this test. Normally those who complete it are at least twelve!"
And as Caroline looked down at the cup, she grinned as she realized the water was frozen solid.