Fort Ganrick's magi chambers reeked of chemicals. The lab was filled with apprentices, magi, and sages mixing potions, preparing herbs, and burning a variety of substances that as chance would have it smell their worst when heated. In one corner a mage and a scribe worked on scrolls and runes. Shelves behind them were filled with the product of their labor. The room resonated with soft chanting as different magi worked their sorceries into different projects.
Suddenly a small chime sounded, seemingly from nowhere, and just as suddenly all work in the lab ceased. The flames were put out. Ink bottles were corked. All the tools were returned to their place. Quietly, the magi filed through a door on the west side of the room. The room they entered was small compared to many in the fortress. Perhaps twenty paces wide. In the center was a circle drawn in dark paint with glowing glyphs etched along its circumference. In the center of the circle stood Master Warren, the First Wizard of the fort's garrison.
As the last of the magi entered he took stock of his pupils. Two were mages who had accompanied him to this post from the Tower of Magi to assist in training the apprentices and bolstering the fort's defenses. Between them stood four apprentices. None of them were far from attaining the rank of Mage. They had all been through their Vows of Silence, the two years of silence taken on by all beginning apprentices, and had shown themselves to be reasonably proficient with their abilities. The wizard himself was dressed in a dark green robe with protective runes sewn in silver. His hand held his staff, a five and a half foot pole of enchanted cavewood, to his side and his large beard had long since become more gray than brown.
"Clear your minds," his deep voice resonated throughout the small room.
"Empty yourself of all thoughts. Open yourself to the magic."
He watched patiently as the fledgling magi sought to clear their minds of all distraction and open up to the power they had all learned to use. The mages achieved the union easily. The apprentices were slower, still learning to harness the energies that seemed so new to them even though they had been working with them for several years now. The wizened wizard could tell as each individual apprentice succeeded by the look of utter contentment that flashed across each young face as they found the magic within them. One, he noted with satisfaction, achieved the union almost as quickly as the full mages.
"Trent," he spoke the name with no hint of the pride he felt for his star pupil, "Step forward."
With a bow of his head and a murmured, "Yes master," the young apprentice moved into the center of the circle. He was young, no more than twenty-three, and clean-shaven. His hair was jet black and worn short, as was the practice with apprentice magi and he was dressed in a simple blue robe, free of adornment or the protective symbols of the full mages. His eyes were a startling blue, more so than his faded robes, and they held a focus the Wizard had not seen in many years.
"Coran," the Wizard continued, "Step forward."
The younger of the mages, a man in his early thirties, stepped into the circle next to Trent. He was dressed in a light blue robe. Though unlike the apprentice his was etched with protective symbols somewhat like the Wizard's. His hair was a platinum blonde that he wore spiked up with a meticulously groomed goatee. Warren had never liked the man. He was mouthy for a mage and even rash at times. He was not however, the Wizard reflected, without talent. He carried his staff easily at his side and stood confidently next to the apprentice, awaiting the Wizard's next command.
"Our magic makes us dangerous individuals," Master Warren began the lesson. "It has tipped the scale in countless battles fought throughout history." The apprentices paid rapt attention, soaking up whatever they could from the lecture. The mages, including Coran, looked on with knowing expressions. They'd had this lesson before.
"But with that power must come control," the Wizard continued. "We must remain disciplined and have absolute control over that which we create, lest we bring harm to not only ourselves, but others." The two mages shifted unconsciously, they knew what came next. "Never is this control more necessary than when we face another with the Talent. Not only must we master our own magic, but that of our foes. Only then will you have achieved complete mastery. Coran!"
The last word was spoken loudly in command and as he spoke he raised his hands and almost immediately a ball of fire as large as his head manifested in front of his hands and went screaming towards the mage. Coran's reaction was no less immediate however and, raising his own right hand protectively in front of him, he managed to stop the fireball several feet from his body. A single bead of sweat ran down the concentrating mage's forehead and he slowly and deliberately closed his hand into a fist. As his fingers came together with his palm the fireball winked out of existence. The apprentices let loose a breath none of them had realized they'd been holding. All except Trent, who watched the display with an analytical focus that was not lost on the First Wizard. Coran straightened, allowing a small smile of satisfaction to pass across his cocky features.
"Well done," Master Warren commented. Turning his attention back to the apprentices he continued the lecture. "You must show a quickness of mind. You must be able to both recognize the threat, and have the presence of mind to stop it. There is more than one way to do this. Find a way that works, or die a particularly painful death." A glint came into the Wizard's eye and with a smooth movement he sent another fireball screaming towards the watching apprentices, whose eyes widened in terror. Just before the flaming ball reached them however, the wizard made an almost imperceptible gesture with his staff and the fireball collapsed into nothingness, a wisp of smoke and the superheated air were the only evidence that it had ever existed.
"It is critical, and never forget this, that you be able to control your own magic," the Wizard commented dryly. "You never know when you'll need to stop one of your own spells from harming someone it wasn't intended for."
The apprentices slowly regained their composure and struggled once again to clear their minds of the fright the sudden strike had caused. All except Trent, who the Wizard noted, watched the whole series of events with the same look of calm concentration as before. The Wizard decided he'd picked his first demonstrator well.
"And now we practice the application. Trent, you will begin. Mage Coran will assault you with some basic spells. You will dissipate each strike as they come. Begin!" As he gave the opening command the experienced Wizard stood back to monitor the proceedings, readying himself to put an end to any spells that made their way past the young apprentice's defenses.
With a determined movement Coran brought up his free hand and almost immediately a short stream of flame shot toward the apprentice. Trent wasted no time in raising his own hands defensively and the flame died out before it had crossed half the distance from the mage.
"Well done," Warren commented, squelching the satisfied smile that threatened to break his bearing. "Let's see if you can keep it up. Coran, bring it up a notch. Continue!"
"With pleasure," the mage commented, a cockiness in his voice that Warren noted with disapproval. Working quickly, the mage's hand and staffed moved in a graceful dance that sent a series of similar flame bursts rushing towards Trent. The young apprentice was ready, however, and one by one the bursts fizzled away into nothing though they began making their way closer to the apprentice before he managed to dissipate them.
Finally with a grunt Coran broke of the assault, a look of anger crossing his pale features. "You're a smug one runt," he hissed. "You think because you're the son of the Archmage your some sort of prodigy? Careful lest your overconfidence catches the ire of your betters!"
"Coran!" the Wizard spoke sharply, but before the reprimand left his lips the mage was in motion. With his right hand Coran unleashed yet another streak of flame towards the young Trent and with his left he raised his staff and struck the butt to the floor. As the staff connected with the stone three bursts of white hot light shot from it's base and streaked out in different directions before twisting back toward the besieged apprentice.
Trent was already in motion however, his expression calm and calculating. With his left hand raised he intercepted the streak of flame, commanding it to nothingness and a split second later the streaks of light converged on him. Master Warren began to counter the more advanced attack, but on a sudden whim let his hand drop back down to his side to watch the young magi's reaction.
His confidence was not misplaced. With a flourish of both his hands Trent brought the bolts of light into his outstretched hands and with a sudden violent movement sent them screaming back toward the startled Coran. As the rogue bolts shot across the room the mage snapped out of his shock and began to raise his hands to dissipate his disobedient spell. Before he could get his hands up however the bolts stopped in midair, crackling angrily before disappearing into puffs of smoke.
All eyes turned to Master Warren whose hand, after a moment, dropped back to his side. All the assembled magi were silent. Reflecting a spell was a much more advanced technique and the young Trent's mastery of it came as a surprise to all in the room, except perhaps the wizened Wizard.
His anger was plain though. "The lesson is ended," he spoke the words with barely restrained wrath. "Return to your duties. Coran! Trent! Remain." The last he spoke with a voice of command, casting an angry glare at the mage who had escalated the exercise. Silently the other magi filed back out into the laboratory, still in shock at the display. Trent and Coran remained in the circle. The apprentice and older mage looking uncomfortable and slightly abashed at the chain of events.
Warren stared at his two pupils for a moment. His clenched jaw and his eyes betraying his anger. Finally he turned to Coran and spoke. "What were you thinking?" he snapped. "A full mage attacking an apprentice." Coran started to protest but the Wizard cut him off sharply. "Make no mistake, it was an attack. You knowingly went outside the rules of the exercise, and not to teach. You intended to physically harm an apprentice! And for no other reason than him succeeding at the task he was given." As he spoke, the Wizard's voice became colder and more threatening. "This behavior is shameful and unbefitting of a mage of Avernum. Rest assured Mage Coran this incident will be reported to the Tower. In the meantime, I would not be surprised if extra duties mysteriously appeared on your schedule. You are dismissed."
Coran opened his mouth as though to say something. Then, thinking better of it, he murmured a defeated, "Yes First Wizard," turned on his heel, and walked quickly from the room avoiding eye contact with Trent who had watched the tirade stone faced. A glint of unease in his eyes the only indication to his true feelings.
As the door closed behind the chastised mage, Warren turned to the still waiting apprentice. He appeared to consider his words carefully. Finally he spoke, "Why is it, Trent, that you didn't simply dissipate Coran's assault? Instead you chose to reflect it back toward him. While an impressive display for one so young it could certainly be construed as an assault on a higher ranking magi."
Trent didn't need to consider his answer, his voice was calm and sincere. "Mage Coran's spell took me by surprise Master. I had to react quickly and reflecting the bolts back at him seemed easier than dissipating three different threats." At this he bowed his head in deference. "Forgive me if I overstepped Master. I will accept any punishment you deem necessary."
Warren watched the apprentice thoughtfully. Finally he answered, "You had to make a split second decision and your reasoning was sound Trent. In any case the exercise should never have been taken to that level." He crossed his sleeved arms and looked at Trent critically. "I deem no punishment necessary. You are talented Trent. More so than any apprentice I've seen in years. Your father would be proud."
Trent bowed his head in gratitude for the compliment, something not often received from the stern wizard. "Thank you Master. My father has invested a great deal of effort in preparing me to become a sorcerer. I only hope I can live up to his expectations."
Warren allowed a small smile to cross his lips. "The pride of a father is not often as hard to find as a son might think. In any case, your talents have taken you to a point which I think may soon see you with duties outside these walls." The wizards voice took on a more businesslike tone. "The Captain has asked me for my most promising apprentice. That apprentice is you. You will report to her office later this afternoon. She has a task for you. You'll have the details then."
The wizard stopped abruptly, his attention drawn to the eastern wall of the chamber by a series of scratching noises. "Damn rats," he commented with annoyance. "I've been telling the Captain we need to send someone back there to clear them out again." He returned his attention to Trent. "You are dismissed Trent. I'll see you at the Captain's office this afternoon."
Trent bowed his head, unable to keep the excitement from his eyes, and with a murmured, "Yes Master," he walked from the room.
Warren watched him go for a moment. Reflecting on his earlier conversation with the Captain. His thoughts were once again interrupted, however, by the scratching at the wall. "Damn rats," he muttered again and with that he left for his own chambers within the fort.