This is Important

The images and sensations flooding her mind were somehow both foreign and yet deeply familiar, like echoes of a life lived long ago or a life to come. And as the world finally came into focus before her, she knew that she was not merely a passive observer, but an active participant in a story that was still unfolding.

✦     ✦     ✦

I opened my eyes, blinking away the fatigue. I pull on the errant strand of hair that had fallen in my face and tuck it behind my ear. A draw of mana and I let my Evocation maintain itself. The sustained passive spell enabled a method to filter mana through my core in a way that instead replenished mental stamina while active at the cost of a considerable amount of Control .

        Increased stamina helps me to Focus.  I am in my sanctuary. A round study filled with massive bookshelves that contained all of my tomes. All of my knowledge regarding magic, and all of the references that I would need to succeed in my role; my path .

The ideal place to delve into my inner self.

I glanced through the large window that revealed the world outside my tower. The night is alight with the impacts of spells and projectiles against our defenses. The potent magic barrier that protects my people holds steadfast against the chaos. Inside the red-orange shield was lush and green, with my army arrayed in defensive formations around the tower.

The last defense against the tide; holding onto hope that I would complete my refinement.

Outside that half-sphere of safety was a barren wasteland. One ravaged and destroyed by the enemy. Their armies even now spread as far as the eye could see.

My attention returned to my work. Now that I have advanced, I had to push on. I let go of my Evocation spell; my stamina was restored enough for what I needed.

A slight pull of the world’s mana and a pedestal raised from the floor–a large crystal hovering above it.

The tower’s crystal.

I waved my hand and summoned my Spell Tome .

The tome shimmered into being, a product and construct made of mana itself. An intimate connection to my core made manifest. It would be considered a reward to some. I considered it positive reinforcement. A trait granted by the intent of mana as a way to encourage more growth .

A trait that only those Renowned by mana had even the potential to gain–not that any others had yet to be found. I suspected that there was a quality even above my own. One that would engender a connection to mana itself so profound it may as well be deific.

I returned my focus to the elaborate tome hovering in front of me. A large thing designed in a way that represented me.

Who I was inside. Who I was at my core.

It showed me the truth about what nature could not. For nature did not speak, not truly. It had intent and desires. And the world’s core desired to grow, to encourage the growth of those who followed the Paths .

For our growth, meant its growth.

I had learned long ago that the true path to power wasn’t to kill others… to snuff out the potential of sapients but to push forward through discovery. The world needed to grow. And it was up to me to give it a voice. To give it direction.

My advancement since the arrival of mana had been momentous. One filled with struggle and discovery.

I was a woman of progress and power. Even now, at the beginning of my fourth refinement, I knew there was no limit. Not truly. My deep connection with mana showed vast potential ahead of me.

For as long as everyone’s strength grew, the world’s core would grow. The symbiotic relationship it had with the people of Eona would ensure a constant source of strength for eons.

If only the shortsighted weren’t so blind.

I looked down at my tome. Seeing my path for the first time since refining again.

Gwyneth Reinhart
“Archmage of Discovery”
Terran
Path: Archmage of Discovery (Mage)
Steps: 256 ( IV )

Core Quality: Renowned
Affinity: Evocation (5), Alteration (4), Abjuration (4), Conjuration (1)
Attunement: Red, Blue, Black, Yellow
Alignment: Mental

Capability: 9424
Control: 6283
Constitution: 3141

Traits:   Focus, Mana Sense, Pyromancy, Cryomancy, Aeromancy, Telekinesis, Arcanomancy, Arcane Harmony, Prodigious Savant, Enlightened, Mana Adept, Spell Tome

Passive Spells/Abilities:   Mana Sight, Greater Invisibility, Prismatic Barrier, Arcane Empowerment, Evocation, Armor of the Archmage

Active Spells/Abilities:   Elemental Bolt, Teleport, Comet Storm, Control Weather, Antimagic Field, From the Ashes, Protection of Alos

The first page showed the truth of my path. The gains I had made in my refinements were vast. Each one granting even more capability, control, and constitution. I couldn’t help but smile.

For with such attributes, I may very well be functionally immortal.  

It was the entire reason the enemy was here.

They sought to deny me.

To prevent my growth.

They failed.

Under the shield that protects my people, there is no need to Control Weather . So with a mental connection to the intent of mana, I will the spell back to my Spell Tome .

It disappears from my Excerpt and a flash within the tome indicates it has joined the pages of my dormant spells. My mind instantly lightens as the mental weight of Spell Complexity lessens.

I reach out, using Telekinesis  to deftly flip through the tome to the spell of my choice. I smile.

It’s perfect.

A spell that had been too complex before without willing away too many others in a time of conflict. Until now.

With a mental flex of my newfound Control , I connect with it, before willing it into my mental collection. For the connection to mana and the ability to cast spells had always been a mental one. The mind could only handle so much complexity, spells needed to be prepared.

Then a wave of my hand dismisses the link to my Spell Tome , which dissolves into individual motes of mana that quickly dissipate into the manasphere.

Returning to the crystal, I touch my hands to it and draw deeply from both mana and my tower’s own concentrated pool of power. Grand runic arrays activate throughout the mage tower as I delve deep into its functions—the perfect amplifier for my power.

The enemy would feel the wrath of the free.

The tower’s magic expands my vision until I can see the entirety of what surrounds my bastion of safety. The enemy numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Mages of remarkable  or even exceptional  quality unleash such a variety and breadth of magic that would be impossible for nearly anyone else to discern. Enchanted siege weapons add their formidable weight to the nigh-endless barrage of magic against my barrier.

Unaware that my refinement had strengthened the Protection of Alos spell even further.

But hiding had never been something for me. Protection wasn’t the only domain of the Sun God.

With but a thought, mana sings. I reach out for it and it obliges, surging through me in a torrent of power that with my intent seeks justice .

I push and redirect the power into a spell channeled through my tower.

Night turns to day as my Justice of Alos  spell casts. Massive beams of concentrated sunfire plummet to the ground throughout the enemy armies.

The enemy descends into chaos as my fury does not relent. There is no saving them, no spell barrier that is haphazardly thrown up can stop the wrath of the sun.

As the last vestiges of the enemy’s army turn to ash, I can’t help but sigh.

Such potential lost. All because of corruption and greed.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that it will be up to me to guide the lost. To lend my strength to those who would protect the innocent.

Mana seemed to collapse on me and suddenly I felt as if my very being was ripped out of my body. It took but a moment and then I was staring up at myself.

The older me.

She looked down lovingly, and with no shortage of nostalgia.

“Gwyn, this is but a taste of what we could accomplish.” My eyes widened as she/I spoke to me. “But do not fall into the trap of thinking that this is all you will accomplish, or that it is what you should strive for. Challenge yourself, work around the limitations. Use your/our clever mind for good.

“With your/our/my power, anything is possible,” she explained.

The vision started fading.

We/I just have to grab it.

✦     ✦     ✦

Gwyn shot up in a gasp, her vision fading. She didn’t know how, but she knew that she’d seen it before. It was so real . Like she had been there, as her older self, doing magic. It was important, she knew it.

She froze.

It was dark, and she wasn’t on the training ground.

She remembered trying to cast a new spell but was unable to. It had  completed; she had   Blinked . She remembered the pain. Her vision told her why… something about complexity and dormant spells.

I need to learn what that means.

Her eyes darted around, trying to figure out where she was. She quickly found the window. Looking outside, she saw that it was nighttime. A glance around the room quickly revealed Taenya asleep in a chair next to her bed.

Before she could do anything else, the door opened with a crash startling Taenya awake. The woman quickly yanked out a dagger even as her eyes went wide in the surprise of someone viciously awoken from their sleep.

Light from the hallway illuminated the forms of Sabina and Amari standing just inside the door.

“Gwyn?” Sabina called out.

“...Yeah?” she croaked.

Taenya sucked in a breath and jerked her head toward her. “Gwyn!”

The woman tossed her dagger onto the table next to her and rushed her, scooping her up in a big embrace.

“You’re awake!” her adopted aunt cried out as she held her. Her voice sounded hoarse, like someone who had cried themselves silly. The telv’s blonde hair fell across Gwyn’s face, making her nose itch.

“I’m fine! Of course, I’m awake,” Gwyn said as she scratched her nose. “Alright, alright. You can let go of me now, Taenya.”

The woman nodded and pulled away from Gwyn. Shifting so that she was still sitting on the bed, but next to her, her knight gave her a look. “Whatever you did–”

“She should not do it again,” Sabina finished for her. The black-haired high elf stood in front of Gwyn with her hands on her hips. Beside her, the sun elf paladin had narrowed eyes and crossed arms.

Somehow, she had made all three of the women in her life upset.

Gwyn sighed. “Look. I already figured out what happened. My vision told me,” she said with a shrug.

Amari’s eyes bugged out. “A… vision? What did you see? What–”

The woman abruptly shut her mouth as a complicated expression spread on her face.

Gwyn glanced between the two. “So. Do you all want to hear?”

Everyone nodded quickly. That made her smile.

“Well, it felt like a continuation of my last vision when I made the Pillar of Flame …”

She proceeded to describe her vision, telling them about all of the magic and the stuff she had done in it. Gwyn made sure to focus on giving as much detail as possible about the process to prepare spells and to let them go dormant.

Explaining the Spell Tome  and everything she saw in it had the mind mage sharing a glance with the paladin. Then, as she reached the end of the vision and the fight with the armies, describing the spells that referenced Alos had Amari fidgeting slightly. Gwyn finished recounting the vision with a nod.

Sabina regarded Amari before sighing. “Do you have to report this to the Church?”

The sun elf shook her head slowly. “No. The Archpriestess is no longer surprised about the constant source of revelations that Gwyn provides. This will go in my routine report. Although, the Spell Tome . That sounds just like the Ceremony of Paths, but more personal.”

Gwyn’s face scrunched up. “Ceremony of Paths?”

Sabina and Amari nodded at the same time which had even Taenya looking at them with a surprised face. “You two seem friendly.”

The two women glanced at each other. “We have come to an understanding,” Amari said simply. “I will work on getting you to the monastery where you can undergo the ceremony, Gwyn. It will tell you where you stand, as opposed to what you saw the vision of a potential–”

Sabina snapped her fingers. “That’s it! Your vision. You’ve been seeing these before.” She looked at Amari. “The paths. What if this vision has something to do about seeing the potential of your path?”

“But why would Gwyn see it and no one else?” Amari asked.

The corner of Taenya’s lips curled up. “Because every time she’s seen them some grandiose spell was made, followed by her blacking out. It fits right in with what she told us about the visions. In there, she was whatever an Archmage of Discovery was. Her discovering new magic is the basis of her path. Speaking of…”

Taenya turned her head and gave Gwyn a look that reminded her heavily of her mom. One that had an entirely new level of disappointment. A look that her mom would get her when she did something incredibly foolish.

“You need to take more precautions before working your magic. Whatever you did to… relocate… caused you to injure yourself. Terribly . Gwyn…” she said with a sigh. “You are lucky your friend was there and she has magic that can heal, because–”

Gwyn’s eyes widened. “Adrienne! Roslyn! Are they okay? I need to tell them!”

A collective sigh filled the room. “We will inform Lady Roslyn. However, you need to rest. For a week–”

“ A week?! ” Gwyn’s eyes shot open. “I’m fine! I know what I did wrong, and you just said Adrienne healed me! I have school. We are going to have our electives. I… I…”

Taenya stood up abruptly and her eyes welled up. “ You had blood streaming from your eyes, nose, and ears, Gwyn. You… You…” She choked down a sob. Sabina was there in a second holding the woman.

Amari moved to the front of Gwyn and knelt. “You were asleep for a full day. Your body needs rest.”

Gwyn shook her head and looked at Taenya. “I’m sorry, Taenya. I didn’t mean to hurt myself. But I’m okay now. I promise. I will take more care in the future. But I know what happened! I know how to prevent it in the future.”

Taenya’s eyes grew dark. “ In the future ? Gwyn, I am forbidding Maya Rolfe from pushing you to do magic. She will focus–”

“What?! No! You can’t do that! This is important. I need–”

The knight shook her head. “It is done. You nearly killed yourself. It is my responsibility–”

She felt anger building up inside of her. How dare she!  She had no right. Gwyn had one incident and now it was clear what had happened. “No, it isn’t! I need to do magic. I have to!”

“Why? Why do you have to? You have enough magic.”

Gwyn jumped up. How could she not understand? Hadn’t Gwyn been the one to save them all multiple times now? “No, I don’t! I need more, I need it. I need it to keep you safe. I need it to find mom. I need–”

“It is my job to keep you safe! You can’t find your mother if you’re dead, Gwyn!” Taenya yelled.

She looked so angry. Taenya had never been angry at her before. Gwyn felt tears streaming down her face, she wanted to stop. She didn’t want to fight with the first person who cared about her in this world. The one who had been there since the beginning.

The one who had stuck by her no matter what and held her when she cried.

Who was supposed to have all of the patience in the world. Because Gwyn knew how difficult she could be to live with. How frustrating and helpless she could be.

She wanted to just sit back down and cry.

So, of course, she just lashed back out.

“If it wasn’t for me, you’d be dead, Taenya,” Gwyn yelled back.

The woman didn’t miss a beat. “Yes, and that has been my failing. What will I tell your mother if you die? What will I tell her if you die of something you did? ”

The temperature in the room plummeted.

Sabina’s eyes darted quickly between the two. Gwyn saw the mind mage’s eyes start to go black as she pulled on her magic. Amari backed up and seemed as if she wasn’t sure what she should do.

That was enough for Gwyn. Her hands ignited but Taenya stood her ground.

She felt the telltale signs of Sabina trying to smother the negative emotions. To help them calm down. Even if she was trying to help, it just made Gwyn even madder.

She channeled more red mana through herself, focusing on her head.

Flame erupted from Gwyn’s eyes.

Still, she focused on the woman who refused to budge. Who didn’t care that Gwyn could burn her to a crisp in a second. The knight stood resolute, unbending. It just made Gwyn fume.

The same woman that wanted her to stop making magic .

Why wouldn’t she just leave her alone? It was like Taenya thought she could just dictate Gwyn’s life.

Aren’t I the princess?

Gwyn snapped. Her thoughts spiraled until her vision went red. It was like she lost control of herself as if the words coming from her mouth could not be controlled. “Get out! Get out of my room! I hate you!”

Taenya’s eye twitched, but she did not respond. The woman just stood there. Unmoved, as if she didn’t care.  Gwyn’s eyes narrowed as she stared up at the telv woman with rage flowing through her veins. All it would take was one thing and Gwyn knew she would explode.

Her voice lowered dangerously. “I am going to the Academy tomorrow and you cannot stop me.”

Try it. Try me. I dare you.

The two fell into a staring match. The unstoppable force versus the immovable object, and Gwyn would not lose. It was too important.

Tears fell down the knight’s face. It scrunched up as if she struggled with what to say.

“I just don’t want you to die,” Taenya said simply. “I thought you were dead. Until your friend rushed over… I thought you were dead and I had failed. I–”

The woman just spun on her heel and walked out of the room without another word. Silent sobs followed her.

Everything burning within Gwyn extinguished. All her anger and pain. She slumped down onto the floor.

Sabina lowered herself down next to her. “Gwyn…”

Gwyn met her eyes. “...I didn’t mean it.”

The high elf nodded and put her arms around the princess. “I know. I know. She just got so scared. She doesn’t want to lose you. You mean everything to her,” Sabina explained quietly.

They sat like that for who knows how long.

Amari stepped behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. The comforting support from the paladin was surprising, but not unwelcome. “We were all so scared, Gwyn. You have to be careful. So much rides on your future.” She hesitated. “...Are you sure you do not require more recovery?”

Gwyn nodded quickly. “I am.”

Sabina glanced up at the paladin. “We will talk to Taenya. In the meantime, you need to eat and go back to sleep. Rest until morning so that you can be ready to return.”

The paladin gave a light squeeze of her shoulder. “You and I will go directly to your homeroom, tomorrow. Then you can return to your dorm room after classes.”

Gwyn nodded again. “Okay… I–I am sorry. I really am taking precautions. Miss Maya is extra careful.”

“We know.” Sabina looked toward the door. “We’ll have the servants bring some food. I will check on you later.”

After the two left, Gwyn pulled on mana and let her Frozen Heart  settle into her. She sighed with relief as all the pain and guilt left her.

✦     ✦     ✦

Taenya sat in her room and gazed out the window overlooking the front of the townhouse. Groups of people walked by on the cobblestone sidewalks, while children played in the park that sat across the street. The twilight sky was filled with soft purples and blues while the Sisters shone brightly in the sky. It was beautiful.

All she could think about was everything Gwyn had said.

And what had been unsaid.

Her mind's eye just kept returning to the scene of Gwyn on the ground. Blood streaming off of her and mixing with the dirt she lay on. Her chest not moving.

She didn’t get up when someone knocked on the door, and after a second, the door opened anyways.

Sabina walked in followed by Amari, the former with a sympathetic look on her face, while the latter appeared as guarded as usual.

The high elf took the seat next to her while the sun elf adopted a cross-armed pose and leaned against the wall. Taenya would have likely found it amusing any other time.

“So,” Sabina led with.

Taenya couldn't even roll her eyes. “What is it?”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

No. She didn’t. Not yet at least. She turned her head away from the woman. “No.”

“Keeping her from school probably isn’t the thing to do. The physician is already on his way. He’ll check her after she eats and then she’ll go back to sleep. Amari will be with her all day…”

“You know I will keep an eye on her,” the paladin confirmed.

Taenya let out a sigh. She didn’t like being ganged up on. Not by people she cared about. It always made her second guess herself. That… was probably why they did it.

I probably took it too far.

“Fine. It’s not like I can stop her anyway,” Taenya said with a huff.

She caught Sabina giving her a disapproving look out of the corner of her eye. “Taenya, you know very well that girl will listen to you if you push the issue. She is in a very fragile emotional state right now. Magic is what keeps her focused. You and I both know that Miss Rolfe ensures they always take precautions,” Sabina said.

Amari cleared her throat lightly. “This is the problem with Gwyn being a trailblazer. She is at the forefront of magical discovery in a way that outpaces every known entity. The Church knows of no one else with anywhere near her level of ability. Gwyn finding this new limitation will help countless others. Notably, Sabina,” she explained.

“M-Me?” Sabina sputtered out.

Taenya narrowed her eyes and turned to face Amari.

The paladin nodded her head. “Yes. Gwyn has created seven active spells. Now, I do not know that for certain without her attending the Ceremony of Paths, but I keep note of every new magic she performs. Sabina, you have six. If you try and create more, you may hit this complexity limit that Gwyn’s vision spoke of.”

The mind mage nodded slowly. “I hadn’t considered that.”

Amari turned her head toward Taenya. “Do you see? This is the price we pay for this knowledge.” She shook her head and took a breath. “We are  lucky that Lady Adrienne was available, that is true, but now Gwyn knows to be careful in the future. I would not be surprised if that small girl was further along her path than any of us. Plus, there is the frankly scary level of strength the girl exhibits. She’s as strong as some grown adults. If these… attributes are increased with each Step, then as Gwyn grows up, we are going to have to address it.”

“I’d like to go when Gwyn does for this Ceremony,” Taenya said. Amari nodded. Taenya sighed. “Fine. Please watch over her tomorrow, Amari.”

“I will,” the paladin promised.

I hope so. I can’t… I can’t lose her.

✦     ✦     ✦

Sabina and Amari had followed through with their promise. She wasn’t sure what was said, and Taenya had been noticeably quiet the next morning, but Gwyn was back at school. She got what she wanted.

And she felt horrible about it.

She hadn’t spoken the entire ride to the Royal Academy. Ilyana had returned to the Upper Academy the night prior, while Lorrena was back at the lower. Neither of the two girls had wanted to leave Gwyn, but Taenya and Sabina had convinced them it would be for the best.

When the princess came down for breakfast, Aleanora was excited and rushed to hug and dote on her, but Gwyn’s sour mood put a kibosh on much else.

Amari assured Gwyn that she would make time to go see Ilyana and update her. Gwyn expected the high elf teenager would make an appearance in her room at some point. Which was also where she would see Lorrena.

Gwyn stepped into the hallway that led to her homeroom just before the time it would start. Amari walked quietly behind her, and Gwyn could tell with her Mana Sense  that the woman was actively utilizing her magic to look for threats. The magic felt similar to what Sabina’s magic could do. Sabina directly interacted with the mind. Amari’s seemed to be more based on… what could  happen? Intent?

Gwyn wasn’t sure.

She really wanted to see what the woman could do with her magic.

Magic was so cool. It was so different in everyone and could take on so many different forms.

Why can’t Taenya see that?

She stepped into her homeroom and saw everyone else was already ready at the seats. The class’s Lead Scholar, Professor Valmaer stood patiently at the front and narrowed her eyes at Gwyn as she entered.

The telv did not seem happy, but the bell hadn’t gone off yet, so Gwyn was–

The distant bell tower rang.

Crap .

She picked up her pace and sat down next to a wide-eyed Adrienne.

“Gwyn! You’re alright! How are–”

“Ahem. Class has begun. Now that everyone  is present. Please focus,” Professor Valmaer stated.

The woman turned to grab something and Gwyn took the moment to whisper to her table partner. “I’m okay, we’ll talk after!” She reached over and squeezed the orkun girl’s hand. “Thank you for healing me,” she added.

Adrienne gave her a tearful smile and nodded.

The professor turned around with a stack of papers in her hand. “Now. This week marks the first true week of your lessons. You will also be signing up for your electives today. Now, electives. There are many options and it would behoove you to choose courses that will push your personal development. Now, if you were Class One, I would encourage your selection in a subject that will showcase your abilities and not select based on perceived ease. As Class Fourteen, keep in mind that your electives will affect your ranking, as well. In some cases, drastically.

“Next, class size. We will attempt to maintain equal class sizes, however, in the case of popular electives such as Combat Fundamentals, there will be several classes. In those cases, the class will be split into advanced, intermediate, and beginner. Your first class will determine your subsequent placement. I highly suggest you aim for the highest placement possible. This will only help your rankings.”

The woman paused, letting all of her message set in. She then nodded and started passing out the papers.

When she reached Gwyn, she paused. “I am aware that you did not return to the campus until this morning. Do not make such incidents into a habit, Miss Reinhart,” she said in a low voice.

Gwyn met the woman’s eyes. “Understood, Professor.”

The telv nodded. “Good. I look forward to seeing what you select.”

She placed the paper in front of her and moved on.

Adrienne moved closer and the two of them moved through the list. Ignoring everything else except the two that they wanted. Their previous pact to coordinate solidified. Gwyn grabbed her quill and circled Art and Combat Foundations.

I’ve been practicing. I can get Advanced.

I got this.

She glanced at Adrienne who had a similar determination on her face.

Gwyn smiled.

We got this.

They would be out of Class Fourteen in no time.