//------------------------------// // Family Reunion // Story: Alistair the Hierophant // by LoosePartyCannon //------------------------------// "Al..." "Alistair?" "Wake up!" Dawnstar screamed into her master's ear, smacking a tome loudly against the table he was sleeping on. Snapping awake with a spooked yell, wiping the drool away from his mouth, he looked around wondering what happened. "Who's the-? Dawn? What? Why're you here this late at night?" He stuttered out, confused and somewhat scared. His blue eyes were hazy and bloodshot, his hair was frazzled and his silver robes were full of creases. With a groan, she realised he'd stayed up all night studying. Again. "It's nine in the morning my lord, you're going to be late for your lesson with Lord Ludex if you don't shape up..." She stated dryly as she walked over to the other side of his colossal bedroom, pulling open the blinds and letting the sunlight in. The golden rays may as well have been the fires of Tartarus to the young Mage, as they caused him to shield his eyes with a groan. "Gah! My eyes! Geez, you could've warned me or something..." He whined, slowly getting off his chair and flexing his muscles to alleviate the slight pain in his joints. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he scanned his table and the surrounding area with a groan. Several finished tomes, several reports and theories about the magical practices he was expected to learn, an empty pot of coffee, and still he'd gained nothing. With a sigh, he began picking up the scrunched up pieces of paper and the discarded texts he'd accidentally dropped. "You know, killing yourself slowly by never getting any sleep and perpetually worrying about failing isn't going to alleviate your situation." She informed, aiding him by picking up some of the refuse surrounding his study area and pushing aside the small piles of books on the floor to let him wander freely. "I know...It's just...It's been months and I still haven't learned anything about weight manipulation, conjuration, healing or even the basics! It’s so frustrating!" Alistair huffed, stressing his point by trying to levitate a crumb left over from a late night snack to no avail. "Oh, how tragic. I feel so sorry for you my Lord, it must be so hard, not being able to cast any magic, how could I possibly understand your burden? Woe is me my Lord." She sarcastically and dramatically wailed, pointing to what remained of her amputated horn. "Sorry." He apologised, frowning as he was reminded for the umpteenth time about her disability. "I'm just worried is all...Forget about it." He dismissed, shaking his head as he waddled towards the door, his steps labored in his drowsy state. "What's wrong, my Lord? You're usually more annoyed by my sarcasm." She asked, her tone sincere, as she walked over to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "You talked to Ludex recently, yeah?" He asked, turning to face her but eyeing the floor and refusing to look at her. "Of course?" Dawn answered with a questioning tone, wondering where this was going. "Is he...Upset with me? I mean, I'm his Apprentice but no matter what he teaches me it goes nowhere...He tells me it's okay, he keeps saying everyone learns at their own rate, but it's just me who's falling behind. Acolyte Angus has already moved onto Nox channeling, Diamond Duster's learning the core spells of the Paladin's order and Din has already become a proper Mage!" He yelled, his voice crescendoing, as he clenched his fists in frustration. "I'm his Apprentice, the next in line to be a Hierophant, I'm suppose to be the best Apprentice here...But it feels like I'm just the biggest joke at the Archive..." He confessed, his voice strained and body shaking. Dawnstar looked at his current state: baggy eyes, slouched over, and he looked paler than normal. He was disheveled, upset, and stressed. She couldn't help but chuckle. "You talk about yourself as if you're the village idiot. Alistair, you come from a family of savage warriors-” “Hey!” “-And the only Mage you’d met till now was your mom who kept it hidden from you. You were seriously misinformed and untrained, no wonder you feel like a fool!” “Thanks Dawn...Where are you going with this?” “Where I’m going is, every other kid here was either raised by Mages, grew up in the Eastern province or was ostracised by their parents, so they didn’t get much of a choice. They got a head start. Our Lord Ludex saw your potential, he knows you will become something powerful in time. It’s like...The other students were born as a small, polished gem and you’re a slab of rough, uncut rocks, you’re tough to look at now but you’ll outshine the rest in time.” She tried to explain with a soft frown, almost annoyed but understanding his grievances. With a sigh, he put on a practiced smile and tried to look somewhat presentable before turning towards the door. "Can always rely on you for some kind words huh?" He remarked with a huff, far from pleased by her motivational comment. "See ya Dawn." Groaning as he felt his stomach rumble, he opened the double doors and stepped out into the brightly lit hall and greeted his guards. Knights in tow and notebook in his hands he hurried towards the Hierophant's library. Guards patrolled the hallowed halls with alertness, their weapons polished and armour flawless, and students ran about in a frenzy rushing to class. The light shined through the stain glass windows causing multitudes of colours to illuminate the walkways yet, despite the fancy decorations and the beautiful colours, Alistair was still morose. Being accepted into the Archive and becoming Ludex's protégé was by far the most bittersweet event to have happened to him and the wonderment and spectacle of the Archive was slowly giving way to crippling doubts. He had become a student in the most prestigious magical coven in the whole of Valetoria and he was the next in line to become the Hierophant, perhaps the most powerful and respected Mage in the whole world. Drachen-Tor was gorgeous and was greater than any of the large scale cities in the Northern Range yet it was all slowly causing him great pain. He didn't feel like he deserved to be a member of the Archive, what use was a student who couldn't even grasp the basics? What use is a Hierophant who doubts himself and would forever stand in the shadow of his predecessor? And for all its merits, the Archive wasn't Lion's Den. It wasn't home. "My Lord, are you alright?" Alistair was snapped back to reality as he felt one of his guards gently shake his shoulder, causing him to survey his surroundings and realise he was already at the study area. "Y-Yes, I was just in thought." He waved off his disparaging thoughts and ordered his guards to stand alongside the Hierophant's golden Battlemages as he parted the massive metal doors and wandered into the library. Ludex's library was like nothing else in the whole Archive. The walls were covered by layers of intricate, ornate metal sheets depicting legendary battles and rows of red, black, and charred books lined the shelves. The floor was made of black stone with an inner circle surrounded by blue flames. Despite this, the room smelt faintly of cinnamon cookies and the flames and metal only caused a slight, comfortable warmth and never the scalding heat it should. Alistair always found it a nice place to accidentally fall asleep in yet in that moment the thought of drifting back to sleep was far from his mind. "Good morning Alistair! Sleep well?" Ludex greeted, looking up from the smoldering, yet undamaged book in his hands. His serene smiled wavered when he noticed Alistair’s disheveled state, a rare frown appearing on his otherwise graceful face. "Yep, what're we studying today?" Alistair asked, a fake smile masking his unease, as he sat down next to Ludex at his black desk and began looking over the wands, gems and other artifacts. "Hold on, are you alright? You seem...Distressed." He inquired, giving his apprentice a gentle look and hoping it was just his imagination. "It's fine...Really. I'm just tired is all." He lied, a gentle smile accompanying his vacant stare eyeing the illegible tome before him. Unsure what to do, Ludex tried the time- tested routine of an energetic lecture. Snapping into action with a burst of fiery vigor, he began the daily lesson with gusto. Despite the energetic flurry of motion as he willed images into existence, using colourful language to make even the mundane seem miraculous and his decision to try and raise Alistair’s mood by talking about some more advanced texts, he still watched his pupil wilt, his sunken eyes full of despair. "-Mages, the more infamous and cruel, mind you, have theorized that the art of Soul Transfusion could possibly allow one to live forever, a warped immortality if you will. Fortunately, none have been able to master this malicious art and the few who have partially succeeded have faced severe repercussions. Some saw their bodies destroyed or unwillingly changed, some lost their minds, and some even lost their very souls. As you can understand it's been unanimously agreed by all authorised covens to halt all study into such a violent and dangerous vein of soul magic and the Archive is the only coven with enough might to keep the dark forces from stealing what little is written about it. Now then, we'll discuss Soul Fracturing...Alistair, are you listening?" He spontaneously asked, dropping his theatrics and know-it-all tone to address his distraught student directly. Separating his stare from his notebook, he looked up at Ludex with an uncanny fear. "Master...Am I a disappointment?" He asked with a pang of dread, fearing the answer. "W-What? What in all of Valetoria makes you think that?" Ludex said, closing the burning book and turning to face his pupil directly, undivided attention matching his disquieting feelings. "I'm a terrible student, all I can learn is the theoretical but what good is that when I can't even use my innate powers? Yeah, I have 'weight manipulation' powers but what does that even mean? Why couldn't I have been something useful, like a healer or a warlock? What good is a pupil who studies something no one, not even his master, understands?! My sister's gonna be an amazing knight, Dad's a great king, Mom's crazy smart but all I'm good for is reading books!" He screamed, rage burning inside him as he felt his blood boil with jealousy. "Why am I so useless?! What good is a Mage with no powers? What good is a Prince who can't rule? Why can't I get anything right?!" The floodgate opened as he broke down in front of his master. Months of fear, self doubt, and agitation accumulated into the mess before Ludex; Alistair's eyes were hazy with frustration and tears and his fist was clenched with enough force to turn his pale skin bright red. "I'm a horrible apprentice and I know you're trying to make it seem okay but it's not going to fix the problem! I'm...I'm a failure and I understand if you're upset with me..." He eyed the the floor as he waited for his master to confirm his dismay. He waited for what felt like hours, beginning to sweat under the self-imposed pressure, but sputtered with confusion when he heard his master laughing softly. Looking up, he watched Ludex suppress a chortle. "Alistair, nothing could be further from the truth." He assured, placing a hand on his shoulder as he looked down to him with a caring look. "You've been slow to learning the practical aspect of magic, it's true, but what many Mages don't realize is that the theoretical part is what gives magic it's true power. Magic is more than just saying words, it's about understanding the phenomena you wish to take place. We're all blessed with our powers by the gods and we all adapt to ours in different ways, you may be an ember now but with enough time and power you will be a raging inferno unmatched by all." He exclaimed with an almost zealous amount of confidence, holding out a small, sputtering flame that rapidly exploded into a contained firestorm. "You're studious, dedicated, principled and above all else bursting with potential. You wouldn't have been discovered, trained, or passed the Trials if you weren't capable of even a small ounce of magic and you, my dear pupil, are going to be more than a simple spell caster. You are my apprentice, and Fiira as my witness you, you will never disappoint me." He promised, a twinkle of hope in his glowing eyes as he locked eyes with his student. Alistair didn't know what to think, but seeing how much promise Ludex believed he held made him want to believe as well. Before Alistair could even speak up, voicing his joy and reassurance, his stomach cut him off first. His embarrassed, flushed expression grew tenfold when Ludex tried to hold back a chuckle. "Why don't we put this lesson on hold and grab something to eat?" Ludex offered with a grin, hoping to put his worries to rest. His apprentice nodded and wiped away his tears, getting ready to finally have breakfast, but before they could leave, the doors burst open and a knight sprinted up to the pair, kneeling before the Hierophant with devoted fervor. In his outstretched hand he held a white scroll with a vibrant orange wax seal bearing the symbol of a roaring lion. "A message from Lord Peter Leonas, my Hierophant." The knight announced, slowly rising after Ludex dismissed him. The Hierophant then tore open the seal and read the letter with a rapidly growing beaming smile. "Hm, seems you'll want to read this as well." Ludex mused as he placed the open letter into Alistair’s grasping hands. Alistair focused all his attention as he digested the message, gasping with audible joy as he finished it. With newfound vigor, he exploded into a flurry of half-understandable words and energetic motions. Ludex believed he said something along the lines of 'they're coming to visit!" but it was all nonsense. As he attempted to calm him, chuckling nervously but glad he wasn't emotionally tearing himself apart, he began chasing after the jittering boy who seemed unaware of the guards who were likewise trying to quell the seemingly possessed child. Before he began what he presumed to be a lengthy attempt to catch him, he noticed something that seemed bizarre. The chair Alistair sat in during their lessons was shaking and groaning, as if something immensely heavy was weighing it down. Curious, Ludex walked up to it and tapped it, hoping to sense some magic within it. He jumped back in surprise as the chair collapsed in on itself, black wood splintering and delicate crimson fabrics tearing apart for seemingly no reason. Nothing except Alistair and himself had ever touched the chair and it was in pristine condition...Ludex believed their was only one simply conclusion. "Did he...How?" He wondered, his amazed and amused smirk unseen by any, before repairing the chair with simple mending magic returning it to its normal state. "This is...Quite surprising." He continued, levitating his notebook before him and writing into it with his flaming magic. "Perhaps I was right after all..." He finished as he set off to catch his frantic student, a hopeful twinkle in his eyes. The Spring zephyr carried the sickeningly sweet scent of the bilba roots from the Archive garden which soothed the fidgeting child, the sounds of his boots tapping against the stone floor of the entrance were heard throughout the quiet garden grounds. The sun was at its zenith, staring down at the boy and his master. “Ah, my Little Lion!” Lord Peter screamed boisterously as he all but leapt from his stagecoach, embracing his son with such vigor and infectious joy that none could help but chuckle at the sight. “Has this lout been treating you right? You’re nothing but skin and bones!” He declared as he sized up his boy, ruffling his fancy robes and messing up his hair. “My apologies, we don’t subsist on a meat and ale diet around here Peter. How’s the North?” The Hierophant jested as Peter gently put his son down, only to be embraced in a back breaking bear hug. “Cold and full of monsters, like always.” His Mother answered with a smirk as she knelt before her son and embraced him. “I’ve missed you so much, we all have...How’s the Archive treated you dear?” She followed up, closing her eyes as she resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s been...Amazing, truly.” He hesitated as he thought about the right way to word it. “Wait, where’s-” “Ally!” His sister screamed as she pounced on him, forcing him to the ground as she crushed him with a love filled hug. “You dunghead, you don’t write enough! You have any idea how lonely it is without you around?!” She whined loudly, pulling him up by the collar as she berated him. “I’ve missed you too Aury.” He said, patting her on the head as he stepped back and stood beside Ludex. “I thank you all for attending tonight’s fest, I hope the journey here wasn’t too troublesome.” Ludex thanked, bowing before the Lord and his Lady, with a serene smile. “Ah, wouldn’t miss it for the world! I mean, a party all about my boy, how could we say no? ‘Sides, with all the other knobs in attendance, it’s only fair the rulers of the North come along to remind them what a real Lord looks like!” He boasted with a chortle, causing Ruby to roll her eyes. “To be honest, I’m glad you all agreed to come. Alistair has been ecstatic to see you all, not to mention having you around is bound to deter any problems Peter.” He assured, looking around the courtyard as if expecting something. “Expecting trouble?” Peter asked with a slight frown, hand on his pommel in preparation. “No, it’s hopefully nothing, but you know how festivals tend to bring out the crazies.” He dismissed with an attempt at a joke. “Still, I’d like to go over somethings with you two.” He insisted with a concerned look in his eyes. “Alistair, would you like to show your sister around the Archive?” Ruby asked Alistair, the twinkle in his eyes telling her he would never pass up the opportunity. “Of course! Come on, there’s so much cool stuff here! Did you know they’ve got a whole floor dedicated to Northern Mages? They were the coven that invented ice magic and its numerous variations!” He exclaimed, grabbing a hold of his sister’s arm as he babbled on, planning out a map of the Archive that would show off what he believed to be the highlights. “Oh, that sounds like fun I think?” Aury answered, unsure what to expect. As be began babbling on about the grounds, she couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm. The pair soon disappeared, Alistair’s guards trying vainly to keep up. “Glad to see he’s still obsessed with this magic junk...Now then, what’s going on?” Peter demanded to know, fearing something was amiss. “I’m not too sure to be honest...” Ludex started, the sentence causing the pair to shiver in fear. “Alistair’s knowledge is beyond compare, he’s rapidly learning all he can about the theoretical aspect of magic yet fails constantly at anything practical.” He began, walking down the hall with his smoldering hands behind his back. “How’s he handling it? I can’t imagine he’s all too pleased by this.” Ruby guessed, crestfallen by the news. “No, in fact he’s taking it poorly. He’s staying up later, skipping meals and sleeping through lectures. Yet, all hope isn’t lost. When he found out you were coming down for the feast, he was elated. Additionally, Alistair’s chair broke for seemingly no reason after he had a rather...Emotional outburst.” He informed, earning a confused look from Peter and a proud grin from Ruby. “I think his powers may be tied to his emotions and thoughts very closely...I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised given the bizarre nature of his powers.” He elaborated, equally impressed by the revelation. “If I can find a way to train him with this in mind, perhaps enlist the aid of a Deity he’d take a liking too, he may be able to focus it...But if something were to set him off in some way, push him over the edge, I fear what may come to pass. He’s still a child, he knows not what he’s capable of.” He cautioned, hoping nothing would come to pass. “And what happens if something does cause him to become...Overwhelmed?” Ruby asked, fearing the worst. “Well, his powers are based around shifting something’s weight and form...Worst case scenario, he could could level the Archives...” “Gods above...And you’re sure nothin’ gonna piss him off?” Peter stammered out, processing the idea of the Archive being lost. “That’s why I pulled you two aside. I’m going to break the news to him tomorrow in a calm, prepared way and nudge him towards...Fast tracking his initiation. But, unfortunately, we’re expecting trouble tonight.” He confessed, looking around the empty halls trying to spot any prying eyes and ears. “With this many powerful figures in attendance it’s understandable to be on guard, but we’ve received genuine threats this time. We acted immediately and crushed whatever threats we could find, our guards have raided many supposed hideouts for dissidents and have seized several weapons, both magical and mundane. We’ve rounded up several suspects silently and disposed of more, but it’s very possible that some may have made it through the cracks.” He informed, turning to face the pair. He seemed placid, possibly even bored, yet there was a hint of fear beneath the surface. “We can’t call off the festival, it’s far too late and you know how the Southerners would react if we were to call off this celebration.” “What do you need?” Ruby inquired, standing at attention as her eyes flickered faintly, magical power flowing through her. “If someone does try to interrupt the festival, harm myself or Alistair, or anything else I need you two to grab Alistair and Lady Aurora and get out of here immediately. The guards can handle any would-be threat but Alistair must not be in harm's way or see anything distressing. A suicidal fool or three we can handle, Alistair being caught in the fray or forced into acting we can not prepare for.” He instructed, looking between the Lord and Lady. “For now revel in the festivities and put the possible threats in the back of your minds, if it should all go well neither of you need act, I just think you two should know what to do should something go wrong.” He finished, a weight lifting from him as he now knew he wasn’t the only one fearing absolute destruction. “Well...And here I thought we were just gonna get drunk and crack jokes at Al’s expense...Okay, if any heathens come after him I’ll get him out of there.” Peter assured with a huff, the mad glint in his eyes saying he wasn’t too dismayed about the idea of shedding blood. “Just make sure it won’t come to that Ludex, we came here to celebrate, not prevent anarchy.” Ruby chastised, already stressed out as she began playing with her robe sleeves. “I’m sorry it’s come to this...Come, we’ve much to go over before the party begins.” He apologised before adorning his usual grin to mask his anxiety as he acted like all was calm within the Archive. As they wandered off down the winding halls, they felt unseen eyes watching their movements. "Cool, you got a Pony servant! Man, you're living in the lap of luxury here!" Aurora remarked, patting Dawn on the head as the Pony unceremoniously dropped the Princess' luggage in the center of the room, resting against her master's desk, before leaving the two alone. Despite being far removed from the snowy training grounds of Lion's Den she refused to change into something more flashy or appropriate and was still wearing her blue gambeson and black padded pants, seemingly ready for a fight. "We're royalty Aury, when haven't we been living in the lap of luxury? So how's everything back home? I was hoping to talk with Mom and Dad first but they seemed kinda busy with Master Ludex." Her brother asked, pulling out his desk chair and offering it to Aurora. "You know how the Den is, it's always cold and crawling with suck ups. Father's going a bit overboard with teaching me and half the castle the art of tearing people apart with anything you can get your hands on. Mother’s been kinda upset since you've left, though she won't shut up about how proud of you she is. Gotta admit, I miss having my sidekick around. How long is this whole apprentice thing gonna take?" She elaborated with a shrug, walking past Alistair and collapsing onto his bed with a groan. "Oh...Um, I don't really know...Master Ludex told me this was a lifelong thing, but I don't know if I have it in me..." He admitted as he scratched the back of his head nervously, eyeing the floor and refusing to look towards her. "What, is something wrong? You didn't like, blow something up right?" She guessed curiously, wondering what could have gone wrong to endanger his tutelage. "I mean, you're training to blow stuff up anyway yeah?" "No, I'm not learning to 'blow stuff up', I'm learning how to use my magic...Whatever it even is...I wish I could blow something up, at least it would mean I could do anything with my powers." He lamented with a forlorn sigh, sinking into his chair with resignation. "Oh come on, I refuse to believe you're having trouble with this kinda junk! Whatever happened to all that guff about being an awesome Mage or something?" Aurora refuted with a slight chuckle, sitting up and blowing her dirty blonde hair out of her face. "Talking about being a Mage is a lot easier than training to be one...It's like...Going from swinging a stick to trying to use Dad's sword." He tried to equate, furrowing his brow as he hoped the explanation would translate. If her sudden expression of realisation was anything to go by, it explained everything. "Geez, that bad? Dang." She gasped, looking at her brother's defeated expression. Her brother was perhaps the smartest kid she knew, he was creative, upbeat, ever curious and his obsession with magic was overwhelming at times. Her confidence was mirrored by his determination, his knowledge that he was destined for something greater than being a Lord or Knight. Yet then and there she saw something that shocked her. She saw doubt. Doubt in himself and doubt in his purpose. The faint shaking, the inability to look at her, the unsure tone in his voice was something she never wanted to hear again. "I think I may be coming home sooner than I first thought to be honest." He said with a slight chuckle, masking his fear with an attempt at humour. Frowning, Aurora stood tall and walked up to him. "Ally, I can’t really say anything about magic stuff, It’s not really my thing, but I know for a fact it’s yours. You’re like, crazy smart, you got mom’s magical talent and as far back as I can remember you’ve been obsessed with tomes and books, and you live in a literal library now! I can’t predict the future, but if anyone in the whole of Val was meant to be a Mage it’s you and I know you’ll be a damn good one!” She praised with a cocksure smirk and a reassuring smack to the back. “’Sides, if the Gods are crazy and you don’t become a Mage, you’ve always got a home in the North. You’ve got ice in your veins like the rest of us and I certainly wouldn’t mind having my brother alongside me when I ride into battle.” She reasoned, punching him softly on the shoulder and already envisioning the two of them in the midst of battle, only with a sword in both of their hands. As he chuckled with newfound mirth and hope, she mirrored his beaming grin and sat down on his bed once more. “Well, who else is gonna make sure you don’t get your butt kicked when we grow up? Maybe being a knight wouldn’t be so bad I guess.” He shrugged, his fears lessening somewhat as he realised it may not be the end of the world just yet. “There we go! I knew you could still smile, so what you do for fun around here anyways?” She joked, glad to see her brother no longer moping about, before scanning his room looking for anything that wasn’t excessively dull. “Well, I usually read or play Southern Cards with Dawnstar or Master Ludex-” “Borrriiinnnnngggg.” “Bbbbbuuuutttt, I did happen to borrow some practice weapons and shields from the training grounds earlier.” He continued with a sly grin, ignoring her interruption, as he hopped from his chair and pulled out the wooden weapons from under his colossal bed. Though the painted wood would do little more then give them splinters or bruises, the kids were already giddy at the thought of a mock duel to the death. “Care for a rousing game of war?” “I thought you’d never ask! You wanna be a Lich again?” She all but screamed as she snatched up the fake weapons, getting a feel for the delicately crafted replicas. “Nah, I wanna be...A possessed king!” He declared, raising his sword in a menacing manner towards the gallant warrior. “Now Lady Leonas, prepare to meet your false Gods!” He threatened with an attempt at a gravelly, deep voice that caused her to giggle. “Your empty threats don’t scare me evil doer! I’ll strike you down for all of Valetoria!” She decreed in response, bashing her wooden mace against his shield as the fearsome, mighty king repressed his urge to laugh in the middle of battle. As their parents and Ludex communed far below them, the two were too engrossed in their battles for them to worry about anything other than smiting their foe. As shields buckled under blows and kings were dethroned, the sun slowly slid beneath the mountains and the festival began far below in the gardens. The evening sky was full of glowing stars, basking the Archive gardens with silver light that gave a spectacular luster to the various gemstones and crystals bursting from the ground, complementing the stone statues and well kept vegetation. Magical light cast long shadows, causing the numerous dancing patrons and guests shadows to seemingly hold their own life. Surrounding the garden venue were platoons of alert guards, scanning the walls, the darkened corners of the grounds and the crowds, waiting for any signs of trouble. Although there was an air of tenseness over the lengthy dark wood banquet table, Alistair, Aurora and Dawnstar seemed absorbed in their own world. “It wasn’t that bad Dawn.” Alistair protested, his averted gaze and faint blush telling the two girls across the table he wasn’t sure himself. “Oh no, it was worse my Lord. As he stumbled about the lecture hall, a flicker of a fire on his sleeve, he stumbled into the Lord Hierophant himself and knocked him over, potion in hand.” Dawn continued with a straight face, pausing only to take a sip from her goblet. “Wow Ally, nice going, I’m sure your fellow classmates loved you after that. What happened next?” His sister jabbed with a smug, infuriating look that caused him to huff with annoyance. “Well, when the Lord Hierophant noticed that his apprentice had blindly stumbled into him, he-” “Calmly defused the situation, extinguished the open flame, reprehended his pupil and continued the lecture.” Ludex cut in, diverting his attention from the nobles and warlords crowding him to address the three kids. “Now tell me Dawn, have you told Princess Aurora how you spilled water on a set of priceless tomes originating from the Zebra Delta?” He asked, a curious expression mirroring Alistair’s attempt as the Pony servant suddenly became quite enraptured with the silverware. “Enough with the harassment Ludex, tonight’s a night of celebration not mockery!” Peter declared as he stormed up behind Alistair’s chair, putting down his colossal mug so he could pick up his chair. With a nervous giggle, Alistair began surveying the crowd, spotting all the Lords, Ladies, Mages and foreigners who came tonight, all drunkenly swaying the merry tones of some Equestrian anthem. “Tonight is Alistair’s night! I feel sorry for all the poor bastard's who'd stand in his way when he becomes a bloody Hierophant!" Peter boasted, putting his son on a pedestal for all to see. Despite the praise, Alistair felt naked before the royal scions and legendary Mages from all corners of the world, all with their eyes on him. All in attendance trying to find something not even he knew of within him. "Calm down dear, we're not here to spook him, we're here to congratulate his ascension into a junior Mage." Ruby chastised as she reached out and, with an unseen force, gently lowered her son and his seat to the ground once more. "He didn't scare you, did he?" Ruby asked, fearful her husband had inadvertently startled him. "No, I thought it was kinda fun actually." He dismissed with a smile, causing his mother to sigh. "Ah, excellent...So, how are you finding the Archive dear?" She continued, shifting the conversation. "It's amazing, I didn't think a single place in all of Val could hold this much knowledge, and Ludex is a brilliant Mage!" He announced, causing Ludex to grin with a sense of pride, trying to avoid talking about his mounting sense of defeat. "Yes, he may not look it but he's a savant with an equal amount of madness and genius. You couldn't have a greater mentor." She assured, a glassy look of nostalgia in her glowing eyes. "I just want you to know, you can always confide in me. I've been where you are before, all who have been blessed with draconic powers have, and I know the fear of losing it all to well." She said as she placed a hand on his shoulder, her gentle tone soothing him as if a sense of calm washed over him. "You may be Ludex's apprentice now, but you will be my son forever and I want to know you will always see me as a shoulder to cry on and a mother to confide in." She stressed, smiling lovingly as she saw a spark of hope within him once more. He didn't know why, but he felt something well up within him. It was a burning, blooming resurgence of self worth and confidence. The look in her eyes, her beautiful words, his father's bragging, his sister's annoyingly charming antics, Ludex's endless praise and even his assistants sarcastic and firm attitudes, all were something he found inimitable and core to his being and his desire to vindicate. They believed in him, more than he could in himself. This feeling within escaped his body in the form of a grand, explosive burst of phantasmal, ever-changing light that graced the sky. The dancers before and below him all turned up to the stars to admire the magical display, awestruck and captivated. As the colours swam and dissipated high above the Bibliotheca and over Drachen Tor they turned their attention towards the young apprentice they’d heard so little about, already impressed. Although the whispering crowd was slowly growing in volume, the family around Alistair had a much more immediate, bombastic reaction to his sudden powers. “What the what?!” He cried out, looking down to his glowing hands hoping to glean some kind of understanding as to how he miraculously has a handle of his powers. As he watched the pale light slowly fade, he became aware of the overwhelming sound of the crowd and his family. “Woah! Do it again, do it again!” Aurora demanded, shaking uncontrollably as she looked straight up, hoping for her brother to start up again. As she realised he wasn’t doing anything, she continued to snap between him and the sky, hoping her constant motion and encouragement would cause him to let his powers loose once more. Almost juxtaposing his sister, Dawnstar’s slack jawed look of dumbfounded awe and a hint of elation was so motionless and one could mistake her for a frozen statue. “Ah, my little lion already getting ahead of the curve and out performing you second rate Mages! Hah! He’s got ice and magic in his veins, the Pantheon itself show mercy on any who’ll stand in his way. Go on, blow ‘im away!” Peter continued bragging as he embraced his son, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him into a hug, as he raised a mug in celebration. “What? N-No way, it was a random accident!” He denied, shaking his hands and his head in sync as he tried to get a handle on what just happened. “That accident just blew our senior White Mages’ light spells out of the water Alistair, what was that?!” Dawn asked, her confusion and shock masked by a look of annoyance and fatigue. “I-I-don’t-” “It was a build up of emotion and magic accumulating into that, it’s not uncommon in younger Mages but it’s rarely that...Boisterous.” His mother explained calmly, quieting her panicking son and alleviating Dawn’s confusion. “It’s okay Alistair, you didn’t do anything wrong.” She continued, reaching over to put a hand on his cheek to try and reassure him. The combination of the cheering audience, his father’s loud laughter and his sister’s ecstatic look was almost overwhelming, yet despite the panicking noise and voices yelling over each other, he soon made sense of it and the shouts of approval, his parents praise, it was so gratifying and rewarding. Soon, fear and confusion gave way to pride and joy. Just as soon as he began to make sense of the confusing onslaught of commotion and calm down, Ludex forced it to come to an abrupt halt as he rose from his throne alongside his family. “Thank you, my apprentice, for that fantastic display of magical prowess. It certainly got our guests’ attention.” Ludex thanked with a rehearsed, regal smile and a slight chuckle that was echoed by the gathered audience as well. “You know...When I came to the Archives I was a child myself, poor as dirt and only saved from a life of poverty or winding up in some illicit coven by the good graces of then Hierophant Crescendo, or as many knew her in her golden days, the Siren of Diamond Bay. She found me on the streets, not a coin to my name or a robe to keep me warm. All I had was my inner fire. She saw my power. She saw my magic and though it's nature directly conflicted with hers, she still bothered to pick me up and gave me this life. A life with which I fought tooth and nail to earn my keep, to protect our beloved empire with Lord Peter of the North and to uplift those who too faced a life of pain and anguish. All I had was my fire and a chance, and with that chance I earned my title as Hierophant Ludex, the Endless Pyre.” He reminisced, his short life story like a history lesson yet he recited the past with a nostalgic smile that was mirrored by Alistair’s father who let out an impolite belch at the mention of his name. “The Archive is more than a city, it’s more than a library. It’s a chance for the blessed, the cursed, the blighted, and the lost. It’s a home for the rich, the poor, the naive, and the wise. It’s a haven carved out by the many who came before, those who will come after us and those who sacrificed their lives, either on the field of battle or in the lost corners of the world. I have seen the Archive through a period of great turmoil and I’d like to think I came out stronger for it. Years after the endless war halted, after the soldiers came home and I could rebuild, I found Prince Alistair.” He turned to face his apprentice, his smile genuine as he gestured towards him. “I’d only met him once before, when Lady Ruby requested for me to perform his blessings, and when I met him again a few months ago, I was taken aback. He was curious, daring, enraptured with magic and embraced the Archive with open arms. He was the antithesis of any child I could’ve met from a Lord’s house before the cease fire. He seemed so...Hopeful. In the months I’ve know Alistair I think I’ve found perhap an answer to a question I’ve pondered for a long time. ‘What would be the future for the Archive?’ Who would I deem worthy of carrying the torch when my time comes to rest like the Hierophants before me. And Alistair is my answer. A child, whose hope, confidence and love for knowledge radiates like an aura, a student who persevered through months of tedious study and never once complained. A Mage who, despite his fears of failure, made his first show of skill a tour de force of emotion and power. You, my apprentice, will one day take my place and if these joyous few months of studious research, late night sessions and admittedly tedious lectures are anything to go by, I can rest assured knowing you will not fail me, the Archive, nor our beloved Valetoria.” He finished, his stupid looking grin that stretched from ear to ear almost made him want to laugh, yet he was too consumed fighting back the emotional tears welling up within him. “To the Immortalis Bibleothica, apprentice Alistair, Drachen Tor and to Val-” “Murderer!” A voice wailed, his cry interrupting Ludex’s emotional words, as a Griffin stood on the far side of the garden, a sword clutched in his talons. “All of you, savages dressed in stolen gold, spewing profane magic and filthy traitors!” He screamed out, raising his blade. The guards, Spellswords and Battlemages were already drawing weapons and forming up, sensing a sudden ambush. “Death to the vile Hierophant, death to his whoreson apprentice, death to the Mad Butcher! Justice for Royal Peak!” The strange, scarred and armoured Griffin belted out as three dozen or so enraged, armed and gungho Griffins bum rushed the elevated platform where Ludex and the Leonas family resided. Some more distracted Griffins opted instead to run straight into the crowd swinging wildly, hoping to take down a few nobles before they were inevitably slain. “Run! Get the children out of here!” Ludex demanded as he snapped to attention flinging fireballs and pillars of fire from his hands, immolating the daring few who tried to take him down. “Come on, move!” Peter yelled, drawing his sword as he ushered Alistair, Aurora and Dawnstar towards the Archive. Ruby kept the kids attention, trying vainly to keep their gaze away from the gratuitous bloodshed as Lords, Ladies, dignitaries, guards and the Hierophant himself fought back the interlopers. “What’s happening?! Who are they?!” Aurora asked, watching the shadows for an attacker. “Don’t know, don’t care! Move!” Her father reiterated, grabbing a flying Griffin by the throat and throwing it to the ground. As Ruby forced her children’s gaze away, Peter plunged his sword into the bandit’s chest causing it to scream horribly. “Will Ludex be okay?” Alistair asked while watching his master stand his ground alongside the Archive’s golden knights. “He’ll be fine, just come along and-what are you doing?! Alistair!” His mother screamed in fear as he broke away from her and charged back into the fray as he saw a Griffin clad in potions and vials scream and began running towards the Hierophant. As the strange killer began approaching his master, Ludex’s back to the unknown Griffin, he grabbed onto the creature’s back leg. “What are you doing, you feral runt!” He demanded, slashing at the boy. The pain flared immediately, fresh blood seeped from his arm, staining the bird’s yellow talons. As he fell to the ground, he stared up and watched the raider dismissively turned away from him. As he pulled out a bubbling purple potion Alistair once more stood up and grabbed ahold of the stranger, a genuine fear for his teacher in his heart. “I said, let go!” The Griffin ordered, raising the potion high above him preparing to smash it over the child’s head. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Alistair pondered what to do. There were only three things running through his mind: intense fear, confusion and a palpable desire to do something. He was at a loss, horrified at the overwhelming violence all around him for seemingly no reason. Yet before him stood a scarred, heinous Griffin brandishing a potion of unknown content and hellbent on killing Ludex, one of the kindest men he knew in the whole wide world, and he had to do something. He was bloodied, bewildered and overwhelmed but he had to do something. He refused to let his master get hurt, he deserved better, he had to do something, anything. And so, his powers reacted. With a disgusting, guttural noise the Griffin collapsed. Where a proud, angry being once stood now laid a sloppy pile of loose flesh, the bones and loosened meat sticking through the skin like a thin covering. His breathing was ragged and pained, his twitching hazel eyes indicating he was still alive and very aware of his state. What could have been his finger bones tried lamely to point towards Alistair, his haggard breathing gave way to faint words, pleading for death. Alistair screamed for all the world to hear, stumbling away from the pile of flesh as he fell to the floor hoping this was all a horrid nightmare. He was aware of his family around him, trying desperately to calm him as he swung his arms about trying to battle away the sight before him. His body was growing limp, the sounds of battle giving way to moans of pain, gasps of air and the last screams of dying Griffins. He was terrified, was he dying? Was this some torturous afterlife? He tried desperately to combat the dark thoughts and terrifying sight before him. Soon, sleep embraced him as his mother held him, whispering some old Northern lullaby that once calmed him, yet his sleep was beset with terrors and the last gasps of the fleshy mass. “It’s okay Alistair, sleep...Sleep…” “Alistair…” “Alistair…” “Ally…” “Ally…”