Academy Rebels, page 12
part #1 of Card Mage Series
If I’m going to create stronger cards, I have to increase my mana spheres. It’s the only way.
Dax leaned back in his chair, his gaze pointed at the ceiling. It takes a lifetime to master all spheres of magic. It wasn’t so much the learning, but every champion had to acquire Mana Shards to increase their spheres. Practicing and manipulating magic on one’s own could possibly gain a few degrees, but that meant years of training. The Academies discovered the shortcut, but it wasn’t much of a shortcut. Mana Phantoms were all over Ikkudran, but they tended to gather around mana springs. They fed off the living magic as it flowed and if there wasn’t a nearby spring, they would steal mana from living beings. Phantoms were only dangerous when they were starving. The ones on Mist Haven Isle were well-fed and only attacked if they were attacked first. It made it easy to hunt them. When a phantom was destroyed, they dropped a few mana shards and when a champion picked them up, they could choose to absorb their power.
Dax let out a long exhale, mind working. It was easy to absorb the early degrees of a sphere. In the first week, champions were given a certain amount, depending on their class. 1st degree spheres only required 2 mana shards. 2nd degree, required 4 shards. After that, it starts to get expensive. The number of shards needed doubles and continues to double the higher degrees of each sphere. Most students did the math in the first week, once the discussion of mana shards came up in class. Dax was no exception. He calculated that he would need 8,190 mana shards to reach 12th degree in one sphere. With 12 spheres of magic, he would need 98,280 shards to master every sphere. It would take more than a lifetime to gather so many shards since every other champion was trying to do the same thing.
“Why couldn’t I have been born an elf or a dragon? That’s the reason why they can become so powerful with time on their side,” the mage whispered.
The mage leaned forward and looked at his work. The limitation of his known spheres showed. He had created several cards for each sphere of air, water, life, and mind. They were charged and ready to go but if he wanted to create spell cards for the other spheres, he needed to start increasing their degrees. The Academy gave students their first number of shards, but the rest would have to be won during the Trials.
A knock woke Dax from his daydreaming and he looked to the door.
The door opened and Symon stepped in with a small sack in his hand. The spellsword smiled as he approached, seeing the darkness under Dax’s eyes.
“I brought you food,” Symon said and stood before Dax.
The mage nodded. “Thanks. I’m starting to forget what the outside world was like.”
Symon nodded. “The same. Everyone is drunk and waiting for tomorrow. We have to be at the auditorium early, so they can tell us what to expect and finalize our coteries.”
Symon looked over to the desk, seeing many cards covering it. “Working hard?”
Dax nodded. “We need to be prepared. The Trials can be difficult and I want to make sure I have a card for every occasion.”
The mage looked to his own work and sighed. “It’s better that I’m here. Everyone wants to be my friend and it’s a bit annoying.”
“Fame does come at a price,” Symon chuckled. “The others miss you.”
Dax looked down, “I miss them too. I hope everyone feels the same once the Trials start. We will be spending a lot of time together.”
Symon’s small smile faded. “We keep questioning your last choice for the coterie, but I’m going to say it, I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“I know. I saw everyone’s faces when I mentioned it. I just think we should keep our enemies close.”
Symon smirked. “It’s not because you have a crush?”
The sack in Symon’s hand coughed.
Dax looked down at the sack and smiled.
Symon grinned as he put the sack on Dax’s bed. “I’ll leave you to eat. I’m meeting Vance and Zarra for drinks. I should be out most of the night. I recommend you bathe, you’re starting to smell.”
Dax watched his friend turn and leave. The moment the door closed shut; the sack began to move.
“I wonder, what do we have here,” Dax laughed.
The sack opened and light flashed. Fern landed on her feet, her form now five feet tall. She was barely clothed and held small packages of food in her arms.
“I thought you needed some company, food, and maybe a little stress relief,” the berserker fairy smiled.
Dax eyed her up and down, “I still have a lot of work for tomorrow, and like Symon said, I need a bath.”
Fern put the packages of food on the bed and sauntered over. Her hair began to turn red and small lights appeared around her head.
“You can still work for a little while. As for the bathing part, I don’t think you know how dirty us fairies can be. Bathing is always optional. Most of my people like the scents of others,” the fairy said as she began to undress.
Dax stared as small clothes fell away. When Fern was nude, she moved even closer and lowered herself onto her knees.
“Keep working and I’ll entertain myself. When you’re finished, we can eat and bathe together. I don’t take up much room. Now, open your robe.”
Dax’s hands moved automatically, opening the robe and exposing himself. The stress in his mind and body began to ebb, blood flowing to his member. Fern looked down and smiled before crawling under the desk.
Dax turned to his work when lips closed around his member and began sliding up and down. Tension died as bliss bubbled up along his spirit. Blinking, he tried to focus. He leaned forward a little, trying to work on a specific symbol when small moans rose up. Fern’s moans caused him to become rock hard and when he looked down, she sucked his cock, eyes closed and small moans filling the space under the desk.
“I…can’t concentrate,” Dax managed to say through clenched teeth.
Fern ignored him, wet inches appearing and disappearing between her tight lips.
The mage sat back, enjoying the show.
Maybe I do need a break.
Fern opened her oval eyes and looked up, her small pointed ears and red hair framing her face as she licked his throbbing member. A small smile appeared before she closed her eyes again and moaned louder.
The stress and excitement of the last week started to bleed away. A new tension grew, the mage finding it difficult to hold back.
Fern pulled away and kissed the mage’s staff. “I’m hungry.”
Mouth engulfing Dax’s cock once again, she sucked and licked along the shaft with renewed vigor. The tempo increased and she moaned when the mage’s cock thickened.
Dax gritted his teeth, pressure building. When it reached a flashpoint, he groaned, his cock spurting seed like a geyser. Fern swallowed as she sucked, drinking him down as more come painted the back of her throat.
When the moment of bliss slid away, Fern pulled back and crawled out from under the desk. Standing up, she took Dax’s hand and pulled him to his feet.
“Are you hungry?” the fairy asked with a smile.
“I’m starving,” Dax half smirked.
The fairy moved to the bed, laid down and parted her thighs. “Eat first and then we can eat afterwards,” she smiled with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
***
Students moved through the courtyard in large packs. Sunlight lit up the academy with warm, morning light. Excitement once again filled the air as large groups of students made their way to the auditorium. Unlike the amphitheater, the auditorium was within the confines of the academy.
Dax, Vance, Symon, Fern, and Zarra walked together. The fivesome smiled and talked, but it was Dax who kept eyeing the crowd, looking for a particular student.
“I wish we could sit together. My classmates are getting annoying, asking me questions all the time,” Fern sighed.
“You think they would be upset after we turned everyone away the other day,” Symon said as he walked.
“I think it made them want to join even more. I keep getting stopped, students wanting me to reconsider and open the club to new members,” Vance added.
“What do you tell them?” Symon asked.
Vance smirked. “Membership is closed until further notice. Many cannot take the hint and feel they are above such a restriction.”
“Welcome to the academy,” Dax said, absentmindedly.
The small group smiled as they approached the main doors.
Dax drank it in, seeing the ancient wood and stone, framing the front of the auditorium building. Most of the buildings in the Academy were tower-like, but a few held the classic shape of squares and rectangles. Arcane symbols were carved into the stones and wood, Dax seeing that they were protection spells to ensure outside forces couldn’t see or hear what was happening inside.
The double doors were wide open, professors guiding in the different classes and telling them where to sit. Dax’s group split up. Fern blew a kiss before walking toward her berserker class. Zarra, who had said very little, bowed to Dax before turning and walking away to join the other clerics. Symon bear-hugged the mage before marching along the aisle to his class. Vance stayed by Dax’s side as they made their way down the middle.
The auditorium was vast, twelve sections of seats, six on each side of the wide, middle aisle. The walls were white stone with pillars running along the walls. Vast stained windows allowed subdued sunlight to filter in, casting various colors throughout the immense chamber. A stage stood with a single podium.
Mages took their seats in the front section. Dax remembered that their class did the best with only one causality on their side. They received the honor of being upfront, Dax, Vance and a few others sitting in the front row.
Dax craned his head to see many students taking their seats. When he saw Nuria sit a few rows behind, she pretended to not see him. Instead, she spoke to Clive. The large mage nodded, but he often glanced in Dax’s direction.
“Maybe she refused,” Vance said as he leaned in.
“No. Professor Frost would have told me so. I think she’s just trying to pretend it doesn’t matter to save face,” Dax said as he turned his head forward and leaned back in his chair.
“Either way, she’s going to be a handful. Maybe we should reconsider?”
Dax looked to Vance, “Symon told me the same thing. I know everyone is uncomfortable, but if we don’t keep someone outside of our group within our ranks, champions won’t hesitate to come after us with everything they have.”
Vance nodded. “So, this is for our protection and not because you're attracted to her?”
Dax smiled before it faded away. “In the slums, you have to keep your fingers in many things. You never know who is going to betray you. Gold can change the kindest people into terrible monsters. Now that everyone knows about my technique, they will try everything to learn it.”
“Having Nuria with us will somehow help protect us?”
Dax leaned in a little closer, his voice barely a whisper, “She has influence. She is the most skilled mage in our class. If we can win her over, the others will back off. Right now, I have a big target on my back and we need as many allies as we can get.”
Vance nodded. “I see your reasoning but it's still dangerous. She will try everything she can to steal your technique.”
“I know. Better to know where she is than her springing a surprise on us. Separate her from her cronies and we have better control.”
“And if it blows up in our faces?”
Dax patted Vance’s shoulder, “You can tell me you told me so.”
The mage laughed. Dax smiled as this was the first time Vance really seemed to be laid back. He often wore a serious expression and a cool attitude but Dax wondered if the mage was stressed more than he was letting on?
The murmur of the crowd dimmed as Luthis stepped onto the stage and walked to the podium. Before he reached it, every student and class stood up, clapping and shouting to the High Dean. The dark-haired elf raised his hands, waving to the student body as he approached the podium and stood behind it.
Fingers curled around the edges of the podium as the High Dean basked once again in student adulation. When he lifted a single hand, the sound of the crowd died and everyone sat, ears and eyes open.
High Dean Luthis scanned the crowd with a smile. Professors sat with their classes and when it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, the elf addressed the student body.
“I hope everyone enjoyed the last few days off?” Luthis grinned.
The crowd went wild again, shouts and fists in the air. Dax and Vance smiled as they looked up to the High Dean.
Luthis raised his hand up a few inches and the crowd simmered down before he continued.
“As you all know, this is the Trial and Preparation lecture. We shall go over what to expect when most of you venture off to start building yourself as a champion. I’ll start from the beginning and please, if you have any questions, you can ask your professors when the lecture is over. Let’s begin.”
Balls of energy appeared behind the High Dean, swirling, joining and spreading out. Dax watched with interest as Mist Haven Isle formed high above and behind the High Dean, glowing with soothing power.
Luthis addressed the student body with warm affection, “The Trials were created many decades ago to help all champions gain some real-world experience in a controlled environment. As you can see behind me, Mist Haven Isle is a large island, centered miles away from the mainland. Aside from the academy, there are five towns that run along the coastal edges of the island.”
Points of light glowed brighter, the names of towns appearing underneath each one.
“You can see the academy on the southern tip of the island. Starting from the east, there is Silver Port, the town most of you arrived in before coming here. After that, there is Hythe, Axminster, Lybster, and Butterpond. These towns have been here since nearly the start of the Academy except for Silver Port, which was here first.
“The Trials are meant to hone your abilities and give you some experience. Not everything can be learned in the classroom. Ikkudran can be difficult at times, but it can also be beautiful. What we are teaching here is not only to challenge the dark forces, but to be kind and thoughtful to others as well.
“Your objective is to visit each town and complete a puzzle. It sounds simple, but I don’t want everyone here to have a false impression. The puzzles range from simple to complex and are different for every coterie. Whether you chose your coterie or were assigned to one, the puzzles will be random for each town.
“Not to waste time, when you arrive in town, you will be approached by a Puzzle Quest Keeper. They may be faculty from our academy or trusted individuals from the towns. They will inform you of a puzzle and be your point of contact when you finish it. Should your coterie piece together the puzzle and figure out the answer, your group will be awarded a badge. Three badges indicate you pass and may continue on to your second year. Those who do not gain three or more badges will spend the few remaining months enhancing your skills and taking another version of the Trials to see if you succeed for your second year. If you think that is kind or easy, think again. The second Trial will be extremely difficult so I would recommend you try your best on the first time.
“Just a bit of trivia, no coterie has ever gained all five badges. I hope this year will be the first for some, if not, all of you.”
The High Dean’s relaxed expression took on a serious tone as he spoke, “Badges cannot be given or exchanged. Stealing is an automatic expulsion. It is understood that the drive at winning will push boundaries, but it will not be tolerated here. The Academy wants you to succeed, but subverting the system in place means you will subvert it when you leave here.
“Now, I must address the dangers of the Trial. As many of you know, mana phantoms inhabit the island. The mana springs give life and the phantoms drink from it. They tend to avoid most people unless agitated or provoked. This means you may have an easier time travelling, but the further into the island you travel, the more dangerous they become. It is not wise to cut through the island to reach towns. The lure of the springs can be tempting, but it is not recommended. Students have died because of their hubris and I don’t want to send any bodies back to their families.”
Luthis’s eyes scanned the room from side to side, “Slaying phantoms will drop mana shards. These are yours if earned. Once you have enough, you may absorb them to gain their power and grow your skills and abilities. Shards will be awarded to those who win at their puzzles as well. Phantoms along the coast will not kill you because they are well fed, but they will knock you unconscious when you attack them. Use your best judgement when it comes to altercations with phantoms. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
The High Dean’s eyes narrowed. “There is another threat all students must be aware of. Despite the many eyes, spells, and allies we have on the island, no one can predict if a sea monster will come onto shore. They range in sizes from kobold size to behemoths. They tend to avoid the towns, but be wary when camping along the beaches or coasts. Three years ago, the academy lost an entire coterie to an attack, the students put up a desperate fight by the marks they left behind in the sand. Nothing of them was ever recovered. No one wishes for a repeat of what happened so be on your toes and ever alert when travelling from town to town.”
A gloom filled the auditorium. Dax listened, remembering the sea monster attacks on the slums. They would crawl up from the sea and into the tunnels. Anyone caught in the tunnels after dark put their own lives in their hands.
Luthis’s smile returned as he continued, “The entire journey around the island takes about fifteen to twenty days at an even pace. You have twenty-five days to complete your Trial. Lodgings and food will be waiting for you at each town. You will have to buy your own spirits and wine, but do not fret, the celebrations after the Trial are often filled with indulgence so keep your eyes on the prize,” the High Dean winked.
