Academy Rebels, page 4
part #1 of Card Mage Series
“I’m not sure Zarra is interested,” Dax began.
The dragon in human form looked to Dax, her gaze peering into his soul. “It sounds interesting, but I’m forbidden to lead any groups. The High Dean informed me I would have an unfair advantage because of my age and experience.”
Fern rolled her eyes, “Ugh, so many rules!”
Zarra kept her gaze on Dax, “I’m sorry. I wish I could help.”
Dax smiled. “It’s okay. When we start the club, you should join us. We were thinking of calling it Heroes of Kinarth, in honor of his bravery and leadership.”
Zarra’s lips formed a small, tiny smile. “That sounds lovely. I would be honored.”
Fern paced again. “There must be someone we can ask?”
“Fern, I’m glad you’re helping, but maybe we need to try a different approach?”
“Dax Sage!” growled a voice from behind.
Dax’s eyes lit up as his soul sank to his feet. He knew the voice and it tantalized and struck a chord of fear. Slowly turning, he watched a woman in black robe approach. Long black hair was tied back into a ponytail and flawless skin glowed in the morning light, but her expression was anything but peaceful.
“Nuria, so good to see you,” Dax said in a low tone.
The mage stalked up to him, eyes containing a fury mixed with heat. “Don’t give me that. Clive told me what happened last night. You owe him two hundred and twenty coins.”
Dax wanted to speak, but seeing Nuria’s beautiful features caused his tongue to not work properly. Instead, he simply stared like a madman with little else to do.
“No wonder why you’re a slow caster. Talking isn’t one of your strong points,” Nuria seethed.
“What’s your problem,” Fern growled back as she stepped up to the mage.
Nuria looked down on Fern, ten inches of height keeping them from seeing each other eye to eye.
“My problem is Dax stole gold from the Dark Heart club, my club! Clive is a member and told me all the details and this poor excuse for a mage owes Clive and the club gold!”
“Technically, I won it,” Dax mentioned.
Nuria looked up from Fern and stared at the mage. “Cheating isn’t the same as winning. That gold was club dues and you better pay.”
Dax fought his inner snark and lost, “If it was valuable, why was Clive gambling with it in Silver Port?”
Nuria’s eyes narrowed. “It’s club business!”
Dax’s inner resolve faltered as he couldn’t take his eyes off of Nuria. Since the first day he saw her in classes, his heart beat like a dozen hammers on an anvil. She was smart, talented and evil. Everything he liked and more. Now, she was here, chewing him out and he wanted nothing more than to let her.
Fern pushed out her chest and bumped it against the mage in black. Nuria stumbled back, hatred dripping from her eyes as Fern stared at her in confidence.
“I’m sure I can get a punch in before you cast your first spell,” Fern leered.
Nuria eyed the fairy before turning her gaze to Dax. “This isn’t finished. Your girlfriend won’t be there to protect you all the time!”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Dax said in his mind, but the words came out as a whisper.
Nuria lifted her chin as she turned and walked away.
“It is an exciting morning,” Zarra said wistfully.
Fern turned to Dax, her confidence turning into concern. “How come you didn’t tell her off?”
Dax stared, unsure what to say.
“He likes her,” Zarra said plainly as the bee hovered and flew away from her finger.
Fern’s brow wrinkled. “I don’t know what you see in her? She’s beautiful, but her center is rotten.”
Dax tried to recollect himself and figure out how he even started the day like this? In minutes, he went from trying to find a mark to create a fake club to being verbally attacked and pulled around by two women. Never mind that he was standing by the nicest and scariest dragon student he just met.
“Well, we should look for someone else to lead your club. I think there might be a few students who may agree to lead,” Fern said as mental gears began turning.
Dax pulled his thoughts together. As much as Fern liked to help, control was rapidly being pulled from the mage. The fairy’s bluntness was going to cause problems.
I just need to start the club. After that, it can all fall into ruin.
Dax was about to excuse himself when Symon appeared. The fighter walked slowly; his eyes caught in a daze. Fern looked to the approaching fighter and smiled. Zarra simply sat, her body turned towards the small group.
When Symon reached them, he looked to Dax like someone blasted him with a stream of fire.
“I can’t believe it,” Symon whispered.
The mage approached his friend. “What happened? What did Skullcut say?”
Symon looked to his friend before the shock melted into a small smile.
“Skullcut told me he had inquired with a few professors and they all agreed to change my class. Today, I start training to be a Spellsword.”
Dax’s brow went up, unsure what it meant until Symon’s smile grew wider.
“This is going to be amazing!” the former fighter grinned.
Four
“Really?” Dax asked, a happy smile forming for his friend.
Symon nodded. “It’s confirmed. I start several new classes today. My first one will be Scribe Craft.”
“Congratulations,” Fern smiled.
“Yes, congratulations,” Zarra said.
Symon turned his attention to the two women and bowed his head. “I’m sorry, we haven’t met.”
Dax stood by Symon’s side. “Oh, we have two potential members for our club. Meet Fern and Zarra.”
Symon’s eyes widened a little. “The fairy you kissed last week?” the tall young man whispered out the side of his mouth.
Fern looked to Dax with faux rage before she laughed. Zarra simply looked at everyone.
“Um, they are interested in our club, but can’t lead it. It seems a berserker and a dragon cannot take lead positions,” the mage informed.
Symon looked at the blonde woman, “You’re Zarra!”
Zarra nodded with a polite smile.
“My family has done business with the clans. I’ve always wanted to meet one after all the stories I heard, I…” Dax interrupted.
“I’m sure all of this is fascinating, but we have a schedule to keep. We should get to class before the bell rings” the mage tried to say discreetly.
Turning to the two women, Dax bowed deeply. “Lovely ladies, we must part ways, but if we can secure a leader for the club, we will surely send an invite. Have a pleasant day.”
Fern crossed her arms as Zarra blinked. Dax grabbed Symon by his shirt and dragged him away.
When they were far enough away, Symon’s excitement began to wane as his head tilted forward.
“I mentioned to Skullcut about starting a club if we can’t join one.”
“What did he say?”
Symon shook his head. “He said if we started one, there was too much a chance of you corrupting it so it was a hard no.”
“Huh, Skullcut really knows me,” Dax said whimsically.
“We have to find someone, anyone to lead the club. I can’t let this chance escape,” Symon moaned.
“I thought your dad would kill you if you studied magic?”
Symon nodded. “He would, but Skullcut said he didn’t need to know. Spellsword magic is subtle and not flashy like your magic. It enhances my fighting abilities, but I still have to learn basic spell casting and writing. With the exam a week away, I need to learn a lot fast in a short amount of time.”
Dax nodded. “You know I’ll help you.”
“Thanks, I’m going to need it.”
The bell tower rang in the center of Kinarth.
“Let’s get to class and talk afterwards,” Dax said as he felt time was running out.
***
Dax and Symon sat side by side in a round chamber with elevated seating. In the middle was a desk, a table and the professor as he gathered his notes and picked up a flamboyant feathered quill.
Students continued to flow in, taking their seats and pulling out spellbooks. Dax eyed the chamber, seeing if there was anyone, he could dupe into starting their club. When his eyes caught Nuria, his heart melted and he stared.
The mage looked across the chamber to Dax and her eyes hardened.
Symon caught the exchange, “I don’t know what you see in her? She’s mean.”
“And psycho, and beautiful. Everything I like,” Dax waved to the mage in black.
Nuria stuck up a middle finger and sat down. Not long after, Clive stepped in and took a seat by her side. Clive said something to Nuria and she laughed, her hand touching his arm.
“She doesn’t seem interested,” Symon remarked.
“That’s because her tastes are still unrefined,” Dax smirked.
Symon shook his head and changed the subject. “What can I expect in this class?”
Dax leaned back in his chair as he spoke, “The class just started a few days ago. It’s the basics to writing incantations into a spellbook. You won’t be too far behind. We just have to make sure we understand the arcane symbols and words before committing them to our books.”
“Most Spellswords don’t carry spellbooks,” Symon said.
“I think it's because you have to mix spells with your fighting. When is your first spellsword class?”
“This afternoon,” Symon said with a concerned edge.
“I’m sure they would have denied you if you weren’t up for it. I believe in you,” Dax smiled.
“Thanks,” Symon smiled.
A shadow appeared by the desk and a body sat down in a chair next to Dax. The mage turned his attention to a tall, thin man with spiky blonde hair. Where Symon was tall and T shaped, this mage was slender in face and body.
“Is this seat taken?” the blonde mage asked.
“It is now,” Dax said simply.
The moment swirled on until Dax took a better look at the mage at his side. Recognition bloomed before his heart sank. Symon looked over and raised an eyebrow.
The tall mage leaned in a little closer to Dax. “I heard you’re looking to start a club and need a leader.”
“You heard wrong, Vance,” Dax said in a low tone.
Vance smiled. “Fern seemed pretty insistent and excited.”
Dax chewed on his tongue with his mouth closed. Vance Talbot was the richest student in school and also the most unlikeable. His family spent decades trying to wash away the stain of their line after helping the void spawn during the war. The family was corrupt, selling out anyone they could to ensure they were on the winning side. When the tide turned, they betrayed the void spawn and tried to make themselves out to be heroes but no one could forget what they had done during the war.
Symon’s eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.
Vance continued, “Fern told me the name of the club you want. Heroes of Kinarth sounds like a good one. I would be more than happy to lead such a club since your workload prevents you from taking leadership.”
“Not interested,” Dax stated plainly.
Vance nodded, but his expression remained serene. “I know many don’t like me or my family, but Fern seemed to think you were in a rush to start this club. Aside from classes, I don’t have much going on, since I’m very much reviled by everyone in the Academy.”
Dax’s expression softened at the last comment before his face firmed up again.
Vance continued, “Think about it. I’ll be in Casting Class later if you want to talk about it.”
Dax’s thoughts wanted to spill out and tell the mage to jump into the sea. The Talbots were heavily involved in kingdom politics, even with their dark past. They sent in their own private army to help quell the Hydale slum riots, their red banners flying as they slew anyone who would not retreat. The riots started over food and they ended with blood in the streets.
A chime filled the air as the professor looked up to the students gathered.
“Welcome to Scribe Craft. I see some new faces here so I will quickly go over the basics of writing and crafting your incantations into your most prized possession, your spellbooks.”
The professor picked up the large feathered quill and held it up for all to see. “The words you inscribe into your spellbooks will mean life and death. The better you are at writing and drawing your words and symbols, the better mage, spellsword, necromancer, or druid you will become.
“Words hold power and through them, you will be able to bend reality to your will or your guiding hand. Your spellbooks are a tool, just as the quill and parchment. As you inscribe your spells and incantations, you will be writing with not only ink, but with your mana. The mana charges the written words and symbols to form rituals and spells. They bring focus during the chaos and storms of battles and journeys.”
The professor put the quill down, “Do not take it lightly. Spells are unique to the spell caster and no two spellbooks are the same. Maybe you will be able to glean some knowledge from another’s spellbook, but like music or art, each piece is not the same, all holding subtle differences.
“Once you know how to write spells, it is the first step on your journey of being a master of the arcane. Shall we begin?” the professor smiled.
***
Dax and Symon walked along the courtyard. Symon looked over his notes while the mage stared at the floor, counting cobblestone to distract himself.
“That was an interesting class. I had no idea it was so involved. And your notes are incredible. How did you learn to write like that?” Symon asked without looking up from his small notebook.
“When I wasn’t running and surviving, I was reading and writing. It was my only escape,” Dax said in a low tone.
Symon looked over to his friend. “Are you okay?”
Dax lifted his head and looked into the clear blue sky. “I’m not sure. Vance heard we are looking to start a club and he said he would lead it. I don’t know how I feel about it.”
Symon nodded, “The club is only meant to keep us here at the academy. Aside from his family’s history, he wouldn’t really be doing too much. Maybe we should chance it? I don’t see any options left.”
Dax nodded, but remained silent.
“We can’t go back to our old lives,” the spellsword said with a solemn tone.
Dax nodded again. “It’s just to keep us here, nothing more.”
“I’ll leave it up to you and support your decision,” Symon smiled.
Dax looked to his friend and returned the smile. “It’s up to us. Let’s talk about it after I get out of Casting Class.”
Symon nodded. “Deal.”
***
Mages stood along the outside of a giant, arcane circle with runes carved into the floor. The walls in this level of the tower had no windows and were solid stone so the circle and the walls would stop any stray spells.
Dax stood along the edge with everyone else, his heart beating wildly in his chest. Every memory of this very class was filled with disappointment and today wasn’t any different. The professor spoke to the class, but Dax found himself tuning her out, fear clawing at his insides. When he tried to pay attention, her words became clearer.
“The Trial Exams will test you to see if you're ready for the actual Trials. Depending on your ability and skill, you will be graded and paired with other champions into a coterie. It is crucial you feel confident to cast your spells in a timely fashion. There will be phantoms to fight and puzzles to solve. If you fall during the Trial, you fail and must repeat your 1st year again. If you fail a second time, you go home. Are there any questions?”
A student raised their hand.
“Yes,” the professor acknowledged.
The student bowed his head before making eye contact, “Professor Frost, shouldn’t an exam and trail be for a 2nd or 3rd year champion? Why half way through the 1st year?”
Professor Frost’s blood red lips curved into a smile. “Preparation will only get you so far. The heat of battle or dilemmas can appear in a blink. The Academy doesn’t have time to coddle. We look for innovation, strength, skill, and a clever mind.”
The professor put her hands behind her back, her corset top framing her figure and her long black dress moving with her legs as she walked around the inner circle.
“The Void War happened in a blink of time. The portals opened and the void spawn attacked without mercy. They stole artifacts and those who could create artifacts. Magical items were their prizes and they took anything magical, like a locust swarm to farm lands.
“Without Kinarth and the discovery of the mana springs under Mist Haven Isle and some of the other western islands, we wouldn’t be here today. The kingdoms knew we must prepare for any future attacks. It may have happened ninety-eight years ago, but everyone from the Emperor to the people on the street made a promise to be prepared at all times and never let such an event happen again.”
Professor Frost turned and eyed the wide-eyed student, “Does that answer your question or do I need to put a book in your hands?”
The student bowed, visibly shaken.
Dax looked away from the student, his eye catching Nuria and Clive. When her glare turned his way, he looked away again, his gaze falling on Vance. The day was running out and little options were left. The moment the sun went down, his future as a champion would be sealed and he would return to Hydale with nothing but shame.
“Mr. Sage, step into the circle,” Professor Frost’s voice rang out.
Dax’s heart leapt in his chest, but he didn’t show it. One boot in front of the other, he stepped into the circle and faced his professor.
“Who here wishes to practice with Mr. Sage?” Professor Frost projected her voice for all to hear.
Heads shook and a few chuckles floated on the still air. Dax tried to keep his cool, holding his tongue firmly between his teeth with his lips sealed, pain beginning to grow.
Professor Frost’s eyes slid to the side, looking to the students. “You may be fledgling champions, but you all need the practice. Mr. Sage has difficulty with the timing of his spells. Will anyone be willing to help him get better?”
