A stone wall about shoulder high enclosed the tiny area behind the small cottage. Despite its size, the cleverly constructed, flourishing garden was a key part of Jarial’s alchemical studies.
Jarial, unaware of Kaijin’s presence, remained on his knees, busily plucking sage leaves and placing them into a basket.
Kaijin knelt and set Sable free in the garden. “Good morning, Master.”
Sable trotted over to her master and greeted him with an affectionate rub of her head against his thigh. Jarial paused, acknowledged his familiar first, and then Kaijin. He stood and brushed the dirt from his knees. “I’m surprised to see you up this early.”
“I ended my work early last night because you said we would be able to train this morning.” Kaijin paused. “Or has that changed?”
Jarial waved him off. “Don’t worry, Kaijin. I haven’t forgotten. I know how eager you’ve been to try out your new spell.”
Kaijin beamed. “Of course, Master! Why wouldn’t I be? My very first sixth-tier spell ... I can’t believe it! It’s taken me weeks—no, months—hells, I can’t even recall how long it’s been!”
Jarial chuckled softly. “Let’s just say it’s taken you about the same time it takes most aspiring mages to learn spells of the fifth tier.”
“Surely, it didn’t take you even half as long, Master!” Kaijin laughed.
“The Citadel trains children as soon as they’re able to read. I was one of the few children who excelled. A rarity, I might add. I was about seventeen when I reached my sixth tier of learning. I remember the spell quite vividly—Prism Storm.” Jarial smirked. “I had quite a bit of fun with that one.”
“Prism Storm?” Kaijin repeated.
“Oh yes. I was always attracted to the more colorful spells. You can imagine, by the name alone, how colorful it is.”
Kaijin smiled. “Will you teach me the spell, Master?”
Jarial paused and then shrugged. “Perhaps, when I’m in the mood, I might.” He turned back to his garden. “Now, I need to finish gathering the witchroot blossoms. The plants will lose their potency if they are left unpicked for too long.”
Kaijin’s eyes diverted to another bed of leafy shoots where his master grew various poisonous plants. Kaijin stepped carefully through the garden, knelt down in the soft soil, and examined the witchroot shoots. “I’ll help you, Master.”
Jarial watched him. “All right, do you remember which ones to pick?”
Sifting through clusters of green leaves, Kaijin spotted plants topped with white flowers in full bloom. “Let’s see....” His head tipped back as he recalled a past lesson. “Are they the five-petaled, white blossoms with black tips?” He looked to his master for confirmation.
Jarial grinned. “Yes, that’s right. Remember, the black tips indicate the plant has reached the peak of its toxic state. Now, gather the blossoms, and place them in the basket.”
Kaijin worked quickly and soon gathered enough black-tipped blossoms to fill the small basket. With the container in tow, Kaijin followed his master to the root cellar adjacent to the garden. The tiny cellar was primarily used for storing plants, potions, and other alchemical items. Jarial also kept a few small casks of ale, cider, and mead.
After they finished preserving the plants in flasks of vinegar, Kaijin asked, “Master, I just realized—how am I going to be able to test my spell?”
“What do you mean?”
Kaijin shrugged and shook his head. “My notes said something about the spell having a ‘large conflagration radius’ when evoked.”
“Well, obviously, you won’t be evoking it here in Easthaven.” Jarial reached for an empty flagon on a shelf and filled it with mead from one of the casks. “Your spell—Firebrand—is not truly radial, anyway. It depends on how the spell is evoked. You can very easily manipulate it to burn in a straight line if you choose.”
Kaijin blinked. “Will you please show me how, Master? I would love to learn how to control fire to burn in any manner I choose.”
“That is the purpose of training, Kaijin.” Jarial turned and left.
Kaijin opened his mouth to speak, but closed it and hurried after his master.
Jarial returned to the kitchen and retrieved a small jar of honey from the pantry. He sat down at the table and helped himself to the remaining slice of rye bread from the plate.
After taking a seat, Kaijin fidgeted with his hands. His mind raced with questions. For a moment, he simply stayed silent and watched Jarial drizzle the bread with a modest portion of honey. Kaijin returned his attention to his hands. “Master ...”
A pleasant smile slipped over Jarial’s lips as he savored the snack.
Kaijin glanced up when the man didn’t reply. He repeatedly folded and unclasped his hands. “Master?”
Jarial poured himself a cup of mead and slowly downed it.
Kaijin frowned.
Is he intentionally ignoring me? Does he even realize how badly I want to try my spell?
He stopped his nervous fidgeting by placing both hands flat on the table. “Master, the chores are done. Now can we go and—”
“Have you gathered the required components?” Jarial eyed him.
Kaijin blinked in surprise.
This is a test, isn’t it?
I hate it when he does that.
He pondered the question for a moment. “I have phosphorous pieces, if that’s what you mean.”
Jarial nodded and finished his honeyed bread. “Soon, I’m going to have to figure out how much more I will be able to teach you.”
Kaijin noted the sly tone in his master’s voice. He leaned forward in his chair, casting the mage a wary look. “What do you mean by that, Master?”
“I mean what I say.” He refilled his cup. “You’re not the same child I once taught. Your rapid progression in the arcane arts has been something rarely seen. Students like you only come around once every few years—or decades. In a way, you remind me of myself. I think it will soon be time to take you to that next step. A step I cannot teach you alone.”
Kaijin frowned at Jarial’s words. “What are you saying? Are you going to release me from your tutelage? I want to master the Art. I don’t want to leave until then.”
“Some things you’ve already learned without my help, Kaijin. All I’ve done was help refine those discoveries by teaching you the basics. You are the one responsible for your own proficiency in the Art, Kaijin. Not me. I’ve always admired your dedication. Going above and beyond my expectations ever since you were a boy. I wish I was able to say the same for your brother, but ... well, he was a lost cause. I hope, despite his lack of discipline, he has done something worthwhile with himself.” He paused to take a long sip. “Kaijin, you’re a man, now, and you’ve gained understanding of the Art. Part of the process of learning your seventh, eighth and ninth-tiered spells is seeking the knowledge yourself. I can offer you advice and guidance, but at this point, you are on your own. Do you understand?”
Kaijin’s frown deepened to a full scowl. He wasn’t troubled about the fact that he was nearing the end of his training. It was the mention of Rorick. Ever since the day his younger brother left, emptiness had resided in Kaijin’s heart. Not having seen Rorick for ten years, Kaijin couldn’t help worrying about the boy. He knew he had no control over his brother’s choices.
“Kaijin?” Jarial’s voice hardened.
“Yes, I understand.”
Jarial stood up and cleared the table. “Good. Gather your things and let’s test that spell of yours, shall we?” Before walking out of the kitchen, he patted Kaijin on the shoulder.
Kaijin’s heart lifted at his master’s words.
They outfitted themselves in sturdy traveling clothes and packed lightly for a full day’s worth of training. The morning sun bathed Easthaven in amber radiance as the two of them set out, traversing the busy streets to the western gates.
Kaijin remained close to his master, his eyes occasionally sweeping over the people they passed. They gave him a series of curious glances. Some of the women gawked at his appearance. Kaijin’s fiery hair and the flamboyant reds and yellows of his long robes were hard to miss, even from a distance. He stood as tall as most men his age, sported a build as lean as a cat’s, and walked with a pretentious gait. His smooth, tanned skin glistened in the morning light, further accenting his handsome features. His arms were adorned with gold bracers with a faint magical aura. Gold rings decorated his third and fourth fingers and his earlobes were adorned with matching rings. Around his neck, he proudly wore Ignis’s symbol. Its smooth gold surface gleamed.
The western gates opened on the vast countryside of the Easthaven outskirts, outlined with the warm, bright hues of the summer season. The sun shone over the distant rolling hills and the forests beyond. The crisp air carried the scents of the blooming wild irises that blanketed the land in bright violet.
Kaijin absorbed the refreshing sights and sounds of the world during their brisk walk down the well-traveled dirt path. He recalled only a handful of times he had ever left the city. Kaijin felt freedom and took the opportunity to take in all that he could not see from the attic window. This was the first time he had left Miele home alone for an extended period of time.
“Our familiars will be fine while we’re out training, Kaijin,” Jarial had explained as they were leaving the house. “It’s foolish to have them accompany us, and risk their harm should anything go wrong.”
Unlike Jarial, Kaijin found it difficult to part from his familiar. Ever since he became accustomed to the bat’s constant presence, Kaijin relayed every thought and emotion through their empathic link. Now that he was away from home, Kaijin hoped to remain focused on the day’s training. Those desires proved wishful thinking, however, when Kaijin began experiencing frequent mental interruptions by his familiar. His mind throbbed with the pangs of distress from the tiny bat. Not even an hour had passed since the two men left, and Miele already missed her master.
Kaijin, enduring the small pains in his mind, eventually responded to her through their empathic link.
Calm yourself, Miele. I’m fine. Be good and keep Sable company.
The pain persisted for a few seconds and then subsided.
Thank you. I’ll be sure to give you an extra honey stick when I return.
Jarial and Kaijin drew further away from Easthaven until the city’s outline was a small image in the distance. The foliage of the countryside through which they traveled was sparser, but still retained its seasonal brilliance.
Kaijin glanced over his shoulder and furrowed his brow when he realized how far they had traveled. He turned to Jarial. “Master, don’t you think we’re far enough away from Easthaven, now?”
Jarial smiled. “Yes, but I must ensure our location will protect us from attention from travelers and passersby. You’ll need to have complete concentration in order to control your spell. Any outside distraction might—” The mage halted as he saw a small figure approaching in the distance.
Kaijin stopped and followed his master’s gaze into the purple iris fields. He saw a small figure of a horse and rider approaching in the distance and heard the muffled sounds of galloping hooves in the soft grass. Clumps of dirt were tossed about in a cloud beneath the piebald horse’s hooves. The cloaked rider hunched over in the saddle, grasping the reins.
“Out of the way!” The rider had a feminine voice. “I must get help!”
Jarial hissed and shifted out of the stranger’s way, since she showed no sign of slowing.
Rather than follow his master, Kaijin watched the dark-haired woman cloaked in green. Time seemed to stand still as Kaijin noted the terrified expression in the young woman’s brown eyes. He winced at a twitching sensation in the back of his mind. Was Miele calling out to him, again?
“Kaijin!” Jarial barked.
Kaijin blinked, snapping out of his momentary trance. He glanced at his master, then back to the source of the galloping sounds. He shifted aside just as the horse rushed past.
After waving off the cloud of dust, Kaijin and Jarial watched the woman steer the horse onto the main road and speed toward Easthaven.
“What was that about?” Kaijin arched a curious brow at his master.
Jarial shrugged. “Hells if I know.” He paused and scanned the fields again where several smaller figures moved. He motioned for Kaijin to follow. “Come. Let’s see what’s going on over there.”
The two men treaded through the flower fields toward the group of dark figures. The sounds of garbled, incoherent speech rippled through the air, further arousing Kaijin’s curiosity.
He grimaced at the sounds. “What’s that?”
Jarial squinted. “A group of men. Perhaps pillaging bandits.” He did not avert his eyes. “I’m unsure. Tread carefully.”
As they drew closer, Jarial and Kaijin soon saw that the figures were not men, but a cluster of black-winged vultures huddling around a large corpse. Amid the birds’ squawking, the air was pierced by the sounds of flesh ripping.
“Wait a moment.” Jarial stopped and held his hand out over Kaijin’s chest, barring him from taking another step.
Kaijin halted at his master’s behest and gazed at the grisly sight.
The converging vultures scattered at the slightest vibration of the men’s movement. The bony frame revealed in their wake was almost picked clean of its fleshy bits, rendering it almost impossible to determine the manner of corpse it had been.
Jarial narrowed his eyes at the scene and uttered a soft chant. An invisible sphere of magic surrounded them.
Kaijin listened to the whispered arcanic words and was able to discern the type of protective spell his master had cast.
Shield.
He shot a wary glance at Jarial and lowered his voice. “Master, what is—”
“Shh ...” Jarial took a step forward and craned his head, attempting to get a better glimpse of the corpse. His pursed lips fell into a frown.
Kaijin peered over his master’s shoulder and spied scraps of cloth hanging from what appeared to be a set of human ribs protruding from the tall grass.
A steady breeze whisked through the irises, creating a small dust cloud. The shadows lingering in the area coalesced into a black void that covered the bony remnants of the corpse. The blackness rose and formed into a large human-like shape, absorbing what little remained of the corpse.