Ninth Post - Sword Mage

The Sword Mage becomes well known among the mages.

This post was supposed to be one thing and quickly became something else. Sigh. Just another example of following where the characters lead me. Enjoy.

Chapter Sixteen – A Sword Mage Blesses

Kalara used the remainder of her ‘rest day’ to tour the Mages School. She was even able to see Mavy serving as an Assistant for the instructor of a class on basic anatomy. Of course, many in the class were Mavy’s age or older.

Kalara’s otherworldly knowledge and the advanced texts combined to put them both well ahead in every aspect of healing.

As the class ended, Mavy noticed Kalara standing by the entrance. She whispered quickly to the instructor. He nodded for her to proceed. “Class, before we all go, I would like to introduce my best friend in the world. She is the Sword Mage and the Chosen of the Goddess. I am proud to present Kalara of Rasìn.” Some of the students had heard of her but most, not at all. Still, the students stood with a polite applause.

Kalara moved from the door to stand by Mavy. She wasn’t accustomed to being applauded and looked a little nervous. Mavy grabbed her arm as they looked out at the ascending rows of seats. Each one had a student in it. She whispered to Kalara, “Relax. You should become used to this because you deserve it.” Kalara just smiled a little and gave Mavy a skeptical look.

As the applause faded, a young man in the third row spoke up. He wore the robes of a member of the Penitent Order. Originally studying in the Church, his healing power was so strong that they insisted he study at the Institute. “Chosen, um, ah, could you please grant us a blessing?”

Kalara had met many Faithful who knew the spell prayers. She finally asked for them to teach her a few. Practicing them several times she made quite the splash of magic just by speaking them. The students who taught her said they were more powerful when sung. With a glance at Mavy and her instructor, she took two steps forward.

She hadn’t the opportunity to sing very many times, but her sister said she had a nice voice. Clearing her throat slightly, she held her hands out palm up in front of the Spirit Gem and sang the spell in lilting tones.

Perten soa Oervet. Learning and Wisdom. All of the spell prayers were spoken or sung in an ancient and otherwise unused language. The Church used it as the ‘authentic’ way to perform prayers to the Goddess. As expected, she understood it. As this was the first time Kalara had sung it, she didn’t expect what happened next.

The result was suitably dramatic. Her Spirit Gem lit up like the Sun. Every eye in the room went wide as the light washed outward, filled the room and disappeared through the walls. Two of the students in the back shouted in surprise and joy.

A brother and sister from a southern county, they were both students and patients. They had strong abilities with healing magic but also arrived bearing a terrible disease. The infection was treatable with a medicine that the Institute could make easily. But the treatment was slow and they endured significant pain. As the magical wave washed over them, their clothes became spotlessly clean and the disease vanished.

Kalara lowered her hands and graced them with a happy smile. “I hope everyone is feeling…” She paused as two young students ran down the center aisle towards her. An attractive brother and sister, they wore the simple shifts of patients. Both were smiling and crying. As they approached Kalara they stopped six feet away and knelt.

“Chosen One. Thank you so much. Your blessing has healed us completely!” Kalara just looked surprised and more than a little confused. Mavy’s instructor, Healer Anàtsen, stepped quickly up past Kalara to see them. She took their hands and examined their faces closely. The Healer made a close inspection of the eyes of each of the siblings.

She said, “It’s true! I can see no more trace of the disease. I can scarcely believe it but they are indeed completely healed.” The class did not applaud so much as cheer loudly. It went on for several minutes.

Mavy stepped up behind a blushing Kalara. Putting an arm around her shoulder, she said, “You just can’t avoid drawing attention and making a scene. You really must start getting used to this.”

Kalara wanted to beg off to return to the Warrior school. But Mavy’s class spread the word and soon the whole campus insisted that she stay for dinner. Their simple evening meal became a huge party.

Many students and even a few of the faculty came to see the Goddess’ Chosen. However, they were no longer asking to bask in the light of the Spirit Gem. It seems Kalara’s magic had spread through the walls to envelop the entire Institute. The guards said it passed beyond the walls to nearly half a mile away.

Everyone wanted to be able to say they had greeted the Goddess’ Chosen. Between bites she said hello and thanks to the many who simply wished her well. They were cleaning up as the shadows outside were growing very long. A soft bell tolled in a tall tower in the center of the Institute. Kalara’s head shot up from her dishes. “Oh dear. Now I really, truly must be going. Our guards aren’t as patient and understanding as yours. I cannot miss the gate closing. Thank you all for the hospitality!”

Kalara was walking while she talked. Mavy got a quick hug and Jondi a wave. She quickly exited the Mage School’s cafeteria and jogged for the gate. She didn’t need to trick the lock again. A junior mage was waiting for her. The personnel gate was opened and closed so that she didn’t break stride. The gate for the Warrior School was still open but time was running out. Aldirius was there to meet her along with two other senior instructors. As she passed the gate, the guard closed and locked it. He only said, “With me.” She fell into step beside him as they marched to one of the few classrooms the Warrior School had.

He opened the door and motioned everyone inside. They all took one of the four seats at a ‘team’ table. Aldirius watched as one of the Senior Instructors took some papers out of an envelope and began to sort them. Feeling nervous, Kalara said to Aldirius, “I do apologize, sir. I know that I was very nearly late to the gate closing time.” She stopped when he looked at her, then got the biggest surprise of her life when he threw his head back and laughed out loud.

The grizzled Sword Master and Senior Instructor actually grinned at her. Shaking his head, he said, “No, you aren’t in trouble. Still, don’t come in that late ever again! I don’t need Sir Mallin or the King after my hide because something happened to you.” Kalara just nodded. She still didn’t recognize the fellow in front of her.

Regaining a fraction of his usual serious demeanor, Aldirius continued, “We are here to discuss your schedule. Starting tomorrow, it will be greatly changed. The three of us handle different phases of a Cadet’s training. I usually deal with our young trainees from their day one until they pass certain tests. After that, Master Yulmire will supervise Advanced Tactics and Master Chenrik teaches your favorite topic.”

At her questioning look he said, “Chenrik teaches the advanced use of magic with weapons. As they both teach defensive techniques, he shows students the creation of anti-magic shields.”

Kalara nodded. “Sirs, I very much look forward to working with you both.” Master Chenrik looked up from his paperwork. “Hrm. I hear you can already use magic with your weapon. May I see?”

She drew the dirk and ignited the white magic flames. “I can’t really do any more than a bit of fire magic.” Chenrik dropped the papers and said, “Why was I not informed of this? You both know this white magic is the key?”

At their puzzled looks, he asked Kalara, “Have you learned purification magic?” She could only shake her head. As she replaced the dirk, he continued, “You should know it is the most powerful spell the Church can use. It is also the only thing that can destroy the demons’ own magic. Only a very few of the most skilled mages can use it and it drains them immediately.”

“Hrm. Since you use the Goddess’ powers directly, it could be easier for you. In any case, we must somehow arrange for you to learn it before you leave the Institute.” He picked up his pile of papers again and pulled out one record. “Here only one hundred and twenty-two days and already you are into second year training. Beginning advanced subjects that second year students would find challenging, you also understand the fundamentals of combining fire magic with a weapon. Still, you are far too young to send to the front lines, even if that skill is precisely what they are asking for most desperately.”

He looked a question over at Aldirius. The Senior Instructor nodded and said, “We will keep you here for at least the full two years just to let you grow some more. Given your advanced status, we will likely be calling on you next year to assist with teaching as your friend Mavy does. The three of us will be discussing the status of our students now. So. Dismissed.” Kalara left her chair neatly parked at the table, snapped to attention, turned and marched back to her barracks.

The Senior Instructors were silent for a full two minutes. Master Yulmire finally said, “We will be doing some work to keep her on task. Now that we know what her task is.” Chenrik replied, “Hrm. I would call her ‘task’ the idle foolishness of a child if it weren’t for her Spirit Gem. I have a friend at Court who relayed the story of how she rebuked Earl Leander of the Great Green. Yes, we must train this one most carefully.”

Then Master Chenrik pulled out another record. “As opposed to this fellow. We will need to decide if we will continue to train him at all!”

Chapter Seventeen – A Sword Mage Teaches

Kalara woke up with her Spirit Gem gleaming. It wasn’t very bright. Just a soft continuous glow. It made her feel strange. As if her muscles were twisting and writhing on their own. Her heart was pounding hard and her joints were sore. She sat up in her top bunk feeling a little dizzy.

Climbing down to the floor, Kalara made her way to their water jar. Those with water skills, few enough in the Warrior school, kept them filled. Filling a glass, she sat to clear her spinning head. A quick glance out of the narrow, high windows above the main room showed the false dawn was starting. It would be time to rise, soon, anyway.

Over the last twelve ten days Kalara had been training hard. As much as the instructors wished to push her, she pushed herself even more. It had only been a few ten days ago that she finally mastered the technique Stellen had used to defeat her when she arrived. There were only a handful of senior students who could learn it.

Master Yulmire’s ‘Advanced Tactics’ lessons taught her how to defend against multiple assailants at once. She eventually combined them with Master Chenrik’s weapons magic to defend even if she was surrounded. They warned her that, coming soon, she would be expected to repel a combination of physical and magical attacks.

Perhaps, she thought, this is why I feel so strange. Muscles growing and nerve paths learning new tricks. It felt like only a short time later that Payen woke next. Jintera rose next and headed straight for the privies. Morning rituals had developed a rhythm of sorts.

Payen sat down at the table with her friend. “What stirred you so early? Your hard work in the yard and studies usually have you sleeping sounder than anyone.” Kalara stretched out her arms and said, “Something feels off. It’s as if I don’t feel like myself.” She stood facing away from Payen and asked, “Could you see if anything is different?”

As Payen stood for the examination, her jaw dropped. “Ah, Kalara. Please turn around.” She turned and looked directly into Payen’s eyes. “We’re the same height. Oh, I have heard of growth spurts, but this is madness.” Looking now at her legs and the length of her arms, Kalara realized she was right.

Then she sighed and her shoulders slumped. “It’s Her doing. In spite of the wishes of the Senior Instructors, I think I will be leaving the Institute sooner than they expect.” She sat back down to place her head in her hands. “That’s right. My gem was glowing this morning. I’ve been growth accelerated. If that’s the right way to say it?” She sat up. “All I know is, I’m starving. Time to get ready for breakfast.”

Their barracks leader, Lady Kaeshine, led them out less than an hour later to the cafeteria. They marched as a perfect unit and were among the first to form the queue.

Kalara wolfed down her first helping, then joined the line for more. Thinking about her accelerated growth, she loaded her plate with meat and cheeses. As she took her seat again, she remarked, “Everything a growing girl needs.”

Daelys heard the comment and did a double take. “Kalara, are my eyes tricking me? Did you become…taller?” Chewing and swallowing, she said, “Yes. I think the Goddess is impatient with the Senior Instructors’ plans for me. Herself is not content to let me grow at my usual pace.”

As if in answer, her Spirit Gem glowed faintly and very briefly. Several pairs of eyes went wide as they finished eating in silence. Today was another tough training day. Tomorrow was their rest and refit day. However, the Sword Mage had another task. Her sudden growth only made it more urgent.

Kalara’s visits to the Mage School had been only for assisting with special healing tasks. Several academics had stopped by during her visits to ‘chat’. They were interested in her ‘special nature’ but still couldn’t bring themselves to believe such a young girl could know anything useful.

She carried a leather valise with her notes in it. In the small bits of spare time, usually before bed, Kalara would record as much basic information as she could remember. The pages that Mavy had left now overflowed with mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The Periodic Table up to the first fifty or so elements joined with advanced trigonometry and basic calculus.

Shipping out soon would be a very real possibility and it was likely that she would have only a few days’ notice. But also, just dropping off these notes would not be enough. It was time to have it out with the Masters.

The guards at the small gate were quite familiar with her by now. In fact, all of the gates were open from dawn to dusk every day. The ‘unfortunate event’ of her near kidnapping was a fading memory. As she greeted them, they passed on a message for her to see Master Lillanae. She thanked them and walked briskly to the Master’s office.

Master Lillanae saw the small Earth Stone on the corner of her desk glow briefly. Since her office was one of the largest and at the very end of a long hall, it was likely she was receiving a visitor. So when the knock came softly but firmly at her door, she was ready to open it.

Kalara knocked and the door was immediately opened by a smiling Master Lillanae. She bowed briefly out of habit and went in as she was invited. The Master seated them at the couches where they had shared their lunch several times now. “Are you bringing us a gift?”

Smiling briefly, Kalara placed the valise on the table. “It comes with a condition. I may be leaving soon. But before I go I must make a presentation to the Masters.” Placing a finger on the leather, she continued, “They will simply not be prepared to understand or even believe some of what is here unless I convince them of a few things. I am certain that it must be today.”

Master Lillanae sat back to consider this demand. Surely that’s what she was hearing. “I had hoped to bring along some of our more skeptical Masters patiently. You say we are running out of time. Your Senior Masters want to keep you here for a while longer, correct?”

Now she stood to face Master Lillanae. “Master, do you notice anything different about me?” Looking her over, she noticed some of her clothing didn’t cover correctly. “Did something happen to your clothing?” Kalara just chuckled and said, “No, Master. Something happened to me. The night before last I grew quite a bit. Overnight. It seems the Goddess does not approve of my Senior Instructors’ notions of when I will leave the Institute. She has neatly removed their excuse that I need time to grow a little more.”

The Master narrowed her eyes to scan the Sword Mage more closely. Yes, the lengthening of arms and legs was obvious now. She had even filled out more in the hips. “Hmm. Yes, now I see it. Ah, well, I agree. We will meet with the Masters in an hour. I know all of their schedules and they all have ‘office time’ coming up.”

Touching a Wind gem on the same corner of her desk, she signaled her assistants. They immediately dropped what they were doing and hurried to her office. Standing at attention, the three junior mages waited for their instructions. “Deliver this message to each of the Masters. I require, and please use that word, their presence in the small auditorium in one hour. Go.” They scurried off to their task. This was very short notice and if they didn’t hurry each apprentice would be on the receiving end of some sharp comments.

Master Lillanae stood and gave Kalara her valise. “I do hope this is worth all of the trouble.” Kalara graced the Master with her most knowing smile. “Master, I assure you this is only a small, tiny even, example of what I learned in my old world. Later, if there is time, I will discuss many more subjects and more of this in detail.”

Less than an hour later, the last of the Masters wandered in to the small auditorium. Barely able to hold thirty people, it was mainly used for specialty lectures. With only the Masters, it was not even half full. The eldest of them, Master Grentine, shuffled in with his walking stick. “I do hope this is important, Lillanae.” He took his customary seat in the front row.

She introduced Kalara. “I know that some of you know Kalara of Rasìn. She is the extraordinary young lady with the powerful healing techniques. She also has a most interesting story regarding her origins in this world. You have all heard the story and most have dismissed it. Kalara has some things to teach us and, it seems, less time than we had hoped. Please proceed.”

Kalara stepped to the center and front of the low table on the small stage. “Master Brentine, am I correct that you are the foremost practitioner of fire magic in the Institute?” The Master stood and nodded. “Sir, please extend to me a small fire ball.” Many of the Masters chuckled as Brentine casually launched a small fiery ball towards the Sword Mage.

It had barely traveled two feet before it vanished in what looked much like frost. Brentine looked impressed. “So, you can dispel my fire magic. You have learned much.” Kalara shook her head. “Sir it was not dispelled. It was chilled.” At the puzzled looks, she took a pitcher of water from one of the ever-present servants. She placed it on the table and cupped her hands around it. In just a few seconds, it was frozen solid.

Gasps replaced the puzzled looks. Brentine said, “You have mastered cold magic. We have been trying to learn this for a very long time. How?” Kalara placed the pitcher of ice on one of the serving tables by the first row. “To answer that, you must first understand exactly what is becoming hot or cold. Also to understand what hot and cold mean in the first place. Do I have your attention, Masters?”

Many nods from her audience meant she could continue. “First, I must tell you that the story you have heard about me is true. My spirit came to this world from another. A world of massive knowledge and power. It was more knowledge than any one person could learn in a hundred lifetimes. Please understand you are not talking to a fourteen-year-old girl. I lived and died a full life in that world and spent much of it accumulating knowledge.”

Kalara placed the valise on the low table at the front. “This is a very small, very basic sample of the learning I can pass on. I will begin with what we were just discussing.” With four quick gestures, Kalara set up on the table a simple block of stone, a ball of water, a continuously swirling air spike, and a small fire ball. Her control was such that none of the items moved or seemed to be dispersing. The audience was already impressed.

“Fundamentally, heat is motion. This begs the question, what is moving? The idea that some put forth that all things are made of tiny particles is correct. As a general name, we call it matter. These demonstrate the four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. The only real difference between them is their temperature. From solid to plasma, they become hotter. The tiny particles of which they are made move more quickly.”

“This is how you must use magic to make things hotter or colder. Master Bentine, your expression indicates you begin to understand. Please come forward to freeze this water ball.” Lifting his eyebrows in mild irritation at being directed by a child, he quickly shook his head to remove the emotion. She had already said her knowledge was that of a much older person.

He stepped up to the table and put his hands to the swirling water. Kalara said, “First try to gently increase the temperature of the water while feeling the motion of the particles, then reverse the use of your power.” Master Bentine was a study in concentration as he strove to feel what his magic was doing. The water seemed as if it would begin to boil. Then the swirling liquid slowed more and more. In less than a minute, a ball of ice thudded to the table.

Gasps echoed across the room as Bentine planted both hands on the table as if he would collapse. “That…was very strange.” Kalara said, “It feels almost like the first time you tried dispelling a fire ball, right?” She gestured and dispelled all four of the examples. Master Bentine just nodded and smiled as he returned to his seat.

Master Grentine smiled and said, “So, Sword Mage is it? Please continue. I can assure you of our complete attention.”