Streets of Sorcery: Chapter I (Patreon)

I

                                        – o – o – o – o – o – o – o –​

Knok-knok!

A single blue eye snapped open at the sound of a fist meeting wood. The second eye followed soon after as the continued knocking at his office door managed to fully rouse the young man from his oh-so-brief nap.

Throwing his head back against his ratty office chair, Markus Kaine opened his mouth to release a sigh that was as much mental as it was audible. He allowed himself a moment's reprieve, staying perfectly still in his seat and daring to inch his eyes closed again in the hope that whoever was bothering him would take the hint and leave

Knok-knok!

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

As he rose to his feet, Markus could only cast an disinterested glance around his office, half-lidded eyes taking in the poorly lit surroundings he had become familiar with over the last two years. The cramped space still bore the unmistakable signs of its previous life as a janitor's closet, the smell of old mops lingering in the air like a faint curse. He felt a sense of longing for a more suitable space to work in, but quickly pushed aside the desire in favor of practicality. It was better than he’d ever had before.

Squeezing past his desk, the young man narrowly avoided knocking over a precarious tower of books and scrolls that had yet to find a home on the shelving the school had yet to remove. I know I’m part-time but you’d think Karcen would appreciate my efforts a bit more, he remarked to himself, barely believing himself as he thought it. The idea that Karcen Tuck would spend a single copper cent to improve the school rather than lining his own pockets were as believable as the gnomeblooded bastard getting off his large behind and one day actually teaching a class.

Raising his glasses to rub the sleep from his eyes, Markus flung open the door just in time to interrupt the knocker's third attempt. His gaze tilted downwards from the knocker’s raised hand to meet their face lightly and, unable to quite stop himself, Markus felt the edge of his lips twitch upwards at the sight of them. “Ariel,” he greeted with a slight nod. “What can I do for you?”

His waifish coworker greeted him with a look of surprise, expressive Alven eyes wide as her fist remained frozen in place where it would have impacted his door once more. Her hair, a golden cascade, framed her pale, delicate face and drew attention to her eyes - a shimmering blue flecked with gold, a reminder of her distant but undeniable ancestry.

"Markus!" Ariel finally exclaimed after a moment to gather herself, an impish smile playing on her lips. "I thought I might have to cast a wakefulness spell on you.”

His smile faded slightly at that, the idea of such a thing not pleasant despite her clearly humorous tone. The uncomfortable experience of having to use those were something he’d rather leave in the past. “Thankfully, you didn’t. So, what…” He paused slightly as she leaned forward against his door frame, her unbuttoned shirt exposing the nape of her neck. “I mean, what can I help you with?”

The blonde’s eyebrows rose, her head tilting slightly as she stared back at him. “Help me?” She responded with a slight laugh. “No, big guy, I’m here to help you. The graduation duels are about to start. You wouldn't wanna miss that, would you?"

Oh God, those. Markus sighed, the man tilting his head and casting a tired glance at the short blonde blocking his doorway. He had almost forgotten about the duels but even then, a reminder wasn’t exactly something he needed.. "A, unlike you, I only have one student graduating this period. It'll be at least an hour before I need to be there."

Ariel rolled her eyes, playful smile never faltering. "C’mon, Marky." She looked up at him, said eyes seemingly growing larger and more luminous as they met his own. "My kids love you too. They'd appreciate it if you were there."

Markus responded with something of a shrug, the gesture making his broad shoulders noticeable under the light yellow sweater vest and pale blue dress shirt he wore. "I don't kn-"

Before he could finish vocalizing yet another refusal, Ariel rested a hand on his wrist below his rolled-up sleeve, her pale flesh brushing up against the clear gem inlay on his wristbands and contrasting heavily against his own dark skin. "I'd love it too." The words hung in the air between them like an unspoken challenge.

Without missing a beat, Markus adjusted his glasses and straightened his tie, the corners of his mouth curling upward in a half-smile as he looked back down at Ariel. "Well, anything for the kids."

There was a beat of silence before Markus stepped aside to let Ariel enter his office. The cramped room was suddenly even smaller, as if it had contracted in response to the extra presence. Ariel moved gracefully through the clutter, her eyes taking in the disarray with a combination of amusement and reproach.

"You know," she said, her voice light and teasing, "you could use a little organization in here. A touch of high elf efficiency wouldn't go amiss."

Markus scoffed good-naturedly as he adjusted the rings on his fingers, the pale blue gems glinting in the light. "I'll have you know that this chaos is a carefully cultivated system of organization. I know where everything is."

Ariel raised an eyebrow, lips pursed in disbelief. "Oh, really? Then where's that treatise on elemental manipulation you borrowed from me last moon?"

Markus hesitated for only a moment before reaching behind a stack of papers and producing the requested tome. "Right here," he said, handing it over with a triumphant grin.

Ariel's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Well, color me impressed," she said, tucking the book under her arm. "Maybe there's hope for you yet, Markus Kaine."

The door to Markus's office creaked open, and the sounds of excited chatter and footsteps filled the corridor outside. The momentary sanctuary of the tiny room was shattered as the bustle of the academy intruded upon them.

Ariel turned her attention back to the hallway and gestured out with a nod. “C’mon, you don’t want to miss the action. I hear this cycle’s a good batch.”

The magic tutor nodded in agreement. “After you.”

As they walked side by side through the harshly lit corridors, Markus couldn't help but reflect on the strange friendship he had developed with Ariel. She was one of the scant few tutors at Tuck’s Remedial Mage School who didn’t seem to hate the idea of his existence for some ungodly reason. Even on the worst days, her presence was refreshing amid the sea of judgmental faces.

"You know," Ariel mused, glancing up at him, "you should really try to relax more. You're always cooped up in that tiny office of yours. It can't be healthy."

Markus chuckled, the sound more bitter than he intended. "Easier said than done. I have responsibilities, and they don't leave much time for relaxation."

Ariel's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze his arm again reassuringly. "Just remember, Markus, there's more to life than work. You're skilled, sure, but even you need a break sometimes."

He nodded, the weight of her words sinking in, and couldn't help but smile. "You're right, Ariel. Thank you."

                                    – o – o – o – o – o – o – o –​

Markus took his seat beside Ariel on the sidelines of the building’s small sports auditorium-turned-arena, the excitement in the air almost a tangible thing. The stands were filled with a mix of students, faculty, and family members, each and everyone on the edge of their seat watching the absolutely lackluster duel on display.

The two contestants in the current match, both at the very least a decade older than Markus, appeared ill-suited for the task at hand, as expected. With each weak and amateurish novice spell they cast, Markus felt his patience wearing thin.

Both contestants squared off, their expressions a mix of determination and anxiety. They stood in a classic dueling stance, feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended, with both palms facing their opponent. With a flourish of his hand, the first contestant began his chant.

"By Woden's Will,

I call upon mana,

Magic Shot!"

A feeble burst of blue-tinged energy sprang from his fingertips, arcing toward his opponent with all the grace of a newborn fawn. Markus couldn't help but wince at the sight of the thing, his mind dissecting each flaw in the casting.  How do you ruin the most basic Half-Star assault spell that way? They’re called Novice spells for a reason, he groaned to himself. It’s the simplest thing to do. That thing’s not going to last longer than a second or two.

His prediction came true moments later as the spell began to sputter and fizzle, already struggling to maintain its form before it made its way halfway to its intended target.

The second contestant clumsily side-stepped the fading ball of energy, allowing it to crash pathetically to the floor as she retaliated with one of her own, the grown woman’s voice shaking as she recited her spell.

"By W-Woden's Will,

Wind, h-heed my plea,

Gust Strike!"

With a dramatic sweep of her arm, a weak gust of wind blew forth from her palm, barely managing to send her opponent stumbling back slightly, his clothing affected far more than his body. The gust dissipated quickly, leaving only a faint rustle in its wake as Markus let out a sigh, lamenting the wasted potential that lay before him. That was just… sad. Novice spells are all about ease of use and generation of force. You can’t get simpler than that. It was clear that these two had aged too much to ever reach the heights of a One-Star Mage, let alone the elite status of a Third-Star that the common magic-user could only ever dream of.

The bespectacled tutor blinked, drawn out of his thoughts by a sudden nudge to his ribs. He glanced to his side to see Ariel staring up at him with a raised eyebrow, elbow pointed towards him. "They're trying their best, you know," she said, her voice soft and teasing. “You don’t have to be so critical.”

Markus blinked in confusion, turning to face Ariel. "What?"

“I’ve known you two cycles, Markus,” she answered. “I can see it in your eyes. We can't all be Third-Star geniuses like you." 

Markus opened his mouth to reply but the young blonde woman cut him off with a shake of her head, continuing with, "Just… have some patience for them, okay?"

"I'm n-not…" Markus tried to argue, his voice a terse whisper. "I... I wasn't..."

Ariel simply stared at him, her gaze firm, and he found himself relenting. "Sorry, sorry, I'm fine."

He watched on in silence as the duels continued one by one, each contestant that came forth to do battle —  young and old alike —  casting their spells with all the enthusiasm of a dampened firework. Even still, it was impressive to see magic formed, even at the hands of the inexperienced. The air swirled with vibrant colors and shimmering motes of light as magic took shape in their hands with every line of a chant, an ephemeral beauty that belied their lack of skill.

"By Woden's Will,

Shards of ice,

Frost Shatter!"

A burst of frost and ice erupted from a young mage's fingertips, the jagged shards sparkling with a cold light as they flew towards their target. Unfortunately, the ice splintered harmlessly against an invisible barrier, leaving only a faint chill in the air as it dissipated.

"By Woden's Will,

Earthen force,

Stone Crush!"

A burly man roared as he summoned a surge of rocky projectiles from the arena floor, sending them hurtling towards his opponent. As they moved under his command, the stones crashed into one another, the force causing them to crumble before they made it halfway, leaving only a cloud of dust as a testament to the failed attack.

"By Woden's Will,

Feel my strength,

Mana Strike!"

An older teenager with brown hair, eyes alight with determination, channeled raw mana into his fist as he thrust it forward. A wave of dull blue energy shot forth, but it sputtered and waned, barely grazing his opponent before dissipating into a shower of sparks.

"By Woden's Will,

Harden, guard,

Protect!"

A timid young girl whispered the incantation, and a shimmering barrier materialized around her, barely visible to the naked eye. An incoming spell slammed into the barrier, and it cracked, shattering like glass and sending her hard to the floor.

"By Woden's Will,

Air, repel,

Wind Shield!"

A middle-aged man called upon the power of the wind, a gust of air forming a protective barrier around him. As a barrage of magic surged towards him, the wind shield wavered, unable to withstand the force, and the older man was knocked off his feet by the raw force of his more skilled opponent’s spell.

"By Woden's Will,

Swift evade,

Quick Dash!"

A spry young woman invoked the spell, her body moving with enhanced speed and agility. She darted across the arena with jerky, uncontrolled movements, barely able to manage the spell’s effects. Seconds later, she dashed out of the way of another attack and the girl went stumbling face-first into a wall.

Markus winced at each poorly executed spell, but he couldn't deny that there was something endearing about their dogged determination. They were effectively children, really.

Yes, even the adults.

All of them were children stumbling through the early stages of magic, each small success a triumph against the inevitable march of time.

He glanced over at Ariel, who was watching the match with rapt attention. Her face was a study in empathy, each small victory and defeat mirrored in her eyes.

Markus did his best to see the duels through Ariel's eyes, and his frustration was replaced with a grudging respect for the contestants. They’re not exactly bound to be great mages, he acquiesced to himself, but given the limitations of time and resources, I can see their effort.

Eventually, the final duel of the main graduation event ended, the judges declaring yet another student a winner and handing them a trophy that probably cost less than the price of admission to this event. The crowd applauded, and Markus found himself clapping as well, his previous irritation forgotten.

Ariel poked his side again, giving him a warm smile as he turned to face her. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Markus chuckled, feeling a strange sense of contentment. "No, it wasn't. Thanks for reminding me that there-” His sentence went unfinished as Markus's attention snapped back to the arena, a fresh wave of excitement audible as it rippled through the crowd. A young, handsome boy with platinum blond hair - just on the edge of white - and gray eyes stepped onto the court, his expensive clothing shimmering under the auditorium lighting.

"Look, it's your kid!" Ariel whispered excitedly, her eyes shining as she pointed out into the arena.

Markus's expression softened, and a warm smile spread across his face as the boy, announced to everyone as Alden Watts, waved at him. "Yeah, mine.”