Prismatic Education Begins With A Spark 34 (MTG/Multicross)

Prismatic Education 34

“So stay there and reflect on your error!” I finally spat out, with a spray of ink accompanying my words.

The ink landed on Huath, shaping itself into binding rings on his neck and wrists. Taking a few breaths to settle my mood, I turned away from him. While I had slight doubts about whether I had been too harsh, I couldn’t deny that I felt much better after venting on the man, even if I left him a cringing wreck. 

The verbal magic I learned in Strixhaven was just that vicious; literally tearing strips off your opponent with words was possible, but even their emotional effect was not to be underestimated.

Alright, forget about him for now. This place needs taking care of. I looked around, seeing many of the people present flinching as my gaze passed over them. Miiiight have gone a bit far, yep. 

“Alright, who’s the next person in charge?” I asked, causing some of them to look at each other, but no one stepped up. “Come on, we’ve got a lot of work to do!”

An elderly man in a dirty green habit timidly stepped forward. He was quite muscular, and something about him gave the impression that he wasn’t the sort to submit to others easily. Yet he looked at me with sombre respect in his eyes.

“Your name?” I inquired.

There was a small gulp, but he answered right away. “First Dedicate Mossglow, great mage.”

Great mage? Feels like there’s some connotation there. But now’s not the time to think about it. 

Personally, I wouldn’t call myself the leadership type, but right now I was in that role, and as much as I dreaded the responsibility, I had no intention of shirking it. Setting up a refugee camp was very much NOT in my memories either.

So I was just going to wing it and do my best.

Drawing on my experience with setting up camps with archaeological expeditions, I started delegating duties. The amplified earthquake had destroyed most of the buildings, leaving only the sturdiest ones still standing. They were hardly enough for the number of people who needed shelter.

“Focus on what’s necessary for survival first,” I told the listeners firmly, “That means food and shelter.”

“Yes, great mage!” They bowed and hurried off to do as I said.

From the initial wreckage, tents and structures sprang up, and the smell of blood and smoke was replaced with the scent of cooking food. A good meal always did a lot for one’s mood, as Gyome was known to say.

I continued to move around the temple, assisting with magic where I could.

Rubble too big to be moved without many hands or construction tools? I summoned a ruin grinder to handle those. People stunned and in shock? A few words of proper encouragement reignited their spirit. Hindered by a lack of strength or speed? Applications of enhancement spells took care of that. Insufficient food supplies? A bit of mathematical possibility to multiply what was left.

From the reactions of those around me, such magics weren’t the norm. However, none of them approached me for answers, instead observing my spellcasting with awe. But the mages among them were dedicated to their tasks too, contributing with spells of their own. Their version of magic appeared to be more basic in nature, with verbal and catalytic components involved, and it seemed to draw on their internal stamina, leaving them exhausted when they overused it.

Along the way, I also learned more of what this new plane was like, by asking the various people I worked with. Unlike Arcavios or Orario, this world didn’t seem to have any other humanoid races, just normal humans.

Ragat Island was located on The Pebbled Sea, a large ocean connected to various nations on its shore, though Wave Circle Temple owed fealty to none of them. There were several other islands nearby in the same case, but the archipelago nearby, called the Battle Islands, was apparently where several pirate bands made their base. 

“The nearest country? That would be Emelan.” Dedicate Hearthflame, a short black-haired woman in red, explained as she accompanied me down a rubble-covered path to where the docks were. “Our sister temple, Winding Circle Temple, is located there as well.”

Winding Circle? Now that sounds a bit familiar, but the name isn’t enough to trigger anything more. “Tell me more.”

“Yes, great mage.” She proceeded to explain.

Apparently, the predominant religion in this part of the world was the Living Circle religion, with many temple-cities established all over the world in various countries. Those temples had a ‘circle’ theme to their name, signifying the believers’ faith in the cycle of reincarnation. Dedicates was the term they used to refer to their priests, and the colors of their robes represented the four elements of the gods they paid obeisance to. Dedicate Hearthflame’s red habit and her assumed name indicated that she was aligned with the element of fire, with Hakkoi the Smith and Shurri Firesword being the god and goddess she worshiped. 

Of the various temples, Winding Circle Temple was apparently famous for the number and quality of the mages it had, and the expansive library it had. Combined with its open-mindedness towards new things, it sounded like the sort of place I would like.

Still not ringing the bell completely though… I decided to change the subject back to the country of Emelan instead.

Being Ragat Island’s closest neighbor, it was where they got most of their supplies, stuff that they couldn’t produce for themselves. A feudal monarchy ruled by House Toren, its capital of Summersea was an epicenter of trade, which was supported by its good relationship with the neighboring countries.

“That means you should be able to call on Summersea and Winding Circle for help then.” I pointed out as I cleared a particularly large boulder out of our way with magic.

“Yes, we could. Our mages should be able to send them a message when they’ve recovered. But…” She hesitated, before continuing, “I fear that the earthquake will have hit them too.”

Oh yeah. That’s true. “So they might not have help to spare then…”

Whatever reply she was about to make was forgotten as we came across a site of devastation. The shattered remains of what had been ships and docks could be seen in the water. The earthquake had probably kicked up powerful waves, which dashed the boats against the shore. Barely any that survived were seaworthy, and even then it was doubtful if they could last for more than an hour.

“This is terrible…” Dedicate Hearthflame moaned. “We rely on the boats to catch fish for our food.”

“And I don’t have the spells to fix them…” I added grimly.

“You don’t? Then what are we to do?” She wondered, wringing her hands worriedly.

“Are there any trees that can be used to make new ones?”

“There are, but I don’t think there will be enough for our needs?” Her voice was a mix of uncertain and hopeful.

“...that, you can leave to me.” I said confidently. 

Quandrix growth spells, honed through practical classes in the Cultivarum, would prove their worth there. 

“There’s nothing we can do here, so let’s head back. We could all use a good meal, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes. Yes, you’re right…” She agreed. 

As we walked back up the now-cleared path, I overheard her murmuring to herself.

“Truly, you must have been sent by the gods…”

…

‘My job here is done. May you all make the best use of your second chance.’

With that note left behind on the desk I had been using for the past week, I snuck out of the temple, boarding my staff to fly off towards the north.

Wave Circle Temple was recovering well from the earthquake disaster with my help, with more than half of the residents moving back into the reconstructed buildings instead of having to stay in tents. The problem of food supply had been settled for the time being as well, with the newly-built boats bringing in catches of fish. The mages also reported that they had received replies to their calls for help, with ships on the way to bring aid from Summersea and Winding Circle Temple.

Compared to the inhabitants of Seabed Temple, these people were more religious in their faith. Ceremonies held regularly at certain times of the day, breaks for prayers, and a general atmosphere of worship. The brief experience of death had apparently strengthened their faith more, though there were some who went the other way. 

When some of them asked me about my connection to their gods, I firmly denied having any such thing, no matter how much they pressed for answers.

The former Dedicate Superior Huath was still under watch, mainly for his own safety. Though I had already taken my ink shackles off him, the man was very much humbled after the tongue-lashing experience I gave him, enough to have some of those who knew him to comment about it. 

Meh, not my problem anymore. I’ve dismissed all my summons there too. What happens next is up to them. I swerved to avoid a tall spray of seawater, just as I caught sight of something approaching. Ah, those must be the aid ships. Better hide.

“Huh?” I heard someone exclaim, his voice traveling far across the open water.

“What are you standing around for?”

“I thought I saw a flying man on a stick.”

“You must be seeing things. Get back to work!”

Under my veil of invisibility, I snickered as I shot past.

Land came into sight faster than I expected, and I adjusted my course to make for a deserted patch of shore where I could land without anyone seeing me. With this plane’s restrained nature of magic, I thought it would be better to keep my more esoteric skills concealed. Once my feet were back on the ground, I released a subtle pulse of magic to check that there wasn’t anyone nearby, before dispelling the veil.

The route to Winding Circle Temple was easy to find, and the road certainly looked like it had seen a lot of recent use, with carttracks and footprints. From the looks of them, they were headed towards the west, where Summersea was apparently located.

Maybe they were sending aid there after the earthquake. I looked to the east, and started walking.

The natural magic of this plane tasted rich to me, almost too much so. It felt like I could just nudge it a little, and things would happen. That explained why my revival and elemental spells felt stronger than usual, so I had to adjust my spellcasting strength appropriately afterwards. On the other hand, the ones that used my internal magic, like my grimoire and the spells I learned in Strixhaven, those were fine.

Mana bonding to this plane might be easier… but maybe later. For now, let’s see what this Winding Circle place is like.

Even though I walked for nearly an hour, my falna meant that I didn’t tire, and it soon came into sight. At first glance, I couldn’t help but think how similar it was to Orario, with a thick, high wall encircling the temple city within, though Orario’s wall was much higher and thicker, and wasn’t punctuated with towers like this one was. There were other differences, like it being closer to the sea. More importantly, I could sense the magical protections laid over the entire place, which was pretty damn impressive for what I had seen of this plane’s magic so far.

Something special must serve as an anchor for those spells…

The gates were open, but not left unattended. A pair of red-dressed guards wielding glaives stood in front of the opening, inspecting all those who wanted to enter. Aside from me, there were two traders and a few normal people who apparently wished to give prayers, but less in the queue than I expected.

“Stop, please.” One of them held out a hand when it was finally my turn. “Who are you, and what is your intention?”

“Roy Staff, I’m a traveling mage. I heard about Winding Circle, and came to visit the place.”

The guards exchanged glances. “Picked a rather odd time to come here as a journeyman.” The second guard commented.

“Not like I chose to visit during earthquake season.” I retorted without any heat.

The man drew a circle on his chest, which I had learned was a gesture of prayer for protection. “Well, hopefully there won’t be any more after that last one.”

“So you’re here to use our library? Lightsbridge not enough for your needs?”

Lightsbridge? That must be another magical school. “Yeah, you could say that,” I went along with it.

They allowed me entry after a few more questions, and I finally got to see the interior of Winding Circle Temple. At one look, I could tell why the place got its name; a road spiraled around the interior, winding up at the clock tower at the very center of the place. While I could see a few carts using the road, there were also straight paths that cut directly across for pedestrians.

Huh… this place is set in a basin, but there’s no flooding. Can tell that’s the magic at work. I took in the scenery before me with slow turns of my head. Farms and all too. This community is quite self-sustaining, I see.

I took a meandering clockwise path towards the clock tower, checking out the buildings that interested me. I also compared what I saw to the ruins of Wave Circle Temple, looking for similarities; the west where I started was the Water Temple, followed by the temples for Earth, Air, and Fire in the other three cardinal directions. The farms were on the north side, furthest away from the sea, and I could detect some clacking sounds coming from the buildings near the Earth Temple. 

Ah, they’re loomhouses, I realized shortly after I had passed them. Wonder how far weaving technology here has advanced? Doesn’t seem like very much, given the architecture and other signs.

Glancing back, I saw a cottage some distance off behind the loomhouses, with some young children sitting on the roof. The building shone with magical power, both from the protections laid on it, and the inhabitants there. 

Noticing them looking in my direction, I waved, but continued walking. One of them waved back.

There was a greenhouse at the east side, then the sounds of people doing physical training in the south, and then woodwork shops and smithies in the southeast. There were dormitories and school buildings as well, indicating that learning in this place wasn’t restricted to the religion’s worshippers. All in all, just what I would expect of a peaceful religious community.

Not to mention the magic… I definitely want to explore its possibilities here.

Compared to Strixhaven, Orario’s magic was mainly for use in battle, but this plane seemed to be more in tune with nature itself. I could detect magic in the growing plants, in the working of the looms, in the hammering from the smithies, and various other tasks that would be considered mundane. As much as my curiosity nudged me to investigate more closely, I restrained myself to passing examinations. There would be time for that later.

Eventually, I arrived at the Hub, which I had learned was the name of the clock tower. Instead of entering the place, I followed the directions to the administration building that was just next door, to properly register myself as a guest. A harried receptionist beseeched me to wait, as she was dealing with other people coming in with reports for her to sort through.

“It’s no problem,” I assured her, “I can wait.”

“Oh, thank you!” She cried in relief, before diving back into the fray.

I really didn’t mind either, since it gave me the opportunity to observe some more. By my standards, this plane was barely out of the medieval age; the runners carried slates with chalk writing instead of paper, which appeared to be reserved for more important things, and there wasn’t any airconditioning, let alone fans, given the amount of sweat on everyone I could see.

Oh yeah, it’s summer season right now. Thank goodness my clothes have been enchanted to endure the heat. 

Seeing the woman keep having to wipe her sweat off to prevent it from dripping on her documents, I took pity on her and wove a small spell to ward off the heat. The subtleties of such workings had been polished through playful pranks between students in Strixhaven classes; mental calculations in the mind, a murmured word under my breath, and a tiny casual gesture to send it off. It took a minute before she noticed, and she cast a grateful look at me, to which I nodded back. While she continued to work, I considered what to do next. 

On one hand, Zald was waiting for his cure, as was Baldr for the knowledge I gathered from the Biblioplex. I even missed Alfia, as prickly as she was. On the other hand, I needed a mana bond to this plane to find it again after the chaotic way I ended up back here. And I really wanted to keep this plane as an option for learning magic.

Decisions, decisions…

After a while, the rush slowed down to a trickle. The receptionist went to convey a message to someone higher in the hierarchy, leaving me alone for the moment. I passed the time by humming a peaceful tune to myself, of a boy in a different world who became friends with a goddess, an archwizard, and a crusader. From the grimoire at my hip, Lyric whistled along happily.

I stopped when the door the receptionist left through opened again, because the one who came out wasn’t her, but a different woman instead. 

She wore a blue habit, indicating her affiliation with the Water Temple, but there was a black border on it, indicating that she was a mage. Her brown eyes studied me with mild curiosity, and the air about her was one of quiet confidence, a great contrast to the receptionist woman. Compared to the other mages I had seen on this plane so far, she was a cut above the majority of them.

“Apologies for the wait. I am Dedicate Superior Moonstream, the person in charge of Winding Circle Temple.” The newcomer introduced herself.

I rose to my feet and bowed slightly. “Roy Staff. Traveling mage. I had heard of Winding Circle’s library, and came hoping to make use of it.”

“We usually do not allow random mages the use of our library without a recommendation from trusted colleagues.” Moonstream said apologetically.

Ah, dang. “Is there no way else around that?” I tried my luck.

“It depends. May I know where you learned your magic?”

“A university called Strixhaven… That I can see you haven’t heard of,” I added at the end, acting as though I noticed the lack of recognition in her expression.

“I’m afraid I do not.” She tucked her hands in her sleeves. “However, I would be sorely remiss in my magical abilities if I considered a mage of your skills a journeyman.”

“Learning is a neverending journey, that’s what I was taught.”

“Well said.” Moonstream pulled one hand out, revealing a brass medallion with the image of a book on it. “That is why I’ve decided to grant you permission to browse through our library.”

I accepted the medallion, tucking it away into a pocket. “Thank you for that. May I know where I can find lodging and food for the time being?”

“We have several dormitory rooms available, if you don’t mind sharing with other people in the same building. Look for Dedicate Windflow near the Air Temple.” She helpfully informed me. “As for food, you are welcome to join our dedicates and novices at the dining hall.”

“I will, thank you.” 

“Oh, Mage Staff?”

I paused and turned to look at her. “Yes?” 

“By any chance, did you pass by Ragat Island on your way here?” Moonstream inquired.

“Ragat Island?” I made a show of thinking. “I didn’t come to Winding Circle by ship, so I suppose not.”

It was technically true. I had flown over the water, and I had left directly from the island, not passed it by like she was asking.

“I see. Well, I hope your time here at Winding Circle Temple will prove fruitful for you.”

I repeated my thanks, and calmly took my leave, feeling her gaze on my back as I walked away. Yeah, I’m pretty sure she knows what I did on that island… Oh well, I just have to immerse myself and form the mana bond, and then I can leave to return later. Surely nothing will happen to disrupt it.

Two nights later, I was rudely awoken by the sound of explosions in the night. Apparently, someone had blown up two of the nearby lighthouses.

Afterword: As some of my readers probably figured out, this is the Circleverse from Tamora Pierce’s books, and Roy has arrived just before an impending pirate invasion. Poor Roy. His hopes for a peaceful time in other planes have been betrayed yet again. More stress for him to vent later. 

As for how he’ll interfere with the canon part of it… well, I haven’t thought about it yet, but I’ll leave it to my muse as usual.