Quill

275. Standing Guard

Pacing back and forth to help himself keep warm, Martel still shivered every time a gust of wind made its way down the alley. He wondered how long it would be before he got to move indoors. It would not be any time soon, he surmised, if the person sleeping during each shift was meant to get any decent rest. Based on that, it might be three hours before he would take Flora's place, which meant another three hours before he could sleep. He thought about the money to comfort himself, which did l...

274. Stirring

When Martel arrived at the apothecary, he found Mistress Rana waiting for him. "Fetch the ingredients I gave you and join me upstairs," she commanded.

Quickly turning around, Martel went back to his room and collected the small heap of reagents. He had tried a few nights to infuse them with magic as directed, but the effect seemed negligible. A little worried, Martel hurried down the dormitory tower and walked once more through the apothecary, making his way to the laboratory.

His...

273. Co-workers

When Moira stepped into the Circle of Fire, her scowl seemed deeper than usual. Martel could guess why; their performance yesterday against the mageknights had not gone any better than last fiveday. He was not sure what she had expected; they had lost against six, so it only stood to reason they would fare even worse against eight.

"I am appalled by what I saw yesterday," she said.

The acolytes all avoided her gaze, looking down at the ground or off to the side.

"Before thos...

272. At Odds

When Martel saw Moira enter the gymnasium at the beginning of Malday's second lesson, he sensed a repetition of last fiveday. True enough, Reynard sent the fire acolytes to stand on one end while this time, he selected eight mageknights as their opposition. Martel heard groans from some of his peers, facing twice their own number, but they all knew it was pointless to protest. On the stands, Moira watched them like a hawk; old age did not seem to hinder her sight.

Upon Reynard's signal,...

271. Cooler Heads

Pelday began as expected with training in the Circle of Fire. Moira quickly divided the four students into pairs. This time, Martel faced Harriet, with whom he already shared a contentious history stretching back before he became an acolyte. He had humiliated her at the solstice celebration in the home of Legate Fontaine, which she had clearly not forgotten. She seemed to relish any opportunity to return the favour. To Martel, it made no difference. He faced and fought each of the other three...

270. Staying Underneath

Eleanor gathered the different parchments into a neat pile. "That does it. We have covered everything you missed."

Martel looked at the notes, detailing the intricacies of the Archean language. He would miss these sessions with Eleanor in the library, the shared solitude, but given how hectic his schedule looked, having an extra spare bell might be for the best. "Thanks for your help. I appreciate you took the time." He could only imagine that she was likewise busy, being in her last ye...

269. Homework

When Martel arrived at the apothecary for this morning's work, Mistress Rana awaited him. "Come along. It is time for your next lesson in alchemy." He squeezed past Nora, mutely at work, to go through the backdoor.

Following his teacher, Martel returned to the laboratory that he had only visited once before. In his mind, he urgently went through everything he had read as proscribed by her, hoping he remembered it all. It had been some days since he went to the library, and with everythi...

268. Reward or Punishment

Glunday, the third day in a row with heavy sparring and training. Martel disliked the day for that reason, though on the other hand, once sixth bell ended, he could look forward to the rest of the fiveday being a breeze in comparison. Arriving at the Circle of Fire, Martel took position some distance away from the other fire acolytes and waited for their teacher to arrive.

When she did, she seemed to be in a foul mood based on her expression, though it was hard to tell; she seemed to we...

267. Distractions

The first lesson of Malday proceeded as usual. Thanks to his experience in staff fighting, going up against much better opponents such as Lothar from The Broken Crown, Martel always proved superior to the other fire acolytes. In some ways, the lesson felt like a waste of time; none of them could provide any challenge to help him improve. He already knew how to add strength to his blows or raise his magical shield when the situation called for it. If Reynard, ostensibly observing them spar, ha...

266. Eye of the Homeowner

The following Pelday gave Martel some trouble; unlike yesterday, today was a packed schedule, and he had an errand to run. Between the morning and the afternoon, he only had one spare bell before his second lesson in fire magic, where arriving late would not do. But if he ate quickly during lunch, he could add the saved time to his free hours, giving him three in total. Once he finished stuffing food into his mouth, Martel left the dining hall, going directly to the harbour.

He did not ...

265. Downstairs Reunion

For most of his Soldays since becoming an acolyte, Martel had spent his shifts in the workshops making ink and doing similar labour, using his skills honed in the apothecary. Yet he sensed today would be different as Master Jerome held up a hand to keep him from going to his usual spot in the laboratory.

"I'm afraid I'll need your help elsewhere," the artificer said. He sounded almost apologetic, which made Martel a little worried.

"With what?"

"Trouble in the pipes again. T...

264. Chasing Pearls

After a good night's sleep, Martel shook any thoughts of the woman at the Drum from his mind. He had his own troubles. Inquisitors stalking him and dukes investigating his past. Tonight, he would see Lady Pearl about this, but first, he had another long day of schoolwork ahead of him.

At least it was Manday, which always felt like a holiday after the gruelling lessons of the three prior days. No classes in combat or fire, just Archean and elemental magic. While Martel found the former a...

263. Idle Explanations

Busy with his lessons most of the day, Martel intended to pay Lady Pearl a visit in the evening. A note reaching him around noon forced him to reconsider.

Martel,

I have discovered someone

talkative near my home.

I intend to ask a few questions

and see what might be learned.

If you wish to be present,

I suggest you join me today.

Kerra

He would not have time to visit b...

262. Fast Talk

The next day saw Martel busy with the addition of another task. Two lessons of combat magic and his work in the apothecary only left one bell open before supper, which Martel had to spend this Malday to complete an assignment as dictated by Mistress Rana. When sixth bell rang, the acolyte went to the library.

It gave him great pleasure to approach the librarian and request permission to enter the upper floors. He looked forward to learning about Tyrian runes so that he might one day do ...

261. A Sindhian Beginning

Pelday morning, Mistress Rana did as promised. When Martel arrived in the workshop, she simply gestured for him to follow her through the back. For the first time, he ascended the stairs to enter her laboratory.

In some ways, it looked like he might have expected from the apothecary downstairs, though the size still impressed him. The walls were filled with shelves containing ingredients of every possible kind. Powders and liquids stood next to all sorts of jars holding the oddest items...

260. Cracks in the Walls

With the dispute regarding the Apothecary Guild resolved, Martel felt ambivalent. His concerns had been for naught, considering how handily Mistress Rana had solved the situation. It had not even required anything of him. That part was a relief.

But he could not imagine that Duke Cheval would be satisfied with this, assuming the vengeful nobleman was behind the dispute – though Martel could not think of anybody else, given the timing of it all. And if he had been able to unearth somet...

259. Getting Your Guild in a Twist

Martel spent the next days trying not to be anxious about the summons from the Apothecary Guild. He told himself to trust Mistress Rana and his position as a fire acolyte; he was too valuable that the Empire would allow some guild to harm him. Even if they demanded he paid some ridiculously big fine, what could they do if he refused? If it came down to an Imperial magistrate determining his fate, Martel expected that the Empire preferred him on the frontlines rather than imprisoned for debt.<...

258. Dreaming of Potions

Martel had limited experiences with the law. He knew not to steal or murder, but this was something else entirely. He was not even sure if this actually pertained to the law of the land. He did not understand what exactly he was accused of doing. He had never had dealings with guilds before and knew nothing of how they operated, nor how their charter, rights, or privileges worked. He needed advice.

As luck would have it, the next day was Solday when he would to receive payment from Mist...

257. Mortar and Pestle

Martel's encounter with Moira still troubled him the next day, as could be expected. As much as Reynard had shown disdain and complete disregard for him, the Master of War had never gone out of his way to cause such pain to a student like Martel. This had been something else. Sitting in his class for the Archean language, he looked at Master Fenrick and wondered if the bespectacled teacher condoned such behaviour from another member of faculty, or if he even knew about it. Not that Martel int...

256. Heated Lessons

The latest fiveday of intense training with fire magic had begun to pay off for Martel. The spells invoking that element came more easily and swiftly to him now than before, even if he mainly used and practised the simple attack of a fire bolt. While hardly strong enough to kill a man – fortunately, since Martel would not wish that upon his classmates, however acrimonious their relationship – it now did far more than simply set someone's clothes on fire. He could see the hurt on the other...

255. Ambitions of a Father

Martel was unsure which lessons he looked forward to the least, combat or fire magic. Four lessons a fiveday under Mistress Moira would drive anyone mad with her incessant criticisms and belittlements, not to mention her exacting demands that left Martel exhausted after every class.

But at least he learnt something, even if the path was unpleasant and left him sometimes almost seething with anger. With Reynard, it was the same stream of negative remarks, but in a more indifferent manner...

254. Angry Fire

As the bell rang, Martel and the other students stood ready in the Circle of Fire. As usual, they stood apart, none of them speaking to the others. Mistress Moira arrived soon after, and like last time, she divided them into pairs to fight each other. This time, Martel faced Harriet, who seemed the stronger acolyte of the three, by his measure. Not that it gave him any pause. He had beaten her once without even using fire magic, all the way back during the summer solstice when his magic had b...

253. Frank Exchange

Martel's mornings in the apothecary were quiet; Nora still did not seem comfortable with his presence. He wondered if she ever would be. But he had nothing to explain or apologise for, and if she wanted it this way, he would oblige her.

The only interruption to their silent work came halfway through when Mistress Rana appeared. She held out her hand towards Martel, who mirrored the gesture. "Your payment for this fiveday," she said as she let five silver coins drop into his palm.

...

252. Public Enemy

Eating his breakfast alone, Martel paid little attention to those around him, but even he noticed as everyone suddenly became silent. Looking around, he saw the reason why; a pair of inquisitors had appeared in the dining hall, surveying the students. They looked familiar; probably they had been among those interrogating most of the school, back when they still hunted the maleficar.

Martel briefly wondered how that had gone; he had heard nothing further about this dark sorcerer, and the...

251. Idle Machinations

Martel stepped into the Circle of Fire the next day, just as the bell rang. Thanks to his Khivan clock, he knew exactly when it would. He found the other acolytes already present; assuming they lacked the same precise instruments for time-measuring, they probably had to arrive early just to be on the safe side. Martel sent a kind thought to Shadi for her gift, immediately followed by a wave of sadness as he remembered he would never see her again.

The other acolytes still looked at him ...

250. Once More into the Breach

Thanks to his extended period of sleep, Martel felt physically rested come next morning; unfortunately, his mind was not similarly at ease. As gruelling as two classes with Mistress Moira had been, at least she was trying to teach him. He did not expect the same from Reynard given past experiences, and he dreaded the prospect of once more spending two bells in the company of the Master of War every Malday.

Besides the teacher's callous treatment of Martel, he had not forgotten about his...

249. First Day of Fire

On Pelday, Martel had his first ever lesson devoted to fire magic. He wondered if it would be anything like his introductory courses in the other elemental arts; presumably more demanding, given his aptitude for fire had already been determined. He did require some help finding his way to his classroom, as he had never been there before.

Unlike the dedicated spaces for water and earth, it lay above ground. A short and rotund tower on the north side of the Lyceum played host to the class...

248. New Routines

The next morning, after working an awkward shift in the apothecary, where Nora said little more than necessary, Martel made his way to the workshops. As he arrived, gathering with the few other students also reporting for work, he noticed that they all kept their distance. He also found that he did not care.

Master Jerome made his appearance soon after, quickly directing his new workers to various positions and tasks, with Martel the lone exception. "Finally an acolyte," he remarked wit...

247. Back to School

Graduating from novice to acolyte meant new classes and courses along with a different schedule. Martel would be trained extensively in fire magic throughout his remaining year; later on, he would also be taught skills like Tyrian runes and hopefully enchantment. For now, he would begin learning the Archean alphabet and language, as Archen was the basis of the magic being taught in Aster as well. So Martel dressed himself in his red robes denoting his new status and went to his first lesson a...

246. Clothes Make the Man

Sitting at breakfast, Martel looked up to see Henry approaching him. He almost smiled until he saw the air acolyte avoiding his gaze, quickly dropping a note next to Martel before hurrying onwards.

Martel would have to get used to that, it seemed. He grabbed the note. For something to be delivered at this hour suggested urgency.

Martel,

Visit my chamber at your next opportunity.

Mistress Juliana

Another thing to be expected; it was time...