Chapter 31

When Aaron met the Mage aasociation representative in the morning, he agreed to his terms. But he stated one of his own too.

"You want a year off to go home before you join? And you want some advance as well. Those terms could be agreed on, but you understand that you are wasting one year of your life. Right? "

"Yes. I do. But those are my conditions. "

"As you wish. Those are something which can be agreed upon. Starting today, you need to report to the pine city branch within a year."

He once again didnt wait for Aaron to say anything. This man was never waited.

Once Aaron was done with him, he went to meet Hinds. Hinds, apart from Marcus was the closest he was with during his stay at the academy.

"Dont you slack off while you are being all mage like. "

"Dont worry. I wont."

"Here, I got something for you. "

Hinds threw a scabbard with a sword at Aaron. Aaron caught it and pulled out the sword. It was an elegant sword. The steel shiny and blemish free. It was three fingers wide and 3 feet in length. The bronze handle was simple with a leather grip. The balance and weight were perfect for Aaron.

"This is amazing Mr. Hinds. Thank you." Aaron thanked Hinds.

"Remember to visit me if you are in area."

"I will."

"Now are you going to test that sword or keep staring at it?"

Aaron grinned and pointed his sword towards Hinds. "Bring it on."

Once he was done with Hinds. He went to meet Ryan. Although he wasnt close to Ryan, he had came across Ryan a few times. The later always talked a little with him. Ryan was the first person he met from the academy, and he remembered how he helped him with those books.

He went to see the librarian. He spent so much time at the library, he was very familiar with her.

Once he was done with everything, he went to see Marcus.

Marcus was in his chamber, again doing some sort of calculations.

He saw Aaron come in.

"Come help me with these a bit. " Aaron moved across and went to help Marcus.

Aaron could remember the first time he entered this chamber, Marcus was in a similar position. That time he had no clue what he was doing. This time, he was able to help Marcus.

Once they were done, Marcus asked him to sit. He himself sat opposite to him.

"You have finished your studies. You have learned more than what we were supposed to teach you. If you keep up what you are doing, you are going to be a outstanding mage."

"Two things I want to tell you. One, never think you know all you are supposed to know. That will stop your growth as a mage. Secondly, once you are old and strong enough as a mage, try going towards the central continent. Thats the cradle of our civilization. I have never been there my self. Find about it when you join your work. "

"Now, I have prepared something for you. "

Saying that Marcus tossed a small bag at Aaron. Aaron opened the bag and he saw there were 5 pieces of mage stone lying in it. It was almost half his yearly salary. This was expensive.

"Thank you Mr. Hawkins. But this is too expensive. " Aaron said

"Take it Aaron, that many mage stones aren't much to me. Plus it will be useful for you as a beginner mage. "

Marcus convinced Aaron to keep his gift. They talked some more before Aaron took his leave.

As his last day at the mage institute was over, he kept thinking about all the time he spent here. You were bound to be attached to a place you have spent so much at. He would miss the place.

Next morning he finished his morning activities and packed his luggage. His luggage consisted of a sack which held a few of his clothes. He carried the bag of mage stones and his saved coins on his body. The other possession he had now was the sword. He attached the sword scabbard with a belt and tied it at his waist. It felt a little uncomfortable at first, but Aaron thought it looked really cool.

So he decided to wear it.

He once again went to see Marcus but didnt find him in his chamber. So he decided to leave straight away.

He strolled out of the academy. He took a carriage from the gates till the mage association. He still liked looking out of the window. He stared at the now familiar streets and shops. He paid for the carriage when he got down at the association. As he entered the building, he saw June there as well. She had Ron with her as well.

"June, are you heading to Modena as well?" asked Aaron.

"No. I will be going with Ron to Pine city first. He wants me to meet his parents. I will be leaving for Modena after a few days. " Replied June.

"I see. Have a pleasant journey June. "

"You too Aaron. Hope we will meet someday in the future. If you happen to come to east coast city, be sure to come find me. "

"I will June. But I am sure I will meet you in pine city in the future. " Aaron said with a grin.

June blushed at that.

He exchanged a few words with Ron as well. Then he walked up to the counter at the association. He produced his mage badge and said "Hello, I am Aaron Rosil. I want to use one of your space gates. "

The branches at important cities had more than one gate available while the smaller ones like Modena had a single gate. There was a whole chart for which gates to take to reach your desired destination. You might have to go through multiple gates. It like changing flights or trains back at earth.

"Which place do you want to travel to?"

"I want to go to Modena city."

"Okay, Aaron Rosil was it. Let me fill in the Register. Since you are a member, you dont have to pat for the services. "

Aaron thanked him and waited while he finished.

Once he was done he told Aaron which room he had to go to.

Aaron reached the room. He saw the familiar old guy who he met last time he was here.

He led Aaron in to the room.

"Is it the first time you are using a space gate?" He saw Aaron starting at the gate. If it was his first time, he needed to recite the instuctions. The pitch black tear put a sense of fear in first time users.

"No. I have used it before. " Aaron wasnt staring at the gate because it was the first time he saw it, it was because he understood it more than others. How the stones were used to stabilize the gate. How it powered the thing. The details required to maintain the gate was amazing.

"You may step through then. "

Aaron thought the old man was little impatient. But he had nothing left to do here anyways, so he stepped through.

The familiar feeling of darkness enveloped him. It was for just a moment though. He immediately stepped into a a similar looking room. This was his second time using a gate. Although he could make gates, he never used one of his till date. There was no one waiting here for him. He saw a door at one side. Once he used to door to come out of the room, he saw a person sitting close by reading a book.

Aaron coughed a little to get his attention.

The man suddenly realized he had company.

"Sorry. You seem to have recently used the gate from Indigo province. I welcome you to Modena city." The eyed the sword at Aaron's waist. He also saw that he was young of age. He didn't know what to make of Aaron.

"Hello, I am Mage Aaron Rosil. Yes, I just used the gate. " Aaron introduced himself as a mage to dispell any doubts the other party had.

"Ah. Welcome Master mage. Please follow me to the sitting area. "

Aaron followed him to sitting area. The man offered Aaron some refreshment and went to call the branch head.

A middle aged man with a bushy moustache came to meet Aaron. He wasnt the head last time around. Looked like the head changed over the last few years.

"Hello Mage Aaron. I am the branch head for Modena city. How may we be of service. "

"You dont need to be so formal. I am quite younger than you. Just Aaron would be fine. "

"I am actually from a small place in the Modena province called Willow's den.

I am just going home after graduating. "

"Many congratulations on your graduation Aaron. Would you like for the association to arrange a carriage for your onward journey?"

The branch head remembered hearing about a young mage successfully being tested a few years back from the Rivertown branch. It looked like it was the same boy.

"No, thank you. I want you to help me find a good inn though. I want to stay here for a couple of days. "

"Yes. I would ask someone to guide you to a good inn. If you want any sort of help or service, feel free to ask us. " The man told Aaron. He knew he himself didnt have any room for improvements and lacked skill, so he was placed in a place like this. But Aaron was young and maybe had more potential than him. It didnt hurt to have a good relationship with him.

Aaron only had to wait a little while before the branch head had some one lead him to the best inn of the city.

The inn he was taken to was an elegant place. It was a decently sized building with neat decor. It was clean and spacious. The man guided Aaron towards to the inn keeper.

The inn keeper recognized the man from the mage branch.

He walked upto to meet them.

"Hello Sir, my name is Liam. I am the inn keeper. How may I help you."

He knew the man must have brought someone important if he was personally accompanying someone.

"Liam, this is an esteemed guest of our association. Get him the best of your room and food. The expense will be taken care of by us. Do not lack in any service. "

"Yes Sir. We will do the best we can. "

They indeed did their best. The room was big and spacious with soft matress. It even had a bathtub. The food was rich and filling. Aaron had no complaints.

He had something in mind about his journey home. It was time he enquired about it.