Erlem

The headmistress came to the edge of wall and just peered into the dark blue water. "Vocalumn sentra" The headmistress touched her throat, where she touched her throat a small gold symbol shined then disappeared. "Erlem Autumnveil come out of that water this second!" her voice boomed, causing the calm water to break into waves spraying the children standing behind her with water. A few seconds later a water-pony broke the surface of the water carrying a small red headed boy in black robes on her back, grinning ear to ear. The boy couldn't have been any older than six years old, he was smaller than most of the boys his age with a fairer complexion. His eyes were a bright crystal blue that some of the other children believed allowed him to see into their souls. Erlem was an Autumn witch, and was automatically adept at using magic but he was powerful even for an autumn witch and actual magical genius. Learning simple arcane and elemental spells took him only seeing it once and he could replicate it. Erlem could also reanimate the dead, or at least dead spider- squirrels.

Erlem used this ability when some older boys decided to practice their arcane bolts against a spider-squirrel. When Erlem brought the squirrel back to life the boys decided to turn their spells at Erlem only to have him return fire with arcane bolts of his own. When asked how he brought back the squirrel Erlem just replied " I said please."

Erlem was four years old when he used that ability which garnered him a lot of attention from the Magestrate early. even with all the attention Erlem managed to not gain a large ego, rather he enjoyed using his magic and wits to entertain the other children or aggravate the adults who cared for him. He was a bit of a show off at times but never a jerk or a bully.

The magestrate even began sending Erlem private tutors to help advance him before he enter the citadel. Most mages would dream of such an honor, especially orphaned mages. Erlem wasn't like most other mages, he wasn't particularly fond of sitting inside behind books and lectures. He wanted to spend his time climbing the pixie tree, or swim with the ponies. Even getting into fights with the older boys was better than sitting in his private classroom everyday with books so thick Erlem couldn't see over them.

The other children were mostly common folk or normal mages, the boys his age could make their hands glow or make themselves float at most. Erlem was already as advanced as a second year student at the citadel and the magestrate wanted to know how far he would progress before he came to the School. If he was already as advanced as a third or fourth year student he would be an asset to the magestrate.

Erlem jumped off the back of the pony and patted her on the forehead and threw her a ball of kelp he had stuff into his robe pocket. "Savatalios" The headmistress waved her hand over the drenched Erlem, immediately the water drained from his clothes and body leaving him dry and warm. " Erlem Autumnveil, are you trying to drive me mad!"

" when we get back home you're to do lines."

Erlem smiled " how many Headmistress?"

This was his usual punishment

"I bet I get at least a thousand this time. " Erlem thought to himself

" until i decide you've written enough".

This time she was to make sure he thought twice about sneaking off.

"Get in line, and if you sneak off again I promise ill turn you to a Dung-slug and send you to the dusky desert!" She fixed her hat and straightened out her robes and instructed the group back towards the lift.

"I'm sorry Erlem, I didnt want to tell, but she knew I knew where you were!" Then Stanley looked back at Jasmine who had been smiling, looking extra pleased with herself.

She enjoyed getting Erlem in trouble, everyone made a big deal about Erlem because he was an Autumn witch. Jasmine could do magic too and had done well at all her lessons, she felt that she was being ignored because of that darn boy and aimed to make his life as hard as possible until she left for the citadel.

Luckily for Erlem she turned eight soon and could leave for the citadel to start her journey to becoming a full on Mage.

Erlem looked back at Jasmine with his icy blue eyes and smiled, "her birthdays very soon you know. Maybe i need to get her a present"

Stanley smiled mischievously, he knew Erlem would get revenge and it would be a doozie since she would be gone the next day.

Once again they came to the lift, the children followed by Headmistress Penelope entered the lift and made their way to the top level. It was rare they got to go to the top level of the city, it was all government buildings and magestrate offices, today was different however. Today they had to take Erlem and Jasmine to the magestrates office, Jasmine was to register for the citadel and Erlem was to be examined by the Grand Magester of the Autumnveil office.

Erlem was six and quickly inching towards his seventh birthday, historically Autumn witches gain a daemon at midnight on their sixth birthday. Erlem was very much advanced in all his magical abilities but his lack of a daemon was somewhat concerning for everyone but the headmistress.

The group made their way down the shining white marble pathway, the children would get distracted by the statues and stonework that lined the walkways of the upper level and Penelope would have to get them back in line again .

Finally they came to an archegate that was much larger than any other gateway in the city, the grand hall, the home of the highest level mages in Autumnveil, fully supported by the citadel seperate from the city. It had the crest of the magestrate which was a large magnificent manticore with three stars forming three points like a triangle around it.

"Children hold the hand of the child next to you and follow me. " the headmistress reached down and grabbed Erlems hand " you are to stay with me, lord knows what mess ill be cleaning up if you dont."

The headmistress seemed like she disliked Erlem, on the contrary she loved the boy very much, often his antics made her giggle in private, but today she couldn't afford any of his nonsense.

The headmistress walked directly into the gate and passed through it causing a rippling effect like skipping stones over still water.

Her hand was still clasping Erlems, so the children could still see her hand floating behind

" forward children" echoed from the gate.

One by one the children passed through the gate and entered a great lobby. Bright white marble matching the outside made up the walls, floors and ceiling. Large desks with piles of books lined the lobby, small witches and wizards scribbled endlessly into empty pages while pouring themselves over more ancient books. The children looked on with the most astonished expressions as they made their way to a large gold archegate at the end of the lobby. The emblem on the door seemed to be alive, one of the children swore it saw the emblem try to roar but was unable to make any noise.

Penelope cleared her throat, "headmistress Penelope Swootz for her appointment with the registration department for the citidel and an appointment to see the grand magester."

The gate slowily creaked open, a large gust of wind blasted the children blowing their robes over some of their heads, a couple of the smaller children were blown off the platform into the air only to float down thanks to an enchantment a couple of the mages at the desks had cast, remarkably without even looking up from their work.

The children scurried back to the group and went inside the archegate.