Seba

It was after ten PM when Lionel walked out of the Coliseum. The First day of the Mage's Cup was done and Lionel felt pleased with his results so far. The hotel that he and Drindle were staying at was called the "White Steed Inn". It was on the Western side of Kylia. In comparison the Coliseum was on the Eastern Side. Drindle had met up with Lionel briefly before the first day of the competition started and let the boy know that his Knowledge Tablet could function as a makeshift map. Lionel now held the piece of paper in his hand examining a map of Kylia. He decided on a route to the White Steed and began walking down a busy well lit road. Drindle had told the boy to be careful and watch his back at the competition. The old fart would be meeting with the queen until the contestant's matches began taking place. Since Lionel's training started, Drindle had spent little time with the queen, and he was ready to get an update on the current situation with Galorian. None of the council of advisors or leaders of Kyliar had been present during the first day of the Mage's Cup. The old man confirmed that this was normal decorum and that the real competition wouldn't start until the battles began.

There had been more than two hundred and fifty prospects that had shown up for day one of the Mage's Cup. Of those only one hundred and eighty remained. There was still more than sixty competitors that hadn't been through the Practical and Physical exam. More than thirty five percent of all participants tested were not allowed to move on in the competition. Lionel fully expected another twenty competitors to be cut by tomorrow as well. By his summation there would be about one hundred and sixty competitors to start the one vs. one battles. 'Oh well I just gotta get through the next couple of days' Lionel thought to himself.

The road was cobbled stone and had a small trench on either side of it to wash away any built up waste. Lionel walked down the path in silence he was paying attention to his surroundings. There were still a lot of competitors walking home from the coliseum and Lionel tuned them out. instead he looked at the statues that lined the street. There were medium sized statues lining either side of the road. Those statues were made of stone and came up to Lionel's waist. Each one was a regal tiger sitting with its mouth open. On top of the tigers head was a lamp post that shone with a soft bluish light. That light exuded from a small crystal. Lionel could feel the fire and earth magic in each of the lamp posts crystals. He also felt a faint trace of water magic in the statue itself, which intrigued him. As he passed another statue, a gurgle of water could be heard from a tiger on his left. A sudden flow of water spilled out of the tiger's mouth and into the trench carrying with it debris and rubbish.

Lionel was beginning to understand that he could see the energies of magic as well as feel their properties. It wasn't until the last week that he really began to become more intune with the ebb and flow of magic around him. Drindle told him that it was normal for a mage to pick up on magic energy, But it was difficult for most mages to pick up on which elemental properties made up the magics. Lionel unfolded his Knowledge Tablet and began asking questions. He had made a habit of studying anytime he was riding in the wagon or walking. He felt like there wasn't enough time in the day to really answer all of his many questions.

*

A suntanned youth followed a small distance behind Lionel. The area just outside of the coliseum was busy with competitors and spectators leaving for the night. The follower had black shaggy hair that covered his eyes and cast a shadow over his face. It was the same boy Seba. He followed Lionel, stopping when his target unfolded a map, and resumed following Lionel again as the target began walking. The lights on either side of the street cast shadows as people passed them. One of those shadows fell across Seba and when the light illuminated the boy again, his outfit was changed to a deep shade of black and his facial features and hair changed to a more refined appearance. His hair was neatly combed and his face changed shape slightly. The new Seba looked older and dignified. The now teenage boy walked in a formal manner. A stark contrast to the casual young boy he had been at the competition. No one even glanced at the new figure as he moved through the crowd.

The new Seba walked silently behind Lionel. The crowd soon thinned as people dispersed in different directions. The two were alone walking westward. Lionel turned down an alleyway. Seba approached and slowly peered around the corner. He walked silently down the dim passage. Seba's figure became mottled and melded into the fabric of shadows. He vanished with a dull muted shimmer.

*

Lionel turned down an alleyway. He walked a short distance before he felt a faint trace of magic behind him. He stopped and turned to look. There was only one small lamp post in the cramped alley and it was directly behind him now. His figure cast a large shadow towards the buildings on either side of the path. 'huhh.. guess it was nothing' Lionel thought to himself before turning and resuming his walk. The White Steed was less than a block from him now. 'I wonder if Drindle is done with his meeting?' Lionel walked out onto the open street that would take him to the White Steed Inn. A dull shimmering shadow followed a short distance behind and was slowly gaining on him.

"You. What are you planning to do with my Apprentice?"

Lionel turned quickly to see Drindle with his gnarled rod. The rod was raised and pointed directly behind where Lionel stood.

A fast movement caught the boy's attention. Lionel spun quickly and caught a glimpse of a dark haired figure rushing back down the alleyway.

Drindle pulled a small ruby crystal from his robe, and tossed it to the ground. "Capture him." Was all the geezer said. The crystal hit the ground. A shadow formed in its place and raced across ground toward the unknown figure.

"What was that?" Lionel managed to ask while looking back down the dim passage.

"That was a person who was following you." Drindle spoke with his eyebrows furrowed. "What did I tell you about watching your back? I didn't give you all those spell scrolls for nothing." The old man wasn't pleased as he berated Lionel. "You need to learn Detect Presence immedi...." He stopped suddenly and asked a question. "What happened at the Mage's Cup that drew someone like that's attention?"

Lionel dropped his head slightly as he recounted his encounter with Nora.

"Dammit boy, I told you too keep a low profile until the battles." Drindle was angry and his pale blue eyes gave off a dangerous light. "I wonder who that was.." the geezer mused to himself while rubbing his chin. "He felt familiar.. somehow.."

"Drindle, what was that shadow you summoned?" Lionel sheepishly asked his question. The shadow felt similar to something he encountered before. A slight shudder ran through his shoulders.

The old man seemed preoccupied with his thoughts as he answered. "You couldn't tell? That was the daemon realm Velthum I summoned in our room." With that the old man headed towards the White Steed. "Let's go, nothing more to do here until Shir-ka returns with his prey."

Lionel followed after the ancient man realizing that Shir-ka was the name Drindle gave the furless demonic lion.