Mage

At the Holy Kingdoms Capital.

The Mages guild is an organization that was founded by the unification and agreement of the righteous faction mages. It has roots so deep that one cannot even fathom, suffice to say it is a force no ordinary power can counter.

Due to the enormous influence it possesses, several branches have been formed in different continents to oversee magical related matters in said continents.

The organization branches are naturally managed by high-level mages. One of the magical related matters that these branches take care of, is the selection or scouting of potential talents in these kingdoms or towns.

In the heart of the Holy Capital, where the church of the goddess stood tall and proud, the annual Magical Assessment was concluded.

It was here, in this city favored by the divine, that the Guild first cast its net for budding magic users. Perhaps it was the city's sanctity, or perhaps it was the close ties between the Cardinal and the immortal mages that granted the capital such priority.

To the other low-level towns, the assessment procedures are handed down over to the junior mages, no, mage disciples is the proper term to address them. As like any other organization, there are benefits included, benefits such as resources and if they manage to find a rare talent their level in the organization naturally raises up.

The assessment procedure Isn't too complicated. The mage disciples are given a peculiar device, a ceremonial ancient dagger, all to common when it comes to the assessment, but it holds significant value nonetheless.

The dagger is small, ancient, with a crystal embedded in the hilt. The stewards of the old world gave it a name, 'The Athame.' Is what they called it.

The Athame is based on the principle that magic circuits emit a faint aura. The crystal within the Athame acts as a resonator, amplifying this aura and translating its strength into visible light. The brighter the glow, the more potent the magic circuits.

It was truly an ancient tool used by mages for generations.

****

In one of the branches of the Mages Guild. At one of the enclosed department buildings sat a mage, a mage disciple to be exact. The mage was named victor.

He comes from a humble family of mediocre mages, they are ranked very low in the mages circle but to ordinary mortals, they were too powerful. And this wasn't even an understatement, a mage disciple could, in fact defeat a rank one peak stage knight and go toe to toe with a rank two middle stage knight if certain conditions are met of course.

So you can see why, even though victor is ordinary amongst his fellow mages, he is very extraordinary to the mortals.

However, being mediocre, to victor, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, his lack of raw power forced him to develop a heightened sensitivity to subtle magical energies, making him particularly adept at interpreting the stones of becoming.

A set of smooth, polished stones, each etched with a unique symbol representing different aspects of life, nature, and magic.

When cast and interpreted, the stones reveal potential futures and hidden paths. These stones were his family's heirlooms, kept safely at the family's ancestral tomb, he chanced upon them and due to his sensitivity to subtle magical energies he was able to proficiently use them.

He had come to learn that they were called the stones of becoming, the name suggesting that the future is not fixed, but rather a series of possibilities that are constantly in flux.

Unlike tarot cards that rely on established meanings, the stones of becoming are more intuitive. The user attunes to the stones, allowing their subtle vibrations and energies to guide their interpretations. The stones show possibilities rather than dictating fixed outcomes.

And whilst in his study, he had come to understand that his fate would soon change. With his keen ability to interpret a possible future, he had foreseen that his fate lay with a boy in a small town at the far outskirts of the Holy kingdom.

From what he had gleaned, the boy, to put it in simpler terms, was his ticket to turning his life around. He didn't know in what way, so he would have to personally go and see for himself what was special about that boy.

Standing up from his desk, he stretched and gave a light yawn. He had decided that he would oversee that towns assessment.

But since he was mostly engrossed in his studies, he never signed up for this year's mage scouting and so all he could do now was to go talk to a very close friend of his who, by luck, happens to be that town's magic assessor this year.

He reached for his staff, a gnarled length of ancient oakwood topped with a shimmering crystal, with a slight tap on the wooden floor, the crystal lit up brightly. A magical circle with intricate designs appeared below his feet, the magic circle expanded so that it would cover his entire body.

He a gave a slight shout, "Teleportation!!" and with that he disappeared. Next when he appeared he was facing the front door of a house, or should we call it a mansion of considerable wealth, but to a mage this was nothing, a mere occurrence of everyday life, showing exactly how valued mages were.

The door magically opened by itself, as victor went in. Within, the mansion was a haven of enchantment. Floating candles illuminated hallways lined with enchanted portraits that inadvertently, contained secrets of the past.

"Victor…I thought that was you."

"Good to see you too Malachi, I hope I'm not intruding at this hour?"

"Nonsense! You're always welcomed at my house at any time. Now come, sit, I assume you have important matters to discuss with me, let us go to my study."

Malachi escorted victor to his personal study room, he was obviously aware that his friend would not come to his house at this late hour, if it wasn't important.

"Wendy, bring us some tea in my study…"

"No need, I am all fed and watered also this won't take long." Victor politely interjected and turned down the offer for tea.

"Are you sure? I'm a firm believer of discussing important things over a cup of tea and some biscuits, a fresh batch was just baked and I just can't wait to taste them. Wendy, tea for me please and for my guest!"

"Hmph!"

"Hmph what? You are at my house and at my house you will drink tea with me, or I'm afraid I won't listen to what you have to say."

You sly bastard…Victor lightly retorted.

"Fine, I will drink your tea, let's get this over with already."

"Good good, I see still you haven't changed, always getting straight to the point." Malachi said as he sat at his desk with victor on his opposite end.

"That's partly because I have no time to waste."

"Whatever…well what was it that you wished to discuss with me, go on."

The door opened and Wendy, a mortal servant brought in the tea. Mages often favored a potent blend of herbs, each chosen for its specific magical properties. A rich, earthy aroma filled the air as the tea steeped, carrying hints of star anise, cinnamon, and dried rose petals.

The addition of rare moonflower petals imparted a subtle, ethereal sweetness, while a pinch of dragon's claw root lent a spicy, almost smoky undertone.

The resulting brew was not only a comforting beverage but also a potent elixir, capable of soothing the mind, invigorating the spirit, and even in some cases enhancing magical abilities.

Victor, after taking a sip felt his mind clear and relaxed. He began, "It's about the Magic assessment tomorrow," He continued, "It is brought to my attention that you will be conducting the magic assessment in a small remote town, no?"

"True, but that is my business and it should be of no concern to you."

"Well that being the case, I still need a favor. I want you to give me your rights of conducting the assessment."

Malachi, took a sip from his cup and gently laid the cup of tea on a coaster at his desk, he asked, "I could do that, but I don't see why I should, you have nothing to offer me, or do you?"

"How about you owing me one. Do me this favor and I shall repay you one day."

"Mmh, owing you? I don't know. Maybe if you tell me why you're so obviously interested in that small town, I might be convinced to let you have my rights."

Malachi gave a slight grin as he put forward his counter offer.

"Forgive me but my business is my own. Will you lend me your rights or not, friend?" Victor asked again

"For you to hide your reasons that much, it must be truly important. Fine but you owe me big time understand?" Malachi said as he reached into his drawer and pulled out a couple of documents containing the details of his rights.

To transfer his rights to another person he simply had to sign them off and later update the details in the branch guild, he without further questioning gave Victor his rights of conducting the assessment.

"Yes, thank you. The tea was nice but I'm afraid I should be heading out now."

Victor stood up preparing to leave. "Why so soon, you could stay a while and chat about old times." Malachi suggested.

"As lovely as that sounds Malachi, I still have to prepare for tomorrow. So if there's nothing else I shall take my leave."

"I see how it is, use me and throw me away like a piece of trash right?" Malachi asked, a sad look plastered on his face.

"What? That's not, oh I see what you're doing here but I have no time for your silly games. Seriously I'm leaving."

"Fine fine go on then, you take life too seriously you know that, hahaha." Malachi joked while patting his friend.

Victor cast the teleportation spell and vanished with the light. Malachi's face shone with a cold, curious glint.