Knowledge is Power

"Welcome to the Mages Guild. How may I assist you today?" The familiar greeting echoed through the entrance hall the moment Anton stepped inside, just as it had yesterday.

"Good afternoon, Miss Maria," Anton replied with a respectful bow, pleased to see a face he recognized amid the unfamiliar atmosphere of the guild.

Maria looked up from her work, a hint of surprise crossing her features before settling into a small smile. "Well done. You're punctual today." She nodded toward the ornate clock on the wall. "Fifteen minutes early, in fact. Master Blackwood will appreciate that. Just as he always says 'punctuality is a virtue'."

Anton followed her gaze to the clock, relief washing through him. He'd spent the entire walk to the guild worrying about timing his arrival perfectly.

"Here," Maria said, bending beneath her desk. "Master Blackwood prepared this for you." She straightened, hefting an enormous leather-bound tome onto the polished surface between them.

Anton's eyes widened involuntarily. The book was massive—easily the largest he'd ever seen, with brass-reinforced corners and an elaborate symbol of mages guild on its cover. If he needed to read the entire volume, it would dwarf the combined total of everything he'd read in his life so far. Shop signs, his mother's market lists, and the occasional prayer book at festival time hardly prepared him for such an undertaking.

Maria studied his expression with a knowing look. "You told me yesterday that you know how to read, correct?"

Anton swallowed hard and nodded, unwilling to reveal just how limited his reading experience truly was.

"Good. Most students from outside merchant or noble families arrive illiterate," she explained, her tone softening slightly. "As a senior apprentice, I'm tasked with teaching them basic literacy before their magical education can truly begin. It's tiring and time-consuming work."

Understanding dawned on Anton. Her initial coolness yesterday hadn't been personal disdain but rather anticipation of additional responsibilities. He felt a rush of gratitude toward his mother for insisting on his education.

"My mother taught me. She is a lady with great foresight," he boasted.

Maria's eyebrows lifted slightly. "A valuable skill she passed on. It will serve you well here."

Anton reached for the tome, surprised by its considerable weight as he lifted it from the counter. 

"This contains all fundamental knowledge and spells every apprentice must master before advancing," Maria continued. "Study it thoroughly, and guard it with your life." Her expression turned severe. "I've witnessed students who lost their tomes not only expelled from the guild but forced to reimburse twice the book's value."

Anton's grip tightened reflexively around the book. Being expelled seemed an extreme punishment for carelessness, but he wasn't about to argue with established guild protocol on his first day.

"I'll protect it," he promised solemnly.

Maria nodded, apparently satisfied with his response. "Come then," she said, stepping from behind the reception desk. "I'll show you where your lessons will take place."

She led him through an arched doorway into a long corridor illuminated not by torches or lanterns, but by fist-sized gemstones embedded in metal sconces along the walls. Each stone emitted a steady, white light that produced no heat or smoke. Anton fought to maintain a dignified pace rather than stopping to examine the magical illumination.

They passed several closed doors bearing various symbols until the corridor opened to reveal a courtyard visible through a series of tall, arched windows on their left. Anton slowed his pace to observe the open space where eight human-shaped practice dummies stood in a neat row. Beyond them lay what appeared to be a circular arena marked with elaborate patterns etched into stone.

Maria gestured toward the courtyard with a tilt of her head. "The combat training area. You won't begin there for some time, but eventually Master Blackwood will allow you to participate in mock battles once you've mastered your basic spells."

Anton watched as a pair of older students across the yard traded colorful bursts of energy that splashed against invisible barriers surrounding them. The air crackled with each impact.

"Do you train there regularly, Miss Maria?" he asked, unable to hide his fascination.

"Just 'Maria' is fine," she corrected him with a touch of impatience. "You needn't be overly formal—I'm not a full mage yet either." She considered his question before continuing, "I practice there occasionally when testing new spells. The barrier covering the training yard protects both casters and surroundings should a spell fail catastrophically."

She pointed toward tall windows on the opposite side that offered glimpses of dense forest beyond the guild walls. "We have Malor Forest right at our doorstep when we require practical combat experience. Senior apprentices organize expeditions twice monthly to hunt minor magical beasts and practice battlefield positioning."

Visions of magic combat came to Anton's mind. In his imagination, the creatures scattered before his unleashed power, their bodies dissolving under the brilliant light of his spellcraft.

"Don't think about trying out combat magic yet," Maria's voice brought him back from his daydream, her tone slightly amused. "Just practice your basic spells. Don't try to run before you know how to walk." 

Anton merely responded with a noncommittal "Hmm," though his mind was still dreaming about magical combat. He followed Maria's lead as they turned right after leaving the courtyard, the ancient stones beneath their feet worn smooth by generations of aspiring mages.

After passing two rooms, Maria halted before the third. "This is your study room," she announced, her hand resting on the wrought-iron handle. "I'll show you inside." She pushed the door open and gestured for Anton to enter.

Inside, Anton found himself faced with unexpected simplicity. A single table at the center of the room, accompanied by a high-backed chair. A blackboard hung on the far wall, pristine and waiting.

Anton turned in a slow circle, baffled by the spartan furnishings. "Am I the only student here?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the near-empty chamber.

Maria gave him a look of mingled disbelief and exasperation. "Do you not realize how fortunate you are?" She crossed her arms, her robes rustling with the movement. "To have a one-on-one learning session with Master Blackwood! He is one of only three Great Mages in the entire city. Apprentices from other guilds would pay a year's worth of tuition just for a five-minute consultation with him."

Her eyes flashed with a mixture of respect and, Anton noticed with surprise, a hint of jealousy. "You should thank your lucky stars and whatever gods pulled strings for you. There are dozens—no, hundreds—of apprentices who would willingly give away fortunes just to have a chance to consult with a Great Mage."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do not waste this chance, Anton. Even, I didn't have an opportunity to learn from a Great Mage in a one-on-one session, I've been working here for three years. Three years of group lessons and shared instruction." She shook her head. "Whatever Master Blackwood sees in you... don't waste it."

Anton felt the weight of unexpected privilege settle on his shoulder of how much importance Master Blackwood had apparently placed on him. A shadow of worry crossed his mind. "Does he know about my ability to rest upon death?" he wondered silently. 

The possibility that the master mage had somehow known his secret ability sent a chill down his spine. But even if he did know, Anton mused, he could always reset if the situation went out of control for the worst. This thought of his unique ability calmed his nerves.

"I understand," Anton said, meeting Maria's gaze. "I promise I'll make the best use of this opportunity. I won't disappoint Master Blackwood—or you."

Something in his sincerity seemed to satisfy her. Maria's expression softened slightly, and she nodded. "See that you don't." She turned to leave but paused at the threshold. "Oh, before I forget," she added, half-turning, "Master Blackwood said you should read through the first chapter of the tome before he arrives."

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, as if trying to solve a puzzle, before she left, pulling the door closed behind her.

Alone in the quiet room, Anton put the tome that on the table, sat in the chair, which creaked softly beneath his weight, and carefully opened the book.

Three words, inscribed in flowing script that dominated the first page: "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER." The phrase hung there, both invitation and warning, showing the very essence of what it meant to be a mage. Then he turned the page and began to read the first chapter in earnest.

The tome described runes as "the true language of the world—the alphabet with which reality itself is written." Intricate illustrations showed the four foundational runes for the main elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Wind.

As the chapter progressed, it described other basic runes and their meanings. Anton began the painstaking process of memorizing each rune, tracing them on the table with his finger, committing their subtle variations to memory.

Time flowed slowly as he studied. Then, the creaking of the opening door finally broke his concentration.

"Good. I see you are starting with the book," a deep voice complimented. Anton looked up to find Master Blackwood standing in the doorway. 

"Master Blackwood," Anton said, rising quickly from his chair and giving him a bow. "Yes, I've been studying the first chapter as instructed."

The mage closed the door behind him and moved to stand before the blackboard. "And what have you learned so far, young Anton?" he asked, fixing Anton with a penetrating gaze.

Anton swallowed, suddenly aware of being tested. "Knowledge is power and the four elemental runes, sir, and the basic conceptual runes."

Master Blackwood nodded slowly, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Good. 'Knowledge is power' remember that always"

Master Blackwood raised his hand. A sphere of soft blue light materialized above his palm, casting gentle illumination across the room.

"Now," he said, his smile deepening with the joy of a master about to share his craft, "let me teach you how to use mana— the tool you will be using to bend the world to your will."