章 20: Making a Mage
Early the next morning, Xan finished his morning exercises and prepared some breakfast. After completing his morning routine he went back into his room to review some materials. Just before lunch, a soft knock at the door put a smile on his face. "It's about time," he thought. Xan went to the door and opened it, standing in the doorway was the Mage Fey Morganna.
"Ma Nis Taema, Darq Mihn," she said in a traditional greeting. "Ma Nis Taemata, Magerah," he responded in response. "I hope I'm not disturbing you?" She asked. "No, come in," he said. Xan walked to the salon and sat in his chair where he was joined by the Mage Morganna. "My daughter spoke to you last night," she said. "At best second wife," he responded. "Why at best?" she asked. "It depends on how she does when I test her," he responded. "You wish to perform the Du Yal test?" She asked. "Of course, and if she does well enough I will make her my second wife. If she doesn't do well then at best she'll be a concubine," he responded. "It isn't fair to test her as a mage, she's been trained as a warrior her whole life," she responded.
"Why would you offer a warrior to me? It is obvious you hope to produce a Battle Mage from our union. The only reason I can think of is you hope I can use one of the old skills to help awaken her magic," Xan said. "I do, she has no talent as a warrior but she is extremely intelligent. She has memorized potions, spells, and other mage techniques with little effort. If she were able to become a Mage she would be powerful," she said.
"Have you ever wondered why you and your husband haven't produced a Battle Mage of your own?" he asked. "It's a matter of luck, as everyone knows," she responded. Xan scoffed at her response. "Has the knowledge of the ancient ways become so lost here?" he asked. "What do you mean," she asked with confusion. "What is the formula to produce a Battle Mage?" he asked. "Voltok Uu Magerah hofen shprag Voltok Magir, Warrior and Mage with hope comes a Battle Mage," she said. "Wrong. Voltok Uu Magerah hafen shpragen Voltok Magir, ezen Dvo Voltok Uu Magerah nexin komen Voltok Magir, Warrior and Mage ready to bring a Battle Mage, these two a warrior and a mage and then Battle Mage. To produce a Battle Mage, first, you must produce a mage and a warrior, in no particular order, then the third child will be a Battle Mage. The two of you stopped having kids after the second child," he said sternly.
"What?! there's still hope?" she asked in shock. "Of course, you just need one of your daughters to become a mage and the other a warrior. This builds up the potential to produce a Battle Mage. If you had committed yourself to help one of your daughters become a mage and the other a warrior and then had a third child you would have what you hope for. I can help the elder daughter become a mage, but you'll need to make the younger daughter a warrior. This means she must train through risking her life," he said.
"If we were to have a child now?" she asked. "It would be much harder to produce a Battle Mage," he said. Mage Morganna sat quietly chewing on her lower lip and thinking hard. Eventually, she lifted her eyes toward Xan helplessly. "I believe you can help Mehi become a Mage, but I don't think my younger daughter can be trained to become a warrior, not here at least," she said.
Xan fished in his bag for something and finally found a gold medallion. With a flick of his fingers, he sent the medallion to the Mage Morganna. Mage Morganna looked at the medallion, "Unity and Order Super Guild?" she said with wide eyes.
Three hundred miles northwest from here is a branch guild for the Unity and Order Super Guild. They are looking for talent. I am a member of the guild and I have the power to recommend individuals. I will recommend your family, all of you. The four of you should set out tomorrow and agree to join the guild. With my recommendation, they will train all of you.
Not only will Mehi become an outstanding mage and worthy of being my second wife, but your youngest daughter will be able to become an outstanding warrior. Once the two have become a mage and a warrior of a certain standing, you and your husband will feel an irresistible desire from one another. At that time you will be able to produce a battle mage," he said. "Really?" she said stunned. "You and your husband cannot be together again until you fulfill the proper criteria. Once you have produced your battle mage, I will marry your daughter and we will have many children. All with the potential to become Warloks," he said. "Warloks?" she asked.
"Are you asking me what a Warlok is or you didn't know that a mage, who had parents who are a warrior and a mage and has produced a battlemage, marries a warrior will produce Warloks?" he asked. "Of course I know what a Warlok is, but I thought those were myths from the ancient times. I didn't know there was a way to intentionally produce a Warlok," she said.
"Your knowledge of the ancient path is surprisingly limited. One of the things that makes the mage path so powerful is the ability to strengthen the bloodline through certain magic techniques. Just as Mages create potions, cast spells, and set up spell formations to increase their magical powers; they also learned how to increase the power of the body.
Mages treat their bodies alternately as a potion to be produced, they cast spells on themselves and set up special arrays in their bodies. All of this makes Mages more and more powerful. Darq Mihn Warriors do the same thanks to the secrets the Mages shared with them. It's too bad you know so little about this. You would already be a level forty Mage if not for ignorance stunting your growth.
Not everything can be explained as a loss of knowledge. I wonder what is going on," he said. "You suspect a conspiracy?" she asked. "I suspect someone with very little potential is looking for a shortcut to a higher level, but let's not talk about this now. There's no point in speculating," he said. "What should we do?" she asked. "Tell no one, not even your husband or your most trusted friend about what we've discussed today. Trouble will find you. Take your family directly to the guild and tell everyone you have received an invitation for your daughters to train," he said.
"What about you," she asked. "I will continue on my Yuden Tiel," he said. The Mage Morganna thought for a few minutes before resolving herself about something. "What else do you have to say," he asked. "Have you ever heard of a place called Jambre?" she asked. "Yes, it's further east from here. I was actually heading in that direction," Xan said.
"In Jambre there have been some problems. Villagers have gone missing, more than usual. There are reports of a Count in the area with a few generals," she said. "A Count with some generals? Are they responsible for the villagers going missing?" he asked. "I don't know, something is going on and I believe the Count knows what it is. He's not saying," she said. "You want me to find the villagers?" he asked.
"If it were just missing villagers, I wouldn't waste your time. We have heard reports of other disturbing incidents. It's not that we can't handle it, but after meeting a Darq Mihn Warrior on a Yuden Tiel, well maybe it's something you might be interested in," she said. "Tell me what you know," he said as he adjusted himself in his seat.
The next morning, The Mage Morgana, her husband Pabas, daughter Mehi, and youngest daughter Aella arrived at the guest house. Aella was now sporting two axes and dressed more like a warrior. She would look ferocious for a ten-year-old if she didn't look so nervous and uncomfortable. She actually looked even cuter as a kid. Mehi, on-the-other-hand had on a simple apprentice mage robe, she was also looking nervous.
Xan was already ready for them, he leads them to the tub room. He removed the hot tub and replaced it with a casket looking metal box. The box was filled with a very dark viscous liquid. The liquid was very hot, not boiling but hot. It was connected to a series of boxes with levers and buttons and screens on them. Outside of the box on the ground were black Penta-shaped tubes connected to one another by large crystals. The jade crystals were glowing.
"You'll need to strip off your clothes and then smear this white paste all over your body. Then you can get into the box," he said. "Okay," Mehi said as she started to get undressed. "You should have your mother help," he said. The Mage Morganna appeared next to her daughter. Xan pulled together a bunch of curtains blocking the views of Pabas and Aella. He kept his back to Mehi and her mother as she undressed and applied the white paste.
Completing this task, she stepped into the bronze box with the black liquid. Xan walked over and closed the lid to the box. There was a window in the lid so it was possible to see her face. There was just enough room between the liquid and the top of the box for Mehi to breathe. There were also vents along the side of the box, above the liquid, letting air flow in and out. Every now and then, a little black liquid would splash out. Mehi was clearly in pain just sitting in the box.
"Mage Morganna, you should sit next to the box and let your daughter see your face. Comfort her. It's going to hurt a lot," he said. Immediately he flipped a switch turned a dial and pushed a button. Electricity started flowing through the equipment, spirit gas was fed in through tubes into the box. The jade crystals' light became brighter and brighter. Mehi almost immediately started screaming. Pabas and Aella ran through the curtains to see Mehi in the box.
The black liquid was splashing out of the air vents and the box was shaking violently. Mehi started banging on the lid and begging to be let out. Tears streamed down the face of Aella. Her father did everything he could to keep himself from ripping the lid off the box and saving his daughter. The Mage Morganna also had tears coming out but she firmly calmed her daughter. As time went on, the black liquid in the box that splashed out of the vents turned lighter until they looked like water with murky grey sludge mixed in lumps.
After two hours, all of the equipment went silent, the lid was opened, the Mage and Xan pulled Mehi out of the box. Xan wrapped her in a blanket and gave her a pink liquid to drink. He also put a blue stone on her forehead and told Pabas to carry her back to her room and let her rest. It would be a few days before she had the strength to get out of bed. He prescribed a menu of food for her as well as different herbs she should take daily for the next month. The bluestone needed to remain affixed to her forehead until she reached the guild and the Supreme Mage could examine her.
After Pabas, Mehi, and Aella left, Xan indicated for the Mage Morganna to follow him. They returned to his salon and sat once more in their chairs. "I plan to leave for Jambre in two hours. You'll need to start toward the guild as soon as Mehi is strong enough to travel. Don't let her practice any magic along the way. She needs to heal. She should review all of the magic knowledge she can. She'll find it much easier to comprehend, she should become a genius. It is critical she doesn't use any magic until the Supreme Mage gives her permission. It will not only ruin her potential but also your ability to produce a Battle Mage. Regarding little Aella, only let Pabas teach Aella about the forest, how to hunt, and the ways of the warrior. Also, have her chop the wood for the fires everyday using her axes," he instructed.
"You are traveling alone?" she asked. Xan nodded. "I need to rest, you may leave he said. The Mage Morganna left the little house to attend to her daughter. Xan went to his room and laid on the bed to sleep. Two hours later, he got out of bed and gathered his things. He packed the wagon and pulled it out of town. He was headed for the mysterious Jambre and looked forward to a brand new adventure.
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