Galethoran Roseblood was a prodigy.
From a very young age, Galethoran had been tutored by his family in survival, sword play, history, law, stealth, and magic. Their expectations had been typical of a Lythrain family but had steadily increased as Galethoran showed his prowess in almost all areas.
Galethoran’s father, Kreloras Roseblood, was a high-ranking mage in the Silvergem House and one of the greatest Guardians in the country. Kreloras had taught Galethoran how to Focus by the time he was four years old and since then had been working with him on defensive spells.
His mother, Lidoria Roseblood, was the Captain of the Rangers of Sorek and had given Galethoran a short-bladed double-edged knife in an intricate sheathe for his second birthday. Since then she had been teaching him proper care of knives and their many uses, including teaching him to hunt by throwing the knife at the animal, which most Lythrain scoffed at due to its impracticality. His mother explained that this was something that had saved her life on many occasions due to how easy it is to run out of arrows or to break a bow.
His brother, Mathonor Roseblood, was the High Seer to the King of Eme’Reth. Whenever he had the chance to see Mathonor, Galethoran would beg to see the “pretty pictures” that Mathonor would create in the mirrors around the house. What surprised Mathonor the most about this was that Galethoran cared little for the pictures themselves and paid much more attention to the magic that created those spells and the makeup of the emotions that blend together to create the pictures.
Galethoran’s sister, Salectra Roseblood, was a young officer in the Judge of Sorek’s personal guards and rising quickly through the ranks. She and Galethoran got along well and she had begun teaching him how to wrestle before he could walk.
Through all of this, Galethoran spent the most time studying magic and Foci, absorbing as much as his 5-year-old mind would allow.
On his first day of school, he eagerly donned the green robes of an arcane apprentice and rushed out the door; only stopping to bid farewell when his mother’s firm grip stopped him at the door.
“Remember Galethoran,” she said, “The other students will not have learned all that you have from your father. You need to be patient in class.”
“Yes mother,” he replied, pulling away eagerly in an effort to be on his way.
He ran through the forest toward the school, ignoring his surroundings in his haste to arrive.
Outside the school, Master Amorlens stood in his green robes, ready to greet the new students as they arrived.
“Good morning, Young Roseblood!” Master Amorlens chirped as Galethoran ran up the stone steps into the tree.
Galethoran stopped to bow low, showing respect to the master that would build upon the lessons his father had already given him.
“Good morning, Master Amorlens!” he cheerily replied.
A long, semi-circular table arched around the room with five seats, each with a book, a stack of papers, an ink vial, and a quill. With an excited spring in his step, Galethoran happily took the place at the center of the table, directly in front of a stand holding a large spell book.
While he waited for the other students to arrive, Galethoran took the book and read the cover.
Ainion’s Basic Concepts for Elementary Mages
Galethoran had of course heard of Ainion before, an ancient mage that had written several books on how to teach apprentices. Ainion’s works were a widely spread standard now, and mages through all of Reth, Eme’Reth, Faelhart, Strolm, Urthendril, and Titanhold used them exclusively.
Galethoran practically bounced in his seat as the other students arrived; barely containing his excitement.
Master Amorlens finally came into the room when four of the five seats were occupied and stepped up to the front of the room.
“The first lesson of magic,” Master Amorlens began, without bothering to introduce himself first, “Is that there are six Schools of magic to which all spells belong. In my class, we will study some basic spells from each School and attempt to find which School interests each of you individually.
“Open your books to page 6 and try to follow along,” Master Amorlens continued, “You can use the materials that I have provided to take notes.”
Around him, the other students all opened their books and ink vials and began to furiously scribble notes as Master Amorlens talked. To Galethoran however, this was common knowledge that his father had taught him as soon as he could talk.
Master Amorlens continued to teach, showing little concern if his students were able to keep pace, “The School of Protection, otherwise known as White Magic in some circles, is used by Guardians to cast wards and shields.
“The School of Conjuration is combat magic; it is also known as Red Magic, and its practitioners are called Battlemancers. Conjuration is the simplest of the Schools to understand and the most common practiced. The military obviously places a high price on Battlemancers and Guardians.
“The School of Divination, also known as Silver Magic, is used by Seers to communicate across great distances, look into the past and future, and bear witness to what others attempt to keep hidden. Many Lords keep Seers in their employ to spy on their enemies and keep their enemies from spying on them in return.
“The School of Illusion is the most self-explanatory of the Schools and is often used by Gold Mages and Illusionists to entertain and perform. It has other uses, and master Illusionists have changed the course of battles with well-placed Glamors, though far and wide the most common application of the School is street performers and court magicians.
“The School of Necromancy is known commonly as Black Magic and it is forbidden in many parts of the world; Eme’Reth is among those places. Reth, however, allows the study of Necromancy in order to understand how it may be used against either Reth or Eme’Reth.
“Finally, the School of Transmutation, also known as Green Magic, is the broadest of the Schools in the breadth of its capability. Transmutation is the manipulation of the physical world around us, and encompasses many enhancement spells for warriors, resizing objects, and even healing.
“I am a Sorcerer, as noted by the green robes that I wear as a mage. You also wear green robes as apprentices, though that is only a mark of your status as new apprentices.”
As Master Amorlens was wrapping up his lecture, he walked around the room, dropping a small wooden token before each student.
“Each School is noted by a particular type of Focus,” Master Amorlens resumed, “Which determines the emotions within the magic. Wood is the Focus of the Protection school, it is also the best for young mages like yourselves.
“Now, focus entirely on the tokens I just gave you… Clear your mind of all thought… Feel the magic through the token, and let it flow into you…”
This was a common exercise, and one that Galethoran had done numerous times with his father. He Focused easily and began to feel for the emotions in the magic that flooded into him. He readily sensed Pride and could feel his own pride at Focusing so readily building as he listened to Master Amorlens guiding the other students through Focusing. By the end of the day, only one other student had managed to Focus and could only sense pride in the magic; by the end of the lesson, Galethoran had been able to identify apprehension and guilt as well.
They left the school together, but they all went their separate ways. Most of the students headed toward the center of town, where the larger trees housed multiple families together. Galethoran however walked out toward the west edge of town, where his family had a tree to themselves. When he arrived home, Galethoran’s father was alone preparing dinner.
“Your mother is on a night patrol,” Kreloras explained when Galethoran asked after his mother, “but Salectra should be off duty by now and should be home any time.”
Galethoran took a wooden marble from a bowl by the mantle, a bowl of various Foci that his father kept for training and teaching Galethoran and his siblings. Despite the variety of Foci in the bowl however, Galethoran’s father had always insisted that he use one that was wood as the remainder would cause him too much pain.
Galethoran Focused through the small marble, catching his father’s attention as he did so, and tried to feel the emotions that his father was using as he cooked. Surprisingly, Galethoran found that his father wasn’t actively using magic while he prepared the meal. The fire under the stove was wrapped with anger to keep it hot, and the water in the sink shifted constantly under Frustration and Irritation to scrub a pot from the night before, but Kreloras’s hands moved a mundane steel knife to cut the vegetables for dinner.
“Couldn’t you use a spell to cut the lettuce, father?” Galethoran asked.
“I could…” Kreloras replied, “But what purpose would it serve? You must be careful as you learn to use magic Galethoran. The power is addictive and using it unnecessarily can complicate an otherwise simple life. I use magic to maintain the fire so there is less chance of catching our home on fire. I also use magic to wash the dishes because that gets the dishes much cleaner than trying to do it by hand. The lettuce is cut all the same whether I do it with magic or with a blade.”
Galethoran was confused how one spell to cut some lettuce would have such an impact, but he knew that it wasn’t worth arguing the point with his father.
The subject was changed when Salectra arrived, walking through the door in her heavy gold armor.
“Gale!” she exclaimed, scooping up her younger brother without taking the time to remove the plate, “Are you ready to give up magic and become a good warrior like mother and I?”
“NO!” Galethoran shouted, “I’m already best in my class!”
“Best in your class!?” Salectra explained, “Well I suppose that’s to be expected given who your father and brother are… I guess I’ll have to forgive you for doing so well.”
Salectra released her brother with a smile, and the three sat down to dinner. Beaming with pride, Galethoran couldn’t focus on the conversation between Salectra and their father about the boring court gossip that she overheard that day. He was still beaming an hour later when he was sent to bed.