Academy Rebels, page 8
part #1 of Card Mage Series
Dax smiled. “I sure do, Professor.”
“You can work down here when not in class. Don’t let it interfere with your studies. If you have time now, I’ll run through each step.”
“I have time,” Dax nodded.
“Okay, let’s start. I’ll get you access when we’re finished,” Professor Plume smiled.
***
Days floated by as Dax studied and worked in the Spellbook Chamber. Madness consumed him as he learned the intricacies of the process. The mage was often distracted in his classes, a higher purpose fueling his resolve. At the end of each class, he would race downstairs and work the worn-out old press machine. Professor Plume was very specific on page size, but once he wasn’t around, Dax tweaked the machine and tried different sizes. It didn’t take long before he increased the thickness, making his own cards and bringing them back to the dorm.
Working on the spell cards took up every evening. Symon was often there, helping if he could. Fern stopped by many times and offered support. The berserker and spellsword would often help put out fires if a card exploded, which happened a few times. Despite the small setbacks, Dax didn’t let it slow him down. His spirit teetered on the cusp of something new and amazing and he simply couldn’t allow himself to let it slip by.
Sleep eluded the young mage as he worked. Fern would say her goodbyes and Symon would pass out in his bed, but Dax designed cards with feverish intent. When he drew patterns and wrote down the incantations on a card, he barely let the ink dry before he held the card up with two fingers. The designs filled the card in his hand before small words were scribbled along the bottom.
Name: Unicorn
Element: Life
Degree: 1
Ability: Charge/Horn/Trample
Special Ability: None
Feeling drained, Dax admired his work. Several nights he pumped mana into each card experiment. Many of them blew up in small flames. After working to perfect the size and thickness of the cards, his first real success was when an air bolt knocked down everything not nailed down. Attack spells were too dangerous to perform in a dorm room, so he changed his approach by making a card with a mana phantom. He couldn’t make the spell stronger than his current sphere degree, but deep down, he knew that would change with time.
Symon snored as Dax stood up and stepped to the center of the room.
“No time like the present,” the mage smiled as he held the card out and said the trigger word.
A stream of energy blasted out, shifting and churning until a full-sized, ghostly unicorn appeared in the middle of the large bedroom. It rose up on its hindlegs, neighing loud enough for Symon to bolt out of bed and crash onto the floor. The spellsword reached for his blade, sheathed and hanging by his bed. Gripping the handle, he nearly drew it until he heard Dax’s shouting.
“I did it! I FUCKING DID IT!” the mage cried out as the unicorn’s hooves hit the floor.
Dax watched the card, waiting to see if anything else happened or if it was ready to explode. The mana glow along the designs faded, but the card didn’t spark or blow up.
“You did it,” Symon said, astonished.
The ghostly unicorn turned around and stepped closer, horned head low. Dax ran his fingers through its mane, energy tickling at his fingers.
Symon was to his feet, sword sliding back into its sheath and gaping at the full-sized unicorn in their room.
Dax continued to hold the card as his other hand petted the majestic beast. “The thickness of the card allows it to hold a mana charge. From what I noticed from the other experiments, the card will regain its mana over a period of time, like about a day.”
Dax smirked as he pumped 25 mana into the card and the runes and symbols glowed again. Whispering the command word, energy sparked and flew out. Symon stepped back and fell into his bed as a second phantom unicorn appeared next to the first one.
The creatures pressed the sides of their heads and necks together in affection as the bedroom was very crowded.
Dax’s eyes narrowed as his smirk grew wider. “Despite using the charge, I can charge it again with my own mana. I don’t know how many times I can do this because it might destroy the card, but this makes old spellcasting a thing of the past.
“I have a lot of work to do tonight.”
Symon looked to his friend just as Dax said another arcane word and the two unicorns faded away.
“More work?” Symon asked with an inquisitive tone.
Dax nodded.
“Tomorrow is the Trial Exams and I need a full deck of mana cards if I’m going to ace the tests,” the mage smiled before it turned into a smirk.
“Tomorrow, we bend the rules.”
Seven
The Courtyard was alive with activity. Students and professors moved with purpose, forming up into groups by classes. Dax watched as over a hundred mages crowded around together, Professor Frost shouting at students to stay together.
The mage looked over to see a hundred berserkers shouting chants and raising blunt weapons like clubs and maces into the air. They growled and shouted their pledges, their eyes wild with excitement. Fern was among them, her eight-inch form zipping around and swinging mace above, the rest of her fellow classmates shouting and hollering like wild animals.
Dax smiled before turning his attention to the fighter and spellsword classes. Each group lined up in formation. Fighters wore their armor and weapons. Spellswords mirrored the fighter class except for spellbooks chained to their hips. Each group stood at attention, silent and disciplined.
The rogues leaned against a wall, their bodies relaxed. Even their professor seemed bored. Dark cloaks covered their bodies, hoods up. Some scowled and others laughed at the berserkers as they shouted like animals.
Clerics and paladins stood at attention. Stern expressions painted paladin brows while the clerics waved to everyone and smiled. The contrast was stark and it was hard to believe both classes were part of the same cloth. Zarra was toward the front of the clerics, her serpent eyes blinking before she shot Dax a glance and smile.
Dax nodded to her before turning his attention to the druids and the necromancers. Each group seethed as they glanced to each other, not liking that they were close together. Dax smiled as he watched life and death get annoyed at each other’s presence.
The mage craned his head to look towards the back of the large gatherings to see the monks and the bards. The monks stood like statues, eyes closed and hand in open palm before them. They appeared in perfect harmony, in sync with the world around them.
Beside the monks, bards twiddled with their instruments, laughed and smiled like they just made it to the party.
Lancers stood at attention, much like their fighter counterparts, spears leaning against their shoulders and gaze forward.
Twelve classes, a hundred students to each class, made up the entirety of Kinarth Academy. Twelve hundred students, ready to test themselves and see if they had what it took to become a true champion.
A hand touched Dax’s shoulder and he turned to see Vance’s smile.
“This is it. I hope you’ve been practicing your spell casting?”
Dax nodded. “I have.”
“Symon told me you have been working on your special spell casting. Are you going to use it during the exam?”
Dax smiled. “If I tell you, it would ruin the surprise.”
Vance nodded. “I hope it works out for you. Hate to see you go home.”
The mage kept his smile. “I’m not going home, but I may make a few students cry.”
Vance smiled. “I like the confidence. Winners get to pick their teams for the Trials. If I win, I’ll be sure to ask you to join.”
Dax put his hand on Vance’s shoulder, “Heroes of Kinarth will win this day.”
“I’m so happy you two lovebirds found each other,” came a sarcastic tone from nearby.
Dax and Vance turned their attention to Clive and several of his cronies, stupid evil smiles on their faces.
Dax pulled back his arm and faced the large mage. “Clive! Your ass still sore from the beating I gave you over a week ago?”
Clive’s demeanor didn’t change. “Still feeling the shock from Nuria’s whip?”
“It tickled, but I’m sure you knew that since she beats you like a dog with it,” Dax said with confidence.
Clive’s jaw tightened. “You’re going to flunk out. Today is the day everyone sees just how terrible a mage you are. No one will take on a champion who can’t cast spells to save their life.”
“Your tears are going to be extra salty when the exams are over,” Dax chuckled.
“How about a bet?” came another voice from the mages.
Dax and Vance looked over to see Nuria step closer, her eyes extra evil.
“What kind of bet?” Dax asked but his eyes widened at the mage’s beauty.
Nuria stepped closer, her sardonic gaze drinking in Dax’s wide eyes. “The top three students of each class will be able to pick their teams. If I win the top spot, you resign from the academy and leave. Considering how bad your spell casting is, no one would bat an eyelash. It would almost be expected.”
“And if I win a top spot?”
Nuria looked him up and down like a wolf, “Your debt is cleared and you win a kiss, from me.”
“Clive is going to be very upset when I win,” Dax smirked.
The surrounding mages laughed, except for Clive.
“Last time I checked, I belong to no one and can kiss who I please,” Nuria said as she licked her lips.
The surrounding mages laughed louder, except for Clive.
Dax nodded, “You have a wager. Don’t slip out when it's time to pay up.”
Nuria let out a haughty laugh. “Piece of mage trash like you will never win. The Academy is better off without your kind. You losing would do us all a favor.”
“I love when you talk dirty,” Dax grinned.
Nuria spit in Dax’s face. The mage stood his ground, a glob of spit hitting his cheek and dripping down.
“Still like when I talk dirty?” Nuria asked, but turned around before he could give an answer.
Dax watched as the mage stepped into the crowd of mages, her cronies following. Clive shot Dax a dirty look before he followed after his mistress.
Dax wiped the spit off with his sleeve and wished he wasn’t so turned on right now.
Vance looked to Dax and smiled. “Well done.”
Dax could barely keep in his laugh before Professor Frost called out the mage students. Everyone turned in her direction as she barked orders. A moment later, they were all marching.
The crowds moved along, making their way to the main entrance. The massive ironbound doors were open as groups moved, one at the time, stepping beyond the threshold and outside the protective walls of the academy.
Dax closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the sea air as gulls glided on thermals. The heavens were a beautiful light blue, not a cloud in the sky. It only seemed to add to the excitement as chatter rose up like a cloud, the groups marching down the road to the amphitheater.
Dax recollected his first day, students taking the tour as professors spoke to each section of the academy and its purpose. The Amphitheater was interesting because it was like a giant arena and outside of the academy’s protective walls. When a student asked why, Professor Frost was the first to say it was for the academy's protection and not yours. The words were enough to cause a nervous energy among the first day students, but it excited Dax, a stage for every student to show their true colors.
One by one, groups made their way. Dax looked up to see the weathered and cracked stone along the outside of the amphitheater. It had seen better days and the mage wondered how long before they tore it down and built a new one.
The shadow of the amphitheater loomed and students stepped into it. A massive hall ran to the right and left as they entered. Classes split off, moving to their assigned sections. Dax looked to his right, seeing the large entranceways to the main grounds where the exams would happen. This wasn’t a test where they sat in seats and tried to get a high score. This was an actual combat and skill test for all those involved. A taste of what to expect when the Trials started.
Professor Frost turned and the mages followed. The group moved toward the half-moon entrances and stepped back out into the light.
Dax drank it in, seeing the arena fill up with students. Faculty moved to a special seating box, overlooking the main arena floor. The ground was sandy, no vegetation in sight. The seats were stone and cascaded down from the top to nearly the arena floor.
The group made their way around to a small set of stairs and filed in. Dax and Vance were lucky, sitting in the front row of the first tier so they could see all the action up close. Students sat down, the murmur of voices reflecting from all sides. Every student took their seat and after a while, the amphitheater was mostly filled.
Dax stared across the way to see Symon sitting with the other spellswords. Symon lifted a gauntlet in the air and nodded, acknowledging his friend. Dax did the same, lifting a fist, nodding and smiling.
The Spectator Box filled with academy faculty. Dax watched as many of the upper echelon of the school took their seats, small notebooks in their hands. Counselor Skullcut sat toward the front, his scarred face contrasted by his happy smile.
It didn’t take long before Luthis Prideleaf, High Dean of Kinarth Academy, appeared. The tall, dark haired elf stepped into the box and most students stood up and cheered. Dax remembered the stories of how the ancient elf fought side by side with Kinarth during the war, slaying void spawn when they were nearly overrun. Kinarth was long gone, but Luthis sometimes spoke of the war during impromptu gatherings with students. He was the kindest person anyone could know and his door was always open to students who needed some guidance when it came to being a champion.
The tall elf moved to the edge of the box and stared out at all the students as they cheered. Luthis smiled, basking in the glow before he raised both of his hands. The crowd grew quiet almost immediately. Luthis’s mouth moved before a flash touched his body, an aura glowing before it faded away.
“Welcome, academy students to the ninety sixth Trial Exams!” the elf’s voice projected across the entire amphitheater.
The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering.
Luthis nodded and continued, “It warms my heart to see many future champions with us here today! I could spend the day simply talking about this amazing event, but I’m sure many here are eager to test their minds and bodies. Let’s not keep them waiting!”
Another burst of applause and shouts filled the air.
Luthis smiled and the crowd simmered down.
“The Trial Exams are to test if you're ready to embark on the Trials. Each class will have an opportunity to prove their worth in mock combat. There will be different rules for each class. Since different classes have different strengths and abilities, the exam will be different for each one. As we know, clerics are excellent support classes while fighters make excellent front-line attack and defense. Bards can sing to boost their fellow champions while mages are excellent at long distance attacks. I could go on, but I believe we all know our roles in the scheme of the world.
“When your class is called, you will have a set of instructions and a goal. Follow them to the letter to avoid injury or accidents. You will be marked for skill, ability, power, and teamwork. I know the term of champion conjures up a single hero who must overcome all, but that is not what Kinarth Academy is about. You may be future champions, but no one gets to the top alone. Sebastian and I fought side by side and when he won, I won. When I won, he won. Remember that as you endure your exam.”
A nervous spike touched Dax. He had spent so much time trying to learn and avoiding his fellow mages, he now felt ill prepared to test alongside them. The exams were different year to year so no one could take advantage. The way the High Dean spoke, this was going to be a team event.
The High Dean continued, “When your class is called, move to the center of the amphitheater floor and await instructions. But remember this, you were brave enough to reach this point, I know you’re brave enough to overcome anything. Let the Trial Exam begin!”
The crowds of students roared into the air, fists up and chanting.
Dax sat, concern bleeding into his brow as he wasn’t sure he would be able to work alongside the very mages who treated him like garbage.
“Stay close and we can get through this,” Vance said as he sat by Dax.
The mage looked to the blonde, spiky-haired mage and gave him a nod. They didn’t know each other for long, but now, they had to be brothers during the exam.
“Fighters! Make your way into the arena!” Luthis called out with a smile.
The Fighter class students stood up in formation. Three abreast, they marched down the stairs and made their way to the center of the arena. When a hundred fighters reached the middle, they turned and saluted the High Dean, gauntlets hitting chest plates and metal ringing out in solidarity.
A mage Dax didn’t know stood up behind the High Dean. Energy filled his hands as he held them up. Arcane words bubbled and a moment later, the light flashed.
The fighters kept their stance, pale auras surrounding their bodies.
Luthis looked down on the students. “High Mage Kreed has placed a mana shield around each student. You will see that you have a hundred points. Every time you take damage, the shield will weaken and points will drain. Once it reaches zero, the shield will collapse and you will not have control of your body. You will fall to the ground, unable to move until your part of the exam is over.
“Remember, this isn’t about surviving the exam. This is about how well you do under pressure. If you fall, it doesn’t mean you fail. Take solace in knowing every action you take will speak volumes to your potential. Remember your training and follow your instincts.”
The Fighters shouted in unison, their bodies ready.
High Mage Kreed lifted his hands again and snapped his fingers. Energy erupted along the edges of the arena. Dax sat with wide eyes, drinking it all in. Forms of pale light sprouted and took shape. They split as their bodies solidified. When the outside circle finished, ghostly goblins surrounded the hundred fighters, spectral weapons in hands and evil laughter filling the air.
