Chapter 4 — Iselyn Jayre

The book the branded girl was reading became precariously perched with only one hand still holding it up, and as it began to flip closed. Ria deftly caught it and handed it back, catching sight of the title as she did so. “That must be her newest book. I'm still reading the previous one.”

The girl was eyeing her warily and hugged the book against her chest.

The Branded weren't allowed to deceive others by intentionally hiding the brand. Which meant they couldn't wear gloves unless the brand was embroidered onto the outside and clearly visible. But having her brand seen was clearly not something this girl was comfortable about.

“You saw.”

Ria nodded. “I noticed it when you were picking up the book earlier and was curious.”

The girl's mouth immediately pressed thin and her eyebrows scrunched. “Well, you've seen it now. Yes, I'm a freak. Now that your curiosity has been sated, I would like to return to my book.”

Grimacing at her insensitivity, Ria quickly indicated a denial with her hands. “No, that's not what I meant. A frien- …someone I know was made Oathbound because she was a necromancer.”

The girl's eyes widened and she sucked in a breath.

“And as you heard, my own situation is a bit precarious, so…” Ria probed the girl's expression with her eyes and gathered her courage. “I thought maybe, we… could be friends?”

A response wasn't immediately forthcoming, and Ria grew nervous about the risk she was taking.

The girl's eyes went to Ranger, who had curled up under the crystal table between the couches, then past Ria to the two upperclassmen on the couch opposite, and briefly to the elites on the side of the room closest to the middle-aged mage’s office before replying carefully, “…being involved with a witch might worsen my situation, don't you think?”

“I won't deny it.” Ria wryly smirked a bit and again gave the girl one of her best smiles. “But as a fellow book enthusiast, I think I'm a good risk.”

The girl snorted but couldn't help a faint grin.

“I'm Ria of Shadewood,” Ria volunteered and motioned to Ranger. “And the lazy guy under the table is Ranger.”

“Warr-woof,” Ranger objected.

“Iselyn Jayre of Erime,” the girl returned and used a finger to hook behind her ear the hair partially hiding her face.

Seeing Iselyn's face unobstructed, Ria realized the girl was pretty, way prettier than expected, with beautiful eyes like serene pools of pale moonlight that drew the gaze. The moment stretched out until Ria remembered to breathe.

Ah-! Was that why the girl hid her face behind long bangs? Because people would stare?

“You know, Ria, being enthusiastic about books will hardly be helpful if we get targeted by one of the Greater Houses.” Iselyn's eyes went to Hulle, sitting on the opposite couch and looking bored as he flipped through one of the books stacked on the crystal table.

“You could join the Sages of the Nine Circles with me,” Ria immediately suggested. “I mean, if that’s okay, and you don’t have an Order yet...”

Ria glanced back at Hulle.

The glasses-wearing blond boy looked up from the book he was perusing as if considering Iselyn for the first time but didn’t appear to show much interest. “I’m not against it, but asking me to sponsor a Branded mage… What can such a disadvantaged first-year offer the Order?”

What are you saying you pompous shortie?! This was your idea in the first place! It was only thanks to her etiquette practice at the Vorshan’s that Ria was able to keep from blurting out her annoyance and quickly schooled her features back to neutral. That her academy preparations were cut short by the barbarian attack was a great regret, but nothing could be done about it now.

Iselyn seemed to take the indifference better though, and after a period of silence where she pressed her lips tight, the dark-haired girl seemed to come to a decision. “…I'm an Illusion Mage with a rare bloodline strong enough to earn me a regional sponsorship.”

Ria thought she saw the hint of a diabolical smile begin to form on Hulle's face before it was suppressed… but maybe it was just her imagination.

“Access to a restricted circle as a first-year, I suppose that could be useful, indeed,” Hulle allowed, but his eyes took on a calculating look as he leaned forward. “But I have two requirements first.”

Iselyn's eyes narrowed. “And those would be?”

A cruel faint smile slid its way onto the third-year's placid face. “First, you will commit to learning a second circle, so your opponents won't know whether your attacks are illusion or real. Second, you will commit to joining and training with the Order's team for the Grand Games.”

Ria felt just as stunned as Iselyn looked. Of course, an illusionist would be mostly useless once the enemy knew the attacks were illusions, but if some of the attacks were real...

Wait. Grand Games?

A derisive chuckle came from the other side of the room.

“Naturally, Nine Circle weirdos who still practice the banned magics would recruit a foreign heretic and a branded bastard,” the boy in the purple mantle sneered. “New first-years aren't going to be enough to save your team from last place in the Summer Games, much less let you come even close to challenging the top.”

A gasp came out of one of the girls, probably the curly-haired one.

Wasn't that too rude unless Iselyn really was a bastard…?

Ria was pretty sure she saw Hulle's eyebrow twitch this time, but his face remained undisturbed as he ignored the rude first-year. “Can you do that, Iselyn Jayre of Erime?”

“You've come here to intimidate us, but I'm not afraid of you,” the boy continued. “You're Hulle, the discarded spare of Novidus. That you're now with that loser Order shows just how far you've fallen!”

Ria glanced in the administrator's direction. The woman was showing the letters from Lord Vorshan and Master Rigure to a crystal ball sitting on her desk and holding a conversation with someone even though her mouth wasn't making any sounds.

“Know your place, first-year,” Aldri warned.

“There's no need to acknowledge a spoiled child's barking, Aldri.” Hulle waved the matter away as if it was of no concern. “Besides, it's common knowledge that the weakest dogs yap the loudest.”

“You wish! My smoke element is unbeatable, and I've already been recruited to join the Silver Lions!”

“Oh, Cousin Presius' Silver Lions, is it?” Hulle mused with mild interest. “So you caught his eye, did you? Perhaps a demonstration is in order? I'd be curious to see just what it takes to attract his interest.”

“Y-you! You think I'm a fool?!” the boy stuttered in outrage. “Everyone knows magic use in the Hall of Registrations and Advancement is against the rules! You're just trying to get me disqualified from the team!”

“Heh, well it was worth a try.” Hulle smiled gently… with evil eyes. “Now, if you're not interested in entertaining us, learn some manners and stop being an immature pest.”

The dark-haired boy's haughty face turned ugly with anger and a smokey haze began to appear around the boy.

“Tensley Exter.” The disapproving voice of the middle-aged mage cut through the tension, announcing the next student to be seen, and the smoke quickly dissipated leaving behind a pale first-year stiff with horror. “I'd appreciate it if you didn't provoke the first-years, Hulle Novidus—particularly, if you don't have any business here with the administrator or myself.”

“You have my apologies, Counselor Ledine.” Hulle ducked his head an appropriate amount. “I do still have business with the administrator, but as you can see, she is busy at the moment.”

“As I'm sure you are aware, soliciting is prohibited in the Special Student Services Administrative Office,” Counselor Ledine reminded then turned to the smoke boy. “Tensley Exter. You're next.”

“Ah-, yes, Counselor.” Smoke boy stiffly turned and followed the middle-aged mage into the adjoining office.

The stocky boy, Yentis, who was apparently done, waited for the scene to finish playing out before escaping out into the hallway in a fashion similar to the boy who left previously. Ria's attempt to give him a nice smile was received about the same as well.

“Wow. That smoke idiot was the one your grandfather chose to sponsor?” Aldri muttered in disbelief.

Hulle shrugged. “Grandfather tends to elevate unusual bloodlines and a wild-talent smoke mage would certainly be unusual. Fortunately, we were able to learn several things that will help us prepare in case he actually shows up on Cousin Presius' team during the events.”

“So, if I agree to learn a second circle and make a serious effort to participate in the Grand Games, I will get sponsored by a third-year from one of the Greater Houses?” Iselyn confirmed.

“Not just any of the Greater Houses,” Aldri added with a smirk.

Even Ria knew that House Novidus was considered the most powerful of the Greater Houses due to its control of the capital city and leadership of the High Council. Though a republic, Ulvari Novidus was effectively the country’s leader. The next most powerful Houses were House Versali, made up of former royals and royal branch families, and House Ravelle, which controlled the maritime Ithica province in the east.

Whether Hulle was aware or not, Ria already had a marginal connection to House Novidus through House Vorshan. As it turned out, not only was Keira’s aunt married into a branch line of House Novidus, but Keira had looked up Inquisitor Duelleres in the official genealogy book, and he was of the same branch of House Novidus that Keira’s aunt had married into. So, it made sense for Hulle to look similar to Duelleres.

Iselyn cautiously spoke up again, “For my second circle… I’m guessing Abjuration won’t work, and Elemental is the most obvious, but improving an attunement enough to be effective against skilled competitors would be difficult. With Alteration it might be possible to give my illusions physical or other properties such as intoxication, sleep, or confusion.”

Hulle looked pleased. “Yes. You are thinking about this correctly. But there’s no need to give up on Abjuration if you would pair your illusion magic with Summoning magic because, even though only one is required, both Abjuration and Spirit Magic are important prerequisites for safely controlling summoned beings. This path would be particularly well suited if your bloodline is demonic in origin, and at least in Summoning and Abjuration, Aldri here could mentor you.”

Aldri gave a thumbs-up, but with a nervous cough, Iselyn waved away the idea and glanced in Ria’s direction. “I’d rather not become Oathbound, if you don’t mind.”

“True, such a skillset would certainly attract recruitment interest from the Inquisitors,” Hulle admitted. “But if you were serious about it, I would be interested enough to assist with the approvals even though it would likely require a multi-year effort. On the other hand, if your bloodline is Elven in origin, you might have a natural predisposition to Nature magic. Barbed tentacles are rather useful for restraining opponents and propelled needles can be used to physically deliver toxins.”

He paused to gauge her interest, and Iselyn didn’t seem as resistant to that idea.

Ria caught the tail end of some appalled whispers exchanged between the two lighter-haired girls still waiting their turn to meet with the counselor. They were of the opinion that someone branded as mind-mage learning Summoning and Spirit Magic would be a danger to all Crysellia…

“If you were to decide on the safe choice of Alteration, a familiar could provide a limited utility similar to the other paths depending on the particulars of the familiar,” Hulle advised then turned the open book around and placed it so Ria and Iselyn could read it. “Speaking of familiars, Ria, you and your familiar would benefit from taking the Familiar Empowering and Combat Training class.”

Ria started to read over the course description but couldn’t help objecting when she got to the part about practice duels among the familiars, “But Ranger’s just a farm dog.”

“You made a farm dog into your familiar?” Iselyn asked, aghast.

“Ranger’s been a great familiar! He’s become much more intelligent since the binding. He’s loyal and has a strong sense of duty. He’s great at sensing enemies and tracking and has excellent smell, eye-sight, and hearing,” Ria enthused.

“Woof!” Ranger affirmed.

“He may have been a simple farm dog before, but with his current energy density, he’s more similar to a magic beast now,” Hulle corrected. “Coddling him will only hold his development back. And I’m sure your familiar would rather fight by your side than watch your duels.”

“Woof!” Ranger loudly and eagerly agreed.

The third-year's assessment and Ranger’s enthusiasm took Ria by surprise. Ranger had become stronger and was a big help that time the barbarian warriors and shamans tunneled under the village wall to get past Master Rigure’s barrier and made it into the village. But it was scary not being able to stop Ranger from getting injured during the fight. “Are you sure, Ranger? You’ll be competing with magic beasts and elementals, and I’m sure you remember how much trouble you had against the slimes...”

“Rar-roof! Roof!”

The Silent Sky girl snorted and whispered something to the curly-haired girl, causing both to start quietly laughing.

“Alright, Ranger,” Ria answered her familiar. “We’ll take the class. I’m sorry, I should have realized how important that would be to you.”

Ranger gave her an excited bark and his tail started thumping as he communicated that he would do his best to get stronger.

“I’m curious about your familiar contract. Where did you find it?” Hulle asked then added, “If you don’t mind talking about it.”

Ria shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all. I have an old beginner’s grimoire by Luventi, and I found it there.”

Right after she said it, Ria realized she might have made a mistake. If she no longer had a shamanic license, was she still allowed to own her grimoire that contained restricted magic?

Hulle’s raised eyebrow didn’t reassure her any either, but Aldri was the one who jumped in and asked, “Is that why you wanted to join the Sages of the Nine Circles?”

Ria nodded enthusiastically, thankful for the change in direction of the conversation. “Yes, it belonged to my best-friend’s grandmother and was how I first learned magic.”

“I think we should have the spell looked over by one of the elders in the Order,” Hulle told her. “There’s likely a reason for the changes to the standard familiar contract.”

Ria gulped, and slowly nodded. If there was something dangerous with the version of the contract she used... better to learn about it as soon as possible.

“I will need a place to contact you once I’ve arranged the meeting,” the third-year prompted. “You’ll need to bring the book with the spell or... at least a copy of the relevant pages.”

Ria quickly accessed her pouch's inventory for supplies and wrote down the address for the Vorshan estate in the capital, where she was staying.

“Your sponsor is a frontier lord, and you have a spatial storage?” Iselyn grumbled. “I think I’m jealous. House Benathi didn’t even pay for the better dorm suites that would’ve let me bring my maid.”

“Ria of Shadewood.”

Ria turned toward the voice calling her name. Rather than the counselor, Administrator Charise was waiting at the counter with her letters and guild membership.