[Professor Celia]

“Yes, Dominer Beilen. I want to research how we wield mana” Celia replied. A shiver ran down her body as her stomach lurched with doubt.

'Am I giving the right answer. Are they satisfied with it? Maybe I should explain a little more.'

Eleven of the most respected Mage in all of the Othean Empire were gathered before her, holding her dream in their palms. Either, they would accept her proposal and a world of mind-numbing work awaited her, or she would end up slaving away, creating destruction.

She did not possess a very strong mana pool, unable to develop it further no matter how hard she tried. This immediately relegated her from most of the prestigious Magic jobs. But she did not lose hope. All she wished for was a world where the weak did not have to live every day fearing for their lives. For realizing that dream, she worked hard, day and night to finally become a Scholar at the Cathedral Mage Institute, Lady Celia. But unlike the rest of her fellow Scholars, she was not interested in researching potions, spells and wands for the Imperial army.

“Another one? You will find no answer to your research Lady Celia. You might as well become a philosopher now,” Dominer Beilen, his chair croaking under the weight.

“I-” she started, but did not know how to explain herself.

People had just started learning to use magic consciously. But no one bothered figuring how is it that humans wielded magic in the first place. They scavenged whatever magic they could get their hands on, only to do what they had been doing for ages before, kill one another.

She wanted to say it all, but no words came out of her mouth.

“How about,” the frail old man sitting at the centre spoke. His purple robe distinguishing him from the rest in black. He spoke softly, but the room fell silent as everyone listened with rapt attention. Even at his old age, no one dared offend Grand Dominer Stok. “How about ten years?”

Silence reigned in the room. The others on the table looked at one another trying to understand, expecting the Grand Dominer to explain. But everyone kept silent. No one dared to speak, fearing it was just a long pause, that the Grand Dominer had not finished speaking.

Finally, after a minute of silence, Celia reasoned that it would be rude not to reply back. But just as she opened her mouth, the Grand Dominer spoke again.

“Umm, umm,” he voiced, “My throat isn’t what it used to be before. Where was I? Yes, yes. In ten years, In ten years, if you have no results to show, you will work in the Armory till you retire. Do you agree?”

The Grand Dominer stopped speaking again, but this time, a clamour arose among the Council.

“Grand Dominer agreed to it?”

“But it’s a waste of talent. There is nothing to find there,”

“The Armory if she fails, she is bound to refuse.”

The other Dominer’s spoke in hushed voices just loud enough to reach her ears. The Armory was the most thankless job amongst all in the Cathedral. The mages assigned to it would craft low-level runes on weapons for disposable foot-soldiers. It was a poor man’s job with little pay and no scope of rubbing shoes with the Royal family. It was a dead-end job.

“I accept,” Celia replied. She did not want to end up in the Armory, but it would be worse to give up on her dreams now when she was so close, she reasoned.

“Good, good,” Grand Dominer Stok whispered softly. “Dominer Karl, let the girl know our decision then.”

“Yes Grand Dominer Stok,” the man sitting to the left of the Grand Dominer stood up from his seat. Among all the grey men before her, Dominer Karl was an absolute exception. The mage with the physique no less than that of a warrior, Dominer Karl was renowned for his achievements in battle and was known among the masses by the moniker Battle Mage.

“Lady Celia, you have been granted by the Council a ten-year period to research independently the fundamentals of magic,” He paused. “If any in the Council of Ministers has objections, may they raise it now.”,

No one opposed. Hesitation was apparent on many faces, but no one voiced any opposition. They would not dare go against a research approved by the Grand Dominer himself.

Her heart beat through her chest, a nervous smile crept up her face. She was at the precipice of fulfilling her lifelong dream.

“Lady Celia please step forward.” Karl’s voice resounded.

Her footsteps echoed throughout the room as she made her way up to the mahogany table to stand before Karl Mage.

“By the power vested with the Council, in the name of the King and the Regent, I confer you the title of Sage,” Karl’s voice boomed as he put a book-shaped pin on her robes.

Celia backed away and bowed to the Council, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I will try and live up to the duty bestowed upon me,” she replied before bowing back to her spot.

“My acolyte will show you to your study,” Karl said, clapping twice.

A young girl in faded tunic and slacks ran in and bowed. Strands of hair fell loose from her braid onto her ruffled face.

“Show Sage Celia to her study and answer any questions he may have,” Karl said while flipping through a bundle of parchments on his table, Not sparing the acolyte or Celia another glance.

Celia gave a slight bow before walking out when the Grand Dominer’s soft voice echoed through the vacant chamber again.

“Sage Celia. Come to my chamber at eight,” he wheezed a smile.

A chorus of screeching chairs followed. It was well known among all at the Cathedral that the Grand Dominer did not give audience to anyone without it being an absolute necessity. To the extent that there would be months on end that no one would catch a glimpse of the old scrooge, only for him to appear out of his study one day to prove all speculations of his death false.

‘But why does he want to meet me,’ she wondered. But no matter what the reason was, this would not earn her any goodwill among the other Researchers, that was certain. No one liked the teacher’s pet after all. She had no option to decline the invitation so she did the only thing she could.

With a bow and a polite smile, she replied, “Yes Grand Dominer.”

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The acolyte silently led Celia through the wide corridors of the Cathedral wordlessly and up the spiral staircase to the upper floor. A grand archway carved out of blue-marble welcomed her as soon as she stepped onto the mysterious and prohibited place. She took the sight in.

This was the inner sanctum of the Cathedral, a place where only a few selected ever stepped into, where Sages among Researchers could spend their time buried away in their work. Every Council member was a Sage and only a Sages could ever be a part of the Council of Ministers.

“Lady Celia, this way,” the little girl spoke in a timid voice.

Celia did not even realize that he was had stopped, to stare at the archway.

“Yes of course,” she smiled politely at the acolyte, following her.

The archway opened up to a long corridor with rooms along one side and an open space to the other.

“This is the common Library My Lady, and these are the private studies of all the Lords. Here is yours,” the girl said pointing at the third door. “But most Sages do not work here, they find the places too small. Instead, they rent out the bigger studies upstairs. Those are supposed to have better Magi resonance as well.”

“I am sure this will be just fine,” Celia smiled.

She reached out and touched the door, the plaque above it already had her name engraved on it. “Celia Asenka” it read.

“Oh, before you leave, do you know which one is the Grand Dominer’s study?” Celia asked, putting her dreams on hold.

“My Lady, the Council Members have private studies upstairs, but the Grand Dominer doesn’t sit with them,” she said tensed, fear and apprehension evident on her face. “His study is in the Royal Palace.”

The Cathedral was considered to be the centre of the Othean Empire’s power. Youth from all over the world beelined their way to the Cathedral every year in hopes of being accepted as a Scholar. But while Researchers and Scholars of the Cathedral only had access to the outer premises, the Sages had the access to the upper floors as well. But in spite of all this, the main hub of power in the Empire was in the structure looming behind the Cathedral. The Royal Palace of the Othean Empire.

It would make sense that the Grand Dominer had a separate study from the rest, in the Royal Palace. After all, he was not just a Mage, but a member of the royal family as well.

“Thank you for your assistance Miss-” Celia started. With a soft smile, she asked, “What is your name little girl?”

“My-my name?” the girl stuttered, “I am just Sage Karl’s acolyte my Lady”

“But you must have a name, right?” she asked, with a hearty laugh. There was something off about the way the girl was behaving, but she just could not put her finger on it.

“I am sorry My Lady. I am only a commoner right now. Lord Karl has promised me to give me a new name when I have earned one. Before that happens, you can call me acolyte” she replied, her eyes looking on the ground.

Celia did not know what to say to that. Mages from nobility did not approve of Commoner’s rising to the rank of Researchers and Scholars of the Cathedral, but this was different, it was worse.

“Don’t worry then, you have done a good job. Tell Lord Karl, I wished him my gratitude for providing me with such an able Acolyte to show me around,” she replied. She would do no good by antagonizing the Sages. It would only make the girl’s life worse if she did something to upset Lord Karl now.

‘One day. When I become a Dominer,’ Celia vowed. She looked at the acolyte scuttling away and sighed in dismay.

She turned around and after a deep breath pushed the door ajar and walked into the study, her new residence. It was a spacious laboratory, with a bed on one end, an empty shelf, and even a large desk and a chair. It was everything she hard-worked all her life for. It was perfect.

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Celia spent the rest of the day arranging her clothes books and notes in place. Before long it was dark. She looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It was thirty past six.

‘I better get ready,’ she decided. She took a quick shower and for the first time, donned a white robe, the robe of the Sages.

She looked at her reflection on the mirror. At five feet three, she was rather tiny but she felt wiser with the white. She combed her wiry red air into a tight bun. And after one final look at the mirror hopped her way out the room.

The appointment was for eight and it was only a little past seven. But she reasoned that it would be better she reached early than keep royalty waiting on her.

The King-Regent built the Cathedral as an institute to learn magic. But he was fearful that the enemies of the Empire would destroy it in spite. So, to ensure that no hostile forces could caste its gaze upon it, built it right in front of the Palace itself, with the entrance to the Royal Palace going through the Cathedral itself.

Celia walked up to the gates of the Palace, unnerved by Researchers and Scholars bowing in respect when they saw the white robe on her.

“My Lady Sage, may I know the purpose of your visit to the Palace?” a guard at the gates to the Palace asked with a slight bow.

“I am here to meet the Grand Dominer,” she replied, her heart fluttering anxiously. It was unreal to see the soldiers decked in enchanted armour bow down to her.

“I am afraid the Grand Dominer is busy My Lady,” the second guard replied without a moment’s pause, the line seemingly rehearsed a thousand times.

“But he had asked me to meet him just today?” Celia replied bewildered. The Grand Dominer was known to have a short temper and an even shorter memory for futile matters. But this was too quick. Could it be that the Grand Dominer really forgot about the invitation after all?

She waited as the two guards shared a look between them before one asked, “My Lady, may I ask you for your name.”

“I am Celia, Sage Celia Asenka,” she replied unsure of how to address herself. It was weird to call herself a Sage.

“Lady Celia, please forgive our insolence,” the first guard immediately bowed, “When the Grand Dominer said he was expecting a visitor, we did not expect it to be a-” he corrected himself in a hurry, “we did not expect the Sage to be so young.”

“No apologies needed. You don’t need to bow down,” she said quickly. Such comments were fairly routine for her. “But can someone please show me the way to the Grand Dominer’s chambers. I do not want to be late for the meeting.”

Despite being so close, she had never actually entered the Royal Castle. The black granite structure rose into the sky like a giant dragon, dwarfing anyone that stood before it.

“Of course, My Lady. I will show you to him myself.” The first guard said.

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“We are here My Lady,” the soldier said, jolting Celia walking behind to an abrupt halt. The walk was much shorter than she expected. She had no idea when she had walked past the gardens and into the castle itself.

“Thank you,” she smiled a nodded at the guard. As the guard departed, she found herself was standing before a large double-door at the end of a long corridor. lit with torches A red carpet lined along the middle of the floor lined by intermittent soldiers at some distance apart standing taut as a string.

A moment later she looked back at the massive double doors, with two soldiers on its either sides.

“My Lady Celia, Lord Grand Dominir Stok has asked me to send you in as soon as you reach,” the guard spoke as soon as she reached close. He pulled the door open for her and added, “Please go on this way.”

Pensively she walked in to find herself in a large suite. The place was larger than the chamber of the Council of Minister.

Her eyes were easily drawn up at the mesmerizing chandeliers embedded with mana-stones spilling a yellow hue, lighting up the place brightly. The walls too were draped in silk woven curtains and exquisite mural paintings.

But the site on the ground was a polar opposite. Books, parchments and empty bottles and quills were strewn about and glass vessels filled with rainbow-coloured liquids huddled together in another corner.

Finally, she caught a glimpse of the Grand Dominer, sitting behind a scabbed desk at the end of the room, surrounded by flasks with shades of green slewing in them. Lord Stok was busy furiously scribbling away on parchment, without a glance to spare.

She walked a little closer before standing still, waiting for the old man to finish his work, astounded by the zeal in the dying man while at work. His eyes were alive with passion as he scribbled without pause.

A couple of minutes past, Lord Stok finally stopped and looked at the ceiling, drawing a deep breath. Age seemingly setting in as soon as he let go off the pen.

“Aah! If it is not the new Sage, Lady Celia. Welcome, I hope I have not kept you waiting too long.” the old man gave a toothless smile. “After all you only have ten years.”

“No, My Lord, it was only a few minutes,” Celia bowed politely

“Good, good,” Lord Stok replied, “Please have a seat.”

Celia promptly walked over to sit on the empty chair opposite Lord Stok.

“When you get old like me, you understand the futility of using magic just for the sake of it. Alchemical blasts, poisons, fire-blades, healing water, I have made them all. But it is only now that I now realize. What is even the use of it all? I have spent my entire life doing just that. But to what end? It's only now that I realize that I was wrong all along, I was an ignorant fool that juggled without ever understanding why the ball came down,” the old man blathered. “But you, you are young and driven. I could see the fire in you and I just did not have it in my heart to snuff it out. Go, chase your dream!”

She did not know what to make of it and instead replied with a courteous “Thank you.”

“Tell me, young lady. Do you think we will be able to tell one’s family heritage if we can determine their magical paths?” the old man asked with a warm smile.

“Yes, My Lord,” Celia immediately replied, sitting up. It finally set in that the Grand Dominer of the Othean Empire was endorsing her research. Finally, there was someone with whom she could discuss her life’s dream without being mocked. “We will be able to reunite lost families and even carry out research on diseases. My Lord, I feel if we can just understand Mana-paths, we will be able to explore so many new avenues apart from using magic just for war and-.”

She stopped midsentence.

Lord Stok chuckled, “It is good to know that there is at least someone who dreams of a peaceful world.”

She let out a sigh of relief and her face flushed red. She had just blurted out her sentiments against the war before the royal family of the largest conquering force in the continent!

“If you need anything or have anything you want to discuss your research, my doors are always open for you,” Lord Stok assured her.

“If you don’t mind me asking My Lord,” Celia asked a moment later. “If you believe that this is important, why did you only give me ten years?”

Lord Stok sat in silence for a moment before answering, “The importance of what you are doing in undeniable. But even the best amongst us do not always possess the ability to do what we dream.”

Silence reigned in the room as the Grand Dominer finished speaking. She did not know how to reply to Lord Stok’s blatant doubt on her abilities. Nothing to say, she remained silent.

Celia spent the next ten years trying to find the answers to how humans use magic but year after year, she failed and ended in Armory. But it was there while burning runes into metal that she finally found the answers. She rushed to the Grand Dominer to share her find and was celebrated as a true Sage. Even being elevated to become a Dominer herself. But her joy was short-lived.

The treachery of the Empire forced her to flee the Cathedral and roam the villages teaching magic to children, living in disguise. It was there that she came to be known as the Professor. She taught hundreds of children and many became legends in their own right.

But there were three Salvus, Soloman and Grimwar.

The world saw them as many things but she knew them for what they were. A Beast that saw good from evils; a Hero that became a Monster; and a Hero mistaken to be a Monster.

-Excerpt from the destroyed diaries of Professor Celia