The glamour of the palace was becoming routine to Alsace. She never thought such in your face wealth could become so blasé but apparently she had been wrong. No wonder the powerful forgot about those they ruled over. She walked out of the library and through the throne room. There were a number of Eradin’s so called advisors loitering around. As far as she could tell, they spent all day posturing and hoping that the Emperor showed them favour. They eyed her suspiciously as she passed through. Shockingly, Horace wasn’t amongst the hangers-on.

“Hello miss. Is there anything I can get for you?” One of the attendants approached her and her voice broke Alsace out of her own head.

“No thank you. I’m going to head back to my rooms I think.”

“Very well miss.” The attendant scuttled off.

She had no intention of going back to her rooms, but she couldn’t say that to her. She headed out of the throne room and took a turn as if she was heading to her chambers. Before she reached the stairs, there was a small separate entrance which the staff often used.

They would often use this slightly out of the way entrance to bring in supplies without getting in the way of the Emperor, whenever they couldn’t use a back entrance. The palace was after all labyrinthine in nature. She darted through the doorway and walked quickly through the tunnel. Before she knew it, she was approaching the gates. They had been strengthened since the last breach of the palace, when Jano and his friends had broken in and then their world had been turned upside down.

Thankfully, the Shimmer were largely outside of the city waiting on the Emperor’s further commands. Those which were stationed around the city, weren’t near the palace. With the Emperor in place, it was thought more security was redundant. It was getting late and the sky was thick set with bright orange, the kind which lights up the face of every passer-by. The weather in the city had improved ever since the Emperor returned and it sparked even more rumours about the power of their ruler. It wouldn’t be long until it was full-dark. There had been suspicious little rain.

“Excuse me Captain. Last minute errand” She said as she reached the guards.

They took one look at her and let her through, as they always did. The Emperor’s bottom feeders might look at her with disregard but to the outside world she was leagues above most in terms of station. She gave an approving nod as she walked through the cast iron gates.

“Of course my lady.” The Captain responded.

They might question her if she were to do this regularly, but she wasn’t stupid. Plus this time, she was acting in the instructions of the Emperor so they could question him if they liked.

She walked through the city. In the Mage’s quarters there were still busy restaurants and trainee Mage’s rushing around. A few months ago, she wouldn’t have been able to walk around this district without fear of imminent ejection. If not worse. Now she was a Class I Mage, and though she lacked the formal training of the others she was at least notionally off limits.

It brought a wry smile to her lips. She was heading to the University, she didn’t know why but then when Eradin issued a request, she wasn’t in the habit of asking too many questions.

She approached the massive stone building. It loomed over the city like an ancient grey creature, one that would outlast everyone who dared to walk near its grounds. In the courtyard was a huge procession of people with the Emperor at its centre. She sighed and began to head around the group.

“Excuse me. Are you Alsace?” A strange voice asked.

Alsace spun around. Uncomfortable and confused at such a frail voice finding her in the hubbub of the courtyard. A young small man stood before her. It wasn’t who she would have placed the voice to if she had been asked to choose from a selection of likely candidates. If she had to guess, it would have been an old man.

“I am Marlow. I think the Emperor mentioned me?” He asked.

“You’re his Archmage right?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yes I am. Follow me.” He led the way through the courtyard and away from the crowd. On the side of either wall, she could see the traces of a few of the Shimmer standing watch. It sent a small shiver down her spine. They went into a relatively ordinary gatehouse at the foot of the University.

It was bigger than it looked inside and she noticed a stairwell heading down which was lined by flickering torches. Marlow began heading downward and once more Alsace followed. As she got further down a bright purple light started to ebb towards her. It got brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. It was a huge black tablet looking thing which took up most of the wall. The light was being given off by writing, which was being ever scrawled across the tablet. There was nobody else in the room with them, so Alsace couldn’t tell who was writing on it.

“This way.” Marlow said, drawing her away from the source of the light. “That’s too dangerous for you right now.”

They reached a small room lined with books, a fireplace was set in the centre of the rear wall. It felt very homely to her, very different to the usual style of those who were close to the Emperor. He sat down in a plush crimson padded chair and rubbed his face with the vigour of a man who had been hard at work all day.

“So I understand you have had some training. Mainly self taught?” He said, without the condescension that she was expecting.

“That is correct, yes.”

“Ah good. Well that shows that you have the work ethic required at least. You wouldn’t believe the amount of pampered and primped up little twerps we get in the University who don’t have any intention of fulfilling what little potential they have.” He said and then worry flashed across his face. “Forgive me, it has been a long day.”

I bet I could, thought Dariea as she waved away his concerns. She smiled sympathetically. She didn’t trust the man to speak the words out loud. But it was a promising enough start, as far as the Emperor’s friends went.

“It is quite alright. I believe I am to receive some instruction from you? I thought the Emperor would be here..” she said looking around suspiciously.

“No no. I haven’t seen him in years, though we are indeed old friends. I am thankful he still trusts me enough to train his favourites.” He said with renewed vigour.

“I do not think that I am one of his favourites.” She quipped.

“Nonsense, you have been hand selected to lead one of our armies have you not? Or have I got that wrong?”

“No that much is true, but it doesn’t make me any kind of favourite.” She confirmed. “There are a large number of units to be commanded, mine is relatively small and unimportant in comparison.”

Marlow smiled kindly. “We will have to just disagree on that then. Let’s ignore the Emperor for now and get back to the matter of your training. I have been informed that you have been reading ‘Practical Applications of Thundering Water Runes’ which is particularly interesting.”

He started to rummage through a pile of books, they all looked well read. A cloud of dust funnelled up and Alsace had to cover her nose to keep from sneezing.

“If you are able to read the runes, which you clearly can. I recommend you learn the entire Thundering Water pathway, rather than starting in the middle.”

He plonked down a stack of books. “Call it homework for our next session. If you can read these three small introductory texts, then we will go over what you have learned and then I can judge for myself what I am dealing with.”

“Of course. Thank you.” She gave a small bow. She was hesitant, but for an Archmage, Marlow seemed remarkably nice.

“The pleasure is mine. It is not often I get to teach someone with real drive any more.”

“Now. Could you be so kind as to show me what you’ve learned so far?” He asked with a genuine smile.

“Oh - it is… well it is nothing much.” She said.

“Don’t speak down to yourself. It is a dirty habit that too many people allow themselves. Sooner or later, all you end up saying to yourself is negativity; and I can’t have that in a student. Now, please proceed. Actually, two seconds.”

Marlow concentrated for a brief moment, his rather scattered nature completely gone. A bright white bubble encased the room, enveloping and covering all its contents.

“That’s just a small shielding spell for the room. Pay it no attention. Please, now proceed.”

She gathered water in her spirit. It was relatively easy, with all the vapor and water sources beneath the city. Alsace tried to remember the runes she had been studying and practicing in the small training chamber of the palace. She had practiced more than enough to be able to remember the small water beam, but the runes weren’t quite there all at once.

“Calm down and take a deep breath. There is no one attacking us, or anyone but us here. Take your time. I assure you everything is protected quite sufficiently.”

Alsace took a breath and cleared her mind. Her heartbeat was fast, she could feel it pounding into her chest. Another breath. She closed her eyes once more and focussed on the breath. A few moments later, she finally had it under control. She pictured the runes successfully and felt her spirit pour forth the essence required. She opened her eyes and focussed her will away from Marlow.

“Please focus right on me.” He said.

But, I… I can’t control it, she thought. She could not speak the words aloud without losing the technique.

“It will be fine.” He added a reassuring smile, just as Alsace had to use the technique or lose it. A thin but powerful shoot of water burst from her and headed straight for her teacher. If he had been expecting more time he didn’t show it.

He channeled the water around him as a whip and then spun it above his head, like a halo in the stories of old. After a few moments of that, he dropped the protective bubble and dispersed most of the water and directed the remainder into two small glasses on a nearby counter.

“Well that’s a good start. Shall we take a small break and then have another go?”

Alsace nodded and he offered the glass of water which she took with apprehension.

“Don’t worry, the water will be more than safe to drink. Water Mages used to be critical in the success of any long siege or war for that very reason.” He took a breath after a sip of water.

“But if you can already perform the techniques intended for the top rung of beginners, we are already further ahead than I had dreamed.” He said.

Her face lit up and she had to suppress a sizeable grin. “Thank you.” She managed without losing control of the gesture.