Winter 4986, 03 Ginmoth
The Guild bells weren't nearly as loud or insistent as those at Hamerfoss. Instead of waking her up, they seemed to merge with Lily's dream. When she finally did realize what she was hearing, she fell out of bed in surprise and horror at how much she'd slept in.
"Shit, shit, shit..." Lily tried to disentangle herself from her blankets, cursing all the while. She'd slept to seventh bell! Meaning she'd missed breakfast and her opportunity to keep up with the daily practices she'd started with the Squires. She would just have to find time to do them in the afternoon.
Bunching up her sheets, blankets, and fallen pillow all in one tangled ball, Lily threw the bedding back onto the mattress and dropped to her belly, reaching under the bed for her box of clothes. She'd been allowed to keep the three shirts and two pants the Hengist Paladins had gifted her, but Vevi had told her that the Guild would also provide some clothes until she could purchase her own. Finding the shallow chest, Lily jerked it out from under the bed and pushed the lid off with a clatter. Inside was a folded red garment, which made her smile. Despite the overexposure, red was a lovely color... But as she started to lift it from the box, her smile faded.
It was a long robe, open in the front, and meant to be tied closed at the waist. The same as every Mage in the tower. On the right breast was a patch with the symbol for 'fire' sewn on. Presumably to mark her as a Sorcerer. As if the scarlet color wasn't enough of a giveaway.
Lily tossed the robe aside but underneath was only an orange, then yellow, set of robes, followed by some undergarments. With a groan, she piled the new clothes back in the box and reached for the lid. Only then did she notice the note pinned to the top.
'Inclosed are your uniforms, be sure to wear them to every lesson. They are proof of your status as a ward and will be required to utilize the facilities.'
"Seriously?" Lily whispered in disbelief as she opened the box again. They expected her to not only wear a uniform but a robe? It might as well be a dress. And she wasn't even a Mage! Lily took out the first crimson robe again and narrowed her eyes at it. It was a very pretty color at least... Her eyes strayed to the sack of simple shirts and pants she'd hastily kicked under the bed the night before. She wanted to continue wearing pants. "Why am I even making a deal out of this...?" She continued to whisper to herself, "They're just clothes... something to keep from being naked in public..." which apparently wasn't acceptable.
She looked from the robe to her bag then to her robe again before being struck by inspiration and laughing out loud at her cleverness. Still giggling to herself, Lily pulled out her bag and fished out the fresh pair of pants and a clean shirt. She put them on first, then slipped on the robe and left it hanging open like a cloak with long sleeves. "There! best of both worlds." This way, she would still have the freedom of movement offered by the pants and the flowing elegance of the red robe. All without feeling like she was back in a dress.
Freshly clothed and well-rested, Lily rushed to the dining room. Maybe she could sneak something quick before they cleaned up breakfast if she promised not to be late again. When she entered the dining room, it was to find the place practically deserted, as expected, but with the magic plates and cups still stacked in their place.
Looking around to make sure no one would stop her, Lily tried, and failed, to move with a relaxed nonchalance towards the serving table only to jump when someone spoke from the side, "A bit early for breakfast, don't you think?" Lily spun around, hiding her empty plate guiltily behind her back and finding Han smiling at her from one of the tables near the wall.
"I um... slept through the bells..." Wait... Lily narrowed her eyes at the Battlemage, "Early?"
Han laughed and gestured to the spot across from him with his cup, "Most resident Mages don't even crawl their way out of bed until at least eighth bell. I assume the Paladins get up at some ungodly hour?"
Lily couldn't help but giggle at the thought of a Paladin doing anything 'ungodly,' "They get up at FIVE!" She explained, still as flabbergasted at the idea now as she'd been the day she found out, "And that's so they can run and do drills before breakfast." she took a moment to order her plate to produce some ham and bacon before she continued, "I just thought everyone woke up that early outside my tower, but now I might just sleep in."
Han chuckled at her and finished whatever it was he was drinking. It was dark brown and smelled intriguing, "Well, if I remember correctly, your classes start at nine, so don't sleep in too much."
"Why do I even have to take classes?" Lily asked, digging into her food and speaking around a mouth full of meat to finish, "I don't want to be a Mage." Everyone at her tower had claimed to be a Mage, and all they ever did was take samples and read reports. Sure, Brom and Ran had shown her some magic when the Archmage wasn't in the tower to catch them, but she had her own magic. Magic that didn't require her to twist her hands into knots or memorize alien languages just to light a candle.
"It's part of your Sorcerer training." Han explained with a shrug, "You don't have to advance to the higher-level classes if you don't want to, but you're expected to take classes until you pass your clearance exam."
Lily swallowed her mouthful before asking, "When can I take it? I already have control of my fire-"
Han looked doubtful, and Lily rolled her eyes, but before she could further defend herself, he answered, "You can request to take it whenever you want, but you only get three chances, so keep that in mind."
"What is the test?"
But Han just shook his head, "That I can't tell you." he held up a hand to forestall her argument over his promise, "Part of the test is not knowing beforehand. Give it some time. Most Sorcerers don't even try their first time until they've trained for a few years, and yet, still almost none pass that first time."
Lily tilted her head at him, "It can't possibly be that hard..."
Han shrugged, "Well, you said you've been working with your magic for..." he cleared his throat, "...at least a few years. Sorcerers in the kingdom are brought straight to the Mages Guild when their power awakens and train with it for years before taking their test. You are a special case only because you've already been training."
Han excused himself after explaining that the dining area never closed, so she could come at any time, day or night, and get something to eat. Lily sat in silent solitude as she finished her breakfast, letting her mind run through everything she'd already learned. For the first time, she was starting to feel a bit worried about the clearance exam. If she didn't pass after three tries, they would seal her magic permanently...
"They'll try..." Lily whispered to herself, shoving the last piece of bacon into her mouth and standing with a new and stubborn resolve. She would do her best to pass, but if she didn't, well, they would see exactly how dangerous fire could be when she stopped controlling it.
The beginner's lessons were just as dull as Lily had feared they would be, but that wasn't the worst part. She was the only Sorcerer in the class of five and was called to the front to introduce herself but then quickly relegated to the very back of the class, "As a safety precaution..." the instructor had said.
The class consisted of the first-year students, so those that had reached maturity the previous Spring Equinox, all ages thirteen to fourteen. Lily stood a full head taller than all of them and tried to smile warmly. Only to have half of them stare at her in what was clearly fear and the other half glare at her in disgust after the instructor explained exactly what a Sorcerer was. He hadn't even tried to hide his own contempt. Explaining to the students that where they would have to work hard to keep up with their studies or risk being rejected from the Mages Guild, she had magic naturally and was here to learn how not to use it.
Lily would've just rolled her eyes and ignored all that, if the lessons hadn't been so damn boring... They were apparently going through each of the elements in turn, learning their properties and the most common components that possessed the element. Each element took two months to study, and now they were going through ice. Lily had started out excitedly writing everything down, hoping she would learn something interesting to convey to Shon about his element. But by the end of three hours of lecture, she was thoroughly exhausted by it all.
On top of that, they were given extra assignments to be completed on their own time before being let go for lunch. "But Why?!" Lily exclaimed loudly after the instructor explained the assignment. A five-page essay detailing the importance of proper gathering techniques for ice element plant life, due in only two days. "It's classwork. Shouldn't that mean we do the work in class?" She looked around at the other students, looking for someone to agree with her, only to find four young faces glaring at her.
"The ability to find and compile your own data is paramount for magic study." the instructor sniffed dismissively at Lily, turning his back on her to erase the board before she could argue, "I will see you all promptly back here at first bell." -for another three-hour lesson...
Lily let out a slow breath to calm her frustration, reminding herself that she only needed to take these lessons until she passed her clearance exam. She tried to focus on the positive... The Mages Guild had given her a room and food whenever she wanted, AND was paying her five silver a week!
Though that was only if she agreed to help with their research...
Which meant giving samples.
She didn't want to think about that right now and instead shoved the entire train of thought and worry to the back of her mind, joining her fellow students for lunch.
Or tried to... Her class got a table together, with no room left for her to sit with them. Lily closed her eyes and imagined the Squires all sitting together, scooting over to make room for her, joking and laughing with all the years intermixed before going off to their own, abet shorter, lessons. She smiled to herself, as even in her mind's eye, Shon sat at the end, mostly alone and perfectly content in his solitude. If he could find comfort in eating without company, then she could too.
Lily moved towards an empty table, still thinking of Shon, when someone new shouted, waving her down, "Hey, you! New Sorcerer!" The boy was a few years older than her with pale blond hair cut so short Lily thought he was bald until she moved close enough to see the contrast with his smooth face. He wore a green robe and had an owl perched on his shoulder, its face hidden in its wing. On his right breast was a patch like hers but with the symbol for 'Air' embroidered on it.
The boy held his hand out to her, and Lily looked down at it, then back up without taking it, "My name's Lily, and I don't think you actually want to shake my hand."
The boy looked confused down at his palm and actually asked, "Why not?" so Lily took his proffered shake and was not at all surprised when he pulled sharply away after only brief contact. "Oh shit... I should've seen that coming." he blushed, rubbing his hand, "I expected you to be warm but not that warm." Lily could only shrug, taking the seat across from him.
She'd managed to feel the effect of his power before he pulled away, like the air between their palms was moving until just before they touched. His skin had been cool but not cold like Shon's. "I've never met an air Sorcerer before," Lily said to try and ease any awkwardness.
"Neither have I," he laughed and his owl let out a weary hoot, nipping his ear before returning its face to its wing, "Oh yeah, my name's Enrik, and I've never met another Sorcerer at all."
"Really? How long have you been here?" Lily asked. He'd obviously been here for over a year if he wasn't in the beginner's class with her.
Enrik sighed, staring at his plate, "Three years... I've already failed my exam once. And father says he might not let me try a third time if I fail again..."
Lily had started ordering when she stuttered over the words and her plate suddenly filled with crispy-looking insects, "What do you mean he 'won't let you?' You get three tries!"
The air Sorcerer curled his nose at her plate of bugs and chose to address that instead of her indignant exclamation on his behalf, "I'm going to assume you don't actually want roast bees?" he picked up his sandwich with one hand and pushed his now empty plate towards her with the other before finally addressing the shock still evident on her face, "My family's already spent my inheritance to pay for my training. We can't afford another full year."
Lily tilted her head at him, "The Mages are making you pay for training?"
"Well, yeah..." Enrik furrowed his brow at her, "They have to cover room and board as well as all the miscellaneous fees and insurance for any damage my power might cause while I'm here." he reached up to pet his owl, who ruffled its feathers at the contact, "You're family didn't tell you they had to pay for this? You some noble or something?"
Lily could only shake her head, momentarily lost for words. Other Sorcerers had to pay for the training that the kingdom required them to have to avoid being tattooed? What happened if someone couldn't afford it? Why didn't she have to pay for it? It didn't make any sense... weren't they paying her? She lost her appetite.
She swallowed but still didn't know what to say when a familiar voice called her name from the door, "Lily?" Mage Vevi was scanning the crowd of students and found her at the same time that Lily looked her way, "Could we have a word?" she called, gesturing out the door.
Lily pushed Enrik's offered plate back towards him with a muttered, "Thanks..." and took her own, still full of cooked bugs, to the trash and pile of dirty dishes. She took a moment for a calming breath before turning for Vevi and the door. It seemed she'd been doing that a lot today.
