Command of Magic

Insolent subjects are like stubborn cats – they may refuse to obey, but they still demand the royal treatment.

Command of Magic

The message arrived in the dead of night, a voice message of a mere 10 seconds, a burst of static and a familiar voice crackling through the phone:

[Shay, it's Des. Got the info you needed. Ronel's hiding out in a small village. Coordinates are in the attachment. Be careful. Des out.]

I listened to the message twice, letting the words sink in. Ronel Reisz, the legendary hunter, was within reach. But a small village... it was an unassuming place, the last spot anyone would expect to find someone like Ronel. Clever.

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, I gathered my friends. Rolo, still pale but determined, joined us at the table, his eyes sharp. Alex was already there, his face etched with readiness and concern.

"Des got back to me," I began, spreading a map on the table and marking the coordinates. "Ronel Reisz is hiding here, in a small village up north. It won't be easy to get to him, and we can expect him to be well-guarded despite the location."

Rolo leaned forward, studying the map intently. "That place is almost too quiet. Perfect for someone wanting to disappear. But if Ronel chose it, he's not just hiding. He's prepared for visitors."

"Exactly," Alex added, his voice a low growl. "The necromancer won't be far behind us if he gets wind of this."

I nodded, tracing a path with my finger. "We'll need to approach carefully. Blend in with the locals, gather intel discreetly. The mages will be essential here."

There was a tense silence as everyone absorbed the plan. The stakes were high, and the danger was real. But we had no choice. This was our best shot at gaining an edge over the necromancer.

"Rolo," I said, turning to him. "I need you to use your knowledge of magic to guide us through any wards or traps Ronel might have set up. I trust your judgment."

Rolo nodded, his eyes meeting mine with a determined glint. "I've got your back, Shay. But we need to be careful. Donna's magic felt... odd. We can't afford any surprises."

"Odd?"

Rolo's gaze remained fixed on me for a second as if he were searching for the right words.

"Yeah, Shay. Odd. Her magic felt... different. Almost as if it wasn't even magic at all," Rolo continued, his voice low and contemplative.

I furrowed my brow, considering Rolo's words carefully. Rolo's instincts about magic were sharp, honed over years of studying both its light and dark sides.

"I noticed something too," Alex interjected, his voice a rumbling growl. "Something about her smell seemed... off."

I glanced at Alex, noting the tension in his posture. He was always wary of magic users, especially those whose powers could sway the balance of a battle.

"I'll keep an eye on her," I assured him. "Rolo, watch for any signs of inconsistency in her magic. Alex, be vigilant. If anything seems amiss, we'll have to confront her. We all need to watch each other's backs as well. This mission is crucial, and we can't afford any mistakes."

Rolo nodded in agreement, his expression serious.

"Understood," replied Alex. 

As the sun fully rose, casting long shadows across the city, we finalized our plans.

Just as we settled into a tense silence, the air around us seemed to shift. A faint, ethereal presence filled the room, drawing our attention to the doorway where Donna, Iris and Gilbert stood, accompanied by Livius, the Sorcerer Lord himself.

"Apologies for the interruption," Livius said with a courteous nod, his eyes sweeping over our group. "I see you have the location."

It was a statement but I nodded anyway.

"My subjects have prepared a potent spell for transport," Livius added.

Iris stepped forward with a confident smile. "Yes, it's a port magic we've spent the night perfecting. It allows us to transport ourselves over wide distances in an instant."

Gilbert, the quieter of the mages, nodded in agreement. "It's a complex spell, one that requires precision and focus. But with Iris's expertise, Donna's magical power and my support, we've managed to create a stable portal."

Livius glanced around the room, his keen eyes assessing each of my friends. "It seems we have a diverse group here. Alex and Rolo — I've heard much about your exploits. And Rolo, if I'm not mistaken, this is your first time working alongside mages?"

Rolo straightened slightly, meeting Livius's gaze with a calm demeanor that belied the intensity in his eyes. "That's correct, my lord."

He sounded more humble und obidient than he was. Maybe because he was talking to a couple of the most powerful mages alive. Hm, how long will this last?

"Rolo," Livius began, his voice measured yet inquisitive, "I'm curious about your understanding of magic. Have you dabbled in its practice in-depth, or is your knowledge rather academic?"

Iris and Donna exchanged a surprised gaze and Gilbert focused his gaze on Rolo's figure as if seeing him the first time.

Rolo met Livius's gaze with a steady look, his expression thoughtful. "My lord, I've spent years studying magic from a theoretical standpoint. Of course, I can use a bit of magic but it's nothing extraordinary."

The three mages looked a bit dubious about the information but Livius hummed as if deep in thought.

"You know," Livius mused, "your magic could prove invaluable to us. Especially in matters like the port magic Iris and Gilbert have developed. You could also benefit from cooperating with my subjects, you can learn a lot from apprentices of the Sorcerer Lord himself, I am sure."

Iris looked uncertain, her brow furrowing slightly. "But my lord, the boy doesn't emit any magic. How could he assist with port magic?"

Gilbert nodded in agreement, his curiosity piqued. "It's true, my lord. I sensed no magic from him."

Rolo remained calm despite the scrutiny.

"Magic isn't always about what you can sense," he explained. "Magic isn't always about the outward display of power. It's also about knowledge and technique. My studies have focused on the underlying mechanics rather than the outward manifestation."

Iris exchanged a glance with Gilbert, a silent passing between them. It seemed they had underestimated Rolo's knowledge and appreciation of magic.

Livius leaned forward, his gaze shifting to Rolo. "Rolo, show me your magic."

Maybe he wanted his subjects to understand Rolo's qualities better or maybe he was curious himself.

Rolo met Livius's gaze with a steady look, his expression thoughtful. "My lord, while I possess some ability, I prefer not to expend it needlessly."

Livius frowned slightly, clearly taken aback by Rolo's reluctance. "I understand your caution, but I wish to see what you can do. Show me."

It was clear that Livius was not going to let it go. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alex take a few steps towards Rolo, presumably to step in front of him. But there was no need. 

"Sorcerer Lord, you do not command me," Rolo declared with the utmost calm.

Alex stopped and a slow smile appeared on his lips. I sent him a pleased, mischievous look. His smile widened. I led my gaze back to the show.

Livius's eyes widened as if wondering if he had heard wrong. Donna's intense gaze focused on Rolo, Gilbert looked at him with round eyes in astonishment, and Iris was opening and closing her mouth as if not finding the right words yet to reprimand Rolo.

"Is everyone in your famiglia so insolent?" Livius asked with a hint of irritation in his tone.

Rolo's lips curled up slightly as if he were incredibly pleased with himself.

"Probably," I replied casually.

"Shouldn't you reprimand him?" Livius turned to me a tad bit more irritated.

"No," I said. "It wouldn't do any good anyway. The reason he's so insolent is because he knows full well I'd defend him against you any day."

Livius was visibly surprised, his expression one of disbelief. "What?"

"So stop commanding my men, Livius," I added, my tone uncompromising. "I'm the only one who commands him."

Although I didn't turn toward him, I could see from the corner of my eyes that Rolo was grinning.

There was perhaps no one who had allowed himself to be so callous with this mighty wizard for a long time. Livius looked wide-eyed for a moment, then simply chuckled.

"I think I know who he learned it from."

I shrugged. Rolo was an insolent brat from the start.

"Rolo, help with the control of the magic," I said to him. "You don't have to use your own power."

"Yes," Rolo answered. 

Rolo hardly replied Iris interrupted. "The magic of others is particularly difficult to control. Especially if you won't use your own to tame the other."

"And?" I raised an eyebrow.

"As a beginner, it's especially too challenging. He can get hurt, and the magic can become uncontrollable," she continued.

"He'll manage," I said.

"But..."

"He'll manage," I interrupted.

There was no room for objection and Livius himself nodded, so they had no choice but to leave it at that.

Iris and Gilbert began to prepare for the port magic. Donna herself only concentrated on the steady supply of magical power. They positioned themselves in a strategic formation, hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as they chanted incantations. The atmosphere around them shimmered with latent energy, intensifying with each passing moment.

Rolo stepped forward, his expression focused and determined. He observed the intricate patterns formed by Iris and Gilbert, analyzing the flow of magical energy with keen eyes. Despite not emitting any visible magic himself, Rolo's understanding of magical theory allowed him to grasp the nuances of their spellcasting.

With a subtle gesture and a faint ripple of concentration, Rolo began to manipulate the magical energies around him. His movements were precise, his mind connecting with the weave of Iris and Gilbert's spellwork. It was a delicate dance of control, unseen but palpable in its effect.

Iris, entranced by Rolo's effortless manipulation of magic, couldn't tear her eyes away from him. She may not have witnessed such mastery over magical currents before, where one mage seamlessly influenced another's spellcasting without direct intervention with their own magic.

Lost in her awe, Iris momentarily faltered in maintaining the stability of the portal's formation. A faint tremor ran through the edges of the portal, a subtle indication of the disruption caused by her distraction.

Gilbert, sensing the fluctuation, narrowed his eyes in concern. He quickly readjusted his focus and was about to reinforce the magical framework to stabilize the portal once more.

Rolo, sensing the minor issue, smoothly corrected the imbalance with a gentle adjustment of his mental focus. The magical energies realigned seamlessly under his guidance, restoring the portal's stability with an almost imperceptible shift. His swift decision, precise gestures and calm demeanor proved extraordinary knowledge and sense of magic. 

Livius, observing the scene with keen interest, couldn't help but be impressed by Rolo's prowess.

"Remarkable," he murmured, his admiration evident in his voice.

Rolo did not acknowledge the compliment, his concentration unwavering as he continued to support Iris and Gilbert in maintaining the portal.

"Let's keep the flow steady," he advised calmly, his voice carrying an authority that could not suit a kid.

Together, they resumed their focused efforts, pouring their combined energies into the portal's formation. The room hummed with magical resonance, a testament to their synchronized teamwork.

As the portal stabilized once more, casting a radiant glow across the room, Rolo's skill in manipulating magic without overt display had left an indelible impression on the mages present. He may not emit magic like them but he made it clear that his control of magic was far superior to them.

"I can't wait to see your magic," hummed Livius.

Rolo ignored him. "We should hurry."

If he was disappointed by the clear refusal, the Sorcerer Lord did not show it this time.