Micah - 1.0

"A single mote of will, the amount of energy to make a spark the size of my fingernail." I read aloud from the first book my uncle gifted me. "Every man born can make a spark from mana, but only those truly gifted can form something fantastical." 

Pointing my index finger upwards, I concentrated on the air above my finger. My will commanded every fiber of my body to ignite. 

'Nothing. A man without mana.'

I set Magnar Munthe's Modern Magicians' Manuscript down on my desk next to a stack of used books, parts for trinkets, ingredients for Alchemy, and the tools to process both. I arose from my table and passed by my hay mattress to reach the door. 

After opening the door, I saw at the end of the hall my mother preparing breakfast. Heading to the kitchen, I passed hung portraits of my Grandfather, Alacaster Morley, my Uncle, Ulysses Morley, and my Father, Brigham Morley. I approached the counter where she had laid out ingredients for her breakfast.

"Morning mother."

"Bread and cheese. Here's 12. That should be enough for something you want as well." she replied.

I grabbed the small sack from her hand and opened the front door. The cool Autumn air made my skin tingle. My eyes adjusted to the vivid light outside, as I caught in the face a bright flash of a performer's magic. I turned my head and caught the breeze carrying the scent of fresh smoked meats from a street vendor on the cobblestone street to my left.

I made my way through the crowd finding my way through lesser streets to the stores I needed. First is Mister Dermot's cart. He always brings fresh cheese from the Farms outside the city's walls. I walked up to the aged man with a shiny top and long sideburns just as he finished another sale.

"One big round please."

"Micah, of course! Today, that'll be two Gold." Mister Dermot responded.

"Are you sure, sir? That's basically free."

"Don't spoil my goodwill with hesitation. Two. Gold." He said with a smile as he climbed up the back of his wagon.

He lifted up a cheese wheel the size of a hound and jumped off the cart. With a thud, his waning figure landed on his feet with the cheddar firmly in hand. I retrieved one Mark from the sack that my mother supplied. 

"If you would please put it in the bracelet." 

"Sorry boy. I have trouble remembering." with a pitiful glance his hand glowed and my bracelet trapped the cheese inside. 

"Thank you, sir." 

I handed Mister Dermot the Mark which he slipped into a sack on his waist. Then, he pulled from the sack 14 Gold in change. I took the coins and waved bye, setting off into the crowd once more. 

I passed an alley with several children spinning tales of past champions of Martial Tournaments. The largest of the children conjured images of weapons and warriors. The pictures shifted into exchanges of blows and bloodied figures as the story progressed. I sat mesmerized by such a fine use of Aether.

As the story climaxed with Sebastian Beswick defeating Kaelan Caister in the final match, I tried outstretching my hand to express my own magic before a passing cart splashed frigid water upon me, shaking me loose from the story and my daydream. I cut through the next alley to shorten my trip to the Market Square.

In the center of Aune City was the Market Square, a large empty lot of cobblestone where merchants and artisans set stalls and mats to peddle their wares. I passed robed individuals hovering just off the ground, drifting from stall to stall. Twice someone's familiar bumped me to make way for their master.

Visiting several bakers, I shopped around to find the day's best price for bread. Today the best offer was a dozen loaves for the price of half a Gold. The lady with the bread boxes reached out with a smile. She handed me 8 Tanner in change and kindly activated my bracelet to store the goods inside. 

Having completed my assignment, I was left with a great sum of money. I made my way to the tinker shops between the Market Square and the Academy Ward. I squeezed through two street stalls into Miss Iliana's shop. The bell she has attached to above her door rang as I stepped in. 

Miss Iliana sounded out from the rafters. "Dear guest, just one minute!"

She began to climb down a ladder from her storage attic. She always kept her hair in a tight braid and bun upon the back of her head. Her skin revealed the slightest trace of wrinkles, but her collection of works revealed her decades of passion. She turned away as her feet touched the ground and adjusted her spectacles. 

She recognized me not as a customer, but a beggar. In a relaxed voice, Miss Iliana said, "Is jus' you Micah? 'Dis soon? It's on' been two days. I'm'fraid I'ven' much s'raps."

"Actually Miss Iliana, today I would like to make a purchase."

"In that case, sir, what may I help you with?" Iliana replied with a professional tone. 

"I am looking for a particular instrument. One to make wire hollow." 

With a slight nod, she replied, "I am afraid sir, I have not that sort of thing." 

Sighing, "I guess then I will have any scraps you might need disposing of."

Miss Iliana reached below her counter and retrieved a few odd bits and loose ends. She added them into my bracelet. Afterwards, I handed Miss Iliana a few small golds as a token of appreciation, to which she smiled. I turned to leave.

"Micah, 'dis too." Miss Iliana added. 

I glanced back and saw a small pouch flying my way. It bounced off my shoulder and fell into my hands. I shot an inquisitive look at Miss Iliana and she just shewed me out of her shop. On her doorstep, I pulled the string loose and saw a gem inside. 

A genuine Aurorian Crystal. Along with a small note, 'Don'cha dare disrespect me by refusing my gift.' By Torin's name, that lavender gem could buy anyone a decent life for years. I quickly hid the pouch in my shirt.

I left the shop and headed for my Alchemy teacher. He lived a Ward over, near the Gardens. His shop was all but deserted, and he was dozing off in his chair behind his desk. As soon as I opened the door, his eyes parted and caught mine. 

"Apprentice, what brings you here today? I'm afraid until you submit the assignment that I don't have anything else to teach you." 

"That's exactly why I'm here, Mister Eoric. Do you have any hearthfire berries?"

With a wide grin, Mister Eoric reached below his desk and opened the drawer. From within he pulled a sack the size of my head. "Free of charge, in honor of today." 

He put the sack into my bracelet. 

"I look forward to your success, Young Apprentice. Your work is always of the finest quality. I'm sure this potion won't tarnish your track record." 

"Thank you Mister Eoric." 

I turned and made for the Citadel Ward, where my former artifice teacher resides. I found a lavish carriage outfront, drawn by two griffons. A creature combined from the face and wings of an eagle with the size and body of a lion. I shuffled past the carriage and onto the steps of Mister Larkin's shop. As I approached the door, I overheard an argument. 

A refined, aged voice rang out from behind the shop door, "Young Master Munthe, I simply do not have any spare Aurorian Crystals. Nevermind a linked set of 16!" 

Secondly, a more youthful agitated tone rebutted, "You disappoint me Larkin, I thought a man with your talents would surely." 

I opened the door to find a boy about my age with an angered expression pointing forcefully at Mistser Larkin's face. They turned to face me as I entered the store. 

"Young Master Morley! A pleasant surprise as always!" Mister Larkin greeted. 

The boy turned back to Mister Larkin, "I will send a courier in two lunar cycles. I hope you can find a set." Then he quickly turned, fast enough for the edges of his white cloak to spin in the air. Just as he exited the shop, he glanced back with a stern expression "Two cycles."

"Everything alright?" 

"Just the son of a big man thinking he is as big as his father." Mister Larkin explained. "Don't pay him any mind. Magnar wouldn't let him do anything violent." 

"Magnar? Magnar Munthe? The Allrquin! Seriously, that snub-nosed boy is his son?"

"The same." Mister Larkin patted off his coat. "As for you, I do not have more bits and bobs to throw out, but I do have something for you." 

He walked into his second room where he keeps his workshop separate from his saleshop. Loud scraping sounds of metal on wood rang out from the other room. Poking my head around the doorway, I saw Mister Larkin struggling to pull a large iron chest into the saleshop.

"Let me help you sir!" I exclaimed as I rushed over. 

"Not a chance boy, I'm not too old to give someone a gift on their birthday." He responded and backed up into me, pushing me back out the doorway. 

He returned by pulling a chest into the light and began to trace his finger into a carved sigil, the grooves lighting up as he traced over them. The chest flashed the same pattern on all sides and then swung open to reveal 5 black crystals laid into golden velvet.

 "I chanced upon these from a wayward magician in a bar. He lost a drinking contest with this old man. I put up my shop and he put up his take from an exploration of the Balderstone's Ruins."

I kneeled down and picked up one of the cabbage-sized shards. They were cold to the touch. In the blackness I could see my reflection. I gazed into them with wonder. 

'Three? Unbelievable.'

"I knew they would fascinate you. The magician warned me not to touch them. They suck in any mana they contact. I figured you could think of some interesting uses for them. Happy Birthday Micah Morley." 

"I… I could not possibly-"

Mister Larkin cut me off "You can and you will. You learned everything I had to teach in just a year. These gems will be far more useful to you than to me."

"The least I can do is buy something else too. I am looking for a tool to stretch a wire hollow."

"Child, that does not exist. Magicians aside, you should work with a smith or tinker to make it, if even possible."

"Thank you Mister Larkin. Thank you for the gift and the advice, but may I ask you to put the chest into my bracelet?"

With a hearty chuckle Mister Larkin activated my bracelet, which sucked in the chest. 

On my way back home to the East Ward, I stopped to watch some performers in the row. They conjured dazzling lights as they danced about. Slender men and petite women gracefully spun in and out of rings of lights. Never once did their feet waver. Never once were their movements rigid.

Some of the onlookers joined in and the dance turned into more of a folk-festival than rehearsed performance. Bystanders conjured great dancing lights and a life-magician spread out a wave of rejuvenation, reinvigorating the participants and removing my weariness from hours of walking. 

After the crowd exhausted themselves, the professionals all lined up into a bow, I found myself applauding with the rest of the gathered people. Several individuals tossed coins into a satchel the dancers set up near their wagon. I went over as well, tossing all the change from the bread merchant. One of the younger dancers walked up to me.

"Thank you sir! Please come see during the opening for the Martial Tournament!" She did a curtsy with the hem of her outfit. Then, she grabbed the pack and ran over to the other performers. 

From over the skyline above their carts, the Tower of the Library of Aune beckoned me. I turned toward the rising moon and made my way to the Academy District. I arrived on the steps of Aune's Library. Massive marble pillars lifted an enormous gold dome. Atop that dome rests a marble bell tower that keeps the city punctual. Under the dome lies a vast collection of books deposited by visiting magicians, seasoned artisans, and annual contributions from the ruling family. 

I climbed the marble steps and passed pillars larger than old oaks then waved to the night watch as they infused their mana into the sigils on the massive brass door. 

"Morley, aren't you late?" one of the guards said. 

"Knight Gareth, if I knew you were posted, I would have brought you something better. I can spare a loaf if you want."

 "Aye," he assented.

Knight Gareth gently, but firmly, gripped my forearm to flow his aura into my arm which activated my bracelet. He plunged his arm into the black circle that opened above it. His arm moved subtly from side to side while he was searching for the bread. 

"Thanks, lad. I will be back in the morning, tomorrow." Knight Gareth replied as he broke the loaf in two, offering his fellow Knight a share. 

I saw the two men greedily devour their portion as the doors shut, and the gaps flashed with light, before merging into a solid piece once more. A gentle orb of light shimmered down from the gold dome overhead. The light followed me, guiding my way.

'Best start in the Alchemy section'

In the foyer of the Library, I passed four stone ladders before I found my way up the fifth. I weaved in and out of shelves before climbing another ladder. I passed several white, masoned tables with matching benches before finding the one shelf I needed. I selected Therion's Thesis Toward Transient Tonics, A Guide to Keltorian Plants, and Helena Hazelton's Holistic Herbalism Handbook.

After enough time to find the hearthfire berry in some of the books, a group of lights gathered beneath my balcony. Three young people were playing with magic in the Library. I watched as a scarlet haired girl stretched fire into long aerial trails. A brunette boy began to transmute the marble table they sat at, into one of sandstone. Lastly the blonde girl sang an alluring tune, entrancing her two companions.

As I listened to her melody, memories replaced my vision. I was sitting at a hand-carved table with a set of Gwydion Chips. Opposite me was an old gentleman, in a tailored suit. He kept his white hair long and his thick beard short. My grandfather, Alacaster Morley.