Episode 1

Chapter 1: The Last Day andrewokelley.com

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"Hard to believe this is going to be the last time I ever get to see some of you,” said the usually stern Master of Magic, a tall and broad-shouldered man named Barrydew as he shook his head and walked over to the blackboard with a piece of chalk in his hand.

"For those of you unfamiliar, our Weaver prospects are going to be taking their provisional test today in the old Quad-Elemental Dungeon here on Campus. If I have been successful as a teacher, they will no longer be mere cadets. They will be granted full ranking with the Mages Corps of the Empire, deserving of all the respect and dignity bestowed upon the position. It is quite an honor. You should all be proud of them.”

A hand shot into the air as one of the younger students, a boy just barely a few months into puberty named Alan jockeyed for attention. "Master Barrydew, why are the Essence Weavers treated like they’re better than the rest of Mages? Don’t we all serve the Empire?”

Master Barrydew put his chalk down and stroked his brown beard, leaving trails of white dust from his fingers. "That’s a decent question, though I would caution you, always mind your tone when talking about your betters. In the eyes of the Empire, the Essence Weavers are considered essential elites, as few have the aptitude for it and even less have the breeding."

Master Barrydew braced himself against his desk, pausing for a second to gather his thoughts before he continued the lecture as an undertone of bitterness crept into his voice. "Tell me, young Alan, which is more versatile, which holds more value to an army or to a nation. Compare for me the difference between mages like ourselves, magic users who can wield the elements at our fingertips, and have the ability to unleash whatever spells we might learn? Or an Essence Weaver who can create with a thought almost anything they can imagine, so long as they have the material to do so, and then imbue those creations with any manner of the essences they have harvested."

Looking around the classroom, Master Barrydew posed the question to the rest of the class when Alan could not think of an answer and remained silent. "Can anyone give an example of some of the more famous constructs created by any of the Essence Weavers?"

At the back of the class, a young girl stood up, casting as she did a nervous glance sideways towards one of her male peers before answering. "The Mage blood Zachariah, the one known as the Firebrand who served within the order of the Ascended Ones who held the rank of second and was next in line to serve as Emperor created the Corridor of the Fire in the High Mountains to prevent further incursions from some of the lesser races.”

"That is a good answer, Ashley," responded Master Barrydew with a smile of fondest as he recalled good memories of the man she referenced. "Can you tell me the difference between a Mage blood and being in the order of the Ascended Ones, or just being Ascended?"

Ashley shook her head no, and Master Barrydew politely excused her to sit back down and continued his lecture. He wasn’t surprised by the lack of an answer. It was information usually learned through direct exposure to the order rather than being taught.

“The Order of the Ascended One’s refers to the top 10 ranking Ascended Ones. It is purely an honorary title of the powerful. This is because Ascended Ones are considered kin of the Emperor, as only an Ascended may become Emperor, it is not limited to just Weavers as Mages, Artificers, and Healers all benefit from the trait. Ascended is a type of hereditary trait. This trait usually, though not always, manifests as silver veins in mages as mana moves through their bodies. While in Essence Weavers, this hereditary trait can also cause a permanent glow of the hands. This is not merely cosmetic as the attribute adds permanency to their spells and constructs. This is not as well known, but Elena, the Ascended Essence Weaver, is responsible for most of our bathing systems. While the lesser-known Ascended Mage Darren is responsible for the perpetual rains on the farming plains that feed the Empire."

Master Barrydew paused for a moment as he glanced over the class to make sure everyone was following his lecture. "That leaves the second part of the question I asked. An Ascended One is more than just an Essence Weaver with hands of light or a Mage with Silver Veins. They also earn the title by merging with the Silver Shields bestowed upon them by the Mages Corps. Absorbing the Silver Shield as a part of them and using it to further extend the control of their magic. In terms of ranking our, Emperor Ironstar holds the highest rank within the Empire. Below him are the Ascended Ones in order of strength. After the Ascended Ones are the Essence Weavers and below them are the Mage Masters like me. Following behind me is the rest of the nobility, followed after by the Scouts, and then the Peasants."

Turning back around to face the blackboard, Master Barrydew grabbed the chalk, beginning to write and asked the class, "Now, who besides Ashley can tell me what separates the Corridor of the Fire created by the Ascended One Zachariah from the other creations of the Ascended Ones, Elena and Darren?”

Daniel Richards raised his hand. The answer to him was pretty obvious; why wouldn’t it be? Zachariah was his father, after all, a secret his grandfather had gone to great lengths to keep hidden from many of his peers, though it was an open secret.

"The Ascended Zachariah ordered the men of the Soldiers of the Sword and Shield to abandon their trenches on the Northern Front, the first time ever in our history. As an Essence Weaver primarily dominated by the element of Fire, Zachariah was able to enchant the trenches with Hellfire. The Hellfire was able to turn the rock into something akin to lava. This effect was triggered by proximity and layered an additional condition-based enchantment from the school of the Weaver. The enchant was triggered whenever Magna flowed within the trench to create Salamander Golems with orders to counter-attack and pursue nearby enemies."

"Very good, Mr. Richards," replied Master Barrydew, pleased even as the rest of the class rolled their eyes. To them, it seemed empty praise and favoritism. "But hardly gives justice to it. I was there when the Ascended Zachariah created it. Using the very magic he had honed within the walls of this very Academy. It truly was a sight to behold as an Essence Weaver of the highest caliber created walls of blackest obsidian and inscribed warnings of death to those who would approach. To see the Salamander emerge was truly awe-inspiring and terrifying to know that he had managed to kill one to gain its Essence to use."

Even though it was supposed to be a secret who his father was, Daniel couldn’t help but feel a heavy burden when the man’s name came up. Every story he heard gave him a glimpse of how amazing a man his father had been. A glimpse at the man Daniel had never had the chance to know, both of his parents having been killed during the Eastern Rebellion a decade prior.

Daniel had been just a baby when they passed. He had no recollection or memories of either of his parents. With one exception, the smell of lavender that Daniel was sure was a memory of his mother.

Clapping his hands together loudly, Master Barrydew interrupted Daniel’s daydreamings. "Now, as I understand it, we currently have a handful of students who need to go and get ready for tonight's exam. If you fall into that category, you are dismissed. Good luck to all of you and make us proud. If you should fail, a life within the rank and file isn’t as terrible as it seems," Master Barrydew comforted, mostly in jest. "To the rest of you, this is a good chance to show me who’s going to be ready to fill the shoes that they are leaving. Who here can tell me why the Empire reflagged the Soldiers of the Sword and Shield and ordered them all into the Scouts?"

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