Mark of the Witch

12

^^ Oren Svalbrinian, ArchMage of Progress ^^

I blinked slowly, looking down at the small woman as she approached me with long, smooth strides. "Wait, what? What about the Exam?"

"Exam? Lass, you passed the 'exam' when you solved two Obelisk Puzzles in only one day. In fact, I am the one who designed the Seven-Node Map Puzzle, so I'd like to ask how you solved it, honestly... I have to believe it was a Spell of some sort; people have tried Translation Spells before, but they always failed, I assume you succeeded?"

"It was a rather simple decoder's game, I didn't use any- wait, you made that puzzle? How did you manage the Obsidian Obelisks' transmutation so accurately?!? Was it some sort of predesigned alteration, or was it an active alteration?!?" I instantly grabbed her shoulders excitedly, leaning closer to her confused features without regard for propriety.

"Wait... you really didn't use magic? You just... solved it?" She frowned incredulously, prying my hands off her shoulders with an insulting ease.

"Well, yes? I had hoped there would be increasingly difficult Obelisks after that, but instead I got the Map, and it stopped... it was rather sad. I managed to parse out the entire Rillantine Language from those puzzles, and I was hoping there were more languages to learn... regardless, I'm a member of the Tower now? Just like that?"

"Yep, just like that. Come this way, dear, let's sit in my office." She smiled warmly, guiding me around the puddle of bile, only for me to notice it and flick a hand; at the gesture from me and a little mana, a small wave of energy cleaned it all up in an instant. Interestingly, a full kebab and a mug of ale appeared in my inventory afterward. "Curious use of Chaotic Magic... it didn't damage the ground at all..."

"It can, if I want it to, but I didn't, so it didn't. It's good for mining, as well, though I haven't used it for that yet. Oh, and my grandchildren will be taking your Test as well soon, can I stay and watch?"

She raised an eyebrow at my question, then looked back at the center of the room, where a sudden shimmer of golden energy appeared, spitting out Gina first, then Vincent. "Huh... I pictured your Grandchildren... a bit younger."

"I'm older than I look, like you." I smiled at the Grey-haired and red-eyed dwarf facetiously.

Her eyes widened a bit at the implication, but she slowly nodded. "I see... welcome to the Black Tower, children, I am ArchMage Oren Svalbrinian, an ArchMage of Progress... your Grandmother has been accepted into the Tower already, so I have high hopes for you both and your potential! The Exam will begin soon, so acclimate yourselves and regain any Mana you are currently missing, you'll need it!"

"Oh? I suppose me giving you both a Buff would be cheating, so do your best!!! Mimi is cheering for you!!!" I blew them both kisses before following the ArchMage out.

Behind me, I heard Gina clear her throat gently. "Sir, do you know you've got... vomit, on your boots?"

"Ach, aye, I am aware! Yer Ma spewed on me boots as she was comin' through tha' portal! Movin' on!"

"I could wash those for you, if you like? I have a spell just for this reason!"

"Mmm... well, I suppose yeh couldn't make it worse, so give it a whirl if yeh like?"

The Dwarven wizard drew my attention away as we passed the range of their voices, speaking casually despite the wiggling of her fingers at her sides; she was desperately curious. "What did you mean by a 'Buff', by the way?"