Broken Circle

Chapter 4: Sweet Tooth

Mahalla:

    "Wake up or you're going to be late to lessons again!" 
     My eyes quickly fly open at the sudden yelling in my ear accompanied by my body being shaken. I groan and turn to face my friend. Maeve grinned with an innocent smile, acting like she did not just interrupt my slumber. 
      "Seriously sleepyhead, we need to get some breakfast before your lessons. And before you ask to skip, you already skipped breakfast twice this week, and I will allow no more than two skips a week!" She chides, holding up two fingers. I close the book that I had managed to fall asleep on while reading and get up to make my bed. 
       "I know, I know. Food and sleep are more important than reading. I'll work on it, I promise." I respond, just wanting to wake up peacefully for once. That will never happen with Maeve around. I don't actually mind her nagging. It made me feel more at home. After moving to the Circle I realized quickly humans had as much disdain for elves as we did for them. The only person near my age who welcomed me with open arms was Maeve. She was probably just as lonely as I was. I was ostracized for being one of the few elves in the tower, and she was ostracized for being too blunt. I personally admired her for her ability to say what was on her mind, others were not as enamored with that trait. I took off my pajamas and changed into my apprentice robes then looked in my mirror, thinking about how soon I may have new ones. My harrowing was coming up and soon I will be a full fledged mage instead of an apprentice.
       "Don't worry, I know your harrowing will go smoothly," she reassures me, giving me a knowing look. Maeve sometimes knew me better than I knew myself. She walks over and starts combing and braiding my hair for me. She always knew how to cheer me up. "I was terrified for mine and look at me now, one of the best mages at the tower."
      Maeve was accepted for her harrowing when she was fifteen years old, which is earlier than most. Age is not what they use to determine whether one is ready, but rather by their performance in lessons. Maeve is one of the most talented mages here, she will go far I just know it. Already at just twenty one years old they were thinking of promoting her to Enchanter status. I just turned eighteen and am finally being accepted for my harrowing. It's neither early nor late. It was average, which is coincidentally the best way to describe my magical abilities.
      "You know, I'd be a lot more calm if you told me what the harrowing actually is." I plead looking at her reflection behind me in the mirror, trying to convince her with my best puppy dog eyes.
       "Mahalla you know I can't tell you, stop trying to persuade me. You know how hard it is for me to resist puppy dog eyes!" She said with a laugh as she tied off my braid. I joined her laughter as I turned around and embraced her. I normally wasn't physically affectionate, but with the weight of the harrowing weighing down on me more and more each day, I need comfort.
       "I'm scared that they'll change their minds and make me tranquil instead, or I will go through with it and turn into an abomination and they'll kill me!" I whisper into her ear not wanting the other apprentices to know just how terrified I was. Apprentices aren't not allowed to know what the final test is. All we know is that if you refuse to take it or if First-Enchanter Leofric thinks your magical abilities are not up to par, you are made tranquil. The tranquil are stripped of their connection to the Fade so that they no longer can access their magic. A side effect of this is that they are also stripped of their emotions. Talking to them is so strange, they sound so monotone and empty inside. There is no life behind their eyes. Just hollow shells of former people. 
      As terrible as that sounds, my other fear is death. I am not entirely sure which is worse. Apparently the likelihood of becoming an abomination is high during the harrowing. Templars are stationed in the room to oversee the harrowing and will execute the mage if a demon takes control of them. As we walk together to the dining hall I wonder which templars will be overseeing my harrowing. I immediately think of Arlotto.
     He is one of the younger templars. He got stationed here four years ago. Templars usually do their best to ignore the mages, and the mages do the same toward them. I guess it makes it easier for them in case they have to kill one of us. It's easier to kill a stranger than it is to kill a friend. Arlotto and I broke that unspoken rule in secret.
       I decided to spend my day off consuming a book about healing magic, even though it is not what I specialize in. The section of the library is unoccupied except for a templar keeping watch. Knowing we are the only two here and expecting him not to speak to me, I pull out some pound cake that I had hidden in my bag earlier. We aren't supposed to have food or drink in the library, but I figured he would avoid reprimanding me since templars didn't speak to mages. 
      It was one of the infamous days that I had skipped breakfast and was in need of something or else I would start to feel faint. Completely engrossed in my book and snack I don't notice him walk over to me and stand right behind me. 
        "You shouldn't be eating in here," a deep voice whispers into my ear. He leaned over so close that I could feel his breath tickle my ear as he said each word. Immediately I jerk away as far away as I can while still remaining in my chair. 
      "I'll let this infringement go on one condition," he says in a rough tone with a stern face before giving a half smile and lightening his tone "pound cake is my favorite, I want a piece." 
       I don't know what to make of this whole situation. Not only is he talking to me, he is teasing me! Templars don't joke around with mages like old friends. Templar or mage aside I didn't even know the guy, and he's treating me as if he has known me our whole lives. Weighing my options I decide that I'd rather give him a piece of the cake than get in trouble again so soon. Earlier this week I had cast a lightning bolt at one of the older apprentices for calling me knife ears. I break off a piece and hand it to him.
       His face then erupts into a full smile. He chuckles as he sits next to me, grabs the cake, and starts to eat.
       "It's been so long since I've had any kind of sweets. Apparently in order to really show our devotion to the Maker we should avoid indulging in sweets and stick to a bland diet and be thankful to even be eating. Don't get me wrong I know we should be humble, but I'm sure the Maker doesn't think I think I'm better than others because I want some cake here and there," he rambles on while devouring the treat, "I think the real reason is they want to make sure none of us get too fat that we can't fight well anymore." He finishes his rant with a wink before returning to his post. 
      Hours later I finish my book and have a bit of the pound cake left over. As I put my book back on the shelf, I internally curse myself for what I'm about to do. I grab the leftover pound cake, and a blush creeps up on my face as I quickly hand it to the weird templar, avoiding eye contact, then bolt away back to the apprentice quarters.
       I chuckle to myself at the memory. Since that fateful day in the library, Arlotto and I spend time together every chance we get, which is not quite often. Usually it's me sneaking treats to him, him rambling on about a random topic, while I mainly sit and listen. I don't talk much usually but every now and then I will open up to him, not nearly as much as I open up to Maeve though. I really hope he won't have to be there during my harrowing. I know how hard that would be on him. Despite his rough exterior, Arlotto really seems to care for others. It makes me wonder why he even became a templar in the first place.
        After finishing my breakfast I quickly run to my lessons, hoping I'm not late again. The rest of the day I try to focus on my lessons, but my mind always drifts back to the harrowing. Hopefully I can talk with Arlotto before and find out which templars will be overseeing the whole ordeal. I will feel a little less nervous if I know he won't be there.