The Summoner's Mark (First Draft) (Book One)

The Nature of one's Magic

Following Sten's stoic explanation into the origin of combat-oriented classes within Kanerra, Sierra once again stepped forward. Even though Sin was trying his best to focus on what Sierra was saying to the class, his mind kept bringing him back to Sten and the promise that he saw within his eyes. "I am going to need to watch my every step within these walls and maybe within Athesa itself. Its possible that I could never know who could be working with Sten while I am traversing the city." Sin contemplated as he continued to watch Sierra speak though his mind was registering nothing that she was saying.

While Sin was pulled inward on himself, he was unaware of the sudden quiet that took place within the room as well as how all eyes were placed upon him. This was until he felt a hand fall upon his shoulder, which pulled him from his mind and his eyes towards the male beside him. "Miss. Ranam is calling for you." Castien's voice echoed close to his ear and though it sounded loud due to the proximity of the elf; Sin doubted that anyone else was able to hear what Castien said.

Hearing that he had been called on and missed it, caused a warmth to spread upon his body and from the coloring that had taken hold of skin; everyone was quite knowledgeable about the embarrassment that Sin was feeling.

With the embarrassment that was stampeding through his body; Sin felt as if his voice were going to break which would only make the embarrassment all that worse though since he also felt as if he would let Sierra down if he didn't acknowledge her, Sin knew that his thoughts weren't going to give him a choice in the matter. "Can...can you repeat what you...you just asked me?" Sin inquired of the older Mage as his voice stammered through the room.

This resulted in a wave of laughter that crashed throughout the room to bombard Sin with the feelings of failure though due to the heightened state of his emotions it was possible that his mind was embellishing the volume at which he was hearing the laughter since no one else seemed all that bothered by it.

Sin felt as if he were drowning and he would never be able to pull his head from under the waves of laughter and embarrassment that was trying to end him; but once again, one single voice broke through to him. "Pull yourself together Sin. Ignore them and just focus on the reason that you have come here." Castien hummed into his ear.

Though it didn't take the entirety of the sensation away from Sin; it did give him an opportunity to grab onto passing debris and pull himself free from the waves that were trying to claim him. Once Sierra noticed that Sin was no longer lost within his own mind, her voice soon followed Castien's.

"What I asked is, if you knew what that black cuff that you wear means and if you do; then do you know why it is that your magic turned the cuff black?" Sierra inquired for the second time since the class had started.

Now that Sin was no longer being clobbered by an imaginary ocean; he was able to focus his mind better than he previously was which allowed him to give a response that he thought was correct. "I am not entirely sure what it means, I think that it the color changing enchantment that was placed on the cuff must have something to do with the nature of the magic that lives within us..." Sin responded back and considering that he wasn't sure if the answer was correct or not, he allowed his words to slowly fade away in a manor that he would easily be able to start once more if he needed to.

Upon hearing Sin's answer, a smile formed upon Sierra's lips. "Excellent! You are correct when you were correct when you spoke about the nature of one's magic..." Sierra answered back as her eyes held their position upon Sin though as to not make the rest of the class feel as if she had forgotten them; she quickly flicked them across the room which was when she started speaking once more. "...within our curriculum as well as many of the other Academies that operate within Icoris; there are four main magic types. These types include Elemental Magic, Black Magic, White Magic as well as Grey Magic and if we look at each of the cuffs that you are sporting on your wrists; then we will be able to tell what kind of magic you will be naturally more attuned with." Sierra explained as her eyes once again settled upon Sin.

Learning this, Sin could already imagine the rumors that will be floating around Kanerra about how the monstrous half-breed is a practitioner of dark magic and though he knew that he wasn't an evil being; he was slightly concerned that his magic had the possibility of turning him into a monster.

Even though Sierra didn't know Sin very well; she could see concern that was etched across his young face as well as the eyes that were tracking him from the other students within the class. "Before any of you need to worry about the nature of your affinity; magic is not inherently benevolent or malevolent. Just as we don't blame the sword for the death that it reaps upon a battlefield but instead blame the holder of said sword, we must also do the same when it comes to the magic a Mage practices." Sierra informed the class in hopes that she could keep Sin from being a bigger outcast than he already was among his peers.

Before anyone could see if Sierra's explanation had helped damper any of the worries that were sprouting within Sin and his classmates; another Mage stepped forward from the line which must have startled Sierra since her form twitched as the new Mage placed his hand upon her shoulder.

Even though Sin had noticed this Mage when they all had first come into the classroom; he mostly ignored him due to the sighting Sten amongst them. Now that he had a reason to observe the Mage; Sin could see that his clothing was quite different than most of the other Mages since it resembled the uniform that the students themselves wore and not the robes that many Mages chosen to wear. While the clothes were mostly like the ones that Sin himself was wearing, the coloring of them didn't match since it seemed as if this Mage was completely cloaked in shadows.

Due to the manor that the Mage was dressed; Sin was curious as to who this individual was and wished to know what he looked like though this was made difficult from the black hood that shrouded the Mage's face. Subsequently, after this thought drifted through his mind; the Mage removed his hand from Sierra's shoulders so he could pull the hood down.

Sin was slightly surprised by the heritage of this Mage since so far, every Mage that he had met within Kanerra had been human and though he was surprised; he wasn't the only one that was. From the movement that Sin sighted out of the corner of his eye; Castien had stiffened within his seat though whether this was from fear or excitement was currently unknown to Sin.

"While I am very entertained by today's lesson for these new students who have a bright future within our lovely Academy; I have other duties that do not require me to stand here as if I am some background character..." the Mage that had just revealed himself to have elf blood flowing through his veins called out as he made his way past Sierra and the other Mages. "...my name is Sylris Orami and as my colleague was saying, the nature that a Mage was born with it not something that will turn someone good or evil and while I could speak on this subject for hours, my new students as well as my current student are in need of my guidance." Sylris explained as he pulled out a small notebook from the satchel he carried.

Considering that Sin currently didn't know what nature Sylris himself had, he didn't know which students he was looking for though this understandable ignorance would soon vanish during the next words that Sylris spoke. "Would both Sin Estiri and Lucius Rani join me, and I will bring the both of you to where you will be performing the majority of your studies for your first year here." Sylris called out as he closed the notebook that he had opened without Sin noticing him doing so.

Finding out that Sylris was going to be the Mage that oversaw his education; Sin assumed that he too must be a Dark Mage and though he was thankful to hear that he wouldn't be the only student studying Black Magic; he wondered if this Lucius fellow would still feel as if he was evil based on his heritage as well as his natural affinity.

Pushing himself from his seat, Sin made his way down towards Sylris and while he knew he wasn't the only student who was going to be under his tutelage; he had yet to see anyone else move towards the elf. If the same feelings of failing so early on that have been hampering him throughout the entirety of the day was also hampering Lucius; Sin didn't need worry about whether the other student would join him beside Sylris and instead focused on making his way down the steps without tripping and making a fool of himself.