Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 14: Gathering of like minds.

A large room full of men and women all dressed the same, black robes covering their bodies and some with hoods over, hiding even their faces. At the far end of the white clear room stood a stage made from wood and with a chair in the dead centre. The chair was wood but spread up to produce leafs like a tree, a tree in the shape of a chair. Around the stage looking out at the people stood four hooded people. They wore thick blue armour much like the design of the Gord guards, Instead of an eagle imprint on the helmets a hood draped over their faces. And on the steel chest the symbol of mana, a large circle with arrows flowing around it, this represented the flow of mana in life always moving. On the stage in front of the tree chair stood the Arch-Mage his large staff keeping him upright and his long robe making him look holy. Rubbing his long white beard he watched the Mage assembled below him, talk on why they had been gathered. As ever the advisor stood near his Arch-Mage ready to please.

"Everyone silent please." not even raising his voice, the crowd heard and went silent. "Good now. I have summoned you novices as it is time to decide. Usually all Mage of your level must choose will you stay here and help magic prosper or travel the world and try and earn your name. Sadly I have changed it this time." The crowd broke in up roar, again he raised his hand and silence fell like a spell. "Now no need to panic. If the suggestion I say to you, isn't to your liking then you are welcome to stay here. The ones that agree with my proposal will be the Mage that must wonder and can never enter this safe haven of Mana again." The crowd was silent no uproar. Only faces of panic and wonder. "As you know the king has changed these past years, and not for the better. The nation of Skov has grown weak. Other nations around us have an eye on our territory. The forming of the Knights of One and their view on only holy-light magic being the correct one, Has put great strain on this school and many like it, Mage are being hunted down one by one for special talents. This must stop. One such mage has been caught within these walls not this week. We must rescue him and make our stand. The king has gone mad and forgotten the people and the ways of mana. If you join me we shall rescue the mage and this will in turn make our statement. We shall not kneel to madness!" Nearly all the crowd cheered and their firsts in the air. Wind blew around the room and the sound of cheering carried its self across the room and outwards along all of the school. "This is my last act as Arch-Mage of Gord and Skov. The people who follow me, follow me to battle, the ones that stay will not be judged and left alone." The cheering still roared around them all. "Now who is with me?" Everyone in the hall cheered even the guards. A smirk wide across the Arch-Mage old grey lips as he spoke more "Good to see all forty of you all agree with me. The other ranks of mage have already made their decision and are already heading to our destination. The road of harrow."

All the novices shouted at once "Yes Arch-Mage!"

Humbled he put out his old vein hand, "Please I am no longer Arch-Mage call me by my name and title."

Again all at once "Yes! Tate God of Wind!"

"Good now that we are equals we shall go to Harrow," A flash of light hit everyone eyes then a man appeared next to former Arch-Mage Tate, Haya his body still bandaged but the ones on his right arm completely gone and what seemed to be bruises all over his arm.

"Haya what happened?!" Tate asked

"Nothing to worry about in fact you could say it's a good thing, His apprentice is one hell of a fighter and has one hell of a bad temper, She is waiting for us, The markers are down. Just need you to do the chant and we go," Looking around at the novices Haya chuckled then turned back to the old mage. "This it?"

"No the rest are making their own way there, this will do against the enemy for now." Tate addressed everyone once more. "I want everyone who is coming to stay in this room and brace yourselves. We are going on a trip."

Haya nodded at Tate then spoke "I will meet you there, must look after that girl." With a flash of light he was swallowed up and gone.

Everyone in the room braced themselves best they could and watched Tate hold his hand on his white robed chest. "Ventus Motus Maximus!" The entire room was filled with hair and the wall seemed to dissolve and the sky was clear and bright. Each person felt wind surround their feet before they felt it hit them in the face, Each and every person was shot upwards into the sky like a bullet. Many screamed others laughed, few stayed silent. The people of Gord Street looked up to see more than forty people shoot across the sky, all like shooting stars.

Earlier...

"Sit down Samth we need to talk, about Espex."

Samth's big blue eyes wide and her red lips open. "What's happened to him?" haste in her voice.

"He was captured... I am sorry." Samth hearing the news hit the grounds knees first, Pain shot up her legs but she did not care all she thought about was Espex.

"I am sorry lass." Tears rolled down Samths flushed pale face.

Walking over to Samth he placed his covered bounded hand on her slim bony shoulder. "Do not worry, we will save him. He is strong so he will be fine. I came to tell you be patient and stay here."

Samth looked up at Haya with his dead white eyes and hair and covered face. "Why must I wait? I can help let me help please." Still sobbing Samths pain was ever present. "I need to help him!"

Haya just looked down then gave her the brutal truth. "No, you are no use, I saw you in Gord useless. I am sorry but you will be in the way."

Great sadness and anger overtook Samth. Sadness in he was right and anger because she had to prove it and be better. "I will show you!" Samth barked at Haya. Samth still on her knees slammed her hands onto the ground. "Chikyu Kibe!" Haya looked down and moved from the spot in blinding light as a wall of earth spewed forth from the ground. As Haya reappeared Samth was already finishing another cast. "Ventus Murum!" A wall of wind pushed forth, pulling the table chairs and book shelve all towards Haya the mummy. Dodging each piece of furniture with ease Haya had no choice but to burst forth. Again he disappeared then reappeared in front of Samth, "Shanguang Dan!" Light burst from Samths small body and blinded Haya before he could do anything. Then he heard Samth speak again. "Chikyu Kibe!" Haya could not see two walls of earth corner him and shoot up. He did his best to dodge the walls but his eyes hurt. One wall was lucky and smashed into his right arm, tearing of the bandages that covered his arm. He fell back and as he did Samth noticed on the underside of the Bandages they had words written on them. 'Guangsu Yundang' Haya stayed on the ground holding his right arm. "This is why you can move so fast without chanting. It is all around you."

Haya just moaned a little "Yeah correct."

"I want to help!" Anger in Samths voice and determination.

"I see the last few days haven't been a waste," Silence fell before Haya spoke once more "OK but you have to show the enemy this kind of attitude lass, if you do they won't last ten minutes."

Samths temper disappeared and she got off her knees to helped Haya onto his feet.

"Am sorry Haya, I just really want to help Espex." her eyes not meeting his.

Haya placed his left hand on Samths shoulder once more. "It's OK I forgive you. Now we better go, I will take you to hallow road. Where I will leave you and return once I have met a certain person. This will take a couple of days. Then I will come back." Samth just nodded.

Days passed as Samth practiced her magic with new determination. She would be of use in this she would save Espex. These thoughts kept her going as she trained her mind and body with all the magic she could muster. After a few days Haya arrived back.

"OK grab my hand and we will go." Placing his left hand out Samth took hold of it with her slim hand, She looked around the small shack she had spent the last days in. then turned to Haya. She blinked and she was on a rather used muddy foot path, Trees all around her, dead. The ground littered with leaves all colours of the world. She turned to Haya, "Listen stay here and don't move I will not be more than ten minutes. I will return with a very wise person." And with that Haya disappeared leaving Samth alone once more.