Free Magic (complete)

Chapter 15

Anders sat down the hall, pretending to read from a book for hours, and not one person approached the door. The mage within would have had to eat at some point, or at least use the privies. That or they hadn't been in the room all day. Anders took a breath, closed his book, and walked up to the door. Any number of spells could be on it, or a trap like he set on his own door. If he wanted to see who was in there, he was going to have to take the brunt of the damage and get it over with.

"What?" Anders opened the unlocked door with ease. The room was empty, cleared out. A bed with no bedding sat lonely in the room. There was a desk and chair, but they were empty, as was the bookshelf. Dust outlined where numerous books and items had filled the room before.

"What now?" He left the room as he had found it. He could ask the neighboring rooms perhaps? They might know, unlike him with the nature of his powers, most mages had neighbors. The empty room was of a good size, and had a small window. It probably belonged to a mage of a decent rank.

The room was between another room and a staircase, so Anders worked up the nerve to knock on the neighboring door. He heard the sounds of a chair moving across the floor and grumbling. When the door opened, for once in his life, Anders was speechless.

Cerdic swung open his door, he had been presumably going through books with his freckle covered friend, who was curiously trying to see around him. He looked Anders up and down with a sneer on his face.

"What do you want brown robes?" Cerdic folded his arms across his chest with a scowl.

"Gods pox it." Anders said through gritted teeth.

"What was that? You're here to ask me something?" He smiled. By now his freckled friend was over his shoulder jeering.

"Make him beg for it." He added.

"Forget it." Anders walked away. Maybe the next person down would know.

"Are you going to walk away like you walked away from the last assessments?" Cerdic knew he made a mistake the moment Anders turned around. Anders lunged for Cerdic, clipping his chin which should still be tender from their last fight.

"Geoffrey!" Cerdic roared and wildly punched the air over Anders's shoulder as they fell to the floor. The freckled boy must be Geoffrey, because he rushed to kick Anders solidly in the ribs. Anders rolled away from Cerdic and felt a powerful heat by his back. He rose to a crouching position and watched Cerdic raise his glowing red fist.

Geoffrey took a pitcher of water off Cerdic's desk and throw it over Anders. Right away it began to chill him to the bone as Geoffrey held his open palms towards Anders, muttering under his breath. Movement became slowed and Cerdic rose to line up a dangerous punch. If they were going to risk using their powers, so was Anders.

A careful jolt erupted from Anders, it lusted after the bits of metal on the other boys. Rings, cloak clasps, belt buckles, all of them heated with Anders's energy. Geoffrey was too startled to continue freezing the water on Anders, and his own power thawed him out quickly. Cerdic was unfazed, taking a swing at Anders with burning fists. One unfortunate blow cuffed his ear, and Anders smelled singed hair before he felt the hit.

"Break it up! Break it up now!" A man in his thirties was in the doorway. A huge gust of wind ripped through the room and scattered debris. The force was enough to pin the boys down and everyone stopped fighting instantly.

"Don't let me hear it again, or I'll call the guards." The man was portly, dark skinned and had a wide set jaw. He wore red robes, but the force behind the gale winds led Anders to believe he wasn't a higher rank due to control, not raw power.