As dawn broke and the city of Emberfall stirred awake, Schillian was already hard at work. He moved quickly between chores at the inn—hauling buckets of water from the well, scrubbing the floors with an old towel, and trying not to slip on the damp wooden boards.
Just as he finished wringing out a rag, the inn's front door creaked open. It was Alira, the magister. Once again, she had come to see him.
This time, she wasn't here for small talk.
"The head mage of the regional Arcane Council office has taken interest in you," she said. "They wish to perform a few tests—nothing dangerous. Just… evaluations."
The words sent a shiver of nerves down Schillian's spine.
Alira quickly turned to his parents. "It's a chance. And I assure you—he'll be safe."
His mother and father exchanged uncertain glances. But refusing an invitation from the Arcane Council wasn't exactly a good idea. Not only would it be rude, it might also cost Schillian an opportunity—one that could shape his entire future.
So they agreed.
As Schillian packed what little he needed, Alira gave his parents a reassuring smile before stepping out with him. The council building was only a ten-minute walk away, tucked in a part of Emberfall Schillian had never visited before.
Along the way, they ran into Lila.
She looked worried. "Where are you going?" she asked, clutching the hem of her dress.
Schillian smiled softly. "It's just a visit to the Arcane Council. I'll be back by afternoon, promise."
But Lila's expression didn't change.
Her voice trembled. "Is it because of the book…? The one I gave you?"
He gently patted her head. "It's not your fault. I'm fine. You don't need to worry."
Her cheeks flushed. She quickly batted his hand away and turned around, hiding her face.
Schillian chuckled and waved. "I'll be back soon."
The Arcane Council office was more majestic than he imagined. Though he had lived in Emberfall his whole life, this side of the city felt like an entirely different world.
When they entered the building, Schillian's eyes went wide. His jaw practically hit the floor. Everything around him shimmered with enchantment—floating lanterns, self-writing scrolls, decorative runes pulsing faintly with energy. Magic, everywhere.
He was so mesmerized that he didn't even notice the bit of drool hanging from his mouth.
Alira, now speaking to the front desk receptionist, turned and called him over. "Schillian. The head mage is waiting."
Snapping out of his trance, he wiped his mouth and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
They continued down a grand hallway lined with deep red carpets and tall wooden doors. Mages in deep blue robes passed by, their steps confident, their auras commanding.
Schillian looked at them in awe. *Will I ever become like that?* he wondered.
At the end of the hall stood a tall double door. Glowing runes were carved into the frame, spelling out *Head Mage* in golden letters that shimmered like starlight.
Alira pushed the door open.
Behind a large desk and tall glass windows sat a figure in a finely embroidered robe. A golden crest shimmered on his chest, marking his rank.
"Welcome, Schillian," the man said.
And just like that, the real test was about to begin.
The moment Schillian stepped into the room, chills could be felt down his spine. The air felt off.
The quiet room was filled with books lined on the walls. The books—they weren't on shelves—but rather, floating in the air, moving in a rhythm.
At the end of the room sat a man in a dark blue robe. His presence was calm, but there was power, unbeknownst to Schillian.
"This is the child, sir," said Alira, bowing down to the mage. Her partner Eamon followed. "We will be in touch when you need."
Schillian looked behind him as Alira left, leaving him alone with the head mage.
The man clapped his hands, and the door behind Schillian shut closed.
"You must be Schillian," the man said, folding his fingers beneath his chin. "Welcome."
The man pulled down his hood, revealing a blonde-haired man with pale skin and blue eyes. His smile was warm, yet something about it felt threatening.
Schillian nodded slowly.
"My name is Arshen, Head Mage of the Emberfall Regional Arcane Council," he continued. "Please, sit down."
Arshen snapped his fingers, and a table and sofa appeared with his magic. This caught Schillian's attention—he watched as aether dissipated into the room and then reformed into a solid table and sofa.
Schillian sat down. "Thank you, mister. Why do you seek me?"
"Alira said something about you... that you can use magic." He leaned forward. "How old are you?"
"Six years old, mister," Schillian replied.
Arshen laughed. "This is interesting!"
After a cup of tea, Arshen asked Schillian to follow him out of the office. Alira and Eamon followed from behind. As they walked through the halls, every mage they passed bowed to Arshen. Schillian could only be mesmerized by the sight.
Can I be like this someday? he thought.
They descended a winding staircase, deep beneath the Arcane Council's main hall. The corridor below was colder, lit by magical sconces that hummed with energy.
At the end of the path stood a chamber sealed by an archway of glimmering runes.
"This is the Aether Conduit," Arshen explained as the door opened with a low groan. "A crystal construct designed to react to pure Aether manipulation. It doesn't lie."
Schillian stepped in.
At the center of the chamber stood a tall, multifaceted crystal, suspended in the air by chains of light. Runes spiraled slowly around its surface like a living spell.
"You'll place your hand on the pedestal. Channel the Aether inside you—no need for form, just let it flow. The crystal will do the rest."
Schillian nodded. His hands were shaking. He stepped up to the pedestal, took a breath, and closed his eyes.
Flow… like the rivers I saw...
He reached inward and found that spark—the warm, glowing pulse he remembered from before.
And he let it go.
The moment his hand touched the pedestal, the crystal reacted.
It flared red. Then blue. Then green. Then—blinding white.
The runes spun wildly, lights danced across the chamber walls. A gust of wind burst outward, forcing Alira to raise a barrier around them.
Arshen's eyes went wide.
"This can't be…"
The crystal didn't just glow... it shifted. Its shape wavered like water. Symbols never seen before flashed across it, and for a moment, the entire chamber vibrated with an ancient, low hum.
Then… silence.
The light dimmed. The crystal stilled. The room returned to calm.
Schillian slumped backward, panting.
Arshen walked up to the crystal, studying it silently. "Multiple affinities. High flow capacity. Deep resonance." He looked over his shoulder. "That's not just rare. That's… quite amazing, actually."
Alira looked equally stunned. "What does it mean?"
Arshen turned to Schillian.
"It means the boy may have the potential to become one of the most powerful mages of this age. Or… a target for everyone who wants that power for themselves."
"Understood," Alira replied.
"Say, Schillian. Look at this." Arshen chanted a spell, and at the tip of his finger, ice formed. "You said you can use magic by observation—can you replicate this?"
Schillian nodded. "I can try. Should I chant it, or not?"
Arshen laughed.
"You're saying you can do this without chanting a spell? I'd like to see that. Do as you like."
Schillian thought for a moment. I should just do the same thing he did, right?
He pointed his finger upward, gathering Aether around him. The mist formed thick at his fingertip and then—frost crystal appeared.
Everyone in the room stared in awe. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"This is the first time I've seen him cast a spell… yet I can't believe my eyes," Alira said, stunned. Eamon could only widen his eyes in disbelief.
"Hahaha! You, kid—you're something else," Arshen said. "I think you could be something great in the future. Head Mage like me? No, much bigger. The Sage himself!"
Schillian stood silently. He didn't know what that meant.
But someday, he would.
—
They left the chamber. Schillian was once again in the office with the Head Mage, Alira, and Eamon. Arshen issued a command:
"Schillian is to be provided magical education. He will be appointed a temporary teacher until he reaches the minimum age to enter the Council Academy."
"I'll appoint the teacher of Schillian, it will be Alira. When the time comes, he'll be admitted to the Academy free of charge—under my recommendation."
Schillian was amazed. He bowed his head. "Thank you…!"
"It's fine. You deserve it," Arshen said, "Alira, you don't mind right?"
"Yes, sir." Alira replied.
They left the office together. Alira and Eamon were tasked with bringing Schillian home safely.
As they walked back, Lila was waiting at the street corner.
"Are you okay, Schillian?" Lila asked, worried.
"Lila! What are you doing here?" Schillian looked surprised.
"I was waiting for you, what else?" Her face looked even more worried than before.
"I'm fine. Let's go to the inn," Schillian said.
He gently grabbed Lila's hand, and they walked back to the inn together, with Alira and Eamon following closely behind.