Chapter 68: Elemental Power
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Chapter 68: Elemental Power
Elemental Power
The celebration at the estate of Cheval had taken an unexpected turn for Martel, but none accosted him, and he spent the evening mostly to himself – despite her promise to stick by him, Eleanor had to spend her time on the dance floor. It allowed him to ruminate on his situation, whether he could stomach working for someone like the duke of Cheval, and if not, how to refuse. Upon his return to the Lyceum, he had yet to find any answer.
At least Pelday provided him with one comfort as he entered the Hall of Elements. Martel smiled even before he spoke. "Master Alastair, I have something to show you."
His teacher did not reply, but simply swept his arm out in a gesture inviting Martel to continue.
The novice opened his palm towards Master Alastair. Focusing his magic, he pushed his hand forward to send a small gust of wind against the other person.
A smile was the reward. "What was the incident this time?"
"How do you mean?"
"Your breakthroughs happen when something makes you act on instinct. What was it this time?"
Martel scrambled to think of a suitable reply. "There was some commotion at the market. Some people getting rowdy. So I blew some smoke into their faces to get them to stop." Close enough to the truth.
"Very good. We will spend a fiveday or two refining your skill with air, and then I think you might be ready for more advanced learning."The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.
Martel's eyes shone. "Like what?"
Master Alastair extended both hands in front of him, open palms up. "Controlling fire or water separately is simple enough." As he spoke of each element, they both appeared; a flame in one hand, drops of water in the other. "What happens when you control both at the same time?" His palms became empty, and instead, a tiny cloud of steam appeared between them.
All sorts of ideas filled Martel's mind on how this could be used, but he seized his first thought and acted upon it. With a small puff of air, he blew the steam into his teacher's face.
Taken aback, Master Alastair laughed.
~
"What happened yesterday? You were rather mute," Maximilian asked.
"Yes, you never told us what the duke said to you," Eleanor chimed in.
Martel ran his spoon through his lunch stew. "He offered me employment."
His companions looked at him with surprise. "Are you sure? He is hunting early for a new court mage if so," Maximilian muttered.
"He knows I study alchemy under Mistress Rana. He isn't looking for a court mage, but an alchemist."
"He is well-informed," Eleanor remarked. "But that is a wonderful opportunity for you! Payment and conditions are certain to be far better than working the weather for the Empire."
"You both heard his speech. You really think he wants someone to work for him with my eye colour?"
He raised an eyebrow. "It was last fiveday."
"I think he is cheating." Maximilian's interruption made them look in the same direction towards the table where the patrons played dice. "That loud fellow. Twice now, he has rolled the dice off the table. I think he switches them when he picks them up again." A man sat, laughing and drinking with a small stack of silver and copper in front of him.
"Wouldn't he get caught?"
"He only does it when there is enough at stake to make it worthwhile." Maximilian frowned and turned to look at Martel. "How about we teach him a lesson?"
The novice waved his hands in front in a deflecting gesture. "I don't want to fight!"
"Nothing so crude. I will go play against him. When he tries to do his trick, you just keep the dice on the table. Prevent him from cheating. Understood?"
"I guess I do... Warm up the dice. That'll make it easier for me to feel them," Martel suggested.
"Got it." Maximilian got up and approached the gamblers.
Eleanor turned her chair around. "This I have to see."
At the table, the players looked with interest at the young man joining them, whose boots, belt, and bejewelled dagger hilt all spoke of wealth. "I want to play." He hefted his bag of silver.
The suspected cheat wiped greasy long hair from his face with a grin. "Take a seat. Standard rules. Emperor is high, fool is low, pairs beat singles. What's your wager?" He took a swig from his ale.
Maximilian emptied his purse onto the table and made a quick count. "Twelve birds." He let himself fall into an empty seat, pushing the silver coins towards the large fellow keeping an eye on the games. Martel marvelled that his friend would bet an amount equal to twelve hours of labour, but then again, to Maximilian, it did not represent any labour at all.
His counterpart took out an equal amount and deposited it as well before pushing a pair of dice towards the mageknight. "You go first." He revealed a row of yellow teeth.
Maximilian grabbed the dice and rubbed them between his hands, blowing on them as well, ostensibly for good luck. Finally, he let them roll.
Martel craned his neck to see the outcome. One die showed a crown, the other showed the symbol for earth. Emperor and element, a solid throw.
The other player grabbed the dice. His flushed expression suggested he had been drinking, and even from a distance, Martel could feel the heat in his hands, transferring to the square pieces of clay held by him.
As the gambler flung the dice through the air, Martel sensed them as two motes of warmth. They struck the board of the table, rolling towards the edge. Closing his fingers to a fist, the novice stopped their movement. They came to an abrupt halt.
The greasy-haired player looked shocked, while Maximilian wore satisfaction. Their expressions flipped as they noticed the result of the throw. Both dice showed a wisp of air. A pair of elementals beat a single emperor. Howling with delight, the gambler raked his silver towards him.
Maximilian leapt to his feet, looking incensed, but the burly guard slapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Alright, no trouble now. Go back to your friends, young man."
Despite his magic giving him the advantage in any physical fight, the mageknight kept himself in check. With a sneer, resting his shoulder free, he returned to his companions. "What. Was. That?" He stared at Martel.
The novice shrugged. "You told me to stop his dice, and I did. Not my fault his luck was better than yours."
"Well, I hope you're happy. That was all my coin for the evening." He sat down with a sour look on his face.
Eleanor regarded him with barely concealed amusement. "I guess next round is on me."
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Chapter 68: Elemental Power
Elemental Power
The celebration at the estate of Cheval had taken an unexpected turn for Martel, but none accosted him, and he spent the evening mostly to himself – despite her promise to stick by him, Eleanor had to spend her time on the dance floor. It allowed him to ruminate on his situation, whether he could stomach working for someone like the duke of Cheval, and if not, how to refuse. Upon his return to the Lyceum, he had yet to find any answer.
At least Pelday provided him with one comfort as he entered the Hall of Elements. Martel smiled even before he spoke. "Master Alastair, I have something to show you."
His teacher did not reply, but simply swept his arm out in a gesture inviting Martel to continue.
The novice opened his palm towards Master Alastair. Focusing his magic, he pushed his hand forward to send a small gust of wind against the other person.
A smile was the reward. "What was the incident this time?"
"How do you mean?"
"Your breakthroughs happen when something makes you act on instinct. What was it this time?"
Martel scrambled to think of a suitable reply. "There was some commotion at the market. Some people getting rowdy. So I blew some smoke into their faces to get them to stop." Close enough to the truth.
"Very good. We will spend a fiveday or two refining your skill with air, and then I think you might be ready for more advanced learning."The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.
Martel's eyes shone. "Like what?"
Master Alastair extended both hands in front of him, open palms up. "Controlling fire or water separately is simple enough." As he spoke of each element, they both appeared; a flame in one hand, drops of water in the other. "What happens when you control both at the same time?" His palms became empty, and instead, a tiny cloud of steam appeared between them.
All sorts of ideas filled Martel's mind on how this could be used, but he seized his first thought and acted upon it. With a small puff of air, he blew the steam into his teacher's face.
Taken aback, Master Alastair laughed.
~
"What happened yesterday? You were rather mute," Maximilian asked.
"Yes, you never told us what the duke said to you," Eleanor chimed in.
Martel ran his spoon through his lunch stew. "He offered me employment."
His companions looked at him with surprise. "Are you sure? He is hunting early for a new court mage if so," Maximilian muttered.
"He knows I study alchemy under Mistress Rana. He isn't looking for a court mage, but an alchemist."
"He is well-informed," Eleanor remarked. "But that is a wonderful opportunity for you! Payment and conditions are certain to be far better than working the weather for the Empire."
"You both heard his speech. You really think he wants someone to work for him with my eye colour?"
He raised an eyebrow. "It was last fiveday."
"I think he is cheating." Maximilian's interruption made them look in the same direction towards the table where the patrons played dice. "That loud fellow. Twice now, he has rolled the dice off the table. I think he switches them when he picks them up again." A man sat, laughing and drinking with a small stack of silver and copper in front of him.
"Wouldn't he get caught?"
"He only does it when there is enough at stake to make it worthwhile." Maximilian frowned and turned to look at Martel. "How about we teach him a lesson?"
The novice waved his hands in front in a deflecting gesture. "I don't want to fight!"
"Nothing so crude. I will go play against him. When he tries to do his trick, you just keep the dice on the table. Prevent him from cheating. Understood?"
"I guess I do... Warm up the dice. That'll make it easier for me to feel them," Martel suggested.
"Got it." Maximilian got up and approached the gamblers.
Eleanor turned her chair around. "This I have to see."
At the table, the players looked with interest at the young man joining them, whose boots, belt, and bejewelled dagger hilt all spoke of wealth. "I want to play." He hefted his bag of silver.
The suspected cheat wiped greasy long hair from his face with a grin. "Take a seat. Standard rules. Emperor is high, fool is low, pairs beat singles. What's your wager?" He took a swig from his ale.
Maximilian emptied his purse onto the table and made a quick count. "Twelve birds." He let himself fall into an empty seat, pushing the silver coins towards the large fellow keeping an eye on the games. Martel marvelled that his friend would bet an amount equal to twelve hours of labour, but then again, to Maximilian, it did not represent any labour at all.
His counterpart took out an equal amount and deposited it as well before pushing a pair of dice towards the mageknight. "You go first." He revealed a row of yellow teeth.
Maximilian grabbed the dice and rubbed them between his hands, blowing on them as well, ostensibly for good luck. Finally, he let them roll.
Martel craned his neck to see the outcome. One die showed a crown, the other showed the symbol for earth. Emperor and element, a solid throw.
The other player grabbed the dice. His flushed expression suggested he had been drinking, and even from a distance, Martel could feel the heat in his hands, transferring to the square pieces of clay held by him.
As the gambler flung the dice through the air, Martel sensed them as two motes of warmth. They struck the board of the table, rolling towards the edge. Closing his fingers to a fist, the novice stopped their movement. They came to an abrupt halt.
The greasy-haired player looked shocked, while Maximilian wore satisfaction. Their expressions flipped as they noticed the result of the throw. Both dice showed a wisp of air. A pair of elementals beat a single emperor. Howling with delight, the gambler raked his silver towards him.
Maximilian leapt to his feet, looking incensed, but the burly guard slapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Alright, no trouble now. Go back to your friends, young man."
Despite his magic giving him the advantage in any physical fight, the mageknight kept himself in check. With a sneer, resting his shoulder free, he returned to his companions. "What. Was. That?" He stared at Martel.
The novice shrugged. "You told me to stop his dice, and I did. Not my fault his luck was better than yours."
"Well, I hope you're happy. That was all my coin for the evening." He sat down with a sour look on his face.
Eleanor regarded him with barely concealed amusement. "I guess next round is on me."
Chapter 68: Elemental PowerElemental PowerThe celebration at the estate of Cheval had taken an unexpected turn for Martel, but none accosted him, and he spent the evening mostly to himself despite her promise to stick by him, Eleanor had to spend her time on the dance floor. It allowed him to ruminate on his situation, whether he could stomach working for someone like the duke of Cheval, and if not, how to refuse. Upon his return to the Lyceum, he had yet to find any answer.At least Pelday provided him with one comfort as he entered the Hall of Elements. Martel smiled even before he spoke. "Master Alastair, I have something to show you."His teacher did not reply, but simply swept his arm out in a gesture inviting Martel to continue.The novice opened his palm towards Master Alastair. Focusing his magic, he pushed his hand forward to send a small gust of wind against the other person.A smile was the reward. "What was the incident this time?""How do you mean?""Your breakthroughs happen when something makes you act on instinct. What was it this time?"Martel scrambled to think of a suitable reply. "There was some commotion at the market. Some people getting rowdy. So I blew some smoke into their faces to get them to stop." Close enough to the truth."Very good. We will spend a fiveday or two refining your skill with air, and then I think you might be ready for more advanced learning."The debut release of this chapter happened at Novl-B1n.Martel's eyes shone. "Like what?"Master Alastair extended both hands in front of him, open palms up. "Controlling fire or water separately is simple enough." As he spoke of each element, they both appeared; a flame in one hand, drops of water in the other. "What happens when you control both at the same time?" His palms became empty, and instead, a tiny cloud of steam appeared between them.All sorts of ideas filled Martel's mind on how this could be used, but he seized his first thought and acted upon it. With a small puff of air, he blew the steam into his teacher's face.Taken aback, Master Alastair laughed.~"What happened yesterday? You were rather mute," Maximilian asked."Yes, you never told us what the duke said to you," Eleanor chimed in.Martel ran his spoon through his lunch stew. "He offered me employment."His companions looked at him with surprise. "Are you sure? He is hunting early for a new court mage if so," Maximilian muttered."He knows I study alchemy under Mistress Rana. He isn't looking for a court mage, but an alchemist.""He is well-informed," Eleanor remarked. "But that is a wonderful opportunity for you! Payment and conditions are certain to be far better than working the weather for the Empire.""You both heard his speech. You really think he wants someone to work for him with my eye colour?"He raised an eyebrow. "It was last fiveday.""I think he is cheating." Maximilian's interruption made them look in the same direction towards the table where the patrons played dice. "That loud fellow. Twice now, he has rolled the dice off the table. I think he switches them when he picks them up again." A man sat, laughing and drinking with a small stack of silver and copper in front of him."Wouldn't he get caught?""He only does it when there is enough at stake to make it worthwhile." Maximilian frowned and turned to look at Martel. "How about we teach him a lesson?"The novice waved his hands in front in a deflecting gesture. "I don't want to fight!""Nothing so crude. I will go play against him. When he tries to do his trick, you just keep the dice on the table. Prevent him from cheating. Understood?""I guess I do... Warm up the dice. That'll make it easier for me to feel them," Martel suggested."Got it." Maximilian got up and approached the gamblers.Eleanor turned her chair around. "This I have to see."At the table, the players looked with interest at the young man joining them, whose boots, belt, and bejewelled dagger hilt all spoke of wealth. "I want to play." He hefted his bag of silver.The suspected cheat wiped greasy long hair from his face with a grin. "Take a seat. Standard rules. Emperor is high, fool is low, pairs beat singles. What's your wager?" He took a swig from his ale.Maximilian emptied his purse onto the table and made a quick count. "Twelve birds." He let himself fall into an empty seat, pushing the silver coins towards the large fellow keeping an eye on the games. Martel marvelled that his friend would bet an amount equal to twelve hours of labour, but then again, to Maximilian, it did not represent any labour at all.His counterpart took out an equal amount and deposited it as well before pushing a pair of dice towards the mageknight. "You go first." He revealed a row of yellow teeth.Maximilian grabbed the dice and rubbed them between his hands, blowing on them as well, ostensibly for good luck. Finally, he let them roll.Martel craned his neck to see the outcome. One die showed a crown, the other showed the symbol for earth. Emperor and element, a solid throw.The other player grabbed the dice. His flushed expression suggested he had been drinking, and even from a distance, Martel could feel the heat in his hands, transferring to the square pieces of clay held by him.As the gambler flung the dice through the air, Martel sensed them as two motes of warmth. They struck the board of the table, rolling towards the edge. Closing his fingers to a fist, the novice stopped their movement. They came to an abrupt halt.The greasy-haired player looked shocked, while Maximilian wore satisfaction. Their expressions flipped as they noticed the result of the throw. Both dice showed a wisp of air. A pair of elementals beat a single emperor. Howling with delight, the gambler raked his silver towards him.Maximilian leapt to his feet, looking incensed, but the burly guard slapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Alright, no trouble now. Go back to your friends, young man."Despite his magic giving him the advantage in any physical fight, the mageknight kept himself in check. With a sneer, resting his shoulder free, he returned to his companions. "What. Was. That?" He stared at Martel.The novice shrugged. "You told me to stop his dice, and I did. Not my fault his luck was better than yours.""Well, I hope you're happy. That was all my coin for the evening." He sat down with a sour look on his face.Eleanor regarded him with barely concealed amusement. "I guess next round is on me."
