Quill

335. Faithless Gems

After the harrowing fight in the catacombs, combat training at the Lyceum felt downright dull. They no longer fought fire acolytes against mageknights – presumably, Moira had made her point – a...

334. Unexpected Spectre

With Pelday keeping Martel busy, he managed to catch Master Fenrick just before fifth bell. "Master, I came across something curious, looking through books in the library last night."

"I'm no...

333. Low Spirits

Most of the night had passed by the time the trio returned to the Lyceum, and they quickly split up, each seeking their own bed. Still tired when he woke, Martel went through his Solday chores whil...

332. Smoked

Martel's training took over, and he launched a fire bolt at the attacking spirit flying towards them. The spell struck the shadowy mass in the chest, and the fire seemed to become absorbed by the s...

331. The Second Touch

An insistent knocking continued until Eleanor finally opened her door to see a fire acolyte and a mageknight outside. The former looked stressed, the latter seemed annoyed. "What is happening?"

330. Bad Moon Rising

With the threat to his friends taken care of, Martel could stop worrying so much and focus on his lessons instead. At the same time, his class in advanced elemental magic brought his mind back to t...

329. A Child's Innocence

The worst of his concerns about the troupe alleviated, Martel could better concentrate on his lessons the next day. Still, until the actors left the bridge district, they would not be safe. The soo...

328. The Friendship of a Mercenary

The first lesson of Malday came and went easily, Martel practising his staff fighting against the other acolytes. They still posed no threat to him, but he had stopped trouncing them; it only foste...

327. Blissful Sleep

Despite Martel's fears, nothing further happened at the Four Flagon Tavern that night. He left through a hatch hours after dark, emerging in the alley behind the building, and returned to the Lyceu...

326. A Spell to Help or Hinder

Staying on the steps down to the basement rather than going all the way up, Martel remained hidden behind the others while he took in the scene. A handful of tavern guards stood scattered around th...

325. Regnar's Reunion

As the fiveday came to an end, Martel woke on Solday feeling good. He had put all that with Lady Pearl and Ruby behind him; he was not going to be caught up in the affairs of the Nine Lords anymore...

324. Runes, Hedges, and Alchemy

Despite feeling strange about something so trivial – Martel did not even know if Ruby had noticed him – the evening spent at the Four Flagon Tavern proved to be the best in a long time. Martel ...

323. Theatre Below

Just the anticipation of seeing the play brought memories back to Martel, and his focus slipped a few times during Glunday's fire lessons. All his experiences with theatre had been with this partic...

322. A Dramatic Reveal

Martel wished that Maximilian had told him about the gambling in the Chamber of Earth long before. Simply by wagering a bit of silver and spending a few minutes casting spells, Martel had earned as...

321. If the Prize is Right

When Martel woke, it was not only the beginning of a new day, or a new fiveday; it was the start of the spring festival. He had paid this no heed, given his busy schedule. He could not imagine havi...

320. Sharpening Knives

Making ink on his own in the small laboratory attached to Master Jerome's workshops, Martel had time to think. As his hands went through the familiar motions, his mind considered how to spend the r...

319. Warning Signs

Martel sat in Master Fenrick's classroom with anticipation in his stomach. Studying Archean was all well and good, but learning the Tyrian runes would actually give Martel new magic, along with ins...

318. Helping the Hunter

As Martel arrived at the Circle of Fire, he glanced surreptitiously at the other acolytes, wondering if yesterday's victory over the mageknights had made a difference. It did not appear so, at leas...

317. Cold Thoughts

During Martel's morning shift at the apothecary, Mistress Rana approached him with a list of herbs and other ingredients. "Time for you to learn another recipe. Study all of these in time for our w...

316. Mending Fences

Martel made it back to the Lyceum in an almost reasonable fashion, but the events of the evening left their mark on him, keeping him from sleep. Meeting the Friar had been strange enough; stumbling...

315. A Ruby Among Yellow

Martel quickly left the compound, aware that everyone in the entrance hall and the enclosed garden stared at him as he passed by. He felt like the time Father Julius had caught him taking an apple ...

314. The Riddle of Three

As soon as the symbol below Martel's feet lit up, several of the yellow-clad women wielding staves approached him. "No magical items are allowed within the convent, milord. This should have been ex...

313. Getting to a Nunnery

While doing chores in the apothecary and the workshop on Solday morning, Martel felt a tinge of anticipation that slowly grew to excitement. While he figured the party tonight would be different fr...

312. A Teacher's Calling

Martel arrived for Master Fenrick's class with a nice stack of parchment filled with Archean letters. Looking around, he saw everyone else had the same. Exchanging glances with Eleanor, he gave a q...

311. Camaraderie

As soon as the potion went down his throat, Martel felt warm. As he walked home to the Lyceum, he took off his cap and removed his cloak as well. By the time he went to bed, he wore only his underw...

310. Teamwork

Stretching his neck from side to side, stamping his staff a few times into the ground, Martel prepared for the skirmish about to happen. The other fire acolytes stood nearby, likewise steeling them...

309. Paths of Friendship

A new fiveday began as Pelday rolled around, and two lessons in fire magic loomed over Martel. It had barely been a month; he could not fathom going through this for a whole year. As much as he fel...

308. Dazzling Gems

Checking his messages the next day, Martel received an envelope with a script he recognised by now.

Dear Master Martel,

I should ask for the pleasure of your visit one of t...