After the Chancellor was finished laughing, and we stopped screaming, we actually began to enjoy the trip. Of course we have been in a plane, as one summer John and me took his families private jet to hawaii. But it was different, in a way that was hard to put into words.
The silence was what made it different, I realized. there was no thrum of the engines, and almost zero shaking so no turbulence. It was overall a peaceful ride with only the occasional bird there to keep us company.
"How?" John couldn't help but ask over the silence.
The big silly grin on the old mans face made me realize that he had been waiting for us to ask that question. "Magic!" he answered gleefully.
John and me could not help but roll our eyes at this answer as the chancellor started laughing at the looks we gave him. Really it was strange seeing this new side to him, and if I was told that he just happened to have a more serious twin I would have believed it. I could only guess that this is the true face of the chancellor Alistair, a fun loving old man, and the serious persona he had in front of the king and high priest was nothing but a mask.
Alistair could not but wipe a tear from his eye. "apologies, but that joke never gets old." he sighs "it's a trick we conjurer's used on the warriors all the time. if there was something we did not understand, we simply explained it to the warriors by just saying its 'magic', but I digress. you wanted to know how this carriage can fly young hero?"
John and I nod so he continues. "You learn this your first year so I am not doing anything bad by telling you this early. You two now know about the eight elements by now correct, as well as the types of mana?" John says yes. "With water mana, a mage can control the sorces ofwater around themselves, that includes the very air or river. That, or they can transform their mana itself directly into water, that they can then use to attack."
I was excited by this new fact, as this means a mage is not limited by their surroundings. I should have realized this as Alice had created flames on her weapon, and had not just used an outside source.
"That is fascinating sir, but what does that have to do with this carriage" John could not help but ask, and I couldn't agree more.
"That my boy means that mana can take on the properties of different elements. But not just the physical property either." seeing the questioning gazes we were sending him he explained further. "lets take your wind mana as an example young Alex. you could of course transform your mana into wind, but with the other properties of wind, you can become faster, and even lighter."
"So by using a certain property of wind and asking mana to become it, we could suposedly fly?" I hypothesized.
This caused Alistair to smile even wider if that was at all possible. "Good guess my boy, you could make a fine scholar yet. You are mostly correct, with wind you can become lighter, with earth you can gain amazing strength and durability, and each of the elements has these different properties besides just physical that mages can utilize. of course their are the emotional parts, but that is what you will learn in your final years and I would not want to ruin it your you."
He smiles down at the glowing crystal and caresses it, while he also lets us mull over this new information. "This nimbus carriage is very rare and hard to create, so there are very few left in the world, as you have guessed by now, it used the property of wind to fly. now" he claps his hands to get our attention. "We should be close enough now to see the school, and your home for the next few years."
"Wait years?"
We both asked, after which the chancellor nodded patiently. "Of course being a mage is a long and perilous journey. It may take many years to rise in the mage ranks, with even the best of talents, and it only gets longer and longer. I myself am a hundred and eighty this year at grand master rank, and I am considered a genius among geniuses."
"a-a hundred and eighty years old!" I said in shock.
He looked at our shocked expressions with a quizzical look. "yes... did no one tell you that your lifespan increases as your mage rank rises. In fact now that you are at the novice rank, you have ten years added to your life span."
Ignoring our gaping expressions he continues. "Yeah..., now before I bring you in I would like to ask what class of mage you want to become. Of course you don't have to worry about the decision yet, as you have plenty of time due to just awakening. But it makes the training go much faster if we know ahead of time, though think about this carefully as once you start on the respective path, their is no turning back."
He leaves us to our own thoughts, and begins concentrating as he starts bringing the carriage down for a landing near the school.
While he is bringing us down, both me and John are mulling it over. I of course know my own personality best and knew that I was not suited to swinging a sword around. I like the idea of being in the back and flinging spells left and right.
So knowing this told the chancellor.
"um sir, I chose to join the ranks of- conjurer, I believe it is called."
His head seems to whip up from the crystal ball, and he stares at me with a surprised look. "really? are you truly sure that you want to become a conjurer?" I nod and he continues like he could not believe it. "you must know that it is not the most popular class, and you must spend much of your time in research, and your head buried under a mountain of books." he searched my expression, trying to find any doubtful look on my face. "Plus many look down on it as being the weakest of the two classes."
I smile. "If I was not sure before, I am now."
"Haha! welcome aboard my boy." he slapped my shoulder in excitement, then turns to John, who I realized must have found his own calling with the way his eyes seemed to glow with determination.
"A warrior sir." he says apologetically.
Alistair gives a sad smile. "it's ok my boy, your following in your parents footsteps, and you will need to be up close and personal if you have any hope of defeating the demon king. now I believe that we have arrived, welcome to Istariels school for mages!"
With that he opens up the carriage doors, leaving us looking up at a massive tower spiraling into the sky. we continued walking and found the entire place surrounded by a massive wall, as well as multiple buildings around the tower.
We walked past one of the buildings and saw a class in session, with what looked like a dwarf, teaching the class. walking further we passed a field were a group of students were using wooden weapons to practice. though when we passed, everyone stopped and looked in our direction, luckily we walked into a building before things could get out of hand.
Inside was a waiting room with a few chairs and couches, but we did not stay long and walked up to a desk with a pretty receptionist.
Alistair gave his best winning smile. "Janet, looking lovely as always," all he got was a humph in response. *cough*" yes, good to see you to, um, prepare the registration form for two new student aaa..."
He looked at me for help, as I realized he did not know my last name.
"Alex Fowler sir." I respond
"yes an Alex Flower and-"
"no sir Its fowler."
"right, right, right, of course, Alex 'fowler' and... my boy I never asked but what name do you want to go by? your Earth name or your Astalon name?"
John looked up in surprise as he had never really thought about it. He took a while but after a time, he seemed to come to a decision rather quickly with a determined look on his face. "John Brighton sir."
This made the chancellor smile, "-and one form and room key for a John Brighton." however, just as suddenly his face became serious as he looked at us both , "now John, this is one of your most important decisions yet. being the hero does have its perks but..."
We waited with baited breath. "Do you want a room to yourself, or are you fine with Alex as a roommate?"
"..."
"..."