Sage lowered her hand slowly, aware of the whispers around her.
Magic!
She used magic!
She's a commoner!
Sage Evellora is a mage!
"Disperse!", a loud voice spoke up suddenly.
The crowd became silent and froze. Then seeing who had ordered them, they took off to the shelter of their homes and spread the gossip. The street was empty of everyone but Jev, Sage, and the mage's sentinels.
"You! Blacksmith, leave. ", the sentinel commanded Jev who didn't budge an inch.
"Let him be.", a soft voice spoke from behind the sentinel, "We have more pressing matters to attend to. "
The sentinel bowed his head and stepped aside to let another man step forward. The man seemed to be in his late 50's, with white hair and an almost white beard. He had gentle features and crinkles appeared on the corners of his pale blue eyes when he smiled. He wore a white robe that had long sleeves that were wide near the wrists and had gold linings on the hem. The insignia of the Mage's court in gold could be seen on the robe, on the left side of his chest. He also wore a fat gold and onyx chain around his neck, a wooden staff encrusted with rubies and white quartz was in his hand, as well as a ring - all with the same insignia. This man had to be the grand mage of the Mage's court.
"Child.", he spoke again.
"Grand mage.", Sage said softly.
"You are a mage.", he stated. It wasn't a question because he already knew, but Sage still answered.
"Yes."
He produced a crystal ball from his robe, it was the size of a five-year old's fist.
"Place your hand on this.", he said.
Sage placed her right hand on the crystal ball tentatively. The ball emitted a faint glow which changed from red to orange to yellow to green, blue, purple, and finally indigo then emitted a bright white light that went out as soon as it came. The grand mage's eyes glinted with curiosity and surprise, he retrieved the crystal ball and placed it back into his robe.
"What is your name?", the grand mage asked.
Sage knew there was no use lying. She had been caught and now the consequences were upon her.
"Sage Evellora, my lord.", she answered with her head bowed.
"You are no royal nor someone of noble blood, it is a first to see a commoner with magic in their veins. But a mage is a mage, noble or not you will have to do what every other mage does when their powers are discovered. Go home and pack your bags child, tomorrow the sentinels will escort you to the Rose and Sword Academy."
Sage looked up and saw the grand mage's soft eyes.
"My lord.... ", she whispered, ready to object.
"It is not within your power to object, child. If you do not practice and let your powers flow freely, it will soon consume you. You are much stronger than the others and your powers will wreak havoc if not brought under control. ", he said, cutting her off before she could proceed.
Sage nodded, defeated.
"Tomorrow, once you have settled in, come meet me. Ask for grand mage Lord Lukas Devaine and you will be brought to me.", he said and then turned to the sentinel. "Warren, you will escort Ms. Evellora to the Rose and Sword academy tomorrow, four hours past sunrise."
"Yes, my lord. ", the sentinel - Warren, replied.
Then they both turned and walked away to the Mage's court, leaving Sage and Jev standing in the deserted street.
"You want to explain what just happened? ", Jev's voice came up next to her.
Sage sighed, "Not today"
"You're leaving tomorrow."
"Jev, another day. Please.", Sage begged.
"Fine. I'll send you home.", he said.
"No, I'm fine. I'll go, bye.", Sage said and turned to leave, worried about how to crack the news to her mother.
"The knives?! ", Jev shouted behind her.
"Send them over in the morning!", Sage hollered back and ran towards home.
- - -
It was time. Sage tossed the last of her stuff into her dimensional space backpack - the one she had been sent by the grand mage - and pulled the drawstrings. The doorbell rang, the escorts had arrived. She slung the backpack into a shoulder and headed downstairs where her parents were waiting. When she reached the main room, she found her parents kneeling on one knee and sentinel Warren standing a few feet in front of the open door where many of the neighbors peeked inside. He was pointedly looking at her with a scroll in his hand. Sage quickly went near her parents and knelt on one knee.
Sentinel Warren opened the scroll. The surrounding fell silent as he started reading from the scroll.
"The Rose and Sword Academy,
by the order of Grand Mage Lord Lukas Devaine and the consent of King Raegin Clioden and Queen Elianna Levisse, hereby accepts Sage Evellora, daughter of Clarence Evellora and Mabel Paget, as a student of our prestigious academy for the coming years until her powers are fully formed and controlled and she can be declared a true mage, to live and serve for the betterment of the people."
Sentinel Warren closed the scroll and handed it to another sentinel. Then he turned to Sage.
"The academy is expecting us to arrive before the fifth hour. It is time to leave.", he said and headed out to wait by the horses.
Sage turned to her parents; both of their eyes were watery.
"Dad, mom, I love you. Take care. ", she said and gave them a quick hug. Then she sprinted out the door and mounted her horse. She didn't want to cry.
She looked at sentinel Warren.
"Let's go.", she said and gave her horse a light kick.
"Gee up!"