"Are you ready?" Master Eric turns to send Odile an encouraging smile. The 9 year-old turns to give him a mix of wincing and a grimace, not really sure which emotion should she place when she dreaded the journey.
Putting up a face, as hard as she can as Odile and Master Eric stood on the main entrance door of the tower at least what looked like the main entrance of the tower with the other mages behind them happy— ehem sad to see them go.
It was said that Odile and the Master would be gone for at least a month or maybe more, once again Odile dreaded the days she would be gone from the Tower when her Master was achingly excited to observe the fluency of the Van Gould's gifted person. However, knowing full well who the gifted person already is and the attitude she would be greeted along with it made Odile wish she were sick or somewhere else at this very moment while the others celebrated behind their backs. Even the Tower joined in the celebration as it meant one thing; A month's worth of edible food and a month's worth of unleashing the Tower's beastly side.
All of them were happy. Even the Master Eric is happy, Odile was not.
"Ready as I'll ever be..." Odile cringes, keeping her stiff smile in check as the Master bellows in laughter coming from his diaphragm. It reminded her of an old man laughing— When he saw none of them reacting, the Master sheepishly blushed, scratching the back of his head.
"Just wanted to see if it fitted me yet... never know when I might need it." He teases and the female mages gasped. One even fainted and cried a loud disagreement. Please never let him use it, ever. In the name of Master's globe!
"We— we're gonna miss you, Master!" One of them sobs followed by the others— the females were close to drinking their snot and the males were all exaggeration, seeing it all was a whole different process and so Odile watched them with a dead-ending look when the Master himself seemed to be close in tears.
"Master!" They cried, Odile didn't know whether it was all for joy but at the sight of twinkling delight floating around them she knew their stomach was plastered all over their tears. Seeing them so happy with their tummies flooding their heads made Odile dread the journey more. She also wants to eat food not made by the Master!
The Master was hesitant as he wiped his tears, "Maybe we shouldn't—" "No! You should go! YOU. SHOULD. GO!"
Silence permeates the air as the mages paused their tears before the Master could finish the words Odile wished he finished even the Tower loosen some of her screws and the room let out a small creak, all of them were either dumbfounded or confused. Maybe both?
Dante steps in, one of the ancient mages present. A dramatic flare of hands on his face: "They need you Master! It's for the best that you leave!" He cries, his heart breaking for their loss as though this were the last reunion they'll ever have. Behind him were the other mages positioned themselves, all nodding in reluctant acceptance. Though if Odile were asked, it all looked forced and too quick of a change.
Dante was plain looking— going by the opinions of the people present in the room— He had short brunette hair that trickles down his forehead, it showed a bit of shine from the lack of washing and lots of oil. His skin dark and tanned, with a height quite tall— maybe 6 foot though quite resembling a winter branch, the reason unknown but two options as to why: Master's cooking is an amazing diet or Dante has amazing metabolism. Dante would be handsome with his long lashes, fiery orange eyes and cupid lips. He certainly would. Most all of the witches agreed to this notion if it weren't for his idiotic behavior. He was the one who commented earlier that he was going to miss the Master and has the most exaggerated cries out of the bunch. His room holds the most record of getting simple potions to blow up without the Tower's hindrance.
He is one of the reasons there is a counter of days where no explosions has happened; not once did it reach 5 which the mages are trying to overcome.
"That's right!" The other males cheered, covering the other howling female mages' mouth as they tried to reach for Odile and the Master, begging them to stay.
"Are you sure?" The Master felt a bead of sweat drop his forehead while he kept his gaze on the women. "They seem to be...mourning..."
Knowing they were already taking their time, Odile sighed. No matter how much she didn't want to stop this— she needed to. "Master, we have to go." The words tasted vile on her mouth.
Master Eric perked at the reminder, "Oh! That's right, let's go, Odile." Master Eric reaches out his hand and Odile without delay clasped her small ones on his and the Tower opened the door that would lead them to their destination, a door for Odile and Master to safely pass their journey.
It was a quick goodbye, extremely short as the moment they stepped out, instead of the wide forest greeting them or the sea breeze like Odile usually sees when she steps out a door— it was a small wooden hut. The walls were filled with potions and different crafts, on the side was a cauldron and an old man wearing a navy blue cloak. The clothing he wore, resembling a mage's outfit.
Each doors made or is been spelled with magical properties makes it easier to travel by door. Having such a magical connection, the Tower easily accesses any doors that it wants.
"Funggus! How are you, old friend?" Master greeted as we walked out of the door. It seemed that they went in using the back door of the hut.
The mage, Funggus lifts his head and turns to face them. The three of them bowed with hands open and extended to the side, a forced traditional greeting to everyone. Having their hands open and extended from the side makes it known to show no harming intentions nor a plot to to harm and Odile blanched at the sight of Funggus when she lifted herself up, his face wrinkled and a long beard that could rival Rapunzel's fell on the floor, his nose was quite thin and eyes almost the same size to a slit as it was poor in sight.
"Master, this is a friend of yours?" Odile asked, keeping his eyes on the old man.
Master brightens, walking towards the old mage unaware of Odile's expression and thoughts. "Of course! We went to the same school together, he is my Junior!"
"Master Eric!" Funggus' hand kept shaking as he lifts his hand to hug. Odile froze in her spot. Her gaze moving to the old mage's close to death and her Master's new born skin.
"Hohoho!" The two of them laughed together, the two old friends hugging each other out to cherish their reunion and so Odile took it upon herself to distance away from them and observed the place she was in.
The hut was located a few distances away from the Dukedom, maybe a few miles or shorter away from the Noble walls hidden by the forest trees surrounding the area. Odile and the Master decided to trek it all on foot— they weren't carrying much either so walking a bit posed no problem for the two and despite how far they still were, Odile can already grasp the sight of the Serbian Wall.
The Serbian Estate is well known for its great wall. It continued to amaze Odile when she read about it; No man could see above the wall even when they go the highest of heights and the farthest of distance. The Serbian defense is close to none, and are well known for privacy. If Odile remembered her history lessons it is said even the High King knows not what lies inside the Serbian wall.
The Serbian Dukedom holds the greatest defense in the whole country as well as amazing warriors. Like the Mages, each royal house has their own land the only difference between the royal countries and the Tower was that the domes can be explored by foot or carriage while the Tower can never be located.
The country is divided into parts, as per her geology lessons were taught and each of those parts is being ruled by a King and those Kings have their own noble people such as Dukes, Viscount, Marquis yet at the very center of the country holds the Main Castle. The place where the High King resides and rules all over them.
Odile knows not as to why there were so many rulers, and she doesn't bother to learn about it either. Having the Kingdom leave her without a name meant she was not for this kingdom to care about and be responsible for. So she'll leave their history to its people.
"Here we are," The Master smiles when they stop in front of a overwhelming gate. Two guards peeking out on each side towards them from a small window, a protection of sorts.
"Who dares enter?" One of them bellows out. The words coming off a bit different from the lack of use speaking the universal tongue, an accent of sorts; each territory have their own native language— but at this point is more considered a dialect— despite living in one country. It was to give each their own imagery and 'privacy' it seems yet still able to connect using the universal language that the Master and the guards are now speaking on.
"The Master and his student." Master Eric takes out a letter, with a whisper of his breath it flew up towards the small windows for the guards to read. It flew up quite smoothly and gentle, so it shocked Odile to see hear the guards' light shriek when the letter flew towards one of them.
It was quiet for a while, but Odile can perfectly hear their words.
Using their native language, Odile was quite glad she knew some basics. It is required when one joins sorcery— having no more title to go back to, they are expected to learn some languages that could help them around especially with their never ending journey to learn more about their work.
"Who names their son 'The Master?'— Ow!" A clearing of throat echoed out, before the two guards were back to their positions.
"We have read your letter, but we need to speak to the higher ups first." The guard spoke with a deep voice, his face grim before he puts a weak chuckle out of his mouth— totally ruining his mask as he showed his smile, sending the Master and Odile a hesitant wince. "We're just gonna check if you are on the guest list... Its to avoid sending inside some assassin or something."
The Master lets out a laugh, "If it's for the better of your territory then do so as you please," Master Eric fixes his robes, patting them down. "What is your name?"
The guard was hesitant, whispering to his other guard. "What should I say? He's asking my name!"
"I don't know... Make something up?"
The guard looks back at the two mages. "Uhhh... it's Dave...— Ow!"
"You idiot! Don't give them my name!"
"It was the heat of the moment— I was panicking! Just say Victor when they ask for yours!"
"Are you kidding?! Then what's the difference? We just switched!"
The Master and Odile felt a bead of sweat drop from their heads. The sounds of slapping quite crisp in their ears and the two guards unaware they kept speaking the same language where anyone could understand them. "I never wanted to be called Victor anyway!!" Slap.
"And you think Dave is any better?!" Slap.
Soon the steel gates of the Great Serbian Wall lifted up and Odile could see a bridge lowering down as well to help them cross the river surrounding them.
"Uhh... Thank you..." The Teacher-student bowed to where the two guards should be but after a second or two, Odile and Master turned their backs. The Master whispering for only Odile to hear.
"Keep walking, don't look back." The Master places a hand on Odile's back, pushing her to keep walking forward.
Seeing as the Dukedom resides in the middle of the town, they decided to hop on through carriage. Odile would have thought the Master would use a transportation circle but realized it was a first visit to the Serbian Estate— it would be quite rude and disrespectful for a mage to use magic without any permission from the higher up. If Odile remembered the laws clearly, they needed a permit from the Serbian Archduke first if they were to use any type of magic.
"Master what happens once we leave the Serbian Walls? Aren't they known to keep their area private?" Odile asks as she stared at the bountiful town filled with different colors of flowers all over and the villagers talking and speaking with each other as though everyone knows everyone— never thinking such a vibrant city was hiding behind the overwhelming walls.
The Master lets out a patient smile, he too glancing on the carriage window to watch the friendly atmosphere of the Serbian Dukedom. "Being a mage we are sworn to secrecy about everything we have seen inside the Dukedom." Master Eric turns to look at Odile who was already looking at him when he spoke, "And it is also protocol of the mages to be?"
Odile's words came out without hesitation, knowing the Mage protocols by heart. "To be Neutral on all sides. No kingdom is greater than the other, only the God who has blessed us with power. No person is powerful than the other, we only seek to improve our knowledge not the secrets of others. It is our duty as a mage to dedicate our lives for knowledge and keeping God's blessing in balance, making us servers not rulers for the good others and for the good of power."
"And?" The Master Eric encouragingly smiles as he implored Odile to continue, but something about it was different for Odile; his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Umm... Practice honesty?" Odile knew it was one of the rules as a fully pledged mage yet none other people knew of this condition— only them. Yet Odile spoke of it anyway, wanting her Master to genuinely smile from something so small, he's the type of person to find the laughter in small things.
And proud that she had done it too, because Odile watched as her Master Eric's smile reached his eyes but still being a teacher, he corrected Odile's answer. "Never consort yourself to malice nor malignity for a mage holds great power of responsibility."
Odile nods at her Master's words, processing it all in until they reached the gates of the Dukedom. The carriage door opened with a footman by its side, another one extended his hand to help guide us down. Knowing the etiquette, Odile reached out her hand for the footman to help guide her down; her sandals reached the ground just in time for the gates to open and reveal the very reason of their trip today.
Standing just a few steps in front of her was none other than Ichabod Van Gould with his parents, Edgar Van Gould and his wife, Liliana Van Gould.
"Greetings, your Grace." Master and Odile respectfully lowered their heads to greet the nobles in front of them and the Duchy responded with their own graceful poise, their head lowered but not as low as Master and Odile's.
Seeing them now head to head, there was a huge contrast in everything Odile could think of. In terms of appearance, Odile felt her robes a bit loose around her shoulders— not because of how thin she was but it was fastened that way; The idea of having to wear robes made easy movements that neither constrict or strangle a mage's body when performing spells and incantations. It is a display for being humble as well as simple with less garments enough for the right parts beneath our robes, our hands bare and often times feet if needed but for the mean time in this journey, they are required to wear sandals. All of this to portray humble freedom and love for God's amazing work, being able to connect to the world quite easily without the hindrance of corsets nor tight coats.
While the Duchy wore extravagant clothing, clothing that Odile would have a trouble accommodating with maybe a decades worth of her allowance. All of it was posh, the duchess wore some frills as well as Ichabod by his neck but both did a tremendous way of presenting the style. Odile noticed how slim Duchess Liliana's waist is by having her skirt puffed while the Duke and his heir had their boots made out of leather and shine brand new, the thickness and height of it making it hard for dirt or water to reach inside their feet and Odile couldn't imagine such restriction yet that was all one needed to see to be able to discern the difference between each other.
"I hope your journey was safe and well?" Their voice well-toned and slightly musical to the ears, Odile wondered if it was part of being a noble to learn such things.
"There were no hindrances towards our journey which I thank the divine for such an occurrence," The Master smiles towards the Duchy couple. The Duchess Liliana's eyes wandered over to Odile who was quietly standing beside her Master.
"And who might this beautiful young lady be?"
Knowing that the Duchess meant Odile, the Master placed a hand behind the girl's back and lightly nudged her forward, "This is one of my students, Odile." having to say her name, Odile stepped forward and once more bowed facing the nobles and spoke of her name once more for an official greeting.
"My what a beautiful name for a beautiful girl," The Duke let out a grin before he gestured to his son who remained still beside him. "This is Ichabod Van Gould as you may know, also my heir."
Odile and the others remained to where they are, seeing that Ichabod was not budging towards his place made the Duchess hide her twitch with a graceful smile, moving behind her son to pinch his back.
"Mother, tsk!" Ichabod hissed under his breath, turning to glance at his parents who widened their eyes at him. With a push from his mother, Ichabod walked with heavy steps towards Odile, a frown plaguing his lips.
"Hello, I'm very pleased to meet you." Ichabod spoke with near dead-eyes and Odile for sure felt he wasn't pleased at all to meet her but she made sure not to reveal such similar emotions to him and smiled, bowing her head once more.
"Pleased to meet you, Sir Ichabod—" before she could fully bow, Ichabod already stepped out and back to his parent's side but something must have made the little boy pause as his parent's furrowed their brows at him. Making Ichabod grimace and hesitantly took a hold of Odile's bare hands.
He grimaced from the bare sight of it, and Odile frowned at the sight of his glove holding her hand.
The atmosphere was tense, as Ichabod fully revealed his disgust and hesitance to kiss her backhand and Odile almost rolled her eyes from his immaturity. He is as immature as she remembers.
It wasn't until his lips touched the back of her hand did Odile felt the disgust prick her whole body. Ichabod feeling the same as they both shivered in mutual dislike of the action, both of them glaring at each other.