Time seemed to slow down as the two women waited for the man to open his eyes. Salronia, a powerful sage of water, was reduced to a doctor undergoing examination as she needed this man to wake up if she was going to be granted certification on healing prowess. She didn't want to be a mage.
Her tan gold hands could have squeezed themselves to death out of anticipation but she tried to keep a calm face as she kept her eyes on the man. This man's wife was dead worried beside her and if Sal herself isn't confident in her abilities, then imagine what this poor woman will be feeling.
"Come on Derrick, you've got to wake up." She sobbed.
Despite the war had ended, attacks were still thrown at the sea harbor. The Olrians wouldn't dare to attack them after the whooping they got. The king was a beast when it came to the safety of his people. Now, this poor sailor who didn't contribute the afflictions of any state is carrying a big casualty and putting his family in unrest. Anger surged in her, but if it isn't the Olrians, then who?
"Mercy, where am I?" a patched vice squeaked from beneath them. Sal couldn't help the sigh that flowed from her lips. She did it.
"Derrick," Mercy cried as she hugged her husband. Oh, Sal's work was done.
"It's a huge relief that you're okay sir. All internal bleeding and those deep abdominal holes have been sealed. Your wife here would direct you on the medicine to use to neutralize every excess power in you, and to also speed up your healing process. If you are not sure of my medical certification, you can see a proper doctor. I'm really glad you're okay now." She smiled at him.
She packed her backpack and was about to leave when she heard him whisper something softly. Was that a thank you? She turned back to see him staring at his hands intently his words getting more coherent.
"Magic," he said as if surprised by the concept.
"You used magic to heal me." He continued now looking up and meeting her slightly confused gaze.
Of course she used magic to heal him; she was a sage, though she used minimal amounts. And sages don't like to call it magic; they liked to call it…
"Those guys could use magic too, magic so strange, so different. It moved haphazardly, could freeze waters and yet boils them. It was surreal and they wielded it from their bodies, the plants, the ground, but I was more shocked when it came from me. Literally shocking, tingling and then the explosions; it was unlike any element and it required no spell to cast. It was plasma, enhanced plasma." The man narrated cutting her train of thoughts.
Sal's eyes were narrowed and her suspicions increased. This seemed like a special form elemental force, as few people could wield plasma. The Olrians had no mastery of elemental force and plasma wielders were rare. And to obtain plasma from non-energy sources like the ground, incredulous.
"I'll look into that. Thanks for the info," she said and left the tent.
Yes, a tent. Apparently, her mentor thought it wise to have her examined under minimal technology aid and access to help. It was no wonder the called him the cemented mentor, a strange name but she was beginning to grasp it.
As she left, she could hear Mercy calling out a fervent thank you. Despite how much the smile tried to creep in, her face furrowed at the revelation the man gave. She would see what the investigative force had to say though.
The nice evening breeze finally brought out her smile as no one could furrow their brows at that. It brought a pleasant feeling to her nostrils, as weird as that sounded and her brown hair also shared that opinion as it flailed around with the new ability to fly the wind gave it. Not to mention the smell of sweet pastry that the breeze brought from the town below. Absolutely nothing could spoil her mood.
"You took 4 hours, 23 minutes, 32 seconds just for one man. It passes yet but it doesn't impress, I expected more from you, you shame me as my student."
And the entire scene was ruined and only her cemented mentor was capable of such atrocities. Well, one good thing she gained was that she passed, she was certified.
"Well, let's see how well this shameful record competes with others, Alan." She said haughtily.
Alan laughed, he knew she did well, but he actually expected more. He scratched his minor stubble that he had managed to grow at the age of 27. It was terrible, he had already dreamed of a nice trimmed beard when he was young, but this was all he got. If not for his deep smooth voice and the fact that he was a high rank battle sage, people would not be able to resist the urge to pinch his cheeks with his smooth face and pale skin, black hair that could not go out of place, and his baby purple eyes, it was embarrassing.
"Alright, I guess you deserve a treat." He said and she beamed at him.
"Someone seems to be in a good mood." She smiled slyly.
"What can I say; the good evening wind warms me up too." He chuckled.
"Hey! I'm not that transparent. Besides wind increases the rate of evaporation which causes cooling, so how does it warm you up?" She scowled and Alan chuckled more deeply.
"Let's get down to the town below the hill, they are well known for their pastries." He said. That explained the smell in the breeze.
Bright light overwhelmed them and instantly they were gone. They appeared in the small city surrounded by hills, named Salem. The town was mainly made of three to four floored buildings, lots of small and middle scale businesses, and lots of restaurants and bakeries. They walked towards a famous one called Rista pastries. It was a nice three floored building made of bricks and had the front wall made of glass and large glass windows.
"What would you like to order, High Sage?" a blonde waiter asked kindly. Though, it was against you if you aren't kind to a high sage though.
"I would love to have a puff pastry, two donuts, one slice of opera cake and a cool glass of orange juice." Alan asked as if he was a regular.
"What about you, miss sage?" the boy asked with the same level of politeness which made Sal smiled. That meant his politeness wasn't forced.
"Uhm, I'll have you know, you are looking at a Pronctix now." Alan corrected.
The boy's eyes widened.
"Oh, congratulations, and sorry, master sage. To celebrate, we'll like to offer you our special critz cheese pizza." The boy beamed.
"Yes, that with some milk with coffee foam, what's it called here?" Sal requested.
"Alrona," he replied and left.
Their orders were served and they ate for a while. Sal was exhausted and happy and the pizza was so good. However, what the sailor told her was the bugging her. So, she told Alan who went thoughtful for a while.
"It's just as the king feared, wielders of electricity." He sighed leaning back and crossing his arms.
"Electricity?!" she whisper shouted. That was a forbidden thing in this part of the world. All energy was converted to hypercharged photons which traveled in rays to transfer energy and using thermionic and radioactivity effect on substances to power devices. To wield it, was almost impossible, it was a higher form of plasma manipulation.
"The king thinks Lord Frank is behind it." Alan continued
Frank was an elemental master of fire and one day, he attempted wielding electricity, and people say it ended in a great tragedy.
"So, what is his majesty planning." Sal asked.
This made Alan smile and he looked at her seriously. Sal was getting nervous, was an invasion happening? The only reason she picked up medical mastery was to complement her battle skills so that now that the war was over, she wouldn't be idle. Now, was it all going to be a waste…
"Master Pronctix Salronia Chirper, you are hereby hired by the Royal palace to investigate the new attack by wielders of electricity under the leadership of High Master Alan Lanroon." He said smiling like a doting father.
Sal was shocked; she gulped down her entire drink and his to calm herself down.
"Wow, my first mission as a master sage." She said.
"Yeah, are you ready, cause we start tomorrow." He said his smile gone, which may be partly influenced by the fact that she took his juice.
"Born ready," she smirked.