Chapter 23.
Raindrops splashed on the street causing the flames and fire to flicker. Jakob and Kreska, managed to keep the mage restrained, but, without a way to capture the mage, the fight was rapidly becoming a stalemate. Each side was waiting to see who would falter first. Would it be the fire mage, or would it be Jakob and Kreska that would falter?
The pain in Jakobs shoulder started to increase as his adrenaline died down. A quick glance at Kreska, recognizing beads of sweat, Jakob knew he was nearing his limit. Would this be it? He thought with a flash of concern, would he get away with Kreska's chain?
Just as the confrontation reached its peak, Acantha and Kustag arrived on the scene. Acantha's eyes glinted with determination as she assessed the situation. Without hesitation, she extended her arms, and her bracers shifted into long metallic tendrils, encircling the fire mage in a heartbeat.
The fire mage struggled against the metallic restraints, his magical flames dying down, trapped and unable to break free. Kustag approached with a stoic expression, ensuring that the mage remained trapped.
Jakob, catching his breath, looked at the mage with a mixture of exhaustion and determination. "Give us back what you have stolen."
Kreska nodded, stepping forward and crossing his arms, "Give Jakob his necklace back."
Jakobs hands fluttered to his neck as he realised what Kreska had said, "I thought he stole your gold chain." The necklace… his mothers necklace… had been taken by this mage. Jakob's heart thumped with gratitude as he looked at Kreska. Without him, I would have let the mage get away with my mothers necklace.
Unknown to Jakob, Kreska was thinking the exact same thing, albeit with his chain instead of Jakob's necklace.
While Acantha dealt with the mage, and Kustag retrieved the stolen goods Kreska and Jakob found themselves alone.
Weary, yet triumphant eyes shone from both of them as they lent against a stone wall.
"Kreska…" Said Jakob as he regained his breath, "Thank you."
Kreska nodded, and turned to Jakob, a look of determination mixed with a hint of passion evident on his face.
"You fought alongside me… for me. And you" He paused, as he recalled the events that had just happened. "You didn't even cast a single spell." A glint shone in Kreskas eyes as he unconsciously clenched his fist in delight.
"You don't know what this means to an orc." He took a deep breath as he turned to look at Kustag. "In our culture, we love combat. But, not pointless combat, we have rules… no.. more like guidelines to fighting. There is no honour in a fight gained by beating someone weaker than you. Combat that is not honourable is a fight that is not worth fighting. And those that fight until their last breath, are reserved for the greatest honour."
He sniffed the air and scratched his arm absentmindedly.
"You, a no-mage, fought alongside me to stop this man. You even injured yourself doing so."
Kreska, pulled out a small knife from a sheath on his hip. "There is a tradition in our culture between warriors." He lowered his head in reverence as he spoke out, voice clear with conviction.
"Will you become my blood brother?"
Jakob was stunned, but not scared. Here was a powerful mage that had fought alongside him. And, what was even better was that the two of them were going to D.A. Academy together. The bonds of trust already forged in the fires of combat, Jakob knew his answer.
"I will."
Kresta cut his hand open, and gestured for Jakob to do the same. Mirroring his actions with a hupok Jakob cut open his hand, blood staining the blade.
The pair of them then clasped hands together, marking the beginning of a long friendship.
2 days later -
Acantha and Jakob had left Kustag and Kresta the day before to head to D.A. Academy. The school was situated on an island in a river that marked the division between the Elven, Human and Orc territories. The docks unfolded like a bustling labyrinth of activity.
As Jakob and Acantha approached the docks, Jakob's eyes widened at the sight of the diverse fleet of magical ships. An array of vessels, from sturdy fishing boats to sleek yachts all with features he had never seen before, crowded the dock, their masts reaching skyward like a forest of barren trees. Each vessel bore a unique design, harnessing the elemental prowess of mages in creative ways. Some small ships were situated on land, their stone-infused hull merging seemingly with the street. Other ships had colossal, colourful cloth that hung above the ship, pulling it into the sky by a fire mage shooting heat. There were a couple ships that had a smooth, undulating surface to help them pull through the water.
Perhaps the most captivating ship of all was a huge ship pulling into port, one where mages of different elements worked in harmony. Jakob watched as he saw a mage standing on the deck, streams of fire flowing from his fists into a furnace. Another mage, spun his arms in intricate circles, the sails, pushed by the wind, mirroring his actions. As the ship slowed, Jakob marvelled with awe, as tentacles of water seemed to grab the ship, slowing it even further.
With a quick touch on his shoulder, Acantha directed the pair of them to a mid-sized ship that had an elven sailor sitting beside it. As the pair approached, Jakob studied the elf, this was his first time seeing one in person.
The elf was shorter than Acantha, but looked slimmer almost as if there was no fat on his bones. He was adorned in a crimson, sleeveless shirt that accentuated the graceful lines of his sun-kissed skin. Silver hair, decorated with beads, cascaded like moonlight over pointed ears, framing eyes as black as the open sea. What drew Jakob's attention however, was the elves' arms. One arm was what he had expected, calloused hands bore testament to a life spent navigating the tides. The other arm, from the right shoulder, instead of an elven arm, was, glimmering in the light, an arm forged out of bass. Intricate patterns, so detailed that they must have been written in magic, flooded across every inch of the golden metal. Jakob couldn't keep his eyes off the arm as he marvelled at the mastery used to create it.
"Fyr'ar," Acantha called out, getting the attention of the elf. With a smile that didn't quite seem to reach his eyes, the elf put down a leather-bound notebook that he was writing.
"Ironvein," he muttered, in a deeper voice than Jakob was expecting.
"One-Who-Knows is expecting us as the academy, I believe she asked for you to give us transport?" Acantha said, mentioning the name of a Naga. Nagas, as Ingolf had told Jakob, were half human, half snake nomads that travelled through the Place-Without-Water, a huge desert. Due to his surprise, Jakob missed as Fyr'ar nodded, a trace of annoyance on his face.
"You were supposed to be here half an hour ago... I don't like waiting."
Acantha nodded as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a bag of coins.
"Hope this clears up any confusion," she said as she threw the coins to the elf.
This time, Jakob noticed as the smile reached Fyr'ar's eyes.
"Welcome aboard." Fyr'ar smiled as he stepped onto his ship.
As the trio stepped aboard, Fyr'ar shouted and directed with a tone that made Jakob wince. "Raise the Anchor, Furl the balloon." He pointed to a couple of sailors, "Benji, Ana'a you two untie the bonds."
The ship became a hive of activity as each sailor carried out their instructions, and soon pulling out of the harbour, the ship started to float on the huge river. Fyr'ar, though all of this, wasn't idle either. Streams of fire poured from his knuckles inflating a large balloon which caused the ship to quiver and sway as it took to the skies.
Jakob, frozen in delight, was astounded at the feeling of the very ship twist and turn, as if he was on top of a giant creature born from wood. He turned to share his glee with Acantha, and was surprised to see her crouched in a corner, hands over her face. What's going on? He thought worried, this was the first time he had seen Acantha like this? A second later, he realised, as she turned, face greener than the spring grass, and vomited. Not knowing what to do, Jakob went to find Fyr'ar, each step, a negotiation with the rhythmic dance of the vessel beneath.
"Ae, lad." Fyr'ar said as Jakob described what Acantha had just done. "People not used to the movements of the sky get quite sick." He turned, and faced the back of the ship. Pointing his knuckles to the sky, this time streams of air spin from his knuckles propelling the ship forward.
"I'm surprised you haven't been sick yet, most people, especially on their first time, can't keep their stomachs full"
Jakob paused at this, the movements of the ship were strange, unlike anything that he had felt, but they were also in a weird way similar to something he didn't quite understand.
Choosing to head away and ponder this thought Jakob moved to the side of the air ship. From the suspended perch of the airship, the earth unfolded like a sprawling canvas of diverse landscapes; patchwork fields below resembled a quilt of nature's hues, rivers snaked through verdant valleys, and distant mountain ranges stood as majestic sentinels against the vastness of the sky. The curvature of the horizon embraced the scene, and the character marvelled at the miniature world below, where cities and forests alike seemed to share a secret dance visible only to those who dared to defy gravity.
Over the edge of the horizon Jakob noticed a shape start to merge, increasing in focus. An enchanting island surrounded by the glistening embrace of water, shimmered into view. Upon a large cliff face, towards where the ship was heading, stood a giant build made out of stone. Towers adorned with whimsical turrets and spires reached for the heavens, hinting at a millennium of untold secrets. The sprawling grounds unfolded underneath colossal walls, a lush tapestry of gardens, courtyards, and what Jakob could imagine, hidden nooks and hiding places.
They had reached DA Academy. Now all there was to do was have a meeting with the principal, One-Who-Knows, to see if Jakob was even allowed to study.