The sun pierced through the ancient windows of the sanctum, casting golden beams across the room. Menelaus stood before us, his presence commanding attention. "Today marks the beginning of the final phase of your apprentice training," he announced, his voice resonating with a mix of gravitas and anticipation. "Ascendancy—the most challenging trial with a very slim success rate. Those who fail return to their villages as kitchen mages. But those who succeed..." His eyes gleamed. "A new life awaits. You'll join the ranks of Astron mages, with fame, fortune, and heroic quests beyond the wall."
Menelaus introduced us to the top guilds who had won the bidding to take us under their wings. These guilds, renowned for their strength and fame, were eager to mentor us, knowing we had been chosen by Menelaus himself, the most powerful mage in the kingdom. The guilds, known collectively as the Triad, included the Dragon Guild, the Stormborn Guild, and the Shadowfen Guild. They were fierce rivals in all aspects that it was impossible to determine which one was superior. Each guild was legendary, renowned not only for the number of their accomplished crown-ordained missions outside the wall, but for their fame and fortune.
We were given three months to prepare for Ascendancy. During this period, we would be integrated into the top magic guilds, personally selected by Menelaus to match our magical affinities. These guild leaders would train us tirelessly, day and night, to prepare us for the ultimate test. Should we succeed, the same guilds would welcome us as Class B Astron mages after ascending. We would have to move our way up to Class A Astron mages before we can participate in missions beyond the Wall.
Ascendant mages were absorbed into prestigious guilds within the kingdom, in our case the Triad, which is in itself a great accomplishment many aspiring mages would kill for. Higher ranking guild mages live a life of luxury. They enjoyed fame, substantial salaries from the king's treasury, and embarked on quests beyond the Wall, where they sought great treasures in the perilous Dark Lands. These unchartered territories, teeming with nightmarish creatures, held sacred artifacts of immense power from the Golden era, a history lost to us when the Dark King invaded. Some of these artifacts held so much power such as the Crown of Judgment worn by King Ragnar V and the Philosopher's Stone, which powered the entire entire city of Eldoria. The most elite magic guilds, commissioned by the king and sponsored by the crown, ventured into these lands. Mages and warriors alike risked their lives for glory and honor. The last such expedition, years ago, had ended in disaster, claiming the lives of many, including my father whom I've never seen in person for I was still in my mother's womb when he left.
Menelaus continued, "You'll have three months to prepare. Each of you will join one of the top magic guilds, who will train you rigorously for the Ascendancy. The leaders of these guilds have been chosen for their profound mastery in constellation magic. They are more than capable to hone your unique magical affinities."
He then introduced us to the guild masters, each a legend in their own right.
Silas Dracule, the leader of the Dragon Guild, stepped forward first. He was a towering figure with fiery red hair, a muscular build, and a face marked by numerous battle scars. His piercing eyes seemed to see through to your very soul. A tattoo of a two-headed dragon coiled around his right arm, the sigil of his guild. Silas exuded a very intimidating aura of raw power that makes the atmosphere around us heavy.
"Bran," Silas called, his voice as gruff as the man himself. Usually so full of bravado, Bran shrank a little under his father's gaze. "You shall train under me."
Bran nodded; the cockiness gone from his demeanor. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for him, imagining the immense pressure of living up to Silas's legacy. It must have been suffocating.
Gale Stormbringer, the leader of the Stormborn Guild, approached. She was an elderly woman, her long silver hair flowing like a cascade of moonlight. Despite her age, her presence was calm and commanding, and her eyes sparkled with a youthful energy. She wore a plain white dress that draped elegantly to the ground, with an embroidered albatross soaring towards the sky on her back—the sigil of her guild.
"Gale," Menelaus greeted her warmly. "It's good to see you again."
"And you, old friend," she replied with a serene smile. Turning to Ishtar, she said, "Come, young one. The winds have whispered your name to me."
Ishtar walked to her, awe and respect evident in his eyes. Gale's calm and nurturing presence was a stark contrast to the raw intensity of Silas.
The twins, Karim and Haruno, were taken under the wing of the Shadowfen Guild. This guild, unlike the others, embraced a diverse array of elemental attributes. While other guilds adhered to the traditional guilding practice of accepting members based on a specific element believing one is superior to the other, the Shadowfen Guild was progressive, accepting mages of all types. Their leader, Radagast Vermillon, was a young, adventurous man who had founded the guild and brought it to prominence within a few short years. His unkempt black hair and infectious energy made him instantly likable. He was the youngest S-Class Astron mage in the kingdom. His guild, composed mostly of young mages, represented the new generation of magic users. Karim and Haruno, with their quirky personalities, fit right in. Radagast greeted them with a thumbs up and a flashing smile, a fierce lion sigil of the guild was tattooed at the back of his palm.
"Ah, the rumored twins. It's been a long time since we have twin mages, isn't it old man? " Radagast put his hand casually on Menelaus's shoulders. "Indeed, young lion. I trust, you're gonna take good care of them," Menelaus responded. "Karim, Haruno," Radagast called, his voice full of excitement. "You two are coming with me. We'll have great adventures together!"
The twins responded with equal enthusiasm, their quirky personalities mirroring Radagast's. They high-fived their new guild leader and greeted their future guild mates like old friends.
Finally, Menelaus turned to me. "Erik, you will remain under my wing. No one can train an Archmage better than an Archmage himself," he winked.
I nodded, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over me. Menelaus had been our guiding light for the past few weeks, and the thought of training under him filled me with both pride and pressure.
When the guilding was over, Ishtar, Karim, Haruno, and I decided to spend our remaining time together before they go to each of their guild houses. We explored the bustling streets of Eldoria, bought new clothes, and feasted on delicious delicacies, all the while soaking in awe of the city which is far different from the villages we grew up in. We wandered through the marketplace, our senses overwhelmed by the vibrant sights, sounds, and smells around us.
As the evening progressed, we found ourselves at a small tavern, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. It was a rare moment of relaxation after our intense training the past couple of weeks and we can trust it's only gonna get better for the next three months to come, but for now, we take our chance to bond and reflect on our journey.
"I can't believe how far we've come," Ishtar said, raising his mug in a toast. "To our future as Astron mages."
"To our future," we echoed, clinking our mugs together.