The year is XXX31
The following day, Damein was taken to the Emperor. Kadman had taken the boy to the Emperor's moon, and against his parents' will, told the Emperor of his budding skill as a counter mage.
"Tell me, Damien Modeus, son of Senator Tabitha and Commander Solomon Modeus," Kadman stood stiffly at the bottom steps of Her Radiance's throne. No one wasn't allowed to look at the Emperor, and for some reason Damien lost the will to even sneak a peek at her. The ruler of the Galaxy spoke through the mage instructor, addressing the six year old with Kadman's formal tone. "Do you wish to continue training as a counter mage? I'm aware that you have been trained as a conjurer previously."
Damien didn't answer at first. He was too nervous.
At his side were two tall men dressed in blue armor. With gloves sharpened at the fingertips, and scaled armor resembled a dragon's body, the Cerulean Knights were the Emperor's guard. Damien noted the 'scales' caved into their armor, shaped like a thousand blue diamonds. On their chestplate, the flattest part of their armor, was the emblem of her Radiance. The chest plates were studded with badges that reminded the nes his pa wore on his uniform. Each badge resembled a feat performed as a mage, mostly gold stars with glyphs etched on the innermost shape of each star. On their shoulders were studs, some poking out of their shoulders, others dented in. Damien wondered what those studs meant, his pa didn't wear studs on his Mender's uniform.
The hemet on th eCerulean Knights was the most bland. A simple dome covered each knight's head, like a fish bowl. It didn't match the reset of the armor, with its sharp, aggressive design. Each bowl head was translucent, though Damien could only make out the silhouette of the men inside, a dark shadow under blue glass.
"Damien," KAdman addressed the boy in his natural voice. "You can respond when you are asked a question."
"But you said-"
Kadman raised a hand, cutting the boy off. "That's only when you're talking out of turn." Kadman stiffened again, the next sentence he said was in the Emperor's. "Do not be afraid," the Emperor said through the blind man, "Just answer the question."
Damien felt calmer now. The butterflies in his stomach faded like aura returning to the aether. The tightness he hadn't noticed is chest loosened, allowing him to breathe easier.
"I do," Damien answered. He felt tired… at peace. He was at home soaking in a hot bath after a long day playing outside. Damien yawned, then clapped a hand over his mouth. Was it rude to yawn in front of the emperor?
A voice above Kadman, in the throne, laughed. Kadman writhed slightly, almost turning around to face Her Radiance. The emperor snorted before sighing. "Hahhh," her voice filled Damien with that calmness again. Was she casting a spell on him? "Children. How dumb yet cute you can be." Damien's cheeks flushed when she said dumb, but bit his tongue. He doubted he could get away with bad mouthing the Emperor. His parents, definitely. The strongest age in the galaxy?
"Tell me Damien," the emperor addressed him directly again. "Do you like the idea of being a counter mage?"
He had been up all night thinking about how cool it would be. Kadman had intrigued him with stories of an ancient mage who could also cast counter spells, making it seem as if Damien would be a hero like him.
"I think it's really cool." he quickly added, "Your Radiance." the knight as his side chuckled quietly.
"Then I will allow you to train as a counter mage. Your instructor, Priest Kadman, will teach you the spells to be one. Despite his appearance, he excels in recognizing and reteaching magicks. I trust him in our endeavor."
Wow, the Emperor can change what Magecraft I can study? Papa told me no one could do that!
"But," the emperor's voice struck like a cord out of key, chilling Damien's blood. "When you are completely trained as a counter mage, I will need you here by my side. It is a rare gift, and such a gift should be used to protect people, right?"
Damien remembered a conversation he had with his father last night. His pa had told him he would need to grow up to be a better mage. Maybe this is what he was talking about?
"My momma said it's a unique magick. AND my papa said I need to be big and strong like him to protect people." The emperor laughed again. The knight beside him barked at Damien, telling him to take this seriously. He was taking it seriously.
"I'll take that as a yes, then Damien. In exchange for having such great magick taught to you, you will work for me when you master the Magecraft." Kadman stepped down from the steps of the emperor's throne, gesturing for Damien to stand up. "Now, you get home safely dear boy."
Him and Kadman paid their respects to the Emperor, and left promptly.
During the ride home, while Kadman gave a lesson on counter magick, Daien asked: "Why is everyone so afraid of the Emperor? She seems really nice."
Kadman lowered the book he was reading from, Beginners Guide to Dispelling Magicks. "Only those who walk in the Darkness fear her." clapping a smooth hand on Damien's head, he told Damien, "You must walk in the Light as you should."
Damien gazed out the window of the transporter pod. He never understood the religion of the Light and the Darkness. His ma and pa walked in the Light, which he assumed meant they were good people.
Damien, easily distracted, watched a comet sputter out as if it was stopped by some invisible force. "Can you teach me how to do that?" he pointed to a few more comets that sputtered out as they slammed into some unseeable wall. "Is that what counter magick is like?"
Kadman didn't turn his head to what the boy referenced. He grinned, his teeth showing. "If you pay attention, you'll be able to do so much more."
For the remaining two hours of the ride back to Amphigur I, Damien listened to Kadman explain how to make a mage drop their guard enough to cast the unweave spell on them.