Once in a world
" 'Once in a lifetime, a man defies all logic the world lives by. He overturns the ideals the world lives by. A completely useless field becomes so essential that the world lives by it' (Lushin Fuerzin, the letter to the next generation; pg 5) This has never been a common occurrence in this world. But as the quote suggests, when it does happen, the world shall live by their ideals."
( king Polsner, the wisdom of the last generation; pg 100)
This is a world of magic, one where the council decides the usefulness of magic. But where they bias in attack magic above all else. Magic in this world is determined by a person's traits, willpower, the strength of their soul, imagination, and body. As people age, their power grows until their bodies and minds deteriorate. In this world, schools exist for those passionate about magic, and Polshner is no different. Once impoverished, he now lives at least comfortably. Today, the ceremony to determine his magic affinity has begun. This event happens when everyone is ten, as that is the age when their affinity becomes fixed. For example, if you have a fire affinity but start acting colder, your fire can become endothermic. This event is very important, and Polshner is excited about it.
Polshner has easily been the top of his class in magic studies. So it is no surprise that he has been chosen to deliver a speech. Taking a deep breath, awe clearly visible on his face, Polshner stands at the podium. This awe is not without reason; this stage will determine the course of his life. An imaginative boy, Polshner sees every word as a scene in a book and every lyric as a song's meaning. He takes in the stained glass windows of red, yellow, and black and the people filling each seat, all against the backdrop of the marble aesthetic. He is proud to be up there, having completed his first year at the school of magic. He is about to discover his magical affinity and power. He prepares to deliver his speech.
"At least once in every lifetime, you will change a life. A life that is in need of changing. Through changing their life, you have made them find purpose in it. As have I found a profound purpose in my life. Every rich person has once been impoverished. As so have I. I have been found on the street, impoverished, with a family. That family has never given up and is in a position of power to allow me here to attend this school. To that, I will be grateful. To that, I will be thankful. This is my first speech, and while it may not be the most grand, it marks the beginning of many. I hope you will remember it as the start of my journey and as a testament to the power of change and gratitude."
After finishing his heartfelt speech, he adds, "And as my first speech, you all get to see my magical affinity."
He places his hand on the crystal ball on the pedestal. Suddenly, fir illusionary magic symbol appears brightly, indicating his affinity for illusion magic. Polshner feels disappointed because he didn't want his journey to end here. The high council consists of magist asshats who decide this magic is useless, but he vows to prove them wrong. Illusion magic will be feared when wielded by him.
"I call out for the secondary affinity test," he announces, hoping for better news. Two affinities are not rare, especially in his case, given the strength of his illusion affinity. He fears that with only an illusion affinity, the school might expel him. He remarks under his breath, "Magist asshats."
Polshner places his hand on the secondary test crystal. To his relief, a command magic symbol appears, modified to etching, glowing almost as brightly as the illusion affinity. Etching is considered the fourth most valuable magic type. At least he won't get expelled.
Feeling confident after his great speech, Polshner walked off the stage with a pep in his step. His mood soured when he was stopped by a classmate, Fierrur.
"Hmm, an illusionist," Fierrur sneered. "How fitting, because your grades are an illusion of your standing. Good luck eluding second place."
Polshner replied calmly, "And? I'm ahead, am I not? What difference does my affinity make towards your failure? Plus, we are not in the same league of intelligence. Please step aside; you're next, aren't you?"
This retort floored Fierrur, as Polshner usually never spoke in such a manner. Polshner walked past him, heading down halls adorned with yellow, an atmosphere of sunshine created by someone's runic magic meant to keep people in a good mood. The yellow walls, the pitter-patter of footsteps, the occasional wet squeak of the floor, and the room's illumination were notable, but otherwise, it was unremarkable—much like how people viewed illusion magic. But was that true? Polshner pondered this as he approached the headmaster's office.
"Is illusion truly limited by imagination?" he wondered. "What defines something as useless? I believe illusion can be quite useful. For instance, etching leaves glowing marks on surfaces. Using illusions to cover that up could be great for traps and more."
With these thoughts solidifying his stance on his affinity, Polshner stood before a door made of a blend of rich dark oak and mahogany wood. Despite their normally clashing colors, the paint made the door look rough yet distinguished. The name "Ytrise Dolgreene'' was adorned on it. Notably, there was no knob, as only the headmaster could permit entry.
Polshner raised his fist to knock when the door moved—not to open normally, but upward like a garage door. Mr. Ytrise called him in.
The room looked like a typical office but was heavily reinforced with runes and etchings. The dark oak and mahogany aesthetic extended to the furniture, creating a harmonious yet contrasting environment. Polshner was awed by how well it was pulled off.
"Polshner, great to see you," Ytrise began. "Let me guess, this is about your affinities? I want to assure you that you have earned your spot here. Not even your illusion affinity could get you away from my grasp. Plus, I despise that council. They keep trying to undermine my authority over this school and forget why they exist, why I'm here, and why they're not. If they insist on your expulsion, they'll have to answer to me. This is my school. Don't worry, you can use whatever affinity you want. Remember, you are supported here. Come to me with any problems you have."
Polshner, taken aback by Ytrise's outgoing nature, replied, "Yes, sir, thank you, headmaster."
Ytrise dismissed him warmly, "Now go on, little Polshner. Get on with your studies, and come back with any questions if you need answers. I'm here. Goodbye and good luck."
Polshner left the office feeling relieved, with the burdens and weights lifted from his shoulders.
Fierrur was seething. He had expected Polshner to be downtrodden by the prospect of expulsion, but contrary to his expectations, Polshner walked out happy, bolstered by the school's support. This couldn't be right. Polshner was supposed to be expelled; his affinity was out of line. Fierrur believed he should be on top, not Polshner, who wasn't even close to deserving that position. The council would hear about this.
Fierrur's teeth ground together in anger, producing a painful, grating sound that repelled those around him. The smell from his teeth grinding was equally off-putting, raising doubts about the high chairman's honorability. How could his son act like that if the council isn't corrupt. Seeds of doubt about the council were taking root in the school.
But this was all part of Ytrise's plan. Every four years, he tested the system. Either it strengthened and raised expectations, or it exposed corruption. Both outcomes were problematic for the council—they either couldn't live up to expectations or were seen as corrupt. This was Ytrise's strategy for overthrowing them. He was confident in his ability to defeat them if they turned on him. His value and experience were irreplaceable, making him more valuable than a compliant yes-man. Which was why they dare not replace him.
Fierrur reported to his father, Jereese. Jereese's room reflected his high stature, with a view over the city, etchings in various colors, and a fine kitchen. However, his sleeping quarters told a different story. They mirrored his inner corruption, a secret he hid from others. The more regretful decisions he made, the filthier his quarters became. This was his way of punishing himself, grounding himself in his own contempt.
Jereese was surprised when Fierrur reported the headmaster for not expelling a student who didn't meet the council's narrow views on magic. Another layer of filth was added to his quarters. Allowing the council's influence over his son had been a mistake. Supporting the notion that one type of magic was more valuable than another had been another mistake. Yet, Jereese fully supported Ytrise and would stand by him if the council tried to oust him. Ytrise was righting wrongs, one of the few righteous figures in high positions.
Now that Jereese thought about it, he could count the righteous people in power on one hand. He couldn't lament for long; he had a meeting to attend. Fierrur had probably already informed the other council members. Jereese would deal with his son later.