CHAPTER 23 — The mage background(1)
The night had settled gently over the Darve City, wrapping it in a quiet stillness beneath a full, silver moon. Its pale light spilled across the tiled rooftops and narrow streets, finally resting upon a modest inn at the corner of the road.
Inside the inn—
Thud.
A glass hit the wooden table with a dull, satisfied sound.
"Ahh… wow…" Eldric exhaled in pure bliss, his face flushed, eyes half-lidded as he poured himself another drink with unshaken enthusiasm.
"For your victory, dolt," he declared proudly before downing yet another glass.
Rowan sat across from him, watching with growing concern.
'I agreed to buy him drinks… but at this rate, he might drink the entire inn dry.'
His eyes flickered toward the growing pile of empty cups.
'…And my money along with it.'
Still—he didn't stop him.
Because beneath the worry, there was something else.
A quiet warmth.
Eldric's ridiculous teaching methods, his careless attitude… and yet, somehow, he had taught Rowan enough to stand there today—to win.
Rowan's lips curved faintly.
"Ah… yeah, by the way…" Rowan spoke, hesitating a little."When will I get that recommendation letter?"
Eldric waved his hand lazily, not even bothering to look at him.
"You'll get it. Don't worry. It's not running away."
"...Oh Okay."
Rowan nodded slowly.
---
A few moments later.
Rowan looked at the watch that was hanging on the wall of the inn.
'9:30... I should return home now.'
Rowan looked at Eldric who was sleeping, his head on the table. Looking at that Rowan smiled faintly.
Steps... step... step...
The sounds of footsteps echo on the quite street of Darve as Rowan carried Eldric on his back.
Even though the bartender of the inn told him to leave Eldric as it is. He thought that maybe it's not a bad idea to take him to the dojo.
Finally the dojo gate was visible Rowan opened it as he entered the dojo... It was quite dark because of night but the magic lantern were around the filed, Casting a soft glow over the yard.
Thanks to it the dojo ground was visible.
'Huh...' Rowan stopped as he saw Master Garrick roaming on the ground.
"Huh hey... Your name was Rowan right." The dojo master looked at Rowan with a faint smile.
Rowan came close to Master Garrick and bowed his head in respect.
"Hmm you have got good manners. Congratulations for winning the competition."
Rowan lifted his head.
"Thanks master."
Master Garrick said with a gentle voice.
"keep training, Understand. don't let one victory make you stop. Afterall you will meet many great talents at Grand Aetherion entrance exam."
"I will keep that in mind." Rowan nodded without hesitation.
"Come to the dojo tommorow on time for your special training."
'Special training?' Rowan blinked."Ok I will."
Dojo master titled his head and asked
"Who is that on your back."
"Oh him... "Rowan glanced back, Eldric's head suddenly slipped off his shoulder.
"ELDRIC."
The single word carried a terrifying weight.
Rowan flinched.
"What happened to him?" Master Garrick asked, voice dangerously calm
Rowan replied. "Oh nothing he was just drinking in that inn."
"Oh..." the dojo master said, Then he stepped forward and unexpectedly placed a hand on Rowan's head and gave him a gentle smile.
"Rowan... You can leave him here. And go home."
"Huh.. ok." Rowan carefully lowered Eldric to the ground. He again bowed to the dojo master and then left.
While leaving Rowan Could sense dojo master's piercing gaze a shiver ran down his spine at that, but it wasn't directed towards him but Eldric.
'It wasn't a bad idea bringing him here. right!' Rowan wondered as he got out of the dojo.
---
The atmosphere outside the small hut was chilly. Rowan's parents were inside the hut waiting for their son.
the warmth from inside the hut was visible through the faint glow of the chimney fire.
Creak!!
The sound of door opening was heard as Rowan came inside.
"Rowan! you are late what were you doing."
Rowan rubbed the back of his head.
"I... I won the competition."
At that his mother's eyes widened in excitement, she hugged her son.
"Congratulations my son."
Rowan said,"yeah they told me to come tomorrow for special training. After that I could go to an academy."
His mother patted his back as she got up. "Come food is ready."
"Huh..."
A faint smile formed on Rowan's lips. Because it was the first time after the banishmant he was seeing his mother like this.
"Huh papa." Rowan saw his dad sitting on a chair his expression unreadable.
Rowan came to him. His dad frowned as he looked at Rowan. His father's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts trying to find the right words on what to say. But Rowan waited patiently. Finally his father broke the silence.
"Congratulations son."
A smile was on his father's face but it was hard to tell what that smile meant. His father patted his head. It looked like he was about to say something but stopped.
Rowan, looking at his father understood his worry.
'Maybe he is afraid that the same thing will happen to me as happened to my brother.'
Rowan still remembered their day of banishmant the day of that article when his brother was labelled a heretic dark mage.
But Rowan's heart still doesn't believe it.
'Bhaiya can never become a dark mage. Becoming a mage was his dream and he wouldn't do something that would harm our family. There definitely is something more to it.'
Rowan put his hand on top of his father's. His father's hand was now normal not warm not cold. His father is now okay.
"I will still stick to what I said papa. I will become someone who can make our family walk in the society again. With our heads held up."
His father looked at Rowan the unwavering but naive determination in those eyes. His put a hand on Rowan's shoulder.
"Remember son wherever you go, Don't forget who you are."
"I will never." Rowan replied.
"Oh come on! you two."
Mira, Rowan's mother called, her voice making both father and son flinch.
"The food is getting cold just sit and eat already."
Both father and son first looked at Mira then at each other as they both broke out into a chuckle.
----
The next day — Morning
The sky was painted in the faint shades of yellow.
The son has risen, A new morning has arrived.
Huff... huff... huff...
Rowan was running. His boots scraping on the stone path of the city the shops were opening the vendors were selling things.
Halt.
Finally his steps came to a halt as he stood infront of the gates of the Darve dojo.
Rowan stared at those massive gates for a long time before pushing it.
The doors slowly opened and what welcomed him was something that Rowan had not expected.
"Huh...?"
Swish... Swish... swish...
The sound of broom was the first thing that was heard. Someone was sweeping the yard with a sad face.
"Master!" Rowan called him.
"Oh– hey dolt." Eldric replied waving his hand a little before going back to sweeping again.
"Wow... I didn't thought you would be someone who clean things. But why make a sad face while cleaning?" Rowan approached Eldric.
"Ugh.. don't ask me that. I don't how but master caught me drunk last night."
Hearing that Rowan was stunned as he remembered he was the one who brought Eldric back to the dojo last night and handed him over to the master.
"So what happened?" Rowan asked.
"What happened? Can't you see, this happened." Eldric replied annoyance all over him.
"Oh..." Rowan looked at Eldric still sweeping the ground with broom. "So is this some kind of punishment?"
Eldric nodded.
"still I don't think cleaning is a bad punishment." Rowan said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm doing this since 5 am this morning."
Rowan froze hearing that as he started feeling bad for Eldric.
Suddenly Eldric realised something.
"Wait, what are you doing this early."
"Dojo master told me to come on time for special training."
Eldric stared at Rowan for a long time before sighing.
"hmm... Special training." A slow grin spread across his face. He dropped his broom. "come... This is better than brooming the dojo all day."
Rowan followed Eldric, on his way he saw some students who were already doing their own practice.
After some time.
Rowan stood outside the dojo building waiting for Eldric.
Eldric came out of the building his smile was calm and prideful. he dropped somthing infront of Rowan. With a tud.
Tud...
"Here, Put them on."
Rowan Looked at the things that Eldric had dropped infront of him. They were circular shaped bands which were shimmering faintly.
Rowan's eyes sparkled seeing the shining bands. 'Wait are they weight bands? I didn't know that they used weight bands to teach magic.'
A faint smile formed on Rowan's lips,'Well, I have lifted bundles of heavy hauls so. These bands are nothing.'
With that Rowan's hands reached for the bands. The moment Rowan lifted one band his face turned completely blank.
'What the hell! Why is this so light.' Rowan started tossing the band on his hand to check the weight. 'It's not even one kg.'
Rowan looked at Eldric and asked.
"Why are these weight bands so light."
"What?"
"I said why are these weight bands so—"
"who said they are weight bands idiot." Eldric replied.
Rowan's eyes widened in confusion,"They aren't."
"It's a mage dojo not a weight lifting dojo that we would have weight bands."
"Then what are they." Rowan asked.
Eldric stepped forward as he lifted one band.
"These are called mana suppressing bands."
"Mana what?—"
"Just put them on."
Rowan looked at the bands and swallowed hard. Then he put the bands on his hands. It perfectly fit him.
"Now." Eldric said. "Use that chopping or whatever spell of yours."
"Huh... Okay." A confident smile formed on Rowan's lips.
He picked his axe and took his posture. His breathing steady his posture relaxed.
"Fire chop."
Rowan swings his axe and then—
Nothing.
"Huh." Rowan swings his axe and still nothing, then Rowan kept swinging his axe. "fire chop. Hello fire chop."
But still nothing happened.
"Haha~hahahahahah..." Eldric burst into laughter. Wiping a tear away from his eyes.
"that's what mana suppressing bands do."
"They suppress your ability to gather mana." Eldric continued.
"Ohh."Rowan looked at the bands. 'So that's why my spell didn't come out. Huh~ but then.' A realization struck him.
"Wait then how am I supposed to cast spells."
Eldric coughed and replied in a calm voice.
"It's simple keep practicing. Until you successfully cast a spell with them on"
"No, but still."
"This is your special training you dolt. Besides they are only level 1 bands so it's not a big deal."
Eldric scratched his ear lazily.
"And Practicing with those bands will later increase your mana gathering speed. Didn't you saw in your fight with Riven. How fast he was casting spells."
Rowan looked at the bands wrapped around his wrist.
'He must've also trained with these bands.'
With a determined smile. Rowan lifted his hands.
"Okay. Let's do this."
Eldric folded his arms around his chest and grinned proudly."Now that's my dolt!"
"Vice master!"
A voice was heard. They both turned towards the direction of the voice. Rowan looked and saw a student coming their way hairs straight and features sharp. He looked familiar.
The student came towards Eldric. "Vice master! The dojo master is calling you."
"Me?" Eldric pointed a finger towards himself.
The student nodded.
"Sigh... Ok." before going Eldric looked at Rowan and then towards the faimiler student who had brought him the news and patted his shoulder.
"Hey Leo, help this guy with prectice."
"Huh..." before leo could say something Eldric already started walking Leonhart looked at the retreating figure of Eldric.
Sigh.. He turned to look at Rowan and extended his hand.
"Hey! you are the guy who won the competition right."
Rowan nodded.
"Congrats." Leon hart congratulated him. Rowan finally remembered where he had seen this student.
"You are the guy who fought Riven in the —"
"Ahh don't talk about that." Leonhart cut him off. "That was quite humiliating."
"Oh yeah by the way. I'm Leonhart. You can call me Leo." they both finally shook hands.
"I'm Rowan. And... You can call me Rowan."
"What~ hahahaha." leonhart chuckled at Rowan's introduction. Then his gaze landed on the bands around Rowan's wrist.
"oh, so you are doing mana gathering
training huh."
Rowan nodded.
"let's go. Since I'm told to help." Leonhart led him towards training filed.
---
The Master's office
Creak!!
The sound of door opening was heard.
"You called me master." Eldric peaked through the half opened door.
Master Garrick was writing something on some papers. He looked at the figure.
"Oh... Eldric yeah. Come in." Master Garrick exclaimed.
Eldric entered the room and stood infront of Master Garrick.
Master Garrick put some papers in his drawer. As then he put his hands on table.
"2 months later is the Grand Aetherion entrance exam."
Eldric nodded."Ahna"
"The boy who won the competition, Rowan right. I'm preparing the recommendation letter so Bring me his mage background certificate.
"Huh.." Eldric pointed towards himself. "Me."
Master Garrick nodded,"Yeah you took his admission here right, so you should have it. I need his mage background certificate for the recommendation letter."
Eldric was stunned for a second.
'Oh- yeah, i had forgotten it for a second. Rowan... doesn't come from a mage background.'
---
Chapter ends