Mark of the Fool

Chapter 664: The Barred Gate of Spellcraft

Alexs mind was under attack.

The Mark wanted control, and wanted to bury it under failure after failure.

His mana was like an eel, slipping from his control.

But he fought both the spell and the Mark.

Determined, Alex set his jaw like a warrior and marched into the storm, continuing to wrestle with the spell. Distantly, he heard Professor Mangal encouraging him as he finished the final syllable.

Then came the rushing sound of water.

And a torrent of liquid gushed into the material world, filling the summoning circle, introducing an enormous clot of clear liquid into the room. It loomed above him. Streams of bubbles rippled through its surface while it swayed back and forth like a charmed snake.

A Greater Water Elemental.

The most powerful monster Alex had ever summoned.

It reared up like a wave cresting in the ocean, looking down on him from its vast height. If Bubbles was a cute, young, playful spirit, then this elemental was an old, proud entity. It gazed down with the patience and silent power of a stilled sea.

Not a sound came from it, and Alex lowered his head in respect.

Greetings, one who floats with the tides, the young wizard said in one of the elemental tongues of water, using an ancient title for more powerful water elementals. I call you here to greet you.

It let out a deep gurgle in response as Alex took several potions from his bag.

I offer you these so that you may know I mean you no ill will when I summon you in future. It is my hope that we can work together. Let us take care of each other; I will give you potions andif you need anything from this wizardyou can ask it of me. If the favour is reasonable, Ill try and comply.

His words were sincere as he extended the potions.

The enormous water elemental silently studied Alex before reaching for the potion bottles. It gurgled loudly as it sucked back their contents, absorbing the liquid into its form, then gently placing the empty vials on the floor.

Thank you for treating with me, one who floats with the tides, the young wizard said, exhaustion taking over.

He doubled over.

Very good, Professor Mangal said. Here, have something cool to drink before you try the next one.

Thanks, Alex wheezed, as Mangal poured him a cup of lemon tea from a frost covered pitcher. Ugh, that was not easy.

Sixth-tier spells never are, she said. But they grow easier with time.

Yeah, The young wizard drank deeply from the cup of tea, blotting his lips afterward. Is seventh-tier much harder?

Much, much, harder, the professor emphasised. Reaching seventh-tier from sixth, is an even greater jump than going from fifth to sixth. I myself have only reached eight-tier in summoning spells, and have never cast anything higher than sixth-tier in other spell disciplines.

Alex grimaced at her words. Great.

It is alright, you have talent and time. Let yourself get used to sixth-tier before seventh even begins to matter to you.

I understand, Alex said.

He looked at the water elemental in the summoning circle. As it was, it would make a powerful ally, though not only as a summon, but also to build into his staff. Ingredients to replicate a sixth-tier spell were pricey, and hed rather not start dipping into the fund hed been setting aside for Theresa and Selina, but he had to add to his staff before he went to the Empire. While it wouldve been nice to simply cast the spell himself, thered be nothing simple about him casting it for the aeld staff, or anything else for that matter.

He shook his head; there was no use in agonising over a fact he couldnt do anything about, at least for now.

Alex waved a hand, dismissing the elemental back to its home plane.

Very good, Alex, Mangal said. Rest for a moment, and then we can move on to the last spell. It is only eleven oclock. You still have time.

Alright he said quietly.

For a moment Professor Mangal watched him.

Alex, is this about guilt?

Pardon? he startled, looking at her sharply.

I heard what happened to your friend. Having someone close to us die is never easy, and now I see you pushing yourself in a way that most wizards would never even attempt. So, I wonder if this is out of guilt.

No, it actually isnt, Alex said. But, my friends deathlets just say it puts things into context. I want to be ready for future challenges, for if, or even when, something tries to take my life or the life of a loved one.

You do not need to face such struggles alone, Alex. You have an entire university here supporting you in your endeavour to free your home from the monstrosity that grips it, Mangal reassured him.

Alex smiled weakly. Thank you for saying that, but I also know that sometimes challenges come along that only you can face. Sometimes enemies surprise you or life gives you a burden that only you can bear. Ive got to be able to carry that weight.

Mangal grimaced. You do not sound like most twenty year olds I have known, and I have known a great many over my years of teaching. You sound more like a man with a family, one with many more years behind you than you have actually lived, as well as a difficult life shadowing you.

I cant say I know what thats like, professor, all I know is that I have responsibilities, Alex said, standing up. I guess its time for the last spell.

Without a word, she handed him the spell guide for Summon Celestial Dire Tiger.

Alex focused his energies, another struggle was waiting. For over an hour he repeatedly threw himself at the spell array. The Mark hindered and Hannahs power helped, until at last, the last word of the incantation left his mouth and a connection formed between the material world and the celestial planes.

A glorious roar echoed from the summoning circlestinging Alexs ear drumsand a majestic tiger manifested. The beasts fur was golden, striped with the deepest black bands, and its silver eyes glowed like miniature moons. They held an ancient wisdom and a great power, emanating from its entire being with a promise of the terrible force it could unleash.

It growled, pawing the floor, claws raking the stones.

Coming from within its rumbling throat, Alex heard words mixed with the beasts snarl. Who summons me? Who asks? Who dares?

The voice was that of one who wields authority.

I do, oh tiger ruler, oh heavenly khan. I thank you for coming down from your divine realm to my summoning circle, Alex said in a celestial tongue. You, who sagely rules your great territory in the celestial rainforests, does me a service with your presence.

The demeanour of the beast suddenly changed, it looked at Alex more agreeably. In its growl, Alex heard more words. You show surprising respect for a mortal; considering you seek to subjugate me with your spell.

But that is no reason to disrespect one such as you, Alex said.

What if your very existence disrespects me? the celestial dire tiger asked. You subjugate me, do you not?

The existence of an earthly monarch does not disrespect the heavens, Alex said. And a mortal lord may share a territory or even command a tiger in his realmbut in the wilds, it is known that the tiger rules.

Hah! You understand things, mortal! the tiger roared.

I try. If we work together, I will see that you grow stronger. If we find ways to increase your power, you can better stand against those rivals who covet your territory.

I regard your words as true, wizard. The celestial dire tigers tone was calmer. I smell no lies on your breath, so I will hold you to your words. Let us work together.

Very good, heavenly khan.

Alex allowed himself a breathless chuckle before collapsing on the stone floor, sitting with his legs splayed out in front of him.

You know, professor, you were right about the rest. I had two solid hours of sleep before meeting you, and if I hadnt, I might be a corpse who died trying to cast those spells, he chuckled feebly.

Rested or not, I can hardly believe you managed it, Mangal was shaking her head in awe. This is most impressive.

Right, well I dont feel too impressive right now. And I cant imagine that I look too impressive sprawled out on the floor either. But thanks anyway. Just hold on for a bit, Ive got one more thing to do.

He slowly turned, sat up, and began summoning again.

Next to the hell hed put himself through for over two solid hours, casting a fifth-tier summoning spell almost felt as easy as breathing. A connection with the celestial planes formed and soon, a familiar Astlanti celestial manifested beside the summoning circle.

Thou hath summoned me once more, young master of the arcane, the Astlanti celestial said. Show thy proof that thou art indeed worthy of my service; tis true that I cannot resist thy binding summoning magic even tho thou might be unworthy. I shall still fulfil thy commands, but with less than enthusias

He paused, spotting the celestial dire tiger in the summoning circle. Didst thou summon this grand and majestic denizen of the higher planes?

I did, Alex said.

Then thou hath proven thyself worthy of my service. Know now that any command thou bringeth to me shall be completed with utmost certainty and dedication. The Astlanti bowed before the wizard. I will serve thee faithfully.

Thank you, Alex said. I will call on you later. RIght now, I need rest.

With a wave of his hand, Alex dismissed both celestials back to their planes.

Exhausted, he turned to Professor Mangal. Well? Did I meet your standards, professor?

Mangal was deep in thought. Lets go to my office. We have much to discuss.

Do you enjoy summoning magic, Alex? Professor Mangal asked.

The two wizards had finished their work in Cell 314, gathered their belongings, and teleported directly to the professors office. Shed brewed steaming cups of chai for the two of them then settled behind her desk, letting him sip his tea for a time before shed asked her question.

I do, Alex said. Very much.

Do not misunderstand,she said. I am not asking you if you are simply good at it. I am asking you if you like it.

The young wizard really didnt have to think too hard on his answer as he remembered all the creatures hed summoned. He recalled the rush of commanding an army, the warm feeling whenever he saw Bubbles happily drinking a potion, and the attachment hed felt with some of his summons, like a certain celestial fox.

He nodded enthusiastically.

Im not just good at it, I really like it. It might be my favourite discipline of spellcraft, actually. Alchemys great too, but I think summoning spells are fascinating. Theyre some of my favourite spells to study.

Would you enjoy crafting new summoning magic? Magic that can reach into new planes, conjuring creatures hardly ever seen in the material world? she asked.

Yeah, I would, Alex said. I once watched Professor Jules conjure a lesser shoggoth during a ritual. It was horrifyingbut the thought of being able to control something like that, or make a pact with it...theres a thrill in that. A huge one.

I see, she said. Then have you given any thought to doing graduate studies?

I actually have, Alex said. I think I might like studying more magic at the university.

Very good, Alex, and can you guess why I am asking you these questions?

He felt hope rise in him. You want me to do graduate studies with you?

I truly would, Professor Mangal said. But I also ask these questions because I want to know how interested you would be in such studies. Interest, not obligation. Sometimes talent proves to be a chain that binds us to life choices we might not necessarily want to make. A man might find he is good with a sword, so he ends up on a battlefield when he would much rather harvest honey from kept beehives.

She sighed heavily. I have seen many graduate students bear such chains; young folk who think that because they are skilled with a certain discipline of magic, they are obligated to study it at the graduate level. This could not be further from the truth, and consequently, they make terrible graduate students.

How would they be terrible? Alex asked. If they have the talent, wouldnt they still make good grad students?

Ah, you fundamentally misunderstand what graduate studies are for, but most undergraduate students make the same mistake as you. The Professor held up her hands and squeezed the air as though she was kneading a sponge. When you are in undergraduate studies, your job is tofor the most partabsorb knowledge. You are a dry sponge meant to absorb as much water as you can in your four years here. When your studies are finished, you should be full and dripping with knowledge.

She wagged her index finger back and forth. But when you enter graduate studies, you are not meant to be a sponge. We professors have no use for graduate students who are sponges; your job, at the graduate level, is to create knowledge. You will take on your own projects and produce new spells, new understandings of a magical discipline, or discover new uses of mana. You will also aid your supervising professor in their work. That is the nature of graduate studies.

Sounds fun, Alex said sincerely.

Good, because some graduate students look to enter not simply because it sounds like fun, but because some obligation forces them to do so. They make for poor colleagues for the simple reason that if one has no passion for the pool of knowledge they are trying to expand, then what use will they be? Graduate work is gruelling, requiring many hours and much sacrifice. To someone who is only making that sacrifice out of obligation, the cost will only breed resentment and a desire to be free of the program as quickly as possible.

She shook her head. These are not the graduate students I desire or that most professors desire. We want talent and passion, and you exhibit both. That is why I wanted you to learn three difficult spells in a row; to test your will and your passion. If you had given up, I would have seen that you were not ready for what I might offer you.

And whats that? Alex said, growing more excited.

Honestly, I think its quite clear that undergraduate summoning is no longer a challenge for you, and even an entire fourth year course will prove to be a waste of your time. Instead, I would like you to Challenge the Exam for Credit, working with me to complete your first Binding Contract and Relational Contract Summonings. After that, I would like you to apprentice to me. I will provide you with pre-graduate knowledge that prepares you for your own projects as a graduate student. I will also have you start assisting me with some of my personal academic work. In the future, you will be ready for graduate studies in the summoning arts, should you choose to go in that direction.

She looked at him solemnly. It is a good opportunity, and by the time you graduate, you might even have mastered seventh-tier summoning spells.

Thatthat would be an honour, Alex said, pushing down a wave of anxiety.

You just need to find Keldas sanctum, he thought. Then you can fix the Mark and cast all the summoning spells you want.

I think that sounds great, he said.

Good! Professor Mangal rubbed her hands together. We will teach you the habits of an independent learner. Honestly, expect my supervision to be minimal. Oftentimes, I will simply give you a problem to solve, an exercise to perform, or a spell to master. This should not be a challenge for you; at your stage, I even suspect that if you snuck into the library on your own, you could teach yourself seventh-tier spells!

I would never do that! Alex insisted.

I merely joke, Alex, but do not be afraid of starting to look for resources outside of our library to teach yourself. I think a curriculum will only hold you back at this stage. She smiled. Welcome to studying with me, my apprentice. Soon, you will be summoning the kinds of monsters that could be the stuff of legends.

I look forward to it. Alex smiled back

He imagined the First Apostle cowering before some towering monster hed conjured.

Ill be ready for anything.

And youre sure of this? the priestess asked, squinting into the night by way of lantern light.

The riderexhausted from his long journeyhanded her a letter. Its been confirmed.

Swallowing, the priestess took the letter with a shaking hand. Ill send a rider to the capital tonight. The High Priest must know about our change in fortune. He must know that the Fool has been found. This She glanced at the letter. ...errant lamb, Alex Roth, must be brought home.