A New Master

Inago led Roan through the streets of the city. Every time he stopped to look at something, he felt Inago’s hand on his collar pulling him forward.

“Not now, kid. We’ve got to check in. Your new master is waiting. Besides, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the city once you settle in. Port August is your home now.”

Home. That word didn’t mean anything to Roan. It’s ridiculous. I’m still a slave. He acts like I’ve been adopted or something. It’s not like I’m going to meet my new mom. All of this is so stupid.

They took several side streets, alleys, and crossed over at least two bridges. Roan was struggling to keep up with it all. The city was a maze.

Eventually, they came to an area of the city that was different from the parts they had just walked through. It was a small, flat grassland. The hustle and bustle was replaced by a calmness Roan had never experience before. Not even in the Dark Woods.

Inago looked back at him, “Ah, you feel it. Right? That’s a peace enchantment placed by our master. It forces all who enter it to immediately relax and let go of any tension. See that large castle on the other side of the plain? One of the princes of Arlen lives there. He is also the Duke of August. And he’s one of our master’s main clients. Expect jobs for the crown on occasion if you’re good enough.”

After about an hour of walking, they circumnavigated around the green plain surrounding the castle and came to stand in front of an old wooden gate that was easily four times Roan’s height. It’s hinges looked rusted shut and the wood of the door was aged so badly that it looked almost petrified to stone. Inago put his hand on Roan’s shoulder and smiled a devilish smile.

“You ready?”

“For what?” Roan asked while instinctively trying to take a step back. However, Inago’s grip was firm. He began to chuckle while pushing Roan towards the gate.

“For your screening! This is a Genna Gate. It’ll tell us everything we need to know about you and only admit you if you pass it’s tests.”

“And if I fail?

“Dead! Pretty chilling, huh? Word of advice, don’t overthink it.”

Roan was confused but before he could ask any questions he was pushed forward. He expected to hit the solid wood in front of him. Instead, he passed right through it. As if it weren’t even there.

Everything went pitch black except for a wide beam of light that illuminated him from above. The air was still the same warm summer air he had felt a second ago. He turned every which way and after a solid minute of silence he finally called out.

“Hello? I’m supposed to be given a test?”

“Test of Patience: failure.” A deep masculine voice boomed throughout the space he was in.

“Wait, what? I didn’t know that I was being tested!”

“Next. Call out the colors that show a dagger in the image.” Seven images materialized before him each with a different color picture frame. They showed various scenes of people living their daily lives.

“Uh, red. Yellow. Orange. Maybe blue? I don’t know who would use a dagger to cut into a roast pig like that though. Is that just a regular knife?”

There was a long pause. Roan didn’t speak up this time in fear of it being another part of the test.

“Test of Recognition: failure.”

“What? How did I fail? I chose all the right images!”

“Next. Final test. Do you know this man’s name?”

An image of a man faded into view. He was older, probably mid-50’s and had amber colored long hair. A single streak of white hair ran down the middle of his head. Uncannily similar to Roan’s own white streak.

As he stood there, his mouth opened slightly and his eyes narrowed. Roan knew this man’s face somehow. Yet, the name escaped him completely.

“I do know his face. I don’t remember where or when I met him but I know I’ve seen him before. I’m sorry but I don’t know his name.”

Another long pause. What was the point of these tests? Am I going to be killed because I don’t know this man?

The deep voice bellowed: “Test of Association: Success.”

One out of three, huh? No way that’s an overall pass. I’m doomed.

“Final result: Admittance allowed. Welcome home, Roan Kamikiri.”

The darkness around him peeled away like a curtain on a stage. He was standing on a cobblestoned path in-between several misshapen buildings. Inago stood in front of him, smiling.

“Hey! You passed! Wonderful! I honestly had my doubts about you. You took to that fight on the road a little too well, ya know? However, if the Genna Gate vouches for you then you’re all right in my book! Now, we gotta hurry. Our master isn’t super patient and she’s waiting for us at the mansion.”

“She? I thought you said she wasn’t a woman?”

“Did I? I don’t remember saying that exactly.”

Roan blinked hard. “No you didn’t, exactly. Though you heavily implied it.”

Inago stopped walking and turned to Roan with a somewhat serious look on his face. “Listen, Roan. Here’s your first of many lessons here. As a Magician, you can’t speak as forthrightly as you have thus far in your life. You need to learn to nuance your words and look for nuance in what others say. It’s the only way to survive the life of a Magician.” He patted him on the shoulder then turned to walk again.

They finally arrived to a large manor at the end of the street. In front of it, the cobblestoned courtyard housed a small stable for a few horses and a hay shed. There was also a tree in the center that grew tall and had dark green summer foliage splayed out in all directions. On such a sunny day, it provided much needed shade.

Inago went to the door and pulled a frayed rope to the left. A loud bell could be heard sounding off. After a few moments the sound of unlocking could be heard and the old worn door opened to reveal an elderly woman with silver hair and dressed in a crimson robe standing behind it.

“Ah, Mr. Boreal. I see you’ve returned. I’ll inform the mistress. Please come inside.” She bowed and turned to ascend the grand staircase behind her.

Inago and Roan stepped inside and were met with a grand foyer that one would expect of a noblewoman. Everything including the chandelier above looked polished and brand new.

“Listen, whatever you do. Just answer truthfully to the mistress. She can see through lies as if seeing through an open window. Trust me, lying isn’t in your best interest.”

Roan cocked his head, “But you just told me to be more nuanced with my words.”

“Yeah but not with her, idiot.”

The elderly woman appear at the top of the stairs, “Please, come on up. The mistress will see you now.”

Roan was nervous. He was meeting his new master. Would she be kind? Cruel? Would she be like the estate master’s deceased wife? Would she treat him better or worse than Eonard? So many questions ran through his mind as he ascended the grand staircase.

They were ushered into a dark room lit only by candle light. Large thick curtains hung on the walls. Roan assumed that they covered up the windows. The long, dark room had a single running carpet over wooden flooring. It ran from the door to a small raised platform at the end of the room.

Laying sideways on a sofa was one of the most beautiful women Roan had ever seen. Mesmerized, he walked forward without thinking. She was clearly older than Roan and Inago but not elderly. Not much older than her late 40’s, as much as Roan could surmise. She was wrapped in a white duvet that covered her and half of the sofa she laid on.

Roan’s eyes drifted to her hair which was bright and vibrant strawberry blonde. That wasn’t what Roan was surprised by though. He gave an audible gasp as he looked around the room.

Her hair was long enough to create large piles of it on both sides of the long running carpet. He couldn’t tell where it actually ended. He turned back to her when she spoke.

“Well done, Inago. Thank you for bringing him to me. As for you, Mr. Kamikiri, please cut my hair.”