Chapter 3: Day Three, a City of Mages, for Mages

Arrival in Atlas. The three had finally arrived, after a multi-hour long, tiring walk through the endless frozen plains. They immediately noticed a lot of influx into the city -- men in wagons, on horses galloping into the city, or people casually strolling into the city. Some women with their children. There was clearly a strong arcane feeling within the city. Maybe magic was commonplace here. A lot of the people entering the city were wearing robes, amulets, bracelets, accessories that could contribute to ones own magical power. 

The city square was vast and had vendors on either side. Magic items being offered, and even some food. Atlas, one of the large cities in the Empire of Alluria. With housing sprawling all around the square, and people and goods being transported in and out, the three were awestruck.

Entering the city square, they had noticed large platforms of marble, with crowds gathered around some. 

"What are those stupid things?" snarled Irapol. 

"Don't know, they look.. strange, to say the least. Let's get a better view." Atticus replied.

Pushing through the crowd, they saw two figures standing atop the marble platforms. With ramps on both sides and the back leading onto the platform, it was beautiful architecture. On the platform itself, were lines marking either side. In the center, glass with a large blue crystal glowing in the center.One of the figures was wearing a purple cloak that stretched to the floor. The other, wearing mithril chainmail, with a glowing orb surrounded by silver hovering beside him. 

Both figures smiled, and nodded. Walking towards the center of the platform and shaking hands, they exchanged a few words that couldn't be heard from the spectators area.

"What's going on again?" Isabell asked.

Just as Atticus was about to answer, his train of thought was broken by the sound of a large explosion. Looking into the direction of the explosion, the man with the orb, a dark-elf it seemed he was, moved his hands rapidly. 

With each stroke of his arms, the orb hovering around him responded. 

Up, down up down, up down. 

The other figure responded to this with a clap. 

Following his gesture, lots of glowing particles could be seen formulating into weapons within the air. Then, with a scratching motion, he sent each weapon at his target. 

The weapons, made of ice, flew at his opponent with each swipe of his hand.

Swipe, swipe, swipe! 

Each time the weapons flew at his opponent. In a response of defense, the man with the orb had spun rapidly, then instinctively lowered his body. 

Bang! A shockwave in all directions, which threw the weapons off course and knocked the cloaked-man down. 

With that, it seemed the battle had ended.

Out of the three -- only Atticus could draw a conclusion to what they had just witnessed. It wasn't a hostile confrontation. No, this seemed too controlled and peaceful for that. Rather, it was a duel, a competiton of magic. 

And the one who had fell first had been the defeated. After that short spectacle, which gave the three of them amazement, they had begun to leave the marble platform. So had the crowd. With the battle over, it dispersed, and everyone went back to what they were doing before they stumbled upon the scene. 

Upon leaving, Irapol threw his hatchet onto the ground. Slamming into the blue-brick floor, the wooden handle shattered. Atticus jumped back.

"What the hell are you doing?! You almost hit one of us, and on top of that, you destroyed your weapon!" He shouted at Irapol.

Unphased, Irapol chuckled. "Foolish Atticus, always drawing conclusions! I am done with that old piece of junk. You see, after what I had just witnessed, I have decided, I will take the path of the arcane arts!" Irapol proudly declared.

Isabell and Atticus' gazes met. And in the next second, they broke out in laughter.

"You? Magic? Don't make such a funny joke again, Irapol!"

The laughing made Irapol turn nervous. With his face being flushed red, he retorted sharply.

"I'm not joking! I'll learn that arcane crap, just you watch! I'm serious!" He yelled, in defense of himself.

However, their little squabble had attracted the attention of a nearby mage. 

A man with a cobalt cape, short brown hair, bluesteel armor lined with fur, and a silk mask covering his lower face.

With a soft, yet concise tone, he spoke to the three.

"Pardon my interruption, but I hear your friend here is interested in the arcane arts." The man said.

Surveying the three, he began with Irapol. 

"So.. let's see. You look like a young adult. Long hair, a cloak.. of, bear fur I'll assume. Rusted iron chainmail, that can be replaced. A toolbelt with.. is that a flask of some sort, and a canteen? Snow bear boots and mithril leggings." He closely examined the confused Irapol.

"You're not really.. wearing anything that'd be of use to a mage." He explained. 

Observing Isabell, he spoke.

"Let's see.. messy blonde hair down to your waist.. that could give away your location if someone saw it. Though, you are quite pretty. An Icesilk cloak.. that can stay. Fur tunic, fur pants with some.. gold buttons?" He said out loud, thinking to himself.

"Yeah, you're not equipped to be a mage." The man sighed and said.

Switching his gaze to Atticus, he speaks.

"Fox fur cloak.. leather tunic, rusty sword as your form of defense, stained white leather and black leather boots with hooks. You aren't mage material either." He claimed.

Having just rudely critiqued each of them, he finally presented proper manners. 

"Apologies. My name is Trifo. I am a water mage. I overheard your conversation about your arcane endeavor to become a mage, and I decided to interrupt. I will gladly travel along with you three, and potentially help you become a mage." He proudly stated. 

Irapol loved it. He immediately bowed down, as if he was going to kiss Trifo's feet, to become his apostle. Isabell also showed immediate friendliness to this stranger. On the other hand, Atticus was skeptical.

"Well, if those two trust you then, majority rules. You may travel with us." He grumbles, reluctantly. 

"Splendid! I am quite short on money right now, so you'll have to excuse me for certain periods of time, as I may vanish to find labor." He explains to the three.

Atticus nods, and they proceed on through the city. With towering buildings on each side of them, and floating laterns of mana to light up the streets, it truly would be paradise for a mage.

"We shall take upon one of the marble arenas for you to learn the basics of the arcane arts. What are your names, young ones?" The stern looking Trifo askled. 

Atticus cleared his throat, and quickly took iniative. 

"I am Atticus, this is Isabell, and the one you wish to teach is known as Irapol." He spoke, introducing him and his friends.

"I am proud to make your acquaintance!" Trifo elatedly said.

Walking onto the large marble arena with Irapol, Trifo began to explain the basics of the arcane arts. The duo of Isabell and Atticus watched, intrigued as to what they were about to learn from a seemingly experienced mage.

Trifo closed his eyes.

"There are four forms of magic in this world. All of which come from the God of Creation, the entity that is responsible for the creation and manifestation of mana. To access the mana around you, one must be able to feel the existence of it around yourself." He explained.

Concentrating, with an exhale, he shot his left hand out. Blue particles began to glow and travel to his hand. 

"Next, one must use this precious resource to create the foundations of a spell. For fire mana, it could be lava. For darkness mana, it could be a crystal. But for me, a water mage, it could be ice, water, steam if I so choose to mix it with fire mana. I feel the essence of the mana around my hand which is commanding it, and with one motion, I picture what I want it to do, and throw my hand forward, as such." He demonstrated.

Opening his eyes, and thrusting his hand forward, the mana had clumped into a ball of water. Flying fast at Irapol, it stuck him in the face with a slap, and splashed all over him, getting him wet.

"Damn it! Now, I'm wet!" He angrily shouted.

Trifo smiled.

"What is made with mana, returns to mana." He said.

And with a snap of Trifo's fingers, the water stuck to Irapol's body dissipated back into pure energy, from whence it came.

For the next hour, Irapol sat solidly still on the marble. His concentration focused on one thing, which was procuring his own magic. He knew not what his attribute would be, for he remembered back on what Trifo said.

"Elves have a higher affinity for mana, but most can't use more than one type of magic. Demons can supercharge their mana, but lack coordination. Goblins have a bad affinity for mana alltogether. Humans, are well rounded, but can't specialize and become as powerful as the best mages in existece, such as the Guardians." 

Instead, Irapol gathered his will, and pictured a fiery ball. Red mana began to appear around him.

Isabell cheered, "YOU CAN DO IT! IT'S FORMING!"

With an exhale, Irapol, nearly losing his concentration, focused on gathering the mana around himself. The crimson red mana began to swirl around him, and he focused on channeling it into himself. Particle by particle, the fire mana streamed into Irapol's body. He could feel it building up within himself, almost like a liquid filling a container.

"I'm close.. to doing it.. to casting my first spell!"

Trifo, who had been watching, had a smile grow on his face.

"Don't give up Irapol. You can do it, just focus on getting that mana into a solid form!"

With this advice, Irapol shot his hand forward, and from it came a stream of flames.

"YOU DID IT!" Isabell and Atticus yelled in unison. 

Irapol slowly opened his eyes, seeing the waterfall of fire spewing from his palms. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped in shock. But this forced him to lose his focus, and the fire dissipated back into mana.

Despite the outcome and the mana returning back to the environment, one thing was painfully obvious to the four people watching.

When Irapol claimed he would become a mage, he was not joking. He had strengthened his resolve to the point where he sat completely still for an hour, focusing on nothing but that goal. 

And the end result, was the sprouting of a beginner mage.

With his friends cheering him on, Irapol felt unstoppable. Walking away from the marble arena half an hour later, they talked about what he had just done.

Jokingly, Irapol proclaimed he would defeat Unid, the Guardian of Fire.

The four friends walked and smiled through the streets for the rest of the night.