Prelude - Part 2, Scene 5
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A nod came from the Water Mage of approval for the Fire Mage’s plan of staying behind to protect the structure till it could be secured then destroyed. Taking a step then another before the Water Mage pulled making the teenager walk beside him with hand on Jordon’s shoulder. “Let us be on our way then, apprentice. Also when we return for the delay and your foolish thought that would lead you to your death you shall be placed on bathroom cleaning and scrubbing the floors in the temple on your own.”415Please respect copyright.PENANARSflV9pmjM
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His words came firm and strict like that of a father to his son who had just disobeyed the rules. A look of shock came to Jordon’s face with mouth falling open. The temple was not too large as a mansion or castle but was large enough to make it shocking someone could ask just one person to be in charge of cleaning the ten bathrooms and ensure the floors were clean as well. There were five sections to the temple: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and the Common Area along with the bedrooms for up to fifteen students to each mage. They kept the rooms on the side of the element they were found to be strongest in to avoid any risk of any elements being mixed just to show off or to show who was better against an opposing element with their immature minds.415Please respect copyright.PENANAcomzIAem05
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A sixth room which was kept under lock and key was the largest and none of the students were allowed to enter. The sixth room was the library of the Elemental Mages as well as where they slept and preformed their own work and studies while testing and keeping records of their magic and what new spells or combinations they had found with their results.415Please respect copyright.PENANA4BUWF6TMex
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“You must be jesting Water Mage. I thought I heard you say I must clean all the bathrooms and floors alone.” Jordon tried to play it off as not hearing the Mage correctly as he rubbed the back of his head while a laugh to try and hide his nerves of the thought escaped his throat out his open mouth now put into a wary smile.415Please respect copyright.PENANAeIvOcZqtT1
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The Mage simply looked down at the young man with a serious face and no joking to be found in his older eyes. “I am afraid, for you, jesting is not done at times of punishment this time on matters to punish you for your foolish thoughts that would had led to a quick death and grieving for your mother and father. You will, for a month, clean the bathrooms alone and the floors by yourself. It is punishment and after the month is up then you shall be placed back on the normal teams for cleaning the temple.415Please respect copyright.PENANAUuKB7iSJFv
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“Perhaps next time you will think fully instead of jumping to the first thought to enter your brain and think it is the right choice.” The scolding Jordon got did not taste well leaving a bitter taste in the young man’s mouth as he and the Mage walked through the forest back to the village at a steady pace.415Please respect copyright.PENANAouCRwc5Z6G
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“Yes, Water Mage I will think more through a plan before I act on it. Thank you for going so light on me for my punishment.” Jordon said with a sigh finding the denial of his punishment futile since he knew the Mage well to know none of them when not joking they were serious and most of their time with the students at the temple was serious and focused no joking about or horseplay allowed.415Please respect copyright.PENANAV5JbhCJnzA
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In their silent walk exiting the forest now Jordon having been quiet the minutes ticking by spoke up again looking between the path ahead and to the Mage at his side “Water Mage…do you think I will ever gain the ability to use an element or if I am even able to use one?”415Please respect copyright.PENANAAnu44xkN80
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“I am sure all of us can use at least one element. The trick is finding what that one element is. There are four and it takes time, practice, and research alongside focus for someone to find their element. Some are just…late bloomers into their element discovery so be naught discouraged Jordon. You will find your calling one day in the pathway of nature’s magic gifts in Aphelia.”415Please respect copyright.PENANAnB1DN18mfC
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“But it is so frustrating being the only one besides the newly accepted students who does not have an element. I mean…sure it’s just been a few months but it’s frustrating and embarrassing.” Jordon complained with a loud sigh mixed with a groan with his hands coming up to hide his face before slowly sliding down, pulling down the lower lids of his eyes some till his skin pulled the flesh back up to its proper place from his sliding fingertips that soon slid off his face completely to return to his side.415Please respect copyright.PENANAR9knYmCVhy
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“You call it embarrassing but is it really so embarrassing to not have an element in the temple? Do not dismiss the forces of magic as something to be thought of as a force meant to embarrass anyone. We are still learning everyday something new about magic and by what you discovered today there may well be a fifth element we are not aware of yet and will be researching into. If there is a fifth element or more then there is a chance you are not a user of the common elements but perhaps of a rare element.415Please respect copyright.PENANAB99P61hgfp
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“You…said you did not see the construction before but you did after the burning you felt faded, yes?”415Please respect copyright.PENANAWRcNid7HW8
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“Yes that is right. I was walking and thought I heard whispers moving so I followed them to that clearing and when I didn’t see anyone I looked around. I went to the pond and after I looked down at it I started to feel like I was tingling then like I was set on fire inside. I closed my eyes tight and tried to focus my mind to make it stop and when it did stop I wanted to collapse because how bad it hurt but when I opened my eyes that construction was there. I don’t remember hearing anything or feeling anything during the time I had closed my eyes tight and when I opened them.”415Please respect copyright.PENANAzUnMHvpq5g
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The Water Mage listened to Jordon explain this once more and it seemed odd to him these events. Whispers in a forest were not uncommon if someone with a partner or in a group was walking and hunting then their whispering is understandable. The part where Jordon says he looked at the lake and felt like he was on fire after a tingling happened was odd since when he and the Fire Mage looked no magic or enchantment was noticeable to himself about the water in and flowing from the pond.415Please respect copyright.PENANAWQajFG612y
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If there had been magic or any enchantment with the water he would had felt it fairly soon after their entering the clearing but no magic had come from the water only the stone structures. It was strange and began to bring wonder if Jordon was the one they were looking for. Normally for students it took but a matter of weeks to find their element they held a connection to perhaps two months max if they are a tricky case but for Jordon it had been longer than this and he hadn’t shown to any the four he held any real magic talent.415Please respect copyright.PENANAT1W3zLfeAW
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Perhaps it was up for another test but of a different kind though what that test would be the Water Mage wasn’t sure yet knew it would need to be a new form so they could see if there was any hidden talent under his magic-less appearance.