Chapter 57: Terrain and Entourages


    A wizard will spend much of their life in hazardous surroundings, Baelin said to the ss. Which you will train for today, with your chosen entourages.


    It was another hot dayhotter than mid-summer in Thamndand the students of the Art of the Wizard in Combat were gathered in the stadium. Despite the loss of some ssmates during Baelins test, the number sitting before the chancellor had grown in the following weeks. Those who had entourages had brought them, increasing their number by a few new faces.


    The student named Malcolm had been joined by Eyvinder: a tall, bald man with pointed ears and a greenish cast to his skin. He looked like some of the elves that Alex had met at Generasi, but his features were harder and sharper, like hed been carved from flesh instead of being born.


    Nua-Oge, the schar wizard, had been joined by a horrifying looking beastfolk that drew everyones eye. He was by far the most gigantic beastman Alex had ever seen: the towering Thundara foot taller than Alexand Baelin would have only reached the monsters chest. He was so powerfully built that he looked more than capable of tearing through a castle wall. His skin was a steel grey over most of his body, but stark white over his chest, neck and throat. From the slight hunch in his back emerged a dorsal fin that rose into the air like a knife. His head and neck were so thick that they covered most of the area between his shoulders.


    The beast that he most resembled was a shark, and his eyes were ck and lifeless like those of a doll.


    Minervus and Rahe pair whod abandoned theirpanions during the testfilled out their ranks with five warriors who hade to the university with Minervus. Shortbows were slung on their backs. They were an enigmatic looking bunch with features that looked simr to Minervus himself, implying some kind of familial rtionship. They moved in a way that made them seem like they were the same person.


    In Alexs group, only two of them had brought entourage members to join the ss. Theresa sat between Alex and Khalik, with both her sword and massive hunting knife belted at her waist. She held her bow over her knees and watched Baelin very closely, her eyes only shifting to look at the neers that Isolde had brought with her.


    They had met them that morning: Svenia and Hogarth. Hogarth was a short man who was built like a boulder. Scars marked a face well hidden by a thick, ck beard: long and wild, unlike Khaliks well-sculpted one. Svenia, meanwhile, was as tall as Alex and looked like someone had put her together from iron wire and bear meat. Both were armed with heavy crossbows, broad-ded swords, and spiked halberds.


    They looked hard as nails, butif Alex was honesteveryones vicious looking guards and attendants seemed like cheerful babes next to the giant shark man. Even the bonedrinker would have looked tame next to that burly monster.


    Alex looked over the group, counting the new additions to their ss. Taking into ount the entirety of the new entourage, they actually had <em>more</em> people than theyd started out with.


    Before Baelins test, the ss saw a mere twenty students enrolled, and The Barrens had whittled them down to twelve. Now, ten new entourage membersa full half of theming from Minervus groupswelled their number to twenty-two.


    An odd thought struck Alex.


    Many entourage members hadnt started auditing the ss right after the test. A few of them, like Theresa, had attended the lectures, but for most, todays practical battle ss would be their first ss. The surprising thing was that they were all allowed to enter without being tested.


    Alex raised his hand.


    Yes, Alex, what is it? Baelin paused his lecture.


    Ummm, is there a test for entourage members, before they can go into The Barrens?


    No: <em>you</em> have all passed the test, Baelin said. And so all of you are trusted now, and that extends to those who you are responsible for. You made decisions and adapted to the circumstances of The Barrens, and so I trust your judgement. Besides, you are walking down a dangerous path, and one that you are ready for.


    He gestured to the ss. Were I to deny your entourage the privilege of auditing COMB-1000, I would be denying you resources for the ss, the opportunity to experience perils with those close to you, training for those who will apany you outside of the university, and preparations so that all of you might work together as a group. That is why I hope you have brought <em>every</em> member of your entourage.


    Alex chuckled. I brought half of them. The other half is my ten year old sister. SoI dont think that would be a good fit.


    He continued tough and a few others, including Theresa and Khalik, joined in. They only stopped when they realized that the chancellor wasntughing.


    He wasnt even smiling.


    At all.


    I fail to see the humour, I fear, Baelins eyes seemed to bore right into Alex, making the young man squirm in his seat. Did she refuse to attend? Of course, that is her choice.


    Uh Alex said, his eyes shifting back and forth ufortably. Well, I never offered.


    I see. Baelins words rang with a t disappointment. I am surprised, I have to say. You show a lot of sense.


    An air of difort descended over the ss. Students and their entourages exchanged nervous nces. Baelin himself did not change at all. Yet, he suddenly seemed <em>bigger.</em>


    He hadnt shifted his position, risen up to his full height or done anything intimidating, but it felt like the ancient wizard became muchrger. Like there was an auraing from him that had spread to fill the stadium.


    Alex swallowed. Iwellshes a child, chancellor.


    I see. A child, Baelin nodded, his body visibly rxing. Of course, of course, a child. Alex, would you mind answering a question of <em>mine</em>?


    Alex had a bad feeling that he wouldnt want to. Uhsure?


    Can children die?


    Silence swept the stadium again. Not even the wind broke it. In that stillness every student held their breath and Baelins eyes seemed to dig into Alexs core.


    Ipardon me? he asked, unsure if hed heard right.


    Can children die? Baelin asked with the same easy tone as though he wanted to know what the markets daily special was. Can they be killed? Hurt? Harmed? Massacred?


    A horrible image shed into Alexs mind at that moment: what might have happened if he hadnt seen the silence-spider in Coille forest when it was hidden in that tree, ready to drop down on his sister.


    He forced the thought away, unconsciously sliding into the deep belly breaths of meditation breathing. Um, they can.


    They can, Alex. They most certainly can. Baelin let out a long breath. It sounded tired in a way that Alex couldnt even begin toprehend. And it is not only children, he nced over the ss. Mothers. Fathers. Brothers. Servants. Attendants. Teachers. The more you grow in power, the more people in your lives will be endangered. Power. Attracts. Attention. And wizards must not only safeguard their loved ones, but ensure they have ways to safeguard themselves.


    The beastman paused for a moment. Let me tell you a story, one that is relevant for both our task in The Barrens, and to the topic that young Alex has brought up. A long time ago, there was a wizard by the name of Hathar-Motkin. He was a powerful sorcerer and demonologist of his day, and helike all of ussought power. And he achieved that by way of sacrifice. Demons can have vile ways of feeding themselves, and he provided them with what they wished to eat most. I wont detail what that was, because Im not going to make some of you <em>sick</em> before ss even starts.


    He began to pace back and forth in front of them, his hooves thudding into the stone. Suffice it to say that many other wizards lost family to Hathar-Motkins inclinations. And he made a <em>lot</em> of enemies. Many wizards think they are safe in their towers, Baelin continued. Or their sanctumsor schools. Almost every other wizard worth remembering at the time wanted his head, and if you had put them all together, they would have filled every single seat in this stadium. And <em>one</em> of his enemies was me.


    Murmuring spread through the ss.


    To avoid his enemies, he thought to build himself an imprable fortress. He gestured behind himself as though that fortress was standing right in the stadium. He forged a wizard tower out of star metal, then warded it with spells that repelled all magic but his own. Spell after spell after spell was linked together like chain mail, and then he ced a massive force sphere over his entire domain. Wizards tried to break through. So did demons and armies, and even one particrly angry dragon.


    He shrugged. And none could get to him; until one very clever sorceress conceived of a notion, and sought out myself and a number of his most powerful enemies to enact it. And what do you think we did? Hmmm, any guesses how we adapted?


    The student named Rhea raised her hand: she was part of the battle mage group of second years. Theres a saying among my people, she moved her hair to the side, revealing a pointed elven ear. That no tree can stand against a strong enough wind. Youbined your strength and sted his defences to nothing.


    Hm, a good thought. Baelin nodded. But one that failed us. Our enemy had prepared his defences well, and made the field his own. He could repair his defences faster than we could rip them down. And we <em>really</em> wanted to rip them down. Who elseah, Isolde.


    The terrain was to his advantageso you used magic to change it so that it was to <em>your</em>advantage? she guessed, leaning forward slightly to see if she had answered correctly.


    Very good! Baelin boomed, making many of them jump. We did just that: those of us with the power carved an even <emrger</em> circle of magic around his domainoutside his wards and spells. He had guarded arge area, butworking togetherwe could affect an evenrger area. Which is precisely what we did; we were able to teleport his <em>entire</em> domain into the ocean: the most northern ocean, where the water is so cold that it would be ice if it werent for the saltiness of the sea. And we waited for him, and we bombarded him with our most powerful spells, again and again.


    Heughed then: a hardugh like stone grinding on stone.


    Not only did Hathar have tobat <em>our</em> attacks, but he also had to cast magic to make the temperature in his domainwhich was dropping so very, very quicklylivable, deal with the pressure from the waters mass crushing his force sphere, and adapt to his own bewilderment and fear. He couldnt, so he panicked: teleported away. And we tracked him. <em>Then</em> it was all of us, against <em>one</em> of him, and none of his stolen power could help him.


    Silence followed.


    Um, Caramiyusone of the doberman-like beatfolkraised a hand. What happened to him?


    Baelin gave another hardugh. Again, I would not want to make you sick before our ss. In any case. He looked back to Alex. Im not insane, Alex. Im not going to demand that you drag a ten year old child with no experience into a battlefield, even if I am present to safeguard you all. But attending some of the lectures and discussions might do her some good. She might learn ways to protect herself, ways that might have indeed saved some of Hathars victims.<strong></strong>Give her things to think about, Mr. Roth. Do think on offering her a choice.


    Um, she has ss at this time. Shes in the junior school.


    Ah! Of course, that makes sense! Well, her general education takes precedence. Minds are sponges at that age: no sense in denying her the chance to fill it. I would suggest, though, discussing some of the topics from this ss with her yourself: such as the other point of my story, the importance of terrain.


    He turned to the entire ss again. Today your task will be to capture ten vent-drinkers. They aremon in the western wild mana vents where you will be going. These rifts in the earth concentrate and pour the worlds ambient mana up from deep within in its core and into the air. They are the source of Generasis high ambient mana, and they are also very dangerous.


    Baelin waved a hand behind him.


    The air rippled and pulled apart like a curtain, revealing a strange chasm glowing with different coloured lights. It was like looking through one of The Travellers doorways.


    Such pure, wild undiluted mana cannot be utilized unless processed in some way. Further, standing too close to the vents can cause you physical burns or disrupt your mana. The wild mana in the air can warp your spells unless you have a profound control over them, and for wizards and others sensitive to mana, walking near the vents will feel like youre attempting to swim through something akin to hot mud. And your opponents, the vent-drinkerswhile harmless to <em>most</em> thingsare far better adapted to the terrain than you are. Find ways to take away that advantage without wounding them mortally. Utilize your strategies from the test and tactics we have discussed. And work together. Now, without further ado, let us begin.