Glandera
The sound of a heated exchange of words coming through the wall snapped Glandera out of her concentration. Ferron had returned from the Collegium Arcanum. She glanced at the wall clock, which showed a quarter past three. The Earth Mage stretched her legs out and slid off the bed, using the vibrations to work out who else was in his study. She identified the giant Sverker immediately by his weight. The voices grew louder, and she recognized Concetto before he even moved.
What is going on? Just like last week, the lower-ranking mages had been asked to leave the meeting, and she was eager to find out more about the reasons why. I’ve hardly made any progress all day, she thought, feeling frustrated, as she cast a final glance at the crystal she’d left on the duvet. Only this much is certain: the healing fissures that criss-crossing the quartz like fluffy clouds look unnatural. They seem more like images and letters.
Glandera rubbed her eyes and stretched thoroughly. Her curiosity was almost unbearable, but the effect of the two rock crystal steps beside her bed brought her clarity. I must be more patient, she told herself, digging her fingers into the duvet as the voices grew more heated. Her gaze wandered to the windows. The colourful leaded-glass panes depicted crystals, trees, flowers, herbs and mountains, but today, this craftsmanship failed to hold her attention. Why is Ferron so upset?, she wondered, biting her fingernail.
“Glandera, would you please come to my study?”
She sat there, stiff as a board. She still wasn’t used to hearing her Master’s voice suddenly appear in her head. Her heart was racing. A moment later, she had pulled herself together and hurried over.
Despite his olive complexion, Glandera could immediately see that Ferron’s face was flushed. As she drew nearer, his shoulders slumped and the corners of his mouth turned up. She bowed her head humbly to greet the Fire Mages. Sverker’s reddish-blonde plait swayed back and forth as he greeted her, his sapphire-blue eyes shining as warmly as ever. Concetto, the Sicilian, was shorter yet he radiated a determination that she had never seen in him before. With his arms crossed over his chest, he nodded to her. She felt a flutter in her stomach. After all, The three of them are friends. What on earth has happened?
Intuitively, she opted for the formal form of address. “Master Ferron, you wished to speak to me?” She noticed how his heartbeat quickened, as if by magic.
“Yes, An important appointment has come up for me tomorrow morning. I am very sorry, but I won’t be able to attend your first arena fight.”
“But …” Glandera faltered. I must choose my words more carefully and mustn’t contradict Ferron in public. “It meant so much to you.”
“That is correct,” confirmed Ferron. His jaw muscles tensed.
Glandera fought back the tears. “So I’ll be fighting a week later?”
“No. Sverker has agreed to take my place.”
The blonde giant took a step forward. “I’ll look after you as if you were my own daughter.”
The Earth Mage smiled bitterly. “Even so, I’ll try to arrive in good time.”
“I see.” She hung her head.
“Then I’ll expect you in the studio at the eighth hour,” concluded Sverker.
Glandera stared at the polished tiles, polished smooth by the Archmage’s footsteps over the centuries. “Master? May I ask one more question?”
“Of course.”
“You said you’d been looking forward to this moment your whole life.” She clenched the fabric of her dress in her fingers and raised her head. She looked at him steadily. “What is so important that you cannot keep this appointment?”
Ferron’s face turned pale. He took a deep breath and was about to speak, but Concetto raised his hand to silence him. “The next mission requires a little more coordination than usual. Magister Ferron’s calculations cover a wide area, and as the person in charge, I’ve noticed a few details that need to be taken into account. I suggested organizing support for him from the mathematicians tomorrow morning, so I’ve decided to prioritize that over the training.”
“You mean the mission in Peru?” Glandera pressed. “Might I perhaps be of assistance?”
“Don’t be angry with me, but your level of knowledge is nowhere near sufficient to grasp the scope of this.” Concetto smiled and turned his palms upwards. “As soon as we’ve received the figures, your Master will join us.”
I knew from the start that Ferron is a busy man. But tomorrow is the day when I need him most. The Acolyte stared at the floor once more. If Concetto makes this decision, however, Ferron will have no choice but to comply. She relaxed her hands and smoothed out her dress. “I understand, Magister Extraordinarius. Thank you for the explanation.”
Concetto turned to the blonde Viking. “Sverker has offered to step in as a mentor at any time.”
“You can always contact me if Ferron isn’t available.”
“Thank you, Magister Sverker,” Glandera replied humbly. She liked him, but would much rather spend time with her beloved.
“This afternoon, Glandera and Dorianna intend to reveal to her family that she is a mage,” Ferron explained to the Fire Mages, turning to his Acolyte. “I’m giving you the rest of the day off to prepare. I wish you every success. See you tomorrow, Glandera.”
“Thank you, Master Ferron.” He’s sending me away. Will we even see each other again today? She swallowed her question, nodded to the Archmages in farewell, and left the room.
“Jesus and Mary!” Glandera’s eyes widened as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Is that really me?”
“You look impressive in that robe,” Melody confirmed, tugging at the mage’s belt, which bore the insignia of her rank and element, as well as the symbol of the Mage Academy. The cream-coloured fabric was a linen-cotton blend that draped softly. Glandera had chosen it herself. It was important to her that she felt comfortable in it. The Water Mage Marilla had applied subtle makeup to make her look more grown up and pinned her hair up.
The Acolyte swallowed. “Thank you so much for everything. I don’t know how I can ever make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to.” Melody stroked her shoulders. “You’re part of this community, and we help one another.”
Marilla smoothed a curl into place before stepping back. “You’re showing your true nature, Earthmage. Magic lies dormant in your family, too. Remember that if you get nervous later.”
“I’m already feeling nervous.”
“Shall I calm you down?” Melody suggested. The colour of her irises changed as she held out her hands.
“I’d love that.” Glandera took them. It wasn’t the first time she’d taken advantage of Melody’s talent. Her friend was magically cleansing her blood of the fear hormones. Relieved, Glandera took a deep breath, her gaze drifting to the clock. “Thank you, Melody. And you too, Marilla. I should be off now. Dorianna is waiting for me at the archway.”
“It’ll be all right,” Dorianna reassured her as soon as they reached Webergasse. “Remember, it’ll be easier for me as soon as I touch Gladis.”
Glandera nodded and looked into the neighbouring house as they walked past. The silhouettes of the occupants disappeared behind the window pane, but they had already recognised her. Only a fortnight had passed since she’d visited Arno’s master, Kohlhaas. It was nothing short of a miracle that her new status hadn’t been exposed in that time. Now, however, she could no longer keep it a secret. As they reached the front door, she tried to ignore her racing heart. “Arno’s running up the stairs to fetch Grandmother.” “Then now’s the right time to go in,” explained the Water Mage, knocking on the door.
The Acolyte narrowed her eyes.
“Glandera, is that you?” called her mother. “Why don’t you come in?”
Now there was no escaping it. She opened the door. As they entered the house, Hilde hurried over to the table in the living room with the teapot. Her gaze fell on the mages and lingered on their insignia; her smile froze. Glandera could feel her mother’s heartbeat quickening. She began to tremble, loosening her grip on the handle. Instinctively, Glandera held out her hand, causing the teapot to stop mid-fall. With controlled precision, she made it hover above the table. Her mother’s jaw dropped further and her pulse quickened.
“Greetings, Mrs Berger.” Magistra Dorianna nodded and turned her right hand upwards. A blue-violet mist rose from her palm and swirled around Hilde. Glandera hurried over to her. Taking her arm gently but firmly, she led her to her seat.
Her mother scrutinized her robes, which were the symbol of Earth Magic, her rank, and the Mage Academy, before her gaze lingered on her face. “Your eye colour... Why are they golden?”
Glandera blinked. “I’ll explain that to you later. Sit down first and calm down. Arno will be here with Grandmother any moment now.”
“How do you know your brother’s upstairs?”
“I can sense his footsteps.” Glandera sat down beside her and stroked Hilde’s cold fingers. Frowning, she turned to Dorianna and opened her mind. “Nothing must happen to Grandmother.”
The Magistra smiled. “I promised you that.”
Dorianna’s palm glowed blue-violet, and another mist drifted up the stairs. Gladis then appeared on the top step. She rested her left hand on Arno’s forearm, held onto the banister with her right hand, and took steady steps down the stairs. Glandera bit her lower lip as Gladis noticed the Water Mage.
“Darling, it’s lovely to see you. And you’ve brought a visitor with you?”
Glandera stood up and walked towards her. “Yes, your childhood friend.” Dorianna’s central forehead crease deepened, but Gladis’s pulse remained steady. At the top of the stairs, Glandera welcomed her with open arms. “Do you remember Dorianna?”
The Magistra stepped closer, smiling. “Gladis, I’m so glad to see you again. When we were children, we always used to play by the river – do you remember?” As Gladis clasped her grandmother’s hand in greeting, Glandera relaxed.
Gladis frowned at first, then her face lit up. “Knauff’s Dorianna? Not her granddaughter?”
“Exactly. Only I’ve got married in the meantime. I’ve learnt to change my appearance.” The Magistra winked and led Gladis to the table. She didn’t let go of her gnarled fingers as she did so. “Can all Water Mages purify blood from fear? Just like Melody?” Glandera asked Dorianna.
“We can identify the neurotransmitters, but only a few of us can purify them. I don’t specialize in this, which is why it takes a great deal of effort. It’s easier with physical contact. You should start explaining yourself so they can calm down. Gladis and Hilde have lots of unanswered questions.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Gladis saw her mother eyeing Glandera’s robes sceptically. The Acolyte led Gladis to the table and had her sit down between Arno and Dorianna. She tried to put on as relaxed a smile as possible. With practised ease, she reached for Dorianna’s plate and placed a slice of onion cake on it. “Grandmother, you’re surely wondering why Dorianna stopped coming down to the river to play all those years ago. Her talent for water magic was recognized, so she was sent to school.”
The Magistra nodded. “To a boarding school, to be precise. It’s a full-time school. I was only allowed to come home during the holidays.”
The old woman patted her friend’s hand. “I thought you’d disappeared because the mages had kidnapped you.”
Dorianna smiled. “I understand. My parents were glad to be able to send me there because lessons are free for girls and boys with magical talent.”
“Anyone who’s been discovered,” Glandera explained after serving everyone, turning to Hilde. “But Grandmother had always warned me about the riders. That’s why I was never tested.”
“But I’d learnt at school that mages are very helpful,” Arno interjected.
Her mother pressed her lips together. “My talent for earth magic was discovered by chance,” Glandera explained. “That’s the real reason why I was offered a position at the Mage Academy. I accepted it because I earned more money and could avoid the foreman.”
“Which is how she’s funding my training,” Arno added.
“Mum, say something,” Glandera pleaded.
“The onion dish is getting cold.” Hilde stared at her plate. “We should eat.”
Glandera’s voice trembled. “You always warned us about the horsemen. I know you meant well. I’ve kept my promise to you and continued investigating, and I can confirm that no child is being abused for the mages’ purposes.”
Dorianna nodded. “I’m here today as living proof, Hilde. I can confirm it.”
“After finishing school, the Academy offers you the chance to join their ranks. Those with less talent work as staff.” Glandera’s mouth went dry. “Those with an elemental specialization, like Dorianna or myself, receive further training in line with their abilities. My training in earth magic will take five years.” The Acolyte handed the purse to her mother. When Hilde didn’t move, Arno reached for the purse and peered inside. His eyes widened. “You’ll receive 50 silver talers every week for five years? Can I have my abilities tested too?”
“You’ve already been tested.” Glandera couldn’t help but grin before turning back to her mother. “This will secure Arno’s training. You won’t have to count every penny anymore.”
“Aunt Alice went to this school too.” Hilde’s gaze shifted back and forth between the mages. Her voice grew firmer. “Do you know what happened back then?”
The faint vibrations of Gladis heartbeat quickened. She glanced at Dorianna, who gave her an encouraging nod. It’s good to set the record straight, thought Glandera. “I’ve spoken to the person in charge. They’d assumed she had magical abilities, but that wasn’t the case. So she had to leave the boarding school. That’s why she was so sad.”
“Why did they take Alice away in the first place, then?” asked Hilde reproachfully.
“They mistook us for each other,” came a soft voice, and all eyes darted towards Gladis. “I was playing with pebbles in the river and making up funny games. Dorianna was there too.”
“Mum?” Hilde’s mouth hung open.
“You used to throw stones at my water balls.” The Water Mage laughed. “Do you remember how often we came home soaking wet?”
Glandera put her hand to her mouth. “You remember?”
“Yes, and Mother told me off.” Gladis pulled her arm back and rested it on the table. With her other hand, she reached for the onion tart and took a bite.
“I gave it a little psionic nudge by bringing back shared memories,” Dorianna’s voice rang out in Glandera’s head before she turned back to Gladis. “But when Alice was taken away by the horsemen, you stopped doing that.”
“You’re capable of magic?” Hilde stared at her mother. “Then why have you been warning us about mages all these years?”
“I did not want you to go through what my sister did,” Gladis explained calmly. “I suppressed it and didn’t want anything more to do with it.”
Frowning, Hilde stared at her hands. “Glandera. How long have you known that you’re an Earth Mage?” she asked quietly.
“I’ve always felt a tingling sensation at my fingertips when touching individual stones, but I thought that was normal. In the mine, I unwittingly came face to face with the Archmage of Earth. He recognized my talent and taught me to trust my magical instincts. Then came the day when the storm broke out, and he had Zulkis arrested. Afterwards, I helped him find the quartz vein in the mountain. In hindsight, that was the day I realized who I am.”
“You also knew who was knocking at the front door before anyone else,” said Hilde thoughtfully. “Why did you keep that a secret for so long?”
Glandera struggled to find the words, but Arno spoke up, shaking his head. “Glandera spent weeks wondering how she could break the news to you as gently as possible.”
“You knew?” asked Hilde, surprised.
“Yes. I met her Master. A thoroughly decent man.”
Hilde slowly let her shoulders drop and looked back and forth between her children. “Promise me that you won’t keep any secrets from me from now on,” she said.
“There’s something else.” Glandera swallowed and continued hesitantly. “You know I have a friend called Ferron. Well, how shall I put it? He’s the Magister of the Earth I mentioned, and he’s 378 years old.”
Hilde’s eyelids drooped. Her body went limp, causing her chair to topple over with a clatter as she landed on the floor. Glandera’s wooden chair rattled as she hurried over to her mother. The Acolyte shifted into her magical vision.
Dorianna held out her hand. “Arno, Hold your grandmother tight.” Blue waves of magic flowed towards the old woman. Arno slid closer to her, putting an arm around her shoulders while her head sank onto his chest. “Couldn’t you have warned me?” hissed Dorianna, crouching down beside Hilde. She gently stroked her arm. “Please bring her a glass of water.”
The Acolyte shrugged and ran into the kitchen. “I had no idea she’d fall straight off her chair.” As she spoke, she glanced over at Gladis, who was sleeping peacefully. Glandera returned, knelt beside her mother, who was slowly opening her eyes, and held the glass of water to her lips. “I... I’m sorry.” After Hilde had taken a sip, the Acolyte sank down beside her, exhausted.
“My little Glandera. What am I to do with you?”
“I’m not a child any more,” she corrected her mother, helping her to sit up. “I love Ferron. There’s no man more attentive or loyal than him. He looks after me and helps me to embrace my power. I’m happy with him. I’m following my destiny.” Glandera looked at Gladis. “Now that you know I’m an Earth Mage, I no longer need to hide who I am in Chattenberg.”
“I’d like to meet the man who has such a big influence on you as soon as possible.”
Glandera felt a warm glow in her chest. “I’d be delighted. He’d like to introduce himself to you, too.”
Hilde stared into her half-full glass. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
“I experience so much when I’m out and about with him, and I’d love to tell you all about it.” Glandera noticed Dorianna’s stern gaze. “But there’s time for that.”
U have a really warm smile it genuinely caught my attention.. whats something u are about that u could talk about for hours?