Chapter 19: • The High Magus

'The High Magus?' Spheris thought. He had heard a few things about the man. He couldn't remember his name or what his responsibility was, all he knew was that the High Magus was the most important man in the Continent. Even more important than the Dukes.

'Why is he here?'

The rest of the Avatars seemed really excited to meet him, Spheris on the other hand was just confused. And even so, worried. Could the High Magus be here to punish him? No, he couldn't, right? He was Obsidian's Temple.

The heavy metal gates creaked open, and Spheris comported himself, his heart pounding silently in his chest. First, Ardion came into view, but not long after, a figure draped in an aura of commanding mystery followed.

The High Magus.

Spheris felt a ripple of unease as the atmosphere shifted in the presence of this powerful man. The rumors had barely scratched the surface of his significance, and now, standing before him, Spheris felt real power. A power even greater than Meister Grengo's. He could feel it in his bones.

The High Magus looked like he had lived forever. He had long white hair and matching white beard framing his face. His mage gown was seamlessly blended in a magical white and silver, and it brushed against the grass gloriously. He held a staff in his hand which had a giant gray orb at the head and his gaze carried an air of intelligence and power.

Beside him was a young woman, Spheris presumed she was around the same age as Nephta. Her hair was as white as the High Magus's and she wore the same white and silver, but in a more fashionable style. It draped to the back like a cape and beneath it were tight trousers. She didn't seem friendly at all as she looked at the Avatars apathetically.

The High Magus gave all the Avatars a stern assessment, his eyes stayed a bit longer on Spheris who was trying his best not to be overwhelmed by fear.

"Where is Grengo?" the Magus turned to Ardion.

"He left, High Meister. He said there were matters that he needed to see to."

"Matters? What matters?" the Magus complained. "The Convergence Ceremony is in over a day. What could matter more than that?"

"He... didn't give me details, High Meister," Ardion replied. Spheris couldn't believe it, Ardion was nervous! He was the most forthright and confident person Spheris had ever met! Seeing him nervous in the presence of the High Magus was all that Spheris needed to know.

The Magus grunted and returned his focus to the Avatars who were still standing in attention. "Merisset?" he called softly.

"Yes, father?" the lady beside him responded.

'Father?' Spheris raised a brow. 'Well, that explains a lot.'

"Test these Avatars and find out how prepared they are for the Ceremony," the Magus said. "You! Come with me."

Spheris's heart dropped when he realized the Mage was pointing at him. He took a quick glance at the rest of the Avatars and hurriedly followed behind the High Magus as he entered the mansion. Merisset watching him callously.

The Magus conjured the door open with magic and walked to the opposite door from the tutorium, into a room that Spheris had never been before. Once he entered, he realized that it was Meister Grengo's office.

The office's atmosphere was rich with the scent of aged parchment and magic refuse. There was a grand oak desk at the end of a wall, and parchments scattered with arcane symbols and diagrams hinted at ongoing studies. The walls were lined with shelves which carried ancient tomes and dusty scrolls, they looked even older than the ones in the tutorium.

"Take a seat, boy." The High Magus voice echoed. Spheris quickly obeyed. The Magus placed his staff on the wall and slowly walked up to Spheris, scrutinizing him with his soulless gaze.

"Spheris Arnadel," he said. "That is your name, is it not?"

"It is," Spheris nodded, he didn't sound as calm and collected as usual.

"Interesting name, interesting family." The Magus turned around and took a seat behind the desk. "The Arnadels have quite the complicated family tree. Your father, Daridius was a thief, killed in a beheading by the Duke Bellunder himself. And your mother, Rya, a simple tailor but fell to the illness of the sanguine malady. An unfortunate childhood you must have had."

Spheris cleared his throat. "You investigated my family?"

"Oh, I did my best. But Heathians do not usually get documented in the citizenship reports, so my hard work was not quite potent."

Spheris couldn't think of a response and so he just stayed quiet and gazed at the magnificence of the Magus. The Magus on the other hand, was still studying him with his eyes.

"Did it compel you?" he asked Spheris.

"What?"

"The Essence Box," he explained. "It called to you did it not? Somehow you knew it was something precious, something of great value even though you didn't know what was within it."

Spheris's mind wandered to that time in the vault when his eyes caught the box, and indeed it was true. He remembered the feeling, like the box wanted him to take it. "Yeah, I guess so."

"How long have you had the idea to steal from Lord Bellunder's vault?"

"Uh, ever since I was a kid," Spheris replied. "What are you saying? That this wasn't a coincidence? That someone wanted me to take the box? The box itself wanted it?"

The High Magus's gaze fell and he sighed. "My name is High Meister Gavryndor Elicyerus. I and other Meisters seek to protect the realm from outside interference and from events that could have telling signs of dangerous outcomes."

"Oh," Spheris nodded, understanding where this was going. "So a Heathian becoming an Avatar is suddenly a 'telling' sign?"

"Do not fool yourself, Spheris. Your societal rank has nothing of sorts to do with this situation."

"So what is then?" Spheris found himself building more confidence in the realization that this High Magus could just be another Heathian-hating prick.

"You were the kind of stealers called shadow walkers. The ones who are stealthy, never get caught and sometimes operate at night."

"Yes?"

"You wear all black as your usual gear. Every single thing, the only contrast is the paleness of your skin."

"Okay? So what does that have to do w—"

"And you have a raven. A companion of sorts and a partner in crime."

"I don't understand what you're getting at, High Meister."

"What I'm saying is that you attract what you are. Don't you ever wonder how you, a shadow walker now have the power to control the shadows. Do you really believe that could be a mere coincidence?"

Spheris could feel his mind boggling at the thought of it.

"Once again, Spheris Arnadel. You attract what you are."

There was silence as the Avatar tried to make sense of what he had just been told. Does this mean that he was always fated to steal that Essence Box?

"The other Meisters don't like that a Heathian is going to represent a Wing in the Ceremony. They even proposed the idea of killing you and appealing to Obsidian later."

Spheris's eyes narrowed. "Is that why you're here? To kill me?"

"No. I am the High Meister, my word is the final say. The other Meisters are foolish, their hate for Heathians would lead them to destroy the realm rather than see one have the tiniest bit of power." Gavryndor leaned in, his gaze unwavering. "I think that you are about to usher in our Continent into a new age. And if you believe in yourself, I know you can attain great power." Then his gaze darkened in worry.

"All I fear about is what you might use that power for."

Spheris felt goosebumps and he gulped loudly.

"I will be at the Convergence Ceremony, I will give you as much of my support as I can offer," Gavryndor promised.

Surprise etched itself on Spheris's face. He didn't expect this at all! Should he say thank you? Of course, he should say thank you!

"Thank you, High Meister." Spheris muttered.

"I don't see a reason why you should," Gavryndor replied. "You are Obsidian's Temple. It is my duty to support you."

Spheris watched in awe as the High Meister compelled his staff to his hand and got to his feet. "My daughter, Merisset will train you Avatars in combat for the last day. She is quite strict so I do ask you to be patient with her. " He then began to leave the office.

But then he turned to Spheris, a curious glint in his eyes. "And your raven? Where is it now?"

Spheris's gaze saddened. "I'm not sure. I sent it to go stay with my mother, to comfort her just before I was captured. Seeing that the Duke now has my mother, I don't know where Talon would be."

"Talon?" Gavryndor's brows perked.

"Yeah, that's... his name."

"I see," the High Meister nodded. "Perhaps, I will keep an eye out for this Talon, and send him to you." He then gave Spheris a warm smile and disappeared through the door.

Spheris sat there in shock, gazing at the door. Did he just become friends with the High Meister of the Continent!?

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