Rise of the Arcane Heir

Spells and Classmates (1)

Callum's eyes went wide as they stepped inside the room. He had expected to find a woman behind a desk in a neat office. However, what he stepped into instead was the largest garden he had ever seen!

Shrubs, trees, hedges, and flowers he had never seen were dotted around the landscape. Their colours and hues made a perfect harmony that seemed to soothe his soul. Soon, he heard the sound of birds chirping.

As the fragrant scents washed over him, Callum spotted cats, dogs, foxes, bees, ants, and many other living creatures going about their business. A short distance away, a stunning woman in her early thirties sat inside an octagon-shaped white gazebo.

Her light brown hair was done up in a tress, and her white day dress gave her a certain look of purity. That, combined with the scenery, made her look like a nature goddess descended to earth.

"My, my," The woman said with a bright smile as she turned to look at her guests. "Who do we have here? The elusive Hermit of all people! I must say, Suresh, you're a difficult man to meet with."

"My apologies." Master Gurung said as he bowed to the woman. "Allow me to introduce you. Maya, Cal, the lovely woman before you is Dahlia Smith, The Empress of the Major Arcana and current master of The Clocktower."

Dahlia cocked an eyebrow at the formal introduction before politely nodding her head to the two of them.

"Lady Dahlia, this is Maya Gurung." Suresh said as he gestured to his granddaughter. "Heir to The Hermit of the Major Arcana, my apprentice, and my granddaughter by blood."

"Well, now, this is a pleasant surprise!" Dahlia's smile brightened further as she closed the distance to shake Maya's hand. "I hope we can become friends in the future. The wisdom of The Hermit is always highly sought after. It'd be nice if you didn't avoid me like your grandfather."

Maya blushed at those words while nodding her head. She felt a bit out of her depth as it was the first time she had seen grandfather acting like that.

"And this is?" Dahlia asked as she turned her brown eyes on Callum. Curiosity painted her expression as she studied him from head to toe.

"I have the honour to introduce to you Callum Shaw. The Magician of the Major Arcana and inheritor of all the gifts of his bloodline."

Dahlia's expression froze as she stared at Cal. Then it turned into disbelief, honest surprise, and finally, joy.

"It's an honour to meet The Magician," Dahlia said as she bowed deeply to Callum. "To what do I owe the rare pleasure of the company of two fellow Major Arcanas? Especially when both are known to be reclusive?"

"Cal would like to register with The Clocktower and join your organisation as a student," Suresh replied with a firm gaze. "He awakened recently, and although his predecessor has already passed on, Felix tutored him in theoretical magic in anticipation of this day. However, he does require practical training and further theoretical knowledge."

"I see," Dahlia beamed while staring at Cal as though he were a treasure chest. "Will he also require lodgings?"

"Yes," Suresh nodded. "As his guardian, until he graduates from his magical education, I will take care of all the paperwork. When can we schedule his interview and entrance exam?"

"There's no need. On behalf of The Clocktower, I accept Initiate Shaw's application. We will also provide the necessary funds and materials a young mage in his position may need."

"Thank you." Suresh bowed his head but looked as though he expected that outcome. "There are some other matters we need to discuss privately. Would you mind showing Cal to his room? Maya will keep him company."

"Certainly." A snap of her fingers later, both Cal and Maya vanished. "What seems to be troubling you?"

Dahlia led Suresh to the chairs and table inside the gazebo before they both sat down. Suresh frowned as he took a long look at the luscious garden before focusing on her.

"The Carnival will begin soon." He said with a heavy tone. "The Fool has already made a move."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Suresh sighed. "The last Carnival was before your time, and it was halted because of the elimination of a contender before it could begin."

"Was The Fool's aim to do the same?"

"I doubt it. It was probably his way of introducing himself. He seems interested in Callum."

Dahlia's expression became pensive as she stared at Suresh. "When do you think it will begin?"

"Less than a year from now." Suresh groaned. "I'm too old for this. But like everyone else, I won't have a choice unless a contender is exterminated."

"Neither The Wardens nor Nexus will allow that." Dahlia shook her head. "They both want a Carnival to run its full course. It's the only chance they have to reach their goals. When was the last one that made it into the starting phase?"

"Over one hundred years ago, and we all know who the victor was back then." Suresh wore a grim smile as he met Dahlia's gaze.

"We need to start making preparations. I'll contact the Minor Arcana families in the neutral factions and let them know. Most Major Arcana families in Europe have close ties with The Clocktower, so we'll pass the information to them."

"Thank you."

"I have a question. What part do you think Callum will play in this conflict?"

"I have no idea. He's young and inexperienced. But he still wields The Magician. It's like having a big target on his back. Everyone will want a piece of him."

"That's true," Dahlia mumbled as she tilted her head. "I'll do my best to make some arrangements. He'll need to network a bit if he's to be ready. Luckily, he's not the only young Major Arcana staying here right now. If he plays his cards right, he should be able to make a few allies in time."

"I hope so. Callum needs someone to watch his back until he grows into a mage in his own right."

"On that note, I have a proposal. Do you want to hear it?"