Arcane
Chapter 1
By James Varma

The Mage’s Academy in Denil is a prestigious school. Known far and wide as the greatest institution of magic, and creator of the finest wizards and mages that roam the continent, it remains Denil’s finest achievement to date. The prestige has brought the academy great things and things that they could have done without. With the academy’s fame they have all the students and funding that they need, but it is also harder for them to do as they wish. They are under constant spot light attention, and their dark secrets are in danger of being brought to light. Perhaps even by their newest and their worst student to date, Talyn Falorn.
Talyn was the third daughter of Emperor Dachel Falorn, Sixteenth Emperor of the Falorn Empire, which spanned the entire continent. As with the traditions of old, the third daughter of the emperor was to become a mage and, when called upon, defend their sibling in the Royal Throne. Not once in all sixteen generations has this issue been… an issue. Not once until Talyn.
Talyn was a beautiful sixteen year old girl. She was nearing the end of puberty and her body had finished developing. She had beautiful long bright red hair tied up into a twisting bun which contrasted well with her pale, slightly freckled skin. Talyn’s eyes, though ever so slightly thinner than average were a beautiful shade of aquatic blue, topped and bottomed with long, luscious eye lashes. Her nose was small and pretty and her lips were full and perky. Yet none of this mattered in the Academy, especially when one had no natural talent for magic.

A flaming ball exploded behind Talyn’s head. Her once beautiful red hair was now slightly charred. Her once perky smile was all but gone. Her pale skin darkened with the dirt of the Academy dungeons. Another fire ball exploded at her feet. Her attacker was only playing with her.
“Good Night, Princess.” The man said, creating a final fire ball in his hand.

They say that as you die, or as you are about to die you see your life flash before your eyes. They aren’t wrong but at the same time they aren’t right. It’s not your life but the moments that your sub conscious believes had direct influence on your death. For a man failing to pay back their gambling debts it could be the moment that they first put money on the table, or when they first went to the loan shark. For a person dying of a disease might see the day their alchemist or priest told them of their sickness. Talyn, however, saw the day she joined the academy. The day she became a Mage.

“This is it, Talyn. The Mages Academy of Karril.” A robed man stood beside Talyn. He held a torch up to the doorway to the academy. He lit up a phrase above the door, turning his head to the 16 year old. “Vires adveho o Mos, Vires adveho o Mens, Vires adveho o vetus ars. Strength comes of Mind, Strength comes of Will, Strength Comes of the old arts. It is the academy motto.”
“I have to go?” Talyn asked, staring up at the tall man at her side.
“Yes, Talyn.” The tall cloaked man answered. “As the third daughter of the Emperor of the Falorn Empire you must join the academy to act as defender of the future emperor. You must learn to be a powerful mage so that you can protect your brother from the enemies of Falorn.”
“I don’t get any choice?” she grumbled.
“No.” he said flatly. “Neither did your aunt. Nor her aunt before her. Or her aunt before her. But as history tells us the third Falorn daughter is powerful in magic and always does well.”
“I’ve never… I’m not…” The princess objected, edging closer and closer to the doorway.
“We don’t know of your strengths, Milady.” He sighed, handing her the flaming torch. “You have never been in a situation where you were needed to use the arcane arts.” The man smiled down at the girl. “I have watched you grow up these past sixteen years into a fine young woman. It saddens me that this is the last time I will see you before you graduate, five years from now.”
“You’re not coming in?” she asked, turning to stare up at her guardian. “I… I’m scared.”
“I know you are.” He smiled. “But no. I cannot enter. The academy is a place for the masters and the students. I am no student, master, or even mage… this is where we depart.” The robed guardian bent forward, placing his hands on Talyn’s shoulders.  “Talyn. When in doubt remember the academy motto.”
“Vires adveho o Mos, Vires adveho o Mens, Vires adveho o vetus ars.” Talyn muttered, staring down at the floor.
“Strength comes of Mind, Strength comes of Will, Strength Comes of the old arts.” The man finished. “You are one of the smartest young people I have ever known. You have strong will… You will be a great Mage… and one day the right arm of the Empire.” The elder guardian smiled a final time, stood up to his full height and took the torch back. “Good bye, Mistress Talyn Falorn.”