“Can you restore my memories?”
“I’m sorry, Gavin. You still have more to learn. When the time comes, you will have your memories back; I promise you that.”
Gavin sighed, saying, “Can you at least tell me if the memories of my daughter Lornithar restored are real or something He just planted there to tempt me?”
“You do indeed have a daughter named Jennifer Anne, Gavin, but she’s older than you think.”
“How old-” Gavin cut himself off and dropped his head. “Let me guess…it’s not time for me to know that.”
“I’m sorry, no.”
Gavin took a deep breath and let it out as a long sigh. “Very well.”
“There is something I want to discuss with you…something I’m not sure our mentor had time to discuss. If any of this sounds familiar, stop me.”
Gavin nodded.
“Did he tell you about the origin of the Circle System?”
“Yes, he said you, Mivar, and he designed it after the Godswar. I inferred that it was designed so that mages could exist.”
Bellos nodded. “You are quite correct. Let’s sit.”
Bellos gestured, and Gavin felt a strong-yet subtle-Conjuration effect as two plush armchairs appeared. Bellos gestured to the one closest to Gavin.
“Thank you,” Gavin said as he sat.
“So…upon my ascension, I learned a great many things about how reality-for lack of a better term-works. Did you sense my creation of those chairs through your skathos?”
“Yes. It was a very pronounced Conjuration effect that somehow felt subtle at the same time, or maybe ‘whispered’ is the right word.”
Bellos nodded. “What do you know about what led up to the Godswar?”
“I know that Lornithar and a group of elevated mortals he called his pantheon oppressed this world and its people until Valthon and Nesta sponsored a revolution. The revolution became known as the Godswar.”
“That’s good…as far as it goes. Valthon will be the first to tell you that He’s not a god, and by implication, neither are my fellows who accepted ascension at the end of the Godswar. But if we’re not gods, I almost shudder at the thought of meeting a real one.
“Valthon refers to Himself and Nesta as Ancients, and at a time so long ago the term ‘pre-history’ loses all meaning, there were many. Lornithar is also an Ancient. The Ancients were entrusted with the welfare and upkeep of the universe by the true gods, who created everything. For whatever reason-even Valthon doesn’t remember why, or at least says He doesn’t-Lornithar decided he wanted to be the only Ancient, and he proceeded to slaughter his way through their ranks, claiming their power for his own.
“Lornithar’s first kill, though, brought with it an unexpected-and rather scary-side effect. Reality itself began to unravel, and arcane magic is but one expression of that unraveling.”
Gavin stared at Bellos, his mouth agape and eyes just a bit wide.
“Yes, Gavin. Arcane magic did not exist prior to Lornithar’s slaughter. The power that we call arcane magic is the binding that holds reality together. It is what forces Fire to coexist with Water and Air to coexist with Earth. It is what allows atoms and quarks and molecules and planets and suns and everything else to exist, and wizards are born with a connection to that power.
“That’s not all, though. Arcanists have a symbiosis with that power. We both manipulate and perpetuate it. Had Lornithar not disrupted reality by killing his fellow Ancients, the separation between what makes reality exist and what you know as mortal existence would never have weakened…but because it did…arcanists became part of what keeps reality intact. And that is why I came to my mentor and Mivar to devise a new system of magic.”
“Marcus said you foresaw that there would be fewer and fewer wizards born as time progressed. So, what you’re saying is that-if you hadn’t developed the Circle System or something like it-reality would’ve continued to unravel until everything ceased to exist?”
“That is exactly what I’m saying, Gavin.”
“Do you know why fewer wizards were born over time?”
Bellos quirked his lips and shrugged.
“Ah, right. Not for me to know?”
“For the moment, yes, but that may change.”
“How much of this did Marcus know?”
“Everything we’ve discussed so far…and a little more. But before you ask, he didn’t know why fewer wizards were born.”
“Is this why ‘all arcanists are brothers and sisters in the Art?’”
“Yes, it is. Mages-for the most part-took over a very important role, simply by existing.”
“Why did Valthon tell Marcus to train me?”
“The world needs a wizard of House Kirloth right now, Gavin, and no, our mentor didn’t qualify…not since he stopped openly identifying his House. He chose that, by the way. Valthon and I certainly didn’t require it of him.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Whatever you choose to do.”
“What’s to stop me from driving the Conclave to start a civil war?”
“Absolutely nothing…beyond your own conscience.”
Gavin sighed, saying, “I’m not sure I have it within me to be the kind of man Marcus was.”
“I don’t want you to be the kind of man our mentor was,” Bellos said. “Decades before the Godswar began, he came home to find his wife gang-raped and murdered and his six-year-old daughter dying. Temple Guardsmen from a nearby shrine to Lornithar had done the deed, and I highly doubt anyone will ever know the depths to which grief, hate, and rage drove him. You should be very grateful you did not witness the creation of the Wraiths first-hand. What he did to that captured Lornithrasa…‘atrocity’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. Gavin, there is one person-and only one person-who can decide what it means to be Kirloth, and that person is you.”
Gavin nodded. “I’ll work on remembering that.”
“Good. Now, I’m afraid I have other tasks requiring my attention. Take care of yourself.” Bellos stood, and Gavin was quick to stand also.
In the blink of an eye, Bellos was gone, and his chairs vanished with him.
Gavin turned and looked out over the rounded masses of stone that had once been Kalinor’s estate. He nodded slowly as he took a deep breath and eased it out again.
“I think it’s time I left, too. Come on, Jasmine; let’s go home.” He gathered Jasmine’s reins in his hand and, filling his mind with a clear picture of his intent, invoked a Word, “Paedryx.” An archway made of sapphire energy rose out of the ground, and when it stood taller than Jasmine, it flashed and became a gateway to another place. Gavin led Jasmine through the gateway, returning to the College.
Chapter 38
The Dean of Residence unlocked the door with the master key and allowed Gavin, Declan, and Kiri entrance to the room. He took the time to specify any items in the room that were College property and left Gavin and the rest to their task.
Gavin intended to gather all of Rolf’s property that was of any value and sell it off, the proceeds of the sale to be distributed between Rolf’s victims Gavin could identify. Mariana had volunteered to lead the Battle-mages who would be notifying the property and tax office of the duel’s outcome and securing any property in Rolf’s name outside College grounds.
“Okay,” Gavin said, as he scanned the room. “Let’s take the linens off the bed and place the crates there. We can sort as we go. Any personal items that would have no worth in the sale may be set aside to be returned to his family.”