Janus and I awoke the following day to the gentle glow of morning light filtering through the wooden shutters. The air was cold and crisp, smelling of thaw. After a light morning "exercise", we both made our way through the stone corridors, their walls adorned with family portraits and the occasional flicker of candlelight, to meet with Janus' father to talk about the details of my idea.
“You mean to tell me that magic and aura are the same?”
“Yes, exactly right.”
“And that all of my men who can use aura could use magic?”
“Everyone can use and learn magic. I just figured it would be good if we start with people who can already use aura or magic, since they would show results sooner.”
A tired sigh escaped Wilhelm Yuwen's lips as he reclined back in his chair. To his right was a messy pile of documents and a letter with golden trim and a broken wax seal depicting a crescent moon over a sun.
“Wasn't it supposed to be your day off yesterday?”
“Yes… Why?”
Does he keep track of my schedule?
“Nothing… So if we were to do what you are suggesting, we would need a lot more soul contracts. Not that I don't trust my men, but a single slip-up and other kingdoms or nobles would find out. And as helpful magic is, as we have seen in the wrong hands, in the hands of our enemies, it could lead to our doom.”
“How many soul contracts do we have?”
Willhelm massaged the wrinkles that had begun to form on his forehead and answered,
“Thankfully enough. However, we will have to stock up during this year's social season. But do keep in mind that they are very expensive and that we need the church's help and approval to buy more.”
Am I some kind of troublemaker in his eyes?
His gaze wandered to the letter before scrutinizing both of us with tired eyes. Then his eyes landed on my abdomen, and a hint of guilt flashed through his eyes and was gone as quickly as it came.
“It's better if you start early. You still have to reassign the patrols for today and organize a new training plan; you also need a room… how about one of the changing rooms? I will be with you as soon as I'm… finished with this.”
Janus, who had been quiet this whole time, finally perked up and was about to interject when his father said,
“Your wife… I mean, fiancé came up with the idea, so you help her. I have already too much to do as it is.”
With that, he ushered us out of the room, but still left us with one final request,
“Oh, and before you leave, tomorrow morning will be a family meeting, all will be present, so don't oversleep.”
Later, when we were alone again, I asked Janus,
“Do you know what will happen during the family meeting, and why was he so weird?”
“I do not know, but judging by his weirdness, it is mostlikely due to the letter on his desk. The seal in its wax was the Royal seal, which only the Royal family can make use of.”
The training itself proved to be easier than expected. Within an hour, everyone who could use an aura was present, all crammed together in a small changing room right next to the training grounds. Among them were Janus and all of his siblings, Sir Titus, and all the men who had survived the undead horde in Aldmoor. Even Janus's father was there. In total, about thirty people packed the cramped, airless space. The stench hit me immediately: sweat, sour and sharp, clung to every stone, and the heavy musk of unwashed bodies turned the air thick and oppressive. Someone’s old boots reeked of wet leather and mildew, and there was a pungent tang of stale urine and old socks that lingered beneath it all. Now that everyone was present, it felt less like a changing room and more like the inside of a beast’s mouth—hot, humid, and threatening to make my eyes water. A true man cave so to speak were only I seemd to care about the smell.
They were indeed a bit rowdy and rough around the edges, even with their lord present, but one look from Titus was enough to shut them all down. After that display of intimidation, Janus went around and handed out a soul contract to everyone. I expected some to hesitate, but without exception, everyone signed their contract before I even explained what it was for.
I was a bit shocked by the men's blind trust. We could have written anything in those contracts, and they still would have signed them.
After my quick shock, I steadied myself and began explaining. As a child, I would freeze in front of crowds, my hands clammy and heart racing, terrified of even speaking up in school plays. Yet here I was, facing down a room full of skeptics. It seemed all the magic lessons had paid off in ways I hadn't expected.
However, when I came to the part that magic and aura are the same and that mages can be as strong as aura users, I got a lot of headwind and interjection.
One of them, a bull of a man who had vehemently refused my offer to fix his excessive facial scarring in the past, because and I quote “the ladies love it,” bellowed the question,
“How could one of those bookworms be stronger than me!?”
A slightly smaller man with equally impressive arm width agreed and added,
“Yeah, they can't even hold a sword with their twig arms.”
I hoped they would calm down again, but it just got worse until I had enough. I put two fingers in my mouth and let loose an ear-piercing whistle. The shrill sound reverberated through the small room, leaving a ringing in my ears and a lingering echo that seemed to bounce off the walls.
Finally, their attention was back on me. But I didn't say anything, I just picked up a fist-sized stone I had brought along for demonstration.
The men looked at me, ready to start shouting again, when
*Crack
*
The stone broke between my hands, and soon a small pile of fresh sand formed in front of my feet.
I could see all the men wince back with pained expressions. The room was deathly silent. In the back of my eye, I could see Janus tense up and take an involuntary step back.
I still wasn't sure I could teach these ruffians, so I put on an act to not only put them in their place but also, hopefully, shut up my own drumming heart. I donned the smuggest grin I could manage and asked challengingly,
“So who still doesn't believe a mage can be as strong as an aura user?”