Shadow Clan

Jason awoke from a restless sleep. He gazed out the massive handcrafted window at the foot of his bed. The Earth Clan prided itself on it craftmanship and it showed in the minute details in every aspect of the room. Etching and engravings adorned nearly every surface. Every chair, table, bench was flawlessly crafted and a piece of art to behold. The bed Jason had been tossing and turning on in any other kingdom would have been fit for a king. As he gazed out from his window all he could seem to focus on was the tip of the Bastion and recalling the events of the day before. He was an Initiate but also an Omni. What in the world would come next?

As though responding to his inquiry Rabhadh burst into the room “Top o’ tha mornin’ to ya boy’o”. He seemed much less tense and serious then he had the day before “Ya look like ya din’t git a wink o’ sleep m’boy”. Jason nodded groggily to that affect. “’Fore you head t’the ‘Cademy today I need to speak wit ya”. Jason turned his gaze from the Tower to Rabhadh as though to show he had his undivided attention. “S’about this Omni business. Fer now ya be an Earth Former. There’s much ya have t’learn in your time at the Academy and who knows what Gliocas has planned fer ya down the road. Fer now just learn as much as ya can ‘bout the Earth Formin’ an’ we can build from there.”

Jason still hadn’t wrapped his head around this Omni thing. Up until a few days ago he was just a simple blacksmith from a small rural village. Now he had been carted away to the Bastion for trial and survived. At this point if a Magi like Rabhadh from the council told him to shut up and keep his head down he was for damn sure going to make that happen.

“Grrreat!” Rabhadh exclaimed. “Now, let’s git ya to the Tower for yer first day, ’Cademy frowns on tardiness y’know.”

As they approached the base of the Tower the students once again were shuffling through the entrances for their respective clans. Jason again tried to look around for Aaron and Joy but to no avail, there was simply too many people there. As the Earth Former Initiates all sat inside the inner hall Jason heard roll call being read. It seemed that the Academy had already assigned the students to their first classes. Jason hoped that he would cross paths with Joy and Aaron at some point just to let them know he was okay!

“Jason Altear” bellowed the administrator from the front of the hall. Jason hurriedly pushed his way forward. “Here.” He cried out. “Altear you will be starting your lessons in the History of Eledor class by request of Gliocas. Make your way to the 10th floor of the Tower and don’t delay the class is due to start any minute.” Without a pause the administrator continued down his list of names and assignments. Jason was determined not to be late to his first class bolted up the staircase in front of him.

~

Joy was so excited for her first day at the Academy. Not only did she get to pick her class assignment she lucked out in having Eòlas as her instructor. She had always been a nut for knowledge so the practical classes held very little interest for her. She had a passion to know everything there was to know about the Tower and the Eòlas had suggested History of Eledor as an essential class to achieve that goal. The only downside is she was positive that she would not cross paths with Aaron in a class like this. Academics were hardly his strong suit.

The class much like Windspeakers main hall was an amphitheater and seated hundreds of students. Today however, the class was comprised entirely of Initiates and there were only maybe 20 of them gathered for the class. Eòlas had taken her place in front of the students and was pacing back and forth furiously mumbling to herself. Apparently, Eòlas was a stickler for details as Joy could overhear her reviewing the facts of the days lesson under her breath.

“Very well” Eòlas announced. “Let us begin! Who can tell me why we are here?” a pondering gaze shot out across the students. “Come now, no time to sit there pondering why are we here?” Her voice seemingly more agitated. A small Lightbringer boy from the back of the class cautiously raised his hand. “Out with it, no time for hands boy…speak” Eòlas said.

“T-t-to learn about the past.” he squeaked.

A slow clap emanated from the front of the class. “Thank you ever so for declaring the very obvious and wrong answer of what you will be learning, I inquire as to why we were here to learn it.” Eòlas shot back.

Joy spoke out “To better prepared to face the challenges of the future we need to have a grasp of the mistakes and successes of the past.”

Eòlas smirked proudly. “Very good Windspeaker Joy. She is right. We take the time here not to simply learn the history of Eledor for the sake of sheer amusement. Knowledge is only valuable when applied for the greater good.”

The class began to jot notes furiously as Eòlas continued to teach the lesson it seemed there would be little time for hand cramps in this class as the facts poured out of the instructor and it appears the only pause would be at her discretion and not our convenience. Suddenly the doors to the room burst open taking the entire class by surprise.

“My apologies for being late” Jason blurted out.

It took everything in Joy’s power not to burst out in laughter from excitement at the sight of her friend. Composing herself her sense of Joy was suddenly washed away by a sense of concern for the safety of her friend from interrupting Eòlas mid lesson.

“Sit down Initiate and do not dare interrupt me again, am I clear?” Eòlas scolded.

Sheepishly Jason made his way down the stairs of the Amphitheatre until he saw Joy. ‘Finally!’ He thought. He scurried to sit down next to her and Eòlas resumed the lesson. Jason quickly grabbed the quill from the table in front of him and began to put up the front he was at the very least attempting to fit in and take competent notes with the rest of the class.

“How many clans of Magi exist?” questioned Eòlas.

Jason without hesitation blurted out “5!”. Pleased with himself that he could contribute to the class in some way he leaned back into the bench only to be immediately followed by Joy in response.

“6.” Joy stated calmly. Jason tried to melt into the bench.

“Correct again! Eòlas stated. “While the Earth Former is familiar with the 5 Clans that guard Eledor there are in fact 6 Magi Clans in existence.” Some of the class nodded obviously aware of the fact while others like Jason sat puzzled and confused. “For centuries the Bastion has existed as a collaborative effort of the Clans to protect the nation of Eledor from the evil of this world. It was not always thus. When Eledor was still young the 6 clans were warring clans squabbling over their territories and refusing to work in kind with any outside clans. This was until the coming of the Void.” Jason perked up, this tale was one of his favorite. A story all knew of the great battle to overcome the dark forces. “The Void were a dark and pestilent force, destruction was all they knew. Empty of feeling or emotion the spread across Eledor seemingly invincible to any one Clan’s efforts to repel their invasion. The arrived without warning and quickly their forces decimated most of the land.”

Jason again allowed his mouth to move faster than his common sense and blurted out “We all know this story, what about that 6th Clan?”

Eòlas paused for only a moment then wistfully waved her hand floating Jason right out of his seat and to within inches of her face. “Interrupt me again young one with such utter foolishness and you will sit out the remainder of the class upside down on the ceiling! Have I made myself clear?” Jason nodded furiously still in utter disbelief at what he had just done.

“As I was saying,” Eòlas resumed her lesson “too late the Clans learned that the 6th clan had broken every taboo known to the Magi and hand begun to summon demonic forces from the Void. While there had always existed a fragile balance in the battle between the clans the new demonic forces empowered the Shadow Clan and nearly drove Eledor into eternal darkness. It was only in the most desperate moment, when all seemed lost that the first Bastion was formed, the Clans united and the Shadow Clan and their Void army were driven from the lands of Eledor.”

A loud horn echoed through the window. The class had come to an end. Eòlas lowered the Jason to the floor and whispered “Words are not without repercussion young one. You must think carefully before you speak, I am forgiving the other Magi Instructors may not be so merciful.” With that Jason turned to make a swift exit from the class. Having survived his first lesson Jason was finally exhaled and as he left the class immediately began to search for Joy, they had much to discuss.