Part 1
Milleurnia was a country that was different from those around it. Most notably, it didn’t have a king. It didn’t have a queen, either; in fact, there was no royal family ruling over the land, at all. What it did have, instead, was a council of magi - a parliament, of sorts. Every town and city in Milleurnia was governed by an appointed magus, and every month they would all assemble within the vast halls of Academia Magusus, a university of magic located at the very center of the land.
This was the largest and most famous school in the country, and the expanse of land that it stood on was large enough to fit at least a couple dozen towns - or several cities, depending on whom you asked. A ring of farming towns encircled the institute and provided all necessary resources, their fields extending far out into the land beyond. The university itself wasn’t actually a single colossal building, but rather was comprised of many buildings of various sizes spread across the grounds. An even scattering of markets and residencies dotted the areas between these edifices of higher learning. At the center of it all one could find the largest open-air market and dormitories, which were a short distance away from the most prominent school building on the campus. It was taller and larger than all the other architecture, easily twice the size of the next-largest structure. This building, simply called the Turris, was where the members of the magi parliament gathered and had their monthly conferences.
It was here at these meetings that Dralion Valdrei found himself on a regular basis. Every four weeks he came to Academia Magusus from the town of Roana to sit with about sixty other magi, and they would each in turn make their reports on their respective townships and the areas around them. With a slender frame, golden hair, and bright green eyes, Dralion was one of the younger members, having graduated not too long ago from the university with a degree in circle magic. It was with mild surprise that he suddenly found himself presiding over Roana with a monthly budget with which to conduct his research on spell circles, but when he was appointed to the position he had a suspicion that his mentor, a higher-ranking member of the council, had had a hand in his promotion.
Being part of the council had its benefits, he would admit. It gave him a manor to live in, which overlooked the rest of the town, and in it he could do as much research as he wanted. Additionally, the citizens were mostly kind and pleasant once they came to understand that he had no ill intentions at all towards them. To achieve this, Dralion had had to work very hard to increase the fertility of the surrounding farmland for them, as well as cut taxes and eliminate any dangerous demons and monsters that lurked beyond Roana’s borders. It was definitely worth it, as now he was met with smiles and greetings whenever he ventured down the knoll, on which the manor sat, and into the streets to run his errands.
The downside to this, however, was that collecting fewer taxes meant he had a smaller figure to present to the council than he should have had. It was something that didn’t go entirely unnoticed, as he found out when his own mentor approached him right after the meeting was adjourned.
Arai Acarthus was a taller man, and carried himself with a dignified air. His ash-brown hair was always tied into a ponytail, with a gathering of it left untied on either side of his face to frame his features. His dark eyes regarded the younger magus thoughtfully as he approached. “Hello there, Dralion.”
“Ah, Sir Arai...” Dralion responded, turning around at the address and making a small bow to his elder. He looked up to find a rare hint of concern on the other’s features.
“You’re not looking too well, Dralion. Take care of yourself.”
“O-Oh,” he answered, making a small smile. “I shall. Thank you.” With another nod of his head he turned to leave, but was stopped by the weight of Arai’s gloved hand on his shoulder. When he spoke, his voice had changed into a more serious tone.
“Also... You should raise Roana’s taxes. Where do you think the funding for your research comes from? At this rate, the council will begin to wonder how you get by.”
Maintaining an impassive expression, Dralion looked back up at him as he spoke, then glanced past his shoulder at the personal assistant whom had come to the meeting with Arai. Her amber eyes caught his, and she made a sly smile from behind the older man. Bringing her hand up to her chin casually, she tilted her head slightly and drew the tip of her tongue out to lick her lips in a provocative fashion. Unmoved by the display, Dralion shifted his gaze back to Arai before bowing once more.
“I’ll keep that in mind, sir. Thank you again.”
There was miniscule pause before Arai lifted his hand off Dralion’s shoulder and stepped back. He spoke again with the same cheerful voice he had before. “Well! There’s a market set up in the space near here today. Why don’t you go have a look? Let’s go, Emera.”
Dralion remained in place as Arai swept past him, holding up one hand in a parting wave. The assistant slipped by after him, looking back at Dralion over her shoulder and giving him one last alluring smile before catching up to Arai. He allowed himself to finally leave the premises once they had gone out of sight, and stepped out of the building thoughtfully. Yes, he decided, he would go visit the market.
This was the largest and most famous school in the country, and the expanse of land that it stood on was large enough to fit at least a couple dozen towns - or several cities, depending on whom you asked. A ring of farming towns encircled the institute and provided all necessary resources, their fields extending far out into the land beyond. The university itself wasn’t actually a single colossal building, but rather was comprised of many buildings of various sizes spread across the grounds. An even scattering of markets and residencies dotted the areas between these edifices of higher learning. At the center of it all one could find the largest open-air market and dormitories, which were a short distance away from the most prominent school building on the campus. It was taller and larger than all the other architecture, easily twice the size of the next-largest structure. This building, simply called the Turris, was where the members of the magi parliament gathered and had their monthly conferences.
It was here at these meetings that Dralion Valdrei found himself on a regular basis. Every four weeks he came to Academia Magusus from the town of Roana to sit with about sixty other magi, and they would each in turn make their reports on their respective townships and the areas around them. With a slender frame, golden hair, and bright green eyes, Dralion was one of the younger members, having graduated not too long ago from the university with a degree in circle magic. It was with mild surprise that he suddenly found himself presiding over Roana with a monthly budget with which to conduct his research on spell circles, but when he was appointed to the position he had a suspicion that his mentor, a higher-ranking member of the council, had had a hand in his promotion.
Being part of the council had its benefits, he would admit. It gave him a manor to live in, which overlooked the rest of the town, and in it he could do as much research as he wanted. Additionally, the citizens were mostly kind and pleasant once they came to understand that he had no ill intentions at all towards them. To achieve this, Dralion had had to work very hard to increase the fertility of the surrounding farmland for them, as well as cut taxes and eliminate any dangerous demons and monsters that lurked beyond Roana’s borders. It was definitely worth it, as now he was met with smiles and greetings whenever he ventured down the knoll, on which the manor sat, and into the streets to run his errands.
The downside to this, however, was that collecting fewer taxes meant he had a smaller figure to present to the council than he should have had. It was something that didn’t go entirely unnoticed, as he found out when his own mentor approached him right after the meeting was adjourned.
Arai Acarthus was a taller man, and carried himself with a dignified air. His ash-brown hair was always tied into a ponytail, with a gathering of it left untied on either side of his face to frame his features. His dark eyes regarded the younger magus thoughtfully as he approached. “Hello there, Dralion.”
“Ah, Sir Arai...” Dralion responded, turning around at the address and making a small bow to his elder. He looked up to find a rare hint of concern on the other’s features.
“You’re not looking too well, Dralion. Take care of yourself.”
“O-Oh,” he answered, making a small smile. “I shall. Thank you.” With another nod of his head he turned to leave, but was stopped by the weight of Arai’s gloved hand on his shoulder. When he spoke, his voice had changed into a more serious tone.
“Also... You should raise Roana’s taxes. Where do you think the funding for your research comes from? At this rate, the council will begin to wonder how you get by.”
Maintaining an impassive expression, Dralion looked back up at him as he spoke, then glanced past his shoulder at the personal assistant whom had come to the meeting with Arai. Her amber eyes caught his, and she made a sly smile from behind the older man. Bringing her hand up to her chin casually, she tilted her head slightly and drew the tip of her tongue out to lick her lips in a provocative fashion. Unmoved by the display, Dralion shifted his gaze back to Arai before bowing once more.
“I’ll keep that in mind, sir. Thank you again.”
There was miniscule pause before Arai lifted his hand off Dralion’s shoulder and stepped back. He spoke again with the same cheerful voice he had before. “Well! There’s a market set up in the space near here today. Why don’t you go have a look? Let’s go, Emera.”
Dralion remained in place as Arai swept past him, holding up one hand in a parting wave. The assistant slipped by after him, looking back at Dralion over her shoulder and giving him one last alluring smile before catching up to Arai. He allowed himself to finally leave the premises once they had gone out of sight, and stepped out of the building thoughtfully. Yes, he decided, he would go visit the market.