The Trial...
“Lady Merdressa, I protest! He cheated!”
“Oh please,” the boy whispered softly, rolling his eyes.
Merdressa turned her head slightly to look at the boy standing in front of her. The boy held her gaze for as long as he could, before his eyes dropped down, chastised. “That’s better. Now, how exactly do you think that young Harrys cheated, Master Khorfran?”
“He entered into the dueling circle and used a form of magic I have never in all my years encountered before.”
“Explain,” Merdressa commanded.
“The Child…,”
“I am not a child,” Harrys protested.
Khorfran glared at the young boy. “The Child…,”
“I have a name.”
Merdressa fought to keep a straight face, “Harrys?”
“Yes Milady?”
“Hush. You were saying Khorfran?”
“The boy…,” Khorfran paused, expecting Harrys to protest.
“The last time I checked, I was a boy, Master Khorfran,” Harrys said innocently.
Khorfran glared at Harrys, as several of the councilors around Lady Merdressa’s chair chuckled.
Merdressa held her hand up, silencing the room, “Please continue, Khorfran.”
“The magic used did not follow any of the known casting methods, Milady. The feel and texture of it was almost priestly in nature. And yet the energy he used came from himself, not from any God I recognized.”
Merdressa looked at Harrys, eyebrow raised, “Can you explain this?”
Harrys coughed into his hand, a little nervous and uncomfortable to be on the spot now, “I used some of the mystic techniques that Lady Kyrie had taught me.”
“Ah. I’m sorry Khorfran but I do not see any reason to continue this investigation. The methods used in a duel are very broad. You know this,” Merdressa reminded him.
“But Lady Merdressa…,” Khorfran protested
“The Lady has spoken, Milord. The matter is ended.”
Khorfran turned to the human standing at Lady Merdressa’s right hand. “How can you say this is ended, Lord Jersh? The boy won with methods that are questionable, at the least. Are we going to leave ourselves open to the mercy of a possible Arch Mage candidate who has abilities we cannot counter? What if he should become one of the Fallen Ones? Then what will you do Lord Jersh?”
Jersh took a few steps forward until he was nose to nose with Khorfran. “I will survive, Dragon. Just like I survived helping to reestablish this council and the Arch Mages you see here in this room. I am not like you, who hid away in your den. Who challenges children in a duel because you are too afraid to face a fully trained Arch Mage.”
“Jersh! Khorfran! That’s enough! Your concerns have been heard, Khorfran. Harrys?” Merdressa looked at Harrys again.
“Yes Milady?”
“Why did you use this rather unorthodox method?”
“Well to be honest Milady, Lord Mihnal and Lord Jersh did teach me that anything could be used in the duel, as the point was to survive. And as Lord Khorfran is a dragon, and is slightly more experienced in magic than I am, I needed an advantage.”
“Is there more to this explanation?” Harrys looked towards the Horde woman standing on the left side of Lady Merdressa. “Not really Aunt Din. I used the Chi Ball more as a distraction so that I could catch Master Khorfran off balance and off guard enough to pin him to the ground in such a way he could not turn into his dragon form.”
Dinahla turned to Lady Merdressa. “Milady, perhaps it would be best for all concerned if I took my nephew under my supervision. After all if he is using an unknown method of magic it's my place as Lady Lashanna’s Champion to learn how it’s used, as well as guide him in it’s proper use.”
Merdressa looked at the old elf leaning against the wall of the council chamber, “And what do you say about all of this, Old Man?”
Mihnal smiled, “Not to interfere with Lady Dinahla in her duties as Champion, but there is nothing more either I or any of young Harrys teachers can teach him. I do believe it is time for him to leave and find himself. As every Arch Mage has done before him.”
Merdressa looked over at Jersh, “Do you agree old friend?”
Jersh smiled, “Yes, I do Milady.”
“Then it is decided. Harrys, you are here by given permission to wander freely and find your place as a fully fledged Arch Mage.” Merdressa stood up. She gracefully walked over to Harrys. She gently kissed him on the forehead, making him blush. “Go on young one. See what life has in store for you.”
Harrys grinned, “Thank you Milady.”