CHAPTER 6

The age of magic

It is not known how the elves got their knowledge of magic from demons. Even today, it was a closely guarded secret. But there was one thing that everyone in Raal knew. To be able to control magic, you had to have the spark. Without it, magic was as useful as a wooden sword.

The first school of magic was founded on the outskirts of Veltas, the capital of the elves. In those days, when the vampire disease had already spread throughout Velas, it was not difficult to find an abandoned estate. Entire families were slaughtered by their own kin who turned into beasts and fed on them, or were executed by the elven guard for helping the monsters they still considered family. One of the largest empty estates was converted into an academy for future sorcerers.

Across the country, children and adults were tested for the spark and sent to the academy. The spark did not discriminate. High-born elves, low-born elves, elven women, elven men. All that mattered was a tiny extension of the soul that could vibrate at the same frequency as magic. And once in the academy, they learned to manipulate it, use it, and create spells that could summon terrifying fireballs, freezing ice walls, and much, much more.

Scientists from all over Raal were still puzzled about one thing. How did those sorcerers, still in their infancy, create a spell so powerful that it stopped the sun in place? There were no records of that spell. Hundreds of years later, no sorcerer has been able to produce such a powerful spell, not even with the circle. The circle was a covenant of six mages and was the most powerful use of directed magic. The magic of stopping the sun was a supreme puzzle and many future sorcerers spent their lives trying to solve it. Other academies soon opened throughout Velas, and as their numbers grew, so did their power.

Magic was an infinite invisible force and was a part of everything. But it vibrated differently in a big tree and in a lifeless stone, in a light summer breeze and a small cheerful stream. The spark of each sorcerer was differently attuned to that resonance. By trial and error, wizards defined the nature of these resonances, their building blocks. Light, earth, air, water, life and death.

One of the most famous theoretical magicians, Sefril Do-Ther, wrote a lengthy technical book on the nature of magic. Yet, in the end, it all came down to one simple truth: nature, in its infinite wisdom, also had an infinite sense of rather questionable humour.

After the uprising of the dark mages and their subsequent banishment to the land of Sogorim, the elven society changed again. The high council of elves consisted of thirteen members from the thirteen most prominent noble families in the country. These families ruled Velas with an iron fist. But as sorcerers, many of them low-born, became more and more powerful, the predominance of power ended up on their side. The aristocracy withdrew and a new high council emerged, a council consisting of the seven most powerful wizards in the country.

As time passed, the races in Raal opened their borders, began to trade, and magic spilled over into other countries. Sometimes by sword, sometimes by trade or diplomacy, and sometimes even by interracial marriages.

Humans were the first to embrace magic. But unlike elves, human dark and light sorcerers coexisted in peace. The kings who ruled the country used them as weapons, respected, but still weapons. The most powerful human mage was always appointed the king's adviser and that practice never changed.

The dwarves had a very pragmatic view of magic. As they lived deep underground, they never even bothered with light magic. If it turned out that the mage was destined for that kind of magic, he could either go and learn somewhere else, or not use magic at all. But only a very small fraction of them had the light spark. They had lived underground for so long that only a rare mutation could lead to such a terrible curse. Those with the appropriate resonance were sent to dwarf universities. They invented magic potions and were the only race to do so because wizards did not like to share their power with the commoners. But the dwarves were like worker bees, always putting the many ahead of the few.

Goblins discovered magic too. Not by trade or marriage, but by force. Their incursions into dwarf territories never stopped and when they captured a dwarf mage, he exchanged his magical knowledge for a painless death. Goblins learned quickly and over time mastered earth spells. But they excelled in death magic.

The age of magic came and stayed. Hundreds of years passed, much was forgotten, much was created, but trouble still lurked in the shadows.

Nowadays wars are a thing of the past, as each nation holds its own. Diplomacy is the modern way of communication. Diplomacy, espionage and extortion. Such is the way of rulers. But in such vast lands, beyond the safety of the city walls, there are vampires, werewolves, bandits, roque mages and abominations.