Report on Retrieval Mission


    Knight-Captain Tobias,


    I write to inform you of the successful retrieval of Sorin Cyrus from his family residence, following allegations of uncontrolled magical activity.


    Upon receiving the summons from the Cyrus family, I proceeded to their domicile with all due haste. The family had reported a distressing incident wherein the boy emitted a bolt of lightning upon sneezing, inadvertently striking his father. On arrival, I conducted a thorough assessment and confirmed the veracity of these allegations. The boy, Sorin, indeed possesses innate abilities indicative of a mage.


    The family, comprised of his mother, Eliza Cyrus, and his father, Thaddeus Cyrus, exhibited a palpable sense of relief at our arrival. Thaddeus Cyrus disclosed additional personal information during our conversation. He revealed that Sorin is not his biological son but rather the result of an extramarital affair between his wife and an elven heretic formerly employed at their residence. Despite this revelation, Thaddeus, adhering to the principles of Andrastian forgiveness, had endeavored to raise the boy as his own. He lamented that despite his efforts to instill proper values and suppress any potential heretical inclinations, Sorin''s manifestation as a mage rendered those efforts futile in his eyes.


    The retrieval was executed without incident, and the boy is currently en route to the Circle of Magi for further evaluation and training. The Cyrus family is not expected to pose any future complications, as their relief at our intervention suggests compliance and cooperation with our cause.


    I remain at your service and ready to undertake further directives as required.


    May the light of the Maker shine upon us all,


    Knight-Templar Boris van Meer


    <hr>


    Dragon 9:21


    Evelyn


    A hard jostling from the potholes in the cobblestone just outside of the Circle of Ostwick made her emerge from the safety of her shawl. She had been hiding there since getting a rotten piece of fruit thrown at her by some children when they entered the city. Knowing the Templars were carting in another mage, they were shouting things like ''demon'' and ''monster'' while making scary faces at her, uncaring of her finery. It seemed becoming a mage was a social equalizer when it came to the fear and hate the populace harbored against them. They ran alongside the wagon hounding her until the Knight-Captain shouted at them. Before that moment, she didn''t think the man was capable of making such a roar. Had her brothers had been there, they''d truly know what a monster was if they got their hands on them, but as it was, she was alone.


    Her father had said people would hate her, so it should''ve been easier to accept, but she was away from her protective males and with strangers. Alone. The tears wanted to fall scrunching into a tighter ball trying to block the world out, but she could still hear the people speaking about her. As if they knew her, how dare they? She was a Trevelyan. If they knew, they''d not insult her so.


    "Hmph, another mage? Will the Maker not spare us from these monsters?"


    "The Templars would do better just killing the lot of them."


    The curses haunted her for what felt like an eternity. When the cart slowed to a stop, she heard a metal creak as the gate slowly opened and the Templars exchanged salutes to their Knight-Captain. "We''re here, miss. You can come out now," having done this many times before, Tobias must''ve been used to coaxing young frightened mages out after such a gauntlet. His voice was low and soft, "You''re safe behind the gate. They cannot enter here, not without being met by us, and few would dare stand against Templars." He smiled, offering her his armored hand to help her out. Grasping it, when her foot hit the ground, a blinding glare off the armor of the men manning the gate and those stationed about cast them in a heroic light. With flaming swords embossed on their chest plates, she was inclined to believe Tobias'' words that she was safe.


    Yet, the world waited behind that metal gate. A whole bustling city was carrying out their daily business, and one she''d never be a part of again.


    As they unloaded the cart she looked about the vast walled complex that was to be her new permanent home. The sandy stone walls around the buildings were thick and high, assumingly to keep its residents inside. In the very back positioned atop a cliff overlooking the crashing waves of the Waking Sea, was the Tower. It was the focal point of the walled fortress, soaring high above any building she had ever seen. To the left were all the Templar buildings, from the barracks, training grounds, and small chapel. To the Tower''s right, was a smaller area seemingly for mages. A lush herbal garden provided some much needed color to the stone structures and dirt yards. There was a small training yard as well, but nowhere near the size of the Templars''. In the far back right was a long hall of sorts, which one could guess was where they fed all the Circle''s residents.


    "Come, we need to go meet with the First Enchanter and get you robes." Tobias motioned to her to hurry and catch up with him.


    Passing through the large doors into the Entry Foyer, the bright light of the sun was replaced by the cool bluish hue of the magelights lining the walls. She supposed it made sense that there was no real fire inside a building that had little ventilation, but all these questions on how the Tower worked would answer themselves in time. For now, her eyes took in everything; the rushing of the students out of the Mess Hall to get to classes; the steady beat of Templar boots patrolling the halls; and the alien crackle of magic everywhere.


    They climbed the winding and seemingly never ending staircases to the upper floors where the First Enchanter waited for them. With a courteous knock, he called in to her to announce their entrance. "Go on inside, I''ll wait for you out here." She nodded and as she strode forward, he called in, "This is Novice Trevelyan, newly arrived, First Enchanter." With that, the heavy wooden door shut behind her.


    "Come in, child, do not be afraid. Though I suppose it is all very overwhelming." A petite, spindly woman with dark olive skin stepped out from behind an array of alchemy equipment. Her black hair was streaked with silver, pulled back into a ponytail. Approaching her cautiously, Evelyn clasped her hands in front of her, as her mother taught her. "Welcome to the Ostwick Circle of Magi, Lady Trevelyan - though I suppose you better get used to being called by your skill rank of Novice. I am First Enchanter Lydia, and I manage all of the mage affairs here in the Circle. My counterpart, Knight-Commander Golan Drader, commands the Templars here. I assume your knowledge of life in Circles comes from what the Chantry has taught you?" She nodded with a grimace, but the older woman''s face smiled knowingly, "Well, I suggest you go about your orientation with an open mind. Our Circle is one of the most harmonious in all of Thedas, so consider yourself blessed to find yourself here."


    There was another knock at the door, followed by the reappearance of Tobias and a young boy. "Hello, again Novice Trevelyan, allow me to introduce you to Master Byron Henley. He''s been with us for four years and will help with showing you around." The boy, Byron, had neat thick black hair and light tanned skin. His eyes were a deep woody brown hue, but a small closed-lip smile brightened his face. She returned his smile, even if her''s lacked some mirth.


    "Yes," the First Enchanter continued, "we find that pairing new mages with our young Templar recruits helps to foster a better understanding of each other and your roles here. Well, I suppose you should be off, the dinner bell will ring soon and you''ll need to change into your robes. It was nice to meet you, Novice Trevelyan. Welcome home."


    "You''re in good hands. Master Henley, make sure you conclude your tour before curfew," the Knight-Captain added.


    "Yes, ser!" Turning to Evelyn now, he bid her to follow and with that, they began their descent down the tower. It almost felt odd to be left chaperoned with another child her age. Back at the family estate it seemed like she was always trying to get away from someone. If she had to guess why, she would assume it was because they were being watched at every turn by the statuesque Knights lining the halls. "So, what happened when your magic appeared? Did you freeze your bath? Start smoking from the ears? Zap someone you didn''t like?"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "No, I badly burnt the girl who was hurting my animals, then was almost swallowed by a firestorm."


    Expecting him to call her a monster or keep his distance, she was surprised when he blinked wide-eyed a few times. "Wow, that''s a new one. You''ll have to tell me the full story sometime."


    "You aren''t frightened of me?"


    "Well, magic is to be feared, but from you, no, not here surrounded by Knights." He caught her uneasy frown, "You don''t need to be frightened of Templars, we are here to keep everyone safe."


    His words bumped about in her head, feeling like she saw the Order in a new light being on the other side of things now. She was a mage. This was permanent. This was her new home forever. As her spirits drooped listening to the boy prattle on as they walked and found her a bunk in the girls dormitory followed by a short tour, she had to force herself to eat when the dinner bell rang. Henley explained to her that while everyone had different class schedules, no one was excused from meals. As he went to eat with the other Templars, Evelyn found herself standing alone before at least a hundred mages in her new robes. As the new girl, she just sat at an empty end of one of the tables people watching.


    When a few other quiet mages sat near her, they gave a friendly hello, but ultimately buried their nose in a tome. Some gathered in groups viewing and conversing about curious alchemical ingredients and others simply laughed and chatted to their friends. If it weren''t for the robes and the armored guards, one would''ve thought they were at a normal school.


    Over the next few days, Evelyn made an attempt to speak with some of her peers both in her classes and in the Mess Hall. Though they were a bit too bookworm-like for her more active interests, she came to terms that she really had no choice. These were to be her friends. So many choices had been taken away from her. Thumbing through the Circle rules, it mentioned that mages were not to fraternize with anyone. They could not marry, nor bear children, which to her was inconsequential having happily escaped her mother''s schemes. Yet, she was to be a prisoner for the sake of the people of Thedas because she was a danger, as she had demonstrated against Anika back on their estate.


    A broiling frustration began making her blood heat thinking about how people could ever think she was evil. That any of the mages were inherently vile. Despite being new, all she saw were people forced to live together under the guard of Templars. If they were so uncontrollably bad, why weren''t they tearing each other apart? Between what the Chantry taught and what she was experiencing in the Circle, clearly there was some kind of misunderstanding. Perhaps, she could show people mages were more than abominations. Her father told her to learn to control her power for everyone''s safety, that it was her responsibility.


    Evelyn took that to heart as she began her formal training. Her first few months of classes were an introduction to all the different forces of magic. As her instructors all told the novices, most mages had at least one school in which they excelled in. As it happened, most of the mages in Ostwick were accomplished healers, able to all but regenerate limbs - which she heard they were working on. It was a noble calling to specialize in Spirit Healing, being called in when traditional medicine could do no more or they helped assist with battlefield wounds. That particularly struck a chord with young Evelyn who wanted to change people''s perspective on mages, but there was one huge problem...


    ... she was the worst healer Ostwick had seen in an age.


    "Oh dear, Novice Trevelyan, would you please... just, cease your spell!" Senior Enchanter Ingram''s politely tense face was a familiar one of late. She had paired the students up to practice healing spells, when Evelyn had inadvertently caused her partner to pass out. The Enchanter''s voice was one of patient frustration, "How many times must we go over this, you are to soothe, not slay your patient." A quick wave of her hand brought the girl back from the Fade, blinking lazily as she tried to orient herself. Evelyn huffed with angry frown, she had been practicing this simple spell for months and still could not get her mana to join correctly with her patient. "You cannot just overpower them, you must ease into the spell."


    Slowly, Evelyn was starting to believe she was not meant to be a battlefield healer. Her mana ran hot, and as the Senior Enchanter told her in the past, her temperament was not suited for healing. Yet, the youngest Trevelyan continued to believe that this was the path to showing her family and the world that mages were good... but she couldn''t do it by failing her Spirit Healing courses.


    Alchemy was easier as were her lessons in defensive wards, but it was the Primal School of the Elements where she excelled. Though she could not for the life of her freeze a cup of water, nor give someone a light shock, she could wield fire. Evelyn could do it so well, her instructors commented that had they not known she only just arrived months ago, they would''ve thought she had already received training. Because of her aptitude and the manner of which she came into her magic, Enchanter Callum agreed to tutor her privately to hone her skill and make sure her mana did not threaten to consume her again.


    Callum, with the assistance of a Templar, would have her release her inner inferno. Her mana was so elemental that it made her veins glow as if they were lava flows. Her brown eyes flickered with an orange pulse, and even the Templars were weary of her resemblance to a Rage demon. Yet, for each time they broke her control, the stronger she built up her resistance against such a slip. It was a long and painful process, but a necessary one. As her confidence grew, so did her understanding of the magical forces pumping through her. Callum even mused that her mana was like fire, which made her a poor candidate for a healer. But how then was she to show the world the good mages could do looking like a Rage demon?


    "You know, I take back what I said before. I may be slightly afraid of you." Henley had approached her in the garden one day, as her alchemy class went out to gather supplies for their potions. He was shadowing one of the Knights and had seen her inspecting the Embrium.


    "Why is that?" She eyed him while still continuing in her task.


    "The other Knights talk about your mutation, you know the glowing veins, and if it scares them then what chance do I stand?" His carelessness spiked the forge in her chest making it ignite. "Whoa , is that it?" Evelyn''s hard glare at his amusement was answer enough. "I thought it would be worse. It''s just a bit freaky."


    "Gee, thanks Henley. I feel so much better now," her words were laden with sarcasm. "I can''t help it. Enchanter Callum says it''s because my mana is all but actual fire. I''m not sure what kind of good it''ll do me. Everyone just seems to be afraid of me now."


    "Well, I''m still not, you''re just a girl," Byron crossed his arms looking down at her a bit smug.


    "And what''s that supposed to mean?" Evelyn stood slowly, cradling her basket of plants, "That you''re better than me?"


    "Probably at a lot of things," he looked at her matter of factly while her jaw dropped, scoffing at him.


    "I''d like to see that! You name the contest and I''ll beat you every time!"


    He gave a wide toothy grin, "Yeah, how about running? Jumping? Push-ups? Sword fighting?"


    "Anytime, Henley! You''re just a wannabe Templar anyway, at least I''m already a full-fledged mage. What are you going to do with that practice sword against my flames?"


    Having a good sense of humor, Byron was more amused by her taunting than angry at it. He chuckled, "Well, some of us have to work for things in life, Lady Trevelyan , they aren''t handed to us."


    "That does it," she threw down her basket and tackled him, throwing wild punches. The whole time the boy laughed as they rolled before the Knight he was with pulled them apart. Having not used her magic with no harm done, she was written up and would have some form of punishment in the form of menial labor, while Henly got off without even a slap on the wrist. The Knight did scold her harshly, letting her know such behavior was unacceptable and that in other Circles it was a serious offense. From then on, Evelyn tried hard to control her temper, but it proved harder than she expected - especially since the young Templar recruit seemed to like picking on her.


    Oddly enough, through the crucible of their teasing, they found themselves fast friends. They learned to keep their fist-fighting, contests, and sibling-like behavior to the shadows where they couldn''t be caught. Her favorite were rounds in the Library; the first one to cry out to stop not only lost, but had to come up with a good reason as to why they were shouting. Only they were allowed to pick on each other, for if anyone else did, they were not just subject to one but the two of them. As the Ostwick Circle encouraged healthy relationships between mages and Templars, they often found themselves in each other''s company as they grew older. There were still rules that accompanied their friendship, but being young and innocent they played along not fully understanding the larger picture of the Templar-mage dynamic. Henley was taking on more training as the Order forged him into a model Knight, while Evelyn continued to try and find her place in the Ostwick Circle.


    In a world terrified of magic, there was very little Evelyn could do with her gift that wouldn''t frighten people. While discouraging, Enchanter Callum tried to help her find ways for her to help. His best suggestion was to simply study the properties of the flame and keep a journal of her development as a pyromancer. According to him, anything more violent would not bode well for her in the future if she didn''t want to be made Tranquil. It was the threat held over every mage, to forever be severed from the Fade and all their emotions. Mages who could not conform, could not be controlled, those too dangerous, or those unlucky enough to get caught breaking rules were made Tranquil. There were only a handful of Tranquil in their Circle, yet none of them were actually from Ostwick. She did hear the stories about them being dangerous mages, wielding powerful magic.


    "That one there was a pyromancer," Henley whispered over to her.


    "Are you joking?"


    His brow creased down, "No, I''m serious! As I hear it a lot of mages who are gifted in the Primal School just can''t control their nature. It''s like the elements take control over them and they just can''t help their inherent violence." He paused thoughtfully as she peered up at him, "You won''t be like that though, I''ve heard the Knights say you have talent."


    "And what of them? I''m sure they were just as skilled." She shook her head, "I need to find a purpose for my magic or I''ll end up like them; too dangerous to be around." It was a clear warning, one she''d heed. If she could prove herself to be beneficial to the Order, she''d be safe.