The Arcane Guardians Chapter 6: Chapter 6: An Impossible Mission

Read chapter 6 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

A deafening crack of thunder jolted Gaius awake. He jumped out of bed, rushing to close the windows, but was greeted by an icy breeze gushing in instead. The Sorcerer backed away slowly as his eyes lit the darkness with an orange glow. This was no ordinary storm. It was the work of an Elemental Mage. A Mage insistent on making a dramatic entrance, and with enough power to back up that impressive show. Three loud knocks rattled the chains on his door. Gaius approached it warily. Not many people knew where he lived; not even anyone from the Guardian Council did. If whoever was behind the door was hostile, he had to be prepared for a tough fight. He took a deep breath and pulled the door handle. “Mis— Mister President?” Gaius’s mouth dropped in shock. A grey-haired Mage stood at his doorstep, wind billowing his cape and thunder crackling the ground around him. He was dressed in an impressive-looking crimson robe with frilled shoulder pads, making him look like some sort of ancient general. His staff was a bright golden and a glowing purple orb nestled comfortably at its top end. “I presume you are Sorcerer Gaius Deusdedit,” Mage Benedictus asked in a surprisingly amiable tone. “Nice to meet you, boy. May I come in?” The glowing orb atop his staff dimmed as the weather turned back to normal. Gaius stepped back to make way for the President, who simply sauntered into his house as if he owned it. Cosmo Benedictus waved his hand casually, and a strong gust of wind slammed the door shut behind him. “For a student of sorcery, your house has surprisingly few books.” Benedictus looked around the house before pulling out a seat for himself at a small table. “You must be a frequent visitor to the libraries.” Gaius stood silently in a corner, watching the most powerful man in the city take a casual swig from his pocket flask. Benedictus stopped and stared at him for a moment before setting his flask down on the table. “Come now. No need to stand on ceremony.” He conjured a shiny golden cup, which filled itself up with water immediately. “Tea?” Gaius pulled out the stool from under the table and set himself opposite Benedictus warily, nodding at him. The Mage grinned and tapped the cup twice, turning the liquid inside into a clean brown colour. “Not much of a talker, are you?” Benedictus said. “At ease, boy. No one else knows I’m here.” “To what do I owe the honour, sir?” “So you’re not jumpy, just quiet. A very respectable choice of demeanour.” Benedictus snapped his fingers. His staff shrank and disappeared into the air. “I’ll apologise for disrupting your rest by getting straight to the point. May I have a look at the tome you took from the sky library last night?” “I’m not sure what you mean. My house is pretty small,” Gaius replied in a monotone voice. “And as you have already noticed, I prefer to do my readings in the library.” “Really?” Benedictus’s smile did not extend to his eyes. “How do you cast your spells, then? A Sorcerer’s power lies with the book he carries, be it concealed or not. Where is yours, Gaius Matthiou?” Gaius flinched at the sound of his Meta surname, jumping out of the stool. Benedictus took another huge gulp from his flask and chuckled slightly. “Must you act so surprised, Gaius? I think it’s fairly obvious from your spellcasting that you are no ordinary Sorcerer.” Benedictus stood up, pacing around his house. “All children born of a Magi-Meta couple will be stillborns, so you definitely are not some kind of halfling abomination as well.” “I’ve seen you in action. Those aren’t really fireballs you’re throwing, are they?” He examined the fireplace with his hands behind his back. “They are balls of raw magic that release and hold energy in place. Raw magic drawn from that peculiar energy dwelling within your body, allowing a Meta like you to manipulate Arcani like a normal Magi.” Gaius watched the man warily. “A very unique brand of magic indeed,” the Grand Mage continued. “And one not so different from the book yo