THE THIRD MAGE

General Diggory of the Knights of the Blue Ophidian said, "If this proves that no-mages are no-mages after all, we could use their power to strengthen the Kingdom."

Chief Scholar Alvis argued back, "We can"t. No-mages were ordained to become our servants. They were not meant to wield magic because they are incompatible."

Crown Prince Amon joined the discussion, "How could you say they are incompatible? Because books from the time of old said so? How do we say what they have written is true?"

"The Crown Prince is correct," General Luther seconded. "If this could turn things around, why not use it to our advantage?"

The King finally spoke, "Our biggest question is, how do we know each of their powers? Is it the same as our magical attributes?"

"I believe, they don"t. According to the history, third child were first submitted to Magoria. But they show no reaction to the crystal ball. So, they concluded that they were not compatible with magic. The fourth and fifth child were found to have magic. But the sixth had the same reaction with the third child."

"So, incompatibility goes with the number three in child birth."

"Yes, Your Highness. And after long observation on these children, they have shown no signs of wielding any magic. Thus, they concluded that they are really incompatible. The King of Aenario then a.s.signed them as laborers and workers of manual jobs. But they were greatly compensated,and were taken cared of."

"So," the King concluded. "Their powers cannot be determined through the crystal ball."

Everyone sighed in frustration.

General Alfred of the Knights of the White Aquila raised a suggestion. "I think, we should isolate the no-mage first. Lock them in an enclosed s.p.a.ce so that scholars could study and observe them. Find out what triggers could make them wield their power. Of course, we couldn"t use oppression, that might backfire to us someday."

"Lock them?" Crown Prince seethingly asked. "What? Isolate them from the whole society? Deprive them of their freedom?"

"I am not implying to take them as prisoner Your Highness. But -"

"Locking them in an enclosed s.p.a.ce is not considered imprisonment? Now what then are we doing to our prisoners? Aren"t we locking them in an enclosed s.p.a.ce too?"

General Alfred was silenced, but General Luther came in his rescue. "Your Highness, General Alfred didn"t mean any harm. He just thought that because we really did not know what they hold. If observing them could help us understand, then we all have to use it. We are left with no choice. Exosha has declared war with Nomosyne. It"s only a matter of time before they make their way to us."

Crown Prince Amon sighed in frustration. "I know that. But, is it the only way?"

Queen Iris, who was just listening to the debate, finally spoke. "I know of people who could answer these questions to us."

"Who are they Mama?" Crown Prince Amon asked, with hope in his face.

"They"re the only survivors from the wipe-out of the no-mage rebellion in Exosha."

***

The meeting resumed in the afternoon. There were two more person in the room.

Queen Iris addresses the both of them. I heard from my grandfather that you were the two he most trusted before in the no-mage rebellion."

The old man bowed his head and said to the Queen, "I knew of the stories of your grandfather when I was a child even if I have been living in Exosha. It was during the Annual Peace Talks that I met your grandfather. He was the reason the no-mage discovered that they have powers."

The old lady, a no-mage continued the story. "He met a child who could craft wonderful pieces and bring them to life."

At that statement, Crown Prince Amon took in a shaky breath and clenched his fists. "Finally, a story I dreamed to hear."

The old lady looked at the Crown Prince and smiled. "Yes. King Triton urged the child to create more. He taught the child of crating more detailed and perfect pieces. It was he who told the no-mages in Exosha that we possess an unusual power. After he left, we planned our rebellion because Exosha has been oppressing us constantly."

"That child," the old man continued. "He was my son. And when I heard how King Triton of Oniro taught him that, I never hesitated of joining the rebellion group. I provided them with swords and armor, my son enhancing them. We worked hand in hand to help those who will be fighting. Some other n.o.bles and middle-cla.s.s joined our cause."

"In the beginning, we were winning. Exosha was always surprised of our attacks. Our magic could summon the Light, the Darkness and Life itself. We had blinded them, made their vision turn black. And even water cannot cure that. We could use the huge statues of the Palace since they were given Life, and they only follow the ones who gave them the name."

"But fate turned a blind eye to us. You all know Exosha is full of volcanoes. We didn"t antic.i.p.ate that one of the biggest volcano was about to erupt. And when a volcano erupts, that"s when the fire and lightning wielders of the Kingdom of Exosha turn invincible. They are at their strongest and peak of power. When the army of the no-mage began to run towards the palace, a ball of fire suddenly plummeted towards them."

"I saw it with my own eyes, because I was standing right inside the Palace, for I was a maid-spy at that time. I saw, that after that huge explosion, the place where the no-mage army was, there was only lava and a huge black pit."

All of the people present felt chills in their entire body. They now know how formidable the Kingdom of Exosha is.

General Luther broke the silence, "How did you escape?"

The old lady replied, "I ran out of the Palace as fast as I could. I had a friend in the Port who was scheduled for a delivery that time in Oniro. I asked him if I could go with him. He rightly agreed and then I sailed out of Exosha. I couldn"t dare to cross the Aenario Strait for I was afraid that the Exoshan guards stationed there would identify me."

"After that huge explosion," the old man said. "My world collapsed. My son was in the midst of that marching army. I was lost for some time. But I had a dream of my son one night. He told me to continue living. So I did, but I promised to make a new life. I rode the first ship to Oniro. And I have been a smith here since then."

"So," Crown Prince Amon urged the two to the topic at hand. "What do the no-mage possess? What kind of power? And how do we know of what type it is?"

"At that time, they determined their powers from a crystal ball created by that boy who could give life to an object," the old lady sadly replied.

General Luther jumped up in excitement, "So if we could find a person who could give his pieces life, then we would know then what power our no-mage possess."

"Yes, Sir. But you all must know, the no-mage possess only four types of magic: Light and Dark, and Life and Death."