Memories of Dante' Swift

[Memnoch1962]

Disclaimer: I am NOT a writer by any stretch of the imagination. I have never had any formal education in writing other than what you would normally get from grades 1-12, and that was a LONG time ago. So please dont laugh too hard. Also I am open to constructive criticism to be better at this sort of thing. Thank you.

Magus Dante' Swift sat in his room reflecting on his recent life. The sounds of the sea gulls just outside is window have somehow always calmed him when his mind had been troubled. His time in Sundren has been interesting to say the least. He has met many people, from the lowliest of peasants to the highest ranking Legion officers. After being in Sundren for nearly two years, he received a bit of formal training from a colleague known as Yevelian the Grey. Yevelian was kind to him, and gave him a marginal amount of help, but Dante' realized that almost everything he knew he learned himself.
Dante' settles back in the comforts of his chair by the window, listening to the gulls and the quiet lapping of the waves against the wooden hulls of ships docked at the port. He closes his eyes and momentarily goes back in time, in his thoughts.
That night at the fire by the Second Wind Inn, he had just returned from the Mossdale Forest with a group of people on a mission attempting to keep some Orcs in check. That particular Mission as he recalled wasn't very successful. He was dressing some wounds, picking Orc fur off his robes and adjusting the many pouches of things he carried with him for such excursions when he heard two female voices that he had previously been ignoring speak the words Vellik Act. His eyes picked out the two across the fire immediately. A blonde woman and a redhead. Both very attractive. He listened a bit more but they never repeated those same words again. After making himself presentable he walked over. "They call me Dante'." he said in his way of greeting folks. They both stopped and looked up at him from the bench they sat on. The blonde spoke first "Oh, hello My name is Eahmil and this is my good friend Treena." The two then looked at each other and smiled. Dante' didn't miss the fact that they both sat very close to each other. Closer than one would expect of two people who are just travelling companions. Dante' thought they may be sisters and then let the thought pass. "I don't normally intrude upon others private conversations, but in this case I must." He looks to Eahmil. "I overheard you use the term Vellik Act?" "Uhmm yes I did, why?" she asked. Dante' thinks a minute, "Where did you hear that?" he asks. She looks a bit perplexed and plainly states "From a man in The Military Ward when I registered for it." Dante' takes an step back. "You registered under the Vellik Act?" "Yes" She replied. Dante's mind swirled, but he forced himself to remain calm. "You are Banite then?" he asked. "No" she replied. "Ah, then you must be Sharran?" he accused. At this point he noticed the red haired woman called Treena stand up. She walked up to him and demanded. "Who are you to accuse her of worshipping Vile Gods?" Dante' looked from one woman to the next. Treena livid with rage and Eahmil on the verge of tears. "But, but.." he stammered. "She said she registered under the Vellik Act!" Now Eahmil yells, "Yes I did, I thought all newcomers to the land of Sundren had to do so." Dante' lets out a long breath, visibly relaxing and he tries to smile. His voice shakes just a little. "No, they dont. Only those that worship Bane, Shar and Tallona. " "So you do not worship any of those?"
Eahmil shakes her head with a numb expression on her face. "I, I just thought I had to register." she replied meekly. Treena walks over and places an arm around Eahmil. Dante' looks over his shoulder to someone that had travelled with him earlier in Mossdale, the one Dante' suspected to be a Holy Man. Dante' gestured the women. The Man studied them a minute then gave a quick shake of his head in Dante's direction. Satisfied, Dante walks over to the bench. "I am sorry if I have offended you, but as a Hand of Mundus it is my duty to look into these sort of things." Eahmil raised her head from Treena's shoulder and wiped a few tears away. "You are a Hand of Mundus?" she asked. "I am, from The Left" replied Dante. Eahmil walked closer to Dante' and give a polite nod. "I too am a Hand of Mundus from the Left." Dante stares dumfounded for just a few seconds thinking that he really needed to check in at Sinistrum more often. It was right then and there that Dante' realized what he must do. If this young girl would have him he would be her teacher and teach her the ways of magic and the teachings of Mundus.

[Sunset Fallow]

Musings of a Young Mage

((My thanks to Memnoch1962 for allowing me to do this. I hope the posts prove interesting and reflect our relationship.))

I remember that first meeting with Dante. He was kind to me. I huddled closely at the side of my mate, Treena, speaking from her shadow to this man whose power dwarfed my own as the earth might eclipse the moon. That he should offer to become my teacher was wholly unexpected. My understanding thus far of this land was that many were left to their own devices. Mentorship, as it is known among the mundane, was a thing only heard of, but never practiced. Even within the esteemed circles of higher learning common to the arcane practitioners did I find that there was seldom a mage who was taken by the collar….or is it the hand….and given the instruction they so need.

That I accepted his offer was without question. He only asked a few questions, discerning my more obscure motives from actions oblivious to me. I was, of course, more interested in the ability to aide my mate in her ability to fight than any political intrigue. Thankfully, and perhaps remembering his youth as a mage, he gave me the leniency to exercise this desire and even furthered those early goals with gentle suggestions and questions that made me ponder the worth of certain arcane teachings over others.

Yet, I learned the right and wrong of the arcane and that the power I wielded could be used, or misused. I met a few of whom I was quite in awe, their manifestation of the arcane powers they possessed was very enticing. Yet small hints of their malefic nature were easily evident, or so it was to some. It was not quite so with me as I was easily beguiled by their power. Each time I would speak of my experiences with Dante, he would know of whom I spoke and what power they did wield. I was clearly and firmly guided back upon the path of righteousness even once should I stray. That is not to say that he is a saint, or that I did not benefit from the use of my magic.

Thus my early experiences with Dante were to a greater extent akin to a father than a teacher, my own father more of a learned memory given to me by my mother than firsthand experience. I was raised within the malign shadow of the Thayan Empire. I grew up knowing that to have magic was to have power. Those without magic only existed to serve. Yet, it was that very practice that deprived me of a childhood, eventually took my mother and finally drove me from that place I had lived my entire young life. That I have come to hate the Thayans is a predictable conclusion. Does Dante know this? Probably not. But could he see the effect of what these events wrought on a young mage? I’m sure…and perhaps he saw the fire in my eyes and the glow I feel in my heart. One day, when we are no longer pupil and teacher, I may ask him more of what he saw that made his decision. But for now, I am content to listen attentively and learn.


Eahmii vG