As I entered this station, I was paired with a master from the green-robed conjurer’s guild. He appeared quite old, but had a warm smile. With mages, you never quite knew what you could get, but every guild has a kindly old uncle type mage, and it looked like that was who I got from the conjurers.

  As long as he didn't clear his throat every eleven seconds, I’d be happy.

  Sorry. That wasn't a kind thought, but it was really distracting.

  “Hello, young champion.” He began. “Timing is not a real issue in this set of tasks. At the sound of the trumpet, you will be asked to cast a spell or perform a skill. We are looking for raw power, ingenuity, uniqueness, and something unexpected from you. Special points are awarded if you can perform interesting skills or spells from guilds other than your own.”

  He emphasized the last part, letting me know that there were lots of ways to earn points, but also ways to earn additional points if we could impress them.

  Looking around, there were a lot of different objects that could be used as a part of my spell or skill demonstration. There were combat manikins, jars and vases, weapons and armor, bales of hay, targets, a trough of water, a bonfire, crates, a cluster of colorful balloons…the list went on.

  “Are we allowed to use these objects, master conjurer?” I asked.

  Based on other mages, warriors, and thief masters present, who were turning and pointing at objects, I was not the only one to ask that question.

  He turned as well and said, “Yes, you can gather objects to you or use them where they stand. Be mindful of other champions as you move around, since accidents can, and often do, happen in this station. You don’t get a second token.”

  That was good advice. I wasn’t too worried about the other mages, but a careless accident, from Connor, for instance, could be game-ending here.

  The trumpet sounded.

  “You have five minutes to perform your first task. You will perform your other two tasks during their own time periods.” He explained. “You don't need to explain to me what you plan, but you may want to make sure I am looking at the right spot when you do it.”

  He smiled warmly.

  There was no blurring between mages in this station, so I imagined we would all want to keep our big guns a secret until the free-for-all. Or at least, I did.

  I know that one of my tasks would be to use a conjurer spell since it would especially please and impress him. Conjurers are not the most popular among their peers, although they are very popular among regular citizens. Their magic is dead useful, if not always especially powerful.

  The rings I was wearing, for the most part, were for the free-for-all, but I did bring all my rings. I also had my gems, and the peridot I got from the Blinky adventure, while only a 7pt gemstone, was geared toward conjurers. I currently have a second-level spell called Lesser Destruction cued up on it, but I also had that in a ring.

  It was a great spell, but given his kindly nature, I didn’t think he would be as impressed with a combat spell as he would a construct spell. This made perfect sense since conjurer levels were called ‘constructs’ just like mine were called arcana.

  I used a casting point and dived back into my peridot to explore options. There were nine options. I was learning that the typical seven options could be more or less by random nature, but monster drops did seem to have a better chance at higher numbers than hand-crafted magical gems.

  I found what I was looking for immediately.

  “Master Conjurer, are you a first-is-best, or last-is-best sort of mage?”

  He chuckled. “I’m a put your best foot forward, mage. Does that answer your question?”

  It did.

  “Master, please look here at my hands,” I said and concentrated, pulling the spell from the gem. Because it was a gem effect, I did not need to use my own casting points other than the one I used to make contact.

  I cast a conjurer’s third construct spell called Greater Cloth/Paper Construct. It was an extraordinarily rare option. A third level spell in a 7pt gem didn’t happen often. Crystals gave me first level options, pretty much exclusively. 7pt gems mostly have me first and second level spell or skill options, but this was an exception.

  I moved my hands around and slowly, over the course of a minute or so, created a finely crafted green robe, designed for lounging about, feet propped up, and a pipe with a good book by the fireplace. At least, that was the image I had in mind as I created it.

  When I was finished, I handed it to him.

  “Well, well!” He announced loudly, causing a few eyes to turn. An enchanter casting a third construct spell. That was unexpected, indeed!”

  I got a glare from the conjurer champion, but just shrugged my shoulders.

  “Extra marks for ingenuity and surprising this old mage. That was very well done, young champion.”

  I smiled back and bowed. Not in a self-serving or pompous way, just to express my gratitude.

  “Bribing officials is frowned upon.” He said with a chuckle, “But as we were told to clean up after the events, I know just where to dispose of this comfortable-looking lounge robe.”

  He beamed at me.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  I knew that some small gift like this could not truly bribe a mage of his standing and wealth, but he was impressed and flattered at my effort. And that earned me more points, I was sure.

  The trumpet blew.

  Now I needed to decide what my second display would be.

  I thought quickly. I showed courtesy and creativity. Did I want to go with power and aggression? A flashy ability to defend myself? Or continue with unusual spells or even skills?

  I didn’t want to draw attention to myself in a way that made me look like a threat. Connor and the wizard apprentice, whose name I overheard as Cecil, would draw enough attention. The other mages would be annoyed at my creativity, but I did not want to paint a target on my back. As an enchanter, the other three guild groups would automatically put me near the bottom with sages and conjurers.

  I was counting on that.

  So, clever and unexpected would be my move. Did I go spell or skill?

  I decided on skill. I would use my martial arts kata for the staff. It was something I practiced often because it was full of flourishes and looked really cool. I only had the first monk’s meditation in Martial Arts, but I had the warrior’s first rank in Two-Handed Blunt weapon mastery. I also had the first spellbook skill, Staffcraft.

  A combination of those skills, woven together, might just work. The only guilds able to see me if they were looking were my fellow mages, and as showy as this would be, they would not worry much about it offensively as spells would be their primary methods in the free-for-all. They would want to be as far from opponents as possible.

  “Master, my next task will be weaving of three skills. I have not practiced this exactly before. The idea just came to me based on the guidance you offered when I first arrived.”

  He backed up. He did not know what I had in mind, but a mage using a skill was unusual to say the least, and we wanted to give me some room.

  I relaxed mind, body, and spirit as my monk teacher had shown me.

  Then, without warning, I launched into my staff kata. A kata was a kind of exercise routine, but there was more to it. Monks referred to casting and skill points collectively as chi. Chi could be used in a wide range of ways- as skill actions or spell actions. I never fully understood what they meant, as I had a separate pool for skill points, which I was using now, and casting points, which I had used when I entered the gem.

  I felt my skill points flowing through my body as I moved gracefully, weaving in and out of positions, making sure my staff was always moving. Partway through, I added an attack and a defense move. It was not perfect, but I didn't stumble.

  I ended with a lunge and a strike with the intent of using my staffcraft skill. I did not actually attack anything, and I did not try to funnel a spell through it, but the tip of my already yellow staff did glow yellow momentarily as the option for a spell attack was opened.

  He pursed his lips and nodded. “That was a very unique interplay of martial arts, ranked weapon mastery, and spellcraft. You impress me again, young champion.”

  I did not realize he knew all three of the skills. But at his age, perhaps I underestimated him as most mages do of conjurers.

  “And you say you have never tried that before?”

  “No master. I have mastered all three at the lowest possible levels, and I have practiced all three, but never together quite like that. I’d look a bit silly in combat flopping all around, I think.”

  “It might be more useful than you know, especially if you are trying to defend yourself or another. Still, it was very well done and you impressed me again.”

  I couldn’t help but smile.

  I glanced over and saw Bido give me a thumbs up. Even Connor nodded my way. In fact, all the other mage apprentices had been watching me.

  “I think I drew more attention than I wanted,” I said to the master.

  He chortled. “Perhaps. Or maybe they will decide to leave you alone and let the other guild champions approach you. Mages do not usually do well in melee with other guilds. I think you earned their respect, and some hope you might knock a warrior or thief down a notch at the free-for-all.” He paused. “But I could be wrong.”

  I smiled even more widely as the third trumpet blast announced our final tasks at this station.

  The third task is probably where some of the others plan to show off their spells. I watched the others as I thought about my options.

  Sure enough, Connor did not hesitate and cast his third element Detonate spell. It was nasty, and a small corner of the objects, away from everyone else, simply blew up.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and snapped their attention first to the exploding crates and jars, and then to Connor. As a fire element mage, it was pretty clear that the spell was his. His smug look confirmed things.

  He was always going to be a top target, so showing that amount of damage might encourage spellcasters to leave him alone. It was the opposite approach I was taking, but it had the same effect.

  Bido pulled out some small object I could not see from my angle, and froze the water trough, solid.

  That was a cool spell. I’d have to ask him about it later. Maybe at dinner tonight before I talked them all into my alchemist quests.

  I didn’t want to use an attack spell, and I was already wearing armor so casting another armor spell would be a waste. I needed a spell that was neutral or could even help me in some way.

  And then I knew what I could do.

  Turning to the conjurer, I said. “I have decided what my third task will be.”

  “Oh? What do you have in mind, young champion?”

  “There are a lot of powerful spells going off from some very impressive colleagues.”

  “Yes, your peers are especially potent this year, across all guilds I’ve seen so far, and not just mages.”

  I nodded. “I have shown you a spell and a skill.”

  “An impressive display of versatility. You do your guild proud.” He agreed.

  “But a mage should also be prudent.”

  He tilted his head but did not reply. I had his interest.

  “And so, I have decided to cast an elemental spell. It is not especially powerful, only the first element, but I think it could assist me in my future tasks.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “The first element, blood spell called Enhance Senses.”

  He stared at me for a few moments and then threw his head back and laughed. It was loud enough, and forceful enough that he ended up coughing. Fortunately he recovered quickly. At his age, I began to worry about his health.

  But he composed himself and said, “Such a spell, cast at any other time during the Guildfest save for the free-for-all, would be considered cheating and would eliminate you from the games. But because you are casting it in here as part of your three options, and because you spoke to me about it before casting, giving me time as judge to refuse it, I have to say it is one of the more brilliant moves I have seen a young champion make in many years.”

  He chuckled again. “By all means, young champion, show me your spell.”

  It was another gem ability. This time from a 7pt ruby which I also acquired from the Blinky adventure. That little escusrion was paying off in unexpected ways today.

  It was only a first level spell, and not one of the more powerful options the gem offered. But I had planned to cast it during a lull in the free-for-all, if such a time occurred. As it was, I didn’t need to, now.

  I called for the gem spell and cast it.

  Suddenly, I felt my senses explode. I could see, hear, feel, taste, and touch with far greater efficiency. And best of all, no penalty flash went off to expel me from the games.

  It was not flashy, had almost no visible aspect other than a brief flash when I cast it, and my head was hardwired for sensory input for the next four hours.

  “Congratulations, young champion. Your ingenuity and wisdom have earned you full possible marks. I wish you success in your life as a journeyman, and hope that you will look me up some day for work together.”

  I bowed. “Thank you, master.”

  He bowed back. It was a remarkable sight to see a master do, and it turned heads.

  “You are Master Glimmerblade’s apprentice, are you not?”

  I was surprised. “Yes, master.”

  “He is a very good man. I have worked with him for many years.” And with that, he turned and walked away to visit with some nearby mages who had looked our way when he bowed to me.

  I was surprised to see Master Nanren among them. I had not noticed him before now.

  Catching my eye, he nodded to me and then went back to a conversation he was having with a master summoner.

  Another trumpet blast ended our time in this station. I didn't catch what the next ability was, but I knew it would be the next clockwise station.