The Ruby Magician

Wyn didn’t want to let go of Arabelle. It had been so long since they were together, and they had both been through so much. The comfort was more than welcome - it was needed.

He had a feeling she felt the same way, too.

Arabelle was the first to let go. She wiped her teary eyes and smiled, the former Wyn had seen her do far too often and the latter Wyn had seen her do far too little. “I’m so glad you’re here. I was afraid it was going to take me ages to find you in the city.”

“I had no idea you were so close! Your last letter was a bit vague. I was hoping you were coming to the city but I couldn’t be sure. Then you didn’t write back.”

Arabelle hugged herself. “I wasn’t safe on the way here. I couldn’t risk writing. I… I’m sorry.”

Wyn hugged her again. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re safe and here now.”

Arabelle gently let go of Wyn and backed up, clearing her throat. “So, is this your group?”

Wyn turned around to see his four teammates awkwardly trying not to impose. Seeing them so flustered made him chuckle. “It is! Everyone, meet my sister Arabelle.”

Like children being released to play, they all swarmed Arabelle, talking over each other.

“Was your trip here okay? I have some clothes and a place for you to sleep if you need it!”

“Has Wyn always been this uptight? How did you put up with him?”

“Do you need some a guide through the city? I’d be happy to show you around!”

Wyn held up his hands between them and his sister. “Woah, woah, woah! Easy! Let her breathe!”

The four Climbers all stepped back. “That was rude of us,” Tasha said. “I’m so sorry. Welcome to Alestead, Arabelle. We’ve heard so many great things about you!”

“And I’ve read a lot about all of you,” Arabelle said. “Though I have to admit the city is a bit intimidating.”

Marcy stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder. “That happens with everyone here. Let me tell you, I bet you’re taking it far better than your brother did on his first day. Did he ever mention how lost and confused he looked?”

Arabelle laughed. “That sounds about right. But I’ve had some help so far.”

Wyn looked back at the table where Benedict and the two other men were. They were all seated now, watching them. “Are you good?” Wyn asked, his voice low.

Arabelle nodded. “Yes, Wyn. They’re okay. Really! I had a personal escort from the caravan leader and his head guard on my way in. They want to talk to you, too.”

“Good. I also want to talk to them.”

Arabelle led them back over and introduced the men. Roscoe, the caravan leader, and Bartholomew, his guard. Roscoe looked as average as they come, except his clothes gave off the impression he had plenty of money. Wyn wanted to bet it was earned rather than given, but it was still obvious. Bartholomew was the opposite - he was dressed fairly average but looked like an older Climber with a stout frame and hard eyes. The man certainly seemed appropriate to be security.

Wyn shook hands with both of them before moving to Benedict. “Benedict, do you know them?”

The owner of the Silver Step smiled devilishly. “I was just telling them and your sister how small of a world we live in! They were asking me to help the sister of a Climber. I would have already said yes, but after meeting Arabelle and learning she was your sister, well… how could I say no?” He wagged his eyebrows.

Wyn had no idea what that meant, but such was Benedict. The man had mysterious bravado.

“Benedict here has already told us a little about you,” Roscoe said. He held a goblet in one hand and leaned back in his chair. “He says you’re a promising Climber who’s shot up in the ranks. That true?”

“You could say that,” Wyn said. “This is me and my group’s second full season climbing and we ascended to the second tier at the end of last month.”

Bartholomew paused before taking a bite out of a chunk of meat. “I knew Climbers were more bold these days but that’s certainly rare. What’s your class?”

Wyn smiled. “Ruby Magician.”

Roscoe let out a loud laugh. “Of course you’re a bloody Red Mage! Amazing! Well, congratulations, young man. I hope you and your group make it far safely and without issue. It seems the Climbers these days still have some ability after all.”

Wyn slightly bowed his head. “Thank you for the compliment. And thank you for bringing my sister here safely. I’m not sure it’s a debt I could easily repay.”

Roscoe smiled. “From what I hear, you already have a debt to repay. You don’t need another. Although Arabelle and I did agree on an arrangement for safe passage.”

Wyn looked at Arabelle who seemed to shrink into herself. “That’s right,” Arabelle said. “25 crowns.”

Wyn looked back at Roscoe. 25 crowns was nothing now, though to the average person that was a hefty sum. And their family was below average. To his sister, that would probably be months of work.

Though that didn’t matter now. He could make twice that in a few hours.

“I don’t have my coin pouch on me but if you let me go up to my room, I can pay you now,” Wyn said.

Arabelle looked at her brother and stood a little taller. “No. This was my deal. I want to be the one to pay him. As he said, we don’t need another debt to repay, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you pay in my place.”

Wyn started to speak but stopped himself. She wasn’t entirely wrong. The amount would be easy enough to repay, and Roscoe knew that. But to Arabelle, it was about more than the amount. It was the principle. Both of them were in debt from their father’s mistakes, and Wyn understood not wanting to owe anything to anyone else. Plus, she was her own woman. If she wanted to be the one to repay them, he wouldn’t interfere unless she asked. He was tired of making decisions without her. And he wouldn’t turn into his father and control her, either.

“Okay,” Wyn said. “Of course. I understand.”

Arabelle relaxed a little, expecting an argument but finding none.

“But how will you pay for it?” Wyn continued.

“That’s where I come in,” Benedict said. “We agreed that she would be my new assistant! Her pay will be one crown a day which is standard here in the city for typical workers.”

Wyn thought that was fair. And he trusted Benedict. The man hadn’t let him down yet, and offered more than a fair share of advice to him since his very first climb. It would be good for Arabelle to work for someone he was familiar with. And having a similar wage compared to other workers in the city was nothing to be upset about.

“But we can figure out the specifics later, if you want,” Roscoe said. “I’m not leaving for a couple of weeks, so I’ll be around. And from the talk I’ve heard around here there’s an exciting guild trial underway! Bartholomew and I were just talking about attending it.”

Wyn looked back to his group. Marcy and John were carrying their baskets of lunch, but they were patiently waiting for Wyn. This was a crucial time since he finally reunited with his sister, but they still had their own responsibilities. Wyn had a fleeting thought of abandoning the guild trials to go and sit down with his sister, but they had all evening and more to catch up. He still had obligations to his group. If Arabelle came along with Roscoe, Bartholomew, and Benedict, then they could keep her company. Which meant she would be safe.

“That would be good,” Wyn said. “We were actually just about to return there. We need to eat and prepare.”

Roscoe shared a look with Bartholomew, but it was Benedict who spoke first. “You’re participating? Wyn! That’s marvelous! Why should I even be surprised, though. Of course you are.” He chuckled and stood, leaving some coins on the table.

Arabelle walked beside Wyn as everyone left. She didn’t say much, but Wyn appreciated her company. Just knowing she was here and safe was enough to fill him with endless relief. Now he could completely focus during the trials without a lingering worry for her in the back of his mind.

As they walked, the group and Arabelle talked. John was the friendliest, of course, but it was obvious he wasn’t flirting with her. He still teased Tasha enough to make it obvious where his romantic interests lie. But it was good to see that she didn’t make a fuss about Cedric’s missing arm, and wasn’t surprised to hear that Wyn helped save him. She did thank them repeatedly for protecting Wyn, which made them all laugh. They had said it was usually the other way around, though Wyn was quick to correct them.

“Ive heard tower magic is really something,” Arabelle said. “I guess I’m finally going to see your class, then. Is it really as bad as you say?”

“Bad?” Roscoe said behind them. “No tower magic is bad, my dear. Some of these young Climbers believe there are classes that can be better, but it really comes down to the individual and their choices. Back in my prime, all classes had value. And we were just as successful, if not more so than Climbers these days.”

“Exactly,” Tasha agreed. “You’ll see, Arabelle. You came at just the right time.”

*****

Wyn stood at the edge of the match arena along with his group. Since they all were going to be facing the training dummies one after the other, they decided to come down together for support. It wasn’t like they were going to be able to sit still at the edge of the arena anyway.

Watching the first tier Climbers participate was initially exciting, but Wyn couldn’t help but feel like the excitement wore off far too soon. Over and over Climbers had three dummies they would utilize for their trial. The offensive Climbers would showcase their skills and spells in a large, roped off arena with either single target attacks or multi target attacks based on the Climber’s abilities. The defensive Climbers would cast healing and protective abilities on the dummies, and while the effects weren’t as drastic as the offensive Climbers, the magical auras they created captivated the audience just as well. Both types of Climbers were impressive, and Wyn quickly understood why it was such a spectacle. Seeing the various classes perform was also helpful to him understanding their differences and roles they played in the tower.

Still, sparring with dummies just didn’t carry the same weight as fighting enemies that were trying to kill you, or even opponents that could at least fight back. Watching the Climbers over and over gave Wyn some great ideas and insight, at least.

For one, Wyn began to see a pattern with the styles of Climbers that could be categorized into just a few areas. For the offensive physical Climbers, they either focused on speed, control, or strength. The offensive magical Climbers mainly just blasted the dummies with whatever magic they possessed, relying on elemental advantages or brute magical force to overcome opponents. They weren’t too broad with their focus and seemed a bit reckless.

There were a few other additional abilities throw in here and there, too, but for the most part each participant stuck to one of those three focuses. It was likely a tactic mentors created to help give newer Climbers an area to really train, and Wyn had to admit it was effective. A Rogue with good control could execute precise hits on the dummy’s vital areas repeatedly, while a Fighter focusing on strength could nearly hack the dummies in two with a swing of an axe or splinter them with a hammer. One hunter pinned dummies with arrows in specific shots, while another Rogue zipped through the arena with quick hops, slashing at the dummies with twin short swords.

Their trials were effective but predictable. True to the popular thinking, they all fit a role so they could bring a specific element to a team. There wasn’t much variability despite the people themselves being fun to watch. Since participants were able to use their standard gear, too, it made the showings that much more entertaining. Some Fighters looked like brutal warriors with large, spiky paldrons and thick armor, while the more dexterous Rogues or Hunters wore tight fitting leathers and lighter chain. All of the magical classes wore cloth robes and cloaks that billowed behind them with hats or circlets on their heads. They all had an assortment of fashion with varying colors or styles though most of it admittedly didn’t match.

Then the second tier Climbers started. It was immediately apparent how wide the gap between the two tiers were. These Climbers had armor and clothes that matched with set pieces or specific, intended abilities and colors, along with much more effective abilities. Bryce, the Barbarian from Devon’s team, had to have his dummies replaced after each hit, as each strike from his axe nearly obliterated each one. The density of magical auras around him made him look nearly ethereal, and Wyn wondered just how many skills he was able to stack on himself.

Each Climber kept the attention of the crowd, but it was the second tier Climbers that really captivated the audience. Each participant drew loud claps and cheers before, during, and after their round, and it felt like the crowd wouldn’t ever stop or even slow down. Despite the three minutes per Climber, they were on a constant rotation, only slowing down for a minute so the assistants could reset the dummies to be smashed, cut, pierced, burned, and much more.

The obvious exception was the support Climbers. Since they all produced barriers, supportive auras, and healing spells, their dummies remained intact. Wyn could tell the assistants appreciated the break each time a support Climber entered the arena. All of the dummies were coated in various colors and strength of auras, while the Climber announced what they were doing so the audience could understand. It didn’t have the same effect as destruction, but it was magic. And magic was entertaining.

Still, it was the same round one after the other. The Climber would pair with three dummies, perform their abilities, and stop when the time was up. Then the next person would do the same thing. Non-Climbers in the audience loved it, but Wyn had a feeling some of the veterans or guild members likely weren’t as captivated. Sure, they were judging each person’s chosen gear, setup, decisions and performance, but how well can you really see how someone performs against stationary dummies?

It was why Wyn and his group had their secret plan. And it was finally time as they were up next.

“So who wants to go first?” Marcy asked.

Everyone looked around at each other. Despite agreeing to the plan, it was still a bit risky. If they didn’t perform well, they’d flop more than fly.

“I don’t mind starting us off,” Cedric said. “I’ll set the expectation and talk to Sonya. It shouldn’t take much to convince her and the judges.”

“I’ll go after,” Marcy said. “We’re the least likely to screw this up. No offense.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” John said.

“We’ll be fine,” Wyn said. “It’s any other fight. In the tower we take hits, so even if it happens you get back up and keep going. This is our chance to really show them how capable we are. Don’t forget that.”

John took a deep breath. “You’re right. Then I’ll go third and give them a good show!”

“I’ll go after,” Tasha said. “You came up with this plan, Wyn. Be the big finale.”

Sonya stepped into the middle of the arena as the assistants began setting up the three dummies. Cedric stepped inside to the cheers of the crowd and joined her. They talked for nearly a minute, and at first Wyn thought she wasn’t going to agree to their idea. But then she turned to give new commands to the assistants.

“No turning back,” Wyn said. “Remember - we prove ourselves, here and now. This is how we show them.” He looked into the crowd and saw his sister sitting beside Roscoe and Benedict. The men were laughing at something but Arabelle was staring back at him. Wyn smiled and nodded, and she did the same.

He wouldn’t just show the other Climbers and citizens. He’d show his sister, too, what it meant to be a Climber. What it meant to be a Ruby Magician.

Sonya raised her arms and was able to quiet the crowd. “For the individual trials we will continue with our next group! There’s been a slight change of setup, but fear not - we are placing extra Climbers at the barriers of the arena to make sure no magic escapes the boundary. We think you’ll enjoy what this next group has to offer!”

The crowd’s noise rose again, and Sonya let them be boisterous for a few seconds before continuing. “Participating first in our group of five is Cedric, the Lightning Wizard! Specializing in strong attacks and mobility, you’ve seen some of his magic on display already as he was a finalist in the mage trials. So please direct your attention to him for the next three minutes as you witness the power of Alistair’s magic!” She held her arms out to Cedric but quickly stepped out of the arena’s bounds.

The crowd’s cheers and applause spiked but then quieted as Cedric took to the center of the stage. Wyn felt his heart thump in his chest, and his first thought was that his plan was a bad idea. But then his rational mind took over. They were likely just confused at the sudden change in the trials.

While everyone else faced three identical, plain wooden dummies, Cedric stood against four. And they weren’t plain at all - two of them carried swords, one carried a spear, and one held a bow with a quiver of arrows at its back.

Cedric drew his scepter from his belt with a flourish and focused. Wyn was eager for his friend to show his capability. It was time to show them just how powerful a Lightning Wizard could be.