Winter 4986, 17 Shimoth
After what Vevi had called "A test of fear," Lily threw herself even more fully into her practice with the quarterstaff. Before, she'd wanted to learn the staff to round out her skills, and because it was fun. Maybe so she could be just a little bit like the Squires who'd been so kind to her.
Now she would master it. So she would have a way to fight if someone took her magic. Because more than anything, the test had shown her that when it came to magic users in particular, there was always the possibility that they would have a way to steal her magic. Shon had said as much... Why hadn't she listened more closely? Why had she just assumed that she would have her power as long as she didn't have a collar? It was a mistake she wouldn't make again.
On the morning after the mock attack, Lily had woken up early in Vevi's room and made her way down to the deserted cafeteria. After picking at her food for a full half-hour, she decided just to take the enchanted plate and cup with her down to the training room.
When Vevi and Han had found her practicing, they only told her that the enchantment would need to be recharged eventually and she should refrain from taking another. It wasn't allowed, but they would make an exception and not tell anyone this time. Lily got the feeling they were pitying her, but for once didn't mind taking advantage if it meant she didn't need to eat with everyone else for a while.
Vevi assured her that no real Warlocks could possibly make it past all of the defensive and detection spells on the tower, while Han reminded her that the facility was full of trained Mages who would all come to her defense in the case of a real attack, just as Vevi had. Vevi even offered to let Lily sleep in her room for as long as she wanted, and Han offered to put in a request for her to change rooms.
The fact that Lily actually considered taking them up on the offers -even for just a moment- disgusted her. That was her room. She'd defended it as best she could and would do so again if necessary, and even more effectively if they ever let her leave to buy her own staff. To that end, she thanked them both but turned down the offers.
Still... She didn't return to the room until very late that night. And though she couldn't stand the thought of locking the door, she did open the window, letting the winter air clear the faint scent of char and soothe her worries. She pulled her chair to the window and curled onto it with her letters, reading through Shon's first correspondence again and again until she fell asleep.
By the third day, the fear that lingered from the event had faded. But the annoyance and anger remained, and she continued to avoid the rest of the tower by continuing to practice in the training room. Han and Vevi knew where to find her, and they were the only two who mattered anyway.
On the fifth day after the test, Vevi came to find her, but it wasn't Han who was with her. The balding Mage, -now confirmed as the ranking Archmage of the Tarorn Guild- eventually cleared his throat as Lily continued to ignore them long after they'd entered the training room.
Lily didn't stop her form even then, working through it in rhythmic movements and focusing on not inadvertently speeding up in her annoyance.
"Miss..." The Archmage finally said. Lily growled. "We have import-"
"Are we being attacked? For real this time?" Lily interrupted without stopping.
Vevi answered while the Archmage spluttered at the interruption, "No, Lily, I told you that won't happen. We have defenses that-"
"Then you can wait." Lily interrupted again, moving on to another form seamlessly. They probably wouldn't notice that she'd already finished one and was just extending this out of spite. But whether they knew or not didn't matter so much as annoying them, or -more specifically- him.
She considered going on to a third but changed her mind after glancing over to see Vevi sighing sadly and the Archmage tapping his foot impatiently. She didn't like to practice with an audience anyway, and the sooner they told her of her failure, the sooner they would go away. Lily tapped her borrowed staff on the ground, turning to fully face the Mages and leaning on the stick. She considered attempting to arch her eyebrow like Shon but was afraid her amateur attempt wouldn't be as effective as she wanted, so settled for just staring at them instead.
"You're in quite a mood today." the Archmage snarked at her, and Lily's lip curled in a silent snarl.
She managed to rein in control of her face and instead smirked at him, "Well. I was locked in yet another tower after doing the right thing, after which I was screamed at by an instructor that teaches me absolutely nothing, then pressured for samples I was told I didn't have to give if I didn't want to, amongst other things..." she took a moment to cross her arms, letting the staff rest in the fold of her shoulder as she tapped her lip in mock thought, "And there was something else... Oh yeah!" she held her finger in the air as if in revelation, "I was attacked in my room as I slept by a group of men claiming to be here to take me back into captivity." Her sarcastically 'happy' attitude couldn't hold, and she snarled, "Not that it would be much different at this point."
Vevi flinched at the accusation and stuttered, "It was all part of the test, Lily... Your instructor and Ranito were told to press you to see how you responded... The attack..."
"Almost cost you your clearance." the Archmage interrupted, "You lit the ground on fire, endangering yourself, Mage Vevi, and the room. The radiant heat alone... If you had been in a wooden house..." he shook his head and continued, "You burned the Mage's robes and could have maimed or even killed them had they not been protected specifically against fire."
Vevi actually glared at the Archmage and countered the man's argument, "The ground wasn't actually burning, and she was well aware that we are in a stone tower and so such an attack wouldn't damage anything beyond what she intended. She was in control, Archmage. You saw that yourself, and you can't blame her for wanting to maim or even kill anyone who would attack her in her sleep."
Though Lily greatly appreciated Vevi's defense, she'd locked onto the first word out of the Archmage's mouth and echoed it now, "Almost?"
The balding man humphed, looking away from both Vevi's glare and Lily's tilted head, "Yes... well... the council has decided that even in a case of extreme fear and possibly rage, you managed to maintain enough control not only to minimally damage the room but to protect Mage Vevi, who was unaware of the test. As such, the majority, a narrow majority mind you, have determined that you have earned your clearance."
Lily's staff clattered to the floor as she gaped at the two Mages. Vevi smiled broadly and said, "Congratulations, Lily. You have your clearance. And on the first try. You can now use your magic as you wish, presuming you cause no damage to anyone or anything, and you can leave the Guild without an escort."
As if determined to damper any good news, the grumpy balding Archmage cleared his throat again, "There is still a curfew for all wards of the Guild. You must be back by seventh bell and..."
"What day is it?!" Lily shouted her question to Vevi, brushing past the Archmage completely and grasping the woman's sleeves instead of her hands in her excitement.
The Archmage stuttered, but Vevi answered curiously, "The seventeenth of Shinmoth..."
Lily shook her head, "No, the day of the week," she clarified.
"Oh, Soldag." Vevi answered.
With a loud whoop and a jumping spin, Lily rushed back to her fallen staff and returned it to the rack before sprinting from the room.
"Where are you going!" the Archmage yelled after her.
Lily was happy enough now that she actually answered him. Turning around and jogging backward down the hall, she shouted, "Shopping! And I have a lesson with some tumblers!"
Lily sprinted all the way up the six flights of stairs to her room, and though she gasped for breath as she pulled out her desk drawer, she never stopped smiling. She needed to write to Shon and tell him the good news, but first, she needed to meet the tumblers so she wouldn't have to wait another week for the next Soldag. Before that, she wanted to buy her staff, but before that, she needed her papers to leave the Guild and... She couldn't find them...
She shifted through the drawer again, then pulled it all the way out and dumped its contents on her bed. Her papers weren't there. Dropping to her knees, she wrenched her clothes box out from under the bed and pulled each garment out one at a time, shaking them and tossing them aside until the box was empty. Nothing.
A gentle knock sounded on her open door as she started pulling books from her shelf, examining each as though she may have mixed it up with them somehow.
"Lily?" Vevi's voice came from the doorway.
Lily didn't bother to turn around; instead, speeding up her search and crying desperately, "I can't find my papers!"
"I have them, Lily," Vevi said as she stepped in, holding the book out to Lily, who lunged for it.
She opened the first page and saw the new writing at the bottom, detailing her clearance date. Lily closed the book and her eyes in unison and snarled, "They came into my room again?"
"I came into your room." Vevi clarified, "I'm sorry, Lily," she rushed to explain, "I came here first looking for you and saw your papers on your desk. I knew you would want to leave right away, even just for a walk, so I decided to get all the necessary signatures taken care of so you could go as soon as we told you." She looked away from Lily's stare, rubbing her arm nervously, "Your door wasn't locked, so..."
Lily shook her head but had to take a moment to breathe deep before she spoke, "I don't mind if you come in Vevi. You're one of my favorites. You're always welcome. But... does this mean anyone will just walk into my room? I was told I wasn't allowed in other people's rooms without permission." But if she kept leaving her door unlocked, others could just walk into hers?
"They aren't allowed, and I shouldn't have either, I really am sorry, Lily, but if it bothers you, you really should lock your door. That's why we gave you a key."
"I don't like locked doors..." Lily whispered. Her old door had always been locked. The fact that the Paladins and Squires never locked their doors had given her hope that she wouldn't ever have to lock herself in a room again. But if that was the only way to keep people out of her space... Was it even really her space if anyone could just walk in as they pleased?
Vevi took the few steps in to grab Lily by the hands, pulling her eyes back to her face before letting go, "You don't have to lock it when you're inside Lily. I understand, I really do, but it might make you feel better to lock it when you leave and take the key with you. There are spells that unlock doors, but if you have proof you locked it, then you can bring an official complaint to the Guild and even the Temple if you want. The Temple and the Guild will defend your privacy, except in very special circumstances when someone might need to get in."
"And those 'special circumstances' won't include coming in while I'm trying to sleep?" Lily asked.
"Only if you are in very serious trouble or danger. I swear it, Lily. And if someone does come into your room without your permission, you have every right to defend yourself just like you did for the test." She smiled gently and reached a hand up to brush Lily's scaled cheek. Lily wanted to lean into the comforting touch but resisted for Vevi's sake. The Mage continued, "This isn't a prison, and you aren't a captive. The rules are in place for your protection, not to control you. So please... don't compare us to your life with the Warlocks. The last thing we want is to hurt you."
Lily didn't really believe that the Warlocks had wanted to hurt her either, but that didn't stop it from happening... Instead of voicing that point, she took another deep breath and nodded, "Alright. But right now, I have things to do outside."
She turned back for her bed, and the contents of her upended drawer scattered across it. Taking up her bag, she shoved her papers inside and scooped up the multiple weeks' worth of money she'd accrued while grounded. Dropping it all in, she hesitated for only a moment before grabbing her previously unused room key. Turning back, she found Vevi standing just outside her door, waiting for Lily to come out and lock it before finally making her way out of the Guild tower and back into the city.
***
