Dovesong

"Frankly, I'm disturbed by what I'm seeing." Another Magus member stated.

"Do you really expect us to believe any of this, Professor Turner?" Another Magus asked.

"If I'm being honest, I expect you to despise me and everything I stand for, since Sorcery spits in the face of everything magic has been up to this point. I am going to call the cube an asinine idea, the spirits were the first to pervert the ways magic has been used and their unpolished methods , Blood magic safer than spirit magic, chantless magic is easier than you make it out to be, development of ley line magic is the next revolution of the magical world in terms of technology and warfare, and that beast strengthening is an unperverted form of primal life magic." Vlad swallowed. "I also bring to the table a list of identified magics that does more than sweep anything that doesn't fit the traditional four elements into dark magic. And to top it all off I fully intend to teach Sorcery, whether it is at this university or not."

Holy feathers. Vlad! What are you doing! I expected the Magus's to start screaming. What ended up happening was that every single one of them closed their paperwork. The only one who didn't look supremely disappointed or offended was the Grand Magus who scrutinized over the first page.

"Magus Turner." One of the Magus said calmly. "Not only do I fail to see what this has to do with the present trial, but I can't decide whether I am more disappointed in you for pulling this kind of stunt or offended that you have the audacity to waste my time with some that is so clearly blasphemous. I am speechless and have half a mind to dismiss you from the Magus Archana right now for making a mockery of this case in front of the Grand Magus."

"I agree," another added. "Magus Turner I am disappointed in you. This "Audacitor's Codex" is an essay submitted for review and has only recently been formally accepted for continued research, not as an academic paper. We are very aware of your unrequited affections for Miss Perchwell, and I wonder how much work you put into this for the misguided attempt to impress a girl. I fail to see how this has any implication on the trial we have been called here for."

"I believe in love as much as the next woman," another magus began. "I also believe this is not the place to show off for your adolescent crush. I do not have the time for childish antics, nor insulting propositions to taint our students with this knowledge. I move to have you fired and removed from the Magus Archana and this notion of Sorcery to be thrown away for the childish tantrum it obviously is."

My eyes bulged. 

Affections? 

Crush? 

I looked at Vlad in a new light. Not only did he stop shaking as the entire table denounced him and moved to dismiss him, his attention never left the Grand Magus as she turned the page and read the second page of the document. Something about standing against the verbal assault was so manly. But the idea that my friend was in love with me shook me to my core. I never thought of romance, sure I was very aware of attractive men like Sunny, but I was always too shy or awkward to interact with them. But Vlad was never attractive or unattractive... he was just Vlad.

He was the friend that made me laugh even when I didn't want to. I could always rely on him. He was the only other person that was as awkward as me and that could share in my awkwardness. I felt a sense of kinship with him but now... Seeing him standing there facing down his older more experienced peers made him seem so much taller and far away.

He was far from the awkward friend I had come to know. Something between the bags under his eyes, the squared shoulders, anticipating gaze, and stoic expression made my chest tighten. My face heated up, but I couldn't stop looking at him. Weakness, the strength, and the open defiance changed something about him. Did he really love me?

Would that make me happy?

"Grand Magus, I'm more interested in what you have to say." Vlad said calmly once the Grand Magus finished reading the first two pages and then flipped through the papers and scanned the last page and then closed it.

"Magus Turner, you are no fool, and you do not have a pattern of brash behavior." The Grand Magus folded her hands over the paperwork. "I have read the manifest at the beginning of this... stack, and do not believe you have acted on this point lightly. You clearly weighed the risks, especially since you so strongly petitioned to have me here." She calmly looked at the Magus on either side of her and then centered her chilling gaze on Vlad.

"Our colleagues have expressed several concerns. So I will ask you outright for simple clarification. What is nature of your relationship with Magus Perchwell?" She asked and my breath caught in my throat.

"Dovesong Perchwell is the single most lovely and charming woman I have ever met, and I am madly in love with her. To my chagrin she had never recognized my affections or advances. However, my own cowardice has prevented me from making my own feelings clear." Vlad boldly declared and I felt my face heat up by how bold he was.

"Magus Turner, are you prepared to put your life on the line for your research?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am." Vlad said confidently and panic filled me.

"Very well, after this trial you are to host a Pseudo Dragon's Tournament for your class's future. Give your presentation as you planned if I am not pleased or its context on this case isn't as substantial as you've made it then I and any others of the same stance will join to slay you and your class. Are you prepared to stay the course and face my potential wrath?" She asked sending a potent silence through the room.

"Grand Magus, without any sugar coating, I am terrible at combat. But I am prepared to fall on my sword. With that in mind I have a counter offer, a wager if you will." Vlad said and I watched as the Grand Magus' lip twitched into a grin.

"I'm listening." She answered with a dare.

"Allow me to make my case, supported by my friend Magus Balek Seiton Ti'en, who has chosen to become the second Sorcerer and agreed to take up it's mantle upon my demise. Then after the trial, regardless of the outcome..." Vlad waved at the magic knights around the room. "...you may challenge my resolve. If my cowardice prevents me from falling on my sword, both Magus Seiton Ti'en and I will denounce Sorcery, and retire from the Magus."

"And if your resolve turns you into a martyr?" The Grand Magus probed.

"Then any challenger must satisfy the demands of the Magus's honor by upholding the values of those who have perished, and pave the way for the success of the lessons and teaching of Sorcery under Magus Seiton Ti'en to the best of their ability. They must accept both the Audacitor's Codex as an official text for Heathroam's curriculum and the person who wrote it to be allowed into school free of tuition to help educate and facilitate the teaching of Sorcery under the context of the Audacitor's Codex." Vlad stood tall. "I will put my life on the line, however for any one of you to enter a Dragon's Tournament with me is more of an execution than anything else. This way, both parties are equally at risk."

"I don't see the point of putting my life on the line if you're are wrong and kill yourself. Besides if we find her innocent, but you're full of it, then you can just run away with her." One of Magus's said waving their hand around dismissingly.

"Bullshit! Try me, you Coward!" Vlad declared. He was visibly angered, and I was taken aback. I don't think I've ever seen Vlad angry before.

"Excuse me?" The magus frowned.

"That's enough, both of you." The Grand Magus said and both of them backed down. "It satisfies the requirement of you putting your life on the and watching our peers squirm is vastly more entertaining than watching a glorified execution. However, listening to the ignorance of this gathering of Archana prattling on in the face of innovation is grating on my nerves. One thing is certain, this is a farce, but it is because the wallets of my fellow judges is being threatened. Whether you are right or wrong we should be fostering scholarly research regardless of our personal feelings and I am disappointed in my juniors for shunning new ideas before even hearing them out. Magus Turner, you have my formal apology for the conduct of my fellows." The Grand Magus subtly nodded her head in a respectful bowing motion.

Everyone gasped at the Grand Magus' actions.

"I also apologize for all the tireless hours you spent on this presentation and that it is wasted on these tired old souls. I have judged that they are too biased to make a sound judgment on the credibility of your research. So I am going to short hand this entire meeting." She tapped the papers on the desk with two fingers and the magical waves were sent to my mind.

"I, Grand Magus Roseline Shiro, formally recognize the creation of a new class under Magus Vladimir Turner. The class of Sorcerer has been reintroduced into the world and First Sorcerer Magus Turner as the driving force of this new philosophy. We are scholars not weapons. Defy me if you dare." After tagging on that last ominous challenge she tapped the desk again.

"Alright, First Sorcerer Turner, if I may call you that, I have one condition behind my endorsement." The Grand Magus said as a flurry of emotions covered everyone's face.

"Yeah... sure." Vlad said as his jaw went slack.

"Come up with a defining feature to declare the pride of the Sorcerers, a nice hat with a feather, a colorful uniform, or something." She said with a surprisingly youthful and teasing grin.