Exchange

"It is done. I will require the spell within one week. The deadline is the day prior to your departure for the mission. You can find me tomorrow at mid-day to collect your other requests."

With that he waved his hand and the two figures disappeared from the hall of entity.

Ares reappeared in the crowd next to Miles. Miles was looking at him inquisitively.

"Well?" Miles asked.

"Well what?" Ares replied.

"Tell me what it was like. The hall of entity!" Miles was clearly excited to ask him.

"I don't know I just went to a circular room and fought some ink." Ares explained.

"You fought some ink...." Miles looked annoyed.

"I was selected. be happy, you will graduate." Ares hastily added. Miles seemed placated by this and clapped his hand against the back of Ares shoulder.

"Don't let me down." Miles added the ominous glint in his eyes coming back into play.

"I won't" Ares promised.

For the next hour various different people from the recruits appeared in the crowd. It seemed that as soon as they were eliminated, they would re-appear. It looked like the experiences differed as several people had thrown up as soon as they materialised. After the final recruit arrived the Warlock once more appeared at the front.

"You have all improved greatly however there can be only five applicants." A hush fell across the group.

"The chosen representatives in the mission will be Victor, Sisaro, Tracy, Lisa and Ares." The crowd roared.

"You may now depart; the delegation will leave for the mission one week from today." Solis added.

Ares was ecstatic, three of the delegation were his friends. Even if this new Lisa didn't like him then his friends would outnumber the group. For the next week he wished to properly prepare himself for the mission.

The following day Ares made his way to the Warlocks office. Upon entering Ares could see Solis sat behind the desk.

"I have already prepared the non-classified spells follow me." With that Solis stood and opened a portal stepping through quickly.

Ares followed through the portal and found himself in a long white corridor, there were various spells on the walls but no-where near as many as he expected. There were only ten or twenty silver spells.

"Is this all of them?" Ares asked.

Solis sighed

"The space guild is not rich Ares; our recession now stretches back several decades. Even my power cannot raise us from this slump. Take a choice. The spell names are written above the circles. For now, choose your two spells and I will take you back. There are also empowerment spells of which the guild has plenty. These augment strength, speed and other physical attributes. My advice would be not to use these however as they are incredibly limited in their power and growth. Only low level mages use them for early protection."

Ares decided to ignore the empowerment spells and looked at the others and reading their descriptions. Each spell had only a single word to describe it. He saw cut, bend, slash, pierce, iron, stop, track, rock, gust, geezer and flame. The elemental four last spells were easily learnt by any mage but had no comparison to spells from the primary or secondary guilds. Ares contemplated his difficulties, his magic had great potential but he was limited by the speed in which he could display. A movement spell would make his battle strength far easier. Looking at their names Ares only saw one spell which may help, gust. If he could imbue his body with the power of wind this would undoubtedly increase his speed.

Ares choose gust as his first spell. The second issue Ares thought to himself was while he could use push and void he had very limited damage spells. If he came across a huge beast pushing it would not help him. The second spell he chose was slash, combined with his gauntlets at least he could use it to attack.

The Warlock gave him his spells and they left together. Before he left Ares looked at the Warlock and decided to ask for a favour.

"Warlock I would like permission to visit my family on the surface before we leave." Ares looked at the Warlock intensely.

"You have but a week before we leave. As with all missions this comes with risk, I will allow you to visit the surface. " Solis said sombrely.

"Thankyou Warlock." Ares replied feeling the gratitude deeply, any chance to leave the area and see family would be one well welcomed by Ares. Solis provide Ares with a purse containing the money promised and then opened a portal back to the office. Shortly after Ares left his office Solis created a second portal. Mars walked though into the room.

"What was it you wanted Soliie?" Mars said stepping into the room and sitting down like he owned the place.

Solis exhaled a long breath before he drew back his hood. Everything about him was average his face and hair his eyes however were glowing red orbs. Mars made briefly made eye contact before glancing away quickly his eyes faintly stinging.

"I want you to look after Ares during his visit to the surface; he has a complete void spell." Solis said to Mars.

Mars was visibly shocked. He hadnt heard of anyone ever having a complete lost spell.

"I gave him a broken book the spell couldn't have been more then twenty five percent complete. How did he get it".

"We have yet to know but I want you to take care of this boy until we can figure out his secrets." Solis said without blinking.

"understood" Mars said stepping back into the portal and disappearing. Solis sat back into his chair seemingly in contemplation before drawing his hood back and disappearing into its dark folds.

Having been given permission to speak with his family and return to see them Ares did not wait around and made his way to the surface. He had little to pack and after leaving a note for his friends he made the journey to the surface. Before he knew it he was back at the entry to the Gryphon railway.