Chapter 5 Part 1

DECISION

Dylan and Cindy’s life returned to normal after the trip to Keron. It was with regret that Dylan returned to his room and unpacked his things. His three roommates, another boy had completed the Ritual of Meditation during his trip, welcomed him back with aloof curiosity. They made an admirable show of disinterest, but continuously pelted their wandering roommate with questions.

Dylan took pains to make the trip sound as boring as possible so that the questions would not drag on. Still, it was well into the night before Dylan was left alone to go to sleep.

The next morning, a new discovery greeted the young traveler. After his morning bath, Dylan noticed that Robert was no where to be seen. He mentioned it to Brett, one of Tesron’s other initiates.

“Didn’t you hear?” Brett asked happily. “Robert passed his Trial of Acceptance last week and has left the Academy. Master Tesron gave him 100 gold Allentownians and sent him home with honors.”

“That’s wonderful,” Dylan exclaimed half heatedly. It was, after all the ultimate goal of an initiate to pass the Trial of Acceptance, but it was also saddening as it meant that Dylan may never get to see Robert again. He wished at least he could have thanked the older boy for guiding him through the first few months at the Academy. Robert had been a good friend.

“Yes,” Brett continued. “And since Sarah just turned fourteen, she’s been awarded the red tunic of manager.”

“That’s good too,” Dylan decided. “Sarah’s smart and has always been fair.”

Brett and Dylan parted ways and Dylan returned to his work. Jerry, the Team Supervisor was glad that Dylan had returned. Dylan, Jerry confided, had an unusually organized mind and performed his duties exceptionally well. Apparently one of the other members of the supply personnel on the evening work shift had gotten lax and the green tunic task leader of that shift had been promoted and reassigned to another duty.

“Don’t be surprised if you’re reassigned to the evening shift,” Jerry told Dylan. “I like the way you work, and I’d feel better if you were working that shift. At least then I’d know that the inventory and posting is being done right.”

Dylan took the compliments in good graces without letting it go to his head. It was not the first time that Jerry had bragged about Dylan’s work habits. Dylan simply went about his daily routine.

After work, Dylan and Cindy met at the classroom as usual. They eagerly talked about the promotion of Sarah and Robert’s departure until either Kayla or Gage came. When Kayla arrived, the two initiates were treated to yet another surprise. The young woman proudly entered the room wearing the black robe and white sash of a journeyman.

Immediately the kids squealed in delight and gave their tutor hugs of congratulations and greeting. “Oh, you’ve got to tell us all about it,” Cindy insisted.

Normally Kayla would not stand for such an obvious ploy to put off the lessons, but this was a special occasion and a story that she never tired of telling. “I was so very scared,” she admitted. “Adam and I both were tested. Adam failed his first attempt two years ago and has been working very hard so that he wouldn’t fail again. I think that he was actually more nervous than I was.”

“Did Adam pass?” Cindy asked.

“Yes,” Kayla told them. “He cast his first successful spell on his own with no trouble. In fact now that he has passed that test, he’ll probably be taking part in your schooling.”

“That’ll be okay,” Cindy stated. “We like you most, but Adam’s nice enough.”

“Tell us about your test,” Dylan interrupted. He wanted to get back to the important subject.

“Well they escorted me into one of the lecture halls and stood me on the stage. I was given a simple conjuration to memorize and cast. Then I was taken to a small room to prepare myself to cast the spell. When they returned me to the lecture hall, it was packed with masters and journeymen. Well I was scared, but I cast the spell just as Master Tesron had taught me and conjured a fire sprite and commanded it to light a candle, then banished it.”

“You lighted a candle?” Dylan asked. Somehow he expected a little more than that.

“That was enough,” Kayla gasped at the memory. “But now that I have the rank of journeyman, I have free reign to learn as many spells as I can.”

“We’re so proud of you,” Cindy told their tutor. “I hope you’ll stay with us a long time before you get sent to a foster master.”

Kayla smiled. “Thank you both. Now,” she continued with a stern face, “enough playing. Let’s get to work on those lessons. I know Gage probably took it easy on you while you were on the trip, so I expect you to work very hard to catch up to where you should be.”

The first two weeks after returning from Keron passed very slowly as the days following a vacation usually do. But little by little, Dylan and Cindy fell into their routines. Once more, the classmates and friends began to drift apart. Only during studies and occasionally at meal times did they see each other, for Cindy spent much of her free time attending to the duties required of her by her green tunic.

On the fourth day of the third week, Assileday, also called the day of land, Dylan was called to Tesron’s office. Again as before, Gage and Kayla were there as was Adam and Sarah. The three journeymen and the manager of initiate assignments composed the ranking individuals of Tesron’s family of students.

“Ah Dylan,” Tesron called as the youth entered the room. “Your name seems to crop up more and more often. Fortunately it’s almost always accompanied by favorable reports.”

“Thank you, master.” Dylan was unsure how to respond.

“No, my boy, it is I who thank you,” Tesron returned. “You’ve brought me much honor by your studies, and your admirable work ethics.”

“It’s my goal to bring honor to both you and my family,” Dylan stated honestly.

“Of course.” Tesron turned to Sarah and nodded. Then when the girl went over to the desk he readdressed Dylan. “I’m afraid we must reschedule your classes so that you study in the morning and work in the evening. Your team supervisor has placed a request with his manager and he in turn contacted Sarah. Jeremy wishes to place you in charge of the evening work shift.”

“I’ll help in any way I can,” Dylan offered.

“Master,” Gage interrupted playfully. “That is a position that is usually held by a task leader is it not?”

Tesron turned to Sarah. “Gage is right, Sarah,” he declared. Then in conspirators whispers, he asked “what do you suggest we do about it.”

“I’m afraid that we’ll have to disguise Dylan to look like a task leader,” Sarah offered.

“No one’ll believe it,” Kayla laughed. “Every student in the Academy knows that Dylan here is a bookworm and spends far too much time studying.”

“Well I guess we will just have to make him a real task leader then,” Gage decided. “Maybe then he will slow down with his studies and learn how to lead people for a change.”
Dylan could not help the smile that was creeping on his face. He made no attempt to conceal it even as Sarah opened a package she had been holding to reveal a pair of new green tunics.

“Tomorrow,” Sarah told the new task leader, “you’ll join Carl in the same class room that you have been studying in, but you’ll do so in the morning instead of the afternoon, and Adam will be there to instruct you.”

“Now don’t you disappoint me,” Kayla warned as Dylan fingered his new belt excitedly. “I’ve been bragging to Adam about how good you are at math for some time.”

“Hmm,” Tesron considered for a moment. “Now that he’s a task leader, I guess we need to billet him with the other colored tunics. Are there any available?”

“We’ll put him in with Brett,” Sarah offered. “Brett’s last room mate was Robert, and since Robert left, Brett has been alone.”

“An excellent solution,” Tesron agreed. “Very well, Sarah, would you please escort Dylan to his new room?”

Dylan followed Sarah to his room where they packed his things. His other three room mates watched in envy until he left. Then Sarah led Dylan to the new room.

Brett was there, reading a work schedule and making notes when they entered. “Aha!” the other boy exclaimed. “I was wondering when they would make you live up to your potential.”

Sarah left Dylan with Brett, who gave his new room mate a hand in unpacking. “So they changed your work and class schedule and made you a task leader, eh?”

“It seems so,” Dylan answered. “I don’t mind so much, though. My former room mates were students of magic and generally ignored me.”

“Well that won’t happen here,” Brett told him. “Did you notice that students of magic usually don’t get colored tunics? That’s because they turn them down. They don’t want any part of us, so whenever one of them gets offered the position, they usually decline it.”

“I wasn’t aware that we were allowed to decline the assignment.”

“As near as I can understand it,” Brett continued, “the masters really don’t want someone in a position of authority that doesn’t want to be there. It makes sense if you think about it. Someone who doesn’t want the job won’t do a good job.”

“I guess that does make sense.”

“Have you eaten yet?” Brett offered.

“Yes,” Dylan told him. “But don’t let that stop you. Go ahead and eat. I want to do some thinking.”

Brett smiled and left Dylan to survey his new quarters. The room was actually a little bit larger than the one he had just left. In addition to the extra size, the beds were actually wider than the cot he had been sleeping on for the last year and a half. Also there were two desks, one for each occupant. On top of the desk was an oil lamp. Apparently it was intended for his use. Such luxury implied the importance of the job he as task leader was expected to do.

Dylan finished putting his things away and left the room. He returned to the courtyard and made his way to the secluded pool to sit upon his favorite sun warmed rock and think.
To his surprise, he found Cindy waiting for him.

“I knew that sooner or later you’d come here,” she told him as she eyed the new green tunic. “I also knew that this,” she poked him and tugged playfully at the fabric, “was only a matter of time too. You’re too smart for them not to wrap a color around you.”

“I hope I live up to everyone’s expectations,” Dylan sighed. “I still don’t really know what’s to be expected of me though.”

“Oh you’ll find out tomorrow,” Cindy told him. “Most likely, instead of going to work, you will go to a special one day class where they’ll explain all of that to you.”

Cindy sat with Dylan for a long time. They really didn’t talk much, but just being near each other seemed to fulfill some basic need, and they were both aware of it. When at last the time came to go, Cindy congratulated Dylan once more and returned to the main building. That was the last he saw of her for more than two weeks.

Dylan quickly learned his new responsibilities. The class he attended for new task leaders outlined what was expected of him and soon he found himself spending more and more of his spare time making work schedules, reports and budgeting analysis.

Occasionally he would see Cindy as they passed in the halls or in the late evening on weekends they would manage to stumble across each other in town or the garden.

Brett, on the other hand, quickly became one of Dylan’s closer friends. The other boy was quick to laugh and enjoyed talking. Dylan found that Brett was very interested in how the plantation system of the Teverak region worked, and would listen to Dylan’s stories for hours. They spent much of their free time together and through Brett, Dylan met many of the other initiates that he had before simply never gone out of his way to meet.

Before he knew it, Dylan’s second year came to an end. It was marked only by Adam’s congratulations on his excellent progress in his studies.