The Sword Mage Without A Path

The Festival 1

Three days after returning from the forest, Fred was allowed to leave his room without being told to rest.

His body was much better, if only his bruises from the Horned Bear still retained their faint color. His shoulder remained sore but was otherwise mobile and normal. Of course, the first thing Fred thought of doing was to return to the training yard.

His sword cut through the morning air as he practiced the same movements it had done for days. His feet moved him forward, he swung, recovered, and repeated the motion while thinking over the fight in the forest. The Horned Bear had been stronger, faster, and more durable than he. If he had fought as he had trained against wooden dummies, he would have been dead.

Fred lowered his sword and thought over what he needed to improve. He needed to become better at reading his opponent, sharpening his reactions, and building his strength. Most importantly, he needed more experience.

"You're training again?"

Fred turned and saw Salia standing at the entrance to the training yard with her arms crossed.

"Father said that I could train today"

"I know, that's not what I meant."

Fred raised an eyebrow.

Salia gestured at the sword in his hand. "You just spent three days getting better and you already return."

"I wasn't injured greatly."

"You were nearly killed by a giant bear."

Fred gave her a small smile. "That sounds better when you say it."

"It was worse than that." Before Fred could speak, Nalia ran into the yard.

"Brother Fred!"

She stopped short in front of him, panting from her run.

"The festival has started!"

Fred blinked. "What festival?"

Salia looked at him as if he had grown three heads.

"You have forgotten?"

"I haven't known there was a festival."

Nalia grabbed his arm. "The Summer Flame Festival! It is today!"

Fred vaguely remembered the servants talking about it. It was the festival that was held every year throughout Arkarin to celebrate the founding of the Arkadis Empire. Merchants from various regions would visit, performers took to the streets, and all the various guilds and organizations held public demonstrations. It was one of the busier times of the year for the capital.

Nalia grabbed his arm again. "Everyone is going!"

Fred looked to Salia. "Everyone?"

She gave a slow nod. "Father and Mother have already agreed. Theron and Axel are going as well."

Nalia was practically vibrating from excitement as she listed everything there was to see and do. "There will be food, games, performances, and magic shows!"

Fred sighed.

"That is apparently the best argument ever."

"It worked, didn't it?"

"It did." By midmorning, the Meyer family had left the estate and entered into the heart of Arkarin.

Fred quickly understood why there was such a festival. The streets had been crowded with people, colorful banners hung between buildings and musicians played at street corners. Temporary stalls filled nearly every open space and the smells of roasted meats and various baked goods, spices, and sweets mingled in the air, while children ran between their parents.

Even mages used their abilities all over the city. A Water Path Mage made floating orbs of water for the children to play with while the Wind Path Mage sent long ribbons of fabric spinning overhead, and several Fire Path Mages kept cooking fires burning without any fuel.

Fred watched the mages for a moment.

Magic was everywhere, and to everyone around Fred, it was normal. He had always known it, but seeing so many Path Mages in the same place had made the difference between him and everyone else rather apparent.

He had no Path.

Fred looked down toward the sword on his belt. He had already made his decision and nothing about the festival changed that.

"Fred."

He looked up and saw Salia watching him.

"You have been quiet."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because I usually am."

Salia smiled. "Then stop thinking so much and enjoy the festival."

Fred nodded. She was right. It was not a training day after all. He could just enjoy spending time with his family.

That plan did not last twenty minutes. Nalia found a stall selling honey cakes, and Derek found a merchant selling wooden weapons. Narissa found a jewelry stall interesting, and Theron found that keeping seven people together in a festival was much more difficult than he had anticipated. Fred found himself dragged form one stall to another as his younger siblings argued over what to buy.

Eventually, the family reached the central square where the festival had built an arena. It was surrounded by wooden barriers and a number of guards. Unlike the other displays the crowd had been drawn to, the arena had drawn an even larger press of people.

Alongside the entrance to the arena, a large sign was displayed.

SUMMER FLAME YOUTH COMBAT EXHIBITION

Fred read it twice. "What is this?"

Axel answered as he looked toward the arena. "It is an annual competition."

Fred watched as several young fighters prepared inside.

"Anyone can enter?"

"Not exactly. There are age requirements. You must be between fifteen and twenty." Fred looked over at Axel. "So, I qualify."

Axel laughed. "Don't be so quick. Most of the people entering have been training for years."

Fred looked over toward the young fighters.

"That doesn't answer my question."

Theron chuckled. "He's got you there."

A festival official came to the entrance and began explaining the competition to the growing crowd. Unlike previous displays, this one was designed to feature young talent rather than judge the best fighter in the empire. The participants had to be between fifteen and twenty and both weapon users and Path Mages were allowed.

There was one requirement that immediately got Fred's attention. "There is no requirement to possess a Path," the official announced. "However, participants must be registered citizens or residents of the Arkadis Empire, and all competitors must agree to the safety rules."