The Blood that Binds (storyline)/The Saxe Legacy (vignette)

The Blood that Binds, Chapter 1 Vignette: The Saxe Legacy

Gazing over at a stack of books occupying the corner of his desk, Ladicius gave a pensive sigh and stretched upwards with a deep sweep of his arms and a roll of his neck. He didn’t mind the work, but he’d been at it for many hours, and it took a toll on his shoulders and neck. Poring over books was never something that drew enthusiasm from Ladicius. He much preferred the hands-on experience of lab work, experiments, and in-field exploration. None of that was possible while the investigation around Thanela was ongoing.

He stood and pushed his chair back, walking over to the large window of his study in the Guild. He enjoyed going to Ta’Illistim when it was for pleasure. Unfortunately, this was a serious matter and required that he spend most of his time in the Elven city working with the Guild to narrow down a timeline for Thanela’s disappearance. He should be out in the world of Elanthia, exploring the many opportunities available to a Saxe. The name alone held great weight in local circles, but academically it held weight in other parts of the continent. He was quickly recognized and welcomed to the Guild when he arrived that morning.

Saxe magic was known to be potent and had great potential for extraordinary results. It was no fluke that a Saxe mage was sought out when normal solutions were not fruitful. Ladicius rather enjoyed the perks afforded to one of his name. Alas, it came with the tedious work of poring over tomes and stacks of parchment, studying and learning all that one could about the nuances of magic and the natural weave of mana in Elanthia. Thanela had always enjoyed the more tedious academic aspect – she was happiest with her nose in a book or listening to a lecture. It made her the perfect counterpart to Ladicius as they took on the leadership of the family.

Coming of leadership age was something Ladicius had looked forward to and with it, the ritual of binding. Thanela was nervous to the point of physical illness at the thought of the bloodletting required, but Ladicius had no such concerns – whatever it would be was worth it to him for the consecration needed to exchange Saxe leadership to the two of them. He’d had little patience with her when it came time, and he felt guilty about that. He and Thanela were close, and she’d been by his side during every major memory that he had. But this was important – it required strength and mental fortitude. It was their legacy, their birthright. They were the surviving Saxe twins, and they had an obligation to carry on the tradition. He was glad it was them, but it didn’t come without risk. It was his job to minimize that risk and he took it seriously.

A feminine voice reached him, the Elven language melodic in his mind as it reminded him that he was due for a meeting with the Archmage of the Ta’Illistim Guild momentarily. As Ladicius stood to don his coat and make his way to the door, he sent a mental response to thank her for the reminder and state that he would be there momentarily. He supposed that all academic study wasn’t a waste – after all, he’d learned Elven as a result. That came in handy at times.