In a temple to the east. A man leans against a bell, his sword leaning against him. He was striking with his long white hair tied up into a pony tail. Before him is a corrupted looking monster sucking on its thumb.
"Kill, kill, kill!" It sobbed.
"In due time my child, in due time." The man began to hum to himself, as more and more corrupted beings surrounded him.
Vaut woke up dawning his new uniform. It was a dirty red with a yellow stripe running down its arm. Apparently it was supposed to tell other mages you are a mage, so no confusion unfolds. Though Vaut has never seen a mage wearing it before.
"Good morning Gray." A woman stands outside of the door, her black hair covering half her face. "I was told you are not of any bloodline, I feel for a commoner like you. They don't make it long in this world." She pushes off the wall walking away.
Vaut just ignored the blatant jab moving to the training hall. Where a kind middle aged man was waiting for him.
"I am Bass, a mage of a vassal family. I will be your teacher from this day forth." He spoke with care for each word, and ended his sentence with a minstrel hum to his voice.
Vaut then learned almost nothing as the man went over the fundamentals of foot work.
Next was a late breakfast in the second annex. It was short and sweet, literally, just an apple and some oatmeal.
That was it, then he went back to training with bass. Thus ended his first day in the Freed's home.
"Don't I have to go to school?" Vaut asked a passing mage.
He turns to him with a raised eyebrow. "You are at school, learn to be a mage, before learning how to die."
It was rude, but Vaut has gotten used to it. There was no one here who had manners. Most people just spoke what they thought and that was that. He imagined they would find it tough in the outside world. Though to them that is the same thing they think of Vaut.
This was a collecting ground for most mages in the area, even then it was more treated as a stop not a place. Being a mage doesn't always make you a part of a bigger whole. Some prefer to live on their own, without the protection of the clans or the council.
"There are four sectors." Bass points at a map he brought with. "You belong to sector A, the domain of the Freed family and the Council. Sector B is owned by the four greater clans, it is best to stay out of their way. Sector C is one of the least populated and ran by the Outcove, a hidden organization that doesn't work well with outsiders. And lastly sector D, this place is almost overrun by the curse. Even veteran mages don't always return alive. Entering here is basically forbidden, but the fifth great clan calls this place home. They are one of the most formidable, and should be treated with respect."
With that information dump finished he got back to training.
A week shot by.
Vaut yawns as he stands at the gate, his hair pushed back with hair clips. The work of Lance, he said it made Vaut look cool, but Vaut didn't see it. He felt cringy. Wearing old fashioned clothes and standing outside a fortress. Acting all tough like he might somehow scare someone away. It is not like he needs to, if they broke in Lance would probably kill them in an instant. That thought sent a shiver down his spine.
"Yo!" A guy and his girlfriend walk up to him. "Let's, like, take a pic." They stand there with me in central frame as they take a selfie. It made Vaut supper embarrassed.
"You can't even detect the curse can you?" A boy appears beside me out of nowhere, a black bear mask glued to his face. "As a sentry, you are more than pointless. Let me take over."
Vaut didn't know what to do, it was Lance who ordered him to stand guard, and he feared what might happen if he disobeyed an order.
"I will stand watch." Vaut straightens his back.
The boy turns to gaze up at him. "If you wish." After a few long moments he spoke again. "I am Blue, and you must be the new Gray. Picking an outsider is strange."
Vaut couldn't help but feel like he heard this before. "I will do my best." Vaut slightly bows.
"You should suck up to me, as I am the strongest of the colors." Blue says with pride. "If anyone gets in your way just say my name and they will back right off."
"Thanks." Vaut nods well rubbing the back of his neck.