The early morning sun slowly rose upon the D’Akkar
Mountains, eventually shedding its gentle rays on the quiet
city of Ziefeel. Quiet, that is, until the solitude ceased with
an angry scream. "Luna! What did you do to my clothes!"
shrieked Lina Inverse as she dashed downstairs to confront her
older sister."Well, you asked me to wash your clothes, so I
did!" replied Luna. "You mean SHRUNK them!" Lina growled, as
she shook her fist at Luna. Luna just laughed at her little
sister and snapped her delicate fingers. Instantly the garments
returned to their normal size. " You’re never going to pass the
sorcery final if you can’t detect a simple illusion spell,
Lina!" Luna chuckled returning to her chores. Not wanting to
waste any more of her time, Lina then turned around and returned
to her room to get dressed. After all, she had an exam to ace.
As soon as she clothed and fed herself, Lina set out for
Master Sied’s mansion. While she walked, the young sorceress
couldn’t help but wonder, "How did I ever get such a foolish old
goat for a master?" Drawing closer to her destination, Lina
then remembered the answer to her question; Luna had
recommended him. Lina sorely regretted her decision to be the
old man’s pupil, for he was the most incompetent wizard around.
Instead of spending her free time doing what she wished, Lina
was forced to tutor herself in order to keep pace with her
peers. In the course of Lina’s independent study, she had
surpassed her classmates and found herself a little over year
ahead in her lessons. Lina secretly prided herself on this
achievement. Lina continued to ponder her thoughts until she
finally arrived at her destination, Sied’s Mansion.
There she was, standing blankly at the front door. Lina let
a sigh of protest as she lifted her gloved arm torap on the
door. Before she had the opportunity to knock, the door opened
to reveal Sied’s rugged visage. "Come on in, Lina. Are you
ready for your quiz on wind magic?" asked the eager old man.
"Ofcourse I’m ready Master Sied!" Replied Lina with a false
excitement filling her voice. "Alright Miss Lina, Let me see
you cast Raywing and Levitation." Sied calmly commanded. Lina
yawned and chanted both spells flawlessly for her master. "That
was excellent Miss Inverse! I see you’ve learned much from my
lessons." Sied gloated. "To be honest, I learned must most of
my spells myself. You haven’t taught me thing as far I’m
concerned." Lina said. Sied then issued a challenge to his
arrogant student. "Since you are so confident in your
abilities, this should be no problem for you!" shouted the
flustered Sied. Waving his arms he summoned a pack of snarling
trolls ready to crush the little magic user.
Upon seeing the horde, Lina momentarily went into a panic.
"How could a bumbling old magician summon trolls?" Lina
thought. Without any provocation the vile creatures converged
on their target. Hesitating not a minute longer, Lina then
leaped into action, casting a well-placed fireball that took
out two trolls simultaneously. Lina wasted no further time in
killing two more trolls with a Freeze Arrow and a Digger Bolt.
Just as Lina was preparing to finish of the last of the
monsters; they mysteriously vanished. "Curses! I never was able
to hold that spell for more than a few minutes!" muttered Sied.
Unfortunately, before he could cast another spell Lina pounced
on him, unleashing a series of sharp blows on the wizened
wizard. "Stop! Stop! PLEASE STOP! You’ve passed both the wind
spell and final exams. Take your certificates and leave me be!"
Sied pleaded to the enraged sorceress. Lina seized the
parchments and smiled. She turned for the door, and as she
opened the door she found herself greeted by a group of really
suspicious-looking men.
The men marched right by Lina and gathered around Sied. A
tall man with a scar over his left eye picked up the bruised
sorcerer and asked, "Where’s our money old man? You’re already
three days late, ya know. If ya don’t pay now ya might not see
tomorrow, if ya know what I mean." "Please don’t hurt me! I
would have the money except, one of my students cancelled her
remaining lessons since she already passed the final today."
blurted Sied as he glared at Lina. "In that case I quess we
will have to rob HER then, won’t we, boys?" remarked the
theives’ leader. " Oh, I don’t think you want to do that." Lina
said in singsong voice. " And why is that?" scoffed the bandit
leader. "THIS IS WHY, DRAGON SLAVE!" shouted Lina as the entire
mansion exploded all around the brigands, blasting them clear
out of town. "Am I ever hungry!" exclaimed Lina as she headed
for home leaving her former master to lie in the ruins of his
home.
When Lina arrived back home, it was nearly sundown and she
could smell dinner cooking inside. Lina rushed in doors to find
an immense meal lying before her. "What do you think of your
graduation banquet?" asked Luna. "Its great!" said Lina as she
took a large bite out of the turkey leg she held. "Well I’m
glad you like it, Bandit Killer!" teased Luna. "How did you
know about that? And furthermore do not call me Bandit Killer."
muffled Lina still chewing her food. "What did you say, Bandit
Killer?" mocked Luna, cupping her ear with her hand. "Don’t
call me that, I said!" spat Lina. The rest of the evening
carried on with Luna still taunting her little sister, and Lina
trying to stop her.
Much to Lina’s dismay nicknames tend to stick with a person,
especially if you’re Lina Inverse.
