Chapter 347: To Become A True Power
The goats proved to be much more friendly toward the newly arrived mages than expected.
Instead of their usual territorial challenges, they simply accepted that the Sect was setting up in the field next to the hay, and pointedly ignored them after a few disinterested glances.
"If you would like to send a few Elders in after dinner, we can discuss your choices of locations, as well as the requests that I would make of your school.
You see, we would like you to teach more than just magic.
If the Duskblade Sect teaches more than just magic, it will help reduce the need for a second school within the town, and give you an opportunity to build connections with more than just the mages of Wistover.
Normally, mages are sent for training after the age of Apprentice selections.
Not only does that cause many potential mages to end up in family trade skills that they are poorly suited to, it also reduces the quality of both mages and tradesmen.
The school will have to hire teachers for subjects that the Sect doesn’t specialize in, but I’m sure that shouldn’t be too big of an issue for you."
Dominic paused, and the Elders nodded. "Indeed. At one time, we did hire instructors for the essential skills of a mercenary. Now, we have teachers for all of the skills that we traditionally taught.
But just to be clear, you would like us to run a primary school. A school for young children?"
"Not just them, but yes. I want you to run a school for young children, and then keep on the ones with promise as mages or mercenaries. The City Guard will take some of them off your hands at the end of training, and the Cygnia Army will likely take the rest if they’re willing.
There shouldn’t be a shortage of employment.
But if you also have teachers for other useful skills around town, you can get the children prepared for life in a magitech society before they start officially training for their career.
You see, I would like everyone in town who has the magic to be able to at least do the basics for themselves." Dominic explained.
Elder Manif nodded eagerly. "I think that I get what you’re going for. There is a mage sect in Wigravia that is the size of a city. They train their Acolytes to do everything that the city needs, and then promote the more powerful to higher ranks, with better training and more access to resources.
But if we copy that format without making everyone part of a Mage Sect, we can have a whole city with the skills to work at a magitech factory, operate magical items without fear of self harm, and even cast some basic magic.
It might not replace the need for a mage tower, but simple things like a torn coat would no longer need to go to the tailor if they knew [Mend Item].
Even just having the basic knowledge of runes and theory to make a magitech orb would let them work at one of the factories with days instead of weeks of training."
Dominic nodded. "Exactly. We’re starting with simple items and a repair stop for the Magitech Carriages. But as we get more people, that will naturally expand. Soon, we will be the manufacturing hub for the entire eastern side of the continent."
Elder Manif smiled. "Bold words."
"But I mean them. If we’re making the finest soldiers, vehicles and housewares on the continent, it wouldn’t take much to become a household name in a better way than the memories of the invasion." Dominic explained.
The maids came out with a large cauldron of soup and a bag full of freshly baked bread.
"Miss Beth in the kitchen knew that you were coming, so she prepared." The maid explained.
"Thank you. Elder, we can discuss more while we eat. Please call everyone over."
The Duskblade Sect was just completing their work, and a cluster of yurt style tents were erected, finishing with a portable stone fire pit designed to prevent ashes or burnt rings on the ground that would indicate recent camp activity.
Elder Manif set out a ring of chairs around the fire pit with what Dominic recognized as a spell, not stored items from his storage ring.
"Nice trick." He noted.
Elder Manif smiled. "We found that it’s the best way. If we’re not carrying anything permanent, then there is nothing to take from us if we are captured. The tents are kept with the camp followers, not the active Sect members on assignment.
When they go out, they use magic to set up their camps, so they’re carrying nothing but clothes and food."
A trained mage wouldn’t even need to carry a weapon. They could make one when they needed it. Even a common belt knife, which wouldn’t attract attention anywhere, would become the sharpest of swords in the hands of a battle mage.
For that reason, many mages were known to simply carry a false wand. They could use magic to turn the stick into whatever they needed, and even if it was taken from them, it was no real loss.
The captors would think that they had disarmed the mage, but in reality, the stick was just a prop, and the blade spell could be cast in the mage’s hand just as easily, giving him the blade that they had tried to remove from him.
Or her, Dominic mentally amended. Most of the women in the group had the hardened faces of people who knew what hardship and combat were all about.
The maid served the Elders, while a Sect Acolyte served everyone else, and one of the elderly ladies of the Duskblade Sect stared intensely at Dominic.
"Is there something amiss?" He asked cautiously.
"Your face. I know that you’re a young Dragonkin, and I would have placed you in your late teens, if I didn’t know how old you were. But there isn’t a mark on you. Not your face, your hands, your arms. Not even an old callous." She explained.
Dominic shrugged. "I’m a bit too dragon for that. I heal quite well, and it doesn’t leave scars."
He would skip over the part that even if he did let it heal naturally and scar, it would fade the next time he killed something with an Arcane Blast.