Tale of Four

Alice followed her old master through the Mad House, the home of Magi and the storage of the world’s history. She could barely hide her excited grin as the old man led her up the large tower. A staircase wrapped itself along the entire wall like a snake, coiling the edges of the building. With her master facing away from her, she reached out to touch one of the thousands of doors that lined every square inch of the walls, but reluctantly pulled away, knowing it could ruin what was about to happen.

Instead, she looked to her left. The Mad House was an enormous tower, yet hollow. Only the staircase she climbed could be called a stable, permanent platform. The rest of it was floating catwalks that rose and dropped, stopping when the people controlling them found where they wished to get off and join the staircase. It was a building that defied the normal laws of the world, lacking a true entrance and accessible only to the Magi, the lucky, or those invited in.

”Are you listening, Alice?” Her master’s voice called out, snapping Alice back to reality. Grumbling under her breath, she looked at him and brightly smiled, hiding her annoyance at being taken away from her daydream.

”Of course, Master.”

”Then what did I say?” The old man already knew his apprentice’s personality. Alice shrugged and looked back over the railing of the staircase, trying to see the bottom of the tower. Seeing nothing but a dark void that seemed to touch hell, she looked up and saw another dark void that couldn’t be pierced unless one went up. ”Alice,” he spoke with a tired voice, ”Your talents in the arcane are one in a million, but you are still young.” The old man reached out and touched one of the doors.

”Every time you enter a door, you always risk the chance of meeting an unspeakable horror. Although many doors have been catalogued, many lead to places we do not know.” His tone was serious as he turned to Alice, ”You can have pride in your talents, but arrogance must be suppressed, because it will lead to a fate worse than death.”

Alice sighed and rubbed the back of her head in annoyance, ”You tell me this every time, Master. Don’t you trust me?”

”No.” The old man instantly answered, ”I know you hide things from me, child, I can see it in your eyes.” The old man leaned forward, ”And your personality is one that will see you die before you understand what happened.” Her eyes chilled, hearing her master’s words, wondering if he would once again deny her the chance to explore the doors. The old man sensed the change and shook his head, ”But I cannot coddle you forever. The Magi exist to understand the world, and even if it means you may die, I must let you carry out this task. Only if you are ready, of course.”

”I was ready years ago, master, but you used my age as an excuse to stop me. Don’t tell me you will again.” The old man huffed and rubbed his eyebrows, unable to understand why he had such an arrogant disciple.

”We’ll see.” Climbing the steps, the man stopped before one of the doors and pushed it open. Entering into a study, the old man moved and pulled aside a large, clear crystal, placing it on the table in the centre of the room. Indicating for Alice to come over, he sighed.

”Your personality will never change, and I have given up on correcting it after all these years. If you are so eager to explore the unknown, I will not stop you anymore. Put your hand on the crystal and let the arcnae flow in.” Alice rushed forward, the chance she had waited for years finally revealing itself. Placing her hand on the ball, she felt something be sucked out of her body, and the ball turned white, glowing brighter and brighter until it resembled a small sun.

Although he knew he should have been proud of such a disciple, the old man couldn’t help but frown, finally having no excuses to keep her from exploring. Sixteen was when disciples were given the right to explore the Mad House, and he had already delayed that chance for Alice by a year.

”You... pass.” Forcing the words out, he saw Alice’s face light up in joy. Her entire mood changed. No longer was she a disciple of the Magi but now a Magi herself. The shallow respect she had for him vanished as she turned around, ready to leave. ”Alice.” His words seemed to reach her as she paused and looked behind her, ”Please be careful.” Grabbing a large piece of paper, his hands glowed and writing formed on it. ”On here are all the doors we have explored. I beg you to start with these.”

Going over to her, the man forced the paper into Alice’s hands. Alice smiled and nodded before running out, sliding down the railing of the staircase without fear of falling, stopping before a door not too far from her master’s study. Throwing the door open, she ran over to a mirror and stared at herself

Her fiery red hair flowed past her shoulders, nestled just above her green eyes. Grabbing her face, she tried to pull her smile down but couldn’t. Chukling to herself, she looked down at her robes and shook her head. With a click of her fingers. The grey robes changed into a set of green ones that matched her eyes. All disciples had to wear grey, but as an official Magi, she was free to finally wear the colours she wanted.

”You passed.” Another young girl’s voice called out behind Alice, and, spinning around, Alice’s bright smile widened as she saw a girl her age who seemed to materialise out of thin air.

”We can explore now, Chesh.” Running over, she took the girl into her arms and gave a powerful hug. ”Oh yeah.” Looking at the note her master had given her, Alice read through it and groaned.

Chesh clicked her fingers, and the note erupted into flames, making Alice drop it, shaking her hand in pain. ”Why should you care what he says?” Chesh said with a teasing voice before coming closer to Alice, ”Aren’t you special?” Alice looked at the burnt remains of the note, unable to remember what any of it said before smiling and nodding.

She knew she was special; she had known before birth. She had become a Magi not becuase of the noble cause of understanding the world’s truth, but for the real reason they should have existed. To reach the realm of the Gods and become one of them.

”Make the world your own child.” Repeating the words of the incomprehensible being told her in the void, she looked into Chesh’s black eyes and saw a purple glow in them, ”Let’s go.” Grabbing Chesh’s hand, she ran out of her room without care and charged for one of the doors at random. Opening it, she took a final look at Chesh and smirked before diving in.