Part 1
Thirty Years ago…
The Lotus Sanctum of Magical Arts was a school, set up by one of the emperors to help ensure that almost everyone that could use the gift were taken to the school to ensure they would be able to use their gift. Otherwise, there were many dangers for those that continued to grow in their powers without using self-control. The school had been going for over two centuries. Thousands of infants had come through its doors over the years from all over the Lotus Empire and had studied to control magic from a young age, then by the age of eleven they would start entering several different classes which would be spread out over the course of five years that would lead to their Lotus Eater Exams (L.E.E). Once they had passed, then they had the option of either leaving into the world and finding their way, but if they were gifted or wanted further training, one of the master’s could choose them as an apprentice, and in time become a master themselves. The current headmaster, Cedrick Dragen was sat in his office. He was wearing deep purple robes with gold and black and an outer cloak as well. He was nearing sixty in years, but he was still capable. He had been headmaster for over fifteen years now. The study was in near silence, except for his quill on his parchment and the sound of the owl occasionally hooting outside the window. Cedrick yawned feeling rather tired, but he forced himself to stay awake. The letters needed to be sent out immediately as they were of great importance. Cedrick reached over and grasped his glass of water and took a sip, letting the cool liquid refresh his lips and drying mouth. Cedrick stood up to stretch his legs. Around the room, there were a few paintings on the wall; some showing the great school in all its glory, others that were portraits of previous headmasters. There was one large painting with the school, but it was more recent as it had all four house sigils in each corner. But his favourite painting was the one that showed the commissioning of the school, with both the first headmaster, Lucan Bryne and the Emperor standing together with the emperor’s guard. Things had certainly changed since then. Lucien was often considered one of the greatest headmasters, he allegedly had the rare gift of being able to summon spirits and animals to his assistance. He had never met anyone with such a gift, but he had met people with equally special talents. Not many of them could match Cedrick though. Cedrick was not only proficient with various forms of magic, but also potions. Cedrik heard something outside in the hallway. He frowned and made his way out of the office and into the expansive hallway. The school was essentially built in the mould of a castle or temple rather than a military barracks; it was an impressive feat of engineering and design. It was significantly larger than most castles that could hold up to 200 or 300 people at the most, the Sanctum had at least 600 students and then around 15 apprentices who have stayed on for further study, that could have the potential to be masters in the future. One of the lanterns that lit the corridor flickered out, and then the next, and then every single one around Cedrik went out. It could only be magic. ‘Who is there?’ Cedrick used magic to amplify his voice that boomed around the corridor. Cedrick tapped his ring, ready but the shadows shifted and there was laughter ahead of him in the shadows. Cedrick tapped his ring and there was a release of power in the form of a shockwave that ripped down the corridor, that should have caught whoever it was and sent them tumbling to the ground, even if they were invisible. However much to Cedrick’s disappointment, there was nothing. The laughter continued and then something brushed against his legs. Cedrick immediately started to take his wand out from his robe pocket, but he felt something cold stab against his left, that strangely giggled. Cedrick waved his wand and started to channel magic sent a blast of fire at the attacker—it was a small child, which made no sense to him, but he had no other option. Cedrick felt another stab, and another one, and the laughter closed in around him. Cedrick staggered forwards, blood pouring out of him, his wand dropped to his feet, and he fell to the ground. The shadows of the stone-cold floor swallowing him up as he gave his last breath. The figures all ran off celebrating, returning to the shadows as another figure stares on triumphantly. In the aeons that have passed since the first visit of the emperor, it was rare for some emperors to visit the school. They had always refrained from being involved in the day to day running of the school whether that was the appointment of masters, the way the tests were conducted and the like, if the Lotus empire got what it needed from the school there was no problems. However, these were unprecedented times, in its long history there had never been a headmaster that had been assassinated, let alone in the school. The emperor and his advisors as well as the thornseers; and some that were familiar faces—previous students that had graduated and had gone to be rather exceptional sorcerers. The emperor discussed the options with the acting head teacher. The first was a lockdown and investigation. The investigation came up with only one partial witness Myles Goodbrook, who was a prefect and often would take two lots of drinks up to the headmaster. He had taken one, and then he had taken the other drink he had found the body first. It must have happened within an hour time frame. The investigation went on for another two weeks, and only one more partial witness came forward, another prefect, Kina Malver who was on duty at the time. She had apparently tried to reprimand a trio of second years that had been out of their rooms beyond curfew. All three of them were interviewed but even from that nothing much turned up, other than they claimed they had heard younger students roaming the corridors, laughing and up to no good. A further search of the school, they managed to find a discarded dagger, that was brought to Quinlan Blackburn, a former master of the school who had chosen to serve elsewhere. Quinlan had the rare gift of psychometry, the ability to read images from objects. Quinlan identified at least one of the culprits involved in the murder, a young student called Gel Dunik who then after a brief interrogation revealed the two other students, Luxum Zao and Malleus Karr that were involved in it, but they offered nothing more. It made no sense how these three students were able to catch Cedrik Dragen off-guard and kill him without help. Without any of them offering any more information, even after being held in jail cells separately for days on end. The Emperor and acting Headmistress Emmelina Berthelot concluded for now, to close the investigation and punish the three students for the highest crimes against the empire. The emperor himself would choose the punishment rather than the school. Several weeks later the school council board that was made up of mainly masters, as well as two non-teaching staff were all present for this very special meeting. There was every member of the council present, as well as the emperor himself and they took turns each voting for their choice for the next headmaster. It ended up as a weird three-way tie between Emmelina Berthelot, the duelling master, Marek Sunrider, an alchemist and, one of the few non-humans, Magnus Gullisson, a sentient polar bear. Then it was up to the emperor to make the final decision. He glanced around the room, letting the silence and apprehension grow, before his eyes fell briefly on Magnus. He made the announcement, his chosen headmaster. Everyone was both surprised and relieved.
