Reverse Chronicles

Test of Knowledge, pt. 2

“The magistrate will not be taking guests,” fairies answered the door in unison.

“Wait, we need to talk to him!” I shouted as the fairies slammed the door shut. The rumbling beyond the door continued. We tried to open the door, but it was locked. We knocked again, but there was no answer. “What should we do now?”

“We should probably go to the last magistrate first then come back here later,” Keith suggested.

“Okay, let’s go.” We levitated towards the last door which was already open.

“Magistrate Vincentius L. van Laeken,” the sign on the door said.

“Come in,” an old man’s voice came from inside. “I have been waiting. You were able to impress two magistrates, but my standards are very high.”

“We’re ready,” I bravely walked forward.

“Stand behind that podium” magistrate Vincentius pointed at a podium that was across him. “Show me your resolve.”

Keith and I walked to the podium. As soon as we stepped on it, the whole room lit up and books from the bookshelves in the room floated around.

“Why are you here and why should I listen to your concern?” the magistrate asked.

“As we speak, a mining company is planning to mine the wind of mithril ores.” Lights shone on me and the rest of the room darkened when I started to speak. “The wind of mithril ores ensure that the city’s air is clean. If they are removed, it will endanger every citizen in the city. They must be stopped.”

“That is true,” the lights moved to shine on the magistrate. “However, there is no known exact amount of wind of mithril ores and there is also no guarantee that the mining company could even mine enough wind of mithril ores that it will endanger the city. The assumption that it will affect the air quality in the city stems from the presumption that all wind of mithril ore in the hill will run out, which is unimaginable because of what I said before the exact amount of the resource has not been determined.”

“Well,” I paused for a bit, “that’s exactly why the mining company has to be stopped. We don’t know that exact amount. There is no information that there is a small amount, but there is also no guarantee that there is a large amount. If there is a large amount of wind of mithril, then the city might be unaffected. However, that is only a probability. If there is only a small amount, then the city will be greatly affected and that is a risk that should not be taken.”

“You have a knack for this,” the magistrate answered. “However, you forgot one thing. The belief that the wind of mithril makes the city air clean is only a superstition. It is a belief that has been passed on by the founders of the city. A belief that has been left unproven even to this day. Furthermore, there is no proof that taking the wind of mithril ore will affect the air quality of the city. Thus, your argument from the beginning was based on an assumption. An assumption that is, in fact, false.”

“No,” I could only clench my fists. “No, it can’t be all a superstition. Even if it is a superstition, you have to do something. The land, it could damage the land and the area around the city.”

“Lyane is a mining city. Every person’s livelihood is connected to the land. Even if the land is damaged and the area around the city is damaged, mining will continue as long as the four magistrates stand. Campaigning against mining will not only earn you the hate of the mining guilds and companies, but also the sneers of the economic magistrate and the anger of the people.”

“We are not campaigning against mining. Think of your family, you must have grandchildren. Their lives could be in danger if the air in the city becomes too polluted.”

“Emotional appeal,” the magistrate shook his head. “Let us only discuss things logically.”

Suddenly, the light that filled the room went out.

“It seems the time is up. You have failed to make an argument beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt.”

“No, it can’t end here.”

“However, you have shown me your resolve. Your burning passion to help the citizens of Lyane has reached me and for that I commend you. Also, I give you this,” from his hand an edict flew to my hand. Now we have three out of four. “Your time is running out, the mining company will carry out its plan soon. You must convince magistrate Adrianna before the clock strikes at nine. Go now!”

“Thank you for your…” I tried to thank him.

“Go!” but he blasted us with a powerful gust of wind out of his office.

The rumblings inside magistrate Adrianna del Valle’s office have stopped. We floated towards the office and knocked.

“It’s unlocked,” a young girls voice came from inside. We came in and saw an office that had an overgrowth of plants, vials of strange liquids, and a large pond. “How can I help you?” a young teenage girl looked at us and waved her large staff around, which made the chairs come over to us. A tea kettle and teacups floated over to us and poured warm tea that steamed a little.

“Magistrate Adrianna,” she began to listen attentively when I called her name, “we would like to ask your help in stopping a mining company from mining an ore called wind of mithril.”

“Wind of mithril!” she suddenly shouted. “Are they mining it from the Lyndium mines? They have to be stopped at once. Come with me!” She snapped her fingers, and, in an instant, we teleported to a cave that was lit by lamps that had crystals that glowed. There were men who were moving around heavy equipment for mining. “As the Summoner magistrate of Lyane, I, Adrianna del Valle order you to stop now!”

The young magistrate’s voice echoed and resonated throughout the cave prompting the men to stop what they were doing.

“But magistrate, we had permission from three out of four magistrates, surely, it overthrows your decision,” a man with extravagant clothes stepped forward. He was tall and also had a large build, which reminded me of Jess Magghus. Now that I think about it, the gold necklace around his neck is similar to Jess’s necklace.

“Not anymore,” I answered. “We have edicts here from the other three magistrates that bans the mining of wind of mithril.” I showed him the papers, which shocked him terribly.

“Now, now,” he shook his head. “Those papers are not legal,” the edicts suddenly flew from my hands making their way towards him. He tore the edicts apart and burned them. “We will continue mining, children. Run along, little girls.”

“What did you just call me?” magistrate Adrianna burned in anger. “I am not a little girl! I am Adrianna del Valle, the most powerful summoner in the Republic of Caldia.” Magic circles appeared throughout the mines. Out of the magic circles, fairies, golems, and even the three other magistrates appeared.

“What happened here now?” magistrate Vincentius asked.

“Magistrates, this man disobeyed your edicts and even called me a little girl. Therefore, as punishment for disobeying the edict of the four magistrates, and disrespecting me. I will reduce him to smithereens here and now.”

“You may punish him,” the three other magistrates said in unison and teleported out of the cave.

A brown sphere of light suddenly appeared in the magistrate Adrianna’s hand. In the blink of an eye, the extravagantly dressed man was reduced to ashes and the whole cave began to rumble.

“My work here is done,” the magistrate said and teleported out of the cave.

The rumbling caused parts of the cave ceiling to collapse. Some of the workers were about to be crushed but Keith saved them using Wind Blade. A lot of rocks collapsed and fell down, but Keith cast Levitate and made them float mid-air. He slowly moved the rocks aside and placed them in an area without any people. The debris blocked the cave opening, trapping us inside the cave.

“Help,” a miner suddenly shouted. We rushed to his aid.

“What happened?” I examined him for injuries, but he was fine.

“There are miners trapped in a deeper part of the cave. There are seven of them. Help them, please!”

“Josh,” a woman suddenly called me. “Your last trial shall be to safely escort the seven miners trapped in the deeper parts of the cave out. I will take care of all the miners here, save the other seven.” The woman blasted the rocks covering the entrance, creating a way out.

“I will guide you to where they are,” the miner who asked for help volunteered, “but, first you must lift this rock out of the way. It is huge and heavy.”

Keith cast Levitate and moved the rock, creating an opening.

“They should be inside, follow me,” we followed the miner and began our search for the seven.