Neb Seni

Neb Seni sat in his room looking out this windows. He could see a few small dragons in the air and smiled to himself. As he looked back down at the pretty envelopes on his desk. One from each of the leaders of the elements. The red glow of the rubies that came from fire nation. The earth nation was not to be outdone as theirs almost seemed alive with greens that impressed. Death’s letter had felt cold and looked the part from their lands. Life also had a place on the table it was simple and clean but you could tell there was some power in that paper. Then there was water with it’s flowing patterns. All had a similar message. War is coming to the lands and the dragons are needed. Neb thought back on how he reached his place in the world. He hadn’t always been offered so much from so many.

Neb Seni had not been born into money like many from his village. Yet he had been born with magic. It was found early on and his parents were told he was going to be special. That his power was greater than any they had seen. They told them he might be a summoner one day. It was odd to hear that in a town that didn’t belong to any of the element kingdoms. Summoners always seemed to follow the path of their homeland. Yet Neb’s homeland didn’t have a clear path. Still, they convinced his parents to allow him to be taken away to attend the local magic school. They said that there he would find out what elements he was able to use.

Magic came very easy to Neb Seni when it came to general spells. He impressed all the masters. His first few years at the school he was the top student. He had some fans in town that thought maybe he would put their region on the map. It had been generations since their homeland had produced a powerful mage. None one could really remember if there had been a summoner. Once Neb Seni reached the age of 13 it was time to start his path in advanced magic. Low-level members from each element had someone coming to test the students at the school to see if they found any talent to take back. The town was all abuzz, where Neb Seni would go. Most thought he would have his pick of them. That they would all want him.

Neb woke up early on selection day. He could see out in the courtyard that the first of the testers had arrived. All should be there shortly. He got dressed and rushed downstairs to look around. It was easy to tell where each of the testers would be. The tents all had the symbols of their element. Only a few of the students would be tested today. Neb Seni was told he would go last. The day passed slowly with a few of his classmates getting assigned to earth, life, fire, and one even to death. He wasn’t that surprised to see none for water. It didn’t rain often around here. At last, someone came to get Neb Seni it was time to go find out what school he would go to next.

Neb Seni approached the first tent. He saw the fire symbol above and walked in with his teacher. He was a bit surprised by what he saw sitting in the tent. It was a goblin dressed in robes of a mage with a staff with a skull. He knew goblin lived in the fire lands he just didn’t know they could become mages. He could still remember their conversation.

“You look like you have never seen a goblin before boy”

“It isn’t that it is just that well I didn’t know…”

“That we could do magic?”

Neb Seni could remember how silly he was back then. Magic was in everything he knew that now. The goblin was not happy with him and as he tossed a funny looking crystal at him. Neb Seni caught it. The test was simple focus your magical energy into the crystal. If it lights up you had the gift, the stronger the light the stronger the gift. Neb Seni started to focus all his magic into the crystal yet nothing happened. He walked out of the fire tent glad he didn’t have to stay around that Goblin anymore. Next, he went to the life tent. This time he was greeted by a priest. The test was the same and once again no light. Neb Seni could remember he wasn’t really worried till he was entering the last tent. The water tent. He remembered pleading with the power inside him to light up that crystal but he failed again.

The teachers at the school didn’t understand it either. Neb Seni had more magic power than any of them and yet none of the elements had worked for him. The town was so disappointed that his fame disappeared and turned into some resentment. It took some time for Neb Seni to figure out what to do next. The other teachers at the school talked him into staying there. He could become a teacher. He would be able to study the magic text and one day maybe even run the school.

As his days become full of teaching. His night became full of study. Something else must be out there he thought. He could feel that power inside of him. He knew it was strong. Stronger than the other even thought. He was holding some of it back at all times. The only time he had let it all go was holding that blue crystal. He could still remember the looks on the faces of those in the tent. His master had thought it was just a spike due to him trying so but he knew the truth. How could this just be used for teaching no ones?

Neb Seni was 18 now and preparing to leave the school. He just couldn’t do it anymore. Teaching people how to do the same simple spells over and over. Watching a few of them go off to study the other elements while with all his power inside he did nothing. He had check again last year and failed all the crystals again. Tonight was selection night and after this one, he was leaving.

Neb Seni went to the local pub to get a drink. He was sitting alone at a table in the back. He didn’t want to see what new weakling would be sent off to do things he couldn’t. Sipping his mead in the back he heard the barkeep introduce a traveling bard. He almost got up to leave but listening to someone sing was better than being back at the school tonight.

Neb Seni was thinking about tomorrow. He would head to the biggest city he knew of. There he hoped to find out more about Magic. He figured that there had to be more out there that his teachers didn’t know about. Then something caught his ear and he started to listen to the song being sung.

“The five elements alone could not save the day. It took magic that was hidden away. To summon the legends that roam the sky. Made from lighting and gold they rule on high. The dragon summoners with return one day when the need is great but their price might be high.”

Dragon Summoners, Neb Seni had never heard of them at the school. Yet hearing the name caused the power in him started to burn brighter than ever before. He stood up and ran for the school. He had to see if it was true. As he ran he felt something new. The magic rushed around inside him and he moved faster than ever before. He flew through the camp and into the headmaster's room.

“Dragon Summoners, are they real” Neb Seni yelled before seeing that the headmaster was not alone.

They headmaster started to say no when the other man stopped him.

“Very few people know that dragon summoners ever roamed the land. They are rarest of the summoner kind. But they are real. Are you Neb Seni?” said the stranger.

“Yes, I am who are you? said Neb Seni

“I came here to find you. I am from the people who live in the dragon towns. We heard about a boy with a lot of power that couldn’t access the other elements. I was about to tell your headmaster, that I wanted to test you for the dragon element.”

The visitor reached into his bag to pull out a testing crystal. As he brought it out it started to glow lightly.

“Are you of the dragon element” as Neb Seni

“No, I am just a scholar of our history. I think you are causing this and I have never heard of that. The power leaks from you now. I can feel it. It makes me feel different younger maybe. Here catch.”

When Neb Seni caught that crystal it burst into light. It burned so bright that they all had to look away. He gave it back and the man put it in his bag.

“We will leave in the morning Neb Seni to start your training as a Dragon Summoner.”

That had been years ago. Now Neb Seni had become a true master. All of the splinter lands knew his name. He looked at all the pleas for help. It was time to go visit them and see who was worthy of his help. He could feel that power they call the blight coming and the dragons would have to help. But they didn’t have to help for free.

Flavor Text
Everyone thought he was special.
They were right.

Image by @EdibleCthulhu