Rising of a Mage by J. M. Fosberg

they were going back. Both of them.
    His family came to the city about twice a month. Mariah always went with him. There had been two occasions when they had not gone in the six months he has been with the guild and he honestly believed his mother was never going to let him forget it. There was one time when Mariah couldn’t make it and he went only, and they seemed more disappointed then, than if he hadn’t come at all. Today Mariah came with him. His brother had a new girlfriend and everyone was teasing him about it. And then it happened. His mother said, “So what is it with you two? Are you going to pretend you’re just friends or are you going to stop wasting time and be honest with yourselves. Everyone knows there’s something there.”
    “We’re just friends, Ma” he said, but she just looked at Mariah and smiled… and why did Mariah smile back.
    Mariah had to admit she was enjoying this. Anwar wasn’t showing any emotion just like every other time, but she was enjoying this topic. She was going anywhere near it, of course. Anwar would bring it up when he was ready to, but she was enjoying it, anyway. She new Anwar cared about her and she wasn’t going to press the issue.
    When they left, they went back to the guild. She went back to his room with him where he packed a blanket, a knife and, of course, a book into his pack, and then grabbed his staff. He followed her to the room that she shared with another girl. All students shared a room, but Anwar didn’t, because he was a guild masters’ apprentice and there were a couple of apprentices to other priests or wizards and they had their own room. Mariah checked that her roommate was not in the room and then told him to come in. This was the first time he had ever been in her room and he noticed that, even though her room was set up for two people, it was not much larger than his. Their bathing room was twice the size of his, however. She packed a blanket, a knife which she slid into her boot, her bow, her sword, and a camp cook set that contained two tin cups, two forks, two spoons, two tin plates and a pan. Once she was packed they left the room. They left to go inform their guild masters of their plans.
    Anwar walked into Master Gabriel’s office. “Sir, do you have a minute.”
    “I always have a minute for my apprentice.”
    “Sir, I just wanted to inform you I am going into the woods tonight.”
    “Are you going alone?”
    “No, sir, Mariah was planning on going and I didn’t think it wise for her to go alone.”
    “Ah, yes, quite noble, and when can I expect your return?”
    “We will return before her classes on Monday, sir.”
     
    “Very well. I believe you have mastered the practical uses of magic. On Monday we will begin your practice of the basics of magical combat. Here is your first book. Monday we can discuss it and we shall begin.” Anwar was excited but he showed no outward sign. Gabriel knew he was excited and continued to be impressed by how well Anwar controlled his emotion. In fact, the only time he had seen Anwar show any real emotion was from a distance when Anwar was with Mariah. “Thank you, sir, I’ll see you Monday.”
    He left the office and followed Mariah toward Master Gibbins’ office. “Nice book,” she said, smiling at him. “I believe you have read more books in your six months here, than most do in a six-year study course here at the school.”
    Anwar countered this with, “And you have spent more time in the training grounds then any priest who has ever gone through the school, I have no doubt.”
    “Aye, but still you remain my better.”
    He gave her a polite smile before she went into Guild Master Gibbins’ office.
    “How are you, Mariah?” He said as she entered.
    “I am fine, sir. I just wanted to make sure that it is ok if I go into the woods this weekend.”
    Master Gibbins raised a curious eyebrow. “You are a brave one to return to those woods after your last experience.”
    “Thank you,