She knew she was dreaming by the weight around her neck. She knew the dream as a memory by the black and silver scaled leg as wide as she was long in front of her. She remembered she had felt fear and confusion at the time, but now she just felt bittersweet about that day.

“This council recognizes Tarva’hin of house Tist’vilg” a voice like rolling thunder called out.

The leg in front of her began to move and with it came the sound of chains rattling. Her dream self turned to her left to see the vague shape of a biped. The fog of fear and the passage of time had blurred the being into more of the primordial concept of a biped.

“Lords and Ladies of the Imperial Council I thank you for having me here today,” spoke a voice like a rockslide, Tarva’hin. “I bring news from the far reaches of the Empier of a world ripe for conquest and I bring with me a sample of the slaves that can be found there.”

The collar around her neck jerked as the chain attached to its front went taut, causing her to step forward. The biped started walking forward forcing her to keep moving or be dragged along.

“Those that wish to inv…”

“Silence” commanded a voice like a soft summer breeze but with an undercurrent of power that shook the dream.

“What is the mea…” Tarva’hin attempted to demand of the voice.

“I said SILENCE” Commanded the voice, now a biting winter wind, with a greater force behind the last word that caused the dreamscape to begin to break apart and fade. Bipeds seemed to race the fading edges of the dream as they descended on leathery wings.

One landed next to her and taking a knee, it reached out and shattered the collar around her neck. As the fragment of the collar fell to the floor the winged biped whispered, “Everything’s alright little one, what’s your name?”

She opened her mouth to reply as the last of the dreamscape finally faded into mist. Moments later the dreamscape came into focus, forming a cozy room with a crackling fire and she found herself speaking.

“But why do I have to train to be a knight? I don’t want to be a knight, I want to be a greate mage!”

“There are a few reasons.” said the only other being in the room. The being was a strange mix of dragon and pony, that it called a kirin.

“Reasons like what?” She asked the kirin.

“There are many reasons, but the ones that matters are the laws that regulate arcane education,” said the kirin as it brought it’s forehooves together with a soft clop. “The specific ones are the education restrictions mandate and the citizen education reforms along with the citizenship laws. Simply put only citizens may be enrolled in a mage school and only those who are at lest 18 years old may apply for citizenship.”

“But that's not fair,” she complained

“Well, there is a work around, but you said you did not want to do it.”

“B… B… but…” she stammered.

“It is alright little one, I know you do not like the idea of fighting or hurting others. But there are other reasons I would have you do this, even if the law did not force you down this path.”

As she opened her mouth, to object or argue or demand answers of the kirin she didn't remember, the door to the room opened to admit a silver tea service on a wheeled cart that moved under its own power

“Tea?” the kirin asked as the service rolled to a stop between to them.

“Yes please.”

“Sugar, milk, cream?”

“Sugar, two lumps please.”

The tea service came to life in beautifully choreographed ballet that finished with a steaming cup on a saucer floating in front of her. Lighting her horn and extending her magic, she levitated the cup to her muzzle. The fragrant steam filled her nose as she took a sip, the flavor that exploded across her tongue making her close her eyes and hum in contentment.

“Enjoying your tea I see, my little spell-eater.” the voice of her knight-master cut over the hum of the shuttle's engines, breaking her out of her reverie.

“Everyone is entitled to enjoy what small things in life that they can,” she said as she turned to look at her knight-master. Her knight-master was an old ‘tar named Chiron dressed in the silver and white of a knight-judicator. “Especially when one knows that the fecal matter is about to hit the overhead rotary air circulation device.”

“When did you become so jaded my little spell-eater?” Chiron asked jovially.

“I don't know, it might have been around the time I acquired 2160 hours of combat experience. Or the third day of the siege of The Marveil Group’s Andros headquarters. Or when you asked the brass why you were getting hazard pay.” She said in a sad voice.

The last one made Chiron wince. “How did you find out about that?”

She flicked one of her ears.

“Right, I forgot your ears can do that.” Chiron admitted.

“I would be more surprised had you remembered , I have worked hard to keep them still.”

“What prompted you to learn such self control?”

“Poker, I was tired of barely breaking even in the weekly games.”

“The arcanists actually let their cadets gamble?”

“And more.” With that they lapsed into silence. She sipped at her tea teil it was almost gone before Chiron disturbed the quiet.

“Can you do me a favor little one?”

“It depends.”

“I need you to wake up, it’s time to go home, my Spell-Eater.” and with that the dreamscape shattered forever more.

Author's Note

Well, here I go, again

Edited by link4