Free Rising of a Mage by J. M. Fosberg

it should be.
    They ate in silence; neither had the courage to bring up what was weighing on both their minds. They finished eating and both returned to their studies. Anwar had memorized the first scroll he would use to imbue Mariah’s coat, so he practiced the incantation a hundred times. Then he went to the scroll Master Gabriel had given him and did the same. When he was finished, he set both of the scrolls on a shelf and went to his bed. “I’m going to get some sleep. I am exhausted,” he said. This was not uncommon; they spent most nights studying together in his room. He usually fell asleep watching her study or she would pack her things and head back to her room while he was lying there. Tonight, however, she closed her book, walked to his bed and slid under the covers with him. With her back to him, she said, “I think I will begin my stay here tonight. I will only impose on your bed tonight and will have mine brought in tomorrow, if that is ok.”
    He smiled; a weight lifted. He put his arm around her and fell asleep.
    In the morning he talked to Master Gabriel about Mariah moving into his room.
    “It is not allowed for students, but she is Master Gibbins’ apprentice now. I don’t see that it would be an issue,” he said, with an accusing smile. They talked about combat spells and spent the morning practicing the magic bolt. Then Master Gabriel showed Anwar how to create a simple magical shield that would stop magical attacks, but not any special or elemental attacks. Anwar practiced it a couple of times and then Master Gabriel would throw magic bolts at his shield and he would fire bolts back at Master Gabriel’s. It was draining business. The shield itself was simple enough but, when the bolt hit, Anwar would feel the pull. He practised limiting the pull each time his barrier was hit, and was getting comfortable with how little each attack drained him. But, after a while, he felt the drain start to wear on him. They stopped before the midday meal. “Have you mastered the incantation to imbue Mariah’s coat?”
    “I have, sir.” He demonstrated.
    “Good I want you to stop using magic for the next three days. Let your energy restore itself so that you are at full strength. In three days we will create your item. I have gathered all the necessary components. You will bring whatever else you need that day with you. How is the stitching coming along?”
    “I just started this morning, sir.”
    “Ah yes, well, it may be wise to work on it in the study and leave it locked in a chest there. Now that Mariah is going to be living with you. You wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise now, would you?”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “I will leave you to study on your own until then. We are creating it early so you will have time to recover for the Dual Duelz. Unless you would prefer to wait until after. A week may not be time to recover.”
    “I’ll be ready in three days, sir.”
    Anwar returned to his room, gathered the panther and rabbit hides from under his bed and took them to Master Gabriel’s study. He had already cut them to pattern and now he began stitching them together. For the next three days Anwar studied the spells he would use to create Mariah’s coat. He went in to the market to get the components he would need to complete the other spells. He was wrong about them costing everything he had saved. It was more, but the shop owner knew he was Guild Master Gabriel’s apprentice and sold it to him for what he had. Mariah spent these nights in his room. She had her bed moved to their room but had slept in his bed with him each night.
    On the morning he was going to create the coat he woke up early. Mariah was still asleep. He checked and double-checked his list and made sure he had all the components. Then he practiced each spell one hundred times. He went to Master Gabriel’s study and pulled the coat out of the chest. He held it up. It really was one of the nicest coats in the city. It was a jet