This story is part of the Wanderer series.
“This treaty conference between the Great Nations… Are you going to attend?”
“No,” the mage simply answered, lifting up his cup. “But I certainly will be looking out for what comes out of it.”
“Why not?”
The mage smiled and turned towards his companion. “I am a magician. Not a diplomat.”
Scoffing, the scholar then chuckled. “You are an advisor, and a historian, just as I.”
“I would not call myself qualified to negotiate a treaty.” Lifting his cup, he waved it towards the scholar. “Why not you who attends?”
“I am a scholar.”
“So am I,” said the mage.
“But I cannot advise.”
“I advise the Senate on our internal affairs concerning magic,” the mage specified. “Not how we should treat our neighbors across the Continental Ocean.”
“Yet this conference concerns the buildup of Wanderers in all of the Great Nations. Is that not good enough?”
“I do know a bit about them, and I do think their build-up within the ruling powers can be a threat to peace. However, I am just a canary in a mine. If they’re relying on me to negotiate a treaty, then there is something seriously wrong with our republic.”
“You overestimate the competency of our nation’s senators.”
The mage stared at the scholar for several moments, then sighed, turning his gaze back towards his drink as he picked it up. The scholar did the same as he dwelled in what he just said.
“What about the two little heroes?” said the mage.
“The little children? What about them?”
“Did not they and three other children single handedly stall the war?”
“Supposedly. I still do not understand how they did it.”
“Yet they will be in attendance,” he smirked, taking a drink.
The scholar blinked. “They will?”
Swallowing, he set down his drink. “At least, that is what our head of state wishes.”
“That is absurd!” the scholar exclaimed.
“Those children are Wanderers,” he reminded. “Just as he is.”
“But… Children?”
“I do not know what he intends. However, one of the little heroes is a potent one. That much I know.” Gazing off into the parlor, the mage paused to reflect. “I had the privilege of meeting the two before. That young one was constantly leaking out energy, as if she had an endless pool of it.”
“I would chalk it down to poor control,” said the scholar. “That is not uncommon with young Wanderers.”
“You do not understand,” the mage insisted. “The amount she was leaking was not insignificant. I could sense it from the room next door. All the while, during our three days together, she did not seem to lose an ounce of vigor.”
The scholar mused for a while, then shrugged. “I will trust your judgment.”
“Perhaps there is something he sees in them that simple mages such as I do not.”
“He expects them to be the future leaders?”
“Perhaps there is a chance. The Great Nations historically have been led by Wanderers.”
“But she is a girl.”
“She will become a woman someday.”
“A girl, a woman… Whichever, the republic will not tolerate being led by a woman.”
“Who knows? Times are changing quickly.”
“Times have been rapidly changing for several centuries now, yet there are certain truths that never do.”
“Who can say if not this truth will be broken next?” the mage suggested. “Years ago, would we tolerate a few children stopping a war?”
“Those stories must be exaggerated. They must be,” the scholar insisted. “There must be more to it. I do not believe they did not have help.”
“Well… If they get their wish during this conference… Will that matter?”
“Their wish?”
“For peace between the Great Nations.”
The scholar paused for a while. “I do not know if it will happen.”
Leaning back in his chair, lounging his arm with his half-empty drink on his stomach, the mage’s eyes twinkled with anticipation. “I certainly look forward to what comes out of this conference.”