A towering forest of red and silver lined one side and the other, a sea of gold. The day passed as we followed the river downstream.

  I felt the riverbed as I pushed the pole, directing the barge to smoothly sail through the water. The worker spoke with a mouthful of bread as he gave a thumbs up, all the while sputtering crumbs.

  "Wow, you're a natural. Too bad you're leaving, or you can find a job here. Humph. Just so you know, I'm the best among them."

  His elbow nudged me. Finding no reaction, he merely smiled and continued with his lunch. The sun shone brightly overhead as I spotted the towering white buildings of Jandelle in the distance.

  Jandelle was Demacia's lifeline, where the grain were farmed, with rivers pumping the grain throughout the nd.

  A grand bridge made of white stone crossed the river towards the capital. Carts pulled by horses rolled across the bridge towards the rge gates of the Great City of Demacia.

  Slightly after the bend of where two rivers meet, a rge fleet of wooden barges speckled with ships rested. The river sparkled in the sunlight as reflections scattered the light. It was blinding to say the least.

  I stretched slightly to loosen my muscles after eating. The tanned worker deftly guided the barge, as it connected gently with the dock. He leaned on the handle of the stick and pointed forwards where the other barges of the fleet just docked.

  "Follow the old man, he will get you to where you need to be."

  "What's your name?"

  I asked, while hopping off of the barge onto the dock. Pressing his finger against his lips, he ughed before waving farewell. He shouted as I stood on the dock.

  "Stay safe! There's no need for names right now, go, GO! Hahahahahaha."

  "Thank you."

  I bowed as I remembered the situation I was in. Crime for possession of magic. Thankfully, I wasn't found yet.

  Searching through the crowd, I spotted the old man that brought me here looking straight at me. He nodded, and I quickly weaved through the crowd while holding my belongings. Holding my shoulder, we walked towards a rowboat. Two people sat in the boat already, a guy that seemed slightly older than me and a buff guy.

  "We will transfer to the ship at the port out at sea."

  We sat down, preparing to depart when a strange man with a half mask approached through the crowd. The old man and the rower tensed up. The buff rower hissed under his breath.

  "Mageseekers! When did those bastards get here."

  The crowd parted unnoticeably. The mageseeker stood there. He wore a sadistic smirk as he gred at us. A strange attraction drew my eye to the round gray badge pinned on his chest.

  The old man stepped out of the boat as he gestured the rower to leave.

  "Adept Lowe, what a pleasure to meet you..."

  He coughed, trying to dey him and let us escape. The mageseeker's grin became rger as he pointed towards us. My eyes widened in horror, as there were two more people wearing the same masks on the side!

  One held a stick that pointed towards the boat. What was a stick supposed to do?

  A shock of blue light chilled the air as it flew towards the boat. A distinct zap was heard as the boat frosted over, freezing the water around as well. The crowd of workers paused, as in another second they cleared away, choosing not to interfere.

  The buff rower struggled, as he pulled the oars out of the ice in a dispy of strength.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

  The magic stick that was pointed at the boat was now pointed straight at us, or rather the rower.

  "What is the meaning of this!"

  The old guy growled. Adept Lowe ughed disgustingly before holding the grey badge out.

  "Mageseekers are on duty, we demand an investigation."

  He recited it in a wistful tone, like he was going through a procedure that had fond memories for him. My worst fears were coming true. I was going to be stuck underground for the rest of my life in prison.

  "My people are not mages, there is nothing for you here."

  "Oh, Sir Cowes, we are only going to check on those young ds. Why are you so agitated?"

  Sir Cowes clenched his fists, shaking a little before letting go.

  "Search if you want to, there's nothing here."

  He shrugged, before moving to the side. My disbelief at the betrayal was vivid, but I held it in, trusting the old man. The other guy however, had a stain in his pants as a golden fluid dripped on the floor of the boat. Adept Lowe frowned as he smelled something rancid.

  He stepped forward, pressing the gray badge on the other teen's skin, frowning as nothing happened. When he brought it to me, a stifling feeling arose as dread rose up in my heart. There was the feeling of a sizzle as my skin warmed up slighlty as the mark touched it, an unknown flow I always ignored trying to rise to the surface. I trembled as I suppressed my magic, hoping to deceive whatever method was being used on me.

  After it was removed, I continued trembling, showing no sign of relief. He frowned even more, polishing the petricite graymark with a handkerchief, like it just touched something dirty. Looking up, I noticed something white. White and round... with gray behind it. Breathing in deeply, I sprung up, pushing against the floor of the boat as it sunk slightly, jumping past the ice as another fsh of blue passed over my head.

  "Catch him! He's a mage that managed to deceive the graymark!"

  Sir Cowes widened his eyes, he didn't seem expect this decoy round to actually contain a mage. Holding an oar that was passed to him, he blocked the mageseeker's way aggressively.

  "Your peak has passed, old man."

  "Well, I can still stop you."