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[Tiber]

((ooc: This is an RP I want to do for Tiber before he comes to Demon Guardians, so sorry but it's closed. I'll try to keep it short.))

Tiber stood in the midst of the cemetery, shrouded in the early morning fog. His blue robes were still damp from the journey he had endured on his small boat, and his wooden staff stood waterlogged in his hands.
"Mother, I am sorry I failed father."
The boy muttered to the gravestone in front of him. He wanted to cry, but he was unable too. His mind was no longer in turmoil from what had happened. His soul had been broken into pieces, then formed back together stronger than ever. He would not let a single tear escape his eyes.
"Mother," he said again, his voice calm and his body still, "I thank you for sending me on that voyage to the mainland. Had I not gone, father would no longer be in this world. At least for now he is safe....You know...It was good to meet dad as well. He is a gruff guy, but he has a good heart once you find it. I learned a lot from him in the two days we had....I see why you loved him enough to send him away all those years ago."
Tiber's thoughts were interrupted by the shuffle of dirt behind him. Wheeling around, the young mage was startled to see a man in dark blue robes standing before him. The figure was tall with broad shoulders. In his right hand he gripped a long metal rod, adorned with a large golden sphere at the top.
"Master Gerval!" said Tiber with shock.
"You know," said the figure in a deep, crackling voice, "You should not look so surprised. You came back here knowing what was to happen. Seeing me here should cause no alarm."
Tiber nodded solemnly, clutching his staff tightly.
"I suppose I should have known they would send you."
The older man pulled back his hood to reveal a face marred and scratched beyond normality.
"The order has sent me to escort you back. The Chronos stream told the elders that you would be here..."
There was a brief pause as the man took a few steps towards Tiber, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You knew what you were doing when you cast that spell. You knew that the order would object, and your day of reckoning would be the first day you stepped back onto this island...But you did it anyways...No matter what they say Tiber, know that I, and I'm sure your father, are proud of you. If I have taught you nothing else than to do the right thing then I am happy."
The boy smiled meekly, "Tell me Master, did you and the order know what was to happen? Did I do as the Chronos stream had forecast?"
Master Gavalt looked down at his apprentice, nodding his head. "Yes, the Chronos stream told us you would, but we let you go anyways. I told the council you would honor your vows. They believed me when I vouchered that you would not tear the fabric of time."
The young mage's heart sank as he bowed his head. "So it was known what would happen by the elders. The Stream said I would break my vow not to tamper with time unnecessarily, and you convinced them that I would make the right choice."
Before Tiber would continue, Gavalt interrupted, "And you did."
Smiling, the boy apologized, "I am sorry for defying the order...are you to share my punishment?"
"Yes" stated Gavalt calmly, "If an apprentice strays from the order, the Master is to share in the toll. It is the way of the order, and I will gladly share your burden Tiber."

[Tiber]

The old building looked as decrepit as ever when Tiber and Gervalt stood before it. The walls were overrun with vines and mold, while the two pillars flanking the front doors showed their age with humbling cracks and chunks in their construction. Yet for it’s ancient appearance, the simple building, the size of a house seemed almost new. Or at least when one was to consider the ancient order that resided inside.
The pair’s trek across the island of the former Shogun Dynasty was a lengthy one, winding through forests, treading around lakes and wading through overcrowded villages. Along the way, the master and apprentice hardly spoke, and when they did it was not of what was to happen, but of the island’s history. Gervalt told Tiber tales of the small mass of land’s greatest days, of the massive fleet that once surrounded the island, about the wonderful festivals that were held, and of the riches that were shared after the Gem War that dominated the land’s lore. The master did not mention him by name, but Tiber knew that his father had been the one to enact all of the things Gervalt spoke of. In this, he took great pride, as well as a sense of embarrassment over his father’s legacy. Vilified by some for his promiscuity and by others for his questionable actions in ending the Gem Wars, Darius was a controversial character, but there was no doubt that he had made the island what it was.
“Let us continue” stated the Master abruptly as he continued his pace in front of Tiber, on the warpath to the order’s sanctuary.
The boy followed closely behind, feeling the anxiety of his situation finally hit him.
With a great thrust, Gervalt pushed the aged oak doors open, letting the fog of the forest drift into the secluded stone structure.
“Ready yourself Tiber. Steele your resolve, and grab hold of your heart.”

After entering, the Master guided Tiber to a large room deep within the shadowy dwelling. There in the dimly lit room sat four elderly men in robes, forming a curve that centered on a small mat on the floor.
One of the men raised his hand and motioned for them to come in. Once the two had breached the doorway, the passage quickly closed behind them with the slamming of oak.
Tiber quietly took his seat on the woven mat in the room’s center, placing his staff on the floor in front of him and pushing his hood back to reveal his face to the elders.
Behind him, Gervalt drew close, keeping his upright position in a sign of solidarity for his pupil.
“Young Tiber, I commend you for returning to this land.” Stated the oldest of the mages, Master Telfan. “Many in your position would have fled for fear of punishment.”
Tiber did not offer a smile, “Thank you for your accolade, but I wish you to dispense with the meaningless niceties and discuss what penalty I have earned.”
The oldest Master was not taken back by the boy’s directness. The young mage had been through much in his life, and Telfan had become used to the boy’s natural bluntness.
However to his left, Master Polk did not wield the same understanding, “Apprentice Tiber. You insult your elder’s too readily. Perhaps more discretion is in order in every aspect of your life.”
Tiber knew that Polk would be the hardest of the elders to sway. He always had it out for the boy, being a close friend of Tiber’s adopted father Shivian.
“Forgive me Master Polk. I did not know you were genuinely in a mood to console me for my loss. Had I known you had something kind to say, I would not have asked to pass on your input.”
Master Telfan interrupted the dispute abruptly, “As you wish Tiber, we shall continue without further jesting.” Shooting a glance at Polk, the eldest cleared his throat and began. “The Chronos Stream has shown us what transpired in the mainland. It tried to warn us that you would abuse the power you have been given, but Master Gervalt here gave his word you would not so carelessly go against the vows of our order. Apprentice Tiber, do you remember the vow you so blatantly ignored?”
“Yes” the boy replied.
Unsatisfied with the answer, the man on the far left, the pudgy and loud Master Percival declared the vow.
“It is the principle declaration of our order that a Chronos mage is not to abuse his power, for the fabric of time is easily broken. Any tampering with the natural progression of time without proper thought and foresight can bring about unintended or even catastrophic results. That is why we do not allow for such unnecessary interference. By your actions Tiber, you may have sent time in an undesirable direction. While your heart’s reasonable desire was to save your father, you should not have allowed it to control your mind…and it is unfortunate, but due to your blatant disregard for the order’s standards, we must disavow you permanently.

[Tiber]

Tiber snatched his staff and shot up from the floor.
“That is not necessary Master Percival! What I did was wrong by the order’s oath, but it is not worth of full recant!”
Gervalt placed his hand on Tiber’s shoulder, gripping firmly as he tried to steady the boy.
“With all due respect to the council, expelling my pupil from the order is not the correct answer. Tiber is the most promising student we have had since our inception. Do not squander all of the talent that this boy holds.”
The man furthest to the right, Master Sebastian stood, his gaunt face hardly protruding form his hood into the faint light. “Master Gervalt, unprecedented as it may be, it is necessary to set an example for our current students, many of which show just as much promise as young Tiber.”
Enraged, Gervalt stepped ahead of his pupil towards Sebastian. “That is a lie! Tiber is our best hope to guard over the passage of time once we all leave this world!”
The emaciated Master could not respond before Polk ascended from his seat.
“Gervalt! Cease this nonsense. You care not for the Chronos Stream’s future. You are only fighting for this boy because his disownment means your release as well. The Master must share in the Pupil’s punishment.”
Tiber’s master stood silent before the council. The young mage wanted his master to deny the claim, to renounce the idea that he was just looking out for himself. But instead he simply stood silent, his intentions marked and his convictions refuted.
Master Telfan opened his mouth to speak, but as his did, Gervalt began to chant the language of magic.
“What are you doing?” yelled Master Polk, his eyebrows bent upwards in surprise.
“Fool! You would defy us?” demanded Master Telfan as he hoisted his great staff from the ground. All of the elders stood, but Sebastian was the only one who had begun chanting.
Tiber observed what was happening before him with wide eyes. His hands fumbled within his robes in search of his Chronos Seeds. Finding the pouch, the boy picked out two and threw them into his mouth to boost his affinity for anything that would happen. He was not entirely sure of what was happening, but he knew he had better be ready.
There was the tapping of a staff, and suddenly the room went still.
Moving his arms cautiously, Tiber could see that he had not been affected, but as he looked up he could see the four elders frozen, their expressions fraught with panic and surprise.
“Tiber” said Gervalt as he turned around to face his pupil, a meek smile showing through his aged and battered face, “You must go now. I caught them by surprise, but I know not how long Chronos will bind them.”
The boy looked at his mentor with alarm. “What! Why did you do that?”
Gervalt walked to Tiber and handed him his staff. It’s golden ball at the end made it much heavier than the boy was used to.
“Tiber…Take this. I will not need it once the elders are restored. I don’t believe they will kill me, but by days as a mage are done for…you on the other hand have plenty of time ahead of you. Use this staff wisely, my master gave it to me.”
“But, Gervalt! Where will I go? The order will certainly find me.”
”There is a mage in the mainland. I believe he is currently calling the lands of Demon Guardians his home. His name is Raistlin.”
Tiber’s pulse increased as he remembered the name, “Yes, I met him during my journey. Lady Safarah sent me as an envoy to a gathering where he was.”
The Master nodded, “Destiny surely has interesting ways of toying with us…I want you to seek him out. He came here once long ago when your father was still on this island. He is an immensely powerful mage, and knows a good deal of Chronos Magic. You can learn a good deal from him, and he will help protect you from Izlude. Simply tell him that Master Gervalt from Shogun Island has sent you due to the local order’s fall. He will understand and take you in. After all he owes me a favor.”
With a smile, Gervalt motioned towards the door and roared, “NOW! Leave here Tiber. My spell does not have much longer. You must cover as much land as possible.”
The boy wanted to argue, but the sacrifice had already been made on his behalf. It would be a greater tragedy if he failed to make use of it.
“Yes Master. I will seek him out…I will see you again someday?”
Gervalt nodded as Tiber began to run out through the chamber doors towards the building’s exit, bound for his boat.
“Someday Tiber. Good luck now kid…”