A/N Hi, sorry it took so long to post this chapter, it was going to be about Maia and Calder and another roof top meeting (though that still makes a slight appearance) but I had complete writers block, so I'm not sure until I get there whether or not I'm going to do a Calder and Maia alone chapter til they reveal who they are to each other! Anyway this is a chapter of Aura and Maia and their budding friendship. I promise that after the next couple of chapters there'll be a focus more on the politics and the war. And of course soon Maia and Calder will reveal all!

Thanks for reading :)

Chapter 8

Maia didn't know what to expect when she first saw the Mage Hall, but even that wasn't what she saw. It wasn't that the Mage Hall wasn't grand, because there was no doubt that it was, but it was far more colourful than people first thought. Each of the windows had a pane of different coloured glass which produced a mesmerising effect on the furnishings that seemed to Maia as if they were carved straight out of the trees themselves. Everywhere that Maia looked there were people, all wearing courtier's clothes, though there were some differences in fashion to be seen, Maia wondered why those people set themselves apart. When Towenar saw where her eyes were drawn he chuckled; 'We have no set way of dressing, so you find many Mages dress in the traditional dress of courtiers from their own country.' Saying this he proceeded to point out Mages from countries other than Zemira. He pointed out that Mages from his own country, Tmavek, wore robes of varying colours that seemed the same regardless of gender. The few Mages that were from Legara Bessa or Legara Bec were wearing earthy colours in simple cuts, though even from a distance their clothes were of the highest quality and shimmered in the light, making Maia feel inadequate in her best dress, one of dark green with lighter green vines, embroidered by Callidora, round the hem. At the thought of Callie, Maia started to wonder how she was getting on, and if she was amazed as Maia was.

Maia and Towenar passed through a small door at the end of the main hall and into a room with only two occupants. The first was an old woman, whom Maia recognised as Natural Mage Ekatrina, the woman who had come to retrieve her with Towenar. The other girl was younger than Maia, she guessed, with golden hair and a pretty face. From what Towenar had told her in the main hall Maia guessed that the girl was from Vamiriik as her dress had their traditional weaved belt in a contrasting colour to her dress. With her yellow dress and purple belt, this girl made Maia feel even more self conscious about her own dress.

'Maia, this is your fellow Trainee Natural Mage, Aura.' The girl in the yellow dress smiled at Maia. 'Your lessons will start in the morning. You will take them together, though Aura will be working on more advanced lessons. You can do as you wish for the remainder of the day.' Saying this he took Ekatrina by the arm and they left leaving the two girls alone.

'Come on I'll show you around!' Aura said excitedly, grabbing Maia by the hand. After a couple of turns down a corridor they came to an apartment. 'This is ours.' Aura told her, and for the first time Maia noticed the hint of an accent. Maia was in awe of the apartment at first glance, it seemed like a smaller version of the main hall but more cosy. There were hangings on the wall in bright colours and carpets on the floor. No fire was lit but there was a small fire place on the back wall of the apartment. 'I'll just call a servant to bring up the rest of your things.' Aura said turning back towards the door but catching sight of Maia's blush as she did so, a look of confusion crossed the younger girl's face. After a few moments silence Maia quietly stammered;

'This is all of my things.' She looked at her small bag and felt out of place again, she was a girl from the poorest part of Kagak in one of the most revered places in the country, she didn't really know what she was doing here. To Maia's surprise the other girl let out a squeal of what seemed like excitement. Then one look at Maia's shocked face and she let 0ut an involuntary giggle.

'I'm sorry.' She said to Maia, a look of complete dismay on her face, 'It's just that we can go shopping for you! We can get you dresses, and shoes, and belts, and jewellery…oh and a gown for your introduction to the King, it's not for a couple of months but it's always worth planning ahead!' She was almost jumping from excitement at the prospect as she listed what they would buy Maia. With that the two girls found themselves on Tailor's Street, somewhere that Maia had only ever dreamed of going, and only then she had dreamed of it as a little girl. They stopped at a shop selling solely underclothes and night gowns, though Maia was just going along with what Aura was advising her, after all she knew nothing about this world and Aura seemed to know everything. Then they went into a shop selling dresses more beautiful than Maia had ever seen, though Aura told her that they were just day wear. They ordered eight dresses for her. Ten! It was far more than her and Callie had ever owned between them. Two would be ready by the end of the day and that the others would be delivered to her apartment in two days time.

Though at first Maia had been feeling shy of the younger girl it was hard not to like her and soon they were chatting away as only friends can. At last they found themselves in a ball gown makers shop. Aura had told Maia that she would be introduced to the King at the Midsummer Ball in two months, and that she needed a dress. After trying on gown after gown in a range of colours that Maia didn't even know existed, they came across a dress of emerald green. As Maia stepped out of the dressing room, Aura gasped;

'That's it! That's the one, you look amazing! We can curl your hair and set it in place. All the men at court will want to court you!' At that Maia felt a twinge of guilt; Calder. She had met him on their roof again last night, though she hadn't told him she was a Mage, and she didn't really know why. They had kissed though. She didn't remember who had started it but one minute they had been sat next to each other, and the next they were kissing. She had felt something she had never felt before during it, and she couldn't wait to see him again in two night's time. 'Maia?' Aura asked having noticed that her new friend seemed lost in thought.

'Huh. Sorry you just reminded me of something.' Maia replied.

'Distracted by thoughts of a boy by any chance?' Teased Aura, the blush on Maia's cheeks telling her all she needed to know, 'You have to tell me all about it later. But what about the dress?' She asked. Maia looked at herself in the full length mirror for the first time, and saw a girl she barely recognised. Her black hair was fanning around her shoulders, shining in the light, and there was a blush on her cheeks that only added to her beauty. Round her neck was her red Orb on a silver chain, the silver to indicate a Natural, and then the gown. It was tight around her body and then opened around her waist into a full skirt. The sleeves were fitted coming to points at her wrists.

'It's breath taking!' She breathed, looking over to Aura who was studying her old dress.

'Who did this needlework?' She asked in a half distracted tone. Maia turned back to the mirror.

'My sister, Callidora, she did embroidery that I took to market to sell.' Maia admitted quietly.

'It's beautiful! Do you think she could do something similar on that dress, with gold?' The girl asked excitedly. 'How long would that take?' Maia gave a little laugh at the girl's excitement.

'I'm sure she could. I have no idea but I would have to ask her.'

'Then do! It would make you stand out even more. Maybe you could even catch the eye of this boy of yours!' At that Maia started giggling again, she doubted that Calder would be impressed by a gown, even if he would be there, which of course, he wasn't.

3