If it helps you to think about it this way, this is not a pension. Merely...a suspension. If the realm is ever in danger again, your services will be needed. But until then, you are not allowed back on the battlefield.

This is another short and sweet ThursdayPrompt , but that's okay! Sometimes, you need a good ol' break from the stuff you've been working on! Between these short stories, the actual novel they're supposed to be contributing towards, the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fanfic, and work, I've been pretty...tapped out. But one thing at a time! ...If my brain can figure out how to prioritize things haha :3c

Glossary:


magic: Every spell in Alka requires ingredients of some kind, and many of these spells come in the form of potions. The art of spellcraft involves careful measurements, specific techniques, and also a touch of etherial manipulation. Without a mage's inborn talent, not even a person following a spell's recipe to the letter can hope to create one for themselves.

ether: Sometimes called lifeforce or mana, this is a mysterious energy that suffuses the world of Alka, allowing mages to cast spells and giving rise to many strange, magical plants and animals.