Day in the life of a HeadMage

Disclaimer: Kirnon is a character in my book To Sway a Rival. You don't need to read this to enjoy To Sway a Rival, but I'd be delighted if you did. And of course read my book as well.

As the sun rose, a content Kirnon finished his honeydew and blood tea. He loved watching the sunrise on the balcony of his home. True to his elven heritage, he built his home into a tree, using magic, of course. It had enough sunlight streaming in to kill a vampire, but once again, his elven blood shielded him from that as well. After a sufficient amount of time basking in the sun, he went about his morning ablutions before heading out to the mage tower.

The mage tower is located in the center of the city, and close enough to Kirnon’s home that he didn’t need a carriage to take him there. The mage tower, though small in comparison to the research institute of magic in the capital city, was where all their research on everything magic was done. As Kirnon walked, he nodded greetings to the early workers and stopped to talk to Madam Burly, the greatest baker in the city, and who looked like she was about to give birth again. It looked like every time he saw her; she was close to delivering. He sighed in contentment again. The first time he’d shown up to the city, the people had been wary of him as a half vampire. It was something he was used to since vampires were rare, and half vampires more so, it didn’t take them long to endear to him though. He frowned as he started up the steps of the tower. Though he’d recently heard that the city people thought the researchers at the tower were a bit snobbish. That was not the impression he’d been meaning to give, he’d have to change that at some point. Opening a door three flights up he walked into a hall with windows on all sides. As usual, he was the first in the tower as he walked briskly towards his office he adjusted his cuffs that held the sleeves of his long white robe together, and pulled out a hair band for his long white hair, tying it up before he opened the door to his office. His desk sat behind a large window with enough paperwork to cause a fire large enough to bring the tower down. 

“Hoot, I missed you.” He called, walking into the room, and looking up at the ceiling where his owl called home. Kirnon had first met the owl when he was out of the city to gather research supplies. Thankfully, he didn’t have to do that anymore; he could just delegate it to someone else. So on his research supply gathering, he met Hoot who’d somehow been injured, and since mundane creatures were so rare, and a protected species, he decided to take the owl in and care for it until he healed. Only for Kirnon to grow attached to it, hence the long process of getting a certification from the king to keep Hoot as a pet. It did work out in the end, though. 

Hoot floated down to his outstretched arm and hooted at him. Kirnon smiled, talking to it as he opened the window to let him out.

“Make sure you come back before I leave.” He shouted at the owl who hooted at him again. No matter how many times he tried to bring Hoot to his home, the owl refused to stay, preferring to stay at his office. With a sigh and hands on his hips, Kirnon surveyed his work ahead of him. When he accepted the position of headmage, he didn’t realize just how much paperwork would be involved. Most of his days he spent reading reports and signing some he deemed fit to be sent to the institute of magic for their input. Once in a while, a fellow researcher would come in with a progress report for him to look at. He did have his own research that he was doing, like completing an elixir for the king, he just needed one last ingredient. But that had been twatted when two thieves tried to steal said elixir, breaking it in the process. Kirnon shook his head, putting down his quill he stretched. No matter, it was the perfect opportunity to send them to find the last ingredient for him. He hadn’t wanted to go in the first place, mostly because he knew he’d meet his long lost friend Anasta. Getting up from his chair, Kirnon stared at the window lost in thought when another knock sounded at his door. 

“Enter.” He said without turning around to see who it was.

“Um headmage I have a report.” He turned and smiled.

“Ah yes. How are you doing, Tordi.” Tordi a rather shy informat only nodded, giving him a parchment. Unrolling it he skimmed it.

“Another magic book was found?” He asked. Trodi nodded. Kirnon raised a brow.

“And?”

“And I couldn’t find who requested it or where it went.” Tordi said glancing up at the ceiling with a hopeful look on her face. This was the second time they’d found and lost its trail; the first book had been Morai who found it. Well, more like she stole it from Luka, who was supposed to steal it. He sighed, then noticed Tordi’s look.

“Hoot isn’t here. I let him out to feed.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. Kirnon couldn’t help the smile that came to his face. Her love for mundane creatures was quite peculiar seeing that they were quite rare. 

“Do you want me to keep my ears to the ground for another book?”

“Yes, if you would.” With a nod and one last look at Hoot’s nest, Tordi left him with his thoughts. He shoved the parchment in his drawer and returned to his papers. Although his days weren't always filled with paperwork, he always tried to organize his tasks by day. Third days were his favorite since he could go to his fellow researchers and see what it was they were working on, and since he’d already read through their work, it was enlightening to see it in real life. Unfortunately, today wasn’t third day, so all he did was paperwork. Hoot hitting his beak on the window was his cue to end his day, bringing the owl in, it flew back to its nest.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” He asked. The owl paid him no mind. He sighed from his research on owls he knew they were mostly nocturnal, Kirnon assumed Hoot slept when he let him out in the morning and probably ate too. But he didn’t know what the owl did when he wasn’t here. Locking the door to his office, he was again walking home. It was basically his morning in reverse, saying goodbye to late workers, and Madam Burly, who was closing up the shop. He’d go through his night ablutions while sipping tea and staring out at the moon. His life was pretty boring, but that was what he loved about it, after the fascinating life he’d had before; boring was good.