Return of the High Mage King: A Fantasy Adventure (Age of Heroes Book 1)

High mages disappeared centuries ago, and their return was unexpected. The narrator, a blacksmith apprentice, discovers he can touch the aether when visited by mages from Essalin. Selected alongside a redheaded companion, he travels to the legendary city of the high mages to learn to control and wield the aether. The journey proves difficult. Brutal orc raiders have emerged across the continent for the first time in a hundred years, and rogue mages are creating disorder in their wake. Along the way, the narrator gains allies, including a highborn blonde woman. As his abilities develop, his presence begins to affect the foundations of the entire continent, reaching toward the long-dormant throne of the High Mage King itself.