"The standard bearer carrying a massive flag of deep scarlet. The sigil emblazoned with a fearsome dragon, fierce and coiled around the sword. The banner of the most powerful territory in the La Magia kingdom. The legendary conqueror of the South, Duke Ashby. Even in the apocalypse, his dukedom was stable with minimal casualties." Ren Restes thought to himself as he bit his thumb shivering in fear.
"Ronaldo, send a word to Cero and tell him that I need him here." he said, voice barely steady.
"As you wish, My lord." Ronaldo replied as he bowed and turned to his heel and existed the chamber.
"Duke Ashby's success wasn't just his own. It was his vassals…His strategist and the South's Strongest Sword, Commander Darius. Of all people, the army outside led by him."
He gripped his staff tightly- a twisted rod of green wood carved that resembled a serpent. Embedded in its head were two small orbs that looked uncanny like eyes.
Tap…Tap…Tap…He fidgeted the sound echoing like a whisper of unease.
Then- creak…The wooden double door groaned open. Ren stiffened, then forced himself to sit upright and regained his composure.
"Good evening, Master, you summoned me?" his has curiosity he said and slightly bowed.
Ren turned slowly. For a moment, he said nothing-just looked at Cero with a gaze that held pride. "How was your rest, my disciple?" Ren asked.
Cero replied, "I've recovered well, my strength has returned" He paused and added, "Though…it's rare to see you carrying your staff, Master."
Ren showed a faint smile, "This day is unlike the rest. It is a day set apart. For today is your graduation day"
Cero simply eyed the ground.
Ren continued, "All knowledge that I possessed, I have imparted to you, not just as your master but as your father. You had surpassed my expectation."
At these words, Cero dropped to one knee, bowing his head low, he uttered "Thank you, master…for everything."
Ren stepped forward, the serpent-headed staff in his hand glowing faintly with a pale red light. He gently rested it on Cero's shoulder. "Accept this gift…You were born with a rare gift; one I sealed long ago to protect you. But now, you are ready. Your eyes… they are unlike any other. And today, I will unseal them."
Raising the staff, Ren began to weave it through the air in a graceful motion. A glowing blue magic circle that hovered just above Cero's head, "Seal Breaker" he intoned.
Suddenly, Cero's eye glowed green. "Argh!" Clutching his face as searing pain. Blood trickled between his fingers as he tried to shield his eyes. It felt like needles—dozens of them—piercing into his eyes, repeatedly, relentless and sharp.
Cero dropped the honorifics as the pain bested him. He gasped, "No one wants a painful gift. What…what am I seeing? It's like time has slowed and it seems that I had a telescopic vision with detail and clarity."
Ren nodded, "That's the ability of your eyes…Enhanced vision. A rare eye, though you need to pour mana to use it."
Cero groaned in pain, "Seal it again, I cannot use mana, anyway. Or at least tell me how to stop it, I cannot think straight with this burning pain."
Ren remarked, "Listen carefully, close your eyes, breathe, and focus not on the pain but focus on controlling your eyes...Command your eyes and will respond to your intention and will."
Cero clenched his jaw as he followed the instructions. His breathing steadied. The green glow in his eyes began to fade, and with it, the pain had vanished. The bleeding stopped, "You should have told me first on how to control my…Phantom Sight.Before unsealing it."
Ren raised an eyebrow, "Good, you already named your eyes, Interesting…Phantom Sight"
"As an aura user, phantom sight is a curse."
Ren taps Cero's shoulder with a wry smile, "You're a genius, you had your way."
"Since you graduated, what would wish, my son?" He added.
The question strucked at Cero. He paused and the flood of memories flashback. He thought to himself, "I never had a childhood like any other lads- no sunny afternoons of play or laugher with friends…atleast from the stories I read. Instead, I spent my days in a grueling discipline and relentless training, under my master's strict orders… almost as if I am a prisoner with no freedom much like a dove confined in a shallow coop, without liberty except that I was rared in a best environment."
A lonliness crept within Cero's deepest feeling, his shyness and personality caged these feeling as if it was just part of his whim.
Ren Restes has a nasty temperant tapped his staff against his fingers like a ticking clock, waiting for Cero's reply. Ren added, "So, you have no wish at all?"
Cero voiced his wish and uttered, "Wait, I desire to see the world…beyond the tower of vestige."
Ren thought to himself, "An answer that I didn't forsee. I thought he will sought something that is related to power, domination and wisdom. Perhaps, I was mistaken…I nurtured a worthy apprentice and a wonderful child."
"That's precisely my intention." Ren replied almost immediately.
Cero thought to himself, "I was worried about nothing…thinking he will disapproved."
Taking a deliberate pause, Ren added, "Only if we stabilized our Magic Tower."
Cero remarked with a humble gratitude, "Thank you, Father."
With a warm smile, Ren declaired, "Congratulations upon your graduation. My son, Cero Restes. You have my blessings."
"Father…more pressing situation, there are intruders...not just an ordinary intruders but extremely powerful, an army of knights." The atmosphere has been shifted in gravity because of Cero's revealations.
Ren chuckled, "Don't be hostile, they are our guest, and we need to grant them the courtesy they deserved based on our tradition. We will wait as they're about the finish the riddle and welcome them with an open arms."
Ren continued, "If you decided to travel beyond our magic tower. Use an alias…Gabby Magus. Cero Restes is a name you use only if you truly trusted that person."
Cero frowned, "Why?"
Ren eyed Cero as he said, "Simply do so"
Cero thought to himself, "Trust, was it?" he nodded and uttered, "Not a problem, Father. Gabby Magus isn't a bad name.