"May this child grow strong and healthy, may the world treat him with kindness." I have fond memories of those words. My mother was cradling me on her rocking chair as she said those words. It is a memory that I could have not remembered because I was at an age with no conscience to behold. But I do remember, vividly so.
The bells sing and the tunes resonate throughout the kingdom, it is daybreak, and the morning mass calls for its attendants. The sun shines upon Condura's dominion as its warmth creeps into skin. The kingdom of Condura is a humble place, with the 22 years living inside its walls I have come to have thoughts on this stone maze, positive ones, thoughts that maybe growing old in this place might not be too bad. It is a flawed kingdom but it has its charms.
The tunes finally reached my soul and my fatigued body slowly functions as I am pulled away from my dreams. Reality sets in, I have slept into the night with no progress done to my mana projection report on my flora.
"Oh God…" I mumbled as I tilted my head down leaning on my left hand on the desk and started to think of excuses to elude the chance of getting an earful from my father.
My father is a professor that teaches basic emission and forming of magic in the academy, he is somewhat strict but respected in many ways. Some criticize his methods in the entrance exams, including me, but they are effective as the results speak for themselves. This man holds competentness dear to his principles in life, and I am about to report to him about my incompetentness. A circumstance of which will not happen for I have contingency plans to avoid passive aggressive lectures about discipline and responsibilities.
I tidied up the papers and books, attempted to refuel my lamp but it seems I am in short supply of mana stones. Well since I will not use my lamp until later in the evening, these stones will be fuel to heat up water for a warm bath. As I scrub my body with soap, I noticed that I have gotten thinner. A terrible realization for my stature is closing in on the textbook definition of malnourishment.
I have to eat more, a chiseled and healthy body might get me a lover after all. Though chiseling is a much harder feat to achieve generally. I pat myself dry and put on my attire for the morning class. I am particularly fond of my robe, it hides my scrawny arms and I find it very comfortable for cold weather which is usually the case in this kingdom which is half of a mountain and the academy is near the peak. Our ancestors' skills are truly admirable, to slowly carve and build a city on the side of a mountain.
I grabbed my staff and mounted it to my back and carefully took hold of my saving grace, leather boots made from the hide of Tremani bull with a gravity emitting contraption firing down. I have made adjustments to the runes to suit the weight of my body. I took my pills as I grabbed my journal. They said it is a genetic illness but it subside if I take my pills consistently for a couple more years. Faced the mirror one last time and proceeded to walk the halls of graduates' dormitory.
As I walk in the halls of the east wing where the male graduate students reside, I took a quick turn to the cafeteria to procure some sustenance for breakfast and lunch since I am probably going to be holed up in my laboratory. Today is a Saturday, no classes but students can freely conduct activities regarding their respective studies in their designated laboratories. The magic innovation's laboratory is quite big and has decent tools that can do a variety of things.
My feet now rest upon the floor of the cafeteria and my eyes are focused on the meals will be devoured for breakfast and lunch.
"Oy Manzo. You done with your report?" A familiar voice reached out. I glance at the direction of the voice and lo and behold its Mikhela.
Mikhela Dauntess, a blonde equipped with a smug that seems to never waver. This woman is a prodigy in magic, this showoff formed a horse with wings in the last magic conjuring competition and rode it and it flew briefly. But the most impressive thing we witnessed that day was that the horse actually looked alive.
To form animals or even anything using magic one must understand the subject's every function of how it lives, moves, and breathe. And she made it neigh! Truly incredible but she won't hear compliments from me.
"Well how is it?" She says as her tall figure approaches me closer. She is slightly taller than me. I swear her forehead makes it look she is taller.
"It is done and it is splendid." I answered.
"Hmmm... You lie." she said as her smug turns to a smile when she sets her eyes on my leather shoes that I am carrying.
"Damn right." I answered confidently.
"Man... you still working on aviation? I mean we got rotors, propellers, and air balloons to navigate the air space. You should consider continuing your study about the lunar blooms. That was a good paper." She implied as her eyes wander to the crowd.
A praise. A jolt of joy passed. The cafeteria lady gestured at me signaling that it is my turn to pick. With magic I gestured an order of fried chicken meal and beef ball with gravy meal.
"It is merely a passion projection but I see what you mean. Actually I am incorporating my findings in that paper into this one, I think it could be promising." I replied as I await my meals.
"I see. Good on you. Well then I already got my grub, I will be going ahead. I am quite excited for our activities today, we are going dissect an electric eel!" She exclaimed as her face lights up with excitement and that smug is back.
"Sounds fun. All right see you around, the horse was pretty cool by the way." I said with tense in my voice.
"Damn right." She replied then turned and waved good bye.
Well that interaction seemed like a fortunate start for today. I picked up my meals and proceeded the halls of the academy. This magic institute is quite a prestigious one. It nourishes soldiers and scholars alike. With a towering castle-like structure, I do wonder sometimes how did the builders of the past erect such a grandiose achievement. Our history never ceases to amaze me.
I walked down a few corridors and reached my father's office. Took a deep breath as I clenched the doorknob, and then I entered the space filled with brooding.
"Good day father." I said as I approached him closer to his desk while glancing around and it seems that my father is the early bird today or the bird that others are not fond of meeting early in the morning?
"Have you had breakfast yet?" I asked.
"Yes." Father replied
"Have you made any new friends y-." I asked then he cut me off.
"Your tone and eyes tell me you made no progress to the task given to you." He asked in a cold tone. This man has not made any new friends.
"Well that is true, but I have made progress with an old idea of mine. You still remember the magic I discovered from observing that flower that has seven hexagons when it blooms under the moon?" I smoothly asked.
"Yes, a new variant of light magic from the lunar bloom, a stunning sight but in comparison to the hydro jet cutter it lacks the power to cut things and has quite a recoil despite its weak output." He answered. Smoothly.
"Indeed but if incorporated by these, it might prove interesting." After I said those words I presented him the new boots, a reminder of my younger years.
"..." A slight pause echoed around the room.
"Manzo you seek to fly even now? The only thing those footwear has accomplished was keeping you afloat by 2 inches from the ground and it consumes a substantial amount of mana stones." He replied with arms crossed.
"And those efforts are not in vain. The recoil from the magic father! With some tweaks with on how the magic is casted and with these boots... it can work." I conveyed with confidence. I have a feeling that I should commit to this endeavor whether it bears fruit or not.
"And what of your field report? You have an obligation to honor. Surely you do not want to disappoint the botanical magic committee?" He asks concerningly.
"This pursuit will surely provide additional information about the limitations and capabilities of the light magic from the lunar bloom. I will still work on my assigned field at the cave but that can wait, I have already have made necessary preparations for my plants to be tended without me for a week or two" I replied.
I truly did not half-bake my preparations that I have set for my absence in the cave. I wish not to incur my field head's wrath.
"You have been warned. Needless to say but I am inclined to remind you to uphold your best behavior in this academy. You have done so in the past years and I hope you will keep it consistent. I will pass what you have told me to your field head and no, I will not vouch for your actions. Whatever consequence you receive, you will live with it. Get along with your day and may it be fruitful. And do remember to take your medication." He said that with conviction. Though I had hoped that he would vouch for me.
"See you around father." I said as I left the office with a smile for I at least I did not receive a scolding. For my age that would be embarrassing.
I passed a few halls and now I stand tall in front of our laboratory. This lab is rarely used this time of the year, most of us members of the botanical magic committee would be in our respective fields taking care and observing our assigned flora.
I enter. Its empty. I turn on the lights and it smells and seems dust has settled in this towering room. I grabbed a trash bag and put it in front of me. I took hold of my staff and casted a vacuum spell. I held my breathe as the dust gather in the bag. After the cleaning is done, I began dragging the mattresses I need for cushioning If I fall badly.
I am hungry, breakfast calls for me. Grabbed my fried chicken meal and chowed down as I sit on one edge of the mattress. It was filling. It was heavenly.
I readied my journal, inputted the agenda for today for documentation. I equipped my boots, it has become rather comfortable. The cobbler did not disappoint. I stand in the center of the nine mattresses I prepared.
A deep breathe first, then I psyched myself. These boots are designed like my staff, an extension of my body, it has components that makes me cast magic when I am in contact with it. And today I do not posses any mana stones, therefore my soul and body will to supply mana for my activities today.
I bent down feet apart to have more control, it has been years since I did this and I might not remember to balance myself. The boots already has runes for the casting of the gravity magic, I need to only supply it with mana.
I casted. The runes lit up. I am floating. By what I can see, I am about 5 inches from the surface of the mattress.
I am beginning to wobble, arms flailing around in an attempt to find balance.
Thump!
I fall. I chuckle. A rush of happiness and excitement passed.
I stand and assumed a new position, maybe this will help me find balance better. I casted.
I fell about twenty-five times before I could float properly. I am getting a hang of it.
And for the moment of truth, I casted light magic from the soles of the boots facing down. I did not put any runes of light magic in the boots since it would complicate the gravity magic imbued already on it.
Blue thin lights have conjured from my soles and fired to the mattresses but it did no damage, oh but the recoil was there.
I shot up to the air. Never have I seen the ceiling so up close. My heart starts pounding, I have lost balance, my boots are not looking down on the mattresses no more. Amidst the panic I stopped pouring mana to the boots. I am falling. I put my hands to guard my head, even with cushioning this fall will hurt.
THUD!
I was lying on my back, the ceiling looks farther than a moment ago. My body is aching, I feel tired. I am hungry.
After some moments of lying down I stood up, the aches are still there but manageable. I grabbed my other meal. I applied mana to the meal box, the runes lit up, my food is being reheated.
I chowed down with a smile in my face. Then I begin contemplating how to approach this way of flying properly.
Swerving left or right this time seems to be a much taller task, I should focus maintaining a certain height and I will branch out from there. Then there is the issue of the force of the recoil, I should cast it to produce weaker outputs of different levels.
I remember the time when I could not name the light magic variant I discovered and replicated from the lunar blooms. The headmasters deemed the magic undeveloped. Well to be fair it generated underwhelming heat, not to bright considering it is light magic, and the recoil is a massive drawback. Essentially the magic does not have a definitive use and if it does there are other better alternatives available.
"Bulan" I would like to name it that. It sounds pleasing. If I can develop a way of aviation through this magic, document it, and present it to the headmasters. I would name it that.
After some moments, I now stand again in the center of my cushions. Mana poured and now I float. I casted bulan in the weakest output I can muster. Casting weaker forms of the standard magic output can be complicated and draining as you are forcing to narrow the flow of mana.
A short burst up to the air, reached at least the halfway point to the ceiling. I maintained my balance and landed with my feet. It is working.
I got into position and floated again. This time I must cast weaker, the weakest this magic can be. But I need it to be continuous, in theory the recoil generated would become a slow and steady force that will push me upwards and not a burst of force.
I look down, sweat drips down the mattress. My body is slowly giving out but oh I feel so alive. These kinds of moments are worth living for.
I casted. I elevate, maintaining composure I elevate further. Slowly the ceiling is getting closer. I raised my right hand to feel the incoming ceiling, but then a thought passed.
How do I stop? How do I stay in a certain height?
Perhaps it was the adrenaline that aided me. I begin to cast bulan even weaker, I slow down but still I am moving upward. I need it to be even weaker. Shivers run through my body but I push through, it got weaker.
I stop. The ceiling feels cold and I feel a layer of dust on its surface. I assume that my vacuum spell did not reach this high, but I did.
Suddenly I lose control of my arm, it swayed down to my side. Each breathe becomes heavy and so is my eyes. My body numbed and everything goes to nothingness.
.
.
.
The bells sing and the tunes resonate throughout the kingdom, it is nightfall, and the evening mass calls for its attendants.
I awake, in mattresses I am laying down sideways. I look at the windows and it is dark and the lamps of the kingdom are burning bright and beautiful. My body aches as I turn it, laying on my back I gaze upon the ceiling.
I chuckle. My handprint is on the ceiling as the dust from it is still on my right hand.
I force myself to sit down. Good heavens it worked. I feel so accomplished that I cannot wipe this smile of my face but I should not linger here any longer. I should lock up the lab before the guards start their patrols.
I did not have time to put back the mattresses but considering I will be back tomorrow, I should not worry. I went back to my room and took a shower, goodness gracious I stink. Recorded everything in the journal and summarized the findings for today. I depended on the lights of my room to write since I forgot to get some mana stones. A cold shower for tomorrow seems inevitable.
Bulan = Official name of the light magic variant emitted by the lunar blooms.
Standard Casting = Strong burst of force (Will cover a long distance, control might be lost)
Weak Casting = Short burst of force (Might be key for turning direction)
Weakest Casting (Continuous) = Optimal upward force (Stability in the air can be achieved)
Gravity Boots = Mana stone supplies needed.
As I close my journal something struck me, it is hunger. I made my way to the cafeteria and it looks like they are starting to close. I need to be quick.
A cafeteria lady sees me running awkwardly. I am still recovering from the falls I had to go through.
"Ya good boy?" The lady asks.
"Ma'am no, I am in need of sustenance. Are there still meals available?" I expressed with desperation.
She chuckles as she went to the back and brought me two meals.
"Here. You can just pay for one meal, seems you really need it. And since we are already cleaning up, you will have to eat dinner in your room." She says as she extends the bag of goods to me.
My body trembles from her kindness. I gave the payment and received the bag.
"I will gladly to do so Ma'am. I pray that pleasant dreams visit you on your every slumber." I stated with confidence and sincerity.
"Alright, alright. Enjoy you meal boy." She says as she waves goodbye as I walk back to my room. I waved back.
The food was demolished, obliterated by my famished soul. It was good and my will live is stronger than ever. As I cleaned up I glanced upon my window, it is the view of the side of the academy. Windows of the rooms are visible and most of them are with dim lights except one, and fortunately I know who resides on that room with its lights so bright close to the top. My father is probably still there working overtime. What a madlad that man is, this is like the third time this week that he has done this.
An idea sprouted, I must show him a glimpse of my progress and maybe I can ask for more money if it goes well. I already equipped my gravity boots and robe since it can be quite chilly especially in the night. I leave my dormitory with a soul of a soldier that bears fresh battle scars.
As I make way to the academy I see some commotion in the distance, towards the academy gates. My eyesight is quite good, I distinctly remember having problems with it when I was younger though but I am glad to have moved on wearing prescribed glasses. And with these eyes I observe that some of the faculties of the academy with some of the guards are arguing with the people garbed with military uniform. It seems serious, even I can see the veins popping out of one the headmasters there. This is a common sight, though I usually see them arguing in the morning.
I walked down the halls towards the direction of my father's faculty office. As soon as I faced the turn to the hallway of the office I heard a loud crash.
BOOM!
I freeze. As my eyes witness a silhouette of man choking someone beneath him. The smoke clears. The walls and doors of the faculty office is no more, it is mere rubble. The scenery is clear, a soldier from the military with the crest of Condura is being held down by the neck by a man with one arm purple. A man who without the purple arm would be the fitting image of my father.
"FATHER!?" I called out. Concerned and confused with the top of my lungs I called out.
Father turned towards me, he must have relaxed his grip in that moment because the soldier fought back and kicked him rolling. Father rolled and as he stood he had finished casting a spell. A bolt of lightning gathers around his index and middle finger aiming towards the soldier running for something.
I could not move. I do not understand what am I seeing. I am shaking. My voice won't come out. It is all happening too fast.
He fires the spell. It connects. The soldier just lost his left arm but I heard no whimper of pain. The soldier's stature falls down to one knee as his his right hand reached for something.
It is a sabre. The soldier takes hold of the sabre and stood up as he assumes a slashing posture. The runes of sabre lit up. My fathers clasps his hand and released them to cast a barrier. And then he turned to me.
"MAZNO RUN!" He screamed as the orange flames emerged from the soldier's saber slashing his barrier.
BOOM!
I was knocked back to the walls. As I stood up again and opened my eyes, I see my father amidst the smoke casted the lightning bolt again. Two silhouettes came charging on him, one to his front and one to his left side. Father casts lightning bolt to his other arm as well. He aimed at the two shadows and fired. One shot pierced one through the smoke, it was just rubble in shape of a man.
Then the other shot connected, to the soldier's sabre. But the soldier's charge did not waver. With his sabre he endured it. Father again casts lightning with both hands.
"RUN YOU FOOL! WE ARE BEING HUNTED!" He screamed at me without losing eye contact with the soldier. He aims both arms towards the soldier that is still charging.
What do you mean father? Why are we being hunted? Why is the man trying to kill you? Why are you trying to kill him? Why is your other arm purple?
All these questions I have and my voice still would not leave my mouth.
I take a step forward. I am going to help my father. I clasps my hand to cast-
The window behind me broke, a lass with blonde hair emerged rolling past the glass shards. The tip of staff is glowing gold. She has casted a spell beforehand. She aims at my father.
"Mikhela?" I asked. Frozen again in place.
The blonde girl fires the spell the same time father fires his. The lightning bolts from father was aimed at the soldiers leg and head. The soldier chooses to guard his head. The soldier's right leg is no more, he falls on his last knee. But then the golden light connected, it pierced through my father's arms and yellow liquid climbed through his veins. He goes down to his knees as his arms sway lifelessly to his side. He twitches in place, something in him is making unable to act.
The girl started casting again. What the hell am I doing. What is happening. I forced my body to move. I have to move.
"FATHER RETREAT! WHAT YOU DOING!? RETREAT!" She screamed at the soldier.
I tackled the girl, grabbing the staff and throwing it away from her. She fights back and kicked me away. I stood and clasps my hands and released them then clasps them back hard again to cast rock hold. Rubble and cement from below her enveloped her tightly. Now that I set my eyes properly on her, it is Mikhela.
"Spare my father. I beg of you." She pleaded. Tears are coming down her face.
"What is happening? Is that soldier your father? Why is he trying to kill my father?" I asked with anger and confusion in my voice.
"You bloody demon..." She muttered as her eyes pierce through with hatred and remorse.
"What nonsense are you speaking Mikhela?" I replied with even more frustrated confusion.
My father kneels in place, trembling and coughing blood. I solidified the rock hold to fully render Mikhela harmless. My legs shake but I must go to my father's aid. Then I heard noises from beyond the windows. I hear footsteps heading towards our direction. Maybe they will see reason and cease this madness. Nonetheless I take a step forward, I clasps my hand and cast healing aide. The magic gathers in my palms as run, rushing to my father.
"AAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! TO HELL WITH YOU DEMON!" A loud declaration echoed to my ears, its from the soldier. With his last remaining strength and foot he sprung forward sabre in hand.
"Run boy..." That was the last words that escaped my father's mouth. His head now rests with the rubble. I am still locked on my father's eyes, but there is no life in them no more.
It was a clean cut. The soldier is gravely injured, Mikhela is screaming, my father's beheaded corpse still kneels, and I stay still. I tremble, I do not what to do, the footsteps are getting closer.
"Manzo Welhiembache, I urge you to surrender..." The soldier speaks, blood is dripping out his mouth. He laying down gazing upon my frozen figure.
"Surrender and I promise you a painless death. You have my word." Those words were spoken with sincerity. The man who slew my father in front of me offers me death sincerely.
The magic in my hands faded away, as did my sanity.
"WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO YOU?" I asked. With every air in my lungs, I asked.
The soldier's eyes have closed, he fainted.
The footsteps stop, I only hear metal clanking behind me. I turn around to see seven fully armored soldiers with the same crest as the man who slew my father standing in front of Mikhela. One is dispelling the hold I casted on her.
"Manzo, surrender. I will also give you my word. You and your father's deception has been uncovered." She says as she regains control over her movements, my magic has been dispelled. Three of the soldiers separated from the group and headed towards the fainted soldier, they have secured him.
"I ask again, what have we done?" I ask. I ask with the hope that this woman who I considered a friend since grade school will find it in her to answer me.
"Do not try deceive me any longer Manzo. Is that even your name? I know what you are, just drop the act and surrender. To think you were a demon this whole time, and to hell with it, I even considered you my friend." She answers.
Nonsense. Our ancestors wiped them decades ago, they are extinct. How could she accuse me of that?
The armored soldiers slowly advance on me. I am unable to move. I gaze upon Mikhela's eyes, she does not know me anymore.
At that moment I am reminded of what to do, what father wished me to do, the only thing left to do. Run.
I turn back, I turned my back on Mikhela, the soldiers, and my father. I hear heavy fast footsteps behind me, they are chasing me. I rush towards the windows and I leaped. Mikhela was screaming something at me but I could not comprehend it. The window shatters as my body strikes through it.
I am falling. The cemented pavement on the ground draws near every second. But I have time, I shift my body to make it so that the soles of my boots faces the the ground. And it did.
I cast bulan.
I casted the magic driven by desperation and emotions. This is probably the strongest spell I ever casted in my life for I have never seen the moon so bright and up close as tonight and I am still going up.
I look down, the kingdom of Condura is bathed in moonlight and the lights throughout the kingdom flickers as I ascend higher, it is beautiful.
My speed slowly depletes, I take a look at the sky.
The sky is awfully bright tonight.