The circle continues to buzz with violet energy as the rings and runes ebb and flow with mana. The undying flames pour out their purple light and fill the shadows of the dying shack tucked away in the forest. The flickering of purples cast onto Alexander shading his body in an eery energy.
Alexander's eyes are closed shut. His eye lids that were once firm in the first days now hang loosely as his energy wanes. The last rune takes most of his energy.
Alexander slumps into himself after completing it. His shoulders drop and fall deeper into himself. A wave of tired hits him as the sun rises on the twelfth day.
He can feel the warmth of the sun hit his face but to him it feels cool as the mana settles deeper into him. The runes exhilarate every cell in his body.
His body begins to clash with his mind.
Then his will.
'One more circulation,' His heart rages.
Alexander pushes the mana from his heart through his body once more. He feels the coursing violet energy flow through his mana veins, the channels pushing more and more, until he reaches his heart once again. Alexander feels the vibrant coursing energy settle into a luke warm flow.
He is done. Finally truthfully done.
Thud.
Alexander feels everything in his body give way as he collapses to the ground. Almost two weeks of lack of sleep and food hit him all at once. Alexander is no longer sustained by the mana from the circle.
The violet energy that was coursing through the room electrifying even the air he breathed fades into the grey shadows and orange light.
The circle fades into grey and the purple mana begins to seep into the wooden floor as it returns to it's natural expression.
The shack that was the center of his transformation transforms back into the dark rotting thing that it was and Alexander falls deep into sleep.
BANG BANG BANG!
"Get your ass up kid!" Drak yells through the door.
The sun cuts through the trees and into the window shining lightly on Alexander's face. It is before noon. The sun isn't high in the sky yet and Alexander is fast asleep curled into a ball with grey ink smudged onto his white shirt and light brown pants.
Drak paces back and forth infront of the door. A guard from the Baron's manor had come knocking on his door this morning.. Looking for Alexander. He needs to leave on time for the academy and The Baron would not except anything less.
Drak recieves anything he wants from the Baron, so not listening to him would mean a loss of funds, and that was not something he is going to settle on.
BANG BANG BANG!
"Kid, I'm not going to keep playing nice. You've got the whole manor looking for you now!" Drak yells for him again just seconds from barging into the door.
Alexander finally stirs awake. The fog of his sleep confuses him and the situation he is in. For a moment he still thinks he's in his bedroom like the past two weeks never happened.
However as the light hits his eyes he realizes their's something else among the grey shadows, brown rotting wood and gold light. Mana. His eyes come alive as he begins to see a buzz in the air. As if the very fabric of existence begins to look differently.
'It worked. It fucking worked.' He thinks to himself jolting awake.
"Kid. I am counting down and if you don't answer I'm breaking down this mildew invested door. 1… 2…" Drak counts down halting any of Alexander's thoughts.
"I'm up, I'm up!" Alexander moves to the door slowly and moves some of the crates of raw metals that were left in the shack to rust and die among the trees. He leaves just enough room to crack the door without opening it more than a couple inches.
"I was asleep, what's going on?" Alexander asks through the crack seeing Drak's dark skin flushed with anxiety. He swears a few greys are added each time he yells.
"I've got knights knocking on my door wondering where you are. That's what.. Now are you done with whatever you are doing so you can get home?" Drak has his arms crossed looking up at Alexander annoyance spread across his face. Drak hates being bothered and Alexander wasn't expecting all of this.
"Shit.." Alexander looks back at the shack. He has to destroy the evidence first and then return home. He isn't sure what day it is, but if they are banging on Drak's door he knows his departure is right around the corner. "Yeah I'll get going. What day is it?"
"It's Tendona, the 15th. You leave tomorrow if that's what you are wondering. So hurry up." Drak walks off with annoyance stinging in his words. His overalls aren't fully on and his belt isn't around his waist. All he had on was his white shirt and his pants loose around his boots. Alexander can see the hurry he is in.
'Let's get this over with.' Alexander thinks to himself as he looks over the evidence he's gotta get rid of.
He scrubs the ink clean and places the unlit candles back into his satchel with all the other materials he had. He didn't expect for two weeks to go by in his trance state, but it happened. Now he has to hurry.
He doesn't have time to grip with the fact the flow of mana passes his eyes or what that means. Alexander is on the next task and that will come later.
He quickly cleans his mess and leaves behind a soldering tool and metal scrap. Something to make it seem he was doing something else. Then leaves quickly.
The Manor is in a frenzy by the time he arrives. It is only an hour before noon but maids and knights all rush around getting the carriages ready. It is a long trip to the royal capital and the mage academy that sits at it's borders.
The Academy of Valrahn was renowned within the empire and even the surrounding kingdoms for it's mastery of magic. The greatest minds stake their lives on research within the hallowed halls. Alexander's dreams and goals always rested within those walls before and after the magic awakening ceremony.
Several maids fill a nearby carriage with Alexander's things. Torres' stands behind them not a look of worry on his face. Not like the maids and knights that might feel Torres' wrath if Alexander isn't found.
Alexander walks passed them hoping to not get noticed but Torres always has a watchful eye even in the chaos about.
"Son, kind of you to join us." Torres says a tinge of annoyance in his words. "I expected you earlier than the day before but I should have known how you are. If there is anything we missed in your room, I expect you look now, we leave by day light."
Torres barks some orders at the guards to be ready for an early move and then looks back at his son.
"I expect you to speak to your mother. She has annoyed me with her constant talk of you." Torres looks him up and down. "Have her clean you up aswell. You still represent the Terande name and I will not have you sully it while you remain at the Academy."
Alexander's eyes seethe with anger and lightly nods his head not letting his father's neglect control him. Torres dismisses him with a wave of his hand and goes back to preparing the trip.
While Alexander is going to the Academy for the enterance exams, Torres and Violet are expected in the Capital for the exam. It is mostly formalities and stems as a 'gathering of nobility' to further connection.
Alexander sees it as a way for the Empire to keep it's grip and boot on their throats. An expression of power and control. A reminder that although nobles can send their children to this academy, it is the empire that controls it, and Alexander has always been clear on it.
Alexander pushes through the doors of the Manor and see's more going on. His mother Violet was taking to the head maid making sure Ana was prepared as well. She would remain in the manor at the capital as her debut is not for a few years but she is still forcd to come.
Violet sighs at all the stress but soon her eyes fall onto Alexander. "Alex, you are back! Finally. Are you excited?" Violet asks.
Alexander nods, "It is a start of my future. I have to be."
Violet smiles at his words and roughs his hair. " Good, Good now your outfit is picked out and in your room. Dinner will be early today because of the trip.. It is only a four hour trip to the train station so you should remain dressed for the arrival. Thank Vera! The tickets are free for students and family." Violet smiles and cups Alexander's face.
"Go rest and clean up, I will see you at dinner." Violet shoos Alexander to his room.
He looks down at himself finally catching a whiff of his body.
'Gahh! I smell. Yeah I need a bath.'