The pattering of rain gently woke me from my slumber, drenched in sweat as usual from the nightmares that mercilessly haunt me. My wounds were mostly patched up and I felt somewhat closer to the completed me. Kubo was snoring loudly by the side of the bed, covered in bandages. Did she have to go through the same test?
Quietly getting out of bed, I headed off to find Mikel. Just as I went to knock on his bedroom door, I leant my ear on the door, curious about what he was talking about and to whom. I could only grasp a few words here and there but I could probably come to a conclusion if I focussed a bit more.
"Found... The lost child... cursed... catalyst... resurrection of the sealed... Mira hasn't caught on... sacrifices must be made... bring chaos... the seal will be broken."
What is he going on about? Is he planning to backstab Mira to break some seal to something? What about this 'lost child', is he implying me or Kubo? I should head back to my room before he senses me. This sounds bad. Really bad. The only problem is I can't tell anyone, not until Mira, Ronan and Kassandra come back.
I hurried back to my room, surrounded by all these questions. Maybe I missed some important details whilst eavesdropping? Perhaps he was merely joking around with whoever he was talking to. For now, I should keep my distance as much as possible and just act like I didn't hear anything, not until I get more evidence.
When I'd returned to my room, the sun had started breaking through the clouds from the horizon. Droplets of water clinging to the window, sparkling beautifully but now wasn't the time to focus on some pretty looking rain. Thoughts raced through my mind for hours until Kubo woke up. She was covered in bruises, so her health was more important than dwelling on a conspiracy.
"Kubo, you feeling alright?" I asked concerned.
"M-Master? You're awake! I was so worried! And then I had to try to face these scary wood monsters, but they beat me until Mikel stopped them. He said I'd failed the fi-physicool but you passed."
"Why did he make you do the physical exam? You're clearly not suited to close combat yet! I can't believe you're all beat up because of Mikel. How are your injuries anyway?"
"I'm fine."
"So if I poke a bruise, it won't hurt?"
"Please don't poke it. Fine, I hurt a lot but Mikel said that you'd leave me if I didn't get stronger and act tough."
"Why that little- He lied to you. I would never abandon you. You won't be a burden as long as you continue to be you. I don't care if you're big and strong or small and weak, I will see you equal to that of even Mira."
"Same as the pretty lady?"
"Definitely."
Kubo started tearing up, "Thank you so much master. I want to be with you forever since you're the one that brought me into this world full of wonders. I want to explore the world and go on adventures with you. As long as you're with me, I don't care what mean Mikel says."
Despite her injuries she jumped to hug me. Suddenly, she began to emit a light so bright I had to shield my eyes. Light enveloped the room and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Kubo was the same small kid except she now had an angel wing on her right shoulder. For some reason though her left shoulder was left unoccupied. All of her injuries were fully healed as well.
"What just happened?" I was speechless.
"You really are the best master. You gave me a pretty wing. I can't wait to show the pretty lady!"
"I see my plan was executed perfectly." Mikel smugly waltzed into my room.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly.
"Don't be like that. I only put her in that ordeal, so she could evolve as a familiar."
"She was heavily injured and you told her she was useless to me. Plus we don't even know she's a familiar, she could be something completely different for all we know!"
"Familiar, why don't you go eat breakfast whilst I chat with your master?"
"Yay! Food!" Kubo whizzed off.
"At least call Kubo by her name."
"Why the hostility? It was only yesterday that we were buddies. Perhaps the reason is that you overheard something you shouldn't have."
"So you knew I'd overheard."
"Of course. I'm not dumb to be that loud without a reason. I emphasised some words but it's up to you to decide a conclusion. I could be the big bad guy or I could be the misunderstood good guy. Really, in the end, the victors at the end of an era decide who is good and bad. Blab your mouth to anyone else about my conversation and you will regret it. I'll start with that precious familiar... I'm only joking! I really had you going, huh? I was just talking to an old friend, and we were doing one of those inside jokes. I apologise for worrying you." Mikel, seemingly sincere, apologised.
"I can't tell if you're lying but for now you're my teacher, so I can't really see me doing anything about it. Although, if you put Kubo through that pain without my permission again, I won't hesitate to stop you. I, of all people, should know the power that the mind has over the body. If you place a seed of doubt, it will eventually blossom into a problem that you can't control, and she shouldn't have to be put through that."
"I see you're slowly getting a personality. That's a positive sign. Anyway, let's get something to eat then start your magic training/test. Don't worry this won't be too dangerous. Actually, its pretty harmless."
"Is this the final test?"
"Yep! Now stop dilly-dallying and get something to eat."
Arriving in the dining room, we ate whilst discussing Kubo's new wing, although, I tried not to speak too much to Mikel as I still wasn't sure on his 'Joke'. Afterwards, we all headed to the classroom. Just as we arrived, Mikel disappeared and Michelle appeared. They both looked exactly the same except one acted more feminine than the other. Both had short brown, slightly greyed hair and red eyes.
"Would you two like to sit down?" Michelle acted nicely, but I was still haunted by the memories of the ruler.
Kubo sat right next to me and intently listened to the recap of how mana works. Then the topic shifted to how people with already open mana veins but no patron blessing could utilise their mana.
"Before I explain this, I just want to say that because your familiar came directly from your blood, Zeke, we can assume the situation is the same for her. I'll check her mana veins and affinity later just to make this lesson a bit shorter."
"That's fine with me." I replied but was slapped by the ruler, since she didn't ask for my permission.
"In impossible incidents such as your cases, the mana veins will be open but will have no patron's blessing to use their type of mana. For these instances, the Gods decided upon a set of basic spells that could be performed by anyone with the mana veins open. These spells include: Fireball, Ice spear and a few others.
Today we will test out your ability to use magic, both full incantation and instant call. Any objections?"
I shook my head, afraid to speak due to the ruler levitating just above my head. Michelle flicked her wrist and the classroom turned into a small training field with lots of scarecrows, targets painted on them. A list appeared in my hands and it detailed certain spells and their incantations.
"We will only try three of them. This round try to use instant call. Your objective is just to use the spells for now. Start!"
I took a deep breath and yelled, "Fireball!" Something felt like it went to escape my hand but it then dispersed immediately. Weird. I'll try the next spell then. "Water Sphere!" Same thing happened and again for the third one. Something felt like it was preventing any mana gathering in one point. Maybe I just wasn't cut out to be a magician.
"Try the incantations now!" Michelle called out.
"Heavenly body of fire gifted by the flame princess Hi. Grant me your power, so I can burn the objects of my desire into cinders of their former selves!"
This time, it definitely gathered. However, just as it went to exit my hand, it imploded inside my arm, causing severe burns along the entirety of my right arm. It was so, excruciatingly painful. I dropped to the floor, squealing, and tears dripped down my face. The stinging was unbearable, let alone trying to even move my arm. I must've been blacking out from the pain, since when the pain subsided I had been moved back to the room.
This was starting to become a worrying habit. I thought I would've fared a bit better in these training sessions considering my training in the army but I've absolutely flopped in everything. I barely passed the physical exam and completely failed the magic exam. Dammit! Why am I so useless?
My arm was bundled in bandages but I thought I'd try to see Kubo's attempt at the magic exam. If she can utilise her mana then theoretically, I could be similar to a striker or tanker, and she could be support or dealer depending on the magic she is best suited to. I hobbled down the hallway and re-entered the classroom.
"You shouldn't be up this early Zeke. You've only been resting for half an hour." Michelle scowled but I could see she understood why I had got up so soon.
"Master, are you alright?" Kubo rushed over worried.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. I came to see your magic attempt."
"I don't wanna do it. It looks like it hurts."
"Don't worry about that. I'm just hated by the Gods it seems but I believe you'll have a much better attempt. Trust me, if it does the same thing, then I promise I'll get you anything you want to eat. Screw it! Even if you pass, I'll get anything you want to eat."
"Did you say anything?" Her eyes gleamed.
"Anything."
Considering Mikel's the one that cooks this is a win-win for me. Mwhahahaha!
Michelle set the field back up and Kubo stood determined. She pushed her hand out in front of her and yelled, "Fireball!" The entire place started shaking, then suddenly a meteor of fire ejected from her palm, incinerating every target. I stood speechless and motionless.
"Did she just-?"
"Yes the familiar produced that much power without the incantation. I'm afraid of what will happen if she did." Michelle stammered, also surprised.
Kubo turned round and shouted, "How was that Master?"
"You did fantastic!"
"I can't wai..." Kubo collapsed.
"She's expended too much mana. I'm not surprised, it looks like she can only control the direction but not anything else."
Before Michelle could continue her ramblings to herself, I rushed over to Kubo. She had a fever, which was apparently a common side effect of overuse of mana, but she looked unharmed otherwise. I picked her up and headed back towards Michelle.
"She'll need to rest for a while, but she should be back to her bubbly self in no time."
"That's a relief. Say, how long do you think Mira and the others will be?" I asked.
"Not sure. Between now and a couple of days probably. To take a dragon you usually need a party of 24 people but this group is unique in many ways as you'll find out soon. They won't have many problems, considering they've taken out three before that."
"They really are impressive. I wonder if I'll be as good as them."
"You shouldn't think ill of yourself. You also have many talents but those talents are bound by that curse attached to your memories. Once you recover your memories, only then will you be able to reach your full potential."
"I feel like you are just saying that."
"Maybe I am but if you truly believe it then what's stopping you from trying."
"True. Anyway, I'm going to put Kubo in bed."
"I know its only midday but you should get some rest to. If your endurance wasn't as high as it was, you would've lost your arm. A severe burn like that needs rest, even if you have accelerated recovery time."
"I will do. Hang on! There's something else I wanted to ask you."
"What is it this time?"
"What God do you serve?"
"I serve two. The God of Knowledge Chishiki and the God of Time Jikan."
"Fair enough. I'll get out of your hair now."
I returned to my room, placed Kubo on the main bed and then I laid for a while on the mattress on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Kubo can use magic despite being formed purely from my blood. Does this mean that curse only affects my body? It's a little disheartening not being particularly good at anything but that's life. If I dwell on it then it'll only fester and add to the long list of things to attack my self-confidence.
I closed my eyes, imagining scenarios of me being the hero, thwarting the wrongdoers plans. A childish dream but it was somewhat comforting. Eventually those sweet dreams maliciously morphed into a horrifying nightmare.
I was running. And running. And running. A black door appeared. I burst in. Mira was stood in the middle of some strange writing, covering the entire room. The writing started engulfing Mira as I stood helpless. She was gone, dissolved into the unknown. My head became dizzy and Ronan was impaled with swords... held by me!
This isn't right! It's just a dream!
The words started engulfing me. Out of the corner of my eye, Kubo was stood staring motionless and emotionless. Her wing had devolved into a skeletal form of itself, and she started approaching me. Each step ruptured something inside me. Intense, excruciating pain consumed my mind.
"You broke your promise." Kubo whispered, using her hand to rip into my chest. "You broke every promise. Look, your heart is tainted with the sins you have committed. You are a mistake. You should never have been born." She ripped my heart out of my chest and I awoke once again.
I could never rest, could I? Not even for a night.