Pallavi made Omari read so many books that his head was spinning. He wasn't much of the educational type with cramming and testing. He was more of a hands-on student, but Pallavi pushed him to read like thirty books. By the end, his head was all in scrambles. It took a couple of months to read that much, but in between she had him test out that sword every day. Not much worked and he wasn't going to tell her that Tao Liu thought it was emotionally based magic because he liked the obstacles that were keeping him from war, thank you.
Jessi was basically his bodyguard, but they didn't talk much nowadays. He was still upset with her about all of this and that she still wouldn't talk about the villages that she may or may not have burned down. In the meantime, things were tough.
Eventually, Omari got to explore more of the academy, finding all sorts of interesting rooms and meeting all different types of students. Most magical user students were easy to get along with and liked to give him pointers as much as possible.
He was also allowed to leave the academy as long as he had heavily armed personnel following him everywhere he went. But he really just wanted to go out and see what Vells had to offer, finding that it had so many restaurants and shops all over the place. This city was so warm and idyllic, with not an inch of the war seeming to have ever touched it. It was a nice place and he wished that all of Malta was like this. His favorite parts were the big church bells that rang in the evening. It was so pleasant to hear them chime.
Sooner or later though, Pallavi hit a wall and couldn't figure out how to help Omari with his sword anymore. Omari couldn't really help either. Even with all the books she gave him, he did learn a lot about magic and magical items, but nothing really made a breakthrough.
But he was fine with that. If he had to live at this magical academy forever, you wouldn't find him complaining.
In all honesty, even if Omari was taking this seriously, he felt like it would probably take longer than a year to figure out these powers. But he wasn't serious, so it might take even longer. And he was making sure to act as dumb as possible so this would drag out forever.
Also apparently, word had spread outside these magical institutes' walls that there was some kind of hero that defeated Tao Liu, but the people didn't know it was him yet. All the students in the magical academy just thought he was some high-ranked noble's son or something, and that's why he's been getting special treatment.
Things were rather peaceful and at the moment, but there was one day that threatened his bliss. He was chatting up some magic users, Jessi lurking in the background when something shifted in the shadows. The students shrieked in alarm as they were shot at by someone who remained in the darkness. They fell to the ground, whimpering and injured. Omari went to help them, but Jessi pushed him down, blocking the assailant with her sword. They clashed, yells pouring out from the halls. Omari tried to move out of the way, but the assailant kicked Jessi hard, sending her flying across the floor.
He stood before Omari who had his sword on his hip. It was sheathed and he didn't have time to take it out yet when the assailant slammed their blade down onto Omari's head. He yelped, covering his face with his arms, closing his eyes.
Omari froze, not feeling an impact, but heard a yell, then opened his gaze to see Jessi stabbing the assassin in the arm. Her face was twisted with anger and she pushed him to the ground. She huffed and raised her sword, ready to impale him, but something in Omari's heart stirred as he cried out, "Don't!" he reached out and grabbed her wrist, a light blasting through them. She was blinded by it, shielding her face. Jessi quickly pulled her hand down and when her eyes adjusted, her mouth fell.
Omari was glowing. He was large and dressed in that white uniform from before. They stared at each other in shock but heard the attacker groan underneath them. In turn, Jessi stomped his lights out.
She whipped around to Omari, looking him over, quickly saying, "Hey, hey, calm down. It's okay. I got him."
He stared then realized something. She figured it out; that these powers were based on his emotions. Yet she kept that to herself instead of telling these magic users.
He gratefully muttered, "Thank you… for saving me just now."
She gazed at him, patting his hand, "You're welcome."
The head mistress and staff of the school came rushing in, apprehending the culprit and bringing the students to the infirmary. When they saw Omari, their eyes grew in amazement, unsure what they were looking at. Jessi held his hand, ever so often reassuring him that everything was okay and not to blow up. Omari nodded, breathing in and out, calming down, but not transforming back. He was feeling an intense pressure in his chest and had a cold sweat.
Pallavi showed up, scanning over the chaos until her stare fell on the giant glowing Omari. She approached him with eyes as big as dinner plates, saying, "So, this is what your magical transformation looks like."
Jessi nervously glanced about and told her, "Um, Mistress Pallavi, we're going to sit in the middle of the training grounds."
Omari blinked but picked up what she was putting down. If he does blow up, the training grounds should have a strong enough magical barrier to contain all magic on the field so it doesn't destroy any nearby buildings. He quickly nodded, "Yes, we're going over there now."
"W-Wait!" she called after them, but the two were already running off.
They got to the training grounds, Omari going in by himself as Jessi waited on the sidelines. Pallavi managed to catch up to Jessi, losing her breath as she gasped, "Why in the world are you two suddenly coming over here? The Head Mistress is going to want to talk about what just happened."
Omari couldn't hear them since he was so far away but Jessi nervously replied, "It's just for the best."
"Best for what?" she questioned. "Why are you on the sidelines? What aren't you-?" she was going to step out on the field, but Jessi grabbed her arm, stopping her. The woman paused, looking at Jessi's desperately anxious expression. She stepped back, staying in place as Omari waited for his powers to subside. He figured if this ever happened again that he just needed to calm down, calm down, he had to calm down.
He breathed in then out many times, trying to relax. He closed his eyes, waiting, but as he patiently stood there, he heard a small voice, "Is everything okay now?"
He felt it in his head. He answered back, "Yes, everything is fine."
The voice whimpered then grew silent and he felt the powers diminish. The glow faded and he finally shrunk back down into his normal form. When returned back to his regular state, his legs became very weak and wobbly, still unused to magic.
Omari kneeled to the ground, panting, and Jessi and Pallavi quickly rushed over as he caught his breath. He said, "A-All good."
Afterward, he was talked down to by the headmistress and was sent back to his room. Jessi was stationed to stay inside with him until the investigation of the breach was finished. But during that time they got a knock on the door and Pallavi was on the other side. She stood there, unamused as she remarked, "I believe information is being kept from me."
Omari looked down, feeling rather guilty about that. He didn't dislike Pallavi, not one bit, but he needed to do what he had to do to keep himself safe. He turned away and gestured for her to come inside. She sat on the couch, with Jessi and Omari averting their gaze from her. She stared at him and stated, "You can't control it, can you?"
The two became very pale, wanting to hide their faces. Pallavi could see how they were feeling and asked, "Omari?"
"Yes?" he mumbled.
"You… don't actually want to learn magic, do you?"
He felt regretful, but answered, "Maybe if there was no war, I'd love to. But now I'll be used as an instrument for bloodshed. To be killed at the end of a sword. It terrifies me. I can't."
Jessi stared at him then looked away, not bearing to see his sadden expression anymore.
Pallavi listened and she nodded, "I too… don't want to fight anymore."
Omari gazed at her, feeling the disappointment of their lives, How they will be destined to kill and serve, just because they were stricken with magic.
"I want to go home, live with my tribe," she sighed. "But I can't. Either I kneel to Malta's king or I perish. I'd rather stay alive and pray that I will find peaceful days."
Omari's eyes closed, feeling that familiar sorrow numb him.
"Omari," she called. "You have to learn magic."
He turned away. There it was. She'd push him too.
"If you are as powerful as Jessi says then you have to," Pallavi told him. "Then you can become so powerful that no one can command you on what to do anymore."
Omari's eyes snapped open and he turned to her. Pallavi's expression which was kind and firm as she said, "Learn to wield that sword. That sword that gives you the power to annihilate whole Hóngyèse armies and their generals, to subdue kings and emperors and put you at the top."
"But I don't want to kill anyone!" Omari confessed.
Pallavi smiled then countered, "Then don't." His mouth fell, with disbelief in her words. "If you have that much power then use it as a shield instead of a sword. Use it so you become untouchable and that no one can ever threaten you again. Use it… and don't let them ever make you feel afraid."
Omari stared at her, contemplating her words, and for some reason found himself nodding.
-
Tao Liu was resting in a wheelchair in his garden. He was left alone as he meditated. He closed his eyes and thought to himself, reaching deep inside to find his golden core. He felt around and pulled something out. It bloomed in his hand, red energy glistening in his palm. The general played around with it, dancing across his skin as he hummed. He felt very peaceful.
But his calm moment was interrupted by Su Hua who emerged from the side, finally appearing. He looked at her and asked, "So... how did it go?"
"Well, General," she fidgeted. "I investigated the area you recommended, but during all this time, I could not find the ruins."
Tao Liu stared, becoming quite quizzical at this mystery. He questioned, "So what did you find?"
"I found where it could be," she said. "But I could only get in so far until the Maltan troops arrived."
"Maltan troops?" Tao Liu turned, confused. "Why were they there?"
"I determined that they were searching for the same thing we were, sir," she stated.
Tao Liu's brows furrowed as he wondered why those troops would show up. They wouldn't have known it existed, unless… perhaps that certain Maltan Nurse really did survive. It would make sense. So, he was alive all this time.
"Also, General," Su Hua got his attention. "I was able to gather this." She held a vial of spiritual energy that she claimed, "This is no ordinary energy. Whoever created this was exceptionally powerful. Perhaps even ethereal."
His eyes widened, "A god?"
"Maybe, sir," she nodded. "But it'd be better to get your level of expertise. I also have created a full report for you to review."
He hummed, "Good, now rest well and take time off, Su Hua. You deserve it."
She beamed, "Yes, sir!"
-
"What if they force me to make Black Gold?" Omari muttered.
"They won't force you unless you choose to stay here and continue to study at this academy," Pallavi said. "Those are the choices that magic users are given. To go out into the war and use their powers to fight, or to forfeit a sum of their powers as Black Gold to the government."
Omari huffed, "I'd never let them take it. They'll do whatever they want with it."
She nodded, "It's better to choose how to use your magic than to let it be wielded as a bomb by strangers. This way you can decide whether the person at the other end of your spell gets to live or die."
Omari's brows furrowed. The more time he spent at this academy in the city of Vells, the more he was coming to terms that he was going to be forced onto the field. But he just had to do what Pallavi advised, to become the most powerful so no one could make him do anything. That power that he released… it may actually be strong enough to do that. He just needed to learn how to use it, to control it.
They were in a meditation room when Pallavi told him, "Breathe, Omari. I need you to focus and call up on the first memories from when you used your sword. What did you feel? What do you remember?"
Omari huffed and recalled, "Fear, helplessness, shock."
"Now, recall how you felt when you told me your friend Jessi was going to be executed," she stated. "Tell me what you felt then."
"Anger, hopelessness and fear too, my eyes were…" he opened them a bit, "Clouded by fear…"
"So it was triggered by these strong emotions, of being cornered, of being threatened," she said. "Of ones you care about being threatened. Things… perhaps life being taken from you. Yours or others."
"Now, before we reflect on those memories and truly become them, I want you to do one more thing," she breathed in then out, "I want you to remember something that calms you."
Omari quirked a brow, noting, "There aren't many things that calm me, Pallavi."
"It's true," she sighed. "We are in the midst of war and from what you've told me, you have been a part of it for a long time. There isn't much joy in it, but… everyone has something they find enjoyable." She flicked her eyes up to him, "It can be anything, even something small; a person, a piece of good news, a hobby, anything. Even if it's the smallest amount of joy, it can grow and grow and fill a large part of your heart. So what makes you unequivocally happy with no bad memories?"
"No bad memories…?" he wondered and tried to think about it. He saved a lot of people as a nurse, but there were too many bad memories of blood, crying, and many times death with that thought. He tried to think of friends, but even with all the good memories they shared, either their beliefs would be an obstacle or other horrible scenes would flash through his mind. Omari couldn't even use Jessi because they had so many differences and he didn't know if he was over her possibly burning down villages or if he ever will be. Probably not.
But then a little thought popped in his head and he caught himself smiling. A hobby, huh? He could think of a hobby that was warm and smelled good. Something delicious and fun to do. Something that ends up differently every time he does it.
He hummed and nodded.
"You have it?" Pallavi knowingly gazed.
"Yeah."
"May I ask what it is?"
Omari chuckled, "You know what it is. It's cooking. Making a warm meal. Even if there is only a small window of time when I can make such meals, I still enjoy it very much."
Pallavi stared then smiled, "That's a good one then." She sat up straight, saying, "Alright."
Omari readied himself.
"Recall the memory of being attacked, from General Tao Liu, and from the assassin," she said. "Remember their voices, their faces, the light of his spell, the reflection of his blade. Remember the sounds, the smells, how the ground felt under your feet, your surroundings, the colors and shadows. Remember all of it, Omari. Remember the violence in their eyes, the anger, the fear. Feel it, channel it. Recall the hatred. Remember being wronged. Remember the need… the need to shield yourself from them."
Light blasted, startling Pallavi, but consuming Omari. It shined all over him, crawling up his skin and transforming him. He grew into his taller self, dressed in white with a golden crown. His sword gleamed beside him, beautiful and full of magic. Omari opened his eyes, seeing the changes, almost amazed by them.
He blinked and turned to Pallavi, saying, "I did it!"
"You did," she nodded. "Your magic is truly based on emotions. Tricky, but effective and powerful." She took a stick of incense and burned it on a platter, "Now, to revert. We must calm you. So…" She breathed in and out and Omari soon followed suit. He closed his eyes, making himself relax to mirror her. She said, "Now, we must ease your soul. Breathe in then out over and over again." Omari did so, as she kept speaking, "Now the fear doesn't get out of control, since you don't need that much power, we will reflect on things that calm you." She hummed, "Warm smells. It is satisfying and emanating from the kitchen. A roasting chicken, surrounded by carrots and yams… It's scent is filling the air, stimulating your senses."
Omari smiled with a chuckle and listened, "You are in there. Safe and sound. No one to bother you. You have the space to yourself. You have as much time as you need to make whatever pleases you. And that is swirling a whisk in a homemade chocolate mix." He nodded; that is a very nice thought. "You'll make so many. Plenty just for you. Some will be coated in raspberry, some will have nuts, others caramel. But it will all be perfect once out of the oven. Its smell will be the most enjoyable thing, and you will wait in endearing excitement until it's done."
The light around him faded and soon he shrunk. Shrunk back down to his regular self where the sword no longer glowed. He opened his eyes and grinned, in awe, "We-We did it!"
Pallavi nodded, but then a growl emanated from both of their stomachs. She blinked and laughed, "I suppose meditation can make one hungry."
"Then let's go eat," Omari snickered, standing, taking her hand, and pulling her up.
-
He was allowed to go out and hang around Vells with a special envoy of security guards, including Jessi. Omari liked visiting little cafes and before he was never able to have his own money to buy things from stores, not until the academy started freely supplying him with endless allowances. The army wasn't really a job you get paid to do. They fed, clothed, and offered you a tent to sleep in, but not much else.
But now he bought little useless knick knacks that held no function or purpose; he just liked them. Omari's favorite was a red pinwheel that he liked blowing into. It caught his eye and he remembered having one like that as a little kid, but it got lost somewhere. So he bought a new one and started blowing it, just to watch it glitter in the sunlight. It was fun to buy things.
But Jessi poked fun at it, "Why are you buying kids toys? You're an adult."
Omari frowned and pulled away, muttering, "Shut up, Jessi. It's for nostalgia."
"Oh yeah?" she chuckled. "I remember having a few of those as a kid. Though my favorite toy when I was that young was my rocking horse."
He rolled his eyes. She came from a very wealthy family afterall and probably had plenty of toys and gifts throughout her whole childhood. But he wanted to cherish what he could get his hands on now. Omari'll try to enjoy them the most he could before he was sent back out to war.
Suddenly, there was a scream and an explosion. They quickly turned and saw that a building down the block had caught on fire. It looked like an apartment complex or an inn, but the flames were spreading fast and creating a lot of black smoke. Jessi immediately ran up to survey the area, with Omari and the other guards coming from behind. She approached a woman who dashed out of the fire, she looked like a waitress and had soot all over her face. Jessi caught her and asked, "What's going on? What happened?!"
"Some amateur magician was showing off and accidentally set the alcohol kegs on fire!" she gasped. "It's spread everywhere throughout the inn!"
People were running out, but there were plenty of flames engulfing the space. Jessi yelled to all the bystanders, "Everyone stay back! Stay away from the building!" Some of the structure fell on the side, having any people nearby quickly flee. The place was unstable from the fire and everyone was hastily keeping their distance.
Omari stood there, feverishly wondering when the city's wizards would come. They will expel the fire, with a magic spell to either absorb it or cast water. The building was burning quickly and people were still inside. The fire soon grew where no one could escape to the downstairs doors and windows, and no one could get in.
He glanced around, but no one came yet. Then suddenly he heard a yelp. It was a small cry for help. It sounded like a child. Maybe upstairs. He felt fear for them.
Light burst through him, catching everyone off guard as they looked up to see that he had transformed. Jessi gawked, "O-OMARI?!"
But he was feeling a pull, something pushing him. An urge, whether it was his own or the sword's, it didn't matter, it was his now too. He took a step forward with Jessi and the guards attempting to reach him, but he slipped out of their hands. He jumped high, all the way to the second story and entered through a window. Jessi and the bystanders stared as he went inside.
As he did, Omari noticed that he wasn't affected by the smoke, and didn't feel much from the burn of the flame. He went in, walking on creaking and weak wooden boards, listening to the cries and following them.
He saw a child in the middle of the hall, they were crying and coughing over an unconscious woman. But through her tears, she looked up and saw him. Amazement encompassed her eyes as he gently scooped them both up. He carried the two outside and brought them down to the ground. He placed the child and woman in front of Jessi, who immediately started performing cpr and then he went back inside.
Omari listened well and his searches were successful each time, even though he had to act quickly. He found the trapped and the injured, bringing them all outside to be taken care of. By the time he was done, the building was consumed by flames and there was a crowd of people staring at him in absolute awe. He looked out over all of them, knowing that all their eyes were on him, but before he could even think about it, he felt a small tug. He glanced down to see the child who gratefully smiled up at him, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Hero!"
Then someone clapped, and more and more, until there was a full applause. Many yelling out cheers for the hero.
Soon wizards came to quell the fire and the injured were taken to a hospital. The child hung onto Omari, telling him, "You saved my mommy and me. Thank you so much."
Omari stared at them and when he received such genuine appreciation, he felt content and relieved. Once that feeling washed over him, his transformation ended and he returned to himself. The child and their mother were taken to the hospital along with many other injured, and they waved goodbye.
-
Word spread like wildfire about the hero who saved eleven people from a burning people and immediate praise sprung from everywhere. People started questioning who this hero was. At the academy, Omari was praised a million times over for his brave efforts, but for some reason it never felt as genuine unlike when that child said it.
But at least they were looking at him through a positive light… for now.
When he reached back to the academy that day, the Head Mistress and Pallavi had to confront him about it. Pallavi was relieved that he properly utilized his powers, but she was still heavily anxious about it. The Head Mistress Madeline had not been informed that his magic was emotionally based and he had difficulty controlling it in the past, so for the meantime, she was enthusiastic and excited about his accomplishments.
She congratulated and rewarded Omari with a shiny medal of bravery and honor. Omari felt weird receiving such a glamorous trinket and to him, it didn't feel quite right wearing it. So he'd use it as a paperweight for now cause it was relatively heavy.
In fact, even though he casually accepted the initial congratulations, he eventually didn't care too much for them over time. He did the right thing, sure, but they were glorifying him. Omari didn't know if the magic users that usually take care of those types of situations get honored as heroes too, but he didn't like being placed on a pedestal like this. It was far too high up.
Jessi told him to relish in it for now and to graciously thank people for the congratulations. "It's for your own good," she huffed. "You want the people to be on your side. And the more good and amazing deeds you do, the more people will object if the king ever tries to turn against you."
Omari listened and knew that she was right, but he still didn't like being pushed into this category of hero. Because he knew they would quickly have expectations on what a hero should be like. And if he didn't fulfill those expectations… it could mean his life.