The following weeks consisted of me learning the basics of my elemental affinities. To put it short, I had to separate the two elements from each other before materializing them, other wise the earth and fire would always manifest as a smoldering sphere of rock, like it did when I first used magic near the Holy Woods.
-"Maybe being a dual elemental is a blessing in disguise, just separating two elements from each other was a hassle, I can't even imagine how challenging it would've been if I manifested three or four elements…"-
Tess had taken a few days extra off of her officer duties after the encounter with the slave traders, not only to give me some training in magic, but to also ensure the traders wouldn't send their chronies after our family.
After learning how to separate the elements and being able to hold both of them in each hand respectively, I decided that mastering earth magic first would be the best choice. It offered a good balance of defense and offense and was considerably easier to control than the sporadic flames that I possessed. Although a mage couldn't hurt themselves with their own spells, I needed to at least be able to use one element before the Young Magi Games.
My training consisted of hunting small animals with Ray, helping with the fields and sparring against Tess.
Ray had helped me refine my control over earth, teaching me how to turn the earth beneath my feet soft as I walked to reduce the noise I made when approaching animals, how to ensnare animals in the ground by quickly opening up holes beneath their paws, you can imagine the rest. Sometimes animals couldn't be approached due to their affinity with the earth or because of the wind blowing my scent in their direction, which forced me to learn how to launch projectiles to attack from a longer range, this is where I hit my first blockade.
I felt like a toddler trying to play darts, which is actually not too far from the truth, except I had to stand more than 30 meters away from my target. Ray insisted that we continue to hunt rabbits and larger birds as it would force me to be more precise, unless I wanted to go to bed with an empty stomach. The first week was grueling and after being reduced to tears, Ray put the projectile training on hold and had me handle the fields.
I was responsible for my own plot of land the size of a football field. My only job was tilling it for the farmers. It was relatively easy, all I had to do was raise the soil into the air, loosen the large chunks into loose soil and spread it evenly on the plain. This task forced me to work on a much larger scale while reducing the amount of mana that I used, not finishing the job in time would result in glares from the farmers and angry villagers. Crops grew at a much faster rate due to magic which made it possible for me to do this twice a week.
My control grew exponentially, going from tilling about 5 square meters of soil in one go in the first week, to tilling half the field in the third week.
One month after the slave traders, I could incapacitate small animals from medium to long-range using earth magic and started to spar against Tess whenever she made her rounds to the village, the frequency of her visits increased as the Magi Games neared. I'm sure she was hesitant about me competing for merits, but as my magical skill grew, so did her eagerness towards our lessons.
Since Tess was an officer capable of cryo magic, she offered me all her tips on defensive and offensive use of magic, a training regiment and sparring sessions. For me to get better at fighting actual humans, which would be in some of the games I'd have to compete in, we would play a game of glorified tag.
During one of Tess's visits, she dragged me out to my plot of land where I refined my mana control. "Alright Kenny," Tess spoke in a gentle manner, her firm military mannerisms subtly showing. "I'll be standing right here, you run over there to that end of the field. On my mark you have to try and reach me, you are allowed to use offensive and defensive magic while I'm limited to defensive magic. You're only objective is to touch me."
-"Touch you? If you weren't part of my family, I'd be having other worldly thoughts right now…"-
"And I have to touch you with my hand?" I almost burst out laughing at my childish joke.
"Yep, as long as you touch me anywhere on my body, you win."
-"May this worlds' creator bless me with another Tess when I am of age…"-
Like a Mexican standoff, a tumble weed blew past me, casting tendril-like shadows to form on the orange sun-stained earth, a bead of sweat dripping from my neck length crimson red hair. From this distance I could barely see the grin on Tess's face behind her jet-black hair whirring in her face. On her mark the match had begun. Unbeknownst to her, I had already started playing.
I sprinted as fast as my 4-year-old legs could carry me towards my objective. With every step I took, I used a slight amount of mana to harden and tilt the soil beneath my feet, giving my steps more leverage, Tess hadn't moved an inch. Crossing half the field in less than 10 seconds, Tess finally made her move. She turned her boots into ice skates and glided circles around me with a stupid grin on her face. Trying to keep track of her made me dizzy and left a sour taste in my mouth.
-"Trying to taunt me huh?"-
I pretended to be dazed but silently raised the earth over her makeshift ice rink in the form of a ramp, launching her up and leaving her vulnerable in the air. Roughly estimating where she would land, I opened a large pit underneath her, keeping the soil soft so I wouldn't hurt her. Tess retaliated by filling the hole with water and hardening it to continue her skating routine.
Her smug face after sticking the landing quickly subsided when her feet slipped underneath her. By hardening the soil underneath the ice, I was able to tilt the ground slightly, causing Tess to tumble into a hole I had prepared long before the match even started.
-"Checkmate!"-
Again, making sure the soil was soft enough to ensnare Tess but to not hurt her, the earth snapped her hand in place.
"Heh, not bad for a kid. But I win. Better luck next time though Kenny."
I was about to touch Tess and win the game, but the exhaustion from lack of mana was evident on my face. My efforts amounted to my loss and an unsolicited dirt nap.
This routine carried on for 3 Months until the end of summer, when the first of three annual Magi Games would begin. During this time, I focused all my attention on earth magic, only using fire magic to help Raymond light the fire place or so Violet could cook food. The Magi Games were 2 weeks away and Tess dragged me out to the field for one last game of glorified tag.
-"I haven't won a single game against her, but this time is different. This time I will touch her! I really should stop saying that…"-
Once again, we were on opposite sides of the field, the cold wind causing goosebumps followed by a shiver. I got into position and on Tess's mark the final game began.
***
Violet Watkin
I've always kept an eye over Kenny while he was training but never actually watched him spar against Tess. According to Tess, Kenny is quite smart and can adapt to most situations on a whim, his problem was simply following through with his plans and controlling his mana. Tess could tell that he was hesitant when on the attack, probably due to his encounter with the smugglers. Me and Raymond try our best to support him, but that's unfortunately a wound that could only be healed with time.
I was positioned a few feet away from the side of the field, both Kenny and Tess looked confident, a faint smile visible on both their faces. Tess surprised me when she roared 'Let's go!' and started sprinting towards Kenny. I noticed the earth underneath Tess's feet crumble, Kenny started sprinting.
Tess regained her footing and started gliding on the ground, going around and even above Kenny, leaving a slim trail of ice behind her. Kenny used his surroundings to rapidly launch chunks of soil at her feet, while moving perpendicular to Tess, but still keeping a close distance.
Tess effortlessly dodged my sons' projectiles with a smile on her face, I could see Kenny's face get red. This game of cat and mouse continued for about 3 minutes before Kenny couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Would you stop smiling already!"
His sudden anger caught me off guard. Thinking back, I don't remember ever seeing Kenny mad, this was the first time. Tess slowed down; her expression finally got serious yet her smirk remained. I felt a sudden cold wash over me, causing me to shiver. Kenny raised both hands in the air and struck the ground. A strong gale caused me to lose my footing and upon regaining my focus, the entire field was covered by a thick cloud of dust.
I could only spot two figures, Tess to the right in a fit of coughs with Kenny approaching her, not making a sound even when walking, followed by a loud slap.
***
Kenny Watkin
-"I've had it up to here with her taunts. It doesn't matter how pretty she is with her cute smile and green eyes; these hands are rated E for Everyone."
I decided to put feelings aside and win this once and for all. Using the last bit of mana I had, I struck the ground with both fists, causing the ground to shatter which conjured a thick cloud of dust. Softening the ground below each step I took allowed me to silently approach Tess. I got up right in front of her, conjured a pedestal to meet her at eye level and slapped the smirk right off her face. The last thing I could see before passing out from exertion was her surprised face, imprinted with my signature on her right cheek.
-"I finally touched her…"-
***
Tess Vermont
Among my fit of coughs, I felt a body of anger and annoyance approach me, but due to the cloud of dust and my own confusion I didn't notice the small figure get larger. Not until it got up to meet me at eye level and smacked my face with a tiny hand. After Kenny fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, I couldn't suppress my laughter.
-"This lil' squirt's gotten so strong the past 3 months. Won't be surprised if he sweeps the floor with the competition at the games."-
I thought that Kenny's outlash was a fluke which caused the dust cloud to form, but as his mana died down so did the cloud. His control over earth is extraordinary, but he still needs to learn to stop wasting so much of it on unnecessary movements. It made me wonder what he'd be capable of with Fire magic.
Once again, I had to carry Kenny back to his house, Violet couldn't stop apologizing that my nephew had slapped me but it was actually all part of my plan. In the military school I attended, it is constantly drilled into us that our emotions play a huge role in fights. Anger could strengthen spells but also cause them to lash out, fear makes mana hard to control and happiness makes mana more submissive to the mage.
I unfortunately had to leave Kenny and couldn't congratulate him on his victory, so I left him a note.
'Congratulations on winning Kenny. Since it was our last match, I didn't hold back at all and I'm sure you noticed as well. The Magi Games are in less than a week so take this time to rest and mentally prepare yourself. I'll meet you again in 4 days and then we'll set out to Patria. Make sure you pack a whole weeks' worth of clothes.
P.S Don't worry about slapping me, I'll repay you in full someday.' Followed by a winking smiley face.
***
Kenny Watkin
I found myself in a dark void after the fight with Tess, a very faint silver light visible in the distance. Confused on where I was, I walked towards the light before being stopped by a voice.
"I think it's better if you stay back there for now, Johann."
It was a voice I haven't heard in at least 3 and a half years. Michaels' voice. It was most likely him standing in the distance, emitting the silver light, but his voice sounded clear as if he was right next to time.
"Michael? Is that you?"
"It is, Johann. Or should I call you Kenny now?" Michaels' voice sounded old and tired, as if he'd aged decades.
I felt a wave of relief crash over me, hearing a familiar voice in this unfamiliar world had brought unimaginable happiness upon my soul. "Where are we right now? And why can't I see you? And-"
"Calm down, Kenny. I don't have much time; I'll be leaving again soon and want to impart you with this piece of crucial knowledge. Know that I have also been reborn as a mage, and this silver light you see is my core. Look down at your chest, you can see yours as well."
I looked down and saw a faint, orange light glowing from my chest through my shirt.
"Only 4 years old and already at the dark-orange stage. That's impressive, even though it's partly because of me." He said almost proudly.
"What does this mean? Why is the color of my core significant? What's going on, am I dreaming??"
"All will be answered in time, but I need you to be strong in this world and find success in becoming either a strong mage, or gain some influence in the academic world of magic. Me and you died seconds apart from each other on earth, but I was born almost 100 years before you in this world, on Xercei. I'm proud to say that I improved magic for everyone in this world but a great magician never reveals all his secrets. Know this though, when you got here, I imbued some of my pure mana into your eyes, making you capable of seeing my core."
I wanted to ask questions of my own but Michael kept on talking.
"This can only be accomplished by white core mages like myself. When you wake up, send mana to your eyes and you should be able to sense other people's cores, as well as a faint sense of their mana flow. All mages are able to imbue their eyes with mana, but aren't capable of doing what you'll be able to do, unless they are also at the white core stage of course. Lastly, in this world I go by the name Sirius Astaseul. Find my writings, learn from them and finish my work. I would have liked to give you more power but I don't have the time."
The amount of information I received left me flabbergasted and before I could get a word out, Michael appeared before me. From him explaining how he was some great mage, I fully expected him to wear a robe and a wizard hat and to have a long grey beard. Instead, he appeared before me in his old earthly form, and we were back at the cliff where we met our demise.
"Stay safe out there Kenny. Become strong enough to protect your family and finish my work. Then we can talk again, I promise."
I woke up out of breath and in a cold sweat. Tears streaming down my face. This time it wasn't from my body's reaction but my genuine feelings. Seeing my old friend again and being able to hear him talk directly to me, instead of hearing his screams of terror was reassuring.
I assume Violet could hear my whimpers as she rushed into my room to console me. I felt a bittersweet happiness knowing I had parents that cared for me, but sad that I lost my old friend and family. Here I could be vulnerable and cry to my heart's content, and Violet and Ray wouldn't be bothered by it, I truly felt grateful towards them.
I treasured the embrace and, if I could, I would stay here forever, but I suddenly remembered Michael's words. Imbuing my eyes with mana, I could see a deep yellow glow emanating from Violet's stomach, as well as a green mist-like glow forming a dome around us. She conjured a sound proof dome of wind since Ray was still asleep and I was crying quite loudly.
This confirmed that I actually spoke to Michael, or Sirius as he told me, and that it wasn't a delusion.