A P H I A
"What did you do, Lady Aphia?" Erskine questioned me the moment he entered the room. We are in Arcovia's School of Magic. Their school is unbelievably exquisite. The appearance of the school is similar to the castle.
I look at him in confusion. "I am doing what you told me to do, master," I replied sarcastically.
It's been two weeks since I started taking magic lessons from the great mage. Erskine is teaching me all the things he knows about magic. I started learning from the basics, and that was making a healing potion.
We explored the whole castle and led me to the medicinal plants. They are growing at the back of the castle, and they have all kinds of medicinal herbs. They are using these herbs to make healing potions.
After preparing the medicinal herbs, I would apply magic to them. Erskine taught me how to apply magic to the herb's extract. If the casting of magic is successful, it will turn red.
I have successfully made potions after a few tries until something happened yesterday. I was casting magic on the processed herbs when suddenly the potion turned to gold.
The first time I witnessed how Erskine used magic, I almost fainted. The first time I cast magic, I instantly fainted. I was so amazed, shocked, and overwhelmed with how incredible magic was. I think I could turn the prince into a real frog. Kidding.
"The red healing potion you made was 30% more effective than the others." He explained after sitting comfortably on the couch as I continued casting spells on the next healing potion in front of me. I have already made 100 bottles of healing potion just for today.
"It's good news, right?" I asked.
He nods. "It is, and the other mages want to surpass what you accomplished."
"I'm sure they are aware that I am not competing with them, right?"
"You motivate them to do better." Wow. I'm flattered. "However, the gold healing potion you made yesterday was still under appraisal. You still can't figure out why it turned to gold?"
I shake my head. "I was just doing it the way I made the other potion. Nothing special, but I'm not sure of its efficacy."
"We will test and verify it first before using it to humans." He said, and I nodded.
He also taught me the basic way to use earth, water, wind, ice, and fire magic. I always get surprised every time I successfully cast magic. I still can't believe I have magic.
He told me that I could use elemental magic to attack or defend myself in case of an enemy attack. Moreover, he told me that I am special since I can use the five elemental magic. Naturally, a person can only use one or two.
"You have to concentrate on releasing your magic. Feel the magic inside you and focus your mind on the things you want to do." My master reminded me, and I sighed. "Clear your head, Lady Aphia. You must think solely of the magic you want to make."
"I'm on it, master," I said.
After a few hours, Erskine let me rest for a while. I stepped out of the school and sat under a tree in the garden. The students barely stayed here, and I wanted to breathe for a while, so I decided to go here.
I stared at my hands as I smiled. Who would have thought that these hands are capable of doing things beyond my imagination? I never thought that a simple girl like me would end up creating magic in an unfamiliar world. Life is unexpected.
I shut my eyes closed as the cold wind caressed my face. It's relaxing and refreshing at the same time. After a few seconds, I looked around the area and found a little bird. It is chirping and looks like in pain.
I scoop it up and place it on my palm as I return under the tree. I check its body, and its one wing is injured. "Poor little thing. Where's your mom and siblings?" I asked it, and I wouldn't be surprised if it would talk since this world is full of peculiar creatures.
I smile as I think of the way I could help it. I breathed out as I covered it with both of my palms. I shut my eyes closed as I felt the magic inside me and focused my mind on healing the little bird. "Heal." I uttered, and I can feel my magic flowing inside me as my hands feel warm.
I hear the bid chirp again, and I open my eyes as I take a closer look to check its wing. I smile at the result of my magic. "You are good to go now," I said as I put it down. It spreads its wings, and it flies.
It's my first time using my magic in an animal. My heart feels warm and happy that I could help the bird. I can heal everyone using my magic. I should do my best to know more about it and what else I could do using it. I should dedicate my life to helping others.
"You what!?" Erskine shouted the moment I finished my story about the bird I healed.
"Should I start telling it again from the top?" I asked while boiling the leaves of bael, lavender, and marigold. Erskine instructed me to make a more healing potion since the Order of Knights had already started their expedition to the places where monsters had seen roaming around.
I heard the river in that forest dried up, and the trees were withering. Monsters and evils can destroy or kill any non-living and living things in this world.
"It's amazing, Lady Aphia! I should have witnessed it!" He exclaimed. "Do you think you can heal humans now?" I looked at him in shock. "Why?"
"Don't be so hasty, Erskine. I need more training and practice to make sure I can heal humans. I'm afraid I could inflict more injury to them." I said.
"How about this?" He caught my attention, and I yelled when I saw his palm bleeding.
"What the heck?! What did you do!?" Goodness! What is this guy thinking?!
"Heal it." What? "Heal me, Lady Aphia. Use your healing magic on me."
"Did you cut yourself just to see how I use my healing magic?!" I yelled out of frustration.
He chuckles. "Well, yeah. I want to see it for myself, and we will see if it works on humans." He said while smiling, and I swear I want to punch his beautiful face!
I breathed out as I calmed myself down. This great mage is insane! I place my one palm over his palm as I close my eyes. I feel the magic inside me and focus my mind on healing his palm. The same warm that I sensed when I cured the bird happened again.
"Lady Aphia." Erskine called my name, and it was my cue to open my eyes. He is looking at me in amusement, his eyes are sparkling, and his smile is wide. "Your healing magic is magnificent!" He exclaimed, and I chuckled awkwardly at him. He looks like a child.
I check his palm, and the wound is gone. It has no scars too. There is no trace at all. I was amazed! I can't believe my healing magic is better than the medicine in my world.
"I should report to the majesty immediately. I'll see you tomorrow, Lady Aphia!" He said before shutting the door closed. He's so excited that he forgot to bring his coat, and it's too early to call it a day.
I sighed as I grabbed his coat and followed him. He said he's going to meet the king, so it's probably this way. The school of magic and the castle is within the same vicinity so it's not that far. I have no sense of directions, and I am not familiar with the castle yet. I hope I can remember my way back to my room.
I was walking in the hallway when I saw groups of knights training at the castle yard. They are using swords, bows and arrows, and spears. I wonder if those armors are heavy.
"Lady Aphia!" Someone called my name, and I saw Aloisia waving his hands at me. I smile at her. It's been more than two weeks since the last time I saw the five commanders, and they are all here. She jogged towards me and pulled me to where the other commanders were.
Gosh! I am not ready for this! I wonder how I look. I'm just wearing a plain knee-length Aegean blue dress and knee-high dark brown boots. I hope I'm still presentable.
"Nice meeting you again, priestess."