It's been 8 years since the awakening ceremony and I explored as far as I was allowed to before I received my magic, and tomorrow is the day I receive it.
Due to my unique eyes with a center cross I was in a unique situation.
Since I have 3 crosses in my eyes, it makes my family eligible to enter the running for the position of Second Elder.
The position of Second Elder is only for those who have at least a broken cross bloodline.
Now because of my pupil cross my bloodline is considered immensely pure, due to this my family was elevated from second behind the Third Elder to second from the Second Elder.
This is a joy to my father who never got along with the Third Elder due to this he would often be away from home.
But with his new position he was no longer able to be pushed around, this increase in free time was a joy to my mother and I.
This meant that he was able to spend far more time with us, and finally have the time to enjoy life and the benefits his standing provided us with.
We were able to make a new house at a location of our choosing and had earth sculptures to make the house however we wanted it.
Another unique benefit of my eyes is that I will receive my mana and training with the clan heads and their family, they are the only ones with experience training those with a pupil cross.
Due to my unique situation I have been allowed nearly unlimited access across the tepui and was able to explore almost the entire area.
There were only 2 places I have yet to explore due to them being inaccessible to me.
The first place was the forest below the cliff.
This is mainly because there is no way that I have found to make it down without ending up like a stepped on caterpillar.
The second place is inside the 3 great clan towers, they were so tall that on stormy days they would be swallowed by the clouds.
Many times I begged my parents to let me inside them, but every time they denied me saying it was only for those with mana.
Many times I made plans to sneak inside the towers and yet the plans always failed. There was always someone guarding the entrance and I could never get past them.
Aside from those two places barred from me, my favorite place on the entire tepui is the rooftop terrace on my house.
Due to my constant pestering my parents finally relented and had the house built as close to the edge of the cliff as we were allowed; but we still had to have it built in the living sector.
Due to the close proximity to the edge along with its height, the view from the roof is absolutely incredible.
My father says It's even better than the view he used to have when he was forced to stay at the guard post by the Third Elder.
My father took me with him one time to visit the place where he used to guard and the view was very nice but paled in comparison to our rooftop.
It was a similar height but they were further back from the edge.
On the top of our roof we had 3 stone chairs with simple padding facing the horizon, this is where my family would often spend the evenings watching the sunset before going to bed.
Tonight was special though tomorrow I will finally receive my mana then after I could finally try magic.
Beyond our home the cliff extended a dozen meters before dropping off steeply.
Beyond the edge of the tepui, hundreds of meters below was a lush forest full of different shades of green where flashes of different colored elemental creatures could be seen between the dense leaves.
In the distance far beyond the greenery below, was a glowing red area my father called the dead sands, as it was a hostile place where no life could be found.
The setting sun cast everything in a golden orange light, turning the red sands into liquid gold and painting the trees with shadows and oranges.
There was a strong wind making the trees below dance as though they were worshiping the fading light.
I sat there with my father since my mother went inside earlier, she never liked the cold wind that stirred when the sun got low.
We sat together in a comfortable silence until the sun had completely disappeared, swallowed by the dead sands in the distance.
Then my father broke the silence saying.
"It's time to head inside, you have a big day tomorrow. Taming the wild mana is always harder than you expect."
"Of course Father, I will make you both proud and be the best magic user" I spoke with great conviction.
"Silly boy," my father said, ruffling my hair with his hand "You have already made your mother and I very proud. Now get to bed, you need to be at your best tomorrow."
"I will go to bed in a little bit, I just want to stay out here for a few more minutes. It won't affect me in the morning, I promise."
"Very well, don't stay up too late and don't fall over. Goodnight Etanali."
"Goodnight dad, I'll see you in the morning" I replied as my father descended the steps and left to join my mother in bed.
I walked towards the edge of our roof before stopping a step short of the edge and stared off into the night, lost in thought.
It has been slightly over 8 years since I came to this world and became the child Etanali.
The clifftop life was odd and difficult at first but I have gotten used to it and have begun to love the simple pleasures here.
I still remembered my life on earth but this magical world was truly wondrous, but I missed one thing from my old world; my caretaker Lisa.
At the edge of the house I whispered to the wind "I will make you proud too Lisa, wherever you are."
Then I turned around and started to make my way back to the steps when a big gust of wind blew pushing my back.
Unlike the cold wind that had been blowing all night, this one was warm.