Mother Alisha kicked me out carriage, knocking the breath out of me as I fell. We were going down a hill at the time, causing me to spiral down into the forest below.
In a panic, I tried covering my face with my arms and curling into a ball before plummeting into a flurry of trees and branches. The beautiful colors that made up the surroundings began to fade away, leaving behind a gloomy hazy.
I must have hit my head on the way down because everything suddenly went black. When I opened my eyes I was immediately greeted with sharp pain all over my body.
AHHHHHGGGG!
I let out a blood-curdling scream as waves of pain crashed into me like a tsunami. I tried to lift my body but it felt as though every bone in my body was broken.
The pain was nauseating and beyond anything I've ever experienced. As I convulsed for a moment I blacked out again.
Clarity slowly crept in as I regained consciousness and this time, there was no abrupt rush of pain. The pain from before vanished as if it was just a terrible nightmare.
As I tried lifting myself, I instinctively flinched for a moment remembering the intense pain I felt the first time. Thankfully, this time I was able to pull myself up and get back on my two feet.
For a moment, I was wondering if I had even opened my eyes. There was nothing but boundless darkness in all directions as far as the eye could see.
Before I could wait for my eyes to adjust slightly to the darkness, a voice resounded within my eardrums, causing me to jump in shock.
"Hmmm, so you've finally awakened my child?", the smooth, sing-song-like voice bellowed from inside my head.
My eyes darted back and forth as I spoke, "W-who is that ?" Everywhere I look I can only see darkness but that voice seemed to come from my inside head.
"You fell from the top of a mountain, plummeted through a forest, and slipped deep into an underground cavern. You should be dead right about now."
I started to remember what happened during the carriage ride. "Mother Alisha…" I whispered her name, the tears began to swell in my eyes once more as I was flooded with a rush of emotions.
"HA HA HA so you've tasted betrayal too! HAHAHA and at such a young age!", the voice continued to laugh.
Soon I felt less sad and a lot angrier. I hated Mother Alisha for what she did and being laughed at for it was not helping either.
"Listen, boy, this is just another truth of the world. You are nothing because you are weak and will continue to be nothing until you become strong."
SNAP
A loud snapping sound could be heard echoing throughout the cavern and slowly the area started to be filled with a dim light.
I was inside a large cave with a few holes in the ceiling. Oddly, light could now be seen drifting through the holes, creating natural light.
Before I could question why the holes were not producing the lights when I initially awoke, my eyes drifted toward the back of the cave.
In front of me, there was some kind of giant black armor with beautiful intricate engravings that seemed to ebb and flow like some kind of shadowy gas. The helmet had 2 sharp horns on each side with golden flames for eyes.
The armor sat on a throne carved from crystals emitting a faint and eerie magenta glow. The throne was adorned with runes that were similar to the armor, shifting like an unnatural gas encased in glass.
As I tried to take a closer look at the engravings, a slight pain ran through my head. I stumbled back and fell onto the ground with my heart pounding.
"Calm yourself, child, you would be dead long ago if not for me." the armor snickered slightly
"Long ago? Didn't you just save me today?" I asked in confusion.
"When I found you every single bone in your body had been broken and you were on the verge of death. I gave you some of my life essences, hoping that there would be a chance for your survival."
"It seems that the influx was too powerful, however, since after healing your initial wounds you did not open your eyes for three months."
"T-three months?! That's impossible!" I shouted out in exasperation.
The armor began to chuckle again before it spoke, "Yes, you've truly kept me waiting for quite some time my child."
Looking up at the gargantuan black armor I started to feel less afraid and more curious.
"Why did you save me?" I couldn't help but ask, especially after being abandoned a second time.
"I supposed that I simply wanted some company in my final moments. Ah! Also, I looked through your memories and saw when your mother kicked you out of the carriage. Truly a pitiful sight."
"That's not my mother!" I screamed out in rage. "She just owned the orphanage…"
The armor started to chuckle again.
"Remember I have seen the entirety of your life. It is ok that you felt some attachment to the woman that watched over you for years."
I felt a dark and cold tingle spread from deep within my chest hearing the armor talk about mother Alisha.
"Nevertheless, it was pitiful because you humans seem to underestimate what it means to have an affinity with an element. Then again, the lack of knowledge is just one of the many factors entrapping this plane."
Hearing the armor begin to talk about the elements, my interest was peaked.
"Do you mean that the earth's affinity could be strong as well?"
"That depends on the individual, but anyone can achieve strength with dedication and proper technique."
"I don't know where to start. I don't even know the other affinities or what my having the earth affinity means !" I didn't intend to scream but having access to someone that can answer my questions was getting me excited.
"An affinity simply means that you are more perceptive and sensitive to a specific type of mana. There are 6 main types of mana that permeate this place. They are earth, fire, water, wind, light, and dark."
"Come closer child I shall show you how it's done."
I shakily stepped closer to the giant armor that seemed to be easily 15 meters tall. The armor leaned slightly over and placed the tip of its index finger on my forehead.
Suddenly it felt like a huge space opened in my mind and information started pouring in.
"What I have just given you is a glimpse of what it is like to open up to your sea of the soul as well as what it feels like to draw upon the mana around you to form your mana core."
"Forming your core will get you started on your path to strength."
Tears started to fall from my eyes and I dropped to my knees sobbing.
"Can I stay here with you for a little while longer?"
"HAHAHA yes, you may. My name is Angelus Mortem but you may call me Angel."
I'm not sure how much time had passed but I would sit on the floor, cross-legged in meditation, trying to feel the mana around me.
Angelus would help me get a grasp of the feeling of the mana being drawn from around me and deep into my abdomen. Without the insight provided by Angel, it would have been impossible to grasp the concept of feeling external energy.
Once I became more comfortable in feeling the ambient mana and willing it into my abdomen, Angel recommended that I tried to do the same thing while moving instead. It was even harder to focus on controlling the mana while moving so I started with just pacing back and forth.
Every day I could feel a soothing warm feeling getting larger and larger in my stomach.
During a mediation session, all of a sudden an explosion of energy surged out of me. Simultaneously, the space in my mind opened up to reveal a small crystalline sea, with a clear blue sky.
"Congratulations my child. It seems you have formed your core and officially opened your sea of soul. Now you can begin cultivating in earnest."
I ran over to Angelus and squeezed his giant foot. "It's all thanks to you!"
"Hmm, I simply gave you a small push in the right direction."
"No! You saved my life! I'm not sure what I'd do without you!"
-Sigh-
I heard Angelus heave a deep sigh so I stepped back and tried to look up at him. Even while seated, the armor was a hulking sight, causing me to have to take multiple steps to get a good look at the helmet.
"I must be honest with you my child. I don't have much time left."
"You've said that before but what do you mean by that?"
"You may be unaware, but you've been here for over a year. Whilst I have been here for over a millennium."
"I was betrayed and on the verge of death when I first arrived here. Hiding away in this dark cave, waiting to rot away or for my pursuers to arrive."
"Instead I had the blessing of you falling from the skies. I used what little life essence I had left to save you."
"So what does that mean?! How much time do you have left?!" I began to scream as tears filled my eyes. Angelus was the first person to truly care for me.
"Don't cry, my child. This last year has been one of the happiest years of my existence. You've made me feel like a real mother."
"That being said I have one final gift to depart to you. Consider it something like an inheritance, my will."
"Wait did you say, mother?! And what do you mean by your will?"
"HAHAHA! Yes, I am a fine young lady. Many men have lost their necks trying to take a glance at me I'll have you know!"
"Ah! Also, beings with massive amounts of mana and control can pass on a portion of their power and memories as an inheritance, this is what is called a will."
"Soon I will be passing and have nothing left in this world. Let me pass this along to you."
Before I could say anything angelus touched my forehead again.
A strange sensation like bugs running all across my skin, from my face down to my toes. It felt cold, sinister, and powerful. As I looked at my hand strange intricate lines like the lines on angelus's armor seemed to ebb and flow all over my body just like hers.
The weird black runes faded away as abruptly as they had appeared before I fell to my knees and looked up at Angel.
"I truly wish I had more time with you. Meeting you has given me a happy ending despite my cursed fate. Sadly, they most likely sensed such a strong outburst of mana and will come to investigate."
I could feel waves of sadness emanating from the golden flames that made up her eyes as she spoke. "My pursuers will likely also come looking for you in search of any remnants of my power."
As she spoke those words a portal opened behind me and a small suction force could be felt.
"I will teleport you to a random location above ground. Be safe. Pursue your strength. Do not be filled with hatred." As she uttered those words, the suction force increased tenfold, lifting me off my feet and into the air.
Angelus! You're like a mother to me! I lo—.
Before I could finish uttering the words I was in the middle of an open grassy field.
Looking up, there was no longer the dark ceiling with natural skylights that I had grown accustomed to. A beautiful sky accented by burning sunlight could be seen instead.
I dropped to my knees and screamed into the grass as tears fell from my chin.