Not knowing what to do since my great master left me with enough time to kill, I decided to go look for celeste. I was about to go look for her in one of the tavern she and her friends regularly hang out when I saw her heading my way.
I was about to go look for you.
And I you.
What's up, what are they saying about me this time did I kill anyone?
Must you assume the worst ionia?
So are you saying the reason you are looking for me is not because you've heard something about me?
I think we need to go to my room or yours she said.
I followerd her to her room.
So what is it this time?
It's about your marriage.
My marriage?
To who?
Clarissa said you refused to marry someone that's why your family got fed up and decided to abandon you. That since you got no talents or abilities they were only looking out for you, but you remain obstinate. Now everyone is blaming you and calling you all sort of names.
Well that's not all the problem, but then who cares. My father did ask me to get married to one old odd fellow and I refused. The whole of ataraxia can blame me I don't care.
This is serious ionia, it seems as if every passing day new ways to hate you comes up.
I don't need to displease myself to please anyone at the end of the day the ones that care don't mind and the ones that mind are in all honesty irrelevant.
I don't know ionia, the hatred out there is real. You have to be careful and your beauty is also something else. I think majority of the girls hate you out of spite and jealousy.
So I should disfigure myself?
No, by the spirits no that's not what I mean.
Look celeste let them talk they are entitled to, it is there right.
So tell me have you given them your name?
Not yet maybe tomorrow.
I will join you then.
Join me in what?
To put down my name of cause.
Ionia you must be joking. I mean I'm not making fun of you but you don't have any magic, how can you compete in a magical competition without magic?
You will find out when the time comes, I told her with a wink while saying my goodbye.
I left her in stupefied silence, and went to my room.
The next morning celeste and I went to meet Frances, since I'm officially a pariah I let celeste do all the talking. I've already told celeste I would be competing in the elemental category.
Leader we are here to put down our names for the competition said celeste.
Who are the we?
Ionia and I.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha is this a joke?
You I can understand, but her! she pointed at me. Well I'm intrigued in which category will she be competing?
Elemental.
Hahhahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha this is getting interesting. I don't know what to say.
Frances turned to me.
You want to compete?
I do.
With what magic?
I will learn.
Hahahahahahahahahaha your ex family is famous for thelsia, no one posses any form even hint of being an elemental and you are saying you want to compete as an elemental. As much as I want to see you embarrass and disgrace yourself this is out of my hand.
Then who can I meet?
Come with me she said already walking away.
Celeste and I followed her to meet illaesa.
Greetings illaesa, we greeted.
Greetings young ones what can I do for you.
IIlaesa celeste and ionia came to me to put down their names. The problem however is Ionia does not have magic.
You are ionia right? Illaesa asked me
Yes my lady.
Now child why would you want to compete in a magic competition when you can't do magic?
That's not all illaesa continued Frances. She wants to compete in the elemental category.
But isn't she the daughter of caius fallenvale?
Yes illaesa her family is known for thelsia.
Child surely you can see the problem here.
Please my lady I will practice and do my best if I can't do it, it will be my shame. I want to try I beg of you.
Illaesa even if we allow her no one will agree to train her everyone knows her story she won't find a master anywhere.
What is that you are putting on child? asked illaesa pointing at my hand.
It's a bracelet my lady.
Is that not rainbow moonstone?
Yes my lady.
Rainbow moonstone? Asked frances coming closer to look at my hand.
How did you get it asked illaesa?
My mom gave it to me while she was alive. I was missing her lately and decided to put it on in memory of her.
There's no rule that states you can't compete so I will put down your name. I strongly advise though that you look for someone to train you. We only have five people from ataraxia who are elementals with prince daryl being the strongest. Though few, that does not make them less dangerous, and we have people from other kingdoms participating as well.
Thank you my lady I will look for someone.
Ionia are you sure about this? questioned celeste on our way back from meeting illaesa.
Of cause I'm sure why won't I be?
Even if there's a possibility of you joining the competition without having magic, where will you see a master that will train you? Ionia no one in the whole of ataraxia will train you.
I will look for one celeste. Why dont you go join the others and practice while I go look for a master.
After persuading celeste to go join the others, I went to my room and called lucien.
So lucien what are we going to do today? I asked after he has brought us to our usual spot in the woods.
Have you put down your name for the competition?
Yes I have.
Good, now show me what I taught you yesterday.
Taking a deep breath I felt everything around me and could feel the energy running through me.
"Expelundo" I muttered and a pure yellow surge of waves appeared creating fiery balls of fire I calmed myself and twirled it around me perfectly. I then cut my energy flow and by so doing put out the fire.
Brilliant, this will be easy. Nice you've already mastered how to channel your energy we will take things further. Today I will teach you how to make your whole body be on fire. I will demonstrate.
Walking a distance lucien stood and all of a sudden his whole body was white as if covered in ice but he was not actually covered in ice. He propelled himself in the air as if flying then he started shooting out ice, perfectly hitting the trees around us. After his demonstration he returned to normal as if what I saw was a figment of my imagination. If it weren't for the ice darts still on the trees I would have questioned my sanity.
How did you do that? I asked in awe.
You say the spell "Etheerous Arachum" and concentrate, channel and control your energy flow. Just like you did with the previous spell.
"Etheerous Arachum" I said and suddenly it was as if I was on fire but not on fire I saw myself covered with fire but I wasn't burning. I focused and channeled the energy willing it to lift me up. I felt myself rising, leaving the ground. I controlled my excitement and said "Expelundo" in my head and suddenly fiery balls of fire surrounded me I juggle them then willed myself to come down then cut my energy flow and just like that everything was back to normal.
Wow I breathed.
That was amazing, what you did combining the two spells I did not tell you to do that yet you did.
You are a natural ionia.
Thanks lucien.
Keep practicing, work on your aim. Try targeting objects.
What if I burn down the forest?
Your energy flow is not just to fuel the fire you can also use it to tame it.
Meaning?
Meaning though it is fire it won't cause any harm all you need do is control the energy you feed it. It will look like fire but won't burn. It all depends on you ionia. You control it. You have to understand that you own this ability, whatever you want or wish you can make happen. Now, go practice.
I practiced till noon and lucien came with food. After eating he asked me to continue while instructing and correcting me. I practiced till it was dark.
Lucien brought me to my room.
Will I be practicing everyday? I asked quickly before he vanishes into thin air.
It depends, I will monitor your progress and we will see what happens next.
Ionia have you seen a master? Suddenly celeste opened the door.
I turned to see lucien leaning on my wall looking at celeste. I was petrified how can i explain to celeste who lucien is. I can't possibly tell celeste he is the demon of ataraxia she might just drop dead. No she won't believe me, considering he's just like us. But then, how do I explain a strange man in my room at night.
Why are you staring at the wall? is there something interesting there?
What do you mean, I asked in confusion?
Coming to stand beside me.
Ionia the wall is empty what could be interesting about an empty wall.
I looked at celeste then lucien then back to celeste then lucien again.
Did he make himself invisible?
You are beginning to scare me ionia said celeste.
At her words, I came back to reality.
I am so tired celeste I've been looking for a master all day to no avail.
I'm not surprised, I told you no one in this kingdom will train you. Just stop ionia I don't want to see you get hurt. Do you know frances went and told jasper who then told adryll that you will be competing? In fact everybody knows, they are currently making bets on how you will die. I even saw your sister Leticia with some of her friends she was telling them that it is better you get married to the man your father found for you that all you have is a pretty face. That your beauty makes up for your shortcomings. By the spirits ionia you are more famous than members of the royal family. Everyone is talking about you competing.
Celeste I told you already leave them be. Or do you want to leave me too?
Never ionia why would you think that. I'm extremely worried about you. I'm not strong enough to protect the both of us. My dad is only a tailor, I'm not from an important family like the others.
I know you care and you have my gratitude. And your dad may be a tailor but he is the best in ataraxia, even the royal family patronizes your dad. He earned his respect, there is no shame in that. Above all he raised you with love and compassion to always do what's right. Trust me celeste you are better than those entitled brats.
Oh ionia that's so sweet. Thank you said celeste hugging me and sobbing.
You are really a handful celeste. Why not go to your room and rest, I myself I'm extremely tired. We will see tomorrow.
Okay ionia goodnight.
After celeste left I turned to find lucien still in his position looking at me.
Have you been making yourself invisible every time you are in ataraxia?
Yes.
Why?
What would you have told your friend supposing she had seen me?
I don't know but I would have thought of something.
I think my way is better.
But I told you I want to take you round ataraxia you can't be invisible, I want you to see people and let them see you.
Why?
Because you need it lucien.
Since when did others matter?
They don't, but you do. Lucien let me do this for you. You are not ugly or horribly looking and unless you see that people don't look at you strangely you won't get past that thinking.
And the mask, you think they won't wonder why I am putting on a mask?
Lucien Ataraxia is home to a lot of magical beings and creature with different shape, size, color and body. Do you really think a boy putting on a mask will stand out?
If anything I will be the one everyone will be looking at no one will mind you. Didn't you hear celeste? I'm famous now.
What's that about your father wanting you to marry?
Oh that, well he asked me to marry one old odd man like that, I refused. And now they are saying my being obstinate, while not possessing any skill talent or abilities at the same time being disrespectful and wild is the reason why they cut me lose.
You are better off without them.
I know, finally someone who understands.
And for the record I don't think you being beautiful is the only thing you have to offer. Your beauty is a part of you. It's who you are there is no shame in being beautiful. Your beauty shouldn't be used to judge or criticize you. Or used as a measure for your worth. You are beautiful ionia, take pride in it.
After saying his piece he disappeared.
Wow! that is the longest I've heard him speak. Maybe me being around him and asking him questions is working. Thinking about what he said, these are things I know but I have to admit it felt nice hearing it from someone else.
Everyone just you wait, you all haven't seen nothing yet.