In Utara kingdom, every year, the nobles kids tea party will be held in the capital for kids ranging from 8 years old to 10 years old. The capital is called Magical City Titania. Titania is formed by 12 districts that are about the size of a town, surrounding a super big castle the size of a mountain. The district is named by the list of the months, January, February, etc.
Each district is ruled by the dukes. They are the true aristocrats that ruled since the city was built. History said that 12 great archmages built this city with magic, and leaves their legacy to their descendants, so that's why the 12 dukes hold great power and didn't get overthrown from their seats.
That's one of the reasons this city is called Magical City.
But the popular one is that there's a rumour that there are many archmages that leaves their legacies here, and the destined people can become their successor and achieve higher greatness.
"So this city has called for me, I will become the chosen one!"
Wow they really said that.
We are in the February district, the northern part of the city. Because we arrive sooner than expected, there was still 1 day left before the tea party, so I and my dearest sister decided to excitedly do sightseeing in the awesome magical city, but… that line destroyed all my hopes in humanity.
There are just too many peoples everywhere. In the roads… and the AIR! The mages are flying with a broom and making traffic in the sky, the poor birds territory has been invaded. Apparently, at this time, the rumours of great mages legacy laying somewhere in the city and waiting for the chosen one is very popular. So many mages around the country are droves by it and playing treasure hunts in the whole city.
What do you mean by that one-liner hah? it's-
"Brother, this city has called for us too! Let's play treasure hunting too, maybe we can become the chosen one. Hehehe~"
It's right… we really did called by a letter
"Do you really want to? You know that's nearly impossible to get a legacy. It's not just a treasure, it's a path toward greatness. When one archmage is dedicated to his magic and reaches the peak of that field, they can create a legacy to pass down to their pupil. If they want to share it, they can just give it to the magic towers, not leave some rumours like this."
"I know brother. But isn't it exciting to explore this magical city while doing some treasure hunt?"
"Hmmm, whatever. We can't just go back after we sneak out anyway"
(Yayyy, I want to know what kind of legacy is that~)
She didn't listen to me…
(I have the blood of a mage, and our tool is faith. That's why there are so many mages here. So be cool and do this seriously okay~)
We have the same blood… okay.
*
So we started strolling from place to place to search for clues. Shops to stalls, and public buildings to private facilities (just seeing around the front I swear). It's bustling so we have to stay alert and hold hands…
"Eh, who are you?"
We almost got separated…
After 4 hours, we got hungry and stop by a restaurant. And after enjoying the peaceful lunch, we start deciding our plan based on the information we collected.
"So, this here, here, and there is the most suspicious."
On the map, there are 3 places we want to check. First, the sewer. The sewerage system is connected, when we strolled around, we noticed the system is suspiciously making strange lines like a part of a magic circle. And the middle of that magic circle is probably close to the middle of the district.
"The sewer is unnoticeable from the sky and mostly so low that barely noticeable from adults perspective"
"I think we hit the jackpot! Just children will be taking notice of something like a sewer. So it's the best place to conceal a legacy! Let's go~"
We have arrived at what we think is the entrance but… it's a 1 meter hole… there are bars in it… the floor is full of stink puddles… let's go back.
"No! It's the proof! No one's gonna enter somewhere like this, so there's certainly something inside!"
"So you want to enter it?"
"W-well, it's probably dangerous. I-it's the time my big brother to shine in the darkness of, that place!"
"NO, you're the one that dragged me here, so you can have the treasure"
"Didn't you want to become a chosen one, brother?"
"NO, I don't wanna!"
"YES, you do!"
"NO"
"YES"
"NO"
"YES"
"You do?"
"YES, w-wait NO!!"
"Hey, you two"
Cih, when I almost win the argument, a knight wearing plate armor with an Ox insignia called us. Is that February's knight?
"I overheard your conversation earlier, you guys did know it huh? Did they not tell you the reason?"
"Oh, what do you mean Mr. knight?"
"You didn't know it, huh, well if you know, you will not act like earlier"
"So what is the reason for the magic circle sir?"
"Well, simply put, It's the core of this district. Energy like electricity, heat, light, etc. is generated by that magic. Not just that, the defenses mechanism, tracking and scanning mechanism, and even the utilization of magic are controlled by it, so no one can abuse magic that can harm people or is against the law. It's the might of magical city!"
"Wow~ so the rumours aren't true?"
"Hmm, maybe~ haha. The path of a mage is a path to search the truths. If you want to become a mage, you should put faith in yourself. The world is deceitful but a true mage's eyes are on the road their only owns. Haha, I gotta go. Remember that kids, goodbye."
*
So what now?
(So the first guess is wrong the second is…)
"You still want to continue? If what that knight said is true, the authorities will know first if something like legacies is left here. They will snatch that first before a thing comes out. The rumours are probably just there to attract traveler mages to come by."
"I still want to see it! We have made a lot of effort to get 3 suspicious places, but there are still 2 left. Besides, it's still not dusk yet. Can you accompany me there, please~"
"Sigh, okay"
(Yay! The second one is regarding toy stores. We just found a bunch of inconsistent clues, but there's definitely something behind it…)
"Let me do it quick, give me the clues"
"Ohh, it's time to be serious huh, okay here"
First: the toy store is coordinated in five locations when we draw a line to each other, there's the shape of a pentagon.
Second: when we checked, there was an Ox toy that was different from the other. The toy is misshaped and light, when we destroyed it, the inside is hollow but, the inner side is an inactive plus incomprehensible magic circle.
Third: teddy bear costume guy. He's walking while selling candy. Liliya once sneaked and hugged him (this kid, you're 8 already). And then she realized the teddy bear guy is actually a powerful mage by her instinct. Why is a mage wearing a teddy bear costume and selling candy? So suspicious. There are many others but we didn't check yet.
Okay, that's it. Let's see…
"It's not a pentagon. There are 5 places that are always crowded with people. Market, mall, and the 3 entrances: north, east, and west. There must have toy stalls in there. So that makes it a Pentagram? And the magic circle is…"
"Gasp, do you mean the ancient magic, constellation magic!? The strong magic that cannot be canceled because the magic circle is formed by the stars! Isn't this become dangerous?"
"Hmm…"
"You see what's in the center?"
"Huh? Isn't that the place where our tea party will be held?"
"And our host is the duke February. The Ox toy is the same as the duke February insignia I saw in the knight plate armor before. The clues are obvious, there's no way that magic is our enemy, why would they give a clue? That means, whatever it is, it's not that bad and we will know that at the tea party tomorrow."
"Wow, brother you're smart"
Yes, praise me.
"Brother is cool!… so the teddy bear guys are the mages who are going to activate the magic"
I think… maybe there's still something but, we didn't have a clue and time for that.
*
The third one is someone's house. It's actually just a coincidence, when we strolled around, Liliya found an unnaturally natural formation.
The house is surrounded by a magic tools shop, training grounds, a food industry, and withered trees. The magic used from time to time in the magic tools shop and training grounds makes magic disturbances in the surrounding beside them; the industrial waste scent is scaring the animals away, and the pollution clouded the sky; lastly, the withered trees is making you don't want to get near it while making an optical illusion that masks the house in there.
It's a perfect natural cover up. If Liliya's instinct didn't react, we wouldn't know. So maybe it's a bit dangerous.
"Let's just check it, anyway this is still inside the city, that's mean the sewer's magic circle still applied. Don't worry"
"Okay, but don't be reckless okay? Just because there's a law, didn't mean you are safe."
"Oke"
We arrived in front of a wooden house. The withered trees make an eerie feeling and sent chills down. The sky was clouded in black-gray smoke. The smell of rot is attacking my nostrils… it's scary… AH
"KYA! W-What's w-wrong?"
"Don't grip my hand too hard. It hurt."
"S-sorry"
When we finally take a step on the wooden floor, it makes a creaking sound.
Creak, creak, cre-
After that is…
CRREEAAAKK
"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"
"KYAAAAAAA!!!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
There's a witch who lived there…
Because there's a witch who's living there, so we give up and just going back home. It's almost dusk, we have to get back home fast.
"Let's go home, Liliya"
"Liliya?"
.
.
.
"You are not the real brother are you?"
"…what are you saying?"
"I just realized it… you are not the real brother since the start"