//This book is part of a multi book series that has been planned years in advance. An amalgamation of novels that will unfold into one of the greatest stories ever told, or at least that is the hope. This book will be one of eight that will preset the main novel that'll be told after all of it finishes.

For now, this novel is divided into Arcs, or Volumes. It tells the story of Kereo Amaga as he journeys to find what he truly wants in life.

Each arc is around 100+ chapters and is carefully planned out with a concise ending. The entire book will last at most 1.5k-3k chapters depending on pacing, story direction, development, so on and so forth.

This chapter will be rather short but it'll be the only time I'll write one this short. Next one will be pretty lengthy.

In any case, I do hope you enjoy and I'll see all of you in a bit.

May the Arcane guide you well.

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It was hard to say what was the most frustrating. Getting one's shit kicked in by a couple of bullies who thought they were better than everyone else...or getting saved by someone who was, for lack of a better word, beneath you.

Meprona Koltigai found it hard to decide on which.

Granted, the young witch had basically asked to get beaten, butting into a situation she herself wasn't entirely equipped to handle, one where she didn't truly have to insert herself into. In reality, if she had just minded her business and simply looked in the other direction, she definitely would have been able to walk away from the predicament without any injuries. She could also have used her words or generally handled the flow better than the route chosen. Being well aware of time and place, it wasn't like she was bereft of any intelligence.

She wasn't an idiot.

At the same time, she also wasn't one to simply walk away when her pride had been treaded upon, when her own dignity was called into question.

So, there she was, lying on the cold stone pavement with the firm sole of a fancy shoe being planted into her stomach. Muted thuds echoed off the alley walls as multiple pairs of feet slammed into her over and over again, unceasing and unrelenting, pain erupting and melding together until Meprona couldn't tell where any of it was even landing. She couldn't see or feel anything except the agony coursing through her very being, torture that made death feel ever so inviting. The young witch could taste the fresh blood in her mouth, could hear the laughter of the bullies as they took turns bashing her body like a fresh piñata, could smell the damp ground they had thrown her down on when they had cornered her some ten minutes prior. Helpless against their assault, praying for it to end was all Meprona could do.

And it was when she was on the verge of passing out that she got her wish.

As the light within her began to peter out and her consciousness gradually began to slip away, a breeze engulfed her, one that she felt even in the midst of the raging inferno consuming her mind and body.

The shower of blows halted, allowing Meprona to actually take a breath after some time had passed. Though having been on the cusp of blacking out, the white haired girl was able to pull herself back once regaining her ability to feel her own appendages.

Slowly but surely, Meprona opened her eyes, one light blue hue greeting the world, the other swollen shut from some heavy blows to the face. She wasn't able to see much of anything with her only available eye, her body still being far too weak to properly move, but she at least had most of her senses back. Gone was the laughter that had haunted her during her suffering, instead a myriad of voices both familiar and unfamiliar filled the alley. If Meprona used all of her focus, she could make out some semblance of conversation. She couldn't see anything aside from the few shoes treading the garbage strewn alley, but it didn't matter as long as she could hear what was going on around her.

"And what would a cowardly Wind Specialist want with us? Don't you know who we are?"

"Afraid not. But I bet you'll let me know."

"We're from the Frigna Family and The Douchero Family, sons to the great Marquis DonJut Frigna and Maddax Duchero."

"Yeah....doesn't ring a bell. You got a family tree or something to help draw a picture of why I should care?"

"You'll care when my Uncle hears of this."

""Hears of what? A group of soon to be Warlocks assaulting and beating a young girl in the back of a dark alleyway, one who clearly has already given up on fighting back. I'm sure that will make for a splendid conversation."

"You don't know-"

"What she did? Who she is?" The male voice finished, interrupting the arrogant sounding individual. "Ain't got a clue. However unless she killed your mother and tortured your sister before your very eyes, I suggest walking away while you have the chance. Family can only save you from so much. Not like it was gonna save you to begin with though."

"Who do you think you're telling-"

Woosh!

A breeze strong enough to move Meprona's limp body a few meters back slammed through the alley, hitting the wall before shooting upwards. Though it didn't feel threatening to her the white haired girl felt the message the mysterious stranger was trying to convey without too much trouble. It wasn't hard to put two and two together and figure out it was the other youth causing the sudden pickup in the wind.

"I don't think I made my position clear." The individual sounded annoyed at this point, his amused tone no longer present as his voice got closer to Meprona. She hadn't realized he had been above her until he dropped down from the top of the alleyway. "Unless you want to munch on concrete, leave."

"Fine." The arrogant noble let out a solid spit in defiance, one that landed on Meprona's cheek. "You can't protect that wench forever. Watch yourself peasant."

"My name is Kereo Amaga," The peasant responded. "Feel free to tell daddy that on your walk home. Provided you actually know the way back."