As the door whispered shut, it sealed away the fading figure of Abel, leaving a palpable stillness in its wake. Cain, momentarily stirred to rise, halted as an inexplicable chill crept through the room, like an unspoken forewarning.
His gaze, laden with conflicting emotions, slowly found his father, Jairo Kaid. The patriarch was absorbed in the parchment sprawled before him, his focus unyielding. The faint scratching of the quill against paper was the only sound breaking the heavy silence.
"Cain," Jairo's voice finally broke the quiet, rich with gravitas. He looked up, locking eyes with his son. "Pay attention. Leading a family like ours demands the courage to make difficult choices. Should you aspire to succeed me, your resolve must be as unwavering as the currents of the deepest sea."
The weight of his father's words hung heavily in the air. Cain, feeling the magnitude of the responsibility that lay ahead, clenched his fists, a visible symbol of the inner turmoil that wrestled within him. He slowly retook his seat, his movements deliberate, reflecting a reluctant acceptance of the path laid out before him.
Beside them, Emelina Kaid, the matriarch, observed the exchange with a faint, nervous smile playing at the corners of her lips. Her eyes flickered with a complex blend of pride, concern, and a deep-seated apprehension for the future that beckoned her family.
"Thank you, dear, for sparing Abel. Perhaps exile will serve as the catalyst for his growth."
Jairo Kaid gestured with his left hand. "Lucian."
Lucian Kaid, discreetly waiting in the shadows, promptly emerged at the patriarch's side.
The advisor leaned forward, ready to receive his lord's next command.
The patriarch spoke words that remained a mystery to those present.
Lucian nodded, seamlessly blending back into the shadows.
Jairo reached once more for his tea, the porcelain cup cool against his fingertips. The room fell into a contemplative hush, as if awaiting the next decree of fate.
With a measured gaze, Jairo raised the cup to his lips and spoke, "With this, it is done."
…
Under the moonlit sky, Abel stood in the gardens, his breath visible in the crisp night air. Adorned in a hooded cloak and carrying a satchel, the young boy looked to the sky. The moon cast an exquisite glow upon the flora that surrounded him, creating a serene ambiance that contradicted the turmoil within him. The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying the news of his banishment like a haunting melody.
His favorite spot in the residence, these gardens had served as his sanctuary since childhood. The statues and flower beds, once silent companions, now bore witness to his silent goodbye. The flowers radiated an enhanced beauty, freshly bathed in a recent rain shower. Each delicate blossom cradled glistening beads of water with meticulous grace. He paused, his gaze lingering on the blooms and sculptures that had been his solace.
"May you continue to bloom beautifully in my absence. If I ever return, I'll bring other plants to add to this already wonderful gallery," he whispered, his voice carrying both a promise and a melancholic acknowledgment of departure.
An audible haunting melody accompanied Abel into the garden, harmonizing with his farewells. Its gentle notes wove through the air, adding a surreal backdrop to this bittersweet moment.
Abel approached the Kaid manor's gates, his steps faltering as he passed the central house where his father and mother resided. A pang of sorrow tightened his chest, and his lips quivered in silent sadness. The haunting melody persisted, its eerie comfort echoing the complexity of emotions that accompanied his departure.
Abel approached the Kaid magician guards positioned at the gates. As they recognized him, the gate opened, allowing his passage.
Stepping through the massive gates, they closed automatically behind him. The night air was crisp, and the moon cast long shadows across the estate grounds. Abel took one last look at the Kaid residence before moving into the Magical Forest. Abel followed the ethereal tune, weaving through the trees and carefully avoiding the moonlight. The melody seemed to guide him, a bizarre beacon in the darkness.
As Abel distanced himself from the Kaid manor, the tune grew louder, echoing between the trees. He couldn't shake the eerie yet strangely comforting feeling that accompanied the haunting melody. It was as if the very air around him was alive with the music, guiding him towards an unknown destination.
Abruptly, the melody ceased. Abel found himself at the edge of the forest, the moonlight revealing a clearing bathed in an otherworldly glow. In the center stood a woman, her silhouette illuminated by an unseen source of light. She appeared otherworldly but the unknown nature also made her dangerous.
The figure turned to face Abel, revealing a woman whose intense gaze bore into him. Partially concealed within the shadows, she wore an unassuming black ensemble that seemed to meld seamlessly with the darkness. The fabric hinted at subtle textures, absorbing and reflecting the surrounding shadows. As she lifted her hand, the atmosphere ignited. Flames danced at her fingertips, casting an eerie glow. Her garment clung to her with a fluid grace, accentuating every movement. The woman flicked her hand in the direction of Abel.
Instinctively, Abel raised his hands, crafting elemental shields that strained against her unyielding assault. Each strike carried precisely enough force to shatter Abel's shields, as if the woman possessed an intimate knowledge of the extents of his power—a calculated manipulation, a perilous game she played with him, toying with his vulnerabilities. The difference in mana control displayed a concerning truth.
In Ayealon, magicians are categorized into 13 levels based on their mana circles. 1st to 3rd circle magicians can only cast non-lethal magic, often due to being unbonded to an element. A 6th circle magician or above, like the woman, exhibits incredible control, capable of casting destructive spells. Her mastery over magic compared to Abel, a 3rd circle magician at best, rendered their power imbalance as stark as a mountain against a pebble.
The clearing became an arena of flickering flames, magical clashes echoing in the still night.
"Why are you attacking me?" Abel demanded, his voice cutting through the magical tempest as he deftly countered her relentless assault. The woman effortlessly beat Abel back, flicking her fingers to summon swirling tongues of fire.
The woman remained silent, her attacks continuing unabated. Abel, fueled by a combination of fear and survival instinct, spoke between the bursts of flames.
"You must understand, we're not too far from the Kaid residence," he called out, his words carried away by the roaring flames. "If you continue attacking, it'll attract the attention of the patrolling guards and you will be detained!"
The woman's eyes narrowed, a flicker of a smile crossing her face. In a brief lull in the magical skirmish, she spoke with a cold and detached tone, "How amusing. I'll be detained by the people who sent for me?"
The woman raised her hand in a swiping motion in the direction of Abel.
Instinctively, Abel knew this was an attack that could not be blocked. The young boy dove to the ground, covering his head.
A searing blaze roared, invading Abel's ears, prompting him to look behind him. Dozens of trees were engulfed in flames, causing Abel's stomach to sink to his feet. Shrieks of pain could be heard all around Abel, seemingly coming from the forest.
Abel looked back and forth between the woman and the burning trees, straining to comprehend her words. "What do you mean? My family sent you?"
The woman conjured another burst of flames, propelling herself forward. Abel narrowly avoided the scorching heat, stumbling backward into the shadows of the forest.
This was not a fight Abel could take with his current abilities. Fighting was no longer a thought in his mind
The woman released a shrill laugh, her focus solely on the pursuit. Branches swirled and leaves rustled violently against the force of the winds as Abel plunged deeper into the woods. The eerie melody, now intertwined with the magical currents, chased after him through the labyrinth of trees. The moist ground made it more difficult for Abel to evade his assassin.
An explosion was followed by a slew of trees that fell in front of Abel, forming a temporary wall. Abel turned to look at the woman, who was everso calmly trailing behind him.
"Please, just listen!" Abel implored, the urgency in his voice rising. "I'm not a threat. Just let me go and you will never hear from me again."
The woman continued to move closer towards Abel, raising her hand once again. Abel stumbled backwards, falling onto the ground.
Just when despair threatened to consume him, a mysterious voice permeated Abel's consciousness.
"Young man! You see the source of water by your feet, yes?" the voice queried.
Abel scanned the surroundings for the source of the voice, his gaze eventually settling on the puddle at his feet. He subtly nodded, a sense of uncertainty clouding his understanding.
"Blind her. Now!"
Abel, fueled by urgency and guided by the enigmatic voice, extended his control over the water. He wove its essence with the reflective grace of the moonlight, transforming the puddle into a luminous liquid mirror.
In one swift motion, Abel directed the enchanted water toward the approaching assassin. The woman, attempting to disperse the water with her wind magic, found herself too late. The moonlight, refracted and amplified by the liquid medium, erupted in blinding brilliance.
"Argh!" screamed the woman as he moved to shield her eyes from the blinding light.
"Brilliant!" exclaimed the voice.
Strangely, the woman was just as amused by this spectacle.
"Finally! Your first move against me. I'm looking forward to cutting you limb from limb" the woman snarled, her eyes closed from the dazzling light. A hollow grin marked her face, an eagerness that sent shivers cascading down Abel's spine.
However, before she could conjure more fire magic, a legion of trees surged forth, propelling her backward farther than the eye can see.
"Very well! Let the game begin, Abel Kaid!" shouted the assassin as she left Abel's field of view.
Abel observed the trees that had propelled the assassin recede into the earth, leaving behind no trace of their existence.
As the initial shock waned, Abel regained his composure.
Who are you? demanded Abel to the voice coming from within his mind.
"You will have answers when you reach Roma, young man. The forest will be your guide until then. Best of luck, Abel Kaid."
With that the voice faded as abruptly as it appeared.
Though Roma stood as an immediate neighbor to the Kaid residence, Abel had only encountered its mystique through the pages of history books. Countless stories whispered of its enigmatic nature, discussing the impenetrable veil of thick fog that enveloped the city.
No longer cradled within the protective walls of the Kaid residence, Abel felt the urgent need to find refuge. Ayealon, the realm he once called home, offered him no solace now. The absence of an immediate threat did little to quell the disquiet that coiled within him, a persistent unease fueled by the looming return of the mysterious woman.
Abruptly, the forest landscape unfolded, unveiling a fresh path before Abel. He knew better than to question the boons provided to him, but he
As the verdant canopy shifted, a whispered name escaped his lips: "Roma."
Rising to his feet, he followed the guided trail.