It had been three long days since Grandpa's passing. Aiya and I had been leaning on each other for support, sharing our grief as we navigated through the waves of sadness together. Akane has been visiting more recently, offering her condolences and lending her comforting presence during this difficult time.
In the midst of mourning, a heavy mix of emotions weighed upon me—sadness, confusion, and a lingering sense of loss. But amidst it all, there lingered a persistent thought in the back of my mind, a reminder of Grandpa's last words to me: to explore the mysterious cupboard hidden away in the attic.
It was a task I had been avoiding, partly due to the overwhelming grief that clouded my mind and partly out of fear of what I might uncover. Yet, as the days passed by, the feeling grew stronger.
Sitting on the couch, I watched as Aiya gathered her things. "Sato, I've made you a bento box. It's in the fridge. Don't forget to eat it," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "I'm heading out now."
"Alright, thanks. See you later, Aiya." I replied, offering her a weak smile as she left the house.
With the house now quiet and empty, I made my way upstairs to the attic. Dust motes danced in the air as I pulled down the foldable ladder and climbed up into the dimly lit space. Cobwebs hung from the rafters, casting eerie shadows across the entire room.
Spotting the old cupboard that Grandpa had mentioned, I navigated through the clutter, clearing a path to reach it. With a hesitant hand, I opened the creaky doors, releasing a cloud of dust that made me sneeze uncontrollably.
Amongst the dusty relics and forgotten artifacts, I found a letter addressed to me. It was yellowed with age, yet the words were clear and neatly written. My hands trembling with anticipation I began to read the letter.
"My dear Sato,
If you are reading this, then I have passed on to the next realm. But fear not, for I have left behind a legacy that is yours to inherit. You see, our family is not like any other. We are descendants of Merlin the legendary mage from ancient mythology, and with that lineage comes great responsibility.
For generations our family has safeguarded secrets that hold the potential to alter the course of history. One of these secrets involves the summoning ceremony, for Excalibur, the sword of legend.
It is your fate, Sato to wield Excalibur and safeguard our familys heritage from those who may try to exploit it. However be cautious as rival mage clans will go to lengths to unearth our truths. They will perceive you as a threat so you must be ready to defend yourself at any cost.
Inside this cabinet you will discover all you need to commence your journey as a mage. Within lie volumes passed down through ages preserving the wisdom and knowledge of our forebears. You will also find artifacts and ancient relics imbued with power. Lastly there are instructions, on how to call forth Excalibur.
But remember, Sato, with great power comes great responsibility. You must protect your sister Aiya at all costs. She must not be drawn into the dangerous world of magecraft. Keep her safe, and keep her ignorant of our family's true legacy.
I know this burden may seem heavy, my dear grandson, but you are not alone. Our ancestors watch over you, and I will be with you in spirit every step of the way.
With love and guidance,
Your Grandfather"
As I finished reading Grandpa's letter, I couldn't shake off the disbelief swirling inside me. Magecraft? Legendary weapons? It all sounded like something from a storybook. Yet, here I was, surrounded by the dusty relics of our family's past, realizing there might be truth to it all.
Taking a deep breath, I made a silent promise to Grandpa to safeguard our family's secrets. But before that, I needed to grasp the mysteries of magecraft and unlock the power of Excalibur.
Slipping the letter into my pocket, I sifted through the ancient tomes in the cupboard. I knew I had to understand magecraft to summon Excalibur. Flipping through each aged page, I finally stumbled upon Merlin's spell book.
Merlin's teachings revealed that spells were woven through visualized rune parameters. Offensive and defensive magic required a specific sequence of runes: "ᛯᚰᛰᛢ." Each rune represented an element, shape, summoning position, and direction.
For summoning spells, there were two sets of runes: "ᚱᚰᛰ" or "ᚰᛰ." The former specified a catalyst, while the latter conjured the desired object. Merlin mentioned summoning magic doubled as a cheap defense against attacks, summoning objects to intercept them instead of erecting barriers.
Notably, the initial summoning rune was crucial for legendary weapons like Excalibur. To cast multiple spells, one must swiftly define the runes. And the strength of a spell depended on the caster's will.
Armed with this knowledge, I aimed to cast a water offensive spell. I visualized the runes "ᛯᚰᛰᛢ," each symbol representing a facet of the spell: water, projectile, summoning position, and direction.
With the parameters set, the runes vanished, triggering the spell. A projectile of water surged forth, propelled by the force of my will.
The water projectile shot across the room, hitting the window with a splash.
"Wow! It actually worked!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of excitement.
Eager to explore more of my newfound abilities, I decided to try something different. Using the same runes as before but with different parameters, I attempted to cast a barrier around myself.
Visualizing the runes and setting the parameters, I watched as the symbols vanished, and a watery barrier formed around me. It shimmered in the air, casting a protective aura around my body.
Curious about its durability, I pondered over its effectiveness against fire-based attacks. After all, this barrier seemed tailored to counter such offensive spells.
As I marveled at the watery barrier I conjured, a sudden realization hit me—I had lost track of time. Aiya would be back home soon, and I couldn't afford to be caught exploring the secrets of magecraft. With a sense of urgency, I swiftly gathered Merlin's spell book and made my way out of the attic.
Closing the attic hatch behind me, I ensured that no traces of my magical endeavors remained. Then, clutching the spell book tightly, I hurried to my room, the weight of its ancient knowledge heavy in my hands.
Reaching my room, I slid under my bed and tucked Merlin's spell book away, out of sight from prying eyes.
After stowing away Merlin's spell book, I straightened up and left my room, eager to return to the familiar surroundings of the living room. As I went down the stairs, thoughts of the spells I could potentially cast swirled in my mind.
Entering the living room, I sank into the cushions of the couch, mulling over the knowledge available at my fingertips. Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, however, the sound of the front door opening interrupted me.
"I'm home, Sato!" Aiya's voice echoed through the house, carrying with it a sense of warmth and cheer.
"Hey, Aiya! How was your day?" I greeted her, a smile spreading across my face as she entered the room, looking brighter than she had in days.
"It was amazing! Ai and I went shopping, and I found the cutest necklace and some new clothes. Then we met up with Mio at the park and had a picnic, It was so much fun!" Aiya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Wow, sounds like you had a blast. Maybe I should take Akane on a picnic sometime," I mused aloud, thinking of my childhood friend.
"Ooh, a picnic date with your girlfriend, huh?" Aiya teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"She's not my girlfriend," I protested, feeling my cheeks flush at the implication.
Aiya raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Sure, sure. You can't fool your big sister that easily, Sato."
"I'm serious, Aiya. Akane and I are just friends," I insisted, hoping to put an end to her teasing.
"Whatever you say, little brother," Aiya chuckled, clearly unconvinced.
Sighing in exasperation, I shook my head, resigning myself to the fact that Aiya wouldn't let the topic drop anytime soon.