Paul's heart raced as his father's hands grasped for him. But just as all hope seemed lost, a faint whisper echoed in his mind. "Use magic, Paul."
The words resonated deep within him, and suddenly, an image flashed in his mind. A small stone rock materialized in front of him, hovering in mid-air. Without thinking, Paul willed the rock to move, and to his amazement, it shot forward, striking his father's leg with a loud thud.
John's eyes widened in shock, and he stumbled backward, clutching his leg. "How...how did you do that?" he stammered.
Paul's mind raced as he realized what had just happened. He had used magic! The thought sent a surge of excitement through him, and he imagined a bigger, more powerful spell. A massive water ball materialized in front of him, glistening in the sunlight.
With a flick of his wrist, Paul sent the water ball crashing down on his father. The force of the impact sent John tumbling to the ground, drenched and stunned.
Paul didn't hesitate. He turned and ran, his mind racing with the possibilities of magic. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew he had to escape.
As he ran, the alleys seemed to blur together. Paul's thoughts were a jumbled mix of fear, excitement, and wonder. He had always dreamed of magic, but he never thought it was real. Now, he knew the truth.
Finally, Paul stopped to catch his breath. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a small, deserted square, surrounded by crumbling buildings and overgrown with weeds.
Paul's mind raced as he tried to process what had happened. He had used magic to escape his father. But where was he now? And how could he control this newfound power?
With a sense of wonder, Paul raised his hands, and a small flame erupted from his fingertips. He gasped in amazement, watching as the flame danced in the air.
Magic was real, and Paul was its master. But as he gazed at the flame, he knew that this was only the beginning. He had a long journey ahead, one that would take him to places he never imagined.
Paul's eyes widened as he experimented with the flame, moving it higher and lower with a mere thought. He felt a rush of excitement and trepidation, unsure of the limits of his newfound power.
With a sense of wonder, Paul tested some small spells, marveling at the way magic responded to his thoughts. He made a small rock float in the air, then turned a nearby stick into a tiny snake that slithered away into the grass.
Convinced that he had some control over his abilities, Paul decided to seek out knowledge. He remembered a library he had passed earlier, its shelves overflowing with books.
Without hesitation, Paul made his way to the library, his heart pounding with excitement. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside, surrounded by the musty scent of old books and the whispered secrets of the past.
Paul's eyes scanned the shelves, searching for answers. He knew that he had to learn more about magic, its history, and its limits.
Paul's eyes devoured the words on the pages, his mind absorbing the knowledge like a sponge. He learned about the different types of magic, the various schools of thought, and the history of mages and knights. But one thing caught his attention - the concept of mana and aura.
According to the books, mages had mana, which was divided into nine circles. The higher the circle, the more powerful the mage. Only a select few had reached the ninth circle in history, and they were revered as legends. Knights, on the other hand, had aura, which was also divided into eight stars. The stronger the stars, the more formidable the knight.
Paul's mind raced as he read about the different abilities and feats of mages and knights. He became more and more fascinated by the idea of wielding both mana and aura. Imagine being able to cast powerful spells and also possess the strength and agility of a knight! He spent hours poring over the books, searching for any information that could help him achieve his goal.
But then, he stumbled upon a line that made his heart sink. "No one in the world can use both aura and mana." The words seemed to leap off the page, taunting him. Paul felt a surge of disappointment and frustration. Was it really impossible to wield both?
He read on, hoping to find some loophole or exception, but the books seemed to confirm that it was indeed impossible. Mages and knights were two separate classes, and their abilities were mutually exclusive. Paul's dreams of becoming both seemed to shatter into pieces.
Yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling that there must be a way. He had already defied the odds by discovering his magical abilities in the first place. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to break the rules again. Paul's determination and curiosity drove him to continue his research, fueled by the hope that he might uncover a secret that would change everything.
As Paul delved deeper into the books, he became oblivious to his surroundings. The librarian, a stern-looking woman with a penchant for silence, noticed the beggar-turned-mage engrossed in the ancient tomes. Her eyes narrowed, and she strode towards him with a purposeful gait.
"Hey, you! Beggar! What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice low but firm.
Paul, lost in the world of magic, didn't respond. The librarian's eyes widened in surprise, and she hastened her approach.
"Hey, I said, what are you doing here? You can't just come in here and start reading our books!"
Paul finally looked up, startled, and met the librarian's stern gaze. He quickly gathered his wits and scrambled to his feet, books tumbling to the floor.
"I-I was just...just looking for something to read," he stammered, trying to appear nonchalant despite his tattered clothes and disheveled hair.
The librarian's expression turned skeptical. "At a time like this? You're a beggar, for goodness' sake! You shouldn't be in here!"
Without another word, she grasped Paul's arm and ushered him out of the library, depositing him onto the streets.
Paul watched as the doors closed behind him, feeling a pang of disappointment and hunger. He had forgotten to eat in his excitement to learn more about magic.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Paul's stomach growled in protest. He sighed and began to wander the streets, searching for a place to find some food.
And so, with a rumbling belly and a mind full of magic, Paul continued his journey, unsure of what the future held but determined to make the most of it.