Chereads / A Fantasy to Worlds End / Chapter 2 - A Fantasy Begins

Chapter 2 - A Fantasy Begins

"Mana is the main source of life. It's everything."

Many ages ago when the planet was still young, fire was the first elemental magic discovered as it was the primordial element. Many used it to keep warm from the cold, cook foods, and hold festivals.

However, others used it for violence and to wage war. Until the element of water was discovered. This helped neutralize and tame fire. Then came Terra, Ventus, Ice, and Thunder. As years passed these mages learned to incorporate this magic into weapons and items.

From these mages, Four Royal Families rose to power, each family did something to advance civilization. Each of the four families rules a region. The Le Fleur Family created an educational system with Ardian Magic Academy in the region of Cassadora, The Valentine Family founded a military system creating walls within their region of Amoria, and The Starborn Family brought insight about the planets and stars in their region of Polaris where a meteor was found, lastly, The Fallenburg Family known for their knowledge of nature and magical creatures. These four royal families must report to the Emperor the mage with the last say in the four regions' political, economic, and social changes. 

One fateful day "IT" appeared. From a bright sunny to a cold night. It brought death, destruction, and terror. It called itself "NYX the Lord of Darkness and Death". The four families united their forces in an attempt to defeat this being. Its immense mana brought many to their knees others knocked unconscious. The few that remained on their two feet struggled to do any damage to it. Until five mages who were gifted heavenly graces rose to stand up to NYX and finally defeat it. 

These five were named "The Heavenley Mages". The Heavenly Flame, The Heavenly Ocean, The Heavenly Blade, The Heavenly Wind, and Heavenly Light.

Ever since that time, the Four Royal Families scout for candidates to see if they can be worthy to be a "Heavenly Mage."

-----------------------------

Present Day

The village of Rupta is located northwest in between the region of Cassadora and Polaris. Rupta is a charming village surrounded by The Rupta Grand Forest, which conceals it. It's mostly sunny and humid where it does get cold in the winter months it rarely snows. There are numerous warm springs nearby where the locals bathe, as well as small streams and rivers near the homes of Rupta. The streets are made of cobblestones, with street lamps to accompany them. There is a town square home to a few family-run businesses, the town well, a health center, and other buildings. 

A home near the edges of Rupta. 

Knock Knock Knock 

"Axelle are you awake" a male voice calls out.

CREAK 

"I made- Oh your up"

A young boy with short black hair and very light tints of red with brown eyes is doing push-ups with one arm. [Fire Weapon Enhance Mage:Axelle Alekzander]

"Morning Father" Axelle stops mid-set to turn and address his father as he finishes the push-up and stands up. 

"Uh, early morning workout?" a tall man with short black hair, muscular build, and brown eyes asks. [Adept Weapon Mage: Axton Alekzander]

"Yes, am going to go in the back to train," Axelle says as he storms past his father. 

STEP STEP

Axelle heads to the kitchen as he picks up a piece of bread on the dining table. As he swiftly heads out to the back of his house which is connected to a nearby woods. 

"Good morning Mother"

"Good morning Axelle. Oh, are you off to train again?" a slim middle-aged woman with red hair, brown eyes, and a beautiful skin complexion asks him as she continues cooking on a stovetop.[Adept Fire Mage: Etna Alekzander]

Axelle laces up his boots.

TAP TAP

CLANK 

He picks up his short sword that was placed in its sheath as he taps his boots. 

"Yes I am I'll be back by dinner time. See you"

Axelle dashes out the door.

"But there's food for you here."

STEP STEP STEP

CREAK OPEN

"Hey remember don't let your guard down within the forest" Axelles father shouts as he rushes out the door. 

Axelle raises a thumb with his left arm as he runs into the forest.

"That boy is off to train again and missed his breakfast," Axton says as he takes a seat at the dining table. 

Etna motions her hands as if she were calling something back. The flames that were cooking the food returned to her. "He's been acting different over the past year. Why would he suddenly take up training like that?"

"It's strange one morning he woke up before me as he was doing push-ups. He then asked me to train him with the sword. It was as if he was preparing for-"

They both share a look of realization. 

"Dear, you don't think he her us that night about him being a candidate for the Heavenly Mages?

"It could be possible. At least learning to control the flames with that sword"

Etna casts a small fire in her palm. "I would be careful dear fire magic isn't something to take lightly. I once knew a mage who burned himself alive because he didn't know how to properly control his mana" as she quickly diminishes it. 

"Well, I did tell him that his mana is based on his ability to perform. It's based on what his body can and cannot do. I also told him not to overwork himself as it could to mana exhaustion or what you said his magic turning on him" 

SIGH

"The two both sigh"

"We should go talk to him when he returns" Axton speaks.

"Yes we should"

"We don't gotta worry about him though Bri is probably going to see him"

"But she just recently got her magic dear"

"Who knows maybe they are teaching each other."

-------------------------------

The Rupta Grand Forest

"It's been around a year since I found out about that revelation, I've found out so much about my magic since then," Axelle thinks to himself as he continues to venture forth within the forest. The trees grow with each step at the beginning medium-sized trees are around 25 feet tall, further inside they grow to almost 60 feet. "Almost there"

Axelle arrives at a section of the forest where it's open and parts of the grass and trees are charred by fire. "Am still surprised there is such an open area in this forest" Axelle thinks to himself. 

"Alright let's see. This one nah this one oh wait this one" Axelle looks around to fix perfect pieces of wood to practice against. 

SHEATH 

Axelle unsheaths his sword. Fixes his footing and grips the sword with two hands. Closing his eyes. 

INHALE 

"Focus don't use too much. Accuracy. Accuracy"

EXHALE 

A red magic circle appears under him as the sword begins to glow a fiery red hue.

{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FIRE BLAST}

Axelle swipes down with his sword as a large burst of flames comes from it easily burning the piece of wood. 

"Alright, it's burning I could either stop it or" Axelle puts out his palm, and his fire color morphs to black.

"C'mon couple more seconds."

He begins to sweat a little.

"Ugh. Huff huff 8 seconds"

CLAP CLAP CLAP 

"Good job Axelle! " a girl's voice says from the sides. With black bob-cut hair , blue iris in her eyes, and a baby blue sleeveless dress. 

[Water Mage: Bri Cordelia]

"Hey Bri how long have you been standing there?"

"Just got her when you were launching your attack. What did you call it Fire Blast?"

"Yeah sounds kinda lame I might change it"

"It sounds pretty cool. It's straight to the point." Bri says as she smiles. "How's that black flame coming along?"

"I finally was able to extend its duration to 8 seconds"

"Wow, a big improvement from 5. Congrats"

"Yes, it is hows training with your magic going?"

"It's going alright I finally was able to conjure up water see" Bri uses her pointer finger to create a tiny water disc. 

"That's great. I remember the first time I conjured a small flame from my finger. As long as you train with me we'll grow together" Axelle crosses her arms with a big smile on his face.

"Alright, Mr.Alekzander haha" Bri chuckles with her hand in front of her mouth. "And what about the other flame color?"

"Oh that color am still working on it seems I need to-"

HOWL

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE 

"Wolves?" Axelle says to himself. "Bri stay close to me"

A pack of wolves emerges from the forest around 20 surrounding the two.

"Why are they out now?" Bri wonders are she tightly holds Axelle shivering. 

"I guess am bringing home some wolf meat today"

{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FLAME VORTEX}

A red magic circle appears around the two. Axelle creates a circle in the ground as a pillar of flames shoots up from the ground preventing the wolves from attacking them. 

"That should keep them out for now. I think I took out some" Axelle says.

"T-thank you again Axelle for saving me. Huff. Huff." Bri thanks Axelle as she struggles to breathe and is sweating.

"Oh no, the flames must be too much for her. I gotta take this down soon. Am not too sure how many wolves I got but I gotta rely on my sword skills" Axelle thinks to himself as he grips his blade.

The flame pillar comes down.

"Okay half of them are taken out"

{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FIRE BLAS-

"Ugh"

Axelle felt a sharp shocking sensation that went up his spine.

His body then feels very fatigued.

"Mana exhaustion? Was it because of the black flames?" As he falls to his knees.

"Axelle" Bri comes to his side.

Axelle raises his sword with Bri under his arm. "C'mon you stupid wolves," Axelle says exhausted.

SNARL SNARL

The wolves circle the two. Axelle's sword desperately points at whichever one makes a move first. 

SNARL 

One wolf jumps to Axelle from his left side as he's easily able to it down with one strike.

"Watch out!" Bri yells.

{WATER CREATION MAGIC: AQUA RING}

A blue spherical ring appears creating a barrier of sorts preventing the wolves from attacking them and pushing the wolves back. However one of the wolves was too close to Bri when she acted the spell. 

SLASH

"AHH"

"Bri!"

Bri received a slash on left her arm.

She begins to breathe heavily gripping at her left arm. 

"No no no. C'mon, I have to try it now" Axelle puts his right palm over his left hand.

INHALE

EXHALE

{FIRE MAGIC: FLAMES OF RECOVERY}

Blue flames then engulf Bri's entire left arm as her breathing returns to normal.

"It's working"

VRMM

Bris Aqua Ring then dissipates as it turns into water.

"Damn, the timing. I guess this is it"

FWOOOSH

A giant flame of fire shoots above the area they are in. 

BOOM

The fireball splits apart and comes crashing to the ground.

Hitting and smashing some of the wolves while the rest of the wolves run away. 

STEP STEP STEP

A familiar figure comes to Axelle's aid.

"Father"

"C'mon let's get out of here," he said. 

------------------------------

Later in the evening.

Axelle sits at the dining table with his mother examining the minor cuts and scraps he received. 

"Mother am okay you don't have to--"

"Am your mother I have to make sure my baby is doing okay"

Axelle sits there as his mother tends to his minor injuries. 

"Also mother that was a wonderful spell you did. What was that?"

"Thank you, Axelle its a spell I used to use frequently when I was at the magic academy. The cool part is I don't even have to be present to cast it. Just a guesstimate on where it would land"

"Guesstimate?"

"Yes. I might even missed where you were entirely." with a thinking face on.

"I would've died if she was off?!" Axelle thinks to himself. 

That would make your father do more work but luckily enough that flame pillar you did was outstanding I could see from here. That gave me a better estimate. However, when did you start getting stronger, and more importantly why?" Etna asks her son with concern. 

CREAK OPEN

"Hows Bri?" Axelle asks.

"She doing fine but her parents have a request to have her never venture into the forest again"

"Oh ok"

"I also forbid you from going into the forest again"

"Wait why what about my training?" Axelle wonders as he stands up from his chair. 

"Let me ask you again Axelle why do insist on training?" Etna asks. 

"I heard that I may be a candidate for the Heavenly Mages"

"Oh"

"Son"

"So that's why I've been training so hard to prepare for that"

Axton bends one knee "Listen I know you must be scared and pressed but everything is alright it officially be decided until you turn 18 which is years from now. You have all that time"

"Yes, sweety we will train you until then. You don't have to rush it. If it helps I'll help you with fire magic. Your father will help you wield the sword." Etna says. 

"O Okay but what about the forest?" Axelle asks. 

"Bri was very insistent that she still wants to train and play with you so we devised a plan to have training in front of Bris house by little stream."

"Ok thank you, guys"

"Of course son"

"We love you we will do everything we can to ensure your safety in the future"

The three share a long hug. 

-----------------------------

North Region of Cassadora Outskirts outside of a Castle 

Ten wolves are dead as rods of light begin to disappear from their lifeless bodies.

STEP STEP STEP 

"Your Highness are you alri-?!" a man asks shocked at what he has found. 

"Sir Theodore you have come. These wolves came charging at me from the Rupta Grand Forest I had to put them down." A young girl responds with a white dress, blonde hair, hazel eyes, and pigtails with black ribbons. 

WARP 

A portal appears on the right side of Theodore. 

"EEEP. My apologies Lady Justus am still getting used to your"

"You're excused Sir Theodore" another young girl holding dual sabers with short brown hair bangs swept to the right and brown eyes. "Milady I have defeated a few more wolves"

"Good job Justus they seem to be more active lately and it's not even winter yet. Come Justus we shall survey the area."

"Yes milady" Justus replies bowing. 

"Y-your Highness its-"

"Sir Theodore please report this to my father I shall be back soon."

[Heavenly Mage of Light Candidate: Selene Celle Le Fleur of The Four Royal Familes]

[Novice Unique Magic Mage: Justus Gallio]