Chapter: 3
The next day, Alexander discreetly handed me a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Inside, I found a few old, leather-bound books and a stack of worn journals. I quickly hid them in my secret spot, eager to explore their contents.
That night, after the plantation had quieted down, I sat in my secret spot and opened the first book. I was immediately disappointed. The book's contents were mediocre at best, but it also confirmed a theory I had. They had a completely different view of magic than I did.
'Good, that works in my favor. But there's something I want to figure out,' I thought.
I heard footsteps coming from behind me. I didn't even bother to look behind me as I spoke.
"I'm surprised you managed to sneak out again, Alexander."
Alexander stepped into the moonlight, a smirk on his face. "I have my ways."
I closed the book and set it aside, turning to face him. "Ready to start?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, nodding eagerly.
"Good. Let's start. Can you sense magic?" I asked, curious.
"N-no, that's a high-level technique in the book," he answered.
'High level, huh? Perfect,' I thought.
"High level? It isn't as high level as you think it is," I said.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Yeah, I already know how to do that," I replied.
Alexander's eyes widened. "How? I've been trying for months."
'Good, this should give me enough time to figure out what I want to know,' I thought, glancing back at the books.
"I'll tell you, so listen up because I won't repeat myself," I said, with faux seriousness.
"Yes," he said obediently.
"Good. Now listen up," I said as I created a small orb of magic. "I'm going to want you to connect your magic with this, okay?" I asked as I placed the orb in his hands.
"Oh... okay," he said as he sat down and started concentrating on the orb.
I nodded with a small smirk on my face. I had given him the hardest path to learn magic sense, working name, so I could not only focus on something else but also restrict what I taught him.
I turned and returned my attention to the books and picked up one called "The History Of Magic." As I skipped through the pages, some things were made clear to me, but it didn't solve the mystery of why the slaves had such a high magic capacity even though they didn't know of magic, let alone use it.
It was then I looked at the journals, occasionally looking back at Alexander to make sure he didn't accidentally harm himself. As I looked over the journals, the rest of the pieces of the puzzle were made clear to me. For context, the reason why I started looking into this matter was because of learning how to sense magic in the first place.
The answer was simple. Surprisingly simple, actually. You see, from what "The History Of Magic" taught me, Europeans didn't start to use magic until three hundred years ago, and before that, magic was banned, outlawed, and even considered evil. However, on the opposite side, from what the journals said, Africans had been using magic for years, but only up until two hundred years ago did they limit it to a select few people like shamans, voodoo priests, and oracles.
What this means is quite simple. Think of magic in both parties like a gene or cell --probably the wrong analogy, but it works. One group, unlike the other, has been using this gene/cell for generations and passing it down, while the other blocked the usage of that gene/cell. Thus, one group will have much more and much stronger of that specific gene/cell than the other.
It was a revelation that both excited and frustrated me. It meant that magic was inherently more potent in the slaves here, lying dormant and unused. But it also made a lot of sense because of the high amounts of magic that we naturally had, unused or not, it naturally made us stronger physically.
I sighed as I rubbed the back of my neck.
'At least I figured that out. I can relax somewhat. But I believe it's time for me to start some training of my own,' I thought, getting up.
I took a breath as I raised my hand and formed an orb of water above it.
"Okay, time to start my states of matter training," I muttered to myself.
The next few weeks were intense. Every night, I trained diligently, pushing my limits and exploring the boundaries of my magical abilities. I practiced manipulating the states of matter, starting with water. I transformed the orb into ice, then steam, and back to water, focusing on maintaining control and precision.
'Imagination and control,' I reminded myself. 'That's the key.'
During the day, I continued to work in the fields, careful not to attract attention. I occasionally used small wind blades to cut the sugar cane, ensuring no one saw me. My body grew stronger, and my magic more refined.
One evening, as I practiced in my secret spot, I decided to test a new spell. I envisioned a small barrier of fire around me, a protective shield that would burn anything that tried to pass through.
'Focus,' I thought. 'Control.'
Slowly, a ring of fire formed around me, flickering and crackling in the night air. I held it for a few moments, feeling the heat and power, before letting it dissipate.
"Nice," I muttered, satisfied with my progress.
My sessions with Alexander continued as well. He finally managed to get the hang of magic sense, which meant I had to teach him something else. I looked at him as I thought of what to teach him. Then it clicked—what about I "teach" him a basic fire spell? Something simple but makes him still look like a prodigy for his age.
'The fire arrow spell should be easy enough,' I thought.
"Alright, Alexander," I said, getting his attention. "Tonight, I'm going to teach you a new spell."
He looked at me eagerly. "Really? What spell?"
"A simple fire arrow spell," I replied. "It's straightforward but effective. Now, watch carefully."
I raised my hand, focusing on the tip of my finger. A small flame flickered to life, and I shaped it into an arrow. I then pointed at a nearby tree and released the spell. The arrow flew straight and true, hitting the tree and leaving a small scorch mark.
"Wow," Alexander whispered, eyes wide with admiration.
"It's quite simple. Just create a fireball and mold it into an arrow, then launch it at the tree. But I would advise you to start with the arrow first," I said.
"Right," Alexander said, his eyes filled with determination.
I watched as he raised his hand and tried to form a flame. It flickered unsteadily before extinguishing. He frowned, concentrating harder. He managed to create a small flame.
'Oh, did he not know how to create a fireball? That means he only knew the bare basics. Okay then,' I thought.
"Continue trying. You'll get it eventually," I encouraged him.
"Right."
---
The next day, I was doing my job of collecting sugar cane. The sun was relentless, and my back ached from the constant bending and lifting. I caught glimpses of my parents, Adisa and Kofi, working nearby. Despite the harsh conditions, they always found a way to smile and offer words of encouragement to those around them.
Adisa, my mother, had a kind and nurturing spirit. She was always the first to help others, even when she herself was exhausted. Her laugh was a rare but beautiful sound that could lighten the mood in the darkest of times. Kofi, my father, was strong and resilient. He had a quiet wisdom about him, always knowing the right thing to say to lift someone's spirits.
"Malik, you're doing well," Kofi said, giving me a nod of approval.
"Thanks, Papa," I replied, feeling a sense of pride.
"Remember, it's not just about the work. It's about the strength we find in each other," Adisa added, her smile warm despite the heat.
I nodded at their words with a small smile. These people were good people who didn't deserve this, and yet here they were.
'Life truly isn't fair,' I thought.
As I continued working, I couldn't help but think about the future. I knew I couldn't stay hidden forever. There was a whole world out there, filled with magic and possibilities. And I was determined to find my place in it.
For now, I would continue to train and bide my time. But one day, I would rise above these chains and change our fate.
Chapter 3: End