Chapter: 5
"Malik... Malik."
My mother's voice pulled me from the depths of my thoughts.
I looked up at her, startled. "Yes, Mother?"
"Are you alright? You spaced out," she asked, her brow creased with concern.
I forced a smile, hoping it looked convincing. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just deep in thought."
She studied me for a moment, her gaze softening. "Alright... just be careful, okay? Don't let your thoughts carry you too far away."
"Yes, Mother," I replied, the smile lingering on my lips until she turned and walked away.
As soon as she disappeared from view, my smile fell into a frown. Today was the day Alexander was leaving for England to attend that magic school. His older brother was going too, but he wasn't important.
From what Alexander had told me, they were leaving at night, under the cover of darkness, to meet the ship that would take them across the ocean. Tonight, he would be gone, leaving this life behind.
'Lucky him,' I thought, a twinge of bitterness creeping in. 'Not everyone gets a choice.'
I sighed, running a hand through my newly dreaded hair. It still felt strange, the weight of it resting on my shoulders. A good kind of strange, though—like a piece of my old life had been restored. But as much as I wanted to focus on that, my thoughts kept drifting back to Alexander.
I wasn't sad about him leaving. Not exactly. But it was strange. For the past few months, he had been a constant in my life—a reminder that, despite the vast differences in our worlds, there were still things we had in common. We both wanted more than what this world had given us. And now, he was moving on to a new chapter, while I remained stuck here.
It was strange. He was just a boy—a privileged, sheltered boy who, under different circumstances, I wouldn't have cared about. But somehow, I had ended up teaching him magic, and in return, he had opened up a window to a world I wouldn't have been able to access otherwise. Those old books, those journals—they had given me knowledge. And knowledge was power.
And now, he was leaving.
'Good luck out there, Alexander,' I thought. 'You'll need it.'
---
The sun had set hours ago, leaving the plantation in darkness. The only light came from the faint glow of torches near the overseers' quarters and the house up on the hill where Whitfield and his family lived. Most of the other slaves had retired for the night, resting after another grueling day in the fields. But I was still awake, standing near the edge of the clearing where Alexander and I usually met.
I hadn't seen him since that last session two days ago. He had seemed so eager to learn, so hungry for more knowledge. But there hadn't been enough time. There was never enough time.
I leaned against a tree, my arms crossed, my gaze fixed on the house in the distance. From here, I could just make out the figures moving around the front, loading the last of the trunks and bags into the carriage that would take them to the docks. The soft murmur of voices carried across the still night air.
I took a deep breath, feeling the tension in my muscles. It wasn't just about Alexander leaving. It was about everything—this life, this place, these chains that bound me. I wanted out. I wanted freedom. But more than that, I wanted power. Power to change things, power to make a difference.
"Alright, let's get started," I muttered under my breath.
I took a breath and started preparing a technique I had been practicing for the past few months. I closed my eyes as I began to channel lightning mana through my body.
'Remember: charge the cells, the brain, and the muscles. Ignore the bones. Then, when all that's done, create a thin layer over the skin.'
I opened my eyes when the sound of crackling electricity reached my ears, and I felt my hair spike up. The first thing to greet my eyes was a thin layer of electricity that coated my body. I nodded with a smile at my success.
'Lightning Cloak version one, complete.'
I then looked toward where the carriage was and noticed that it was gone. I looked around for a bit until I spotted the carriage going north. Thanks to my Lightning Cloak enhancing my vision, I could see everything clearly as if it were daytime.
"Now the test can begin," I whispered, my heart pounding with anticipation.
I took a breath and vanished in a streak of yellow electricity.
The world blurred around me as I moved, the landscape rushing past in a dizzying swirl of shadows and light. It was exhilarating—the raw speed, the power surging through me. For the first time since I arrived in this world, I felt truly free, unbound by the limitations of my physical body.
In mere moments, I had closed the distance between myself and the carriage. I slowed down as I approached, staying a good distance away to avoid being seen. I kept to the shadows, using trees and brush for cover. After about thirty minutes, I stopped just before the end of the tree line because from where I stood, I could see the port. I couldn't go any farther—there was no more cover. But I had already gotten what I came for: knowledge of where the port was.
The moonlight shimmered off the calm waters, and I watched as the carriage pulled up to the docks. Men were already there, waiting to load the trunks onto a ship moored nearby. I could hear the faint sound of the ocean lapping against the wooden posts and the low murmur of voices carrying through the night air.
I crouched low, hiding behind a large bush, and observed. Whitfield was there, of course, standing with his arms crossed, his expression stern as he oversaw the preparations. Alexander and his brother were standing nearby, their faces half-hidden in the shadows. Even from this distance, I could see the way Alexander fidgeted with nervous energy.
For a moment, I considered making my presence known. A final farewell, perhaps. But what would be the point? Our paths were diverging here—he was going to England to learn magic in a way I never could, and I was staying behind, stuck in this harsh reality. What was there to say?
'Nothing,' I decided, leaning back against the tree trunk, letting the sounds of the night fill my senses. 'There's nothing left to say.'
"Good luck, Alexander. You're going to need it," I muttered before I turned and reactivated the Lightning Cloak, beginning my journey back to the plantation.
---
The return trip was just as exhilarating as the first. The trees whipped by me in a blur, the world turning into a streak of shadows and flashes of light. I could feel the power humming through my veins, the raw energy of the lightning flowing through my body. It was intoxicating, this newfound freedom. I pushed myself harder, testing the limits of the Lightning Cloak, seeing just how fast I could go.
When I finally reached the plantation, I skidded to a halt, the electricity dissipating from my skin in a crackling wave. I took a moment to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest, a wild grin on my face.
'That... was incredible,' I thought, still buzzing from the rush. 'I need to refine it, though—there's still so much more I can do with this.'
I made my way back to the small shack where my family lived, slipping inside quietly. The place was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of embers in the hearth. I crept over to my bedroll and lay down, staring up at the ceiling.
My mind was still racing, thoughts tumbling over each other in a chaotic jumble. The Lightning Cloak was a success—more than I could have hoped for. But now that Alexander was gone, what was next? Where did I go from here?
I had power now—real power. But power without purpose was meaningless. I needed a goal, something to strive for. And more than that, I needed to understand this world. Magic was the key, yes, but there was more to it than that. There were mysteries here, hidden truths that I needed to uncover.
'One step at a time, Malik,' I reminded myself. 'One step at a time.'
But even as I told myself that, I knew that I couldn't stay here forever. The plantation was a cage, and I was beginning to feel the bars closing in around me. Sooner or later, I would have to leave. But not yet. I wasn't ready—there was still so much to learn, so much to master.
I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep. Tomorrow was another day—another day to train, to grow stronger, to plan. The world was vast, and I was just beginning to scratch the surface. But one day, I would rise above these chains. One day, I would find my freedom.
---
The next morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden light over the plantation. I sat up, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs, and made my way outside.
The air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. I took a deep breath, feeling the fresh morning air fill my lungs. Today was a new day, a new opportunity.
I spent the morning working in the fields, my mind focused on the tasks at hand. The sun climbed higher in the sky, the heat becoming more oppressive as the day wore on. But I didn't mind—I was used to it by now.
My body had grown stronger, more resilient, thanks to the months of hard labor and magical training.
As I worked, I thought about the Lightning Cloak, about how I could improve it. The spell was powerful, yes, but it was also draining. I needed to find a way to make it more efficient, to reduce the strain on my body. And then there were the other spells I had been working on—there was so much more to learn, so much more to master.
By the time the sun began to set, I was exhausted, but there was a sense of satisfaction in that exhaustion. I had worked hard, trained hard, and I could feel the results. I was getting stronger, more skilled. I was on the right path.
After a quick meal with my family, I made my way to my secret training spot. The night was cool, the air filled with the sounds of crickets and the distant rustling of leaves. I stood in the center of the clearing, closing my eyes, letting the familiar calm wash over me.
"Alright," I muttered, opening my eyes. "Time for some serious training."
I raised my hand, summoning three orbs—one of lightning, one of wind, and one of fire.
---
The orbs floated above my palm, spinning slowly, each one crackling with raw energy. I focused, feeling the mana flow through me, channeling it into each element. The wind orb spun faster, whipping up a small gust that rustled the leaves around me. The fire orb burned hotter, its flames flickering wildly. The lightning orb crackled with intensity, sending small sparks shooting off into the night.
'Now for the hard part,' I thought, steadying my breath.
I began to merge the three orbs, slowly bringing them closer together. The wind fed the fire, causing it to grow larger, fiercer, and more chaotic. The lightning intertwined with the flames, crackling and sparking, turning the fire into a storm of electric energy. I could feel the strain, the elements fighting against each other, but I held them together, forcing them to merge into one.
"Stormfire," I whispered, watching as the three elements combined into a single, volatile orb.
The orb was a swirling mass of flames, lightning, and wind, spinning faster and faster until it became a blur of destructive energy. I could feel the heat radiating off it, the electricity buzzing in the air, the wind howling around me.
I held it for as long as I could, pushing my limits, testing my control. The power was immense, overwhelming, but I managed to keep it in check, focusing all my willpower on maintaining the spell.
But then, just as I thought I had it under control, the orb exploded.
The force of the explosion sent me flying backward, crashing into a tree. The impact knocked the wind out of me, and I slumped to the ground, dazed and disoriented. The clearing was filled with smoke and the smell of burnt wood, the aftermath of the failed spell.
I coughed, trying to catch my breath, my body aching from the impact.
"Dammit," I muttered, rubbing my head. "That... did not go as planned."
I forced myself to stand, wincing at the pain in my back. The clearing was a mess—charred earth, smoldering tree branches, and scorch marks everywhere. I sighed, shaking my head. 'It's going to take some work to clean this up.'
Thankfully the plantation owner and his employees don't wake easily. But even though the spell had failed, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. The potential was there—I had felt it. I just needed more practice, more control. The idea of combining elements, of creating something as destructive as Stormfire, was too tempting to give up.
"Next time," I said to myself, a determined smile spreading across my face. "Next time, I'll get it right."
I spent the next hour cleaning up the clearing as best I could, using small bursts of wind magic to disperse the smoke and water magic to extinguish the lingering flames. By the time I was done, the clearing looked almost normal, though the smell of smoke still hung in the air.
Exhausted, I finally made my way back to the shack, my limbs heavy, my body aching. But despite the pain, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was pushing my limits, growing stronger every day. And one day, I would master Stormfire.
I collapsed onto my bedroll, staring up at the ceiling, my mind still buzzing with thoughts of the spell, of Alexander, of the future. There was so much to do, so much to learn. But for now, I needed rest.
As I closed my eyes, I allowed myself to drift off to sleep, the image of the swirling orb of Stormfire still burning brightly in my mind.
'One day,' I thought, just before sleep took me. 'One day, I'll master it all.'
Chapter: 5