The once vibrant school campus now seemed like an unwelcoming battlefield. Zin Maverick, who used to be the center of activity at the school, now moved through the corridors as if he were invisible. The ceremony that was supposed to awaken his powers had completely altered his life.
Just a few days earlier, Zin had stood in the holy ring, surrounded by excitement as the elders were about to discover his magical abilities. He had been brimming with hope. But after the ceremony, the elders looked at each other with concern and spoke in hushed tones. Then came the devastating news: He was a Zero-Ranked Mage. The words repeated in his head like a bad omen.
"Zilch," the students whispered as he walked by, their looks icy and critical.
Zin pushed himself to continue walking, feeling each step grow more difficult. He had always been well-liked, his charm and boldness making him many friends and admirers. But now, those friends were rejecting him, viewing him as a complete failure.
The deepest pain came from Wilfred's betrayal. Wilfred, his closest friend—the one who had always stood with him, who had shared laughs, battles, and secrets. But after the ritual, Wilfred had changed. His once warm attitude became harsh, his words cutting like blades.
"Hey, loser!" Wilfred called out one day in the courtyard, his voice filled with spite. "How does it feel to have no power?"
Zin paused, his heart beating fast in his chest. He faced Wilfred, looking into his eyes to see if he could find the friend he used to know. But all he saw was dislike.
"Wilfred... why?" Zin's voice shook, showing his pain.
Wilfred smirked, moving closer. "Because you're worthless now. Just a nobody. And I don't hang out with losers."
The words hurt Zin more than he thought possible. He wanted to fight back, to tell Wilfred that this didn't change who he was. But he couldn't speak. Instead, he turned and left, feeling the pain of being betrayed weigh heavily on him.
At home, things weren't getting any better. His mom, Tania, was getting sicker by the day. It began with a cough, but soon she was coughing up blood. Zin knew what this meant—a mana curse. The illness was deadly, and they couldn't find a cure.
His dad, Mark, tried to be strong, but Zin could see his dad's strength fading. Every night, he heard his dad crying softly through the thin walls. Their once happy and noisy home had become cold and quiet, with the threat of loss looming over them like a dark cloud.
"Zin," Tania called to him one evening, her voice very weak as she lay in bed. "Promise me... you won't give up."
Zin held her thin hand, tears filling his eyes. "I promise, Mom. I won't give up."
But even though he had made a promise, the unavoidable happened. Tania's health got worse, and one morning, she didn't wake up. Everything around Kazekiel seemed to fall apart as he stood beside her bed, hearing his father cry in the room. The sadness was too strong, the hurt too much to bear.
Time went by quickly. The villagers said kind words to show they cared, but their words didn't feel real. All Zin could think about was the promise he had made—a promise that now seemed too hard to fulfill.
One night, as he lay in bed looking at the ceiling without really seeing it, he felt a strange warmth in his chest. A voice spoke in his mind, gentle but persistent.
"Keep fighting. Don't quit."
Zin sat up, shocked. The room was empty, but the voice had been so clear. Was he going crazy? Was this a harsh trick played by his imagination, overwhelmed by sorrow?
"This isn't the end," the voice spoke again, more powerfully this time. "It's just the beginning."
Before Zin could respond, a bright light filled the room. He covered his eyes, but the light was too strong. When he finally looked again, a figure stood before him—a man wearing long golden robes, his presence was commanding and seemed from another world.
"Who... who are you?" Zin whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and wonder.
The figure moved nearer, and Zin could see his face—old and wise, with eyes that appeared to contain the wisdom of many lives.
"I am Caius," the man said, his voice filled with strength. "And I have been waiting for you, boy."
Zin's thoughts were in turmoil. Caius—the famous wizard from Westeria, a name that was both respected and feared. 'But how was this possible? How could he be here, in my room?'
"Why?" Zin asked, his voice unsteady. "Why are you here?"
Caius smiled, showing a kind and firm look on his face. "Because your adventure is just starting. The world has tried to crush you, but I'm here to help you get back up. Together, we'll find out the truth, and you'll become much more than anyone could ever think possible."
Zin looked at Caius, feeling a small glimmer of hope inside him. Could this be true? Could this be the start of something bigger? The start of a new fate?
Zin felt a mix of feelings as he looked at the ghostly figure of Caius. The famous mage's presence was very strong, and his aura showed power and wisdom that Zin had never seen before.
"I don't get it," Zin said softly. "Why me? I'm just a Zero-Ranked Mage, a loser. Why would someone like you care about someone like me?"
Caius moved nearer, his golden robes moving like glowing water around him. "You think you're a loser because that's what people have told you. But I see something else. I see potential. I see a spark that could start a fire strong enough to change the path of fate."
Zin shook his head, his thoughts filled with uncertainty. "But I can't do any magic. I have no special abilities. How can I make a difference?"
Caius reached out his hand, and in an instant, their surroundings changed dramatically. The simple walls of Zin's room disappeared, replaced by a wide open space filled with stars and galaxies spinning around them. They were now standing in the middle of a vast, empty space, with the universe stretching out endlessly in every direction.
"Magic isn't just about casting spells and having powers," Caius said, his voice resonating through the vast space. "It's about knowing the true nature of the world, how energy moves, and how everything is linked together. Your position doesn't determine what you can achieve; it's your inner spirit that matters."
Zin gazed around with wonder, feeling both tiny and important in the face of the universe's beauty. He had always seen magic as something outside of himself, something he couldn't understand. But now, in this huge space, he sensed a connection inside him—a strong, long-lost link to everything around him.
Caius went on, "You're more than people think, Zin. You have a legacy inside you, one that's been quiet for too long. I'm here to help you bring it back to life."
Zin felt a comforting heat in his chest, similar to what he had felt before. It seemed like something deep inside him was beginning to wake up, something strong and very old.
"What does this legacy mean?" Zin inquired, his voice a blend of apprehension and inquisitiveness.
Caius grinned, his eyes shimmering with an enigmatic gleam. "It's the legacy of Westeria, a magical land that was here long before Hedonia. It's the legacy of the people who lived before you, who used magic not just as a tool, but as a part of their daily lives. And it's the legacy of the person who fought to safeguard that magic, even if it meant sacrificing everything."
Zin's eyes grew wide as he started to understand. "Do you mean... you?"
Caius nodded gradually. "Yes. I used to be the protector of Westeria, a place where magic was the very core of life. But that world is no more, ruined by the greed and desire of those who wanted to seize its power. And I... I've been stuck in the space between worlds, waiting for someone who could continue the battle."
Zin's heart was racing. The importance of Caius's words weighed heavily on him, and for the first time, he grasped the seriousness of the situation. He wasn't just a low-level mage. He was the heir to a tradition that went back to the very beginning of magic.
"But... what should I do?" He asked, his voice shaking with uncertainty. "I don't know anything about this tradition, or how to use magic like you did."
Caius put a hand on his shoulder, offering comfort. "You will learn, Zin. I will teach you. But first, you need to know that this journey won't be easy. The world you know is filled with dangers, and there are people who will do anything to stop you from reaching your full potential. You must be ready to confront them."
He nodded, determination gradually replacing the doubt in his heart. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes."
Caius smiled again, his eyes shining with pride. "Good. Your adventure starts now, But remember, you're not alone. I'll be with you every step of the way."
As Caius spoke, the empty space around them started to disappear, the stars and galaxies turning into fog. Soon, Zin found himself back in his room, the familiar surroundings feeling both comforting and odd after what he had just experienced. But something was different. He could feel it deep inside him, in the air around him—a small change in the world, as if the universe itself had recognized his new purpose.
He took a deep breath, the warmth in his chest reminding him of Caius's words. The fear and uncertainty were still there, but so was a feeling of hope. He wasn't just a Zero-Ranked Mage. He was something more, something the world had yet to see.
As he reclined again, his thoughts swirled with anticipation for what was to come, he couldn't help but ponder the obstacles that awaited him. The world was immense and teeming with strange wonders, and he was only starting to explore its depths. Yet, with Caius as his mentor, he felt confident that he could handle whatever challenges arose.
Outside, the night was tranquil, with stars softly shining in the heavens. However, Zin understood that this serenity wouldn't endure. The path ahead would be filled with hardships and perils, and the realm of Hedonia was on the brink of significant upheaval.
For the moment, Zin gave himself a brief respite. He would require all his vigor for the trials ahead. The tale of Westeria was not merely a narrative from the past—it was now his own story. And he was resolute to carry it to its conclusion.