Just as I'm lost in my contemplation, a servant quietly approaches.
"Master Nyx," he says with a respectful bow, "your grandmother is requesting your presence in the garden."
I blink, somewhat surprised. "Grandmother?" I mutter under my breath, curious. What could she want from me now? She usually prefers to leave me to my studies, especially when I'm engrossed in something important.
Setting the book aside, I nod to the servant. "Alright, lead the way."
I bid farewell to Ian, who gives me a gentle nod, his eyes twinkling with that quiet understanding he always seems to have. As I follow the servant, my thoughts whirl with questions. Why now? What could she want to discuss? The garden is where my grandmother, Elyndra, spends much of her time, surrounded by tranquillity. Her presence there always carries a sense of calm—yet today, I sense something different.
As we approach the garden, the familiar scent of fresh flowers and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze greet me. The path ahead opens up, revealing the lush greenery and vibrant colours that my grandmother adores so much. There, seated gracefully among the blossoms, is Elyndra, her silver hair gently catching the sunlight. She seems deep in thought, her gaze distant yet focused, and as I draw nearer, I can't help but wonder—what does she want from me today?
As I reach the garden, I spot Astor lounging in one of the chairs, already halfway through a plate of cookies sitting on the table in front of him. His cheeks are puffed out like a chipmunk, and the moment he notices me, his eyes widen as if he's suddenly racing to finish them off before I can get my share.
"Hey, save some for me!" I shout, quickening my pace.
Astor only grins mischievously and starts eating faster, crumbs flying everywhere. I reach the table just in time to see him grabbing the last cookie. In one swift motion, I snatch it right out of his hand and pop it into my mouth.
"Hah!" I declare triumphantly, chewing the sweet, buttery morsel. "You always do this. I deserve at least one."
Astor rolls his eyes, swallowing the last of his loot with an exaggerated gulp. "You're just too slow, Nyx."
I smirk at him, still savouring the cookie. These are grandmother's homemade cookies, and Astor always seems to eat more than me whenever she bakes them. They taste just as amazing as they always do, and I feel a small sense of victory.
As if on cue, our grandmother, Elyndra, lets out a soft chuckle from where she's been watching us. The warmth in her eyes makes the garden feel even more serene. She gracefully approaches and sits down with us at the table, her long robes flowing gently behind her. With a smile, she reaches over and pats both our heads, one after the other.
"You two never change," she says with a light-hearted laugh, her voice gentle but filled with affection. "Always bickering over the simplest things."
"Now, boys, I have something important to share," Grandmother begins, her tone shifting from playful to serious. Astor and I exchange glances, the excitement in his eyes mirroring my own growing anticipation. "From today onwards, I will be teaching you magic until you both reach Stage 1 and learn your first spell."
My heart races at her words. Training under my grandmother, a woman of immense knowledge and power, is an incredible opportunity. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm, while Astor's grin widens as he bounces in his seat.
"Really? You'll teach us?" Astor asks, barely able to sit still. "What kind of spells can we learn? Can I learn fire spells? They're the best!"
Grandmother laughs softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Patience, my dear Astor. We will start with the fundamentals first. You must understand your affinity and how to harness your essence before diving into more complex spells."
I nod eagerly, my mind racing with thoughts of what I might learn. "What will our first spell be?" I ask, my curiosity bubbling over.
She smiles knowingly, her expression softening as she observes our excitement. "The first spell you will learn is a simple one, a basic elemental manifestation. It will help you connect with your affinity and understand how to channel your essence."
Astor leans forward, his eyes wide with wonder. "And what about my shadow magic? Can we start with that?"
Grandmother shakes her head gently. "First, you need to grasp the essence of basic elements, my little shadow. Only then can you begin to explore your unique affinities fully."
As she speaks, I can feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness swirling within me. The prospect of learning magic, especially under her guidance, is exhilarating. I glance at Astor, who seems ready to burst with energy, and then back to Grandmother, who radiates wisdom and confidence.
"Are you both ready to begin this journey?" she asks, a warm smile gracing her lips.
"Yes!" we exclaim in unison, our voices filled with enthusiasm.
"Very well then," she says, clapping her hands together. "Let's begin with the basics of focusing your essence and understanding the flow of magic within you."
With that, our magical education begins, and I can't help but feel that this is just the start of something incredible.
As Grandmother sat before us, her presence calm and commanding, she began to explain the intricacies of magic in a way that felt different from the books I'd read. Her voice was smooth, each word deliberate. "Magic, as you've read, is tied to your affinity and grade," she began, "but to truly harness it, you must understand how essence flows within you."
I listened intently, comparing her words to the knowledge I had gained from the library. Grandmother's explanation felt richer, more alive than the dry pages of the books. She spoke of affinity in a way that made it feel like a living, breathing part of us—an extension of who we were, not just a classification.
"Your grade," she continued, "is a measure of your potential, but it is not everything. Hard work and understanding can elevate even the weakest affinity user. The stages of a mage, however, are more rigid. Each stage represents a deepening connection with your essence."
I absorbed her every word, mentally ticking off the stages she mentioned: Novice, Apprentice, Adept… But then she paused, her expression turning more serious.
"Now, I will tell you the most important thing," she said, her voice dropping slightly as she leaned forward, "the way to advance to Stage 1."
Astor, usually restless, leaned in closer, his eyes wide with curiosity. I could feel my heart quicken, knowing that this was the beginning of our true journey into magic.
"First," Grandmother began, "you must learn to sense the essence within your body. Everyone has it, though some may have more or less than others. Once you can feel it, the next step is to condense that essence into a core. This core will form in your heart, allowing you to store and control your essence."
Astor's eyebrows shot up in amazement. "A core in our heart?" he muttered, looking at me as if to confirm he'd heard it correctly.
"Yes," she said with a small smile. "It sounds more daunting than it truly is. Through meditation, and with the help of this breathing manual, you will learn how to condense your essence and achieve Stage 1."
Saying this, she reached out her hand and, seemingly from nowhere, produced a small, thin book. Astor and I both stared in amazement.
"Whoa!" Astor exclaimed, his curiosity bursting through. "Grandmother, how did you do that?"
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. She held up her hand, showing us a ring on her finger, pitch black in color. "This is a special ring. It allows me to store items within it. It's called a storage ring."
I blinked in surprise. I had read about such items but never seen one in person. "Will we get one too?" I asked, my voice tinged with excitement.
She chuckled softly, patting our heads. "You will, but not yet. When you're a bit older and more experienced, you'll have your own. For now, focus on sensing your essence."
Astor grinned, his eyes still locked on the ring, but I was already thinking about the path ahead. The challenge of advancing to Stage 1, forming the essence core, and finally wielding magic with true intent—it was all beginning, and I couldn't wait to dive in.
"Now," Grandmother said, her tone commanding our attention again, "let's start with this breathing technique. Close your eyes and focus. Feel the essence in your body. It will guide you."
Grandmother led us to a serene clearing, the air fresh and cool under the early morning sky. The clearing felt open yet enclosed by the gentle sway of trees around us, a perfect place for meditation. She gestured for Astor and me to sit, and we followed her instructions, sitting cross-legged on the soft grass in a meditative posture. Grandmother sat before us, her presence calming as she spoke in soft tones, guiding us into the process.
"Close your eyes," she began, her voice gentle. "Try to feel what you felt during the essence prism ceremony. Focus on that sensation and go deeper."
I followed her words, my eyes slipping shut as I began to steady my breathing. At first, it was difficult to calm my thoughts, but then I felt a warm hand gently press against my back. Grandmother's palm. It was comforting, almost as if she were guiding my essence with her touch.
Gradually, something changed inside me. It was faint at first, like a whisper in the distance, but then I started to feel it—a current, a flow of energy coursing through my body. It was subtle at first, but the more I focused, the clearer it became. Time itself seemed to slow, and the world around me began to fade as I sank deeper into the sensation. The essence in my body was everywhere, flowing like a river, filling me with an incredible feeling of connection and power.
I didn't want to let go of this feeling. It was as if I had tapped into something fundamental, something raw and alive. The essence flowed in me like a flood, surging through every fiber of my being. I stayed in that space for what felt like hours, absorbing everything I could about the way my essence moved, how it felt.
When I finally opened my eyes, the world seemed different. The sky was painted with the soft hues of dawn, the sun rising from the eastern horizon, casting its golden light over everything. I glanced beside me and saw Astor still deep in meditation, but something caught my attention—essence. It was thick around him, almost like a mist, swirling not just around him but around both of us. It hung in the air, almost visible, like a soft fog of power.
Was this because we were sitting close to one another? Or was it something else? I wondered if the bond between us as twins somehow intensified this experience, amplifying the essence in the air.
As I continued to observe, I noticed movement from the corner of my eye. Mother and Grandmother were sitting a little distance away, watching us from their chairs, both wearing serene expressions. Grandfather stood behind Grandmother, his posture strong yet relaxed. Father was beside him, his arms crossed, a look of quiet pride on his face. Behind him stood his ever-present butler, Ivor, silent and observant as always.
Just as I was contemplating the scene, I sensed a shift beside me. Astor stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he came out of his meditation. He blinked a few times, then turned to look at me, a wide grin spreading across his face. It seemed he had felt it too—the flood of essence, the connection to something greater.
Our family began to rise from their seats, and as they approached us, there were smiles all around. Mother, Father, Grandmother, and even Grandfather congratulated us warmly, their pride evident in their expressions.