Nyx's POV
The next morning, Astor and I made our way to grandmother's study. As we entered, she greeted us with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with pride. We sat down, eager to see what she had planned for us today.
"Well, boys," she began, "you're now novice mages, and it's time for you to see something new."
She raised her hand, and atop her finger, we saw something incredible. Dense essence gathered and formed into a glowing ball. We stared in awe as the ball began to shift and morph, taking the shape of our mansion in miniature form. Every detail was there—the towers, the windows, even the gardens. Astor and I exchanged amazed glances.
"This," she said, "is called controlling your essence. You can shape it according to your will. To cast a spell, you must learn to do this."
We were both mesmerized, the complexity of what she was doing with such ease felt miles beyond our current ability. "It will take time for you to fully control it outside your body," she continued, "but until then, you'll practice it with me every morning. In the evenings, you'll begin your real studies."
I nodded, focused and determined. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Astor's face twist in discomfort at the mention of studying. Grandmother noticed too, and she smiled knowingly.
"Especially you, Astor," she said with a playful but firm tone. "You need to learn the history of your house, your province, and other important things. Being a mage isn't just about power—it's also about responsibility."
Astor groaned but didn't protest further. I knew he disliked being tied down with books and lessons, but he also understood that our roles as nobles came with duties beyond just magic.
That day marked the beginning of our routine practice with grandmother, focusing on controlling our essence, followed by studying with our mother in the evenings. As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, I quickly learned just how challenging it was to control the essence outside my body. I could manage to navigate the essence within me, particularly in my core, where it felt more natural, but channeling it externally proved to be a different beast entirely. I noticed that Astor seemed to be struggling with the same issue.
A year and a half passed since we started this journey. With our mother's guidance, we had learned a lot, but I began to realize that outside of magic, I knew very little about the world around us. I discovered that the world of Zephyros had twelve months:
Awakening (March), Blooming (April), Sunrise (May), Radiance (June), Solstice (July), Flare (August), Harvest (September), Fading (October), Repose (November), Slumber (December), Reflection (January), Renewal (February).
Each month had thirty days, and the week comprised six days, totaling 360 days in a year. It was the year 457, a timeline I had initially overlooked while I focused on my magical studies.
I should have picked this up in the library, but my curiosity about magic often overshadowed other knowledge. During my occasional visits to the library, I stumbled upon a shocking fact: no one in Zephyros, regardless of their magical stage or power, could live beyond 200 years. While it was twice the lifespan of humans on Earth, I found myself perplexed. This world was filled with magic—a force potent enough to bend the laws of physics—yet it couldn't extend a person's life?
In those moments of contemplation, I tried to recall what I knew from Earth. I could remember bits and pieces of history and science, but nothing personal about myself. It felt as if something was blocking those memories from surfacing, leaving me frustrated and restless.
Around three months ago, Astor and I had started physical training under the instruction of our father and Knight Commander Marcus. The workouts were exhausting at first, and I struggled to keep up. Meanwhile, this monkey of a brother could run laps around me and would taunt me relentlessly. But after a month of relentless training, I began to match his stamina, although his seemingly endless energy often left me in awe.
"Hey, Nyx! Come on! You call that running?" Astor would shout, his laughter echoing as he sprinted ahead.
"Shut up, Astor! I'm coming!" I would reply, pushing myself harder, determined to keep up with my relentless brother.
I've noticed a lot about this world over time, especially how different it is from Earth. The era here is clearly medieval, yet it's incredibly impressive. In just 450 years since the kingdom's establishment, they've managed to build a society that's technologically focused on magic. Take the lights in our mansion, for example. They look like candles, but I've never seen anyone change them. Sometimes, I'll catch a servant cleaning the chandeliers, but they never replace the lights.
Curiosity led me to the library, where I learned that these are powered by light runes. It was fascinating to discover, and it sparked a desire in me to study runes, but with everything else going on, I haven't had the time yet. Then there's the storage device grandmother showed us—another piece of magical technology that I can't wait to learn more about. I wonder how many more magical devices like it exist in this world.
Fast forward six months, and Astor and I are now eight years old. I've finally managed to control the essence outside of my body and even shape it, something grandmother said was enough for now. Astor, though, is still struggling a little, but I'm sure he'll catch up in a month or two. He's no fool—he's actually very clever and mature for his age. Watching him, I sometimes wonder if I'm advancing too quickly. Am I moving faster because of my past memories?
But, whatever the reason, I'm focused on progress. Grandmother said that once Astor can shape his essence too, she'll teach us our first spell. The thought of it excites me. Magic feels more natural now, but casting a spell—it's something I've been waiting for.
As I think about it, I can't help but glance over at Astor. He's working hard, focused, determined. He doesn't give up easily, and I know that soon, he'll be able to control his essence as well as I do.
The past month has been a bit of a break from our regular training, so I spent a lot of time in the library. I started diving into the subject of runes, something I've always been curious about. There are nine known types of runes: fire, water, earth, air, lightning, light, shadow, void, and celestial. Each one behaves as its name suggests, channeling the properties of its element. For example, the light rune combined with an Essendrite— a special stone that absorbs essence from the atmosphere—can light up entire rooms. On the other hand, an earth rune reinforces objects, providing defense until the rune runs out of essence.
The most intriguing to me, however, is the void rune, which is primarily used in teleportation gates. That alone has endless possibilities. These are just the basic applications though. With the right combinations, more complex and powerful creations are possible. Unfortunately, the library made it clear that nobody can use runes until Stage 2, Apprentice, because their essence output is too low at Stage 1. So, for now, learning runes is something to put on hold.
One day, while I was reading about the runes, a servant came to fetch me, saying grandmother wanted to see me in her study. I had a feeling it was about Astor. Maybe he had finally done it—mastered the essence control.
As I walked into the study, there he was, stuffing his face with cookies like it was a race. I rushed over and snatched the last three cookies right out of his hand before he could finish. He protested with his usual loud grumbling, but I just rolled my eyes. Typical Astor.
Grandmother watched us, a small, amused smile on her face as we squabbled over the cookies. Then, she gestured for us to sit. We obeyed, settling down in front of her. I was still munching on the cookies while Astor muttered under his breath. The usual dynamic.
"Well," Grandmother began, her tone both warm and authoritative, "it seems you boys are both ready. Now that Astor has caught up, it's time for your first spell."
I stopped mid-bite. The moment had finally come. Our first spell.
"Do you feel prepared?" she asked, her sharp eyes watching us closely.
Astor, of course, nodded eagerly, but I could feel the weight of her gaze on me. I gave a steady nod in return, swallowing the last of my stolen cookie.
Grandmother stood, guiding us toward a cleared space in the room. "This will take time, focus, and patience," she explained. "But once you cast your first spell, you'll feel what true magic is."