The days went by, and finally, the time came to begin my
training with my cousin Zirael. He was always upbeat, and his energy was
contagious.
"Alright, let's get started!" Zirael said.
"Sure," I replied, though I could sense a bit of nervousness in his tone.
"Let's see… how do I start?" Zirael murmured, thoughtfully.
As we were getting ready, I noticed Luna and Rina sitting under the tree right behind us. At first they seemed calm, but soon they started arguing with each other. I couldn't hear well, but it sounded like a fight over something trivial. Zirael, realizing the problem, calmly intervened.
Surprisingly quickly, and without much help from Zirael, the two reconciled. It was curious to see how they worked. Rina was always the one to start the fights, but she was also the first to want to end them. I noticed that Zirael handled these situations effortlessly, although, upon closer observation, it seemed to me that he was acting a little strange, maybe even a little uninhibited. Or was it just my imagination?
"How did you meet those girls?" I asked him.
Zirael smiled, as if remembering something important, and replied, "How did I meet them? Well, that was a year ago. I found Luna and Rina when I was near the fields. I saw some children harassing Luna; they were after her. I tried to intervene, but suddenly Rina appeared, and she confronted those kids without a second thought, even though there were four of them against one. It didn't seem fair, so I also stepped in to help her."
"So what happened?" I asked, intrigued by the story.
"Well, at first Rina didn't want my help," Zirael continued, with a smile that showed a hint of admiration for her. "She's always been very independent and a bit stubborn. She's very hard on others, especially strangers. But in the end I got her to trust me and we've been friends ever since. Luna also perked up when she saw that we weren't a threat, since then, we've been inseparable. You are very good friends, no doubt."
Zirael pointed to where Luna and Rina were chatting; they seemed so calm and in harmony, as if nothing from the past was bothering them. It amazed me how quickly things could change and how a conflict could turn into such a strong friendship.
Funny how friendships can arise in the most unexpected circumstances, I thought, noting how Rina, who seemed so distant before, was now just a few steps away from me.
"And how did you bring them here?" I asked, even more curious.
Zirael smiled again, but this time her smile was more sincere.
"It's because I saw you were alone," she admitted with a nod. "I know your mother is very protective, and honestly, it was unusual for her to let you out. That's what My dad told me. So I thought it would be good for you to meet new people besides our family. I wanted you to have friends like me.
Her words made me think. Without realizing it, Zirael had been helping me all along. Not only with her visits, but also by opening doors to a world that was completely foreign to me before. The people, the friendships, the feeling of not being alone... all of that was something I hadn't experienced in the same way until now.
I felt grateful to have someone like him by my side.
"All right, what do you say? Let's practice, just the two of us, right now."
"Sure, how shall we start?". I replied, a little intrigued.
"First, tell me, what do you know about magic?" he asked, in a more serious tone.
"Well... magic is like the energy inside people's bodies, and some people are more skilled with it, while others are not," I said, trying to remember what I had heard before.
"Ahh, almost," my cousin said, cocking his head to the side. "I don't know everything about magic either; I'm not quite sure how it works, but what I do know is that everyone carries that energy inside."
"That's what I said, isn't it?".
"Yes," Zirael continued, holding a finger to his mouth as if deep in thought. "What I mean is that all living things, not just people or humanoids, have that energy. If not all of them, even the plants themselves."
"Everyone has energy?"
"Yes, everyone," he replied confidently. "It doesn't matter if you are human, animal or even a plant. Every living being has that energy inside. Some know how to use it and some are not even aware that they have it. But it's what connects us all. That energy is what allows us to make magic, even if not everyone can harness it in the same way."
His words got me thinking. The idea that all living things had an internal energy that could be used to make magic fascinated me. I had never seen it that way, and now I was even more curious about how it really worked.
"There are several races in this world, have you noticed?" he asked looking into my eyes. When I didn't answer, he sighed and said, "I guess not. Well, Luna is a demon of the Nix family. They are demons from another continent, of which both she and I know little."
"I understand," I replied, although I was having trouble concentrating. More questions kept popping up in my mind. I didn't know anything. All I knew was that Luna was not normal and that she was a demon because of her little horns.
He kept telling me more about Luna. He said she was a type of demon, but more related to the human race. In short, she was like a half-breed. She also mentioned that it was rare to see any other race in this town besides humans; it seemed that she was an exception.
"Well, yes... there's a lot to tell, but that's about it," Zirael said.
"I understand," I replied, feeling curious to know more details, although I wasn't sure I fully understood what she was telling me.
Suddenly, I noticed something around her waist that completely surprised me. It looked like a branch with a blue gem glowing brightly.
"What is that?"
"Oh, this... it's a wand," Zirael replied casually. "And it serves to channel our energy more easily," she explained, holding the wand gently.
"So, it's like a duplicator?". I asked, trying to understand.
"Well, it's a good example, but it doesn't actually double the energy. Rather, it's a tool that allows you to release a greater amount ofenergy more efficiently," Zirael corrected me.
"And how did you get something so amazing?".
"It was a gift from my Master, Brínp," Zirael replied, her face lighting up. "He's someone I admire very much."
"Really, he's helped you that much?"
"Yes, more than I could ever thank him for. Thanks to him I learned a lot about magic," she said, smiling. "Now it's my turn to teach you."
"He must have been a very special person to you, the way you talk about him," I commented.
"Yes..." Zirael replied, but quickly changed the subject. "All right, ready," she said seriously. "We'll start with the abasic spell."
"Okay," I replied.
"Hold out your hands and say these words: 'Flames that illuminate the darkness, please listen to my voice, [se̱ṅge̱lrawray!] Just that, and you will feel the energy flow."
"Is it really that easy for the energy to flow?".
"Yes. Just say the words and concentrate. Feel the energy in your chest build up in the palm of your hand," Zirael explained.
"Okay, I'll try," I said, trying to calm my nerves. I stretched out my hands and concentrated as best I could, "Flames illuminating the darkness, please listen to my voice, [se̱ṅge̱lrawray...!".
As I uttered those words, I felt a faint vibration in my chest, as if something inside me had begun to stir.
That sensation can only be described as HEAT!
Suddenly, a small spark arose in the palm of my hand and quickly turned into a fiery sphere. The fiery ball hovered above my hand, illuminating the air with its intense heat and glow. Although it was small, like a marble, the feeling of power was undeniable.
"Excellent! You got it on the first try," my cousin said. "Now, throw it."
"Very good."
I prepared to throw it, feeling the excitement and power in my hand, but just then, Luna appeared in front of me. Surprised I stopped just before throwing it and instinctively tried to extinguish the fireball with my hand.
It was a big mistake.
The pain was immediate. The burning sensation ran across my skin as I touched the fire. "Ahh, I'm burning!" I screamed.
"Kaini, ay!" my cousin exclaimed, rushing to me to heal me. "Nunsalvagilo, your healing mantle, may it be granted to you by your intuitive command, hanppiy ¡ṭiśana!". His hands glowed with an emerald light and the pain began.
"No, I'm sorry, Kaini, I didn't mean to, forgive me," Luna said, looking startled.
"It's okay, it's nothing, the pain is over thanks to Zirael," I replied, trying to calm her concern.
Zirael let out a small laugh, adding a lighthearted touch to the moment. "Haha, that's why I told you to throw it away."
I continued to rub my hand, still surprised at the feeling it had left me with.
"Does it still hurt?" Zirael asked, looking at me curiously.
"No, not anymore," I replied, though there was something odd about it. Even though the pain was completely gone, I couldn't get rid of what I had felt at that moment.
"Then why do you keep rubbing your hand?" he insisted.
"It just... it feels strange to me. The texture is different, like the skin on my palm is softer, almost like a baby's," I explained, moving my fingers carefully and noticing how soft it had become.
"Yes, that's one of the benefits of healing," Ziraelsa said with a smile. "Not only does it take away the pain, but it leaves the skin looking like new."
Honestly, I was amazed at how incredible the magic was: not only could it heal wounds, but it could also leave skin so perfectly smooth that it looked unreal. It was fascinating and, at the same time, it made me realize how powerful magic could be if used correctly.
"You're right; it's like I never got hurt."
Healing magic is really useful, like when my mother used it on me that one time. Although today's incident was definitely something to be more cautious about, I learned how powerful it is to control magic and how important it is to be careful when using it.
"Yes, well, let's continue, but this time throw it," Zirael said.
At that moment, Luna appeared again.
"Kaini, your mom says lunch is ready. She wants you to come in and eat," she said, still a little nervous about the recent accident.
"Okay, we'll practice some more and then we'll go," I replied, not wanting to miss a beat.
"Okay... but hurry up," Luna said, still a little uneasy.
"Okay, okay," I said, watching her walk toward the house. Rina was waiting by the door, as if making sure everything was going well.
"One last time, but as I told you, this time throw it," Zirael said with a mixture of seriousness and enthusiasm.
"All right, all right," I replied.
Zirael was starting to sound like my mother, making sure I paid attention and was more careful this time. I took a deep breath, returned to my position and concentrated fully. I cleared my mind, ignored any distractions and aimed at a bush near the house. With all my concentration, I repeated the spell.
"Flames illuminating the darkness, please listen to my voice, [se̱ṅge̱lrawray...!
This time, nothing happened. I didn't feel the heat in my body like before.
"It doesn't work, nothing comes out," I said, as my frustration grew inside me.
"Don't get upset, Kaini," Zirael said, trying to calm me down.
"But it's not working," I insisted, growing more and more uneasy. Something wasn't right - why wasn't it working, what had changed?
"Before Zirael could finish, I felt my body slump to the floor. My legs could no longer support me, and the energy that had kept me standing suddenly disappeared.
"Ahh..." I muttered in exhaustion.
"I told you not to overdo it. You've almost used up all your energy, both vital and personal," Zirael explained, crouching down beside me.
"What now?" I asked, exhausted, looking up at the sky from the ground, unable to move.
"Well, now we just have to wait for you to regain enough energy to move again," Zirael said with a mixture of sympathy and amusement in her voice.
Zirael, instead of scolding me or leaving me alone, lay down next to me, looking up at the sky with me.
"Now why are you lying down? Why don't you go with them or, better yet, help me?". I asked.
"I find it fun to be in this state," Zirael replied.
In a way, it was true: me and him. We looked at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Haha."
Lying on the grass, we could feel its softness as if we were on a cotton bed. The fresh air and the comfort of the grass surrounded us turning that moment into something pleasant, almost magical, as if we were floating on clouds.
It was a perfect moment until a voice interrupted the calm, right above our faces.
"Kaini, your mother is angry. She says come in quickly," Rina said, in a serious but clearly disinterested tone. "I already told you, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Okay, help me up, please, Zirael," I said, trying to stand up.
As I looked at him, I noticed that Zirael was still lying on the floor, looking at Rina... or more accurately, looking down her skirt.
What the hell is going on here, I thought, completely surprised, hadn't Rina noticed what Zirael was doing?
"Zirael!" I exclaimed, not knowing how to react. My cousin raised his head with a mischievous smile, as if I had done nothing wrong. It seemed he hadn't even heard me.
Rina, still oblivious to the situation, continued speaking with the same indifference. "Well, I'll wait for you inside," she said, turning around without realizing what had just happened.
Damn, what was that, I thought, annoyed, as I looked at Zirael.
This confirmed my suspicions. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but apparently not. This was awkward.
"Zirael, can you help me up?" I said again.
"Oh... yes, sorry," she replied quickly, as if she had just woken up.
Finally, he came out of his trance. After being completely engrossed by a single article of clothing, he came over and wrapped his arms around me to help me up.
"Wait, let me balance," I said, as I tried to hold myself up better.
"Careful," Zirael said, holding me more firmly.
She lifted me in her arms as I tried to stand up, though my legs were still shaking. With her support, we made it back to the house. I definitely needed to be more conscious of not doing something so reckless again. And, for God's sake, I had also realized something even clearer: my cousin was a complete pervert.