I was brought back as I felt the water turn cold and climbed out of the shower and dried off, quickly slipping into some clothes then I fell onto the bed and quickly fell asleep.I woke the next day and groaned as I sat up and stretched, I checked my phone then trudged over to the kitchenette and opened the fridge. I groaned as I spied the empty shelves, I had forgotten to stock the fridge, again. I groaned and closed the fridge then got dressed and started for the door.I headed toward a nearby grocery called Nan's while gently whistling a time to myself. I walked in and greeted the old lady behind the counter with a wave. She smiled and nodded at me as she greeted "good morning sir, how is your day?"I smiled as I replied "slow but alright, and you?" She chuckled "The same, have a nice day." I smiled and nodded as I walked throughout the store grabbing any food products I deemed good, when I checked out I exchanged small talk with the cashier then headed home quietly.I stocked my fridge and sat down on the couch as I sighed and turned on the TV. I was horribly bored after an hour and decided to head to work a couple hours early. Boredom was my forever enemy and I would do anything to kill it.The door rang as per usual as I walked into work and waved to Kylie who smiled in my direction. I headed down to the workshop and over to my station. Ben nodded to me as I passed and he said "Mack's gonna be teaching you today, you'll find him over there in the equipment area."
I nodded and headed over to where he pointed and found him going over some aprons, hammers and the other protective and smithing equipment.I grabbed his attention as he grunted at me and motioned me over with a hand. "So, this will be your 'official' last training day as to be honest, we work on our own that fits us. So, I am teaching you how to make armor then you can start accepting your own jobs. We'll start with your choice then I'll be advising you the rest of the day." I nodded with a smile.
Soon, after my teaching session with Mack that took a couple hours and I started on my own, Madelyne came down with a piece of paper and walked over to me. I stopped hammering the metal plate and glanced up at her as she clipped the paper onto the overhead wire and said "Your first job, it's a simple one so you should have no problem as it is your second day but throw em to the fire right, you're making a dagger. Also, Ms.Forester wanted to see you in her office before you get off." I nodded in response as I grabbed the paper and started to read.__--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------__{?????'s POV}Somewhere in some deep caverns underneath a land mass that sprung up mysteriously somewhere. A low hum sounded as a river slowly sprung up, eating it's way through the wall and exited through another wall. Slowly a figure stood from the water and stretched as they looked around curiously, they slowly looked over themselves and the cavern in which they were born as five figures slowly materialized in front of her. They all conversed quietly and the figure that was stood in the water slowly started to materialize into a woman who stretched her limbs out with a groan then slowly ran her fingers through the water that had continuously gotten bigger and soon it lessened as the clear blue water turned into a frothing red and black liquid. She smiled and gazed at the others as her sing-song voice filled the cavern in a simple sentence "My name is Izostaris. I am the Scourge."__--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------__{Sam's POV}"Come in." I opened the door to Ms.Forester's office and took a seat as she finished typing on her computer. Without missing a beat, she spoke as she continued to type "So, I'm aware that you've got experience with enchanting items is that right?" I nodded and she glanced at me continuing, "Well, I think it would be most beneficial if you would be our head enchanter instead of becoming a new forgesmith." I raised my eyebrows in question and shock and she chuckled. "Well, if you accept? The others will make the equipment for you then you will enchant them and you, will sell them. Is that okay?"My mouth was open in shock as I stared at her causing her to stop typing and looked at me worriedly saying, "Uhm...Samuel? Are..you okay?"I blinked multiple times and nodded at her unable to speak due to the shock and she blinked then started to laugh, holding her stomach as she laughed saying "Oh my gods, Sam your face is hilarious!" I chuckled with a blush and nodded as I responded "I accept, I'll become an enchanter." She smiled and nodded as she slowly got her self under control and went back to typing with a smile and soon we got all the details ironed out.I stretched as I left Phoenix Metallurgy and headed towards my hotel room when I felt a searing pain on the back of my head almost making me stumble headfirst into the floor. I gasped as I grabbed my temples in pain and my mouth opened in a silent scream. The street lights flickered as the pain skyrocketed and I watched as the ground spun beneath me, it felt like my someone was drilling into my temples and my hands scraped against the ground digging furrows into the concrete as my magic activated slightly. I panted heavily as the pain lessened and I could see without the ground spinning, my knuckles were burnt black as the pain forced my magic to be used causing flames to spark from my fingertips. I slowly got my breathing under control as the pain lessened more and more before suddenly flaring up again, I gritted my teeth as I looked around to see the streetlights all burned out and the street dark. The world started to turn as I heard a female's voice softly singing in the distance. It softly got louder before the world went silent and the edges of my vision started to blur and as I lost all feeling and fell forwards, I heard another woman's voice declare "My name is Izostaris. I am the Scourge."I gasped as I shot up and looked around panting heavily. My vision cleared as I looked around noticing that I was in my hotel room, I slowly panted as I put a hand on my heart and gently started to calm down, I looked at my clothes and noticed that I was still wearing my clothes from work and slowly got up and made my way to the bathroom feeling as if my bones were jelly. I got to the sink and washed my face as my breathing finally leveled out, my head was pounding just like when I was first learning my magic. I shook my head as I washed my face again then checked the time. Two in the morning, the same day, it seems I had simply fallen unconscious for a few hours, and somehow got back to my apartment. I sighed softly until I heard metal sliding against metal then a thump of something hitting the ground. I went to investigate and found an envelope laying on the floor, picking it up I read that it was from Pixonia. I opened it and read 'Dear Mr.Degray, the administration of Pixonia is pleased to announce that you have been accepted into Pixonia. There will be a freshman seminar every day for the rest of registration week, it begins at 12. Classes will start Monday at 8, more information will be addressed at the seminars. Enclosed in this envelope is your ID card that will be explained at the seminars as well. Welcome to Pixonia young aspirant, and let us make wonders together. Signed proper, Head Communication Mage of Pixonia, Taylie Fouguy.' I tilted the envelope upside down and out fell a pendant, i turned it over and watched the center light up with my name and say 3rd year student then repeat my name. I nodded gently and set the pendent on my key-chain and decided to kill some time by meditating.Soon the sun came up so I quickly got a shower, had breakfast then was off back to Phoenix Metallurgy, walking up I went straight back towards Brianna's office and knocked. I heard the usual invitation in and walked in and over to her. She glanced up at me and her brow furrowed "Samuel? To what do I owe the pleasure of this...unscheduled visit?"I gulped and asked looking down at my hands which still bore the marks of last night. "I-did you feel any type of magical energy last night? That was painful to you?"She stopped typing and turned to me gently setting her hands on my shaking hands with a concerned look, " Is everything alright?" I nodded and slowly sat down as the shaking stopped and I replied "Something strange happened to me last night and I was wondering if you had felt it too, as you and Kylie were the last ones here." She shook her head "I can't say I did, but as it seems you are troubled by it, I will help as much as I can," I nodded and sighed gently as I recounted what happened last night to her.She sat back with a thoughtful expression as I gently palmed my pendant. She sighed gently and glanced at me "Well..I am not totally sure about what to make of it, but for now, I think you should go about your business and if it happens again, go to a clinic alright? Your health and safety comes first alright?"I nodded and stood "Thank you Ms. Forester, I'll be back after one to finish my jobs." she smiled and replied "Brianna is fine, Samuel. And I forgot to tell you but as Head enchanter of Phoenix Metallurgy, you make your own hours but you report directly to me after turning your sales in to Madelyne got it?" I smiled and nodded then soon left heading towards Pixonia.I walked in to the gates of Pixonia and my breath was taken away, up close it was much bigger and much more beautiful, I smiled and followed the mass of people that were congregating towards a smaller domed building. We all filed in and started to take seats, once the crowd thinned out, a man walked out onto the stage and clapped his hands calling attention to himself. The room quieted as our focus turned to him and he started to speak, "Welcome young aspirants! Thank you for coming! I am known as Max Miller, a communications mage here at Pixonia, I am here today to lead your freshman seminar. Now as I'm sure many of you know by now, your pendants are your keys to Pixonia. They are magically made and can gain you access to various things, such as the study labs, the library and the battle arenas. You may gain access for other people with your pendant but they must first be approved by Security. As well-" he pointed up to the screens which powered on showing a slideshow of various classrooms and places around the campus-"to check out any campus property. I'm sure your teachers will elaborate when classes start up. Next, while magic is encouraged here, you will be expected to keep all dangerous magic to the battle arenas and classrooms that are designed for it. Many students and other mages do openly use their magic out on campus to practice or simply for convenience. Also, you may see...beasts and animals that you may wish to fight and we urge you not too, as many are used for training purposes and as such are valued teachers here at Pixonia, some are also partners and pets of mages and it would simply not do if you attacked someone's partner, security takes it very seriously."I listened quietly as Max went on when I heard a giggle beside me, I glanced to see familiar ocean blue eyes glance back at me with a smile, "He's quite funny. Many of us know this, its local law."I nodded with a small smile as I sat back and continued to listen to Max go on about his speech then asked if anyone had questions. I simply sat back and listened as the man's speech ended and a screen appeared and a video started to play.2018, a time of strife and unrest around the world. In the middle east, down below the golden sands lies an ancient cavern. A team of ten archeologists funded by Nations United, the international organization funded by several world powers, tunnel into the cavern, finding themselves in the cavern, their faces filled with wonder. A hole in the ceiling let in golden light as sand rained down on and into a whirlpool of water fed by four turbulent streams that emerged from the opposite cavern walls. The researchers were joined by ten others carrying various equipment and after their initial breathe of wonder set to work. Setting up their devices and equipment, the researchers and scientists among them began to take notes and start their work. Soon enough, more people joined them bringing more equipment and technology when a dull roar echoed throughout the cavern and the cavern started to shake, throwing equipment to the ground as well as people off their feet. A wall crumbled and a large wave of water crashed in, overflowing the whirlpool and washing equipment down into it. Cries of alarm echoed throughout the cavern before another wave crashed in and swept some researchers off their feet, others who attempted to help those being washed away were soon trapped in the rushing water as well. Soon all of the researchers in the cavern were swept down into the whirlpool. After a long ride through turbulent waters , the researchers awaken on the banks of a turbulent river in a different looking cave. Its color a shade of blue only found in the sky. As the researchers gathered themselves out of the water, electricity started to arc off the waterlogged equipment and back into the water over and over. They watched in wonder and wariness at the electricity as small orbs of light floated up from the water as it darkened, the electricity jumped from the equipment into the water then from the water into the orbs. Small tornadoes appeared, dancing ominously above the water before disappearing and appearing elsewhere on the river. Some of the equipment caught fire and the flames flickered, casting uneven light throughout the cave. Rocks fell down around them as the researchers started to gather what gear they could and look for a way out but even throughout this grave experience, they all had an air of excitement and smiles on their faces. They had found their goal. The suspected origin of the original Ley Line. Soon the researchers were replaced by others who brought more equipment, then soldiers and government officials replaced those. Elsewhere, debates warred in conference rooms about the revelation of the caverns and caves. Days and days droned on as the evidence of the researchers work was debated about. Tensions rose as many believed it was the right of those who owned the land it was discovered in and those whos clues found it argued back and forth on the credit and possession of such an archeological find. Unbeknownst to those debating, energy encapsulated in the cavern shot through the whirlpool and river beyond, killing most of those within. Those that survived were found by recovery efforts changed. These five soon became the first to exhibit the strange phenomenon later known as magic. Over and over, more congregated inside the caverns and were found dead and others in various states of injury. The final straw came when a large explosion of energy sealed the cavern and sent energy cascading in waves throughout the world.Soon all over the world were reports of millions of people experiencing and displaying extraordinary abilities, from spending time underwater for much longer than humanly possible to moving machines that weigh tons with ease. Beasts that came straight out of fairytales appearing all over the world, lizards and creatures usually small, the size of cars, species that were thought extinct walking the earth again. Reports of these events sent the world governments into uproars, many cracking down and outlawing magic, even going as far to imprison those that displayed such abilities. Soon, riots and protests broke out all over the world, causing civil unrest in almost every major city. The entire world a large matchbox, simply needing a spark. That spark came the following year, May 28th 2019, when a child experiencing a random act of magic was killed in an altercation when police were attempting to apprehend the child's parents for suspected magic use. As the news went viral, protests turned riots spread throughout the world, the magic wielders easily overwhelming the police in various country. Besieging and outright destroying government buildings and killing governments officials. In response, almost every nation invoked martial law to wrestle civil unrest from the rioting populace causing many more deaths and damage on both sides. Soon after, Nations United released the statement that the First Conversion war had started worldwide. Months passed as various conflicts raged when alarms blared across the world, the Magically Aligned Forces or MAF's as Nations United dubbed them had continually gained ground, using both magic and technology the MAF's soon dominated in various battles across the continents, often retaliating against gathered government forces that had captured magical civilians or held raids against them using what was dubbed as guerilla blitzkrieg. The tactic of overwhelming surprise attack using the equivalent of infantry, motorized vehicles and commandeered aircraft before disappearing back into scarcity, most often the destroyed ruins of the cities they fight in or the outdoors from which they appeared. The alarms signaled what everyone dreaded from the beginning on either side, the governments had decided that the costs of the war were too great and were using their greatest weapons, their nuclear arsenals. Nations United's armies ushered their forces and civilians into sanctioned bunkers built throughout the countries, leaving the magically aligned to fend for themselves as the nukes were released upon the world. Every edge of the world felt the first nukes, their blasts sending earthquakes throughout the continents, causing flash wildfires, toppling skyscrapers, and causing tsunamis the size of buildings to wash over the environments and reshape the land. As the sun set on a destroyed land, five figures were seen in the sealed cavern, rising out of the river and ascending over the destroyed planet. They approached those lucky enough to live through the bombs introducing themselves as the five gods we know today, Frugata the being of magic, Bedgar the god of fire, Gutama the god of air, Hunala the goddess of earth, and Wunaria the goddess of water. They helped the survivors restore order, shepherding those that had been sheltered in the bunkers back onto land and restoring society. The war and subsequent bombings had cut the global population in half, from 7.6 billion people to 3.8 billion. The biggest change was that most continents had been irreversibly damaged and the gods used the shattered remains to merge and create new continents and cities. Creatures changed, magic permeating every fiber of their being and turning them into something new. Most survivors that were on the surface had also been changed, becoming the first species that roam Earth alongside humanity, from elven kind, dwarven kind, to centaurs and the rare species of forest entities such as dryads, satyrs, and even the rarer Ents. The full restoration of society and rebuilding took 2 years with the eventual full cooperation between the remaining survivors. The gods disappeared soon after they appeared, no one exactly knew where they went but subsequent expeditions into the new continents provided proof of their continued existence, from suspected sightings to people finding themselves safe from danger unexplainably. Life moved on, nations sprung up from the ashes of their elders. Society Prevailed.Pixonia was founded in early 2024, on the virtue that when all mage kind worked together could achieve something beautiful. Pixonia spearheaded many things considering the education of magic, from the implementation of magical education and study throughout the world to the creation of magical academies in addition to high schools and colleges. It is now 2028, ten years after the events that changed the world. You, aspirant, while studying here at Pixionia, will learn what it means to be a mage, and when you graduate, will be a proficient mage in your own right.