---Please tell me if you have any criticisms, suggestions, or questions. I love seeing comments and I will reply to them if I see them. Now please enjoy this chapter and have a great rest of your day.---
Darkness was the only way to describe what I was seeing. It was as if there were nothing at all, yet I could feel the floor underneath my feet. I felt as though nothing existed except this void, but for some odd reason, I felt the urge to walk. Slowly, I took my first step through the void.
Despite feeling the floor underneath me, I felt as though I would fall with every step. With each step, I worried that the unseen floor would suddenly vanish and leave me plummeting deeper into the void. Step by step, I walked, time seeming lost in this void. Whether it had been seconds or hours, I couldn't be sure. Then, as I took another step, I saw it. A bright light shone in the void like a single star.
I felt my legs quicken as I picked up the pace. At first, I simply began to speed walk, but soon it turned into a jog. Despite this, the light never seemed to get closer. As if being called to it, I started to run. Even as I ran, the light barely got any closer. Not even the wind could be felt on my face, as the void seemed to be utterly empty except for the light.
My feet felt light as they barely touched the unseen ground. I urged my legs to go faster. Sprinting through the void, I watched the light slowly grow bigger.
Reaching out my hand, which has now materialized, I shouted, "Just get closer already."
And just like that, the once-faraway light rapidly grew. The light enveloped the void, making me squeeze my eyes and cover my face as it blinded me. The blinding light pierced through my fingers and closed eyelids. After a few moments, the light blinding me slowly dispersed.
I blinked my eyes rapidly as I tried to push away the white splotches covering my vision. Rubbing my eyes with my fingers, I heard the faint sound of a child crying.
Ignoring the crying, I kept blinking away the splotches one by one until my vision cleared. Lowering my hand, the first thing I saw were black and white tiles. Looking up, instead of seeing walls, I saw the void.
'It's like some sort of platform? Why does it feel familiar?' Before I could question it further, I heard the crying get louder behind me.
Turning around, I saw a young boy. He was dressed in a nice black suit, with a white dress shirt beneath his suit. My gaze shifted to his chestnut brown hair that dangled just past his ears. The hair shook around his ears as the boy's head trembled along with his crying. He rubbed his face against a lady's dress, tears leaking out of his jet-black eyes.
The boy was me, or, I guess more accurately, he was a younger me. Looking at the woman whose dress he was crying in, I saw the familiar face of my mother. Her hazel eyes gently looked at the boy clenching his little hands on her dress. She sadly shook her head, making her Chestnut brown hair sway back and forth along her neck.
A small hand landed on the boy's shoulder as a girl around his age gently patted it. Looking over to the girl, I first saw her hair. Her snow-white hair hung below her small shoulders. She was wearing a dark blue dress that went down to her ankles. Finally, looking at her face, I saw her blue eyes looking at the boy, filled with sadness as tears threatened to leak from their corners.
I felt my chest clench in a mix of emotions as I recognized her. Looking away from her, I turned my gaze back to my mother. Walking closer, I saw she was wearing a beautiful black dress that stopped just before her black high heels. Wrapped around her neck was a lovely white pearl necklace.
The boy finally pulled his tear-filled face away from his mother's soaked dress and cried out, "Mom, I don't understand. Why do they all hate me?"
Not waiting for her answer, the boy continued his outcry, "Ever since we were able to walk, it's always been a fight. All these other noble children get along and protect each other!"
Mother tried to cut in, but the boy simply got louder: "My brothers don't protect me. Instead, they are constantly looking for a fight."
Her face was filled with guilt as she pulled the boy into a tighter hug. Tears leaking from her own eyes, she said, "They don't hate you, Sky. They just see you as competition."
"I don't want to be a part of some competition! I don't care about the succession!" The boy screamed, pushing away from her.
"I can't even use magic because my body destroys itself over even a drop of it. So why would they think of me as competition?" He yelled in anger.
"Because despite you having the mana disease, you were able to unconsciously manipulate the true mana in your spirit to keep it from leaking into your body." She said it with a hint of pride.
Not letting him cut her off, she continued, "Not only that, but you're able to manipulate the mana in the atmosphere away from you. If you get a true clone to transfer your soul to, you would be able to easily win the succession."
The boy covered his ears and said quieter this time, "But I don't want to fight them or win succession."
The girl behind him let go of his shoulder and gently said, "Sky, please calm down. I unders—"
"You don't understand, Lara. You and your sister get along and love each other." The boy cut her off, releasing his ears as he turned to face her, his tear-covered face glaring at her in anger before quickly turning to guilt.
"I'm sorry, Lara." He said quietly, his face downtrodden as he continued to cry.
The girl shook her head, pulling the boy into a hug. While the boy cried on her shoulder, the girl unable to hold back began to cry as well. Mother smiled gently at the two before patting both of their heads.
Abruptly, the boy spoke up, his tears slowly disappearing. "Mother, do you think father will ever convince the mage council to grant me a true clone?"
Kissing the top of the boy's head, his mother whispered, "I'm not sure, Sky. Your father may be the strongest swordmaster on the continent, but that doesn't mean he can convince those old mages to give up their secret technique."
The boy looked forward, his eyes now looking at me—or, should I say, through me? His tears stopped flowing and determination filled his gaze. His arms around the girl loosened as he said, "If they won't do it for me, then I will figure it out myself."
The group slowly faded away, consumed by the black void. Then the black and white tiles beneath my feet followed suit. As the tiles under my feet were consumed by the void, I lost my footing. Falling into the darkness, I too was consumed by the void.
My eyes fluttered open to the rays of sunlight hitting my face. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched my stiff back against the soft mattress and pillows. Sliding the blanket off me, I felt a shiver run down my spine as the cold air brushed against my bare chest.
'Why did I dream about that now?' I pondered as I thought of the reasoning behind the dream.
Stretching my arms and legs, I flung my feet over the edge of the bed. Lifting myself up from the soft bed, I wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep when my feet touched the cold wooden floor.
Walking across the large room, I went through the door to my personal bathroom. After doing my business, I washed my hands and splashed water on my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I could see some leftover cuts and bruises from training.
'I have changed a lot since then. I'm taller and my body more toned. Well, that's mostly because of time and training'
After brushing my teeth, I left through the door I entered. The familiar sight of my room appeared again. Across from me was my bed in the middle of the room, and across from that was my research desk in the corner of the room. Turning to my left, I walked to the other corner of my room with my wardrobe.
Opening the wardrobe, I was met with an overwhelming number of clothes. So many that I doubted I would ever even use half of them. Grabbing a simple black shirt, I slid it over my head. Along with the black shirt, I got dressed in a pair of black shorts. For my feet, I wore socks that reached just above my black training boots.
Turning to the calendar on the wall right next to the wardrobe, I marked today's date. I almost brushed past what day it was when I realized it was my birthday.
'Oh, it's my birthday already? I guess that makes me thirteen.'
Sighing, I walked around my bed and stood in front of my desk. The desk itself was a mess with papers and blueprints. Many papers had drawings of the human body. Some pointed out different details, and others displayed each layer of the human body and organs.
'It has been many years since I started my research on the true clone technique. I've learned everything about the human body I could, but it's practically impossible to make a true clone.'
I abruptly swung my arm, knocking the papers off the desk. Then I raised my palm, balling it into a fist before slamming it down onto the middle of the desk. A thin crack split across the desk.
'it has been years and after all this time I still haven't figured it out.'
Grabbing a book that described the Mist techniques, I flipped through the pages. The book was worn from the number of times I read through it. Finally, I stopped on a page for the mist clone technique.
'Even this isn't going to work. All this clone does is gather mist and use illusion to make it look like a clone.'
Slamming the book against the desk, I stumbled as the desk finally split in half. Catching myself, I took a deep breath. Slowly, I calmed the rage inside of me and walked away from the desk.
'That stupid dream got me on edge. I need to go train anyway.'
Grabbing the handle to my door, I opened it. Walking into the large hallway, I turned right. A group of servants and maids ahead of me stopped what they were doing to stare. Sighing, I kept walking in the direction, not bothering to quicken my pace.
The hallway was large enough that even if six people were to walk side by side, there would still be plenty of room. As I inched closer to them, I heard them gossip.
"There he goes again, training even on his birthday like an idiot. When will he learn that training will get him nowhere in this family with that cursed body of his." snickered the smaller servant boy as he rolled his brown eyes at me?
The maid gasped hurriedly whispered, "Be careful, haven't you heard the rumors about how he treats his servants? Even his personal maid left him for the guest house two years ago."
Clenching my fist, I did my best to keep my calm exterior. The mention of Lara left a sour taste in my mouth, especially after my dream. Gnawing my teeth together, I kept walking.
"Oh, please, what can the manaless brat do? Even the Swordmaster Cain, his own father, acts like he doesn't exist." said the taller, more built servant with an arrogant look lacing his face.
Finally, rounding the next corner, I saw the next hall was empty. Slumping my shoulders, I sighed deeply. Shaking my head in annoyance, I finally picked up my pace, my hands itching to hold my sword.
'Ever since Lara left, my brothers have been spreading these stupid rumors. Do they really think I'm weak enough to let some gossip distract me.'
Following the same path I did every day, I traversed the maze like hallways. Rounding one more corner, I finally found the large glass door leading to the training grounds. Walking up the door, I had to squint my eyes as the early morning sun shines bright against the glass.
Pushing open the glass door, I looked around the training ground. Walking into the pavement, I saw racks of weapons to my left and right. Meanwhile, in front of my was a large enough concrete platform for multiple people to spare at once. Walking to my right, I grabbed a metal sword, then turned back to the concrete platform.
Walking up the steps to the concrete platform, I couldn't help but notice how empty it was today. Shrugging, I walked to the edge of the square platform and started to run laps. For the next few hours, I ran until my legs collapsed under me. Instinctively, I twisted my body landing on my shoulder, then using the momentum I rolled onto my back spreading the energy.
Taking long deep breaths, I muttered, "two thousand six hundred and seventy-eight laps... that's ten more than yesterday."
My legs burned with pain as the muscles within them slowly pulled themselves back together after being torn apart. My socks felt soaked with blood from the countless sores and cuts on my feet. Slowly, the sores and cuts closed, turning into calluses.
'if it weren't for my father's genes, I would have been bedridden for weeks at the least.'
After resting for an hour, I got up onto my sore feet and legs. While they were mostly healed, it doesn't mean they are in perfect condition. Walking slowly to the middle of the platform, I pulled the sword out of its scabbard from my waist.
Looking at the sword, I could see the etching of enchantments that made the sword practically unbreakable. The sun reflected on the sword from directly above me, indicating it was noon. Getting onto the 'Cain Style' basic stance, got to practice. After a little bit, I began to incorporate 'water style' by making my movements fluid like water.
Swinging my sword down again, I couldn't help but get frustrated. 'Even if I have mastered both these styles, it doesn't matter if I can't even use the true mana within my spirit.'
Pushing away the negative thoughts, I kept swinging my sword. I raised it up and swung it down over and over again until my hands bled.
Swinging my sword down for the five hundredth time, I raised it and saw my mother standing in the background with a long wooden box in her hands. Deciding to take my time, I finished my set before turning around and waving at her with my blood covered hand. Despite the change in my looks, my mother looked the same as always. With a small smile, she waved back.
'I suppose it's one of the many perks of being a mage at her level; something I may never get to become.'
Flicking my hands, I tried to get any blood off them. walking over to her, I wiped my blood stained hands clean using my shirt. Looking at my hands, I saw most of the sores and cuts healed already.
Walking over to her, I wiped the sweat off my face and said with a slight bow, "Hello mother, what brought you here so early today?"
'She doesn't watch me train too often unless I'm in her class. So if I had to guess why she would be here today, it would be due to my birthday. I wonder if Father will visit me today? Yeah, right.'
Frowning, she shook her head before responding, "Don't tell me you forgot it's your birthday? I brought you a gift."
"Of course I remembered it's my birthday, mom," I said, scratching the back of my head.
Shaking her head again, she looked at me then at the training grounds disapprovingly and asked, "If you did remember your birthday, then why are you training instead of taking the day off?"
Sighing, I looked at my callused and scab covered hands and responded, "You know, I have to keep training. I'm not like my brothers who can take breaks and still be leagues ahead due to their mana souls. Even if I was born with this blessed soul, it doesn't matter when my body destroys itself over the smallest bit of mana."
My mother looked at me with a mix of pity and guilt before pushing the box to my hands. "Take this Sky, I'm sure it will help level the playing field a bit." she said softly.
Looking down at the box, I couldn't tell what it was. Despite its size being as long as my arm, the box itself felt empty. Slowly I opened it to see a black sword about the length of my arm. The blade of the double-edged sword was razor sharp with a triangular point.
Looking at the sword, it looked like any other sword. Taking it out of the box, I held it by the handle. Dropping the box, I spun around. In front of me, a dense ice sculpture of a man appeared.
Sighing, I said, "You don't have to show off, Mom."
I heard her chuckling behind me before saying, "Go ahead, try out the sword."
Nodding I got in position, in my hand the sword felt weightless, making me question its quality. In one swift motion, I swung my sword through the neck of the iceman. The sword easily slid right through the sculpture's neck as if it were made of air.
"What the he-... You didn't weaken the ice, right? What is the sword made of?" I said quizzically as I examined the sword in my hands.
Walking in front of me, mother said, "Of course not! That sword is something I made using true mana. It's capable of many things. Here, try to imagine the sword changing into the size or weapon of your choice."
Looking closer at the sword, I tried to sense the true Mana on it, yet I felt none. Raising the sword in front of my face, I imagined a dagger. The sword dissolved and then reshaped itself into a dagger. I felt a surge of excitement go through me as I gasped.
'It's like magic! Real magic! But how did she do it? If it's made of true mana, then why is my hand not falling apart?'
Looking up at her, I felt the dagger dissolve, and the now liquid dagger wrapped around my index finger before turning into a ring. Seeing my curiosity, she laughed and began to explain how she made such a thing.
After some time, I said, "So that's how you did it? Wow... why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have helped you figure it out."
"So I make you a special surprise for your birthday and instead of thanking me, you complain that you didn't know sooner?" My mother teased, her hand-over heart in make believe hurt.
Scratching the back of my head, I said, "Thank you, mother. You know how I get, I love learning more about magic."
Stepping around her, I quickly waved and ran off, yelling, "Anyway, I need to get back to training."
"Hey! You're coming with me tonight to the city, there's someone I think you should see!" She shouted back to me. Her glare left me no room to decline, so I just nodded my head. She smiled gently, then walked over to a nearby bench and sat down to watch me.
Getting back to my spot in the middle of the concrete training grounds, I imagined the ring shifting into a sword. The ring dissolved into liquid before expanding into a sword that fit my size just right.
Swinging the sword, it felt weightless. While this would help me swing faster, it isn't too useful for training or heavy blows. Standing there, I tried to think of a solution as I swung the sword a few times.
'If this sword is made up of true mana then I should be able to mold it to do whatever I want just like true mana.'
Concentrating on the feeling of the sword in my hands, I imagined it getting more and more dense. Slowly, I felt the sword grow heavier in my hands as I kept going. I imagined it weighing just enough for me to still be able to swing while straining my muscles.
'It doesn't matter if I even break my bones. I'll go through whatever pain if it means I can stand up to my brothers. This body of mine has my father's blood coursing through it. Even without mana any injury I sustained will be gone by the morning.'
Lifting the sword that weighed much more than myself, I swung it down. The force almost made it slip out of my fingers, so I gripped it tighter. Painstakingly, I lifted the sword up again and swung it down. repeating this painful process, I could practically feel my mother's worried eyes boring into my back.
I lost track of time as I continued to swing in my own world. With each lifting of the sword, I felt like my arms were going to rip off my shoulders. Lifting it once more, I heard the wind behind me whistle. With the sword above me, I twisted around while simultaneously swinging down the sword.
My sword clashed with instructor Dave's as I blocked his sneak attack. Pushing my sword against his, I leapt backwards to gain distance. I could barely see him past the sweat dripping from my eyebrows. Raising my sword, I lowered its weight to one that would allow me to more easily maneuver it while still having the heaviness needed to attack and block.
"Nice block, young master." Instructor Dave said his stance was casual as his blue eyes examined my sword.
Bowing in respect, I said, "Thank you master, but I'm sure if you had actually tried, you would've easily sent my sword flying."
"Don't be so hard on yourself now, get ready." Instructor Dave said whilst pushing a little true mana through his body.
Before I could even get into the 'Cain sword style' fighting stance, instructor Dave was already in front of me, swinging his sword down on my head.
My body, still bowed, left me with no options other than to roll to my right. Mid-roll, I quickly jumped to my feet and raised the black sword in my right hand, deflecting Instructor Dave's stab at my neck.
"Master! Could you at least let me get ready?" I shouted, ducking under his sword as it whistles through the air where my neck once was.
Sweeping at his legs, I made him jump back as he responded, "Do you think assassins of the Mist will let you get prepared? You may have already learned the mind's eye and heart's sword, but you're still inexperienced. Until you master the two of those, you will never be immune to assassinations."
Despite my eyes focusing on him, he disappeared from my sight. Spinning around, I raised my sword. I blocked his strike with the flat of my blade.
Mixing water style in with Cain's style, my stiff muscles loosened, and I allowed them to move like water. His sword slid along mine as I allowed his strike to glide past me. Swinging my sword toward his side, I watched as he sidestepped. Concentrating I made the sword extend allowing me to graze his right side, tearing his t-shirt and leaving a scratch on his skin.
Before I could react his fist slammed down on my sword knocking it out of my hand. Then his foot connected with my gut as he kicked me back ten feet. Landing on my back I grasped for my throat as I gasped for air.
Walking over to me, instructor Dave stabbed his sword down, embedding it into the concrete next to my neck. Chuckling he reached down one hand as an offering. Taking his hand I stood my lungs finally filling with air.
"You managed to graze me this time, young master. Great job." he said with a laugh.
Sighing, I got into position again after picking up my sword, 'It makes sense for me to lose. He is the third-strongest person in this household, right behind mother and father. I doubt he was even trying.'
"Master, may we continue this spar?" I asked, keeping my eyes on his form but at the same time trusting my instincts to react to unseen attacks.
With a simple nod of his head, he disappeared and reappeared in front of me. Swinging his sword horizontally, he aimed for my chest. Ducking, I barely managed to avoid his attack making his sword slide over my head. Seizing the opportunity, I stabbed my sword towards his sword arm, using the opening his over swing gave me.
Just as my sword was about to stab his arm, he spun around and directed a new swing towards my own arm. Seeing his intentions I had the black sword dissolve around my grip and cover my hand like a glove. Pulling back my arm I felt the sword slide pass my knuckles as I clenched my fingers into a fist.
Seeing the opening he left me, I imagined the glove spreading until it covered my entire arm and part of my back. Swinging my fist towards his face, I used the strange metal as an exoskeleton. The metal arm lightened, allowing me to throw a punch fast. Right before my fist connected with his face, I rapidly increased the density of my metal arm.
As my fist connected with his face time seemed to slow. A searing pain course through my body when I suddenly felt a tug on my true mana soul. Pushing away the feeling I kept my focus on the fight.
My punch managed to catch Instructor Dave off guard. The fact I was able to land a solid hit on the old man made my lips curl into a smile of joy. Sadly, though, the joy was short-lived as I felt his knee connect with my sternum. The attack made my body go limp and I flew back.
Landing thirty feet away from him, I then rolled another five feet. Groaning, I attempted to sit up, just for my body to flare up with pain. Cursing under my breath, I forced myself to get up onto my knees. Looking up, I saw the old man holding his chest laughing with a big smile, his bloodied nose already healed. Behind the old man, my mother seemed less than impressed with him.
Getting up from the bench she sat on, she began her trek across the platform toward us. Not wanting to worry her, I got on my right foot like I was kneeling and attempted to stand. However, the moment I tried to stand I felt another tug on my mana soul, this time though it felt more aggressive.
My vision went red as images flashed before my eyes. Then the pain stopped and my vision cleared. Coughing blood into my hand I saw cracks all over them.
"What the hell was that." I managed to say before a stronger tug pulled on my soul.
Once again, my vision went red and images of blacked out people painted the red void. There were two figures whose details I couldn't make out. Trying to get a better look at them, I was abruptly pulled back to reality as my soul fought against the unknown force pulling me. Coughing more blood, I felt a searing pain throughout my body as my spirit repeatedly sent shockwaves of true mana out of my mana soul.
Closing my eyes, I forcefully gripped the true mana flowing through my body. I pulled it back into my mana soul until it was absorbed in my spirit. Sighing, I felt both relief and pain. While I seemed to have gained control over my spirit again, the pain didn't stop. My body hurt and my soul hurt.
'From what my mother taught us the pain of a soul is a hundred times worse than any physical pain, and from what I'm feeling now I would have to agree.' I thought wincing in pain.
Before I could even open my eyes I felt another tug on my soul making my consciousness slip into the same red void as before. This time the two figures were talking a language I couldn't understand. One of the figures was holding something that shined with a purple energy.
Slipping back into consciousness, I attempted to stop my spirit forcefully, but it refused to listen to me. Fearing the worst I pictured my mana soul in my mind. My mana soul itself seemed to be in rough shape, as the explosions of true mana from my spirit threatened to rip it apart from within. While I was examining my mana soul, I saw it.
Wrapped around my mana soul was a purple string. It was made of the same purple energy that emitted from the ball the black figure was holding. It was purple like true mana, but it didn't feel like true mana, nor did it feel like mana. It felt like something in-between the two. The purple string suddenly tightened and pulled my soul. This action made my spirit explode in another shockwave of mana.
'Dammit, at this rate my spirit will not only destroy itself but my soul as well.'
Gritting my teeth, I felt fear course through me. Not once in my life have I felt fear. Not when my brothers forcefully pushed Mana into me for a so-called experiment, or even when I had to complete missions on my own. Death didn't scare me, but my soul being destroyed meant my very existence would be destroyed. Without a soul, one can't enter the reincarnation cycle.
My spirit continued its attack on the purple energy. Shockwave after shockwave, my spirit fought back. Each shockwave sent waves of undescribable pain throughout my body and soul. Each shockwave of mana was fiercer than the last.
Groaning in pain, I gave up control as realization hit me, 'There isn't anything I can do.'
As forcing open my eyes, I decided to check the condition of my body. Gazing down at my arms, I was met with the sight of my blood covered hands. Hundreds of little cracks spread along my hands and arms. Each crack was leaking a mixture of blood and mana as my body rejected the mana.
Blinking I felt something drip down my eye making me see red. Reaching up, I rubbed my face and eyes with my hands. Along my face, I felt even more cracks, each leaking blood. Pulling my hands away from my face, they were stained with even more blood. Sighing deeply, I accepted the reality of my situation.
'Ah, I'm dying... I knew deep down that my mana disease would kill me one day, but for it to happen so soon, so unexpectedly.'
I felt liquid drip down my face as I rubbed it. I wasn't even sure if it was tears or blood. The pain was too great for me to even scream or curse.
'Would anyone even care when I'm gone? Of course. Even if everyone else left me, my mother never did and my master never stopped teaching me.'
Memories flashed before my eyes, both good and bad ones. Fights with my brothers, learning about magic with my mother, learning about all sorts of weapons and fighting styles from Instructor Dave, even memories of Lara, my first friend. Then finally, memories of these last three years when I dived into my research and training.
'I never even had the chance to use magic, make magic circles, or enchant items with cool ruins. All these years of training just for me to never even get the chance to use magic.'
Abruptly, a hand grabbed mine that I still had hanging in front of me. My gaze shifted to the smaller hand holding mine, a contrast to my own hand, this one was smoother with thinner fingers. Looking up, I saw the face of my mother as she wore a face of sorrow. Tears trailed down her face, dripping onto our hands as she sobbed.
Her small lips moved as she spoke unheard words. Sadness filled my heart as I saw my mother in such a state. As if it were a cruel joke, I couldn't even hear her words as my ears filled with blood. Looking past her, I saw instructor Dave standing next her, one hand on each of our shoulders.
Even further past him, I saw another figure standing there watching us. With the blood in my eyes, I couldn't make out who it was as they stood there. But a purple glow further behind him caught my eye. A string of the purple energy came down from the sky.
Before I could question it, I felt a powerful tug on my soul. Shifting my gaze back to my mother, I attempted to speak. I didn't even know what to say as I opened my mouth. Nor did I know if I could speak.
I swallowed hard before saying the only two words that came to mind, "I'm sorry."
Just like that, I felt one last pull as my soul left my body, dragging my consciousness along with it. Everything went a mix of red and black as the two clashed within the void of emptiness. With no feet or floor to walk on, I was dragged along the empty void as my spirit continued its feeble attempts at defiance.
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