I live in a world where magic was something that only appears in tv shows or cartoons, books as well, it all stemmed from the deepest depths of people's imagination. This world is more scientifically evolved than anything, where the trains move solely on solar energy and there's electric domes covering each state in place of the military protecting the country itself, they solely protect the government officials.
In the past, people with a skin color like mine. Brown were subjected to the sharp side of the world's mind. Thankfully after an incident nearly
To genuinely believe that exists is the same as calling yourself downright deranged and psychotic. So how the hell am I supposed to believe something as fairy tail as that, I might as well think of it as a dream. Even if it was real, how the hell am I supposed to tell anyone I'm going to go through a tournament to become the wizards apprentice.
"What the hell, I'm in my bed now." I muttered as I sat I up. "Was everything just a dream, no way… Everything I want?" I questioned before I saw something on my hand.
It's a light green rose on the back of my hand, this must be the mark, it's as long as my arms.
*knock knock*
"I don't even have a hangover. Maybe I should-"
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Come in!" Who the hell keeps knocking on my door.
"It's almost afternoon, how long are you going to sleep for, don't you have a job to go to?" It's just my Mom.
"No Ma' I don't have work today. Why are you trying to kick me out?"
"Because it's your day off and you've been working hard since you started. Go out and get some fresh air."
"Why don't you hang out with me then since you're worried so much?"
"No thanks, ask your sister or something." She just walked away, so she really is kicking me out again.
"Whatever, I'm just gonna go by myself."
Yep. I'm 20 years old living with my Mom, I always dreamed of moving out by 18 or 19 but you know things happen. Things like my Father passing away from a freak accident at his job and a couple years later my little brother fell under a disease, we aren't sure how but the doctors assumed something poisoned him.
They haven't found a cure yet and the insurance company doesn't believe that he'll make it so they see no reason to help with the hospital bill so I started working around 16 to help with some of the bills that Ma' couldn't handle. But mostly the hospital bill, I cover or at least try to.
We aren't struggling as much anymore thankfully, we have a pretty good apartment with three big rooms, good tvs and great quality beds so I can't complain on that part anymore. It suck my little brother can't enjoy this though, he'd definitely be happy.
That leads to another thought in my head since I'm in front of the hospital where he's staying.
"I hope he's awake today." I said as I walked in.
It's a pretty cool hospital, it takes up the whole block. With good equipment and great service, I can trust my younger brother will be able to at least breathe in this hospital.
"Hell there, what are you here for today?" The receptionist is always so polite, this is probably my favorite hospital.
"I'm here to visit my brother Felicie Bern."
"Oh of course, and who might you be to this patient?"
"I am his oldest brother Airon Phoenix Bern, his legal guardian aside from his mom."
"Can I see your I.D." She searched for our connection on her laptop as I reached in my pick grab my I.D out of my wallet.
"Yes of course here you go ma'am."
"Thank you, okay your all set. Take the elevator on your left to the 4th floor."
"I'm here a lot, do we really have to go through this every time?"
"It's only a security procedure, I don't follow the rules."
"How convenient they are. Thank you anyway." I just walked away, don't wanna waste my visitation limits.
"Well, I send my blessings to your family." She waved goodbye.
They're so polite but the procedure is annoying. Aside from that this elevator is nice and warm, with great acapellas. Not my type of beats though.
"There's some vending machines here too, maybe I'll get me a snack. I didn't eat all day after all."
*Knock knock*
"You're here today, how have you been?" The doctor greeted me as soon as he opened the door.
"I've been well, how about you?" I don't care much, I rather skip the formalities and see my brother.
"I've been doing the same. If you're here to see you I'm afraid he isn't awake today. We can still give you some time alone if you'd like."
"That'll be great thanks."
"Alright, come team. You heard the man. Let's give them some peace." He walked out of the room with the three nurses following behind him.
As I heard the door shut, I walked over to my brother sat on the chair beside his bed,I embraced his hands tightly hoping he would at least try to grip me. With whatever meager strength he can muster to reassure me that he'll be alright. However it fails.
"Oh dear brother, I miss you so so much. Why did you have to go and get yourself poison, I need you to wake up and come back already." My heart feels as if it's about to burst from this pain lodged deep within my heart. "I won't cry brother, I must be strong for you and mother."
["Any wish and I shall grant it if you win."] As I looked at the mark on my hand, the wizard's words ran through my head.
I stood and promised my brother. "I will win this tournament and the wizard will bring you back." I promise.
I'm determined to bring my family back together to what it once was or at least somewhere close to that.
"Brother, I'm gonna go but I'll see you soon. When you are healed." I left right after, just walking around Neosouth the advanced city of San Berg.
"Where should I go." I light up a cigarette as walk around, wondering what I should do.
Eventually it became night time. "What should I even do to prepare for that, there's just two days left."
*Click click.* My lighter ran out… looks like I'll need to get a new one to light my blunt. "Damn I dont wanna leave this spot… I got my snacks and drinks here… damn it."
*Click click* I kept trying. "Come on…."
I'm not getting high because I'm upset or trying to forget about the pain, or something like that. I'm just trying to get high, it's a chill night and I don't do it often, I'm off for 3 days as well.
*Click click* It was only for a split second, I didn't get much of a glance but the marking I got from The Wizard started shining and a flame appeared above my lighter.
I just relaxed in the public park surrounded by trees and shrubs that are enlightened by the moonlight, simply smoking.
I went home later that night and went to bed. The next morning the rose marking grew thorns that wrapped around my entire left arm.
"What the hell, it feels like there's energy coasting throughout my entire body."
*Knock Knock*
"Come in." I shouted to whoever was knocking on my door.
"I made breakfast. Come and eat before it gets cold."
"Right. I'm coming." *Ring Ring* my phone started ringing just before I got up.
Looking at the contact's name he noticed it was his girlfriend. "Hello?"
"Heyyy, what are you doing today?"
"Nothing really, why?"
"Let's go out today."
"Okay, what time should we meet up?"
"Mmm 12:30, I should be done cleaning by then."
"Alright so I'll pick it up around that time."
"Good, see you later♡ love you. "
"I love you too and bye." That's good, I need to tell her and my mother but how will I even do it, what can I even say to them. Would they even believe me if I told them a Wizard chose me for a tournament. It'll sound like I'm crazy or worse.
…I'll figure it out but for now I'm gonna eat breakfast. Once I got out of bed, I felt a weird burst of energy. It made me feel more alive. The energy feels like it's coming from the rose mark.
"This feeling… it's amazing, I never felt anything like-" Just as I felt the peak of this sensation, it felt as if a part of my mind had opened up. "Oh lord..."
"Hey, are you okay?" My Mom came back to my room, I must've been taking too long.
Taking deep breaths in between each word. "Yeah… I'm good, I-I'm just feeling hot." I'm sweating like crazy too.
"Come let's get some ice."
I feel like I could barely move, everything is getting dark.
"Hey- AIRON!" She yelled dramatically as she tried to catch me before I fell.
….Airon passed out unconscious, sweating profusely as his mother rushed to his side.
However I'm in some dark place, I don't feel hot anymore am I dead?
[Apprentice Registered.] There was a robotic voice that suddenly appeared in my head.
"What the hell was that?"
[Airon Phoenix Bern: Tournament contestant #10
Title: Apprentice to the Sage of the Great Flame.]