Chapter 1

Labored breaths trickled through the air. Travelling throughout the radiant green walls of the magically enclosed cube. While the smell of scorched earth and warm sweat wafted along the slight draft that dripped through the opened roof.

Lucas inhaled a cold breath of air, ignoring the rolls of sweat that dropped from his chin towards the rocky brown ground. Instead, heightening his senses and shaping the mana within him. Thoroughly bending it to his will and giving his opponent a scrutinizing stare.

With narrowed eyes he took in his sparring partner's features. A boy of relatively tall stature and a sturdy build stood across from him. His exhaustion sloppily hidden from his strained face as scratches and dust littered it's surface.

A pair of blood ruby eyes and unkempt draping white hair that reached his waist characterized his figure. Unsurprisingly standing out to everyone who crossed his path.

Lucas's heavy gaze temporarily took stock of the barrier which encased their heated bout. Its surface rippled against the constant wind pressure exerted by Helios's relentless strikes.

Shutting his eyes, he felt the mana coursing through his veins. Softly grazing and filling his lungs, he contorted it and solidified his muscles for the coming attack.

A radiant white light erupted from his arm, travelling smoothly throughout his body towards his heart. Encasing him in an armor of light.

A snort reached his ears. The sound of earth shattering and the air whistling towards him, signaled that Helios would interrupt.

But it didn't matter. Anything he threw out now would be useless in changing the coming outcome. This was his win.

Morning art: Shroud

The moment that Helios shot through the air, his face contorted into one of worry, his brows tightly knitting together. It took a split second for him to reach his fist inches from Lucas's face.

Only for a sudden burst of hot white light to envelope his fist, expanding further outwards to swallow him in its radiance.

The light burned. It invaded his senses and stuck stubbornly to his flesh. Scorching him in pain that made his skin blister. And in only a flash, deep black silence graced his consciousness.

As sudden as the light appeared, it stopped its burning assault. Slowly disintegrating into beads and fading softly into nothingness.

Lucas released a held breath, slowly opening his eyes to the aftermath of the

battle.

Helios's body lay limp on the ground, one side of his robes charred and jagged, while his right arm and torso blotted with red blisters.

Oh no, Lucas thought as a disorienting disgust piled itself onto Lucas's consciousness, a reeking disgust that soiled over the thrill of battle once present. What a horrible mistake he'd made.

He cursed at the damage he'd caused and immediately bobbled over on aching legs to check on his friend's condition .

He extended his arms , wincing at the pinch within his back while rolling Helios over. With baited breath and an ocean of worry rocking in his stomach, he gazed over Helios's dust caked body and scrunched his brows.

It was not a sight new to his eyes.

Blistered skin, parts of seared flesh and the smoke of forbidden powder glued to the air. It was all the same.

But seeing it inflicted onto that body, at such a lowly time, in addition to the lowly restrictions he put himself under to silence the voice of those forsaken arts; it bubbled into a sea of nauseating disgust.

"God's forsake me!" he all but shouted to himself, shutting his eyes to plunge into the empty blackness. Wanting to avoid facing his shame. To look away from the results of his weakness.

But that was no longer a possibility. All the disgust he could muster could never overpower the worry he had for his friend and so he would swallow it as best he could. He should swallow it as best he could, for the sake of the weak bonds he hoped to justify and hold together.

Get yourself up ,Luke! You got yourself here, and now you must help get Helios out of here.

The thought felt like a comfort for what it was worth. He forced the light into his eyes, forced himself to smell the scorched earth and taste the receding bile of failure.

He laid his eyes on Helios's unconscious figure and clenched his teeth. Finally propping his hands under his unconscious weight and draping him over his battered shoulder with difficulty.

He heaved himself up, staggering but finding a shaky balance.

He didn't dare think more. Too many thoughts were dangerous. So he willed his legs to move instead, lumbering through the green barrier as it rippled at his passage and passed a wet sensation throughout his limbs.

The quick but momentary wetness cooled his beating heart and slowed his rushing mind, aiding him to forget and focus. To slide along painfully but to eventually find treatment.

It was time to see the infirmary and Gretchen would most definitely have a few 'words' to impart to him about their intense sparring session.

***

Lucas stood beside the door, leaning his bandaged body against it as he waited to be briefed by Gretchen.

The look she had shot him when he appeared bruised and battered towards her leaving figure, had made it difficult for him to concoct a nonchalant appearance. Like all the other times.

It momentarily shot a pain that gripped at his heart and left him nearly reconsidering whether it was worth the worry he constantly put her through. However, he really didn't think it affected her much.

He found himself continually pushing her efforts away, the scrawny voice in his head communicating that it was all an elaborate act. One that served to disarm his defenses.

Taking a brief look within the room, the faint smell of cleaning chemicals itched at his nose . The rooms appearance was typical for a small scale infirmary. The walls shone in a reflective white paint, little wooden chairs lined the walls and a few unconventional posters of a rabbit in a nursing gown with bold words of encouragement set the mood.

He found himself looking for respite in those the childish pictures.

He let his mind wander , to give himself a necessary break. People would have expected something more appealing to the teenage eye than poorly made humor. An academy filled with young upcoming mages of all talents walked these halls.

This kind of kiddish atmosphere would deter them from actually entering and seeking support. It was as if the environment wished to coddle them like babies. Which most didn't feel obliged to accept. And so most didn't visit the place. Embarrassment sometimes stemmed from stupidity.

The creak of a door drew his attention as the sound of heels clacked rhythmically towards him. A woman wearing a nurses gown walked out of the door. Her light blue eyes and neatly tied blonde hair exuded a sense of calming beauty. Well, unlike the deep frown which drew at her lips as she arrived in front of him. This wasn't gonna be pleasant.

She stood motionless, arms crossed along her chest. Staring intensely at his face, most likely looking to draw a response from him. Lucas averted his eyes, choosing to stare at the floor in embarrassment.

The silence pulled at his heart. Enhancing the pace at which it beat in his chest. Tens of seconds passed without a single word uttered between them.

Lords light, she's really disappointed this time. The silence began to scratch at his skin. There was no chance of avoiding this conversation.

He uncomfortably shifted in his position, eventually sighing as he looked up at her frowning visage.

"Look, Gretchen I-"

"You what, Lucas." she suddenly interrupted." This is the third time. This month alone. Don't you two understand you're pushing yourselves too far. Don't you understand how much you're damaging yourself."

The words he prepared to fire stopped at his throat. Swallowed back down as he listened to her criticism of his actions.

He knew there was no need to go this hard and he partly agreed with her. But it was a pact him and Helios made. He couldn't just turn around on what they agreed upon. What friend ever did that?

" I don't know whether you think the system the world has built is untrustworthy " she said, lowering her arms. " But you have to let up. Trust in the League of Radiance. Trust in your family, especially your father-"

At those words, an instinctive shout rocketed past his lips "Don't speak to me about him! "

Her gaze stuttered at his outburst and guilt stabbed at him for a moment.

Her lips pulled in a line, her gaze pausing on him for seconds. Something within them churned and changed and Lucas couldn't help but feel the disappointment wash through his lungs at each passing breath.

Maybe I shouldn't have said that. He thought. She's just looking out for me, I should apologize. A jumbled apology of words readied to spill open when she spoke.

" Honestly, Lucas. I don't understand the anger you have towards him." She couldn't help but sigh, her tone softening, "You know you can speak to me about anything, right?"

….I really can't Gretchen.

Clenching his fist, Lucas changed the topic." How's Helios?"

Clearly sensing his avoidance -which he would appreciate after his moment- she stopped pestering and answered." He's had a rough knock. The burns in his arm run relatively deep and need to be wrapped up. He needs to rest for now as his mana pathways are still stabilizing."

Lucas stayed silent. Unsure what to make of the emotion gripping at his heart.

Gretchen placed her hands on his shoulders , her expression warm." You don't need to feel too much guilt, kid. Helios is strong, he'll recover quickly now that I'm monitoring him."

He deliberated, thinking it over but eventually nodded absently. He bade her farewell." I'll go back to my room now. There's work I should catch up on. "

Shrugging her hands off , he walked away towards the door with silent steps.

Watching him leave , Gretchen couldn't shake off the worry she had for him. She knew he didn't like talking about his family, even though they were one of the leading figurers of the northern lands. It was in her turbulent emotions that she mistakenly brought it up.

Her gaze lingered on the door for a few moments. But eventually walked back to her office. Helios needed tending to if he were to fully recover.