Chapter 3
A pained gasp echoed throughout the mundanely designed dorm room.
Heavy breaths of panic strained Lucas's voice, drifting through the air in short heavy bursts.
He couldn't understand what he'd just seen. What was the significance of such a dream? Surely it was simply an abnormal concoction created from his tired mind. That had to be it.
However, there was a slight problem about such an overly dismissive assumption.
The unexplainable pounding pain within his skull.
Lucas lifted his hand to his head, thoroughly massaging his temples. In hopes that he could smooth out the sharp pulsations of his brain against his skull.
Through the numbing pain, he tried putting thoughts to work on his situation. The little thoughts that could emerge without immediately crumbling to the pounding assault.
What kind of dream elicited a numbing headache once their captive woke up?
Such a thing was unheard of throughout his seventeen years of life. It made him really question whether it was a result of his prior exhaustion or a symptom of…whatever transpired in his sleeping state.
Deciding there was no point in further thought, he threw the blankets away from his body and abruptly stood up with a slight wobble.
He used the little sense he had left to rummage through his drawer. In search for an antidote to his pain.
Finally halting his search, he grasped at a bluish gray round pill and jammed it into his mouth.
Upon entering his stomach, Lucas launched a tiny speck of his mana towards it. Enveloping the pill and at the slightest point of contact, the pill burst into a thick cloud of grey and extended outwards towards his organs. Filling him with a slight burning sensation.
It took a few breaths, but the feeling of a hammer smashing into his skull subtly subsided , giving him the room to process his condition.
He could feel the hot sweat sticking to his skin, the shirt he wore latched to his body. An obvious indicator that his body's temperature had rocketed upwards during his strange dream.
He clacked his tongue in annoyance. I desperately a bath… I smell like the sun's shit .
With that thought he walked to the bathroom. Opening the tap and splashing his face in cold water that numbed his skin, he patted himself dry with a towel and raised his head, gazing at the face that stared back in the mirror .
People would usually describe him as having a unique aesthetic.
That was true, especially since he had two features which immediately stood out to anyone looking. He had a pair of light grey eyes, a color many deemed to be unconventional and was normally attributed to some genetic mutation. Despite this, it was his hair that immediately struck a sense of foreboding familiarity onto anyone who laid eyes on him.
A characteristic that defined the image of his family, one which symbolized the power which he was born into and the high expectations which pressured his every decision.
The multi-colored hair that symbolized the reigning family of the northern empire weighed on his head. It had a silky texture, the abyssal black color on his crown a regular feature. The irregular part, however, was the transformation from abyssal black to snow white as it gradually reached the tips.
It held a sense of incomplete transformation.
Or at least that's what he surmised from
watching the elders in his family.
Lightly scoffing at the image of his family, he turned to the shower. Stripping and turning the knob. He let the steaming water wash away at his blooming annoyance.
After he'd finished showering and wearing a fresh pair clothes , he fixed his bed. Deciding that he would need a bit of a distraction from the ticking in his mind.
As he finished the task, the rays of the sun dimmed considerably through the curtain.
Night's coming and I haven't touched a single piece of my assignment. He sighed. Professor Leydin continues to bother us about this garbage. If he's so good ,why hasn't he at least hit the fourth tier. He'd be better off focusing on shaping his future instead of this nonsense.
Quite the harsh criticism that was, he quickly realized. Lucas wasn't too fond of mana shaping exercises. He found them to be tedious work which offered slow progression to an art useless to real powerhouses. Who needed fine control when you could simply blast away your troubles the higher in power you grew.
Of course Lucas knew that sacrificing quality for quantity was an endeavor that would cripple most mages.
The foundation they could build would be lacking when advancing to the next tier and Professor Leydin, although not the most powerful of mages. Had a good grasp of the basics. In a way that would allow him to stand on even ground, albeit momentarily with a mage in a higher collar of the same tier.
That didn't mean he had to like it, though.
He understood the principle but found himself constantly annoyed at the time it took for sufficient results to present themselves. Perhaps he was too impatient.
Of course ,being a teenager in a magic academy filled with numerous attention drawing practices in increasing your survivability, made it difficult to have clear cut patience.
It was something he often struggled with along with his shallow temper.
It had been a constant detriment during his younger years and it had to be thoroughly forced out of him growing up. Causing him endless pains and struggles with gelling to his family.
He shook his head, scattering the thoughts of unwanted memories and moved to his drawer. Atop it lay a black cube that shone in the orange rays of noon and gave of a feeling Lucas could only call 'heavy'.
He picked up the cube, feeling the silent pressure it imposed onto his core.
Retreating to his bed, he began pulling at the mana within him, stretching it outwards into reality towards the cube and enveloping it in a blue bubble.
Slightly levitating it off his palm, Lucas tried to gradually trim away the huge blob of blue and finely layer his mana over the cubes structure, something akin to tight fitting clothes.
His brow furrowed in concentration as the blob lost its size, gradually shrinking to a thin layer of blue over the object.
Great. Now comes the hard part.
Splitting his concentration between levitation and shaping his mana, a third, more complex step followed.
He tried to envision a slight rotation to his mana and tried to distribute a little pushing force towards once side of the object.
At this request the pressure mounted onto him significantly, the furrow in his brow deepening as he closed his eyes . It took a few moments of inserting his will in balanced steps, but eventually the cube began a slow but steady rotation.
A slight smile crept up his lips in satisfaction, the feeling of progress validating the work he'd put in despite the lingering annoyance towards doing the task each day.
As a growing mage who wished to reach greater heights of power , these kinds of cumbersome activities would bear fruit at the end of the line.
Before he could bask longer in his achievement, the door to his room swung open and nonchalant steps trudged inside. What a bother, he thought.
He didn't have to open his eyes to know the rat which invaded his privacy without a care for knocking first.
" That habits gonna get a book launched at your face if you're not careful." Lucas warned as he kept his eyes closed, continually revolving the cube.
" You'd certainly know a lot about Launching stuff, wouldn't you?" the invader said with a monotonous voice." Just like the time you launched your cube at Helios's groin, uncaring about the ungodly squeal he vomited into reality. Sounds like something I should look forward too."
Lucas opened his eyes. " If you keep spouting nonsense, we'll see how long you can hold that enamoring dignity of yours." he gestured his gaze towards the cube. "Wanna find out?"
Silence graced the room for a moment.
None of them uttered a sound. Until the invader let out a squeaking snicker, Lucas joining in the moment as he cut off his mana from the cube and stood up to face his annoying friend.
" Whatever you say, launcher. Just make sure to keep the door locked next time ,then."
Lucas rolled his eyes at Nicolas. The boy really had a way of annoying and soothing Lucas in the most sarcastic ways.
It was a trait that irked him greatly in their childhood but grew onto him as he leaned on it more to comfort him in times of great stress.
The boy had luscious, wavy purple hair, something that highlighted his unique personality. As well as deep purple eyes that exuded a sense of royalty towards those who found themselves lost in his gaze.
He was once someone Lucas used to be at odds with.
Only made possible by a bet that had been set between their respective families on the children's talents. One which Lucas 'graciously' lost. It was a relationship which unexpectedly blossomed into one of great trust and respect. And one which Lucas deeply appreciated.
Nicolas eyed Lucas with caution, the stillness of his gaze told a story of many unanswered questions.
" Speaking of Helios.." Nicolas carefully said.
A stiffness bound Lucas's heart. Of course Nickolas would have heard of his blunder.
Many whispers must have claimed many ears along the academy's halls, and Lucas couldn't help but feel whatever foul negativity they must have spit about him at the news was perhaps more true than he'd have liked to think.
"…I went overboard. I was just too enthralled in our battle that I used what I shouldn't have." Lucas frowned and averted his gaze." I lost control and hurt him more than I intended to. I..I don't think he's going to take it well." He said softly.
How would he take it well? Lucas surely wouldn't have. What was meant to be a friendly spar turned out to become a serious battle that could potentially leave irremovable scars to Helios.
He wouldn't be surprised if Helios woke up and decided not to speak to him. He would accept such punishment.
Nicolas sighed. Walking towards Lucas and placing a hand on his shoulder.
" Luke.." he spoke." I know you feel guilty. I would ,too." He admitted, squeezing his shoulder." But where do you think Helios would be if you didn't spar with him. He's the one who pestered you day after day and did his best to take the advice we gave for his constant bruised and battered body. That brute doesn't give up.
"You know how he's like and so do I . He definitely wouldn't resent you for what happened. It was in the heat of the moment and these things tend to happen in such hot blooded bouts"
Lucas looked up at Nicolas's eyes. His words gradually sinking into his psych.
He sighed and shook his head." I hate that you're giving me a pep talk." He said with slight smile." Makes it seem like you're the older one. Damn wise mouth."
" My mouth is wise and my ideas are rational. A fitting combination don't you think." Said Nicolas as he slightly pushed Lucas.
" Oh, shut up. Don't make me blind you." Lucas threatened with a smile.
"Even with no eyes, my wisdom would still shine bright, dear Luke." Nicolas said, sagely.
They sat around in Lucas's room, insulting each other occasionally and passed the time taking turns with the mana shaping cube.
Cycling through topics that dissipated the lingering dread in the back of Lucas's mind. Hoping to forget of the strange dream which seemed to hold a significance he barely scratched the surface of.