It is dark. It has been hours since I entered this forest. I tried exiting the thick fog enveloping the surrounding trees but it is to no avail. I need to get out of here fast before those tricky goblins find me.
"Ekkk ekkk ....ekk eekk."
I can hear their tribal chants from afar. These goblins always hunt their prey in a group. They like to take hostages with them before taking their breaths to the afterlife.
"Huh? A lantern?"
I walk towards the source of light while hiding behind the bushes.
It is a lady. A familiar yet unknown face. Where have I seen her again?
She suddenly turned her eyes to where I was hiding
*Breaths heavily. Don't make any sound. Don't make any noise.
"You are there Lucien... Don't be afraid.."
She knows me?
I decided to reveal myself as I have been caught anyway.
"Who are you? Why do you know me?"
I asked as I show myself.
The lady smiled
"Lucien...I believe in youu....yoooo...hooo...booo..booo.."
***********************************************
Booo! Booo! kringgggg!! Wakey wakey booo! boo! Kring kring! Wakey wakey booo!
"Ahhhhh!!!."
*I rolled and fell out of bed.Breaths heavily from the shock. I streched out my lazy arm and hit the clock.
"Awww awwts..." I rub my back from hitting the floor.
I really cannot understand why my brother decided to buy this ghost-looking alarm clock. It's kinda like he wants me to wake-up having nightmares all the time.
I pondered the thought as I crawled back to sit on my bed.
It's the same dream again. That lady. I cannot remember her face. Why is she always telling me she believes in me? Believe for what?
Hi, my name is Lucien Spring. I am the eldest of two siblings and currently 15 years old. Today is the start of my classes. I am a ninth grade student at the Reignia Magic Academy this year (ReigMA for short.) It is the school were all the mages in the Kingdom of Reignia learn from a young age before earning the pass to be one of the Kingdom's elite mages.
*Blaggg! My door room now wide open.
"Hey, Lucien! Are you awake already?!"
Oh speaking of the De.....Dear brother....here comes the owner of that creepy alarm clock.
"Yeah. Yeah. Thanks to this Halloween alarm clock of yours, Knox. Why did you buy this again but never use it in your own room?"
He giggles and put his two hands on top of my shoulders while seriously looking at me in the eyes.
"Brother, you know I'm a sweet person right?right right? Yeah...and it is my gift...to you... specially you... You know I care about your education you know? I don't want you to be late in school. Haha. And a nice adrenaline rush every morning can help along the way! Yeah. That's it."
He nods like a proud old man appreciating his own words of wisdom before grinning.
"Ahhhh..I see..o' rightt...what a sweet brother you areee....thanks for being so thoughtful. Huh???"
I squeezed his cheeks then mess his hair then squeeze his cheeks again...
He is my brother, Knox. Currently 12 years old and a grade 7 mage student. He also studies at ReigMA
"Ehhh...aww..aww...okay fine fine. Let's go downstairs now. Mom and dad left already for work....awww.. They made tam bleakfast and lunchbox at de teybell...aww..enough"
He pouted. Looking at me with a threat.
I stopped squeezing his cheeks. Hihi.
"Okay. I'll follow. Just need to fix the bed."
He nodded, while rubbing his now reddish cheeks and went downstairs.
I reached out for my magic wand on top of my bedside table and stand out of bed.
My wand is a special wand. It came from my late grandfather. He is a very kind mage. I am supposed to be having may own wand, but with an unknown explanation,this wand seems to allowed me to use it. I'll just use it for now. It reminds me of my grandpa. He thought me some basic magic before. My own wand can wait. In any case, it will come for me in the right time when I look for it.
"Magus Fixio!"
I can feel the magical energy traveling throughout my body. A light blue aura seems to travel from my body to my wand until a swirling blue light touches every corner of my room.
And there you go. My pillow, beddings and the items in my room started dancing around, fixing and organizing themselves from mess to a clean sight. What a nice room I have there now.
"This is how magic should be used. To make life easy!"
I smiled, feeling proud of myself as I already mastered basic household magic. Life, would be easy at school if household magic is the only type out there, but nah. There are other complex magic they want us to learn. Some offensive. Some defensive. I cannot imagine using them but, well, I guess it's just how the world goes.
I went down the stairs only to find Knox eating his breakfast already.
"Lucien, come on, we will be late. Eat your breakfast already and prepare yourself for school."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks for the reminder."
I mess his hair again. Haha.
Knox and I ate our breakfast and decided to go to school afterwards.
Using a flying broomstick is the mode of transportation in the Reigna Kingdom. This kingdom has been at peace under the leadership of its Arch Mage, Herald. He is a powerful Arch Mage, assisted by the Seven Head Magi. Together with all the mages from the kingdom, they protect the Riegna territory from attacks coming from rogue mages, neighboring countries, magical creatures and monsters around the region.
Going back to broomsticks. We are gifted with our own broomsticks at the age seven. It is part of the tradition to have our own broomsticks by seven years old. They said it is a symbol that we can now freely fly across the skies. But of course, we are guided at first by the elders. I can still remember receiving my very own broomsticks.
My broomsticks is an Ivory-Colored broomstick with an inscription of a phoenix wings at the end of the handle. It was given to me by my late grandma as an inheritance. My parents cannot afford a new broomsticks yet during my birthday as their jobs are not yet stable that time so my grandma decided to gave me her very own broomsticks.
I am lucky to have really nice grandparents. They are my grandparents from my father's side of the family by the way.
Knox's broomstick is a black broomsticks with an inscription of an owl's eyes at its end. This one is bought by my parents when they can already afford to avail one. It is a nice broomsticks but I still like mine best. No jealousy,whatsoever. Classic never gets old!
"Wanna race to school? Free ice cream for the winner?"
Knox enthusiastically asked as we both got our robes on together with our magic sling bags containing our school materials, lunch and wands.
"Haha. You bet!" I replied.
Flying is more about skills. And I have three years ahead in terms of experience. I got this.
"Flight Ascendio!"
We both shouted and our broomsticks float in the air.
"Let's go!"
Our broomsticks our now zooming in the air towards the academy. A lot of students can be seen coming from every direction. All of them flying to the academy. The sun rays can be seen as we ascend in the horizon. What a sight. The school is really already in resumption. Our vacation is indeed over.
Knox and I zoom passed across other students in race towards the academy.
"Haha. Better treat me with good ice cream Knox!"
I shouted as I am near the academy already.
*Boogshh
"What the...."
*Swishhhhh..swoooshh
And my broomstick spin around after bouncing back a few meters from hitting something. Knox on the other hand is laughing while smoothly landing at the academy courtyard.
And I almost won the race if only I did not forget that the academy is surrounded by a magic barrier. Oh yeah. This place is a no ID, no entry zone as well like other magical institutions around the kingdom. The barrier is an ancient protection casted by the Head Magi of the academy. It serves as a protection from evil mages,magical creatures and monsters around it. It prevents anyone who are not authorized from having an entry to the academy grounds.
And seems like luck is on my side, that I forgot to bring my Identification badge today.
Identification badges are key-shaped badges that has lion's head on its base. Engraved in it is the mage's name and a drop of his blood.
This badges allow an easy entry and exit to the academy barrier. It was only released and activated ones by the academy upon admission and can only be used by its owner. In case the owner lost it, it can be bought for 5 golds. Not so expensive huh?
In Reigna Kingdom, gold is one of the common currencies. The most basic are bronze coins, followed by silver and gold. The rarest currencies are the diamonds. For some references, the currency conversion is as like
1 diamond= 10 gold coins
1 gold coin= 100 silver coins
1 silver coin= 100 bronze coins
So 5 gold coins for a badge is like 50,000 bronze! Not so pricey really. But no worries. The academy cast a magic spell that allows for lost badges to be found. It doesn't activate though when the badges fell deep under waters or when it is destroyed. In which cases, buying a new one is the only option.
To avoid stealing of badges, a preventive measure is also applied. If it was carried by other mages, it will not activate the access to the barrier. It means, it will be useless.
"Haha. Seems like you are treating me for an ice cream later Lucien! You still have 30 minutes before the grand tower bells ring. Go back now. I think your ID badge is at the dinning table."
Knox happily shouted, yet he is also concerned. Yeah. He really doesn't want me getting late. He is very particular with time.
"You're lucky today little brother. Go to class now. I'll be back!"
I scratched my head and focus my magic on navigation.
I turned my broomsticks towards the direction of our house. The magic academy is behind me. It is a huge castle surrounded by a lake on one side and forest on the other side. Its ancient appearance a testimony of how old it was.
The forest surrounding the Magic Academy is called the Forest of the Lost. Many Non-Magus(non magical humans) are lost in this forest when they approached it from their village without a magical guiding orb. Most of them found either heavily wounded or their lives taken away, bitten by monsters or magical creatures in the forest. Not all creatures are bad though, but some of them are evil and powerful.I cannot imagine what will I do if I get lost like them and get to encounter one of those creatures.
Enough of the sad stories for now.
I better hurry or I'll be late. I boosted my magic output and fly to the direction of our house. It is good that these broomsticks have built-in magical guiding orbs within them. It helps to traverse the forest without being influenced by its confusing aura.
While flying towards our house,something is sparkling towards my eyes.
"Huh. What's that?"
A shining stuff is down the forest. Curious, I went down to see what it is. I landed on the leaves-coated floor of the forest. I carefully asses the surroundings ensuring that no magical being is playing a trick on me. I then started walking toward the curious thing. The Pixies usually play tricks on mages by hurling something unto them in this area.
I took my wand,
"Protectio!"
My light blue energy travel from me to the wand before creating small bubble-like light barrier that gradually expanded and spread to cover the area.
I casted a small protection spell around this small forest clearing including the shining thing to protect me from any surprise attack. It's just a weak barrier though.
Upon feeling safe, I walk and carefully assess the source of that sparkle.Seeing it, it looks like an old book with a blue gem on its cover. It is lying down beneath one of the trees. Abandoned. What could it be?
A blue and white light is spiraling around the blue gem at the cover of the book. The light seems to go back-and-forth from the gem to the cover then from the cover to the gem. Is it what I am think it is? A grimoire!
According to my memory of the history being thought at the academy, there are only 4 ancient magical books called grimoire in the world. These books have a gem on them to distinguish them from regular tomes.
Grimoires are usually owned by the Arch Mages of each kingdom and said to contain powerful spells distinct from one another.
Could this really be a grimoire or just a regular tome? Afterall, a grimoire cannot be here in the forest right? They are well protected at the castle walls of each kingdom, in a special place only accessible to the Arch Mages themselves. Grimoires are powerful books. Simply having them around or using a single spell from them drains a lot of magical energy. A regular mage can be put into danger in those cases.
Even the Head Mages can only cast 3 spells from these grimoires before their energy drained.
I reached out with my right hand to pick the old-looking book. I must bring it to the academy and present it to Head Mage Trafurst.
Suddenly I felt an intense pain emerging from my hand. Upon looking, the blue and white light are now like sharp spiraling vines and created a large wound on my right hand. My blood was seemingly beeing absorbed by these lights like they are leech sucking blood from my palm. My blood flows from my hand to the gem. Turning its color from blue to now crimson red!
"Ahhhh.. what is happening?!"
I tried pulling my hand or moving away but I cannot move. My feet are not responding to my intended action as well. Is this a trap? An illusion? It's as if I was glued on the forest floor.
The book flipped open. Its pages turning fast. Glowing with a dark red light then suddenly it flew to my wounded hand, sticking my hand to one of its pages before leaving a bloody imprint of my palm in it.
The book then glow in different colors of blue, white, and crimson red. It continued turning pages until it started to dissolve in thin air. It was absorbed within the gem in its cover?!
"Huh...ahhh....awwww!!"
I scream in pain as the gem, upon absorbing the book, suddenly flew to my wounded hand and stick itself at the back of it. It digs itself at the back of my hand creating a wound around it.
"Leaveee me...alonee ahh!"
I tried to pull the gem with my other hand to stop if from digging to my skin. But it is to no avail. Then there. It did nothing and was absorbed under my skin. My right hand then glowed while I feel a very hot sensation radiating from it to my body.
The temperature is so hot. I am feeling dizzy. The gem is glowing red at the back of my hand under my skin. The light seemingly crawling towards my whole body and seemingly trying to envelope me in it.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Repelion!"
I tried casting a repel spell using my wand i have on my left hand. My light blue magic energy glows from my body to the wand until a burst of light shine towards the gem.
The blue light from my wand was seemingly being repelled back by the gem as well. The energies are clashing with one another. My energy stopped flowing as the red light reached my shoulder disrupting my magic energy. The struggle with the red glowing light continues.
After awhile, I just found myself at the forest floor. Fully covered with the crimson red light..my body is aching and burning...my head is dizzy.
I tried to call for help. But my body is out of energy to shout.
"hellp..help me.."
I tried crawling to the center of the clearing. My magic barrier is still on, but staying here alone can be dangerous.
I can only whisper.
"Help...mmee.."
I can feel my energy being drained... the trees, the leaves, the bushes.. everything swirls in my vision... I cannot breath properly... my vision is getting blurry
I lifted my wand with my left hand, and with my remaining strength cast an emergency spell.
"Auxilium!"
A light blue orb of light flew from the tip of my wand to the direction of the academy as everything around me turned into still darkness.