Chapter 5
----------------------------------------
As Aiden concentrated, visible light blue light began to swirl around in the air. It danced around his head, before twirling around his arm and making it's way into his palm. As this light show occurred, Hana had been jumping up and down while clapping while Luna sat in her chair with her arms crossed.
"It took you nearly ten seconds this time... you have made basically no improvements..." (Luna)
Of course she was impressed, he had willed the beautiful blue lights that held so much power into his hand. Normally, magic came from one's own body and they could control it through spells and incantations. Yet this power, came from nature. Almost as if the power was granted from heaven. There was natural mana all over the world, with varying concentrations place to place. It is practically endless, but while everyone knows it exists, it is untouchable. Or so she thought...
Normally only used by divine creatures and spirits, there had not been a single person capable of controlling it... until now. It packed a far higher punch and was seemingly endless, yet it's still strange. Divine dragons used it in elements such as lightning and fire, and there were faries that used it for light spells, but for some reason this boy who would control it could not use it for any of the elements. Not knowing what elements he could use, Luna was unable to teach him any spells. It was bad, not being able to cast spells. No spells meant no fighting power. Thinking of how to help Aiden, Luna had told him to concentrate it into his hand, hoping that he could possible use raw mana... but it had taken him ten seconds just to get it there. Ten seconds could be the difference between life and death in a real battle.
The elder seemed to know something... maybe he knows what his element is? (Luna)
If he keeps practicing and is able to manipulate it better, then maybe he can fight without spells... but ten seconds was far too much time. As she told him to, Aiden dispelled the mana. As per usual not a droplet of sweat was on his face.
I understand that it's not his own mana, but really? No reaction? Does it really take no effort to do what mages have been trying to accomplish for years? (Luna)
***
It was still light out, so on their way home Hana asked for Aiden to follow her.
"Someone at my school told me that there was a nearby waterfall. She said even the fairies played there, and that its gorgeousness made it the perfect spot for a picnic!" (Hana)
"If I say no, you'll cry again... you baby. I'll follow you." (Aiden)
"Will not!" (Hana)
While playfully patting his sister's head, his smile turned into a frown as they approached the town wall. Made out of wood logs, there was a small hole that looked like somone had burrowed underneath to the other side.
"You know that we aren't allowed to go outside the walls... it's dangerous." (Aiden)
As he pulled his sister back, who had already got on her hands and knees as she prepared to crawl under the wall, she looked up at him. With tear filled eyes she sat on the ground where she was and began to cry. Try as he may, anything that he did could not get her to stop. As people began looking in their direction, Aiden finally gave in.
"Ugh! Let's go. You win." (Aiden)
As he pulled his still crying sister through the hole, they entered the forest.
***
As they went through the forest, it felt like a whole different world. No pathways or houses, just tall trees and rough pine needles... even Aiden had to say that he felt like an adventurer. It felt as though he was walking on uncharted territory... and he was glad that he followed his sister. They ran through the forest as many different animals played around them. They played together and his sister even got a few of the animals to play with her.
After tiring themselves out, they sat on the prickly bed of pine needles and laughed it out. Birds and squirrels that normally ignored him rested with them as he truly felt blessed. He looked as his sister one more time, and as they locked eyes the quickly began to laugh again.
"....one hundred points." (Hana)
Unaware of the game she played in her mind,
"What was that?" (Aided)
"Unn.. nothing. Don't worry about it. Thanks for coming with me Din-Din." (Hana)
As he sat with his sister, they cuddled around until it finally became dark out. A thick fog began to roll out as their vision became blurry.
"H-hey Din. Do you remember the way back?" (Hana)
"Of course I do. You're right though, it's getting dark already and I can hardly see through this fo-" (Aiden)
Aiden's voice cut off as he heard a strange noise. He felt a sense of hostility traveling through the mana in the air. How many were there... 8? maybe 10? As he thought such things, he got up and aproached his sister. The rustling of the grass and hissing cut off and left them in an eerie silence as they sat together. Just as Hana was about to tell Aiden she was scared, the silence was broken by something else.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Out of the fog, jumped a twenty foot snake. Aiden grabbed his sister and dove to the ground as two more jumped out at them. Clutching his sister close, Aiden put his back to them as a pair of fangs dug into his shoulder. The other one grabbed him by the leg, as Aiden wildly shook it off. He grabbed his sister's hand and ran.
Although Aiden was not particularly strong for his age, he wasn't weak either. He had never really had the motivation to work on his body, but he was at least in decent shape. Yet, the snakes were easily catching up on them. He felt that although they had a head start, it wouldnt take long for the group of snakes to catch up. Luckily, all that he needed was ten.
As the blue light danced throughout the air, they formed thin lines and wrapped themselves around Aiden. Suddenly he felt his body becoming lighter as he put his sister on his back and ran for his life. Although he had this idea before, this was the first time he had used it. Due to this fact, it was sloppy and hardly effective. Luckily, since he was not an elf and his sister was, he was a little stronger and his sister was a little lighter compared to a human. This coupled with the, for lack of a better word, shitty 'spell' that he had came up with on the spot, he was barely able to stay in front of the snakes.
As the fog began to thicken, both Aiden and Hana could hear a noise. It was the sound of rushing water. As they approached a river, the snakes had finally gained on them. With no choice, as they were backed into the river and had no hope of crossing, Aiden jumped in. Three snakes jumped after them as the rest of the pack followed on land. The snakes... were able to swim, good too. Aiden had lost all hope, the river was their domain. He once again put his sister's head to his chest and put his back to the snakes. All three attacked, while two bit into his left arm and one went around to try and reach Hana.
"Agh! Hana hold onto me! Don't you dare let go!" (Aiden)
His sister was crying louder than he had ever heard before, although he could not see tears on her face due to it being completely soaked in water. As she wrapped her arms around him, Aiden's fears had came true. The river was soon going to empty out... into the waterfall. When she told him earlier the direction the waterfall was in, and saw that the current ran in that direction, he had figured... but he had hoped against it.
Bearing through the pain of the snakes repeatidly tearing into his flesh on his left arm and neck, he grabbed the snake that had went around him. Since it was far too thick to grab with one hand, all he could do was push it away with his terribly controlled mana. All it did was buy time for his gamble.
The water fall.
As he put his hand over his sister's head and turned, they began to fall. The snake he pushed had gotten out of the river, as one detatched from his arm. The other snake was too coiled around his arm to notice, and it had fallen with them. As it quickly unwrapped and detatched from him, it landed on a rock and splattered. Aiden had no time to celebrate, as he put his back to the ground as it was the only thing he could do to try and protect his sister. They hit the water with a deffening *SMACK*.
Pain rushed through his back as it grew sore. It reminded him of when he first learned how to swim, and his mother pushed his father into the lake, causing him to do a back smacker. His father complained that it stung... but Aiden's pain was multiplied by the speed he had been going due to gravity. His whole back grew numb. He took the brunt of the blast, but his sister still took quite a bit of damage.
He did not feel like moving, or maybe he simply couldn't.
I wonder how peaceful it would be to just sink to the bottom of the lake and never come back up... (Aiden)
As such thoughts ran through his mind, his sister grabbed him and raised him to the surface. Normally, there was no she could pick him up, but since they were underwater it was rather easy for her since he was already practically floating. As they reached the shore, she could not pull him anymore and let him go on the very edge.
She was still crying... only this time it wasn't totally out of fear. She was looking at her brother. His white shirt was terribly torn and stained pure red. As he mustered the strength to prop himself against a nearby rock and tear the rest of it off... his sister's cries grew even louder.
His arm... was missing most of it's skin. It was terrible, and looked like some kind of animal had been attacked. His flesh was torn off and pure red blood, bone, and muscle mixed together. With his fingers, he followed a long trail of torn flesh from the razor sharp scales that spread up to his neck and ended at his eye. As his fingers reached his eye, he prodded it with his fingers. Terrible pain ran through his entire body as his adrenaline finally wore off. Before he could even let out a scream of pain, his body fel far to heavy and he slowly shut his eyes. The last thing he saw was his sister crying over top of him.
----------------------------------------
Sorry for the shorter chapter and cliffhanger, but I plan to release one more chapter later tonight :)
Look forward to it!? Please clap.