POV Hannibal Redwood
Hannibal sat in his chambers, a book in his lap. He studied its content. Suddenly the table’s shadow elongated. Noticing the change, the future marquess looked up.
“Ah, Solus. You are back. I hope you have accomplished the objective I have given you.”
“Yes, young master. I have looked into the servants of Brightcloud and have found additional information. The young master of Brightcloud has recently survived an assassination attempt. The assassin succeeded in harming him with a knife, but Aron was brought back from death’s door at the last moment by the powerful light magic of his mother. Because of that, they have upgraded the security. The children are now under protection of bodyguards 24/7. Yet the attempt has rattled the servants. As the assassination was unsuccessful, they are fearful of another one. The servants worry much about what would happen to them if a second attempt succeeded. Some of them have even tried to find alternative employment.”
“Great, it should be easy to push them into doing our bidding. Any other information?”
“Aron Brightcloud will soon undergo his awakening ceremony at the magic guild’s branch in Mendres. Some of his servants will accompany him. It should be easy to catch one of them there.”
“Great, what about the servants? Do you already have a certain person in mind?”
“Yes, I know of one servant that is already unhappy. It should be easy to sway that person to our cause.”
“Very well, tell me more…”
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POV Aron Brightcloud
Today was the day. The yearly awakening ceremony had arrived. On this day it would be decided if I continued my life as a magician or a warrior.
The magic guild had build branches all over the country for the purpose of testing new recruits and governing its people. It so happened that one branch was stationed in Mendres. All the children of the neighboring villages and cities had arrived during the previous days. Everyone hoped to be chosen by the elements. If they succeeded, their life would change forever.
I had clothed myself in the official robes of my barony. White garments with golden and gray stripes woven through it. The crest of the Brightclouds proudly above my heart, I showed the world my belonging and origin. My mum, Lea, Sephiroth, Sandra, Mors and some other servants accompanied me. During the ceremony, they would watch from the spectators' platform and observe my ascension.
Sephiroth fully in her servant mode followed me quietly. I still had to get used to the change. The streets were especially crowded today, it definitely had its benefit to be the ruling family. The local people recognized us and stepped to the side, shortly followed by the foreigners who quickly realized that we were important figures.
I gazed at the building of the guild. It was by far the most extravagant piece of architecture in town, five stories high with three magnificent towers. It had become the center of the city. The primary reason for that was the portal service to the other parts of the country that the magic guild provided. Couple this with a capable baron and you get a thriving city.
Our group arrived in front of the building.
“Halt, the participants have to go through the left door, spectators go to the right.”
The magicians didn’t care about rank, or at least for most of them. From now on, I would be a simple teenager.
“Aron, you will do it. We will watch you from the grandstand. Don’t worry, everything will go fine.” My mother smiled at me reassuringly.
“We believe in you, young master, good luck!” Mors and the other servants added encouragingly.
“Yes I will, thank you. Sephiroth, go with the others.”
“As you wish, master.” With a bow, she stepped closer to my mother.
I nodded to them and stepped through the door, entering the corridor behind it. Now it would begin.
In front of me, I had a whole queue of young man and woman waiting for their chance at a better life. This would take a while. During the next hour, the amount of people steadily decreased. The surrounding youths were talking about their future, what they would become if they awakened their magic. Most of them still green and overly positive, but that was okay. For some it would work, for others not. I contended myself with observing them until my group’s turn arrived.
“Please step through the door. Each person will walk to one of the marked positions in the formation. Sit down and try to find the element or elements that resonate with you. The head-magician will activate the formation when you are ready.”
My group followed his order and walked into the main-hall of the guild. Most of it was empty. A huge formation had been drawn through the middle of it. At the side, grandstands gave all the spectators a place to sit and watch. Yet it was silent. There was obviously magic at work. I realized that the grandstands were separated from the formation with a shielding array. Although a lot of people were right next to us they had no way to disturb the ceremony.
I found an empty place and sat down, moving into a meditative posture. The head-magician soon started the formation, plunging us all into a blue light. I turned my focus inward. My mother had told me I should feel for sensations that corresponded to the elements, heat for fire and light, cold for water and shadow and so on.
There was nothing. No, relax Aron. Everything was fine. Breath in and out...in and out… I imagined myself standing in an ancient hall. Around me, different pedestals protruded out of the ground. They were still empty, but soon the elements would arrive. At least I hoped for that. There! I felt something, I-
The bottom below my mind’s avatar gave away, and I fell into pure darkness.
“AAAAAAAHHHHHH” With a loud shout I fell through the blackness, my whole mind filled with instinctual fear, all my senses cut off, only darkness surrounded me. Before I could get my fear under control, I crashed into the ground, I didn’t see it coming at all. One second I was falling, the next second my body’s vectorial energy had been reduced to zero. Dazed, I pushed myself up. My body hurt, but nothing felt broken. With an effort of will, I pushed my fear back. What was going on? This fear didn’t belong to me.
I scanned my surroundings. The pure darkness had receded, giving way to twilight. In front of me, an ancient-looking corridor opened up into a dimly lit cave. Or at least I thought it was a one. The visibility was abysmal. Behind me, the corridor vanished into darkness. Whatever this was, I was only given one option. Let’s check it out then.
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Step by step, I closed the distance. The closer I got, the more I saw of the room behind it. The black rock opened up and the space grow into a vast cave. In the middle, two pedestals stood. The right pedestal was magnificent. Ancient carvings of fighting shadow-beasts decorated every part of the structure. On top of it, an orb of pure blackness churned, radiating absolute power. I felt the urge to bow before its might. As I got closer, I felt it call to me. At that moment I knew, if I so chose, I would become unstoppable. No one would ever stand in my way again. The evil shadow in my body would be my pet, following my every whim.
I saw myself, wrapped in twilight and black armor, a shadow crown on my head. I sat on an iron throne, gazing into the far distance. Everything I saw bowed before my might. The shadows stretched everywhere, plunging the whole word into darkness. Everything was mine.
I only had to grab it.
My decision was clear. The hunter in me approved. I was born to be the apex. At last I had reached my destination. The closer I got, the more I felt my anticipation well up. Only a little than it would be mine. I-
Stop. No, this was not me. I forcefully retracted my hand right in front of the orb. Good try, asshole. I already had enough shadows in my soul. As if I would give you more power. In theory, it was a nice idea. Get my own shadow powers and fight back. But the truth looked different. Who would have more power over additional shadows? Me, a beginner magician? Or the ancient shadow beast that literally was created from them? I would say the answer was obvious.
I should be much more interested in the other pedestal. It was the one from which the little bit of light came that illuminated this hellhole. The stone structure didn’t inspire much. No carvings, no runes, nothing. And the orb on top of it was simply tiny. If one even could call it an orb. A little flickering light. Nothing worth noticing.
The closer I got, the surer I became. This element would bring me nothing. The shadows were much better! I would be below average if I chose this weak, tiny piece of energy. I needed genuine power.
Damn “parasite” was in my head again. I should myself ask another question. How strong had this light to be to connect down into this sinkhole of shadows through all the interference of my dark hitchhiker and still be able to shine here?
Mediocre my ass!
My decision was made. I grabbed the light.
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POV Amanda Brightcloud
Aron’s mother worryingly observed her son. The ceremony was in full swing, some candidates in Aron’s batch had already awakened their magic.
Depending on the strength of the connection, the participants showed different phenomena. One girl’s hands started to burn, another’s skin turned to earth. One of them conjured a cloud above himself. Yet Aron didn’t show any signs of an awakening. Slowly everyone of his group connected to their element or even elements. Only he didn’t. That was a phenomenal result on its own. The previous groups had often none or at most one awakening. Yet this only highlighted that Aron didn’t awake until now. That couldn’t be, right? She had told him it wouldn’t matter, yet she couldn’t believe that her beloved son would be element-less?
Something changed. Still sitting, his right hand suddenly moved, grabbing something in front of him.
Then there was light. Everywhere. One second everything was normal, the next second a beam of light broke through the ceiling, so bright the whole area around Aron vanished to Amanda’s eyes. The silencing spell and shields got ripped apart instantly. A deep roar filled the hall. For ten seconds everyone was spellbound, then it ended.
The phenomenon had been magical, even unbelievable. Yet nobody would ever dare to say that it had been unreal or a trick. The left behind signs too profound and clear to give such accusations any ground. The main hall had markedly changed. A hole had appeared in the ceiling above Aron that massed over six feet. It went through the four upper levels and part of the tower on top of them. It opened up a tunnel to the outside. The light of the sun shining down on Aron now. The sudden whispering of the people that the non-existent spell didn’t suppress anymore, supported this as well.
Aron himself seemed unaware of it, still focused on himself. His other hand moved, he grabbed something else. The well-known turquoise light of arcane magic glowed around him. Still a beautiful phenomenon but not in the least comparable to the first one.
Only after it had finished did he open his eyes. His relaxed countenance changed quickly to a surprised one as he detected the changes to the hall ceiling and the grandstand.
Before the unrest could grow a powerful voice echoed through the hall.
“Quiet! Everybody sit down and be silent.” An oppressive aura filled the whole building, forcing everyone back to their seat.
The head-magician walked over to Aron.
“Congratulations young man. You have formed a perfect connection with the light. In our jargon, that is called light’s chosen. One of the signs for being an element’s chosen can be seen in your eyes. They are golden.”
Amanda observed her son. That was correct, Aron’s previous blue eyes had turned golden, symbolizing his connection to the light. She couldn’t believe it. Her son had become a chosen. This was something exceedingly rare. He even had another element, although he only had a mediocre connection to it.
“Now go, there are still many people waiting for their awakening ceremony. Tomorrow at noon all the awakened ones have to be in front of the guild for the teleportation to our magic school . The nobles are allowed to bring four people with them for the entrance ceremony.”
Finished with his speech, he indicated for the boys to leave. Amanda rose and mentioned for her servants and guards to follow. Aron’s awakening ceremony was a resounding success! He had even awakened two types of magics. Now the big question was if he had unearthed some affinities as well? Amanda was over the moon. Her son would have an even better life than she had dared to dream of.
While walking back through the corridor to the outside Amanda realized that some of her people were missing. Aron’s own servant Sandra and the old cranky house servant Donald were nowhere to be found.
“Mors, do you know where Sandra and Donald are?”
“Yes, Sandra had come to me while we were waiting for Aron to emerge from the corridor and asked if she could go to the toilet. Donald offered to go with her to make sure that nothing happened with all the people here. I allowed it.”
Amanda hadn’t noticed that. She was too focused on her hopes for Aron. That meant they had been absent through the whole ceremony. Hopefully nothing had happened.
They walked back out into the square in front of the building. Luckily, Amanda recognized her servants. They had arrived already.
“Milady, my apologies. When we wanted to join again, they told us that the grandstands were already full and we had to wait.”
Amanda observed the two. They stood surprisingly far away from each other, and Donald sported a bruise on his left cheek. Had something happened?
“It is okay. Donald, what happened to your face?”
“I am sorry, Milady. While I waited for Sandra to return from the toilet some unsavory people tried to force themselves on a young woman close by. I had to intervene.” Donald answered with a righteous expression.
Amanda nodded, “I am happy that you helped her out. We have to squash such unacceptable behavior rigorously.”
Sandra didn’t say anything, an unreadable expression on her face. She seemed to be melancholic, even a bit withdrawn. Amanda let it be. Sandra would talk to her if something important had happened.
“I am back, mother.” Hearing Aron’s voice, Amanda turned towards her beloved son and embraced him.
“You did it! I am so proud of you. You were magnificent!”
“Thank you mum, it was unbelievable! It felt so great when I connected to my elements!”
Amanda smiled, “I am so happy, but lets go home first than you can tell me all about your ascension. It is better to talk about it behind closed doors.”
Aron nodded, the family made their way home happily. Everything was going well.
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POV Hannibal Redwood
“Tell me Solus that you have successfully coerced that servant into doing our bidding.”
“Yes, young lord. The servant had been already emotionally unstable when I made myself known. It was easy to manipulate the person into agreeing to our plan. The deed will be taken care of in exchange for money and employment after the barony breaks apart. In addition, the servant wants us to take care of another servant. They had a dispute with consequences. The servant wants revenge.”
“Good, the peasants are so easily swayed. Give them a bit of money and hope and they will do anything. Tell the servant you will do it in the near future. Give the money to show our “sincerity”. Silence both of them after the deed is done. I don’t want anybody to walk around and talk. Make it look like they killed each other. Nobody will feel something amiss about that.”