Elemental Magicians – Magicians born with a natural ability to control an element. Four types of them can be observed:
Earth Magicians – They possess brown-green eyes (with no noted exceptions) and are able to manipulate the earth element. Famous for patenting „the miracles of nature”, such as forests growing in the middle of the deserts, which thrive for many years, even centuries, despite not being suitable for the selected environment. Hired to prevent, or cause earthquakes and other natural disasters related to the earth element.
Air Magicians – They possess light silvery eyes with white pupils, and slightly gray sclera (with no noted exceptions). Often mistaken for blind people. Able to manipulate the wind. Hired to fight against typhoons, hurricanes or tornados, or to cause them during wars. The most infamous case was the Nihorian Typhoon in year 2104 of Old Era, caused by air magicians.
Water Magicians- They possess eyes of the color of the sea (with no noted exceptions) and the ability to manipulate water. Especially appreciated in fishery and in naval warfare. Similarly to earth and air magicians, they can stop natural disasters, and cause them.
Fire Magicians – They possess golden-red, sparkling eyes (with no noted exceptions) and are, very often, born with fully or partially red hair (although, in contrast with eyes, it is not always the case). They manipulate fire, and are particularly wanted in the army. They also work as people preventing arson, or as arsonists. They are the only group of elemental magicians, which possesses an animal related to them magically – a phoenix.
Since the year 376 of New Era, a sharp drop in the births of water, earth and fire magicians has been noticed, with no change to air magicians’ population number. Although birth numbers in all groups have stayed the same, or even grew, most of the offspring didn’t inherit their parents’ abilities. It was then when the term „The Fading of Elemental Magic” appeared, and induced great panic among people. However, since the year 455 of New Era, a noticeable rise in births of earth magicians has been noted, and in the year 598 of New Era, a similar rise in births of water magicians was also noted. Since then their population numbers have stabilized, and the term „The Fading of Magic” now only concerns the fire magicians, whose population number since the year 376 is still falling. The reason for this, or what caused the sudden rise in the birth of water and earth magicians, and why the fire magic after so many years has still not stabilized, is unknown. It is still a mystery why the air magicians have not been affected. This, similarly to the Soul Plague, is explained by the Believers of the Twelve as caused by the death of three elemental deities.
~ Universal Encyclopedia of magical issues, 910, Gormilia.
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Chapter 5
An Eternal Flame
“…And then that girl showed up” Kasei told Edward, when they walked back to Arthur’s house. They spent the last night in Aru’s hideout. The redhead told him about everything that happened.
“It’s crazy. Everything that’s been happening... is insane. And now another person that wants to help us has appeared. That girl is strange… She knows about the game, but nothing more? Something’s wrong here…”
“I know that it’s suspicious. We should deeply think this through…”
They opened the door to Arthur’s home, when in their direction flew a book, which hit the center of Edward’s face, and then fell to the floor. The golden-haired recovered, and saw his friend, furious.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Where have you been?! I was getting afraid that the cannibal got you!” Arthur hissed out. Ed scratched the back of his head, and sighed.
“…I was drinking with a friend” he confessed, embarrassed.
“DRINKING?” Arthur was close to hyperventilating. “Hey, you should use your head a little, I told you what’s happening in this city!”
“Relax, we moved to her… house soon after. I remembered to be careful.”
“Don’t do this again. You’re my guests, I can’t tell anything bad happen to you.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He said humbly.
“Right, now it’s ‘sorry’, but yesterday you parted quite hard, Eddy” Kasei pointed out."
“You…” Ed growled, and Kasei ran away. Arthur giggled.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll make you a tea for headaches, because… everyone knows what happens after drinking too much.” He smiled, then left for the kitchen. The golden-haired sat down on a stool, took out his notebook and started looking through his notes.
‘Hemv… Then Aru and the cannibal… Now some mysterious girl…’ he thought. – ‘This game isn’t easy. But what is really behind it? Maybe that girl is hiding something?’
Edward took out his small fountain pen and started writing. Arthur brought the tea, and Kasei was sitting in the other room.
“What are you writing there?” asked Arthur, Ed quickly covered the notebook with his hand.
“A letter… to Peter” he said quietly. The orange-haired boy put the tea on the table and moved away from Ed.
“Hey, Ed… If something’s worrying you, please tell me. I’ll try to help you the best I can” he suggested.
“Thank you. But this is something that I’ll have to deal with myself. You know… A philosophic thought.” He smiled.
“You’re weird.” Arthur giggled. “And about your books, I’ll try to get them for you! But I don’t know if I’ll manage today, since the security will be… well, walking around.”
“You don’t need to hurry” he replied, writing.
“Heh, alright. But maybe those books will help you in your… philosophic thought?”
“Yes, I think they’ll help a lot. But really, don’t hurry.” He grinned slightly. “We managed to write down a few clan names with Kasei, that we want to thoroughly investigate, so no need to stress here.”
“I wonder what kind of philosophic thought it is, to be related to aristocratic clans…” Arthur thought out loud. Ed knew, that he made no sense, but he had no other idea. He coughed.
“It’s hard to describe.”
“Ah, those philosophers.” He laughed. Ed wrote, sometimes sipping his tea. Then he heard a knock on the door. Arthur puffed up.
“Them again?!” he growled, furious. The golden-haired was confused for a second, seeing Arthur so mad. He went up to the door. “Leave! I don’t want to buy anything, so frick off!”
“I’m here for Edward” a womanly voice said. Arthur looked at Ed, who was similarly surprised. He opened the door, and saw a tall, thin girl with violet hair, from which white fox ears poked out. She fixed her hair a bit, then slightly bowed to Arthur. “I apologize for disturbing you. I’m aware, Edward, that you just came back, but master Aru wanted me to come get you already.”
Then she looked at Arthur’s face, which expressed deep surprise; his pupils were visibly dilated, on his cheeks appeared a soft blush, and his mouth was slightly opened.
“Um…” he stumbled. “T-That’s fine! It’s me who’s sorry!”He giggled dumbly, then hit himself in the face. Kyoko still stood straight, undisturbed by the situation. Edward, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his surprise . Then, she finally came inside, Arthur followed her with his eyes, while making strange gestures in Edward’s direction, which he wasn’t able to understand. Kyoko stopped right next to him, when Kasei entered the room.
“Aru wants to see me already? Is it about that kid, who appeared yesterday?”
“Yes, she came already, so master Aru wanted me to get you.”
“Alright, come, Kasei.” Ed hid his notebook in his coat, they started leaving, first Kyoko, then Kasei, and Arthur still stood with the same face expression. When Ed walked past him, he caught his arm and moved him closer.
“Is it that friend of yours?!” he asked shyly. “Why didn’t you take me with yourself?! I can’t, what a beauty!”
“…What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean, what?! You’re eighteen already, I think it’s logical, that you’re searching for a spouse! Maybe I want one too, huh?!”
“You’re messed in the head…” Ed sighted. Then they realized, that Kyoko and Kasei heard all of their conversation. The orange-haired went red in the face.
“Ha! Look, Kyoko, you’ve got a fan!” Kasei giggled meanly. Arthur let Ed go and jumped away.
“Well… It’s like that sometimes. Can we go?” asked the violet-haired, unmoved. Ed nodded and left. Arthur shivered, repeated ‘I’m a dumbass’ under his nose, when suddenly he felt Kyoko’s eyes on himself. She smiled at him, then closed the door. Arthur stood, dumbstruck, but then started laughing from happiness.