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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - Out of body (link in the footnote)
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In the kingdom of Alnaetis, the Mage Tower was a symbol of power. Within it worked many masters who divided their time between research, practical application and teaching. The most talented children could therefore benefit from the chance to learn from the masters, like Elenael who had been chosen by Alisan, undoubtedly the most famous wizard in the country. He had become his disciple, but despite this, the boy did not see him again during the days that followed their meeting. Instead, he attended different classes where other teachers explained to him the basics of mastering his power. All this was new for the child and quite complicated, especially since he didn’t know yet the element which was going to be his or the way in which he would be able to use it.
Around him, all the students he met seemed to know him by reputation. Apparently, the strange phenomenon that happened during his detection made him quite famous. Moreover, as it was told, the rumor swelled and distorted what had really happened: soon, some started to say that the stone which had just broken had in fact exploded, some even said the tent had caught fire and was reduced to ashes. Each new person who relayed it added to it and the story quickly turned into legend. The topic of these discussions, Elenael, was completely oblivious to the whole thing: he could see that the others treated him strangely, but he had little experience at socializing since he came from a small isolated village. Unaware of what was happening, he didn't react to it and his classmates took this indifference for arrogance. This only strengthened their opinion in the end and everyone imagined that the boy was, in fact, already a powerful magician.
On the second day after Alric left, Elenael was walking alone in the park at the base of the tower when an older student suddenly stood in his way, hands on his hips and a defiant smile on his face. The young man was quite tall and very thin, almost skinny. His face was a little unsightly, elongated, as if someone had taken his chin and the top of his head and stretched it. His mouth was pinched and his whole attitude betrayed his arrogance. He clearly didn't like to mingle with the crowd and he seemed to look down on everyone.
He was followed by two other students who wore nasty grins. Suddenly, in a nasal voice, the boy said, "So you're the genius? The one who caused a stir during the ritual?" He gave his acolytes a mocking smile before continuing "I'm sure this remote little country don't even have real power stones. I’m sure they're all faulty and break every time." When they heard these provocative words, his two friends began to make fun of the child as well.
Elenael was frozen, unable to say a word. The other student was much taller than him: he must have easily been 4 or 5 years older. But even if he had been his age, Elenael wouldn't have known what to do. It was the first time in his life that he was facing someone that aggressive. Motionless like a statue, the child was desperately thinking about something he could say to get out of this situation.
"Well? Are you mute? Or is it that Mr. Genius doesn't deign to us mere mortals? I guess we're not smart enough for you, are we?" The mockery was slowly turning into anger which only served to freeze Elenael more. Suddenly, a gruff voice sounded behind him.
"Leave him, Leonn." The newcomer was not very tall, but he had a powerful build. Above his broad shoulders and bull neck, his square face was frightening. He could have been handsome, with his charming blue eyes and reddish-brown hair, but a deformity in his mouth lifted the corner of his lips in a perpetual rictus, making him look like a bandit or a thug. However, his arrival allowed Elenael to breathe a little better and diverted the attention of the one who had been chasing him until then, the so-called Leonn.
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"What do you want Wyann? I'm talking to the new celebrity and I don't need you to interfere."
"Are you bothering the little ones now? The more I see you, the classier you get! I recognize the reputation of the empire there..."
"What?! What did you say?! I dare you to say it again..."
"Why? Do you want to duel again?" the muscular boy almost growled.
Suddenly frightened, Leonn took a step back and stammered, "You.... You cheated last time! It was a magic duel, not a fight..." Unconsciously, the noble rubbed his cheek, as if if the pain of an old wound came back to him.
Wyann laughed and said defiantly "Magic or fight, I'll take care of you whenever you want. Now take your minions and go haunt a hallway or a cave..."
Leonn was furious and he took a step towards the muscular student, only to see the latter confront him with his fist raised. Leonn hesitated for a second, but finally turned and strode off, his two friends in tow. Wyann then turned his gaze to Elenael, but he left without saying anything. The young boy followed him and they walked in silence for several minutes like that. Unable to hold it any longer, Wyann ended up facing Elenael and asked him in an unfriendly tone: "What do you want?"
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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - Ancient stones (link in the footnote)
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The child offered him a big smile, innocent and pure. With a voice filled with gratitude, he replied, "Thank you for standing up for me."
Wyann slightly blushed, disarmed by the boy’s honesty. In a gruff tone, he grumbled: "Leonn comes from the Ostrenan Empire. For them, we are only little provincials, just more than cavemen, and he likes to remind everyone the he’s superior. I like to lower his cackle once in a while." The boy suddenly sighed and looked away, staring into space. "It's true that they are so much more advanced than us in magic that we must seem ridiculous to them. But hey, if Leonn is here, that means he was too bad to study in his own country, so he shouldn't be feeling so proud..." Finally, he planted his eyes in Elenael’s and said firmly, "You don't owe me anything, just let it go, okay?"
The young boy nodded energetically, which seemed to satisfy Wyann. Without adding anything, the older student turned around and started walking again, quickly followed by Elenael. Annoyed, he turned around again and asked in a loud voice, almost shouting: "What do you want in the end?"
The boy was still similing. "You are a good person."
Wyann looked at him and let out a small, self-deprecating laugh "What do you know ? You don't know me."
Elenael replied with absolute certainty, "I see it."
They stared at each other for a long time in silence, the older with cold anger, the younger with joyous enthusiasm. It was Wyann who gave in. He turned around, grumbling, "Well, if you want to follow me, so be it." And he left without paying any more attention to Elenael who, of course, tagged along.
They walked like this for several minutes in the meanders of the park surrounding the tower. After a while, the trimmed bushes began to give way to less well maintained woods. The thick vegetation, the thorns and the brambles made the progression more and more complicated. Wyann seemed to know exactly where he was going, though, like if he knew the area well. Behind him, Elenael followed him effortlessly, as he was used to moving through the forest near his village. Suddenly, after a large bush, a wall appeared in front of them, in the characteristic green stone of the mage tower.
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Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - Let's go (link in the footnote)
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Wyann came closer to it and his hand roamed the surface, seemingly searching for something. He finally found what he was looking for and he pressed a hidden button while whispering a word that Elenael couldn't hear. Then, to the great surprise of the child, part of the wall retracted, revealing an unlit passage. Wyann rushed into it without looking back. Elenael hesitated for a second and then followed him into the mysterious room. The sound of the back door closing behind him made him realise that he was now locked in a dark place he didn't know...
A few feet ahead of him, he suddenly saw a small ball of fire, like a tiny sun, rising above Wyann's outstretched hand. The reddish glow made the boy's face, with its permanent sneer and inflexible stare, even scarier. However, Elenael was not paying attention to it: no, he was too busy observing the huge room around him : as far as the eye could see, wodden shelves rose to a high ceiling. They were probably once covered with books, now only cobwebs and an impressive layer of dust remained in this old library. But, despite the time that had left its imprint, the majestic and serene beauty remained for him to be seen. Without realizing it, the boy let out a long sigh of admiration and said, in a slightly strangled voice: "It's magnificent..."