----------------------------------------
Recommended music : Rude66 - The new day (link in the footnote)
----------------------------------------
The smell of wood was strong in the huge room. An exotic variety with a dark hue and lingering scent had probably been used to build the furniture. Many years later, this spicy scent was still mixed with the more subtle ones of paper and leather. Wyann moved through this place steeped in history with the habit of someone who had been there before. Elenael followed him more slowly, running his hand over the carvings adorning the posts. The child admired in silence this evocative space of a distant glorious past, then he hurried on to join Wyann who progressed among the heavy bookshelves. Without the light of the fireball summoned by his elder, the boy would find himself in the dark, lost and probably unable to leave this place.
Minutes later, Wyann had reached his destination and settled down by a fireplace in a makeshift chair. This one had been built many years ago with scrap materials, no doubt gleaned here and there in the room. The broad-chested young man then used his power to ignite some wood in the hearth. So far, he didn’t even spare a glance at Elenael. From his bag, he took out a book which he began to read with focus. Another chair, empty and covered with a thick layer of dust, was placed in front of him. Elenael shyly asked if he could sit there, and Wyann replied with a neutral grunt. The child took that for an agreement and cautiously cleaned the seat, making sure not to agitate the dirt too strongly to prevent it from remaining suspended in the air. Finally, he sat down and said nothing more, lost in thought.
Wyann kept on reading for a moment but Elenael's silence surprised him. Given the situation, he imagined the boy had followed him for a reason, perhaps to ask for his protection or to get into his good graces, but surprisingly the boy didn’t ask anything. Unable to stand it any longer, he finally looked up from his book and asked in his somewhat gruff tone.
"What do you want in the end?"
"Thank you for what you did, with this Leonn."
"I wanted to piss him off, so I did. I didn't do it for you. Are you going to follow me everywhere like a little dog now?"
Elenael stared at him blankly for a few long seconds, then finally smiled and replied, "You're a good person."
Wyann burst out laughing at this unrelated statement.
"I don't think so, no. But then, what could you know about it? You've never met me before."
The child hesitated, ill at ease. In a breath, he finally let go: "I... see it."
Wyann raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "You see it ?"
Elenael took a deep breath to gather his courage, then he suddenly exhaled. "I have... a gift. Ever since I was little: I can look at people's light." Seeing Wyann's bewildered expression, he continued: "Their aura, as my grandfather says. How they are inside."
"You can see inside people?" The big guy looked lost.
"Yes. For example, my grandfather, Alric, his light is white, cold but welcoming, a little sad and at the same time very generous. Those who have pleasant glows are, most of the time, kind."
"And me, what did you see that made you follow me?"
Elenael blushed and answered shyly.
"Your light...it looks like a fire, but not something scary, more like that log burning in the fireplace: reassuring and warm."
Wyann looked at him bewildered and was silent for a moment, taking in the revelation. Finally, he let out a big laugh. "I've heard of you too: the country boy who has a talent such as the tower has never seen. The child prodigy, Alisan's protege... By the way, you must have crossed my brother, Reginald." His tone was now a little bitter. "How is his light?"
"Alisan is your brother? Then, you are a prince?" Elenael wanted to get up to greet Wyann like he saw other students greet his brother, but the bulky boy stopped him with a smirk, forcing him with one hand to remain seated. Inflexible, he waited for his answer. The child heaved a sigh. "I don't know. I usually don't look at people's light. My grandfather forbade me to, except when I'm in danger. Besides, I don't like it: it gives me the impression... of spying on others."
For a long moment, the two said nothing more, each one of them lost in his thoughts. Strangely, it was Wyann who broke the silence: "I know what it's like to be different...Here," he said, pointing to the old library around them, "this was our lair - mine and Regi’s - before my detection. He had found it, I don't know how, and the first time he had taken me here I was even smaller than you. He used to show me his magic. He was creating spheres of water and when the light from the fireplace was reflecting on it, it looked like liquid fire. It was just...beautiful." He was silent for a few moments, lost in the nostalgia of his memories. "As soon as I was nine, I did my detection. My potential was good: not as incredible as my brother, but powerful enough to honor my family. Yet when they found out that my affinity was fire, something changed. My father flew into a rage and since then he refuses to speak to me. It's as if my very presence was an insult to him." Bitterly, he spat on the floor. "They all abandoned me! Suddenly, I no longer existed." His gaze fell on Elenael and he asked him in an almost snarling tone, "How do I look to you?"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"You look like a solid, a strong friend." replied the child without even thinking. Wyann, who hadn't expected such a frank and direct answer, was suddenly speechless. Silence settled in, then, finally, something seemed to change in the tall boy's attitude, like a dam giving way after having held back the waves for a long time. He looked away and his eyes seemed to sparkle. In a low voice, he repeated "a solid and strong friend...".
----------------------------------------
Recommended music : Darren Curtis - Eternal sleep (link in the footnote)
----------------------------------------
"So be it," he finally said, holding out a large hand that swallowed Elenael's smaller one. "I'll be your friend, if you’ll have me."
"I would like that, yes." replied the boy with a huge smile.
They then continued to discuss about their respective childhoods and other things. Wyann showed him the nature of his power: the boy was able to create several small balls of fire. He summoned three of them, which levitated above his hand like planets around the sun. He also explained that the coat of arms of the kingdom was a wave, because all the members of his family except him, had affinities and abilities related to water. They talked for a long time about many things and Elenael ended up falling asleep at some point.
The fire was still burning in the fireplace when Elenael woke up. He noticed that Wyann had covered him with his coat to protect him from the cold of the early morning : the prince's gruff appearance hid a heart of gold. He was still sitting in his chair reading his book and he gave Elenael a smile when he sat up. When he was genuinely smiling, the deformity that usually stretched his lips seemed to disappear. It made his features softer and a lot of Reginald's charm could be found in it. Elenael was happy to see that and thought he would have to help him laugh more often.
They talked a little more, then they decided to go to the refectory to have their breakfast. On the way, they had the misfortune to meet Leonn again. Like the day before, he laughed at Elenael and the prince, so much so that the latter finally answered him in a weary voice.
"You seem to think that I'm afraid of you and that you're the best. You want a duel: be it! Pick up your minions and come on, let's get this over with."
Leonn looked at him sideways, torn between fear that Wyann would use his physical strength again and excitement at the idea of humiliating him with his power. He finally said:
"I’ll fight you, as long as you don't cheat!"
Wyann ignored him and began to head towards the western part of the park, followed by Elenael, Leonn and his sidekicks, and other students that felt that something was happening.
A few moments later, all found themselves in the space which was reserved for the practice of magic and, if necessary, for confrontations between the students. In the tower, duels were tolerated for apprentices who had awakened their powers, but there were several rules. The first was that the opponents had to have more or less the same level, to avoid abuse. Then a teacher had to witness the fight and record the result in an official book. The one that was present that day was a tall, lean man whose stern face seemed never to have smiled in his entire life. He stood silently at the side of the fenced field and he reminded Leonn and Wyann of the rules of dueling, before presenting each with an imposing necklace. These artifacts, crafted by master enchanters, protected their wearer with a shield to prevent a serious injury. If they activated, it meant defeat for whoever was hit!
Anyone could now feel the tension in the air! Leonn, looking arrogant and confident, faced a snarling Wyann who was watching him with a bird of prey look. The prince's usually menacing face was now even more marked than usual and his lips bared his teeth like a dog about to bite. No words were exchanged, neither mockery nor provocation. Each studied his opponent with focus, looking for the slightest flaw to exploit.
----------------------------------------
Recommended music : Dark Fantasy Studio - The hunstman (link in the footnote)
----------------------------------------
It was Leonn who first activated his power. His affinity was air, and he manifested it in the form of three short, sharp gusts like a winter wind that charged towards Wyann, rapidly covering the distance between them. The prince was frozen in place, unfazed. Four small balls of fire, which looked quite ridiculous given the strength and size of Leonn's attacks, appeared above his hand. The latter laughed at the difference in power: his victory was now beyond doubt. Elenael was very worried and watched the scene with clenched fists: he didn't care if his friend won or lost, but he didn't want him to get hurt!
Wyann suddenly moved his arm and three flaming projectiles shot out in turn. They went to meet the gusts and disappeared without a sound in the stormy winds. This desperate gesture provoked a new burst of laughter from Leonn, convinced of the imminent defeat of his adversary. However, the attacks of the Ostrenan noble gradually slowed down, finally stopping in place. Everyone could now make out a growing glow inside the tornadoes. Flames suddenly appeared: burning from within, they seemed to devour the power of the air. In a somewhat ridiculous "poof", the magic of the two adversaries ended up being canceled and silence fell on the field. Leonn looked completely bewildered and he didn’t understand how his attack was reduced to nothing. Wyann, who had anticipated the whole thing, had discretly sent his last fireball right after the other ones. As Leonn hesitated, the projectile slapped him mercilessly in the face. The amulet activated and protected the boy, but he stillfell to the ground, unconscious.
The overseer, who had been watching the scene with indifference, spoke with an appreciative look at Wyann: "Smart strategy and great execution. I validate the victory." In his hand he held a small book with a red leather cover. He jotted down the details of the fight and then closed it with a dry gesture. Leonn's friends, silent and surprised, could do nothing but pick him up each by an arm and drag him, somehow, towards the infirmary. Wyann turned to face Elenael who looked at him with an admiring and impressed smile. When his eldest held out his hand, palm forward, Elenael slapped it cheerfully and the two burst out laughing. With energy, they were finally able to return to the tower in order to have a well-deserved breakfast there.