The people of Fledglia all had fair lives. The sum were farmers, builders, fletchers, mechanics and mages, They all had a synchronous purpose, each of them correlated to the other, thus, providing for each other. They could sustain a family with their wages, combined with the daily bundle of a fresh harvest, it wouldn't be necessarily difficult to thrive in this environment.
The mages, or frequently called masters, hold entire discussions of their findings, and teach those who are unknowledgeable, magic. All of their sessions take place in the town hall, that anybody could attend. The mages have unclear origins, the story of magic that has been passed down through divided generations has been gradually lost. The only piece of history that could reflect their past, was the great relic. An object with boundless knowledge, power and mystery, rumor has it that it taught the first mages, magic. A mage has a slightly longer lifespan than the average human. Entirely, all fledglings within Fledglia are mages, who could attain larger power. They are a long-running foundation of Fledglia, and will forever be ingrained within their culture.
The rest were the typical jobs that still hosted the most important areas of a sustaining town.
Fledglia resided in a relatively deserted region. Fledglia is such an unbothered and isolated town, that the globe could forget its existence in a blip. The air carriages that served as transportation was used for traversing the streets. The bigger ones could travel to farther distances. But only one has reported to have reached another settlement.
Fledglia wasn't a town that rapidly developed. It was a rare town that utilized magic, yes. But it didn't help much to achieve breakthroughs in technology. Persistently stuck in the age of cogs and relied on rotational power. The rivers were dry, it was scorching hot in summer, and freezing cold at spring. But, due to a blessing brought from a hero, it would all change Fledglia's longevity.
A great mind once was born into Fledglia, the named Rigor was a fledgling at 14, yet usurped the creation of the transformer. It converted the relic's mystical energy into uniform power. The mages were stunned that a child conjured such a complex invention, even the likes of seasoned mechanics couldn't compete. Soon, the entire town respected and honored Rigor for his ingeniousness, and will continue to do so.
He invented a way to transfer the relics boundless energy through special lines that webbed across the town, and powered every agricultural and mechanical needs. Constructed various staffs that could control the mages power, and amplified it with more mystic energy stored within the staff. The properties of this new-found energy also drastically improved the vitality and growth of plants, thus, being applied to every cropland stretched across dirt. His final creation were the magical shields that circled the entire town, being constantly powered by the relic, it protected the town from harsh weather, and seasons.
He was dubbed as Fledglia's Hero. A person who brought greatness and innovation to the town. Before he left at the age of 31, he was somber at the thought of leaving his son. He wrapped his arms around his child and gave a firm hug before pulling away. He opened the child's palm, and placed a necklace with a gem at the end bare in his hands, the boys eyes lit up at the gift and gleamed with joy. He hoped that this gesture would help his son remember him, in the times when his father is not home.
;
Riel would often stare out their attics window. A common place he and his father used to hang out at, when mother was angry. Riel fondly remembers the memories when his father used to dawdle him here when he was still little. He could almost tear up at the flashing images in his head. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the time to reconcile with his father, Riel would rather prioritize the mages lectures this morning.
He clacked his feet down the ladder and dropped down to the wooden floor. The house had two large rooms, the kitchen took up the left side, and the front was the living room fashioned with a brick fireplace. The stairs were found in a corner of the living room, leading unto the rest of the space. He blew the candle flames away on the shelf, which was filled with books at the bottom and pictures of his young father above. The wooden furniture that riddled the room had intricate and meticulous designs. Fine woodwork. Riel snatched his bag from the coat hanger, which was no exception to detail, and hurried out of the entrance.
He paced through the yard, jumped over the fence and continued left. As he passed the cobblestone streets of people that bore great smiles and arms outstretched that waved, he couldn't help but feel a bit better about himself. Of course he didn't want to be brimming with confidence either. He wore a simple shirt and shorts, a very inclusive choice in his mind.
As he nodded to himself, he had already reached the entrance of the town hall, he removed himself from his position of nearly hitting a pole, gripped onto the metal handles, and pushed his weight onto the doors. It then slowly creaked open, too slow, he added more strength, but it still progressed the same. The old bearings definitely needed some oil, he thought.
Finally, Riel had the doors fully open. What he soon felt was nothing short of shame. The eyes of the entire room briefly had their sights aimed at him, like he was some intruder. Some were shocked and bothered, but the rest ignored him. He pardoned his way through, and blended within the crowd. Moving on from the blunder, the mages affront, began to speak again.
"I, Silvia have been notified of new disturbed land in the direction of Mount Monopati. The relic has reacted, and has told us the collateral disaster of a potential eruption could be." The mage digressed.
Riel found it weird that a warning was issued. Normally, even in rough weather, that a teaching would proceed. Their magic barriers were strong enough to withstand lightning and hailstorms. Even earthquakes were withstood. Fledglia wasn't the town it was thirty years ago. Riel thought it was so bizarre that it wouldn't harm to ask questions. He believed that the rest of the crowd were bewildered as well. Hence, he threw his arm upward and spoke.
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"Do you say that we aren't capable of surviving an eruption from such a small volcano?" Riel asked preemptively.
The same people that had glared at him earlier were now in astonishment. They soon followed after Riel and asked all their concerning questions. Riel was quiet proud of himself that he had managed to encourage the crowd.
"Calm down, everyone. Yes, I am very confident in our defenses against natures attacks, but this... This is on a scale that we could have never foreseen..."
The body language of the mage meant that there was definitely more to be said. Riel again had to fulfill his hunger of knowledge. Which he prides himself with. He steps ahead the rest of the people and made his figure known.
"Tell us what you know."
"..."
The mage visibly gulped and hid her face with her robe. Then, she sighed.
"Fine. You-"
"Enough."
A tall and dignified mage overtook the other, his voice had a raspy and low tone. The entire room couldn't garble any louder earlier, but now it's completely silent. Riel stood complacent to hear his words though.
"Oh, Riel! Its you. How have you been?" The man patted the young boys shoulder, "It has been a while since you've attended a discussion. You're very welcome!"
The room did not reply. Nor Riel.
"As you've heard. There could be a potential eruption of Mount Monopati, a volcano that we've prepared for it's eruption for centuries. It won't be much of an issue, I promise. We have not loss faith and gratitude towards Mr. Rigor's greatest creation. I firmly believe that the shields are our strongest defense, and we would push through this disaster just like any other. In fact, the blueprint of the shields were modified to be withstand the eruption itself." The man smiled before adding, "It would be much appreciated if this information was enlightened to everyone. Awareness is a gift isn't that right?"
That last statement was perhaps directed at Riel. He couldn't have more of an ego than today, but the mage also humbled him. The session ended quite early, the determined crowd that Riel had thought he'd lead, left in no time. The mages had also left into the town hall, the female mage in particular appeared distressed. Riel had time to wonder, were we really that prepared? If so, did his father really foresee this possibility and made countermeasures? But.
"He left the town the day after he invented it... No way..." He thoughtlessly murmured.
"Talking to yourself bub?" A familiar voice spoke.
Riel turned his heel, upon sight his pupils widened, and then after he was wearing a bright smile. This man had an slim figure, his long sleeved dress that reached his toes and an emblem struck onto his chest revealed his magical prowess, he also held one of the many staffs created by the Hero. A man of power and a... unique leader. Riel immediately embraced the man, the folds of his dress crunched up greatly, and his guts couldn't be further gripped.
"Ack! Riel!" The man haled him away from his abdomen. The frisk of this child was far too much for him to handle. It had always been like this.
"I know you're excited for a lesson, but maybe tone the enthusiasm down." The mage aided, before picking up his staff.
"Fine. Teach me something new then." Riel asked petulantly.
The man patted his hood down until it was smooth, he took a large breath before exhaling. His dark hair had multiple strands of white littered, otherwise, his features were even and attractive, some call it being handsome.
"Follow me inside, today's about the transformer." The mage waddled down onto the door beside the podium. Followed by Riel, his mentor led in front while he stuck from behind. The hallways of the town hall would frequently diverge, and had many doors that led into rooms unknown, Riel himself hadn't gone this deep inside the town hall, even when he had the privilege of being the Hero's son. Before Riel could gather his important thoughts, he went face first onto his mentors backside that abruptly halted.
"Right here." The annoyed mage rummaged at his pockets. Riel scoffed and stepped aside to view the destination. A couple feet away was a metallic and polished door, a great number of wires sprawled on the ceiling that emerged from the door's only opening. There was also a blue light spilling out from the cracks of it and a soft buzz emanating intrigued Riel further. Riel observed the man slip a key into the visible lock fixed on the door, it clicked open before dropping down the floor. The key was then pulled into the mans pockets, while the door slid open.
"Woah." The awe of a child at the bizarre sight satisfied the man. He stepped in, while also inviting Riel. Yet it seemed that he had gone agape, and he could not remove his eyes stuck on the contraption. Subjectively, any person who'd seen it for themselves would be in the same position for the first time. The absolute dynamism but clunky appearance of the machine, can only be explained yet unironically mystified by its true creator. Automatically shifting and floating, glowing and extracting unto the countless wires hungry for power. Lastly, it's true purpose. To control the uncertain. Riel found it ironic as it could be perceived uncontrollable itself.
"Chop-Chop Riel." The man closed the distance and landed a flick on his forehead. Riel cleared his thoughts and nodded subtly. He followed the mage into the room, barren of decoration and a single white light affixed, laid in the middle was a pedestal for the relic and the machine 'wrapped' around it. They circled its center until a passageway opened itself to allow view unto the relic. His mentor bobbed his head up, and Riel peered into the Relic. It shone a great blue light that paralyzed Riel's eyes, while emitting a mystic aura that envelops it's machine above. Riel felt his muscles burning and begging for movement, he feels his adrenaline rising, and body temperature rising. The man audibly exhaled before patting the kid's shoulders. He remarked.
"It's beautiful isn't it? I too experienced this at your age. You'll get used to it and soon enough, you'll be immune." The man snickered before adding, "Did you know that if you stare at it for long enough, that you will forever be paralyzed?"
He didn't miss the chance to scare the poor kid. In truth, it would temporarily freeze the cerebellum, due to the prolonged exposure from mystic energy. Which could range from an hour to a day. Proving its motto, uncertainty. Riel's eyes rolled at the forceful scare, even he was aware of the Relics abilities. Despite knowing that, he managed to be utterly illusioned by it.
"Well, have you enjoyed the Relics mystique? It can be quite overwhelming I know, but I'll explain it further-"
A sudden passing tremor quaked the solid concrete beneath, throwing them both off their feet. Riel fell onto his side, he spots multiple figures that ranged into little silhouettes, but he couldn't draw a better picture from having his vision stunned. His mentor beside him has also disappeared. He picks himself up slowly with his weight on a wall, and gradually his sight began to recover.
Unbeknownst to the world, this simple shudder of the ground was only the start of the grueling apocalypse. A single disaster from conjecture.