“Where was Leigh?” the question repeated through my mind and echoed between each pounding heartbeat.

Father had just crashed into the dust of the street, I turned around just in time to see him standing up, his silhouette dark among the cloud. Thankfully, his enemy wasn’t so lucky, lying dead at his feet. There was a sickening squelch when he wrenched his spear free from the drake’s neck. ‘Good riddance’

I don’t think I was the only one who heard it either, the other drake swept low overhead with a cry almost as much anguish as fury. It was baring down quickly on Father’s position, no sign of stopping or slowing down. My ears were ringing, it felt like my vision narrowed and the world seemed to vibrate. I don’t know how I slipped out of Mother’s arms, but by the time I’d realized I was already running. I thought I saw something in the shadows next to dad, I needed to know it wasn’t true. It was the fire, it had to be, it couldn’t be those flame-red locks. I needed it to be fire.

My eyes met Leigh right as the drake bellowed another roar. My hopes shattered. The monster would plow through the house she was hiding beside on its way to fight Daniel, there was no doubt, it was halfway there already. Leigh would be lucky to survive at all, doing so without being injured was impossible. A buzzing sound filled my ears, the last thought I remember was ‘How dare they break my village.’

Everything after that was a haze, and it remains that way still. My hands reached out on their own, drawing every ounce of mana that I could manage, both internally and externally. I felt it crackle along my fingers, and bits of my hands charred up and flaked away. Mana channels burning their way out. ‘Leigh is my friend, no one else gets to hurt her’, the implications in those words were lost in my stupor.

Father must have been yelling at me, I could see him running towards me in the distance, but everything was quiet. Silent almost. Like I was listening to the world through a heavy curtain. All I could see was Leigh cowering in the shadows, the drake rushing forward, and the spellform in my hands. That was all I needed to see. Daniel was on top of me in a moment, crossing the town square in an instant.

I’m not sure what spell I cast, given my mana pool at the time it couldn’t have been particularly large. When the form was complete I hurled it forward with everything I had, watching with baited breath as it sailed towards the drake. The beast was fast, but my spell was faster, Like emerald lightning. A sickly green bolt of condensed energy punched a hole right through its wing, sending my foe spinning wildly off course.

My hearing rushed back to me the next time it roared, and I felt the world shake as the building directly to my left collapsed in a pile of rubble. I think it was the grain storehouse. The rubble shifted slowly, almost settling, but as the dust cleared a creature nearly as large as the structure itself was gradually lifting up from among the debris. For a moment that felt like forever I was face to face with the drake. It hadn’t even exhaled and I was already feeling warm.

No, that heat is inside of me. Shit. I overdrew my mana, fever was a symptom of mana-snap. I tried to run but my legs felt like stone, the exertion must have been worse than I thought. I seemed to come to the realization at the same time my enemy did. I had nothing. I couldn’t run, I couldn’t cast another spell. I was going to die here.

A flood of emotion followed, fury, regret, and even more that I’m not sure I completely understood. In that prolonged standoff, bricks and timbers tumbling off the monster as it stood, I had a realization. This is how I died the first time.

It was almost ironic in a way. I used magic to protect people in my first life, and when it wasn’t convenient to ignore my methods they planned to have me killed. At least dying in battle I’d be remembered as a hero this time.

The drake shook its head free and roared, the fever caught up with me and as a paragon of bravery, I fainted. As my vision faded I saw the creature whipping its muscular tail directly for me, and a blur from the side of my vision racing forward. Then just black.

I was out for a long time, but I don’t think I was dead. It wasn’t entirely unconscious, but I certainly wasn’t awake either. At times I felt like I was floating around in a bottomless lake, no idea which way was up. Other times I’d catch a glimpse here and there, a distant voice, a hand against mine. Never quite enough to know what was happening around me, but just enough to convince me I was safe, alive, and looked after. That was a weight off my mind, enough to relax at least. I don’t think I came up many times after that.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

When I finally woke up, the distant sound of whispered conversation pulled me slowly to consciousness. Voices I couldn’t quite make out, but it felt as if they were talking about me.

“No, this one is one of mine. I’ll speak to him when the time comes”

Error.

Internal overflow detected.

Ambient levels have exceeded operational maximum.

Increasing Internal buffer.

Error.

Internal buffer locked. Permission level insufficient.

Increasing permission level.

Error.

External override required to increase permission level.

Increasing system efficiency.

System efficiency successfully increased.

Congratulations!

[Mana Forming] Has leveled up! Lvl 1 -> Lvl 5

[Mana Sight] Has leveled up! Lvl 1 -> Lvl 5

[Mana Control] Has leveled up! Lvl 1 -> Lvl 5

Ambient levels have returned to operational limits.

The system was ringing notifications in my ears as I blinked away the fog in my head. I didn’t catch them in time, but it shouldn’t be possible for me to get system notifications anyway. Likely just warnings of mana overdraw.

The light streaming in to our little cottage was blinding at first, but I knew I was in my bed. The straw mattress poking sharply into my back, little specks of dust from our dirt floor floating in the sun beams. I tried to sit up but found my hands wrapped in bandages, putting pressure on them sent stabs of pain up my body.

My wincing must have been louder than I thought, I looked down just in time to see Leigh bolt awake. She had fallen asleep in a stool near the foot of the small cot, no idea how long she’d been there. No one else was in the room though, so where could those misty words have come from?

“Hey Lei-” I started to speak, just for her to run out of the room shouting at the top of her lungs.

“Ms. Stesk! Ms. Stesk! Vincent’s awake!”

I sighed and fell back onto the cot. They’d both be coming to see me now. I just had to prepare for the storm that was coming.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL SENSE DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?”

There it is.

“Vincent! I have been worried sick!” Mother stormed into the room like a hurricane, tears already rolling down her cheeks. “You could have died young man! You’re ten years old and you think you can fight a drake a hundred times your size?” She continued her tirade as she crossed the room over to me, her steps eating the distance in seconds.

“Mom I-” My protest was cut short when she nearly tackled me into a hug.

“I thought we lost you. I don’t want to lose anyone else” her voice was soft and broken, the pain evident when I felt tears hit my back.

“I’m sorry mom.” was all I could say. No excuses. No mention of saving Leigh, no promise not to do it again. I know what I did was reckless, but I still think it was right.

“You’ve been asleep for the better part of three days” She explained, pulling away from our embrace only after I had winced in pain. Every muscle in my body was sore.

“Leigh’s been helping me keep an eye on you and dress your wounds.” Mom motioned to the door, and Leigh stepped into the room with a small parcel in her hands.

“I told everyone how you tried to save me.” Leigh spoke up softly, her eyes cast to the ground. “I told your mom you only tried to help because I was stuck. I hope you feel better” She thrust the small parchment wrapped package into my lap and turned to leave without another word.

“Your hands are still healing, but we should be able to take the bandages off” Mom offered after a brief moment of silent confusion. She tenderly helped me remove the dressings and I quickly saw the source of my pain. Both hands were covered in scars, some more healed than others, but my muscles were tight and rebuilding, mana damage evident in the tender skin.

With slow and deliberate movements I opened up the gift Leigh had left for me. A smooth polished metal bracelet, bent and hammered perfectly. Small enough to stay on my hand, and with enough overlap to expand it later. The other half of her horseshoe project. I didn’t hold back the tears as I smiled and slipped it on.

“I’m sure you’re hungry” Mom stated in a matter of fact tone, getting up from my bedside and making her way to the door. “I’ll make you something to eat, just wait here. Your father will be home soon.” I detected a hint of worry in her voice, and it made anxiety well up in my chest. For now, at least I knew dad was alive too.