"Young master… you have ten minutes remaining before your ceremony.”
I got up from my bed. Maids quickly rushed in and exchanged my clothes for the ceremonial garb. The outfit was completely black, trimmed with gold. The first layer was like a pair of comfortable soft pajamas. The second layer added on the weight. Like a samurai’s armor, it had a series of plate-like leather cloth that faced downward, stopping at my waist, all held together by a small circle placed around my abdomen with what I assume to be my families crest.
Then finally the third layer. Heavy shoulder pads, thick boots, and thick gloves and a knight’s helm. I looked like I was dressed for battle. Not some ceremony. I was weighed down by all the cloth and gold, my body wasn’t built for all this weight. I did too much reading in my body, not enough exercise.
When they finished, I sat back down on the bed, exhausted from simply standing up. I had a brief lapse of calm before I remembered the conversation just a few hours ago and I couldn’t help thinking about it.
It stormed over me and I couldn’t get it out of my head. The fact that I was a green-eyed demon. All my life, in these ten years everyone told me that green-eyed demons were bad, my child-like body absorbed that information and stuck with it.
Now, learning that I am one and that they might not be bad conflicts with what I’ve been taught. It would be easier to accept if I wasn’t a child but its like the body I’m in is battling with my own reasoning.
Let alone having a green-eyed demon slave…
I ignored the topic for now. It would hurt my head. It really is like my body battles my head.
“Young master, five minutes remaining, your father says to take anything you may need to make yourself to feel more comfortable. There will be onlookers tonight.”
I nod to acknowledge the butler. He walked out of my room without the slightest hesitation. It seems he still dislikes me. I need to change his opinion of me or things could get bad. Why does he even hate me so much?
Wait… did he say the ceremony wasn’t private? I felt dizzy from that. I could not handle crowds but when I came to this world, I expected to be a powerful person of interest that everyone could look up to. Now that I think about it, I was being very hypocritical.
I looked around my room, something that would help me calm down in front of multiple people. I got up and walked over to my bedside table. I grabbed a book that I had kept there. ‘A guide to herbology’ My favourite book.
I stared at it and decided to put it down. That wasn’t right, I couldn’t bring a book in front of so many people, that would disgrace the family would it not?
Even if I fear going in front of a lot of people, I can’t ignore the fact that bringing a book would be shameful.
“Young master. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“Follow me please.”
We walked down the winding halls. The butler was walking with a brisk pace, with my smaller legs, I had to run in order to catch up to him.
We walked through the center of the mansion then out to the front. There, a carriage was waiting.
“Please.”
I stepped inside the carriage to find Leigh there, holding a small doll. Her favourite doll. Looks like she took father’s advice.
She was still, very still. The energy she gave off everyday was being stifled by another emotion. Looked like she was nervous too.
She was dressed in a similar attire to mine, a knight’s helm, a plated-torso along with those boots and pants, all trimmed in gold. The only difference was hers was slimmer and there were no sleeves, exposing her arms.
She leaned over to me and whispered in my ear.
“Are you excited?”
I shook my head. I was terrified like her.
“I see…”
We spent the rest of the ride in silence.
I looked out the window. We were travelling on a dirt path surrounded by a thick forest. I watched a breeze blow over and slowly brush the leaves.
I began to doze off, the scene was just too relaxing…
“Ah.”
A bright flash of light entered my eyes opening them. After living in such a dark house, I was very sensitive to light.
I looked outside the window and saw the most breathtaking sight I ever saw.
Golden trees. I read about these in my book. Like golden grass they only grow in places with high quantities of magic but the trees have a
They shimmered in the moonlight creating a visage that made the entire forest seem like it was glowing.
I couldn’t stop staring at the forest anymore. I felt my exhaustion slip away. This was too amazing.
Suddenly the carriage stopped.
A knight opened the carriage door and escorted the two of us out. We both followed him.
We were lead to a large cave. There were others here, dressed in black robes. We walked inside.
At first it was just a pitch-black tunnel, I only moved when I heard the knight move, following his feet.
Soon we started seeing the moonlight again. We walked into the second chamber.
Huge crumbling pillars like Stonehenge surrounded a large stone circle in the middle with multiple characters I haven’t seen before and above it all was a hole in the cavern, with the moon shining directly through. The circle was divided in 9 parts and the characters seemed to get bigger with each passing area.
It was all so… ancient. How many people have done the ceremony here?
The knight pushed me forward.
“You first. Stand in the center and relax.”
I walked forward and took my place in the center, only now could I see strange crystals sitting at the top of each pillar and the multiple hooded figures inside an upper floor. I was sure mother and father were there.
I waited and calmed myself down, even though I was feeling scarred, I could still do it, my old trick. I could still make a mask to hide my true self.
Nine people walked forward out of the shadows, each holding a different coloured crystal, smaller versions of the one on top of the column.
They raised their hands and I immediately felt something start to drain me. I felt more tired and the weight of the armor came back bigger than ever. All the while a vibrating noise resounded in the background.
“First Echelon.”
One last robbed man walked out, his hand outstretched and pointed to me. It was as this time I noticed the first ring was glowing and parts of the second ring were glowing too. They glowed a bright grey that shimmered, just like the moonlight…
“Second Echelon.”
When he said that I figured it out. I think they were measuring my ability for magic. Each passing ring showed a higher level of power, ninth having the largest surface area and characters would be the final level, and the hardest to complete.
“Third Echelon.”
Ugh… I felt a growing pain in my heart.
“Fourth Echelon.”
“Aagh... grrr.” My eyes popped open from the pain, something inside of me was throbbing and it hurt like hell. I was barely able to stand now.
The runes were slowly filling up one by one, slowly approaching the end goal.
“Fifth Echelon.”
I fell to my knees. It started to hurt just standing up, this much amount of pressure would kill any normal human being…
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Sixth Echelon.”
My hands fell to the ground. I could barely hear the whispers coming from the upper balcony.
“Seventh Echelon…”
I could feel myself start to go unconscious, but I wouldn’t let up. This was my chance…
“Eight Echelon…?”
I couldn’t handle it any longer, I fell to the floor and the strain I felt quickly disappeared. I jumped back up and looked at my hands, as if trying to figure out what was paining me.
“Congratulations Lheos Xapos, you are a mage of the eighth echelon.”
A series of applause came form the stadium above.
“Amazing! A mere child with the power of the eight echelon! His future is bright!”
“The eight echelon? Already? That truly is amazing…”
“There must be some kind of mistake here, the Xapos family must have bribed the ceremony head, there is no way a ten-year-old could have the power of an eighth echelon…”
The things I heard filled me up with confidence. I felt proud that I was able to do this.
“Judges, step forward.”
My focus returned to reality as I saw the eight hooded figures walk forward.
Everyone paused for a bit. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do here.
“Judges… step forward again…”
The eight, hooded people looked at each other before stepping forward once again. Nothing really happened.
Although I couldn’t see his face, I could tell the man in the grey robe was confused on what was happening. I didn’t know if that was bad or good.
“Judges… one last time.”
Once again, the eight judges walked forward and there was no reaction.
“Hey, what’s going on? Shouldn’t the crystals be glowing by now?”
“Something is strange… maybe someone sabotaged the ceremony?”
“Haha, the kid is useless, he has so much magic potential but isn’t attuned with an element!”
The last comment paused everyone else.
The knight walked up and escorted me outside the circle, I could feel the stares of those watching go straight through me. I could feel utter disappointment. Good thing I still had my mask on, or I wouldn’t have been able to contain my embarrassment.
“Your turn.”
Leigh was sent up. She walked to the middle of the circle just as I did.
The man in grey was confused for only one more second before he outstretched his hand once more.
“First Echelon, Second Echelon, Third Echelon, Fourth Echelon…”
My mind was buzzing. Was I really useless? But My magic was extremely high, wasn’t it? Doesn’t that mean I can still use magic?
“Sixth Echelon…”
“Congratulations Miss Leigh Xapos, you are a mage of the 6th Echelon.”
Again, there was a series of applause but without as much vigor. I guess everyone lost their hope because of me.
“Really? The Sixth Echelon? Both the children have such high magic potential…”
“I bet she will be just like him. Without an element, haha!”
“Has the Xapos bloodline really fallen this far? I still can’t get over how one of their children doesn’t have an element...”
Over and over again I hear that word. Element, element, element. I had no idea what it meant but it seemed that it was an extremely important thing, something I don’t have…
“Amazing!”
I looked back at the ceremony and saw one of the giant crystals sitting on top of the columns floating. When the eight judges approached Leigh, the black crystal started to glow.
“Good. Now place your hand on that crystal.”
The other judges backed up while the one holding the specific crystal walked forward.
Leigh had her hand placed on the black orb held by one of the robbed judges. I watched as the crystal flew higher and higher before I saw the strain on Leigh’s face.
“That’s spectacular Miss Leigh. You may let go of the orb now…”
Those in the upper levels were silent. Maybe in awe, maybe in jealousy. I too was silent, silent in both awe and jealousy. Why didn’t that happen with me?
“Miss Leigh, let go now before you hurt yourself!”
I watched as Leigh kept moving the crystal higher and higher.
“Judge, remove the crystal from this young lady.”
But the judge didn’t budge.
“I said remo-…”
At that moment, there was a huge explosion. Not like the ones back in my home world. More like a sudden outward explosion of pure energy.
The black crystal which had flew so high in the sky exploded and a pure black covered the entire room. I couldn’t see anything.
*Whooosh*
I heard something like wind blowing as the darkness was sucked up into a single source, my vision started to return as more of the inky black substance was siphoned into a single point, the black crystal the judge held.
I heard a giggle and saw Leigh right beside me, surprised I stumbled back.
The judge walked backwards and the ceremony conductor, head judge stood there silent.
“Miss Leigh, your elemental affinity to the darkness is of the 9th Echelon…”
There was an uproar from the upper floor, the balcony was bustling with excitement.
“Amazing! The magical power of the 6th Echelon is amazing but having an affinity for Darkness so high! Really, how far up did it go before it imploded!?”
“The Xapos family must be extremely happy with this outcome. With the first child so weak, the second child becomes their future!”
“That’s not possible! Now I know the is set up. No child can lift the crystal so high, let alone destroy it!”
Even the knight who lead us in started clapping.
He put his hand on Leigh’s shoulder and nodded his head slowly.
Leigh smiled and they walked off back outside.
I followed… behind them.
Outside only two people stood there waiting for us.
It was father and mother.
Father rushed up to Leigh, picked her up and spun her around. Mother too smiled and joined their group hug.
I looked at the scene and decided not to ruin it.
I walked off towards the forest. The knight gave me only a glance before continuing to watch Leigh. The sounds of the ceremony slowly fading away.
I trudged my way towards the forest and entered quickly, almost running at this point. My face showed no emotion but my heart was just about bleeding at this point. I felt so much anger at myself but also jealousy at Leigh…
“DEMON! COME OUT!”
I yelled into the forest, suddenly the dirt in front of me exploded outwards as the bone devil returned, his wounds completely healed.
“Where are the other two…”
“Right here.”
I turned around and saw those two sitting in the trees like they did originally.
“You’re back, and so early! Did something happen?”
She had a smile on her face.
“You knew what would happen… that this element thing… I wouldn’t have it!”
I was angry, my voice reflected that.
“This is the first time I’ve seen your face move! Amazing!”
The bone devil screeched and the girl stopped.
“I’ve decided.”
“OH! Really?”
The boy jumped down from the tree. With an excited look on his face.
“But first… tell me what an element is…”
The girl started to speak but the boy put his hand over her face.
“Look. There are multiple gods in this world. Just like ours but there are nine main gods, the elemental gods. When a soul is created, one of the gods infuses that soul with its power, giving it an affinity to its element. That element is extremely important towards casting spells. You cannot cast magic without it!”
I snarled.
“Fine, fine. That still doesn’t tell me why I don’t have an affinity to that thing.”
He smiled.
“I could tell you now but the answer is pretty obvious if you weren’t in a state of panic.”
He smiled but I just got angry.
“So, will you tell me or not?!”
“Figure it out for yourself! There is no need to teach a child how to count twice is there?”
My mind scrambled to pick up what he was saying but it wouldn’t process an answer. All I could feel was anger.
“BONE DEVIL!”
The bone devil’s head lifted upwards, his eyes met mine. But I didn’t feel fear towards this monster anymore.
“Make him tell me the answer.”
The bone devil screeched at the boy but the boy just shook his head. His eyes met mine and he charged at the boy, who looked surprised. His razor-sharp claw outstretched.
A flash of green appeared and his sister met his claw with her own, grabbing it with her bone talons.
“Hey, Lheos! What are you doing, tell him to stop!”
I didn’t though. I just watched the scene in front of me. I… I still have a chance in this world. I’m not useless. I have this… thing, under my control. I can still fulfill the expectations I had upon coming to this world. A magic, fun-filled life… I can still do it with…
*ROAAR*
The bone devil was knocked backwards by that girl’s beast form, she kept roaring at it. As if to say sorry but it but it didn’t respond in the same way, it responded in the same aggression I had.
“ENOUGH!”
The bone devil stopped struggling and the girl transformed in her human form and gave me a deadly look.
“You… why did you do that…”
Anger was imminent in her voice, I would be terrified if I wasn’t just as mad.
I sat down. My emotions were in a state of panic…
‘Don’t worry… I’ll handle this…’
My eyes went wide but it was already too late. I was floating inside a black void, but not that black void. This void belonged to me, and there was a certain something missing here. He escaped and now that he’s out, I won’t be able to get him back in again…
Good luck world.
---
Diama’s POV
He sat down and closed his eyes for god knows how long. I would have stuck a branch down his throat if he didn’t open his eyes when he did.
I yelled at him, calling him all sorts of names but he didn’t elicit a response. Instead he smiled. Wait? How did he smile? I thought he couldn’t make expressions except for the few times that his emotions overloaded. Maybe having his anger explode made him able to briefly make faces again? Is he a masochist who liked being called names by me?
Wait… does he feel attraction towards my human form?!
“Hello.”
Hello?
He started to stretch.
“It’s been too long… this world… haha.”
What’s he talking about?
I saw him start to jog on the spot before he laid eyes on the bone devil.
“Oh?”
He walked towards it, I almost rushed up before Diemo stopped me.
“What?”
He started to pet the bone devil, slowly scratching his head. Although demeaning, the bone devil seemed to enjoy it.
“I’m sorry”
What was that? I couldn’t hear him!
He turned around and looked straight into my eyes. I got shivers down my spine, this wasn’t how he was like, he was so much colder… I got shivers down my spine from that kid?
“You, who are you?”
He smiled and started to laugh.
“Haha. I’m just me silly! You are Diemo correct? I remember the god telling me that 10 years ago…”
At first, he couldn’t recognize who we are, now he remembered Diemo’s name from ten years ago? Something’s happened, but it’s still the same person. My brother must have thought someone took over his body. I would have though that too but his statement clearly explained who he was…
He did another stretch before holding out his hand to Diemo.
“I see you’re the smarter out of the two. So, I will say this to you. I will help the devil’s; this world has forsaken me anyways.”
HEY!
Diemo held out his hand and shook it reluctantly.
“I would laugh if you said that before, but the way you said it now... just makes me want to punch you for insulting my sister.”
Diemo’s face barely contained his anger. We were twins, I could tell when he was actually angry.
“Haha, I’m sorry I’m sorry. But I’m on your side now! We’re all friends here…”
Just his voice made me scared, there was no way this could be the same person. Could it?
They broke their handshake, each of them staring the other down. Ostón was ready to pounce at any time. This was bad if he lost his temper again, I really didn’t want to fight him…
“So, what’s my first task. I’m sure you have a plan, correct?
Diemo nodded, confused.
“We do but we can’t commence it until you learn what your power is… Master said to take a few years to learn your power, we have to accompany you at that time, to make sure you don’t deceive us. It means you can do whatever you want right now…”
He nodded.
“I forgot to do this before. My name is Lheos, pleasure to meet you…”
After finally telling us his name he started to walk away.
“Wait! Don’t you need to know anything else?”
I asked on instinct. I don’t even like him, but I did it anyway. Why did I say that?
He stopped and turned around.
“Yes actually. Your patron doesn’t mind what happens to this world right?”
I shook my head.
“Good, cause when I’m done with it, he won’t be able to recognize it.”
At that, he walked away, beckoning Ostón to follow him.
We watched him walk away. I had a bad, bad feeling in me. It warned me about him. I couldn’t help but think that master picked the wrong person…
Chapter 5 - End