I was in the training grounds outside the mansion, with the rest of all the people that were summoned in the mansion like me. Zheg, the old wizard was there too; he wore the same attire as the previous day: a black long tunic with gold designs. Most of us just wore casual clothes... with some exceptions.

“Good morning! Today I will teach you how to use your innate magic power, but first I shall lecture you about magic itself”

Oh no… But as much as I hated learning boring stuff I had to make the effort, because it actually was important, as I had to participate in the tournament.

“In the old times, people thought of magic as something only few people had… And it was true; only a few people of specific bloodlines could use magic, but they only could do small things; nonetheless, people feared that power. However there was a hidden research being done by underground societies and they were able to discover the secret behind magic.”

Zheg took a moment of pause. The people were astonished… Some big secret was revealed to us, but it left us with hunger for more information. The old man continued his speech.

“Not many years ago, for the first time in the history, it could be possible to artificially manipulate magic and develop magical powers. But it came with a cost... “

Zheg seemed like he was thinking for a moment, but then resumed.

“Well… Magic itself is the use of different forms of energy; it could be heat, electrical, cynetic, chemical… With only the will of the magician. The secret for using it is something I cannot answer, but you will find in no time”

He closed the eyes and seemed to concentrate, then faced his right side and extended his arms…

A beam of supersonic air was sent from his hands. It created a loud noise and made a path of dust. Amazing! Everybody was staring amazed at the artificial path that was created by the magic.

“That, is the power of magic. In no time you would be able to use it too, but first you must remember how to use magic. Try to feel all your energy in your body, then visualize a escape route and then imagine how you want to use this energy. Try to create a small flame in your hand for now, like this”

He extended his hand towards us, and then a small flame formed in his hand, without burning him. Everybody, including me, tried to follow his instructions, but it was really hard, I couldn’t feel nothing! The feeling of frustration was generalized… Except one person.

The girl with the double ponytails, just created a big flame casually with her hand. Everybody noticed the feat, and she let out a giggle, but then she burned herself.

Stolen story; please report.

“Ahhh, hot, hot!”

“It seems like you discovered the magic inside you too fast, girl. However you now have to learn how to control it properly”

One after another, they all managed to create the flame. But not me… I didn’t know what to do or what I was doing wrong, and the advices from Zheg were just too vague for me to grasp.

The day ended and I didn’t made any progress, however I felt like my body was burning every time I tried to do the exercise and now I had a stomach ache too. So, with the taste of defeat I went to my bedroom to rest a little.

The burning sensation didn’t stop, and the pain in my stomach grew a little. Suddenly, a sensation of worry struck me. It was very similar to when I was teleported… I lifted up my t-shirt, and saw that my tattoo was glowing dimly in purple.

I thought that I had a rough idea of why it was glowing… It seemed that every time I tried to use magic I had the burning sensation, and the tattoo had something to do with all of that.

Having a little more motivation, thinking that I found the key to use magic, I tried to do again the exercise the old man teached us, but instead of focusing in my palm to create a flame I just focused in my belly.

It was very painful. I felt like I was burning alive, my vision started to turn white and I heard a strong buzz in my ears…

…

…

…

When I opened my eyes I was in a totally white space; only me and a little girl that resulted familiar were there. Where was I? What happened? Who was that girl?

“Hello, Grissla… Or perhaps I should say Jax Liden?” The girl spoke up when I realized her presence.

I really felt very confused at this moment. I don't know what happened, or why she knows my identity, what she wants or even where I am. I had so many questions, but she had the key to them, so I let her speak.

“Your fate was sealed as soon as you received my blood. You became a pawn in their hands...”

No words could describe what I was feeling when I heard that. A pawn? They did this to me for someone’s amusement? Probably the tournament was a mere blood game for someone in the higher spheres of power… It made me sick.

“And no, you can't return to your original body, since they mixed our blood with an ancient spell and there is only one known way to restore the body, but it implies your death if it fails.”

All the emotions inside me reached their point. Tears and rage started flowing through my eyes; I didn't want to believe her, but I had a feeling she was telling the truth.

“Why… Why this is happening to me? Why they did this!?”

“I don’t have an answer to that, but you have to escape the mansion… They are greeding upon our power and want to use it for some dark purpose…”

After her words, a short silence came.

“Listen, I can help you recover your old body and return your life to normality if that is what you wish, but first you will have to help me, because in my current state I can’t do it.”

“How do I know that you aren’t using me as well?!”

“Because I also want my body back, and while you help me, i shall give you my power to aid you”

I felt used by everyone, but I had no other choice than to believe her and accept the mutual pact. And I wasn’t dumb enough to think that the mansion, the ones who ruined my life, were better than her.

“Ok… let’s help each other to overcome this… What I have to do?”

“First, you must escape the place… There will be an unexpected event soon; you will have to make use of the commotion to flee, I cannot give more details about it”

“However, as soon as you are into safety, I want you to retrieve my old artifacts…”

“Please be careful... Grissla…”

All started to fade suddenly, but I was still there

“Wait, what are those ar…”

I found myself in my bedroom of the mansion. Something changed inside me, but I couldn’t be sure of what… If what she told me was the truth, I would be in danger soon.