The violence started at age eight.
Before that everything was not really all that great, but I still enjoyed it.
The planet we lived on was, like many others in my world, a mixture of Magic and technology.
It was capable of deep-space exploration, but was not yet in the planetary colonisation stage.
To reach that stage they needed a leap in both technological and Magical knowledge.
In the previous one, it would have been the stage were Energy research was about to begin, but since I cut off their access to it, they needed a combination of technology and Magic to start colonising.
Those who lacked one were doomed to never reach farther than their own star.
Our life here was pretty good.
The Coveki race were far from the dominant species, but they prided themselves on their amazing ratio of Mage to non-Mage – which was one to every four, when normally 1:100 would be the average on planets such as these.
Thanks to this the Coveki had been able to have a nation capable of surviving independently against the various nations and races surrounding us, always seeking access to our Magically-blessed bloodline.
Our mother and father – named Ina and Jadran respectively – were the children of two fairly influential houses at the Coveki Imperial Court, together owning two six large cities and a sizeable chunk of the land.
Both were the heirs, even mother thanks to a relatively new law stating women inherit on the same grounds as men.
Ina had a quick temper and a ruthless sentiment, but was exceptionally kind to friends and family.
Jadran was always courteous and nice, always seeking to avoid conflict whenever possible, but whenever he wanted something of you, his cold anger made it impossible to refuse.
Or, at least, that was what I heard from others.
They raised us with such an overbearing amount of love some people considered them a bit too attached to their children.
I don’t know of that was the truth, but it didn’t matter.
They cared for all of us like parents would.
And I loved it.
Acting the role of a child, as I should, they played with me, educated me, talked with me and every so often got angry with me when I did something stupid.
It was an altogether new experience for me and every moment was pure bliss.
Most of my siblings – with the exception of Mila, who was just as into playing the child as I – behaved... differently.
Adult is too big a word for them.
The behaved like Reincarnates would.
The group of Lana, Lucia, Pavo and Rade – named the pride-pack whenever I talked about them with Mila – were always fighting with each other for petty reasons, seeking to prove themselves against each other.
Although they were not really that nice towards each other, they were each other’s rivals, like siblings with too much energy and pride often are.
Despite their constant arguing, it never really escalated to full blown violence, probably because they still cared for our parents.
My guess is their memories span a few lifetimes, but not too many, making them more spoiled brats overconfident in their power than proper behaving adults.
Next are Cila and Sara.
They were always lazy and looked eternally bored.
Although never seeking conflict, they didn’t care about anything and tried to do as little as possible.
They did, however, find a kindred spirit amongst themselves, so they always hung out together, doing nothing unless father demanded something from them with his icy stare.
Mother’s heated anger never worked.
Well, at least they did care somewhat about our parents.
I think they’ve lived longer than the pride-pack, already having seen everything and they simply became bored with it.
Then there is Lovro the Depressed.
Although doing nothing just like Cila and Sara, his reasons are different.
He has lived too long and has seen too much, his eyes the same as mine from long ago.
The fact that he is the most despised form of Mage – the Blood Mage – supports this.
Looking at him disgusts me, although I keep it well hidden.
It reminds me of a time and place I’d rather forget.
Also, I don’t know his opinion about our parents, but at least he does listen to them most of the time, albeit without much energy.
Lastly, Mila.
I don’t know if she’s the oldest or the youngest.
She acts like me, trying to perfectly play the part of a child, which makes me think she is the oldest and simply tries to enjoy what there is to life.
However, she could also easily be the youngest, having experienced too little to become overly confident like the four-pack, lazy like Cila and Sera, or depressed like Lovro.
It doesn’t matter either way.
She’s my favourite, one I could proudly call my sister instead of begrudgingly admit to it.
For most of the time, we stayed out of each other’s way.
Mila and I clung to each other, playing children’s games, reading children’s books and generally doing children’s stuff.
Cila and Sara hanging-out together.
The pride-pack running around, always trying to prove themselves to each other and our parents.
Lovro just being depressed all the time, much too our parents’ dismay.
We rarely interacted with each other, unless being forced to by mom or dad.
We never made rules or anything.
It was a silent agreement made from the moment these ‘factions’ formed.
At least, that is what I think.
Maybe they were just too lazy, too depressed or too busy with themselves to bother each other, but the effect is the same.
But unfortunately, during or all-important eighth birthday – the age required to go to any form of school is eight – things changed.
It was one of the few occasions where we were all forced to interact with each other.
Nobody liked it.
Not even Mila and I, always eager to be with our family, didn’t like it simply because of the annoyance of interacting with our siblings.
Not that we hated them, but a long time ago, when we tried to better our relationships, we were coldly ignored and shunned by them, so we returned the favour ever since.
At least this one was important enough for a lot more family to attend.
Our grandparents – both grandfathers being Dukes and Patriarchs of their house – were hosting it in the garden of their country villa, which stretched as far as the eye could see.
Our nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles were there to celebrate the children of the ducal heirs – our parents.
A few kinsmen from branch families were there, although only those still tied to the main houses.
There were also a few courtiers of the Coveki Imperial Court present, always eager to suck up to those with power.
Sometimes I wish we were children of more common people, a normal family of white-collar workers and the like.
It was annoying to interact with people too distanced from the family to care for.
Although aunts, uncles and cousins were still tolerable, to act courteous with branch members and boot-lickers was annoying.
They weren’t worth my time.
But, I digress.
As said, we were celebrating in the grand garden of our grandpa’s villa.
The luxurious amount of food was spread out on large tables for anyone to grab as they wanted.
The enormous patio was filled with many couches, chairs, and tables all around fountains and open, currently unused fireplaces.
It was a garden able to host many and it was every bit a birthday for the rich.
We were halfway through celebrating it.
Mila and I were playing with our many younger cousins – us being the oldest grandchildren of the Dukes – on a piece of empty grassland, playing tag, hide-and-seek and whatever else we came up with.
Although busy playing, I – and I suspect Mila as well – always paid attention to whatever happened around us.
You know, in case some monster comes up or, more likely, assassins aiming for one of the many important people here.
Sure, there were guards, but before you know it one of those guards kill you by plunging a knife in your throat or firing their handgun in hidden in their suits or better yet, using Magic to kill everyone present instantly.
So, while playing, I heard everyone talk around us thanks to the incredible hearing our cat-like ears gave us – one of the remaining parts we inherited from cats, along with flexible bones and extendable nails with the strength and sharpness of steel.
Normally, it would be impossible for the brain to keep track of everyone, but I detached a piece of my mind from my body and Soul and sent it into the ether, allowing me to easily keep track of everyone’s talk, movement and heartbeat without having my head hurt.
One of the advantages of being me.
There, when the sun was slowly beginning to set, I heard a passing conversation between all of our grandparents, Sara and Pavo.
“Are you exited to go to school this year?”
It was grandpa Jadran III who said this, obviously from father’s side of the family.
It was a very normal question.
In just a few months a new school year would start and we, as nobles, would join one of the best in the country.
“Yes! I can’t wait! I wanna make you proud!”
Of course, it was Pavo who said this, ever-excited to show his skills to those around him, especially our parents and grandparents.
“I’d rather stay with you...”
Sara trying to score some bonus-points with our grandfather, faking sadness.
“Hahaha! Don’t be lazy Sara, it’ll be fun!”
Of course, everyone knew Sara and Cila were lazy kids since they were too lazy to hide the fact.
The other grandparents laughed as well, making Sara smile in faked – or perhaps real, but I doubt it – embarrassment.
It was just an innocent conversation, but it was sort of fun to listen to.
After all, although I hated them for shunning the rest of us, I still viewed all of my brothers and sisters as siblings and important members of our family, even if they didn’t view us the same way.
Even if we were locked in a cold war, they were still family.
So I kept following their conversation.
“In fact, I heard that you are a very capable Air Mage, despite being so young. You’d undoubtedly do very good at school.”
I heard grandpa Rade II – mother’s side and clearly whom brother Rade was named after – say, the rest nodding or murmuring agreement.
It wasn’t a secret that all of us, except me, had Magic.
The pride-pack was proud of using it, Cila and Sara used it for their convenience, and although it wasn’t admitted publicly, our grandparents knew of Lovro’s ability in Blood Magic.
But in this completely normal and, as far as they knew, harmless sentence lay the spark that ignited the flame.
I knew this, so, while playing tag and running away, I focused more than just my ears and a small part of my fractured mind on it.
Steering the detached part of my mind, I made sure I caught everything of what was going.
The slightest twitch of the muscle, quickening of heartbeat or softest sighs could not escape my notice.
I was right to do so.
The anger and shame of Pavo lasted for not even the blink of an eye, and although his heart beat harder for a single second, it was quickly calmed.
If I had not put my all into it, I would not have seen it.
But I did.
Although none of us was in open aggression towards each other, this didn’t set well with a member of the notorious pride-pack.
They always wanted to be the best in everyone’s eyes, be it among the rest of the pride-pack, our parents or the rest of the world in general.
Naturally, they wanted to be the best in our grandparents eyes as well.
Hearing one of his lazy sister being praised did not sit well with him.
Although he kept it hidden from the rest, within him was a bright flame of anger.
“Grandpa, didn’t you hear? I’m good at Magic too! Better than any of my brothers or sisters!”
With the subtlety becoming of an eight-year-old, Pavo sought to be praised as well while discrediting the rest.
Of course, Sara didn’t care, but the rest of the grandparents laughed at the childish boasting.
“Yes, yes, we heard about it. You were great with Fire Magic, right?”
It was grandma Lucia – wife of Rade II – who said it while smiling at Pavo.
I noticed her giving a glance towards grandma Anica – wife of Jadran III – to continue.
Anica gave a nearly unnoticeable nod back.
“But better than Sara? I don’t know about that...”
Anica said.
I knew what they were trying to do.
I also knew that it was a very, very, very bad, bad, bad idea.
The grandpa’s understood with a sigh saying ‘ohh, that’s what you’re planning’.
They undoubtedly decided to play along as well.
“Grandma! I am better than lazy Sara!”
Again, no subtlety at all and again, Sara didn’t particularly care.
“Really now? I heard about Sara being able to grab food and drinks from the fridge by only steering the air. Are you sure you are better?”
Grandpa Jadran said, his voice a bit taunting but filled with genuine admiration for Sara’s ability.
It is not easy for normal people to be able to perfectly grab things with only a self-made air current, let alone for an eight-year-old.
Needless to say, the genuine admiration only fuelled Pavo’s fire.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I am!”
Pavo threw a small tantrum, although I don’t know if it was acted out or real.
“Ah, I got an idea! How about a little duel between you two to see who is better?”
Grandpa Rade said, as if the idea just came to him.
Duelling was very normal for Mages ever since long, long ago.
It was the most widely accepted way to prove who is better at using Magic, although the lethality of it was prohibited long ago.
It is now simply a friendly competition to see who’s stronger, much like arm-wrestling.
So it wasn’t irregular for people to have duels at birthday parties.
It wasn’t even uncommon for children to duel at their own birthdays.
It was viewed as a contest between the duelling parties, and a great entertainment for those watching.
Accidents rarely happened, especially with children.
After all, everyone was ready to intervene when necessary and children often lacked both the will and the skill to kill.
Unfortunately, these weren’t normal children.
“A great idea, Rade! Now children, what do you say?”
Grandpa Jadran said.
Everyone looked expectantly at the pair, excited to see their grandchildren’s strength.
“Yes!”
“Sure...”
Pavo said excitedly, while Sara sighed in resignation.
“Great! Everyone, gather round! A duel is about to happen!”
The last part grandpa Rade said while enhancing his voice with Body Magic.
As soon as he announced it, things went quick.
People rose from their seat in excited clamour and left the patio, following a long, stone path between the many flowerbeds, garden-trees, ponds and every other piece of the richly ornate garden.
Eventually, they arrived at the grassland me, Mila and our cousins were playing, which also served for the arena for the frequent duels that happened at parties.
Our cousins excitedly ran towards their parents, leaving Mila and I standing alone.
I looked at her and saw the same worrying look in her eyes.
“Miro! Mila! Come!”
I heard mom call us from the stone path along with father and the remaining siblings.
At the edges of the large field, the stone path continued to form a large circle.
People walked around the field, seeking for a place to stand and watch the duel with their families.
It circular pathway around the field was obviously meant for spectators and was now filled up with more than a hundred people, all linked in one way of another to our noble house.
Mila and I stood next to our parents and siblings.
The remaining three of the pride-pack were confident in their brother’s victory, thinking only themselves were equals with misplaced confidence.
Cila was lazily looking to Sara and Pavo on the field, clearly not worried about the outcome.
Lovro stared with cold eyes, betraying no emotion whatsoever about the upcoming battle, only showing that he was as depressed as usual.
Our parents were perhaps the most excited of all, eager to see the extent of the Magic their children possess.
They were not worried about any harm coming to either Sara or Pavo, fully believing they could intervene whenever necessary.
I was not worried about the outcome of the battle.
In fact, the outcome was pretty much assured as far as I cared.
What I was worried about, was what happened afterward.
Although Mila was just as worried, I cannot speak for the source of her worries; was she worried for the duellists during the fight, or was her reasoning the same as mine?
I expected the latter since I still believe she’s the oldest apart from me, but then again, I still don’t know for certain and I see it as a betray of trust to find it out on my own without her telling me.
Sure, she wouldn’t notice, but she was still my favourite sibling by far.
I trust her to come forward on her own, eventually.
Everyone stood in place, ready for the spectacle, when one of the servants of the villa came forward.
He stood walked up to the middle and glanced at the contestants for a second , before raising his hands.
From it, two metal balls half the size of a tennis ball flew upwards.
Although unseen, I knew that there were runes of Light Magic on them, erecting a barrier around the edges of the grassy field.
Although duels were not deadly, there were occasions that a spell hit a unsuspecting spectator, so it was always required to have either a Light Mage erect a barrier, or use these small metal droids inscribed with runes.
Once released, the servant stepped back onto the stone path surrounding the field and raised his arms, one to either side.
“Ready?”
He looked to his left.
Pavo nodded eagerly, eyeing Sara with as much contempt as he could muster.
He looked to his right.
Sara nodded lazily, placing a hand in front of her mouth and yawning lazily, infuriating Pavo further.
“Begin!”
The servant signalled.
Pavo’s attack was quick.
If it hadn’t been for the still-detached part of my mind sensing everything that was going on, I might have missed it.
And I was pretty sure many of the people – aside from the Mages smart enough to activate their Sensory Magic of whatever power they possessed – missed it.
Hell, I bet even the smart Mages saw it in its entirety.
He didn’t move, didn’t chant, nor did he show any other form of unnecessary incantations to construct the spell that was so normal in Magic everywhere.
Although invisible to the naked eye, I sensed a ball made from threads of Fire Magic form in front of Pavo.
A bunch of these were knit together and instantly lashed out towards Sara, arching much like a whip.
As the bunch of threads lashed out, Pavo activated the power within them, linking them with the Energy in their path and out of nowhere, a whip of flames appeared.
It was a quick, non-lethal but hard to avoid attack meant to catch the enemy by surprise, while also making sure to leave a scar to remember this duel.
As expected of one of the pride-pack, it was meant to humiliate the opponent and state ‘you aren’t worth my time’.
There was little doubt that he had done this before.
If it had been any of the people present, even the master-level Mages here, it might have worked, especially since it came from an eight years old child.
Even if they had seen it coming and were quick enough to react, they would still have difficulty avoiding it.
But naturally, Sara isn’t just anybody.
While the serpent-like flame quickly approached her across the twenty metre long grass field, she easily made a counter.
Much like Pavo, Sara didn’t even show the smallest movement, didn’t even breathe before she made her move.
I sensed a ball of Air Magic appearing before her, of which she quickly unravelled the threads and cast a net in front of her.
Activating the net of Air Magic, the Energy formed a steady stream of air around her with the purpose to deflect anything approaching her body.
The whip arrived and struck down from above, but as soon as it touched Sara’s barrier, the attack rolled off and arched behind her, throwing up earth and grass as it made a gash in the field.
She conjured up another ball of threads, packed it closely together into a pea-sized ball and over it, placed three layers of threads, forming a cocoon around it.
Activating the pea-sized ball of Air Magic, it connected with the Energy and created a dense packet of air, forming the core of spell.
The first layer acted like a shell to make sure the densely packed air didn’t escape and stayed as it were.
The second layer became air much like the core.
The third and final layer acted much like the first, but instead of remaining in the same place, it forced itself downward to increase the pressure on the second layer a thousand times.
Now that the preparations were done, the counter-attack began.
As soon as everything was pressed as tightly together as possible, she made a small hole in the third layer.
Finally seeing a chance to escape its densely packed state, the air of the second layer tried rushing towards the small hole.
However, as it rushed towards the small hole, it forced the small, pea-sized packet to exit the spell as well, and as it did, it shot forth like a bullet from a barrel.
Only it was a hundred times faster than a bullet ever could.
Of course, the direction it went to was none other than Pavo.
It was a complex spell no normal Air Mage could ever have thought of.
Since Magic threads themselves held no mass, matter or conventional energy, they would either pick up a piece of rock and launch it towards the enemy with the largest gust of wind they could muster, or they would form a similar packet and still try to launch it using only the wind they could create.
In other words, they would have Sara’s second layer expand at will and shoot of the ball of air or their piece of rock towards their opponent.
The way Sara did it, was much more refined.
No Mage below master-level strength could possible pull this off.
And even for masters it would be difficult, since it was such a stressful situation and would need a lot of time to chant the spell or whatever they did.
In fact, even Pavo’s spell, simple as it is, would not be easy for masters of Fire Magic.
Since everything, from Pavo’s fiery whip to Sara’s barrier and counter-attack, was done within the span of one second.
Indeed, the whip had yet to stop digging up the dirt when Sara’s shot was fired.
While everyone was still surprised by the speed of Pavo’s whip, the caster of it needed to deal with the powerful bullet of air.
It went had such an incredible amount of speed that no regular mortal, be it the strongest of Mages or the lowest peasant, would have noticed it with either Sensory Magic or the other five senses.
The fact that Pavo did proved that, although prideful to the point of stupidity, he was still extremely capable and experienced, like a Reincarnate should.
But sensing it and avoiding it were different things.
It was too fast and too powerful to be able to summon a barrier, and since Reincarnates were only allowed to hold one kind of Magic, there was also no way for him to dispel it by either returning the air to Energy, or unravelling the threads holding it densely packed.
The only once in this space still able to deflect were me – if I used Energy or gave myself some Magic, of course – Lovro, Cila and perhaps Mila, depending on whether or not Mila was younger or older than the rest.
I sensed his desperation Pavo quickly summoned a small ball of an enormous amount of Fire Magic threads, activated it and allowed it to blast him away.
It was such a crude spell that apprentice Mages would accidentally cast this instead of the spell they had in mind, albeit with much less power.
The space around Pavo lit up and turned into a gigantic fireball, the flames crashing against the edges of the dome-shaped barrier, making it flicker as it did so.
Then, the air bullet arrived and blasted an enormous hole in the inferno, parting the flames and continuing onwards towards the barrier.
It crashed into the droid’s Light Barrier and immediately shattered it, the sound of glass breaking filling the air as it did so.
Thankfully, the barrier was able to delay it long enough for Sara to dispel the bullet.
No onlooker was harmed.
The result was as expected, although I hadn’t expected that Sara would allow Pavo to attack.
Although Pavo – and the pride-pack as a whole – are definitely powerful Mages with a lot of experience thanks to being Reincarnates, they were no match for Sara and by extension Cila.
It was simply a difference in experience.
Sara and Cila had many more lifetimes of experience behind them, making them more powerful than the pride-pack.
The air was filled by the abhorrent scream of a suffering Pavo.
The onlookers finally woke up from their stupor, with mother, father and our grandparents being the first.
Father and grandpa Jadran, both excellent Fire Mages for a mortal, quickly dispelled the fire before it could harm the now-unprotected spectators.
Mother, grandma Lucia – Light Mages – and grandpa Rade – a Water Mage – rushed towards the smouldering pile of burned flesh of the still barely living Pavo.
Grandma Anica – an Air Mage – rushed towards Sara, perhaps afraid for overexertion?
The panicky talking and yelling of our parents and grandparents filled the air as they checked up on the duellists and treating Pavo’s wounds.
Meanwhile, the rest of the people remained perfectly still, including us siblings.
I looked to my left and right, checking the faces of all my siblings.
The eyes of the pride-pack were smouldering with anger greater than I had seen in billions of years.
Cila’s were lazily looking at her, as far as she cared, only sister, who stared back with equally dispassionate eyes and gave a shrug before returning her attention to grandma Anica once again.
Lovro seemed to have some sort of flashback, his face tense and eyes shifting and looking at things that weren’t there.
Lastly, I met Mila’s eyes, who was also studying everyone’s reaction.
She had the same thoughts as I.
If we still wanted to live a peaceful life, we would need to enforce it ourselves.