"Master Malgard of the 2nd Aspion battalion. Make way for the army!" a thought not belonging to Ellyn sounded in her mind.
The atmosphere on the perpetually crowded Imrin Avenue shifted abruptly as people began looking around and moving aside.
"Long live Aspion!" another thought of the master mage thundered inside their heads.
"Long may they reign!" thousands of civilians responded in unison loudly, creating a stunning atmosphere.
"From the left flank Malgards` came, beating bastards, gaining fame... Atris bastards never guessed… they`d be fleeing, all sides pressed…" a man started singing a well-known song, many joining him as a formation with 1000 uniformed soldiers of Salona Kingdom was marching through.
Ellyn sang terribly and waved excitedly, while witnessing the inspiring spectacle.
It is not every day that students like them get to see a battalion on march.
Still feeling a rush of powerful emotions, an almost scary smile on her face, Ellyn looked at Selea, who has been standing right beside her this entire time.
"Did you see? At the back line? That level 5? It was Raden Inar!"
"Mm, should I know him?"
"Yes, he is... quite famous. Their top level 5 mage," Ellyn replied, the excitement gradually fading away as she was beginning to remember that the only army enthusiast among the two was her.
“Now I know. Thank you. Here is your bag,” Selea said and handed it over.
When did she drop her bag? Aah... the waving…
Selea had no need to tell her anything. The silence spoke louder than words.
This was the morning of March 17th, 1218.
Ellyn took sweet snacks out of her bag and shared with Selea, still on Imrin Avenue, heading for school.
They have been on their way there, when the spectacular march took place.
"My friend in Duchy of Argela talked with the late bloomer. He has no idea how he managed to cast his first spell and doesn`t remember anything being different about the day."
This was bad news for her. Another one.
"That man was 31 when it finally happened... and he does not know. 21 years of failing to cast a spell, writing a diary, methodically detailing every attempt… and he still has no clue what changed back then."
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"So, ... I should simply keep trying? For... maybe 13 more years? For what? A chance to be able to advance a spell to a "stunning" level 2 after a decade and then getting stuck there for the rest of my life?" Ellyn almost shouted, tears in her eyes, voice shaking.
Some people in the crowd distanced themselves from the "emotionally unstable girl".
"I`m sorry. You are doing your best to help me," Ellyn spoke in a depressed voice.
Selea responded by caressing her back lightly as they walked towards the school.
Starting at 9 and finishing at 15, another day at school was over, Ellyn still a late bloomer. 2,5 months left until the licencing tests and she hasn`t yet been able to cast any spell at all, while some of her classmates went far beyond what was necessary for passing.
She and her best friend chose to visit public training grounds to try some more. Selea`s mana reserves have been spent for hours by then, so the nice girl was only being there with Ellyn as the late bloomer kept embarrassing herself again and again.
“Please, go home.”
Selea knew better than to argue with Ellyn about this. What is the point of trying methodically? Of following all the advices possible, one by one? They knew. Having a mana core, mana, the concentration necessary and knowing the theory perfectly won`t change anything. Not when she has no mana control at all. Ellyn can`t even tell how much mana she has… the most basic action every mage does in the morning, while still half-asleep.
She has to take a deep breath, calm down. All she needs to do is channel her mana from her mana core through her mana circuits in the pattern for Mana Pulse. The simplest spell with the simplest channelling pattern. Nothing more.
OK, this attempt didn`t work out. Next one.
Another one.
…
Again.
Again.
Ellyn`s been trying for hours, not even caring that there had been kids casting spells not far from her at the start. She`s getting embarrassed at school daily. This was nothing new to her.
Again.
It was 21, already dark outside, street lamps have been lit. Ellyn was almost alone at the training grounds.
Again.
Shaking and sweating from all the effort and emotions, she kept trying again and again, until…
Hm? Where is she? Why does her body hurt more than before? She`s lying down on bed, inside a room. An infirmary, by the looks of it. Of course. That`s what she gets for trying to pack years` worth of attempts into months of time.
“You`re awake,” a young woman next to her noted after noticing.
“I`m sorry, but what time is it?”
“Around 30 minutes past 21.”
“Then I need to go. Thank you.”
“You are not going anywhere, miss. Not before a medic mage gets a look at you.”
“Aren`t you the medic mage`s assistant? Can`t you do it, please? I don`t want to make my family worry.”
“No. I`m not. I`m the mage that had found you on the ground and brought you here. Niriel Irato.”
Ellyn`s eyes widened in shock. This was no assistant. The young woman next to her was the youngest master mage of their kingdom. An elite commander. Still only 23-year-old. The most talented soldier of... at least the last centuries.
“How should I call you?”
“Ellyn. Ellyn Arte,” she spat out fast.
“Ellyn, take this ribbon to never forget this day. I need to go now, but don`t leave until a medic mage sees you.”
She only nodded and took the blue hair ribbon that`s been handed to her.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I`ll go. Until we meet again, Ellyn.”
“You are free to go, but I`ll ask Girna to walk you home,” the medic mage told her minutes later.
Ellyn`s mind was too chaotic. All the rest of it seemed to have happened in an instant. Her mom, dad and sister hearing her explain why she`s late, the dinner, all of it a past now. Lying on her bed, Ellyn was simply glad that she`ll get another opportunity to try tomorrow.