[AVO]

All the kids in the campground began talking amongst themselves,

"First test? We barely know any spells!"

"Maybe you don't... guess it'll just be easier for me."

"How is that fair!"

Avo was still busy inspecting the newcomer, Sir Alaric. He guessed he was a teacher like Rawlins, or at least some kind of authority figure in the school. He certainly didn't look as intimidating, though. He was about a whole head shorter than Avo, who considered himself to be around average height. His entrance was the most interesting part. How had he so effortlessly split the boulder into such perfect sections?

More magic. I better start learning spells soon.

Alaric did not stop the students from bickering. Instead the short man turned around, taking a very rigid stance.

A figure scrambled to their feet beside Avo. He recognized it as Bruna without even having to turn around. No one else here was wearing such a nice outfit.

"Wh- what a madman! Someone could have seriously gotten hurt! I hope this isn't a taste of what's to come..."

Bruna began fanning her face with her right hand, looking distressed.

Avo nearly scoffed. Wasn't a mage's ultimate goal to fight on the battlefield? Bruna didn't really seem capable of even fighting a rabbit, much less a soldier. How does a child from a wealthy magic family end up in a school like this anyways? What a failure.

He turned his attention back to Alaric who was now facing the mountain. The bald man punched forward with his right fist.

The mountain began to rumble and the students immediately began running away again, fearing an avalanche. Avo squinted, he wasn’t going to fall for the same trick twice, what was Alaric up to?

As rocks began to crumble off the mountain it was becoming clear what Alaric was doing. All the way up the mountain, stairs were starting to be formed into the side of the steep slope. Students gasped in awe as Alaric continued his work, moving his fists in rough jabbing motions. He was like a sculptor, chipping away at his masterpiece. It was so impressive that even Bruna had finally shut up.

At long last the stairs were complete, snaking up the mountain and out of sight. Alaric breathed heavily and regained his composure, turning to face the students once more. His booming voice filled the air,

“These stairs lead all the way to your new school. You have until sunset tomorrow to make it there.”

The students were stunned silent.

“At that time I will undo my magic, and these stairs will cease to exist. You do not want to be on them when that happens. Good luck.”

Avo swallowed hard. He looked up at the terrifyingly tall mountain. The sun was dipping below the horizon. One whole day to make it to the top. Was it possible? His head started to throb, his vision spinning as his eyes followed the stairs.

But what else was there to do? Give up? No. He had to try. If there was even a single small chance of making it up there he would try. Even if it meant death. Anything to not be an ant crawling down here, doomed to a meaningless existence. The top of that mountain meant power. Power and endless possibility.

He blinked, and looked back down in front of him. Only to realize that every other student was already scrambling towards the base of the stairs. He clenched his fists and made the first step forward, letting out a determined grunt.

Avo was no pushover when it came to physical activity, he had spent the last ten years of his life busting his ass doing every terrible job that Wilbaum had to offer. Hauling grain for Monty day after day since most days the other orphans threatened to beat him if he took the good jobs. Avo pushed past some of the students and made it to the stairs, immediately bounding up several steps at once.

He realized he should probably slow down and conserve his energy, but his adrenaline was pumping. He wanted nothing else but to make it to the top, and fast.

No, I need to be smart about this… I’m being an idiot right now.

He steadied his breathing and prepared himself for the long trek ahead. Several people passed him, but he paid them no mind. It wasn’t a race after all.

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Avo ran through the night. He passed several people who had stopped to rest, but Avo refused. He had no idea how much he had left to climb, the stairs were carved into the mountain, so he couldn’t actually see the peak. He would never forgive himself if he ran out of time just because he stopped to sleep.

Looking down made him realize how dangerous this test was. The ground was far away and trees looked no bigger than a nail. It didn’t help that the stairs were only around a meter wide. One misstep and Avo would be sent crashing to his death.

A strange whirring noise drew Avo away from his thoughts. It came from behind him and it was growing louder, but he didn’t want to stop to turn around.

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“MOVE!!! I’M COMING THROUGHHHH!!!”

The noise was loud, Avo snapped his head back, only to be met with a kid rushing towards him at insane speeds. His eyes widened, realizing what was about to happen,

“STOP YOU CRAZY-”

Avo tried to hug the cliff, but it was too late. Fast guy slammed into him head-first, making Avo fly forward and slam off one of the steps and… right off the edge.

His vision was spinning, but he could tell exactly what was happening.

No… Not like this!

His arm darted out and managed to latch onto the edge of one of the stairs. Avo grunted as his body swung like a pendulum, a thousand meters above the ground. He tried to hoist his body upwards so he could grab the edge with his other arm as well, but the hours of running left him dead tired. As he attempted to pull his body up, he grunted, and his body swung back down. He could feel his grip slipping.

His fingers gave out.

Shit!!!

Avo fell down, knocking his foot against the slanted cliffside, sending him tumbling towards the ground. Time felt like it was slowing down. After finally becoming a mage… becoming someone special… it was just going to end like this.

“VENTO!!”

He heard a voice cry out, and all of a sudden Avo came face-first with a strong gust of wind. Avo thought he was imagining things, but no, the speed at which he was falling was slowing down. The gust was pushing him upwards! He was dizzy and disoriented, but he looked up towards the cliffside to see a blonde head and a hand reaching out towards him. Avo groaned, extending his arm, and sure enough, the person above grabbed it and hauled him back onto steady ground.

Avo was breathing heavily, his heart moving lightning fast. He grabbed his head and focused on the stars above, trying to steady his vision. A hand grabbed him, shaking him back and forth, making him dizzy again. A giddy voice came from his right,

“Hey, you alright? Almost lost you there, didn’t I?”

Avo turned to see a blonde haired boy beaming at him with a wide smile. He had bright blue eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. He seemed pretty thin and lanky. Avo grit his teeth, grabbing the guy by his ragged vest, growling,

“You… you almost killed me! What the hell do you think you’re doing running around like that on this tiny path?!”

The guy just laughed, waving a hand in front of his face, trying to ward of Avo,

“Hey, calm down there, your face full of bandages made me think you were some kind of monster!”

He closed his eyes for a moment, like he was thinking really hard,

“But I also saved you. I guess that makes us even or something? Name’s Kane, by the way.”

Kane extended an arm to Avo, who raised an eyebrow, but then took it, releasing his grip on the boy’s vest. He was intrigued by Kane, who appeared to already know magic. Now that he got a better look at him, Avo recognized Kane as the guy who was making the lute play on its own back at the camp.

Mister Popular, huh? Could be useful, plus he knows a thing or two…

Avo scowled, getting to his feet,

“I’m Avo and you still owe me. What the hell did you pull back there? Some kind of magic?”

Kane smiled, getting to his feet, revealing that Avo only stood up to the blonde boy’s chin, which somehow made Avo more annoyed. Kane thrust a thumb at the cliff as he turned to continue the trek up the mountain,

“Ah you must be new to this stuff then, Avo. Figures, if you’re going to this school. That was wind magic, my sister taught me. Just say ‘Vento’!...”

Kane thrust a palm out, but nothing seemed to happen. Avo raised an eyebrow,

“Impressive.”

Kane let out a grunt and started to breath a bit heavily, breaking the stance and shrugged,

“Whoops… guess I’m too tired. That big gust took a lot out of me.”

Avo watched Kane’s drooping body language carefully. Perhaps magic was more complex than he originally thought. It seemed like it took energy to use. No wonder he passed out after spewing out lightning in that alleyway. Avo picked up his pace, going in front of Kane,

“Well don’t worry about it. Let’s just get to the top. You better show me all your wind magic tricks once we get to school though.”

Kane laughed,

“You sure are interested in learning, aren’t you? The teachers will love you.”

Avo rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore that comment,

“I see a flat area up ahead, let’s rest there tonight. We still have plenty of time to get to the top.”

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The sun began to lower in the sky as Avo and Kane dashed up the treacherous path that Sir Alaric created. Avo was breathing heavily as his bandages became soaked with sweat. His wounds hurt less and less every day, so he hoped he’d finally be able to take them off soon.

Kane was keeping up with his pace, making way with long strides. He synced up with Avo’s movements and pointed up ahead with a grin,

“Avo look! I think that’s the top!”

For the first time since they met, Kane’s cheery attitude didn’t piss him off. The stairs began to cut into the mountain, and green grass was now coming out of the sides of the stony walls to either side. A cloud cover blocked their view a couple meters up.

Avo picked up his pace into a sprint, grunting,

“Let’s finish this test already!”

They ran head first into the clouds, and when they broke through the other side, Avo’s eyes widened.

He slowed down to a jog, and then a walk, as he took in the sight in front of him. They were standing on a massive clearing, and past the hilly expanse of trees and grass was the peak of the mountain they stood on. Sitting on the mountaintop and extending all over it was a gray stone fortress. Blinking he finally registered the sight in front of him. There was a wide circle of stone benches surrounding a campfire. Several students were gathered there. In front of the circle, towards him and Kane, were a group of adults headed by Sir Alaric.

Avo looked at the group, they definitely stood out with a bunch of weird and different outfits. Long boots, tall hats, flowing capes. Even if they looked strange they held a sort of presence that Avo couldn’t explain.

Sir Alaric’s eyebrow twitched, and he stomped over to the boys, his bald head reflecting the setting sun’s light.

“You two! What are your names?”

He pulled a scroll from his black vest, glaring at the two boys.

Avo took a second to open his mouth, still shocked by the view,

“A-Avo, sir. I’m Avo.”

Alaric turned to Kane, who Avo just realized had his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. He saw Avo looking over and gave him a smile,

“Kane Carey, sir. By the way… you really should straighten out that earth magic of yours… very bumpy in a couple spots.”

“It’s supposed to be like that.”

Alaric snapped at Kane and opened the scroll.

Picking a fight with one of the teachers already? He really is an idiot…

Alaric stuffed the scroll back in his vest,

“You two, sit on bench four and wait.”

He stiffened his stance, and walked back to the group of adults.

Avo let out some air, just for Kane to smack him in the back and make him jump,

“Ha ha! We made it Avo! Now let’s see what old Michael Medici has in store for us, eh?”

Kane took off towards the benches before Avo could say anything, suddenly gaining his energy back.

He looked up at the fortress in the distance.

What will this school have in store for me?

Avo remembered what happened in that alley. The flash of lightning. Next he came here and got to see Sir Alaric’s transformation of the mountain, as well as Kane’s ‘Vento’.

I want to do that too, all of it. I want power. Then no one will ever get in my way again.