Jonathan absentmindedly stared out the window, staring at the people walking below him. Being a magi was a fortune, and a slightly talented one even more so. But none could rival being the heir of the Blackmore family, who ruled the empire from the shadows. The council, RoM (Representatives of Masses) and the law of political equality merely functioned for them.

“Never upset a Blackmore. Never speak of a Barca. Never borrow from a Medici and never kill a fanged mage, was it?” He asked, turning to the slightly older man, maybe in his mid-fifties, but looks were rather betraying for magi.

“Hahah, I never thought you paid attention to those… vain words.” Said the older man.

“Of course I do, master. Lest I walk the path of a fool.” Jonathan answered with a shake of his head and walked up to the older man, starting his study session. It took a majority of his time, and the spare quarter was for politics. Truly a busy life, but rewarding in the future.

Mr. Keynes stood there for a while, silently. As if he didn’t notice the boy’s presence. The fact that every person walking outside had halted their movements, Jonathan concluded he was in the Empyrealm.

It wasn’t his first, and certainly wouldn’t be his last. This meant that his inner magic was in turmoil and he had to stay here for the time being, and he’d be transported to the nearest shrine of the First Feycrowned.

The churches were everywhere around the empire, and one would have trouble not finding one in a village, no matter how shabby. Truly, if time didn’t stop, that’d be rather wasteful.

Jonathan moved his hand in an raising arc, and created a floating platform from the ground outside. Levitation was his forte and he would make use of it. Being a third generation mage, it was quite possible to learn harder spells faster, but the strength would greatly diminish if anything. That was bad, but far better than having nothing, especially where magi ruled.

Jonathan then felt dread, simple and illogical dread. But it took away all his ability to move. Cold sweat poured out of his body, his feet shaking harder than he thought possible. It was as if something would jump out and straight out murder him if he turned around.

‘Remember the lessons, Jon, remember.’ He thought, taking a few breaths and closing his eyes. ‘Don’t look, and you’ll be fine. Just don’t look. It’s not that hard.’

He felt the extreme urge to look back, but he refrained. That would spell his doom, and he knew many who have succumbed to it. A crack sounded out and Jonathan sighed with relief. The next step was to know where he was, and that would mean opening his eyes. The gentle breeze on his face told more than he needed to know that he was somewhere else, and he opened his eyes.

He found himself in an unknown place, strange since he knew every shrine in the capital. Torches burned a sinister blue, as if this place wasn’t in fact the Empyrealm, but a place much more sinister. The stone walls were circular, suggesting it was a cave of sorts. With no leads, Jonathan decided to walk towards the direction of the wind. That would be where the exit was.

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However, it became painfully obvious that it wasn’t the exit the deeper he walked, without looking backwards, fearing the presence would grab at his neck and strangle him to death. His pace quickened, yet the ground didn’t move as much.

No less than an hour passed, as he saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

It was blue as well, but it had a soothing feeling. He rushed to it, running… no, sprinting towards it. The ground seemed to wind back, pushing him away from the end. Loud thumps could be heard from the back and Jonathan desperately rushed forward, jumping and striding. He couldn’t die here, he couldn’t. He had a bright future in front of him.

And then there he was, outside. But that wasn’t an accurate definition, simply a metaphor. The cave extended skyward, a blue orb floating in the air and bathing the cavern in its gentle light. The opening was big, about twenty meters upwards and thirty side to side.

A pool lay in the middle, reflecting the image of the orb above itself, and he looked at himself in the reflection. It appeared normally, except his eyes. They were blue, shining.

Edward closed his eyes, wishing that this never happened with all his might. The Empyrealm was a terrifying place, and he didn’t wish to stay there, or here for that matter. He wished with all his might, to return home, his eyes tightly shut and a continuous mantra of “Let me go back.” escaping his mouth.

Then it cracked.

Jonathan opened his eyes hesitantly, taking in the surroundings yet again. He was still in the cave. He closed his eyes again, and prayed. Prayed to the first kings and queens, but no help came. The presence could be felt right behind him, and Jonathan didn’t wish to look at the creature, lest he lose his gift.

He closed his eyes, and raised the earth around him to cover himself, in a box. The pitch black darkness brought him peace, and he felt that the dangers were now gone. Jonathan fell on his butt, hugging his knees and did what was most unacceptable of a grown Blackmore.

He cried.

It was a long time since he felt helpless, just as when he did when he found himself in the Empyrealm the first time, but this one was more dangerous and more terrifying. Holed in a box, he sat for who knows how long. He slept and awoke, finding himself in the dark box that would most likely be his coffin.

Then something inside him snapped.

“Why? Why am I hiding? Why do I fear it? I AM A MAGE!” He shouted, standing up and breaking out of his hiding spot. Then he turned to look backwards, noticing a hellish creature with three heads, resembling a dog and a serpent. Its heads growled at him, with an expression of unmistakable rage and hate.

Then it leaped at him, swiping his claw.

But a coward Jonathan was not, not now, and not in the foreseeable future. He raised the ground, creating a shield between himself and the creature. It broke through without much trouble, but next came the true counterattack.

Dodging to the side, Jonathan controlled the flying pieces of the rock wall, and threw them at the hound, faster than he had known was possible. The creature roared, its heads snapping at him, but it was in no condition to fight.

That was his chance.

Jonathan pierced the hound from below, with earthen spikes. He didn’t know why, but he had learned to use magic without a spell, and he was thankful for it. Truly, the first kings and queens had answered his prayer.

“For the empire.” He said, saluting to the blue orb in the sky by putting his right hand on his hearth side and putting the other behind his back.

The cave melted away, revealing the study. Mr. Keynes started moving rather ungracefully, and he was back on Earth. His gaze landed on the survivor, and they widened.

“For the Progenitors’ sake, you… are an awakened.”