For the last 2 years Anthony’s life had become a web of routine and training. Every day he would attend Master Orion’s Tutoring, but every afternoon he would study at the library where his mother would read to him manuals and texts ranging from a child’s picture book to Academy textbooks that his mother had collected over the years. She even read to him his father’s personal analysis on Water, Earth, and Wind magic, which he mother said made him a prized strategist in Farad Academy. “Know one’s enemy as well as one’s self.” He often talked around the house.

Whenever he found some things too complicated or hard to understand, Orsa would explain to her son in a way that even a child could comprehend. Some things were omitted as mature content but overall, she helped him cover the basics of the 2nd Circle of Elemental Magic. By now all his sisters had made it into a Imperial Magic Academy, Helen became accepted as the youngest scholar to reach 3rd Circle making her the youngest to enroll in Pyro-kinetic Institute of Mage Craft at age 8. This left Master Orion to focus solely on the training of young Anthony as the last offspring to learn any magic.

Anthony’s advanced knowledge of magical arts was slightly impressive to Master Orion. He knew things about fire magic that should have been taught in 3rd Circle that he could practically answer any question that was thrown at him. In terms of practical application, Anthony could not even produce a spark or even a puff of smoke like his sisters who managed to breath fire just 4 years ago. It was frustrating that Master Orion simply ignored his practical training and left his knowledge to mostly books, manuscripts and demonstrations in the family’s training hall. Anthony was not discouraged, for he felt he just needed to learn more to grow to the right state of magic.

Late in his 7th year, he felt that he had mastered reading enough to study magic books by himself, which caused him to venture late at night into the family library to read books by the light of the moon or candle. On one such night he crept silently toward the study to find that the fireplace was lit and the door was slightly opened. As he treaded carefully toward the door, he could hear the sound of two voices chatting amongst themselves. What started as a small whisper became clear as a loud chorus when he reached the edge of the opened door.

“How can you just abandon our son?” He heard his mother’s voice echo down the hall.

“I’m not abandoning him, he’ll be perfectly fine in a vocational school than he would be in a mage academy.” He heard his father’s commanding tone.

“Being a mage is your son’s dream, all he does is learn magic every day.”

“What does it have to show for it? It couldn’t pull so much as spark, let alone control fire like Helena.”

“That’s what this is all about isn’t it, you have four wonderful children but all you ever care about is Helena.”

“Helena is a prodigy, she needs all the support I can give her if she wants to be the greatest mage in the continent.”

“Does that mean you other children deserve less?”

“Don’t talk about such things you know very little of.”

“I understand perfectly. You’ve worked twice as hard to be half as good as you brothers, but you think Helena is your way to make a name for the Erebus name.” By now, Anthony had gotten so close to the door he could make out the shadows of his parents near the light of the roaring fireplace. “Remember our years in Farad, you were a late bloomer yourself but you worked harder than everyone. I can see it in your son, he’s like you, he never stops even when things are darkest.”

She tried to comfort him by rubbing his shoulders, but he quickly shrugged her away.

“That was a long time ago, Orsa. Our boy is nearly eight. If he can’t start magic now, there’s little hope for the future.”

“Some mages aren’t awoken until they’re eighteen or older, which doesn't make them any lesser in magic learning.”

“Even if he does he would be considered an outcast amongst his peers. They believe that early development is only appropriate for first class mages. It’s better for him to learn a trade talent now while he’s still able to, otherwise he’ll never survive in this world.”

“He has talent Leon, you just don’t see it. You focus so much on what he can’t do, you don’t even know what he’s capable of.”

“Then let him learn all he wants, third, fourth or fifth circle, but what good will it do in this world? If he cannot be a mage then he can at least be a good citizen. That’s why I’m enrolling him into a vocational training house starting next year, that’s final.”

Anthony saw his father’s shadow approaching the door, alerting him to quickly hide. He found a nearby table to duck under as he watched his father exit the study that night. When he was safe at a distance he quietly crawled to the library to see his mother. Peaking through the side of the open door he saw his mother sitting in a large chair in the study staring at the fire with her face tucked into her hands. He could hear the small muttering of weeping over the roaring fire, just enough to feel the pain that was resonating in her heart. He thought he might comfort her, but knew he shouldn’t have overheard this conversation.

He retreated back into the halls and quietly stepped away toward his room and back in his soft bed. Covered in his blankets and pale moonlight that was glowing in his room he began to quietly sob. He sobbed all night until tears soaked his pillows, and he fell asleep to the echoes of his father’s words resonating in his head, “he cannot be a mage.” Was it true, was all his training pointless? Did this mean he would never become a mage as he had always dreamt?

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That night was such a near sleepless one for Anthony that when the morning sun dawned he barely found the strength to get out of bed. Instead of heading to the study he headed out to the outdoor to the training area, now empty and cleared out since his sisters had left for their Highest Institute. Master Orion hadn’t even bothered to set up anything since he started teaching Anthony personally, as if he had given up on his awakening even before they started. Now, with this news of vocational training, he doubted he would ever return to magic study.

Pent up with frustration and anger at his ability to perform any magic he began to swing his fists and palms in the air hoping for any sign of fire to form, a spark, an ember, or even a puff of smoke. After many times kicking and punching the air, reaching to the heavens stretching his arms until they practically felt disconnected, nothing happened. In utter exhaustion he kneeled to the ground in utter exhaustion. He wailed and beat the ground, tossing the leaves and grass, until he could move no more. Then all the frustration began to pour from his eyes as a flood of tears ran down his cheeks.

After some more time passed he spent his time sitting on the ground drying his tears. He recalled all the times he watched his sister Helena, waiting and hoping that someday his abilities would awaken. As his tears dried from the midday sun, a shadow appeared covering his eyes as a tall figure stood beside him.

“You missed our lesson today Ant.” His mother loomed over him while holding a large book in her hands.

Anthony didn’t say a word but simply continued to sit with his eyes turned to the ground. Orsa did the same, sitting next to her son with the book in her hand, flipping the pages to the first chapter.

“Fundamentals of Third Circle Pyro-Kinetics, Page 1...” She continued to talk as the sun slowly began to rise to the noon sky.

As she talked Anthony’s head slowly began to lift up every so slightly. Soon, his eyes turned to the book she was reading and then his eyes peered at all the pictures as his mother continued to read them. Later, he even started asking questions and Orsa started answering them, referencing each aspect like a well learned teacher. By lunch they had engaged in many discussions about fire magic and its way of learning, and they had almost forgotten that it was time to eat. Then they returned to the Library to study more texts and manuals, until Orsa was practically teaching him everything she knew. That day was the start of Anthony’s training for enlightenment, it was also the day that his mother became his new private teacher.

Although he did have to attend public school to learn to read and write and learn basic trades that could help him fit into imperial society, every day after school he would study with his mother of the magical arts. They covered 4th and 5th circle magical techniques, with weekly quizzes and tests. All these examinations he was able to pass with flying colors by the time he was 13 years of age, an adult in Imperial Society, he felt ready to go into the world. Although he had no magic, his near eidetic memory of magic related terminology, study, as well as recommendation from his mother, his accomplished scholaristics got him a job at the National Archives.

The Neoptolemus Imperial Archives was a large library of information and antiquity with artifacts and texts that dated back to the Second Era. It was a highly prestigious position but often considered practically irrelevant unless searching for military related strategies, precedents or other documents that might be of use for magical strategy or use. To be a worker at the archives mostly involved running around large buildings for anyone who asked. Because of Anthony’s unique position in the hierarchy of non-mages he was assigned to back storage, or what was commonly referred to as the catacombs.

“Make sure to dust the shelves and sweep the floors at least once a week.” The head Librarian said using a handkerchief to cover his face from his allergies. “Also, familiarize yourself with the books in this area, in case somebody asks for something. Other than that, I’ll expect progress to report on a monthly basis cataloging any change in activity and inventory every year to make sure that none of the inventory is missing. You got that, kid?”

He headed toward the door leaving Anthony alone in the tomb-like building structure illuminated by state of the art light stones that decorated every corner of the shelves. Anthony quickly turned around to catch his attention, just before he reached the exit.

“Wait, where do I find the cleaning supplies?”

“Beats me, kid. I don’t even know what happened to the last kid they got to work here, but tell me if you find him when you’re done cleaning the shelves.” He laughed as he closed the door behind him.

He didn’t see why he had such a sense of humor, but considering the state of this area he wouldn’t be surprised to find a human corpse in here. The shelves were dusty, the books were not even in order, and aside from lights in this area there were hardly any signs of life at all.

“Well, mountains don’t move themselves.” He clapped his hands together and coughed, having accidentally kicked up some dust in the room.

The task of finding the cleaning supplies was easy enough, they were in an unmarked closet but in practically as bad shape as the building. He was not discouraged, but instead went right to his work dusting and sweeping and making sure not a speck of dust was spotted in a single section of the archives. It would be weeks, maybe months before he got to the rest but for now just one area was enough. Tomorrow, he thought of borrowing some cleaning supplies from Lulu and Lolo, if they didn’t mind, maybe a mask to help with the rising dust in the air. However, before the day was over, he thought it might be best to at least organize the shelves a little.

All the books were severely out of order, practically mixed together like package paper with shelves practically brimming with random archives. It was one of these books he found that had a very interesting title once he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe off the title.

“Fundamentals of Aqua-Kinetics? Why would this be here?”

Anthony remembered his father had written analysis reports of Water Magic before, but never knew such manuals existed in the capital. All of these documents reference personal or second hand experiences, but never relied on first accounts like these. It’s possible that somebody acquired this text in the process of studying the arts themselves, but either forgot about it or considered it irrelevant in terms of a combat reference. If this was the case, there was no telling what elements or information in the book he might find.

When he was finished rearranging the shelves, he stored this water mage book in the broom closet with his cleaning supplies. There it would sit until the following morning where he would return with more cleaning supplies and a new attitude. During his mission of cleaning and searching the shelves he could start reading this book, along with several others he found in the principles of Earth and Wind. These so-called catacombs seemed to vibrate with new life as he slowly turned it into a proper library with him as its new librarian.