A young Felix sat quietly, perched atop of a large rock. Before him lay a small, nameless village. It was here he called home…
Somewhere behind him his parents toiled away, as they put it. They, along with most of the village, were doing everything they could to save their latest crops.
It would be all for naught.
A miasma surrounded them, it permeated the earth and sky. It corrupted and destroyed the life energy that the soil so desperately needed. Crop failure wasn’t the only effect of the miasma.
Disease.
Disease spread throughout the human held lands. It alone had been responsible for the collapse of numerous kingdoms in the years since the fall of the First Empire. In fact, many believed the miasma to be the last act of the Empire, done with the intention of making all of humanity share in its downfall.
But, for young Felix, none of that was on his mind. Instead, he was secretly practicing something. Something that he only recently discovered. Something that was uniquely his.
Magic.
Small stones floated and danced around him as he hummed a tune. The song was an old lullaby, one his mother used to sing to him. It held nothing special save for sentimental value, it was his voice that gave it power…
“Felix!” a familiar voice called out, startling him.
The rocks fell to the ground as he looked up and smiled. His friend, Floriana, was rushing up the small hill upon where he sat.
“Floriana!” he called back, hopping off the large stone. “Finished with your chores?!”
“Yeah,” she answered as she came to a stop next to him. “What about you? I thought you were supposed to be helping your parents?”
Felix awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “Y-yeah… About that–”
“WHERE THE HELLS ARE YOU AT BOY?! YOU BEST GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!”
“Uh-oh, looks like someone is in trouble.” Floriana gave him a taunting smirk.
He ignored her jest and quickly made his way over to a basket that leaned up against his former stone perch.
“I’ll have to play later!” he shouted as he began to take off.
“Bye! Try not to get your ass whooped!”
He rolled his eyes before glancing at his empty basket. “I’ll try!”
He darted down a small side path that led through his family's fields. Most of them were barren, not worth attempting to plant anything in them. The miasma had destroyed much of the land and they only had a small section that could reliably grow crops.
“FELIX! WHERE ARE YOU–” his father yelled again, this time sounding much closer.
“I’M HERE, DAD!” He crested another small hill and came to a skidding halt. His father was standing just on the other side, his arms crossed and looking quite angry.
“WHERE–” His father caught himself and took a deep breath. When he spoke next it was much softer, yet the anger was still evident within his tone. “Where have you been?! Your mother and I have been waiting for well over an hour.”
Felix gulped, his dad typically was a quiet man and it took a lot to get him upset. In other words, he was in deep trouble. It would only compound once it came to light he had failed to do the one thing asked of him.
“Dad– Father… I-I’m sorry–”
“For what?”
He held out the empty basket nervously, there would be no point in lying or hiding the truth here. His father had an impeccable sense at detecting his lies.
With another deep breath, the man closed his eyes and muttered a prayer. After another second he finally spoke once more. “Felix, my son, what were you doing? Slacking off and playing with Floriana? Tell me the truth.”
But Felix quickly shook his head. “No! I was going to gather some berries from the river, like you asked, but…”
“But?”
He fidgeted under the gaze of his father. “Can you promise not to tell anyone?” he muttered quietly, fearful about what he was about to say.
His father kneeled before him and looked him straight in the eye. “Felix, what’s wrong?”
But Felix held his ground and looked into the man’s eyes. “You have to promise first…”
They stared at each other for several long moments before his father finally nodded. “I promise.”
Relieved, he began to explain. “Remember when I had that night terror? The one from a few weeks ago?”
“I do, but what does that have to do with you failing my simple request?” The way his father spoke made it clear that this better have a point.
“I-I’m getting to that, dad! Just… Just let me explain, please?”
“Go on then, I’m listening.”
“That night, I didn’t tell you the full dream I had. I was being chased by a monster, but that wasn’t all. I heard something, a voice singing to me. It guided me to safety.”
“Okay, and then what happened?” His father sounded interested, a good sign as far as Felix was concerned.
“I stood there in the middle of a field. The voice sounded like it was coming from everywhere and then it stopped.”
“Stopped?”
“Yeah! It stopped and the monster suddenly appeared again! I called out, hoping it would respond and sing once more. But, it didn’t! Instead, it told me…” He trailed off, the strange dream coming back to him in full.
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“What did it say?”
“It said… It told me… To sing for myself…” Felix was back in the dream, remembering the exact feeling he had when he first attempted to sing the voice’s song.
As he relived the dream, the wind began to blow and the loose gravel at his feet began to vibrate. Meanwhile, his father, shocked, nearly fell backwards.
“Felix! W-what is happening?!”
“Magic, dad. I learned magic.” With a gesture, the gravel began to dance around him. “Huh, I don’t have to sing or hum,” he thought out loud. “I just have to guide it.”
Felix brought his attention back to his father and smiled at the stunned expression. “Dad, I didn’t go get the berries because I wanted to practice. I lost track of time…”
He ceased the flow of mana and the gravel fell to the ground unceremoniously. “I’m sorry.”
“Gods… Felix, I don’t know what to say. Magic… Such a rarity these days–” His father stopped as his eyes widened. “Can you repair the ground? Can you fix it?”
But he grimaced. “I’ve tried but…” He trailed off as another, more recent memory came to mind. He began to tremble as he felt something that could only be described as cold.
“Dad… Dad, I think the ground is dead.”
His father let out a deep sigh but quickly pulled Felix into a hug. “It’s okay, I’m sorry I asked you…”
They stayed like that until he finally stopped trembling. Afterwards, they parted and looked toward the direction of home.
“Come, your mother is probably now worried sick about the both of us,” his father said.
Felix gave him a grim nod. “You're not going to tell her, are you?”
“I don’t know. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone, but Felix? Do you know how special you are?”
“Sort of? I’ve heard stories from some of the travelers… They said mages often get taken…or killed.”
His father winced. “That… I’ve heard that too, but son? Mages are rare in our age. It’s said everyone could use some magic in the past, but those days are long gone.
“Your…gift is something that needs to be properly nurtured. With your permission, I’d like to discuss things with your mother.”
Felix considered his father’s words before giving a slow nod.
“Very well– Oh, I almost forgot… I forgive you for returning empty handed. Now, I just need to get your mother to understand.” The older man shivered at the thought.
“I guess I could show her too.”
“That might be necessary, for both of our sake…”
***
Felix watched from a distance as a large group of horses and men began a slow and disorganized approach towards his village. Even as far as he was from them, he could easily make out the glint of steel…
“Who do you think they are?” Floriana asked from right next to him. It was mid morning and the two of them were out playing in the fields.
“I don’t know, but…” A shiver ran down his spine and for a brief moment, he thought he was being watched. “But I don’t like it.”
He turned towards the village, gesturing for his friend to follow. “Come on, let’s go warn the others.”
She gave him a nod and the two of them set off at a dead run, soon it turned into a race. They dashed across the grassless fields, over rocks and a small creek. They hit the dirt road and dashed onward to their little community.
However, as they approached the village they began to slow down. The villagers were already gathering and their expressions were a mixture of concern and anger.
“Well,” Felix started as they came to a walking pace, “looks like we don’t have to worry about warning them.”
“Yeah… But, I still want to know what’s going on,” Floriana said.
“Me too.” However, deep down, he wondered if this had anything to do with him.
“Felix, Floriana!” his father called out as the two of them made it to the group. A moment later, he came to stand before them.
“Dad! What’s going–” He tried to ask what was happening but his father cut him off.
“Take Floriana and go to the tavern. Miss Nona will take care of you.”
“But–”
“Now!”
Felix gulped as his father’s expression hardened. “O-okay, dad…” He grabbed Floriana’s hand without warning, surprising her.
“Hey wait!” Floriana shouted, trying to break his grip.
But he wasn’t listening, he was getting another feeling…
Practically dragging his friend, he set off deeper into the village. As he did so, his father called out one last time to him. It would be the last thing he would ever say to his son.
“Stay out of sight! And if something happens, run!”
Felix furrowed his brow and picked up his pace, even Floriana was starting to understand and stopped fighting him.
“Felix… W-what is happening?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve never seen my father like that! Whatever it is, it’s bad.”
The two of them came to a stop next to the tavern, ironically the furthest building away from the road. Normally, it would have a few people gathered around at all times but, with everyone near the front of the village, it felt desolate and eerie.
The door suddenly flew open and Floriana’s mother burst forth from inside. The woman was the owner of the tavern and she quickly grabbed them and hustled them into its interior.
“Floriana! I’m so glad you're alright!” The lady shouted, wrapping her daughter in a hug.
“What’s going on, mama? No one would tell us–”
“Shh, don’t worry about it sweety…” She gave her daughter a smile but it was clearly forced, and before Floriana could push the issue Miss Nona turned her attention to Felix. “And it’s good to see you again!”
“Likewise, Miss Nona,” he said.
“Anyway, come you two. We are to hide in the cellar…”
Miss Nona started pushing them towards the kitchen, but a thought occurred to Felix.
“Wait, if those are bad people…and they do bad things, wouldn’t they think to check the cellar?”
“Ah, Felix. Smart boy… But, there is something you don’t know.” Floriana’s mother put on a real smile. “This place has a few secrets of its own.”
She did not elaborate and instead continued to usher them into the kitchen. There, near the far corner, was the cellar door. It was already open with a lantern sitting next to it.
They quickly made their way down an old rickety ladder and Felix, having never been down here, took in the room.
The cellar was cramped with barrels and crates of all types. Most looked like they had been down there for a long time but a few looked newer.
“This way,” Miss Nona said as she closed the hatch and gestured towards one of the walls.
“Where are we going?” he questioned. There was nothing to indicate a hiding place, save for the barrels and crates.
But Floriana’s mother made her way to the wall in question and put an open hand against it. She began to mutter and then the wall started to shimmer.
Felix gasped while Floriana merely rolled her eyes.
“Mama, stop showing off!” his friend said, annoyed.
“Sweety, I’m not showing off. I’m–”
She stopped mid sentence and furrowed her brow. “We have to hurry!” Miss Nona turned back towards the wall and continued her muttering.
With an unceremonious pop, the wall disappeared. Now, a small tunnel revealed itself.
Before Felix could process what was happening, Floriana’s mother grabbed a hold of him and her daughter.
“Go and follow the tunnel! I will seal it up and make sure no one follows!”
Floriana’s expression fell. “But mama… Aren’t you coming with us?”
Again, Miss Nona gave them a strained smile. “No, sweety. I have to stay and help.”
“But–”
The two of them were thrown into the tunnel.
Stunned, Felix took a moment to shake his head before looking up. Floriana’s mother had tears coming down her cheeks.
“Felix, please take care of her.”
The wall reappeared.