“Mama…”
Felix winced as Floriana sniffled from behind him. She was absolutely terrified and he couldn’t blame her. He was just as scared, if not more so. Not to mention, his parents were out there too.
But dad can take care of himself. He can take care of mom and Miss Nona. He can take care of the entire village! He felt almost assured that, so long his dad was around, nothing terrible would ever happen.
It was those thoughts that carried him forward through the dark tunnel while Floriana gripped his hand tight. But, just as they were coming towards the end, the ground above them rumbled and dirt fell upon them.
“FELIX!” his friend screamed, suddenly clutching his entire arm.
“Calm down! Calm down… I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere,” he said, awkwardly bringing her in for a hug. Meanwhile, his stomach churned. He wanted nothing more than to hug his own father. He wanted to be told everything is fine.
But nothing was fine.
It was just him and Floriana. Two children in a secret tunnel, a secret tunnel that went somewhere.
I have to be strong. Dad clearly wanted me to protect her, Felix thought, glancing at the young girl cowering in his arms.
He closed his eyes and began to hum softly while reaching deep within himself.
“F-Felix? What are you doing?” his friend asked.
“Humming. Now let me continue,” he said, pausing for a moment. Again, he started his song up once more.
Something began to bubble up from his core, from his soul. It felt calming, almost soothing, and soon, it had reached his chest. From there it came like a tidal wave, washing over his entire body. He let it.
The air around him and Floriana began to reverberate with each note, and they both began to fall under his spell. Their nerves calmed and their stomachs settled.
He slowly stopped his song and looked back at her. Floriana had a shocked look on her face.
“I didn’t know you knew magic!”
He smiled, “And I didn’t know your mother knew magic– Actually, does that mean you can use magic too?”
She frowned and looked away. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Oh–”
“But I haven’t given up yet! My mom said it could take years! And I’ve been practicing real hard!”
He chuckled, glad to see she was back to her normal self.
“What’s so funny? You think I’m joking?!”
“No! I was just thinking–” Felix stopped himself.
“What?” she pushed, getting in his face.
“It’s nothing!” Embarrassed, he quickly pulled away. Thank the Gods that it's pretty dark in here! “Let’s go already… I think we’re nearly to the end.”
Before Floriana could respond he started moving, forcing her to catch up.
“Wait! Felix! How do you know we are almost out of here?” she asked, once again grabbing his hand.
His cheeks flushed even more. “W-well,” he stammered, “I don’t really know. But I once heard an old miner talk about feeling wind in a cave. Said that’s how you can find the exit.”
“And can you?”
He nodded. “Yep!”
“Huh, funny… I can’t feel anything.”
That’s strange–
Without warning, he stumbled out into open sunlight. Behind him and Floriana was just a simple hill and smoke in the distance. However, Felix was too busy staring at what was in front of him to notice any of that.
“Felix? Felix, what’s–” Floriana’s voice died in her throat.
Before them was a group of horse mounted soldiers.
“Looks like that old hag was right,” one of them said, his horse trotting up. He looked down at the two kids who were too terrified to move.
“Which one of you is the mage?”
The world froze for Felix. How does he know? How could he have figured it out?! Did mom or dad break their promise? He had no idea, and worse he needed to say something fast…
“I am!” Floriana shouted, quickly bringing him back to reality.
The man laughed. “Are you now? We’ll see about that.”
He held up a hand and Felix could feel the air begin tugging at him.
“Tell me girl, what do you see?”
“Mana,” she said confidently, but Felix's eyes widened in realization.
There was nothing in the man’s hand.
The air, the mana was flowing all around them. The man had tricked her.
“I see.” The man got off of his horse and approached.
She’s in danger! Felix swallowed and suddenly pushed Floriana out of the way. “RUN!”
But it was already too late.
In a flash, a single instant, a bolt of pure energy flew at the girl. The air buzzed and hummed as it streaked by.
A single blood-curdling scream could be heard.
----------------------------------------
“Your Holiness, I mean no disrespect but are we sure we have the time for this detour? We’ve gone quite far–”
A man dressed in robes raised a halting hand. “Enough, Brother. I am aware of how far we’ve gone. But this detour is necessary.”
The other man bowed but his Holiness was not done. “I have spoken with the Lord and he is guiding me, he is guiding us. We are exactly where we should be.”
“Then may the Lord protect and guide us safely,” the man said before disappearing.
Finally alone, his Holiness turned toward the path ahead of him, a column of men marching past. In the distance a plume of smoke rose over the hills.
Soon…
----------------------------------------
Felix was numb, his vision blurred by the never ending stream of tears. All he could do was cry, cry and scream.
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The air was charged with mana and reeked with murderous intent. All around him, parts of bodies littered the landscape. The soldiers had made a terrible mistake and now they were gone.
But Felix did not know what happened nor did he care. His attention focused only on Floriana’s motionless body.
Miss Nona’s words echoed endlessly in his mind. Take care of her…
He balled his fists and screamed, mana bursting forth from him and ripping to shreds everything that wasn’t him or his friend. He poured all his grief into his mana, he poured all his anger as well.
Soon, nothing was left.
He slumped to the cold, dead ground and sobbed anew.
“Mom… Dad… What do I do?!”
Silence.
Felix reached with a shaky hand towards Floriana and grasped one of her’s. Already, it was as cold as the earth.
“Please… Come back…”
Silence.
He looked up to the sky.
“BRING HER BACK!” he screamed once more.
Silence.
“TAKE ME! BRING HER BACK!”
“That is no way to speak to the Lord, child.”
Without thinking, Felix tried to flare his mana again. However, nothing happened.
The sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention and he slowly turned his head in their direction. There, approaching on foot, was a robed man.
“The Lord is always watching, child. But, he is also understanding and quick to forgive. Alas, he has been watching over you.”
“Then…please bring her back,” Felix said curtly.
But the robed man shook his head. “Unfortunately, that is not how it works–”
“THEN GO AWAY!”
“I understand that you are grieving. But, child? I have come to help.”
He turned away from the man, clutching Floriana’s hand ever tighter.
“That girl, was she special to you?”
Felix did not respond.
“I see, you wish to bring her back?”
He scooted closer to Floriana’s body.
“Child, what if I told you I could teach you how?”
That caused Felix to freeze before slowly turning his head. ”How?” he asked.
The robed man smiled and offered a hand. “Come with me and I will show you.”
“Who are you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Dropping his hand, the man gave a polite bow. “Ah, my apologies. I am Father Gabriel, The High Prophet. I am the Lord’s vessel and he has guided me here. He knows all about your strife.”
“Oh yeah? Then what’s my name?”
“Felix, a young mage who has recently discovered how to control his mana. Your village was attacked by a marauding band of soldiers, ones that were swayed by the fay and murdered their commander–”
Felix cut him off. “They knew I was a mage.”
Father Gabriel nodded. “Indeed, you were not as secretive with your training as you thought. You were sold out by one of your villagers.”
He felt his rage flare once more.
“Calm yourself, child. They are now with the Lord and he will see to their punishment.”
“My mom and dad? Are they…”
The robed man turned solemn. “I’m afraid they are no longer with us. But the Lord–”
“Can I bring them back?”
“In time, the ritual is not an easy one and it requires–”
“But you will teach me?”
Father Gabriel’s smile returned. “I will.”
“Do you swear it?”
“With the Lord as my witness, I swear to teach you.”
The mana in the air stirred once more, a contract was formed.
Slowly, Felix got to his feet. “Then let’s start right now.”
The High Prophet chuckled. “Child, there is much to learn. And,” he gestured to Floriana’s body, “she deserves to be buried.”
“Why? We’re going to bring her back.”
“That is not how it works. But her soul will rest easy if you bury her, at least until you are ready.”
“How long will that take?”
“That…is up to you.”
Felix didn’t like that answer but he saw no other choice. Reaching down, he struggled with Floriana’s body.
“Do you require assistance?” Father Gabriel asked, coming closer.
He shook his head no and continued in his struggles until he finally picked her up.
“Good, now we shall go back to the village. We will bury her next to her mother, and you can say your final goodbyes. Tomorrow, we leave for your new home.”
The boy– No, the young man nodded and glanced down at his friend.
I promise I will bring you back. I promise I will protect you. I promise…
***
“Where are we heading?” Felix asked. It had been several days since he buried Floriana and left the village. And now, he and Father Gabriel were in a carriage heading…somewhere.
“Child, you have asked that question three times today alone.”
He shrugged. “And you won't tell me.”
“That is not true, the Lord knows it too. We are going to the Heartland.”
“Yeah… But where is that?”
Father Gabriel considered the question. “I suppose that will require a history lesson… But, to put it simply, the Heartland is the area around the old Empire’s capital.”
“Empire?”
“Yes. Centuries ago, there was Elmorra or as it was more commonly known, the First Empire.”
Felix perked up at that. “Oh, I’ve heard stories about it! It fell and released the miasma–”
“That’s not quite accurate. The Empire fell because of the curse or miasma, as you call it.”
“Oh… I kinda wondered about that actually. What caused the miasma?”
“Curse,” Father Gabriel said in an attempt to correct him. “And that is a great mystery, even for me. I do have my suspicions though…”
Felix didn’t catch that last part. “This Lord doesn’t know?”
“The Lord only returned after the curse was placed.”
“I see…” Felix fell silent at that, unsure where to go with the conversation. Unfortunately, the reason he kept bothering the High Prophet was because he was trying to distract himself.
Every quiet moment, he was brought back to staring down at Floriana’s lifeless body. Every second he wasn’t distracted, he kept remembering the sight of his village burned to the ground…
“What is wrong, child?” The High Prophet asked.
“What will happen to me? You said you were taking me to my new home, but where is that?”
“Ah, I understand now… Do not fret, Felix. You aren’t going to be sleeping out in the cold. In fact, you have some family within the capital itself–”
“I do?!” Felix asked, surprised by that answer.
“Yes, an uncle and his wife. They will be thrilled to know you are still alive, and they will take care of you. But, if for some reason that does not work out, I will have you stay within the grand palace.”
Grand palace? He looked up to Father Gabriel, the man didn’t strike him as a noble. However, the news of this uncle overrode his curiosity.
“Is it…” He stopped and thought about it. He knew he had an uncle, had even met him once, but that was several years ago… What’s his name again?
The High Prophet seemed to be able to read his mind. “Your uncle’s name is Marcius.”
“Marcius…” Felix whispered to himself, hoping to not forget the name again.
Father Gabriel continued, “Marcius and his wife have managed to establish themselves quite high within our order and for good reason. They have managed to spread the word of our Lord and convert hundreds to our cause. You will do well under his tutelage.”
Felix nodded along, not really understanding what any of that meant. But that was fine with him, his biggest worry was having to become some sort of street urchin, something he had heard from travelers to his village–
Mom… Dad… Floriana… He was struck by the memories once more. The burying of his friend and family, the scent of death, and the feeling of the cold, dead earth underneath him.
I promise I will bring you back. I promise I will protect you. I promise…
I promise I will tell you I like you.
----------------------------------------
Felix blinked away the tears as he looked up to the members of his new family. He could feel them. He could feel their emotions. He could feel the comforting embrace as all three entered and crowded his mind.
He could feel the love and understanding.
He could feel their own sorrow for his pain.
He could feel Zira’s protectiveness.
He could feel Eri’s devotion.
He could feel Kyrith’s kindness.
He could feel his memories returning…