Everything felt hollow. My thoughts, my dreams, my life… the world seemed to lose all meaning.
Days blurred by like the Lightning Rapids river I grew up beside.
One moment, I was sitting in class, trying to ignore the professor’s lecture about how curing M-genesis was the ultimate goal of all magisters, the next I was in bed in my dorm just trying not to think about my parents.
They wouldn’t even get a send off. According to the academy, both their bodies were unrecoverable. It was rare for spell tome hunters to die in combat, but every now and then there was a run in with a magi-beast they just couldn't outrun, or a monster too big to beat.
My parents were together though, and they were both strong magisters. It must’ve been something like the great storm bird, or the mother of beasts… but why them? A beast like that wouldn’t be hiding in some remote ruin; so how did my parents stumble on something so dangerous just hunting for lost tomes?
I needed answers. The truth couldn’t have been as horrible as my nightmares, but knowing that wasn’t enough to stop the horrors invading my mind, and not sleeping only left me with more time to think up darker theories.
Valentina sat beside me on the bed. She didn’t touch me or speak, as we agreed when I let her share my bed rather than rest on the tome pedestal like other normal spell times. That didn’t stop her from humming a gentle melody though.
It was a pleasant sound and it gave me something beside my thoughts to focus on, so I didn’t complain.
It had been a week since I learned of my parents passing. A week since I learned that their debts fell to me; I now owed The Society Of Magical Things the cost of the rental house provided to our family — fourteen magi-points or one hundred forty thousand sparkz. I also owed the cost of two round trip tickets on the adventure since my parents didn’t complete their mission — another three points each, sixty thousand sparkz. Finally, I owed for the reconnaissance, attempted recovery, notice card delivery, and loss of two unique spell tomes. That cost me two hundred forty magi points; I didn’t even want to think of how many sparkz that was. In total, my parents' deaths had set me back two hundred sixty points.
If I followed their path and became a tome hunter, it would take me an estimated thirty-three years to recover that debt, assuming I didn't eat, live anywhere in particular, pay for any advanced spell tome training, or die somehow before the debt was repaid.
I sighed heavily as my head dropped into my hands. I wasn't even old enough to take their place yet, and already half my life was a wash.
Valentina stopped humming. “Can I help?” She asked.
My head ached as if the pressure in my skull was ready to crush me. I groaned and shook my head then winced as a sharp pain stabbed into my skull.
It took all my energy just to force a breath through my chest.
The debt didn’t matter right now. I was never going to pay that back, not unless I got an advanced specialty. What really mattered was finding answers, but that was out of the question too.
Someone knocked on the door. I didn’t even bother getting up to see who it was. There was no one in the whole world I wanted to see or speak to right now.
“Go away,” I grumbled.
“Awe, come on man! Don’t be like that.”
It was Alex…great! I felt my eyes roll at the sound of his voice.
He knocked again. “Open up bro, trust me, this’ll cheer you up for sure.”
I doubted that very much, but knowing he wouldn’t leave, I nodded to Valentina.
She hopped down from the bed, walking over to open the door. As soon as she undid the lock, Alex pushed through, nearly knocking her over.
“Sorry,” he said, “just had to make sure you didn’t change your mind and lock me out.” He glanced from her to me then smiled as he dangled two pieces of holofilm paper—tickets, I realized. Tickets to the magister showdown, a competition open to anyone, but extremely difficult to actually win.
As the door swung closed behind him Alex added, “There’s still a few hours till the main competition starts, but there’s a lot of other events and we can hang out too.”
My eyes drifted back to Valentina as she sat at the foot of the bed, giving Alex an intense stare. She looked as if she might just melt his face with her gaze.
I turned my head to Alex as I asked, “Why? How did you even get those?”
Alex frowned, seeming genuinely hurt by the question. He pressed a hand over his chest then sighed, saying, “Bro, I was just going to come and keep you company since you're going through some shit and you've seemed really down. But if you don’t want to go, I won’t force you.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that, but those have been sold out for months, and even if you’d been keeping them in secret, there’s no way some first gen magister could afford tickets to—.”
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His face scrunched up like he’d eaten something sour and I knew I’d said something wrong. After a moment he rolled his eyes and answered, “I’m gonna let that slide since I know you’re having a hard time, but you might not want to make assumptions about my family. I’m probably the most sensible Vellden, but the rest, they’re not the kind to be taken lightly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re a natch, so they can’t be the type of snooty high class tightwads that breed idiots like Jyanna.”
He shuddered at my words. “Look, my family is my family. They aren’t your typical perfects, but—” he shook his head. “Dad doesn’t like attention so we keep things quiet. Between you and me though, my inheritance is probably more sparkz than we could spend together in three lifetimes.”
I wasn’t very moved by his words, he was probably just exaggerating.
Continuing on, Alex said, “I don’t know if dad bought the tickets in advance or if he just asked for them today, but what matters is I have them; so are you going or not?”
I looked at Alex as his blue eyes shined with an earnest plea. I took a deep breath, letting it out as slowly as I could then said, “Yea, let's go.”
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Alex seemed right at home in the entertainment square. The way he weaved through the crowd, without disturbing anyone made it seem as if he knew where everyone was going and coming from. His fluid, but confident movements made me feel like a rock, rolling and crashing through the waves of people, bouncing off their bodies.
It didn't take long for us to reach the arena, or to get through the long line to get in. When the ticket agent took Alex’s tickets he seemed stunned, freezing for a moment before bowing and saying, “Lord Vellden, excuse my impertinence. Your viewing box is right this way.” He didn’t even verify Alex's name before leading us inside.
I followed along, completely dumbfounded.
How have I never heard of his family before?
Even if they liked privacy, there was no way they could command so much respect and remain in obscurity.
The view of the arena from our box was the most stunning I'd ever seen, even in a live stream. It was like watching in holo. Everything was so crisp, so real; there was so much depth to the image that it felt like I could walk straight out of the box and onto the arena.
“You sure this is all you want to do?” Alex asked as he sank into a couch.
The box was furnished with a dozen luxurious seats, three couches, and two tables. Everything was spotless. There was a wet bar and full sized fridge along the back wall, no doubt stocked with all sorts of goodies.
I shrugged and sank down into one of the soft leather seats. “Yea, this is already a lot.” I answered, unable to think of anything else.
I felt so out of place and uncomfortable. It didn’t help that my best friend was apparently some kind of magi royalty. He didn’t look or act the part, but after this, there could be no denying it.
The lights dimmed as a woman's voice echoed all around. “Welcome patrons. Would you like a drink, or some refreshments? Our full menu of delicacies are available. You are welcome to request whatever you'd like to make your time with us a pleasant experience, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
“Nothing,” Alex said, “don’t bother us again please.”
He sighed as he turned back to me. I tried to hide my surprise as I wondered why he seemed so bothered by the automation. I assumed it was just one of his quirks, or maybe it had something to do with his spell tome.
Has he developed an aversion to all magical constructs?
Alex smiled at me then he sighed, looking out on the arena. After a long moment, he said, “It’s not your fault, you know.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Seth. He died because the magic he used was too powerful, you shouldn’t blame yourself.”
I sighed, closing my eyes as I tried to think. I hadn’t seen Seth in class, but I hadn’t paid attention to it and just assumed he was in the hospital still.
“He really died from his own spell?” I asked.
Alex nodded, looking somber. “Professor Kaylastal said it was bound to happen eventually, Seth was overconfident.
I clenched my jaw as my hand tightened into a fist. It felt as if something were stuck in my chest and it burned like the heat of a thousand suns. My head began to ache and my heart thundered like a stampede of wild magi-beast.
I couldn’t accept the professor’s response.
If he had given Seth some warning, if he had taught Seth more caution, if he had said something different, maybe Seth wouldn't be dead now.
He was entirely too casual about death; no teacher should ever be so unconcerned about student life.
I wanted to be angry. I wanted to throw something at the wall. I wanted to yell, and curse, and shout out everything I hated, everything I wanted to change, but my anger lifted away as warmth wrapped around my neck.
Valentina leaned down over the couch, placing her face against mine and smiling as she whispered, "Don't let your thoughts eat you alive, Dex."
The burning in my chest dissipated. It was like her gentle touch just washed everything away. I leaned into the couch as the pain drained out of me, then I took a long breath.
Calmed, I looked at Alex. “It wasn’t Seth I’ve been upset about, I didn’t even know till you told me just now.” I admitted.
He nodded in understanding, but I felt like I should say more.
Alex had gone out of his way to come and try to cheer me up, the least I could do was tell him what was really bothering me.
“I might have M—”
“If you came to see magisters of the highest caliber battle it out for glory and points, then you came to the right place! Now without further delay, allow us to begin our competition as we showcase a number of spell tome wielding magisters from all across the continent of Syrinthia. Be dazzled and wowed as they display their most unique spells for all your viewing pleasure! No need to hold back your excitement.” The announcer screamed over a roaring audience. “Go wild, go crazy, get pumped up and enjoy the showdown!”
A round of cheering drowned out my voice as the empty arena was flooded in a rainbow of lights. An enormous mountain rose from the ground as a lush and mystical forest sprang up beside it. A winding river flowed down from the peak, separating the forest from a wide arid expanse. The entire arena looked like a slice of a fantasy land. It was stunning.
Magisters teleported into various parts of the arena as a booming voice called, “Let the challenge begin!”