Book 1: Chapter 3

Where am I? Cyil stretched out his arm towards the rocky darkness above.

This must be a cave, he thought. Shadows danced on the jagged walls as candles flickered all around him.

What am I doing here?

Trying to get up, Cyil found that he was completely naked and that his body felt foreign. It took him a moment to command his body to move. Cyil sat up and thought back to his last memory. He was standing in front of commander Agedilio and then his dad was coming home. Coming home.

Cyil froze and grabbed at his head. “My dad is dead. He is gone… but but mother said it’s very safe at the borders and that the dark ones haven’t attacked in years!”

Cyil sat there for a moment then shook his head.

“I don’t even remember him much. I need to comfort mother. She must be really sad.”

Cyil stood up and found that his head was close to touching the ceiling of the cave.

A voice then pierced through the darkness., startling him. “Well well. Awake at last! You slept quite nicely, eh?"

“Who?” Cyil swirled around while trying to find the source.

“Your body is even stronger than a bison’s, not to mention someone who has been asleep for five years. Aye that makes me jealous. So jealous.”

Cyil scooped up a candle and waved it in front of him in a threatening manner. “Who are you? Where am I? Where is my mother?”

“Boy,” the voice drawled, “I am your saviour. You would be dead now if not for me!”

Stepping out of thin air, an old man appeared right in front of Cyil’s face.

“Ah!” Cyil stumbled back and landed on his butt.

“Surprised?” The old man chuckled. “Kid, listen closely to what I have to say. I know you have many questions and they will be answered shortly so don’t interrupt me. First, I mean you no harm. I could have left you to die but instead I saved you. I even gave up my left arm to save you. Look.”

The old man slightly turned his body towards the light and Cyil’s eyes followed the loose dangling sleeve swinging back and forth.

Cyil gulped and the old man continued: “Second, you have been sleeping for five years. If I am correct you should be around 16 years old now, but your mind is still that of an 11 year old. This is perhaps the only downside to your awakening and something I can not fix. I can only hope to temper your personality and give you the means to protect yourself through training in magic!”

“Third,”

“-Magic?!” Cyil stood up and excitedly rush towards the old man. “Do you know magic, elder? You said I can learn magic?”

“Hey hey I said not to interrupt me you little brat.” The old man stopped and looked at the enthusiastic boy in front of him. Seeing that the boy was listening and keeping quiet, he continued.

“Third, if you want to learn magic from me you cannot stop midway and you must start right away because I’ve already been in one spot for too long. That means no visiting that mother of yours you keep murmuring about. Also, if you are not hardworking or if you have no talent then I will stop teaching you.”

“Fourth, if you learn magic from me, you must vow never to kill anything that has a soul. Should you break this vow, then I will personally come to end you!”

Glaring into Cyil’s eyes the old man released an ominus pressure that shook Cyil’s core.

Despite the pressure, Cyil only grimaced and continued to stare into the old man’s eyes.

“Good, it seems your willpower is the real deal. Now for the last thing. If you ever become a rank 8 Mage then you must come find me at the highest point in this continent. You’ll naturally know where that place is if you’ve reached that level of power.”

“....”

“....”

“Ahem, you may now ask any questions you still have.”

“Elder! Are you a mage?!”

“Of course! You’re not too bright, are you. How else would I be able to teach you magic?”

“Will you really teach me magic? Mom told me that only people who can communicate with the elements can learn magic! Like like having an elemental body! I don’t have an elemental body at all. They are so rare. Mom says so.”

Scratching his head, the old man sighed, “You’re right. Elemental bodies are incredible rare. Usually, the appearance of an elemental body is only 1 in 10,000. And there are varying grades of elemental bodies too. Low-grade, meaning their connection to their respective element is barely enough for them to be able to use magic. This is the most common grade of elemental body among all wizard. Following that is the more uncommon medium-grade, the rare high-grade, and then the rumored perfect elemental body.”

“In all my years of living I have only met three existence with a perfect elemental body. They were terrifying entities. As for high-grade elemental bodies, there are probably less than 100 living in this continent. They are powerful rulers. In fact, four of your seven kings have high-grade elemental bodies.”

The old man paused briefly with a longing look in his eyes. “Many say that elemental bodies are because of bloodlines so they would only marry others with strong elemental bodies. Even if they don’t want to…”

Seeing that the old man had become silent Cyil spoke up again. “Elder, what grade elemental body do you have? And element! What’s your element?”

“Ah” snapping out of his thoughts the old man felt embarrassed for showing such a state to the boy.

“I of course have only the best of the best and am the best of the best!”

Cyil’s eyes glistened as if he were looking at the legendary delicacy called meat! “And and? Which is it elder??”

The old man reveled in Cyil’s eagerness. Then he grinned and answered.