I am waken form the fluffy confines of the lace cursed bed by a knock on door. I push myself up and out of the deep and soft bed that seems to simply wish to swallow my by body into it and suffocate me as a bizarre but effective assassination technique.

I walk up to the door and open it while rubbing the crust form my eyes so I can actually feel awake and aware. Standing in front of me is a young maid with some clothes in her arms. Her eyes are on my chest and scan up my body, inspecting it as a piece of meat while a deep blush fills her face, “A-Are you H-Hero Mercer?” I nod as I oddly enjoy the look. I wonder if Cat-kin are naturally vain. I hold out my hand and curl my fingers in a ‘give me’ gesture. She wordlessly places the clothes in my outstretched hand. After the soft, silk like, robes are in my hand I close the door on the maid who bows to keep her eyes off of me while the door closes. Most likely answering the door while shirtless was not a proper display of manners while being a guest in someone’s home.

I walk back to the, fluffy killing machine, bed that they lent to me and sit on it while separating the pieces of clothing so I can actually see what the outfit is.

The color is purple. Purple is alright but velvet blue is my favorite color. A dark, lush, deep blue.

But this robe is a deep royal looking purple that seems to be already fitted to my body. I guess Light and… His son work quickly. I should try to remember his son’s name, especially with what they have done for me. The robes flow down the body as a single piece of cloth that you have to put on my sliding it above and pulling your head though. Also there is a boxer like undergarment added into the little outfit. I change out of my leather like pants and see I have a nebula like colored boxer shorts. Huh, I never did look down there.

I change into the provided boxers and out of a sense of habit, I sniff the old boxers to see if they are still what I would call clean enough to use once more. To my surprise they are. They are scented in fact. The smell evokes the feeling of smallness that the night sky evokes I pick up the leather pants and take a small smell of them. Clean, smells as fresh as a cold, winter night in a forest while stargazing.

Or that is the impression of the leathers that I have. The smell of them reminded me of my most fond memories of the night sky. I breath in the scent of the shirt this time. It smells like the incense that I used to light frequently in my room while trying to sleep. My computer playing music while showing a beautiful animesque painting of a girl looking through a telescope at the night sky.

I put back on the leather pants than I pull the purple robe above my head and push my head through the hole where the head goes. I snake my arms around the insides of the purple robe to actually get them through the arm holes. Then I put on the leather chest piece on top of the robe and feel comfortable. The purple boxers go into a pocket that I found in the purple robes sides.

I move in front of the mirror and slowly turn around, checking myself at each and every angle that I can reliably see. The chest piece looks the same but the leather only went to elbows. The purple robes flow out stopping at my wrist. My chest piece goes down till my hips, letting the purple robe flow down like water, moving with each movement that I make. It looks graceful yet powerful on me. I never had the best dress sense, but this is something I know will draw attention to myself like a nobel or famous model walking down the street. Your attention can not help but be drawn to the almost magical look I now possess.

Maybe I had it before, but was too tired to notice while wearing just the leathers?

There is nothing to cover my face so my eyes, which are harsh slits in the morning light, draw their own sort of attention. Honestly? They look evil and intense. Something a evil antagonist would have to make him more eye popping and attention grabbing. But there is something strange when you combine the effect with my eye color. It looks like looking into some sort of abyss. That same sense of smallness that you get when you gaze into the night sky, and just think about how large those stars that you can see are.

I tear my eyes off myself while pushing down a sense of anxiety and dread as I look at the door. More people. More talking. More being paraded around… But I like being dressed like the center of attention. Contradictory? Yes, but it's human nature. It's unnatural for us to seek a state of utter logic. We are animals, most have forgotten that, but it’s a fact of life.

I walk to the door and the faint sound of the daily shuffle fills my ears even through the door. I gently open it and walk out into the hallway to see the maid who brought me my clothing standing besides the door with her head bowed and stiff bodied, “I am sorry hero. I overstepped my place as a maid.” She bows deeply to me, enough that it makes my back hurt in sympathy for hers.

“You did nothing wrong. I think I am in the wrong for answering in unproper state of dress.” I added a slight pleading tone to my voice, begging for her stand up straight. I am not use to the special treatment nor do I truly wish for it, no matter how enjoyable it might be. But she only raised up while keeping her head bowed to the ground, refusing to look at nothing but my feet.

“I-I’ll serve as your personal maid for the time you are a guest with L-Light trading company.” She grabs the sides of her knee high dress, then lifts in in one of the most graceful movements that I have ever seen. I think I ruined my chance of having anything resembling a normal relation with this girl.

“...Can you guide me to one of the Lights if they are not busy?” She nods. I never even got her name but if feels very awkward to ask it as this stage.

She steps away form the wall beside the door to my room and starts down the hall heading to Light’s son office. I follow her and have to lightly jog to keep up with her form of speed walking. It reminds me of a nurse in a hospital, getting to where they need to be quickly and efficiently.

She stops outside of Light’s son door and knocks a few times, than she announce in a slightly louder voice, loud enough to be heard through the doorway, “Mr. Light, Hero Mercer is coming in.”

She opens the door for me to walk in. So I quietly walk into the office once more and look into the eyes of Light’s son. I look to a chair facing Light’s son to see a back, a head of white, wispy hair that seems to dance in an unseen breeze going through the room, “Ivan, good to see you’re awake and changed into the school robes.” Light’s son lips upturn in a polite smile, “Come meet the headmaster of the best magic school in Mathrell.”

I nod and walk into the room and sit in a spare chair besides the elderly man. I take a quick look over him.

His face is young surprisingly, very few wrinkles form what I can see but he does have very deep laugh lines. His nose is almost hooked, dominating the part of his face that it is taking up but not taking away form his grey eyes that meet mine. The headmaster’s eyes go up and down my body inspecting me in turn. There is a small intensity to his gaze, like a feeling of heavy air coupled with the feeling of charged static.

I feel my heart thump as the static in the air sparks. That same feeling when I healed my hand.

His body is not frail form what little the purple robe is not covering. Tight muscles on his arms while his hands are large and fleshed out to the point it looks like he does, or have some history of extended physical labor. His frame is like mine, something that you would see on a runner who keeps in shape through daily mile long runs, “Very interesting take on our school uniform, Hero of Stele.”

I nod to his statement. His voice is airy. Not deep or high pitch, but something along the line of normal. There is something that I can feel. Almost a physical seastion that I can feel throughout my body that makes it feel charged and alert. The minor exhaustion and lack of coffee swept away as I feel my mind focus on this man. I do not feel in danger, or compelled to follow him but something kindly ask for my attention.

“Larter, do you mind if I test this young hero here? He has no knowledge of magic. The best way I can put myself in his story is being a kind mentor to one of our nations few, young, precious heros.”

“Of course headmaster. I will leave the room, feel free to take as much time as you like.” Later stands form his chair, bows, and leaves the room in a quick pace to match the maid in her rush here.

I watch as Larter leaves the room, closing the door behind him, and leaves me with a complete stranger. He was not much better than a stranger but just anything familiar would be enjoyable in some way.

I look back to the headmaster as a small bud of anxiety blooms in my chest as he stands up. He reaches into his sleeves pulling out a small crystal ball and a small bundle of papers, “May I call you Ivan? I like familiarity among my students.” I nod as I feel some of the anxiety ease back. But it is still there, people put me on edge, “I talked to both of the Lights. Christopher is actually an old friend of mine. He told me of this quiet Cat-kin that claimed to be a hero of Fata Stele, one of the less known and a minor god in the pantheon.”

“I will make the world understand.” I do not know why a\said it outloud, or even at all, but I feel rage. A deep, spiteful rage at the thought of the wonderful, beautiful and kind god being minor. It is not a red burning fury, but one that makes you sit down. Plan. Plan how to dismantle someone's life till they are on the street in rags and begging, than you pass them every day and watch as they starve.

“So you can speak, and such passion in those words! It will do you good with magic. Having a drive, a goal to shape what your magic will be.” He smiles at me. So many grandfather types in this world.

He bends down, showing flexibility usually unseen, normally, in his age. He grabs the orb and put it in my lap before sitting on Larter’s desk. Not in his chair, but literally on the desk, “I’ll cover your first lesson today. We will be testing your raw talent for magic, and any understandings that you might have. First, grab the orb.” I nod and take it in my hands. It feels like a large marble. A smooth glass ball.

“They told me you have no experience in magic. That is a very good thing. The way how we do magic, in the simplest terms, is we force our will on the world. Right now, all you need to worry about is learning how to project your mana out of your body. Any amount of it will be fine.” I nod. I hold the large marble in the air and tilt my head as I feel myself grow less anxious, becoming engrossed in the lecture.

“That orb is something to help beginner spellcasters draw there magic out till they are at a stage here they can do it at will, and even subconsciously. Now close your eyes. I hear it helps most.” I nod once more and close my eyes.

“Now, you were given a gift. What was this gift?”

“A star.” The star that was burned into my chest fills my mind. Everywhere I shift my eyes I simply see the star. Massive, powerful. Full of so much energy that even a dozen suns can not even think of being a fraction as bright, or hold as much powerful inside.

“I hear that is the gift that Stele gives all of her heros. Recently they have been given armour like you are wearing now as well.” I shrug. I have no way to know what she has done. Only that she gave me a part of her. Something so kind, to give something so personal and put your hopes into them so deeply, “Now Ivan. Try to show me the aura of a star. Imagine a small bit of that power, imagine it so vividly as that orb in your hand. Imagine, and make your will real.”

I open my eyes and look at the orb. I picture that large orb a deep violet. I picture the sun spots, the moving plasma of the top layer of the star that you can watch as stardust dance around it. Something so small compared to the mass of the star that it looks like ribbons dancing on the surface of a star. I blink and see that I am not holding a marble but a star. I smile widely as I feel the same thump in my chest as when I healed my finger.

I feel power. I feel her world once more. I feel the embrace of a goddess. I feel powerful. I do not feel afraid of this world. I feel that I can walk out of the room with my head held high. I feel my body lighten as I grow power over it. I look up to the Headmaster who is staring at me with wide eyes. I see the world and know that I have the power to change it to my liking. I smell smoke as the chair I am sitting in starts to smolder from being near a pale and weak imitation of true star. Pathetic. I see the flood boards catch on fire form the equivalent of something less that a ember of a stars might. I feel magic. I have magic. This world is mine, and if it shall not yield I shall destroy it and deny anyone the wonders of my possession.

“Ivan! I want you to stop! You’ll burn this city if you do not stop!” The headmaster steps forward as a curtain of air is dancing around him like a storm. I feel his will around him. That static of an approaching thunderstorm was him. Him pushing his will on this feeble world. I narrow my eyes but restrain myself before I act out harshly. I need him. I have power. But I need to learn how to harvest it before I punish the bastard who called Fata Stele a fucking minor god.

I let go, hesitantly, of the power that I exuded over the area around me. I fall to the floor as the chair I was sitting on falls apart as the supports have melted and the wood catches fire. But they are instantly put out by the Headmaster roaring storm. Just as quick as the winds roared through the room, they quiet and still.

My body grows heavier, back to a sense of normality leaving me itching for the drug that is feeling my body full of magic and mana. It felt so good...It felt like everything that I ever cared for just died. It felt like listening to fire crackle, the rain drip, that feeling of relaxation that you can only have for a moment. That moment of bliss that tells you that you have stroked the cusp of Nirvana but you were not allowed paradise, “Ivan…” I snap my head back up to headmaster once more.

We stare at each other for a moment as the thump, thump, thump, in my chest slowly dies down. I feel hot tears in my eyes as I feel weak, tired, anxious. Caffeine withdrawal that I did not notice waking up become apparent. I feel tears stream down my face at the world besides this man becomes impossible to see as I start to hyperventilate, spiraling into tunnel vision, “Why did you stop me?” I ask him in a quiet, breaking and sobbing voice. I feel so weak and vulnerable.

I feel like I am in a crowd, they are staring at me with so much hate and I just want to hide. He steps closer so I step back I feel by body act on its own. My rational mind not in control. Panic taking over, fear and stress forced to take over my mind, “Ivan. Calm. It is just us. Magic is intense. You have a powerful gift. It is alright. You are safe.” He steps away this time but I feel myself back into a wall and collapse against it. The small marble still in my hand. The interior of it is molten. I feel the heat burning my hand so I throw it in a corner and hold my wrist wishing for the burns to stop hurting.

It hurts, my world is this pain. I feel tears down my face as my body shakes and my mind retreating wanting nothing to do with this world, only wanting my fix of magic, and the ecstasy that it brings. I feel the burns heal as my heart thumps, the star hums, my body shakes, and my minds panic dulls.

I stay curled up against the wall till my body calms. My mind grounded. I look up at the Headmaster as he sits in a seat on the other side of the room just waiting for me to calm down, “Do you have panic attacks often?” I shake my head. They didn't happen much in the later school years, “Alright. You did wonderful Ivan. Coming down from your first mana high is never a good feeling. Many students have panic attacks like you did.”

“Mana high?” I look up at the headmaster and take a look around the room. The area I was seated has burn marks on the floor around it. The chair will need to be scrapped. The large marble is melted form the inside leaving smoldering burns where I threw it.

“Mana is like a drug. It can shatter the will of people with weak minds. You have quite a strong one if you can recover from a mana induced panic attack as quick as you have. You need to use care while wielding mana and shifting the world as we mages do. We simply do not change it but add another layer on top of this world. A temporary but powerful layer that we can make anything happen in if we have proper understanding. Most mages watch nature and copy it but… Heroes are special. They come from different worlds with different understandings. Usually greater.”

He walks up to me slowly. I do not recoil and simply gaze up at him as he takes my hand in his and turn it over, “Did you heal yourself?” I nod, “Good. You have a grasp on how to use your mana inside of your body. Mages do not just sit back and cast fireballs, we often use weapons as well. I’ll teach you this at a later date. You’ll be my prodigy, such will. Such strength. I am not as selfless as the Light’s. I am taking you on to engrave my name in history as a hero’s teacher.” The Headmaster simply grins and claps my shoulder and pulls me onto my feet.

“Will you come with me to the school?” I nod. I have nothing here and Light can visit if he likes.

“We need to repay Larter for what we have done to his study…” I look around. I feel guilty for destroying part of the study of the man who helped me. They welcomed me into their home and I repaid them with breaking a table, traumatizing a maid, and burning his study.

“I will repay them at a later date, young hero. Or, once you start going on missions you can pay them back yourself if you like.” I nod. I don't know what he means by missions but I wish no ill will on these kind people and I refuse to say they got what they deserved. Headmaster opens the door to a empty hall. I fact I hear nothing.

The building is empty? Headmaster simply starts through the halls at a much slowly pace than the maid thankfully. He guides me down the stair cases and out the front of the building. Outside the doors is both of the Light’s looking ever so slightly worried, “S-”

“The young hero here will compensate you for your study Larter. His first mana expulsion test was a bit more powerful than I was expecting for any new hero. I’ll take my leave now, and Christopher. Don't you dare count this as a fucking favor. This was a blessing.” Headmaster gives Light a stink eye. It seems like he might of tried things to get rid of this favor.

“Light...Please visit.” I look to the older man and smile abit. Light ignores the Headmaster and gives me a nod, than a tight hug.

“Be safe, sonny. I’ll come check on you whenever I return to the city and don't be scared to use our name. The Light family is your first backing. Hero needs the support of the people.” I nod trying to keep my smile on my face as I try to ignore the crowd around us. Headmaster starts to walk off to the large inner wall and I hurry to catch up, keeping my head down.

~~~

The walk to the gates was a gradual incline of display of wealth. The marble that the city was made out became hand decorated, starting with a few little, but beautiful display of flowing craftsmanship. By the time the Headmaster and I arrived at the wall each house, store, garden became murals of stone, flowers, and colors.

The homes and stores nearest the wall are covered in beautiful murals of mages wielding swords. A dragon on open fields while a single man holding a orb of light walks to the dragon with detention in his eyes. Many of them titled Hero of some god. Each of them is promorming an amazing act of magic or strength. Most of them against some sort of dragon, large beast, or anything like that. Demon kings being slayed by sword, magic, or just their fist. All of the hero's looking impressive. Elves, humans, dwarves, but none are of the Kin that I think might exist.

“I feel like I am forgetting something…” I say this to myself as we walk through the city turned exhibition.

“What are you forgetting Ivan?” The headmaster spoke up as we stop at a line heading to the inner city. Most are being turned away for some reason. Those that are allowed in are in some sort of robes, beautiful and clean robes that remind me of the ones that we are wearing.

“A purpose in this world…”

“I think I understand you my her- no villain… You're going to walk into the world and make it utterly yours...With me as the goddess of choice?”

Villain? In this world? That is asking for death. But that feeling, that feeling deep down that I want this world in the palm of my hand. I can do that can I not? I have a star...A massive, powerful violet star. It is possible, isn't?

“Do not worry young hero. You do not look for your story. Your story finds you and calls you to action. It is your duty to train so you may survive them and find friends to take on your journey.” He actually lets out a small chuckle.

The line clears quickly as the word Hero was muttered. I think the headmaster is famous because the line clears and we walk up the open gates. The headmaster keeps walking and I follow behind him keeping my head down so I do not meet the gazes of the guards or random people.

On the other side of the gate the roads are much more empty. I quietly thank Stele for remaking my body. I would of collapse of exhaustion trying to walk this city in my old body. My old, weaker, lesser piece of meat that I lived in happily not knowing the wonders of seeing the world oh so clearly as I do now.

Quietly he guides me through the painted streets and walls. Each building could serve as its own landmark but they are much more few. Only mansions and shops dictated to magic. I see herbs, robes, swords, wands, staffs, spears. All expensive looking and made for the people of this district. I stop a few times to look at the growing details in the few buildings. I think I saw only one of a hero of Stele.

It was a grove in a forest of trees so tall that the leaves blended into the night sky. Each tree so massive that five people could not wrap their arms around the base of the trunk. A few elves are looking to the stars with their mouth wide open, in the middle of the act of dancing leading to the idea of singing and dancing under the stars themselves. There eyes do not have color, but simply have the night sky in them. I stood in front of this mural for a few minutes, taking in the detail and reliefs in the stone. I run my hand through the painted grass and feel that they actually sculpted each piece of grass, each star, each leaf.

I tear my eyes off of it and start to walk again while the headmaster waited on me, “Most first time students get drawn into a painting like that. We are close to the school. Please do not mind the other students, they might be a little too sheltered for their own good.” I tilt my head looking at the Headmaster, “This is primarily a human nation. The Light’s are a rare kind that treats all races with equal kindness, it is a smart merchant business. I, and the other teachers will help you as much as we can… But it will not be a kind experience. Please do not judge us based on these children.” The Headmaster lets out a low sigh as he looks to seven towers in the middle of a field. Towers so tall that they dwarf the walls around them.

“It is alright. I think most people are good deep down.” It is something I held to and was happy to make some friends with that belief, “Did Light tell you I was once human? In my old world.”

The Headmaster eyes widen just a bit in shock and shakes his head, “May I ask what caused the change?”

“Fata Stele’s mana poisoned my body. She burnt it and remade it better. I am thankful for her doing it. Being a Cat-kin is a blessing. I can see so well, hear so clearly, the world just smells better.”

“That is interesting young hero. Very… Do you consider yourself a human still?”

“No. Once I have gained this body, I realized I hated being human.”

“It is rare for a god to change someone’s race. Most struggle with it their whole lifes. I am glad you do not have to go through it.” I nod as the marble road that we were walking on becomes much more smooth as we get closer to the towers. I can see people wielding magic, practicing. They are dressed in seven different colors for each tower. I think.

There are people as young as ten I think, wielding minor magic. Sparks, fire, wind, light, darkness. It all dances in their hands.

As the Headmaster walks past they stop what they are doing and bow to him. Older, younger, all doing to the same bow as we walk to the middle tower. My stomach growls and I feel hunger pains drawing my attention to the fact I have no eaten or drank anything since waking up. The Headmaster shakes his head, “You're on those types.”

I tilt my head as he walks through the open doors of the large, middle tower, “You don't eat till you get hungry. It is a bad habit. Young men and women need food to grow up well and strong.” I nod as I look around the first floor of this tower. We walked into a hall with few doors on the sides with words written above the doors but I don't take a the time fully reading them, looking for a cafeteria, “We will have food brought up to my study. I have no had breakfast either. If the Light’s call, you better run.” He chuckles as he guides me to a spiral staircase in the middle of the hall.

The staircase is built around a large, center pillar. He walks up it with his head held high. Anyone that we pass they bow so I do not have to feel their eyes on me. Its enjoyable. Eases my anxiety of my new home...

Once we arrive at the top of the tower after an exhausting climb. No wonder this man is so fit. He climbs these damn stairs a lot.

He guides us to a set of large double doors and opens them to show a large study. Over half of it is made of marble while the other half is wood and filed with bookcases. I watch as he walks to the marble area and claps his hands. A marble stand rises from the ground and a chair rises in front of him for me to sit. So I do, “Marble, send a request to the kitchen for a breakfast for two. One human and one Cat-kin.”

“Understood headmaster. Should I register this cat kin as a new student?”

“Purple rank, teacher will be myself. He is a Hero. Follow any request that he has.”

I stare wide eyed at the headmaster while a voice fills the room. Was that a magic based AI? They can create life?

“Now Ivan, in most of the rooms in all the towers is entity called Marble. It is a spirit that was made to serve us. It replaces most of the functions of servants, while sending request for what we need. Most you need to know is the students and teachers are divided by the color robe they are wearing. Purple means people of interest or royalty. Gold means nobels. The rest are merchant families of degrees, and peasants that got in through hard work and talent.” I nod once more.

“Purple robes can be seen as a source of pride and power. It can be seen as a powerful statement with how you wear yours. Not a good one in many eyes, but a powerful one. What id your goddess worth to you?”

“I shall burn this world to cinders if she asked. I was never special. But now I am. I owe everything to her.” If this shocked him. He did not showed it. Just merely smiled

We sat in a weird silence as we wait for our breakfast. A knock on the door makes me jump so I turn to it to see a girl in a maid outfit carrying two plates of food, “Greeting Headmaster.”

“Good morning Slivy. This is Ivan, the hero of Stele and my new student. He is a Cat-kin and very quiet. I have gotten around 7 sentences out of him since I met him this morning. His first mana expulsion was so powerful and violent that I had to act to protect myself.” He beams at her in a look of pride as I feel my face and ears burn in shame.

“Alright grandfather.” The girl sets a plate in front of me. I take a deep breath in of a mouth watering smell. I dig into the steak like piece of meat in front of me and let out a purr of delight as I quickly eat than lick my fingers clean of the food in front of me. The hunger pains die and I sit up straight, stretching my body out as much as it can testing the limits of my flexibility.

I arch my back, completely arching over the chair so I can look at the wide open double doors to see the girl still standing in the hall holding her sides while trying not laugh out loud, “Grandfather. Strange one you got here. Find him starved on the street meowing for food?” She starts to laugh, collapsing to the ground as I look at her, seeing the world upside down.

“The Light’s are the one who found this stray, and I quote, ‘Found the lad outside a grove sitting in the grass playing with his own tail. Quite an eye catching thing in that armour of his.” I think the Headmaster is the crural type to kill through shame and laughter.

I straighten my back and send a glare at the Headmaster who simply smiles at me, “Better the staff see you in this light Ivan, not a random and quiet beast-kin that holds enough power to make you worthy of my time.”

“I want a hood.”

“Why is that?” The headmaster never drops that smile. Fucking professional troll.

“I do not like crowds. I want to use it to hide form them.” I reach into the layers of clothes that I have on. I do not feel hot or cold in them. I bring my tail into my lap an stroke it slowly. Enjoying the feeling of my fur once more.

“That can be easily arranged. Ivan, do you feel alright enough to continue with your practice?” I nod as my heart thumps in my chest, it screams in joy at the thought of feeling the joy of mana running its course through my body once more, “Alright. I will stay and watch you incase something happens. Sylvia, can you inform my class that we are ready to start?”

:”Yes grandfather. It was nice meeting you Ivan.” I wave to her without turning around as I take a deep breath and feel the thump in my chest once more. I close my eyes and picture the star that I held in my hands, to my chest while the wood around me burned to nothing.

I feel power, utter power, power of an engine of the heavens run though my body. I open my eyes and smile, widely at the beautiful star in my hand. But for some reason it feels lacking. It lacks depth and detail to the star. I looks like a star and I squeeze it in my hand, condensing it, “A core.” That is what it is lacking right now. A dense core where most of the heat and light is held. Everything has a core, and this needs more.

I squeeze it harsher as I watch it grow in brightness banshing any shadows in the room as I feel the fusion happening. I do not know why but I can feel the deep hum of countless atoms in a thick soup of plasma clashing and fusing letting the star ramp in energy. I chuckle, quietly as it feels so much more whole.

I look up to the headmaster and see him watching me while winds quietly dance around me, stealing and cooling the air around me for everyone’s safety.

I with each beat of my heart I feel a wave of power more intense than the last fill the world around me. I feel the world around me become so much more, so much more intense. I let go of the star and let it hang in the air as a bright and new light. Utter wonder fills my mind as I reach at it and bat it around. It feels like playing with a thick liquid that stays in a shape that it likes, “Teacher I- Who is this?” I look at glare at the person who dared interpret my peace.

Standing in the doorway is a boy a year or two younger than myself. The purple robes filling his shoulders out to give him a slightly more impressive and powerful figure. He is not too tall. A few inches shorter than myself and thinner as well. His hair is golden in color. The starlight bounces off of it to make an eye catching display. His face is handsome, I think. His eyes grey.

The thing I hate? The look on his face of contempt and disgust. He is not worthy of my time or attention so I look back to the natural wonder in my hand. Slowly turning the ground under my soft but the marble hardens, repairing itself so it does not sag or burst into flame. I force my will on the star making it expand in size slowly as I am forced to contrate on increasing its size till it is the size of my fist.

“This is Ivan Mercer. Hero of Fata Stele. This is his second time practicing pushing his will on the world. You will respect him as any other hero Brian.” Brian nods while a stone seat rises out of the ground for him to sit in. One like mine. Where did mine go? Well it doesn't matter. I like to stand.

I smile at the star as I feel warmth surround every inch of my being, “Ivan. You are doing wonderful. Just keep focusing on it.” I nod as I start to hum something that comes to mind. A music box that my mother played for me when I was younger but I always butcher it because of how tone deaf that I am.

I let out a deep sigh of relaxation and pleasure. The star breaths with me expelling plasma in ribbons that snake back into it. I take a breath in and watch it shrink slightly, than I breath out and watch it expand, letting out gas that floats in the air. It dies at the wall of wind around me so I frown. How dare it fucking take away my star dust.

I push my will on the star, forcing it to expand till it is the size of my head. It needs currents inside of it. That might be why it is so still. I envision the basic diagram of the interior of a star that is shown in science classes and feel the warmth grow, telling me that I am closer. So much closer. I feel a thump as the star’s surface twist and turns with my heartbeat. More and more matter dances around it as ribbons of divinity. I start to giggle.

A sound of a stomp tears my attention from the star. It starts to die as I look at a girl with matching gold hair as the little shit who looked at me with such eyes of disgust. I glare at the girl with as much venom as I can put into a look and she shrinks back as I cup my star in my hand. I let out a small breath and watch it as it grows once more, “What do you want?”

“For you to introduce yourself!” She stands up a bit firmer and visibly pushes her fear down. I crush the star in my hand and watch as the concept of gravity loses any meaning and the star dust expands into a nebula. A beautiful glowing nebula.

It swirls around me slowly, I center of my magic. So of course it would orbit me, why would it reject? I am it's maker. It’s place it to yield to me, “It is impolite to ask someone’s name without introducing yourself first.” This gold haired brat looks to be my age but honestly I don't care.

“You do not have the stat-”

“I don't care. Be quiet.” I will the star dust to collapse into my hand to from a star once more. The girl tries talking and stepping past the winds around be but is warned by the HEadmaster not to approach as I will the mass to spin, pushing and pushing it down till the glow and warmth of a star fills me once more. I let go of my control and watch as it dies slowly and I feel my body shiver. It tells me it is exhausted. I think I need to stop.

I wipe my face only to notice the sweat plastering my hair. My legs shiver harsh enough to make me stumble and I feel tired. A deep exhaustion only on par I can put it with a heart attack as your body is telling you to fucking rest. I feel the crash as the drug known as mana stops flowing through my system so I start to shake harsher but my mind is slow and tired. Too tired to care about the state my body is in, “Mable. Water. Ivan has been practicing for hours giving us quite a show.”

The blond girl whips her hand making a piece of ice come into existence and hands it to me. I feel my body demand to lie down so I give in and lay on the floor. My hands too shaky to bring the piece of ice to my lips so I close my eyes and pass out from the exhaustion that fills my mind and body.