《The Bones of an empire》Chapter 2
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Gunnar stands in Issac's room, the heavy air surrounding him. A still and unmoving Issac sprawled on the floor. His heart beats faster and faster. He frantically bends down. Turning Issac over, he checks for any injuries, gently trying to wake him up at the same time. Gunnar lets out a loud yell, grabbing Issac in his arms, barging through the house at wind-breaking speeds. Unbothered by the door, he lifts his foot, letting out a loud grunt as he kicks the door with the base of his boot. The door splitters, and crashing with a loud boom, with no time to care for his door, he charges out the doorway. He Looks around the town quickly.
'Where the hell do I go!' Gunnar thinks to himself, frustration building within him. Other townfolks look on in confusion, unable to stop the charging Gunnar. Murmurs and questions echo in the street as Gunnar runs full speed down the beaten path.
"It was only a matter of time before that frail child passed. He could barely move." A voice says in a low voice. "I'm sure he's at ease now." Another voice says as they watch Gunnar runoff in with the child in his arm.
In front of them was a house made of stone and wood, clearly better than other buildings around. Holding Issac in one hand, he bags on the door heavily.
"Lizzie! Lizzie, where are you!" He yells as he thumps harder on the shabby wooden door. Villagers stand by on the sides, watching the large Gunnar in a state of panic.
"I'm coming!" A shrill voice says as the door slowly opens, revealing a small old lady wearing a scruffy and dirty apron.
"Lizz, Please! Help my boy!" He shouts, sweat covering his face. She sighs heavily, glancing over the two.
"Whatever. Bring the damn child inside. BUT WHIPE YOUR DAMN FEET. I JUST SWEPT," Lizzie says in a loud and shrill voice, piercing the ears of those around them. Without another word, she turns around, grumbling in a low murmur. A smile slowly appears on Gunnar's face as he follows Lizzie. "CLOSE THE DOOR, YOU ANIMAL!" She shouts again in an ear-piercing tone.
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Issac lays down on a plain-looking bed. Lizzie looks over him, checking his pulse, breathing, temperature. With each check she did, Gunnar found himself slowly closer to the pair as he peered over her shoulder.
"Is he alright?" He says, startling the focusing Lizzie.
"Shit! Get out. GO, YOU DAMN BEAR, wait in the other room!. you could've given me a damn heart attack!" Lizzie screams, pointing for him to leave the room. The sounds of Gunnar's foot tapping on the floor fills the room. Issac just recovered. He didn't want to lose him now.
"Please be alright," Gunnar says in a low voice, and he begins to lose track of time around him. Had it been minutes? Hours? he had no idea.
"Alright. Get in here," Lizzie says in a frustrated tone. Looking at the door as the lumbering Gunnar walks in.
"Is he okay? He was fine yesterday," He asks in an embarrassed tone, unfitting of his size.
"Gunnar. You and your wife never awakened to any magic, right?" She asks in a serious tone. Look up at his eyes.
"That's right. Both Elain and I don't have any magic," He answers, surprised by her sudden question. Did that have something to do with Issac?.
"Shit, well, your child's not dead, you dumb ass. I don't know how your boy did it at all, but your child managed to awaken some magic. It is odd tho. Magic is typically hereditary, but Issac managed to gain magic and at eight. If that ain't a damn miracle, I don't know what is," She says in a mumble, trying to figure out that situation, racking her brain as she thinks hard.
"Thank you, Lizzie. Not many people would have helped Issac." He says with tear eyes, giving Lizzie an overbearing hug.
"Dad?" Issac says, slowly walking out of the room Lizzie had left him in. His mind foggy, he rubs his forehead, coming to his senses.
"Issac!, you shouldn't be walking around. go back to bed!" Lizzie yells at the child, clearly uneasy on his feet. Awakening was challenging enough on adults and teenagers bodies. She hated to think about how his small body was handling the change.
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"I'm fine, don't worry. My heads just a little dizzy." Issac says, standing tall. Pain in his previous life was on a whole different level. This much was nothing to him.
"Issac, don't be an idiot. Lizzie is a doctor for a reason." Gunnar roars in a loud tone. He wasn't about to let his child kill himself from stupidity. Gunnar looks over Issac. Never before did Issac have so much confidence or aspiration.
'Is this the real Issac?' Gunnar thinks to himself, praying to himself that this was his Issac.
"Little boy. You might have awakened to magic, but your body is probably screaming at you. Sit down" Lizzie speaks in a calm voice, soothing voice, unlike how she talks to Gunnar.
"Magic, so it did work..." Issac says in a low voice, looking down at his hand as he sits on a stool. "How can I learn more about magic?" He hastily says. Lizzie's eyes shudder. How can he be so determined after just awakening? She takes in a deep breath, calming herself down, thinking.
"Gunnar. Could you leave us for a moment while I speak to Issac?" Lizzie says, looking over to Gunnar. Her harsh attitude nowhere to be seen.
"Alright, but keep an eye on that kid. Who knows what he'll do next" Gunnar says, walking out of the small house.
"Issac, I'm not sure what happened to you, but you better not hurt your parents in any way." She says in a stern voice, her eyes narrowing.
"I wouldn't dare to hurt them," Issac says in a low voice. His hair stands on its ends by the sudden change in topic.
"to be honest, it's hard to think of you as Issac. You were a broken child that couldn't do anything for himself, and now your this confident child that has magic?" She says in a deadly serious tone.
"No, no. I don't know what happened, but I wouldn't ever hurt mum and dad. I'll protect them," He says, lying through his teeth about what he knows. His heart racing, and his breathing slowly becoming erratic.
"Fine then. I'll take your word. Now go home. I'm sure you'll survive the walk home," Lizzie says in a low tone, turning her back on the Issac. Townsfolk watch in surprise, the once cripple and damaged somehow walking. His gaze steady, paying no attention to the eyes of the onlookers.
Time passes, and an orange sky now hangs over the village. A large manor stands at the edge of the town. The manor sprawls across a large plot of land, possessing multiple wings. Inside one of the many rooms, a family sits down for dinner. Extravagate artwork lines the walls, murals, statues.
"Father. Did you hear the rumour around town today? The Nix boy was walking around. As if he was never crippled at all. There's even word that he might have awakened to magic," A tall, blonde-haired man says, a curious smirk on his face.
"The Nix child? that kids only eight and bedridden. How did such a kid awaken before even you, Albert? Willow, you are the same age as that child. I expect you to study well and awaken soon as well," A man at the end of the tables says in a stern voice while cutting into a large steak. The room falls silent, only the sound of him cutting his meat audible.
"Yes, father. I'll study hard, so I won't disappoint you further," A small girl with black hair says. Lowering her head, she eats her meal without gazing up. Servants stand silent, arms behind their back, watching the tension in the room thickened. The blonde teenager smirks silently, watching his sister shake, the pressure of her father overwhelming her.
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The Last Science
[This story is on a temporary hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I work in healthcare and unfortunately no longer have the freetime to continue posting on a regular basis. As soon as our workload decreases, I will return. Thanks for reading! 💙] No one ever knows the whole story. Nestled deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, something is emerging. Kept in absolute secrecy, it seeps into a fading town, quietly shared from person to person. For Alden Bensen, a directionless high school graduate, this discovery could mean an escape from his empty existence. To Rachel DuValle, perpetually underestimated and dismissed by the world, magic represents a chance to become something much greater than herself. In the face of an unsuspecting world, their decisions shape the growth of a budding society discovering untold power. This potent force offers anyone the power to change humanity forever—or send it cascading into swift and total annihilation. Want this story in smaller bites? Click here! The Last Science is an ongoing science-fiction / low-fantasy web novel series, focused on the modern world with a twist. New societies bud and grow, but the people who make them up are imperfect and flawed. The story includes elements of mystery, action, crime, interpersonal drama, relationships, philosophy, sociology, politics, and much more, all centered on the perspective characters driving the tale. Each chapter is pretty long (average ~8000 words), so find somewhere comfy to read. Content Warning (by request): This series delves into some topics and situations which may be upsetting for some readers. In American rating parlance, the narrative would be rated PG-13 (except for language), but some have noted the story can get pretty dark on occasion. Please use your best judgment, and don't be afraid to take breaks and come back later. I'll still be here! This story will also be published weekly at my website (https://etzo.li). There will be no differences in content, but slight differences in formatting. Feel free to read at whichever site or app you prefer. If you're enjoying the story, consider dropping me a vote over on Top Web Fiction, or come say hi on Discord. Thanks! Need more to read? Check out my other story, Epilogue — a post-fantasy psychodrama. Now complete! This story is a participant in the Write til the End pledge. It will be completed, no matter the cost.
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