*creak~*

The creaking of the hinge of the shed door seems so harsh this morning. I'm up quite early. The sun has yet to break the night. However, soft light is draped over the ground from above. The Mana Aurora is glowing its gentle colors in the sky. I lay down on the grass and look into the sky. It's so quiet. Today is the day before my grandfather’s funeral. I am uncertain of how I should feel in all honesty. It's an… odd feeling, this sensation I have at this moment.

I don't know how long I've been staring at the gently dancing and twirling lights in the sky but I slowly close my eyes and let the rather… harsh thoughts… dance in their own corrupting manner. I feel like I am to blame. I feel… regret? I feel… sad? I truly don't know. It's just the sort of soft, yet painful, feeling that you can't quite grasp, but it wells up in your chest. It burrows deep. When you focus on it too long… it just brings tears to your eyes and you… just… don't know why.

I let the feelings sink in before letting them go. I don't need these feelings… they hurt too much. I wipe tears from my eyes. I let my hand cover my eyes as I just listen to the silence of the world. I didn't think it would affect me this way, his death. I flop my arm to my side and empty my mind. I let the silence swallow me. It's a peaceful feeling.

I feel something poke my nose. I open my eyes and see an upside down Flara, or rather I'm lying down and she is bending over me. She has a slight grin on her face. She is wearing her hair back and is wearing the red robe my grandfather had made for her. The robe is rather… snug on her, but who am I to complain? These robes have some interesting functions… some are rather… unnecessary.

“Come on we have to get going, it will be a whole day's ride to Karpan City.” She is right, I'm just happy she is coming with me.

Karpan City is the largest city of my family's southern province. It will take a whole day using a magic powered carriage. I don't think people understand how fast a magic carriage can move… looking at them go, all you can see is a blur. The fact that it takes a whole day to get to Karpan is a statement to how large the continent is. Karpan is along the the ocean in the south, it's a large city that thrives from the fishing industry. It also happens to be where most of my family lives.

We will be holding the funeral… or should I call it a ceremony, a service? His body is nonexistent. Well anyway… the funeral service will be held in the temple in Karpan City. The temple is a rather interesting place. It's normally empty on the average day. As a child I used to play there during the annual family gathering at Karpan. To imagine… the place I used to play by myself as a child was built on top of the family catacombs.

Flara helps me to my feet. I brush myself off and make my way to the waiting carriage. Wugo, my grandfather’s henchman, is in the driver’s seat. I suppose he is going to pay his respects. I still don't know what his magic is but I always get a really weird vibe when he is nearby.

Flara and I sit across from each other in the carriage. I hear the axles scream as an intense wind hits the flaps that make them drive. I think Wugo must have quite the capacity for mana if he can pump that much mana into a wind stone. I just hope he is an adequate driver. I've heard stories of people crashing carriages before and I don't care to experience it myself.

The carriage tears out of the front gate of the academy and onto the main road. I watch people jump out of the way of our carriage and curse. Carriages aren't really common. You either have to be a noble or a wealthy merchant to own one. So most of the populous that live within the city all walk.

On the way out of the city we passed several people pulling carts or walking towards the city walls. Now it's just blurred shades of green. I look at Flara. She is… already asleep. Her head is against one of carriage windows. She looks so small. I wipe some drool dripping from the side of her mouth. I slide myself next to her and place her head on my shoulder.

I continue to stare out a window. I watch as blurry figures drift by. I close my eyes and listen to the thumping of the wheels of the carriage.

***

I wake to sound of Flara’s subtle snoring. She is smiling in her sleep and it's quite hilarious. I can’t help but try to swallow my laughter but I can't hold it down. I cover my loud mouth with my hand. Flara slow opens her eyes and stares at me for a second. She then realizes i was laughing at her and starts beating on me. “Jerk, what are you laughing at!” She yells as she curls her lower lip. Her hits are actually quite soft. I laugh harder.

*shunk*

A little window open behind us that is behind the driver's seat. I think we might have pissed off Wugo. “Young master, miss… please don’t do such things during the ride you might tip the whole carriage.” Wugo turns his head so we can see a single eye through the window, he winks, then he shuts it quickly.

We are now sitting her in silence as a shade of red is creeping up our faces… how embarrassing. Definitely one of my grandfather’s subordinates… a pervert to the core they all are.

I let loose a sigh before turning to look out of one of the side windows of the carriage. I can see the sea in the distance along with the towering skyscrapers of Karpan. Karpan is actually built mostly over the water. There are endless numbers of canals and passages that snake all throughout the city. Over the years many buildings have hand entire new layers of city built on top of them. It is to the point that there are already several layers. each layer has steps and winding paths leading to the next. This place is truly a maze.

We slowly approach the border of the city. The surroundings are completely swallowed by sea water so the only entrance into the city is an enormous bridge. It's wide enough to fit at least five carriages side to side and it’s long enough that if one wanted to run from one side to the other it would take about ten minutes. As we get onto the bridge Wugo lowers the amount of mana he is putting into the wind stone so that we don’t run over the crowd of patrons entering and exiting the massive city.

As we enter the city we get to a point where we have to leave the carriage in a sort of garage because carriages are simply too large to go through the winding passages and sidewalks that line the canals on the lower level. Here on the lower level it is actual pitch-black all day round because the many other layers above have long since covered up all access to the daylight. Due to the city’s wealth the management, my family, has long since installed light stones throughout the lower level to keep it lit but it is still undeniably dim here.

FLara and I follow Wugo through the crowded streams of people. We listen to the sound of the black water running through the canals that is overshadowed by the lively sounds of business and human interaction. We cross a bridge to get to the other side of the canal before we make what seems to be a hundred turns on the same corner before we find our up to the next level of the city. Sadly it isn't until around the third level of the city that we will be free of the suffocating air and the darkness.

Looking around the second level I find that not much is different from how it was when I was younger. There are some places where the sidewalks give way to the level below us and you can see the canal below. We walk past several stores and have to shove past groups of people before we finally make our way to the stairs that lead to the third level of the city. It has already been several hours just trying to navigate our way to the third level.

I top that final step and I’m not surprised to see some strands of sunlight. It's still nearly as dark below but the air quality here is slightly better. There are less people here as well because the third level is primarily more… professional… business. In other words, the third level is essentially an enormous business district that is incredibly expensive. However, that stops only so many people. It is still none the less crowded here.

Flara and I hold hands as we walk at a snail’s pace past the store windows and we smell some food ahead. I can hear both of our stomachs growling at us. It's actually around breakfast. We road the entire way here without stopping to eat. It has been an entire day without food being in our stomachs and it took us several hours to get here so we are quite hungry.

I tap Wugo’s shoulder and point to the shop ahead of us. He gives a slight nod as he says, “Young master I’ll wait here as you and the lady get something to eat. It is improper for a servant to eat at the same table as their master after all.” He gives a slight bow after saying as such. I hate such pointless courtesies. I am a fucking shit mage… you have god knows what magic that can create a ridiculous robe… I think that it is rather pointless to draw such line but whatever.

“Yea, I'm so~ hungry!” Flara is bouncing up and down as we make our way towards the restaurant. I laugh a little as I am half dragged to the front door of the restaurant. I turn my head and watch Wugo fade into the crowd behind us. He has his back to a wall and his head down which is only added to by his hunched back. I want to see the expression on his face but his black hair is draped over it. I think at this moment i can see an enormous weight bearing down on his shoulders. I let the feeling slip as I’m pushed into the restaurant’s door.

Inside the restaurant is fairly crowded. We are sitting on a bench waiting for an open table. A young man, a kid, walks up to us. “You table is right this way sir, madame.” he does a clumsy bow before leading the way to a small table in a dark corner of the restaurant. There is a candlestick that is holding some lit candles on top of the table. He places two wooden tablets with the restaurant's menu on the table before he lightly bows. “If you need anything my name is Denci. Call for me when are prepared to order.”

When Denci is finally gone Flara and I look at the menu. There are various high priced dishes on this menu. “How old do you think he is?” Flara asks me with a serious face.

“Probably about seven or so… It’s not uncommon around here for kids to get hired in restaurants… they are cheap and there is no lack of poverty here. In fact he is probably lucky just to have a job here and isn't pickpocketing people on the streets. Since he is on this level then he will likely live an alright life.” I answer plainly and simply.

The lower levels are large and home to crime and the complex structure of the city keeps it from being weeded out. Down in the first and second level there are places I don’t care to go. Here on the third level crime isn’t as rampant because it is relatively guarded. I feel bad for the homeless children that have to scrounge around in the dark amidst the darkness in the first and second level, but I can’t change it. There will always be a short end to the stick.

Flara looks at me stiffly in the soft candlelight. I can see the wheels turning in her head but i dare not ask. She is quite fiery yet fragile. She grew up amongst a large number of sibling whom she was never the most important of. She was tormented by them and was considered a disgrace for being a basic mage. Basic mages are simply mages who have spells that involve only the four main elements of fire, water, earth, and air. Basic mages are extremely common. Only the average common person might only be a basic mage with a spell or two whereas Flara has a whole book. Her family just can't look past their pride to see the facts.

I think the abuse and loneliness she has always endured since she was young instilled a subtle resolve to retaliate against it so no others have to face hardship. It’s troublesome but I still love her gentle yet unwavering nature. Although I feel many headaches arriving in the near future… it’s something I'll have to deal with when we get there I suppose.

We ordered our food and it is now in front of us. I got some Kuglo eggs sunny side up on top of a what appears to be a sweet pastry with icing and on the side are some thick slices of Shikro bacon. The yoke of the Kuglo eggs are shining a gentle blue in the light of the candles and the sweet smell of the Shikro bacon is enticing. Kuglo eggs are a bit larger than a man’s fist. I dont say anything since Flara has already started to dig into her food. We both eat quietly as she shovel food into our mouths.

***

After paying the bill and exiting the restaurant with full stomachs we look around to find Wugo. Wugo is nowhere to be found and the streets are even more crowded than earlier. It will take us a little over an hour to get the fifth level where the temple is. It is al most time for the gathering so we really should get going. We look around for about ten minutes before we head towards the entrance to the fourth city level. I know the way and Wugo will probably meet us there anyway.

***

We made our way through the fourth level with little difficulty. We are now heading towards my family’s temple. The sun is almost at its peak in the sky and I can see others are already crossing the bridges to enter the temple grounds.

It’s time to meet them again. My… not-so great family. I release a sigh as a grip Flara’s hand and we cross the bridge to the place where i will give my final goodbye to my grandfather and see off his spirit.

{CHAPTER END}

[NEXT TIME ON MAGIC IS OVERRATED...]

[Funeral, Gathering of a (Not-so) Great Family (Part 2)]

•—•—•—•

Well this chapter got so long for me I decided to split this into two parts. In fact, this chapter is all for introducing the new environment and build up so… yea. Hope you enjoyed it. I actually typed this on my brand spanking new computer so my ideas probably flowed little too well… anyway. Hope you enjoyed it, I’ll be getting another one out soon.

New computer gave me some trouble when posting it in RRL but i got it working after 15 minutes... whatever… :P

As a side note: I’m thinking of entering the November writing contest. We will see.