----
In a run-down building, nurous people with unkempt appearances and stained clothing could be seen sleeping peacefully. Though the setting betrayed the room's atmosphere, their rest seed to be uninterrupted by the poor conditions.
Unfortunately, that couldn't be said for a certain youth. A loud gasp was heard as the young boy jumped from his sleep. His frail body was drenched in a cold sweat while he clutched the worn, patch-filled piece of cloth that could barely be called a sheet.
"It's that dream again. It's just...darkness," the boy muttered to himself as he looked around at the other sleeping serfs around him. The light of day had yet to approach, so there was still ti until the bane of his day ca through those nearly broken doors.
He was careful not to interfere with their sleep. With silent steps, he walked towards the weathered windowsill. As he peered outside, he gazed at the silver gleam of the moonlight. The light of the moon seed much more pleasant than the tyrannic heat that accompanied their overbearing sun.
"At least I get to see this beautiful sight before another hellish day starts. I just hope I don't get targeted again today. That seems to be happening quite often these days," the boy muttered.
While he was lost in thought, a voice sounded behind him. It was gentle yet carried a warming feeling, "Apollo, you're up early. Is it a nightmare again?"
The boy, Apollo, turned around. "Oh, Miss Clarice. Yeah, I couldn't sleep. It's the sa dream over and over again. I don't know what it ans. But, sothing felt different today. The darkness usually just surrounds inside the dream, but today, I felt like I was consud. I don't know how to explain it."
Clarice smiled and cupped his cheeks, "Don't worry. Just take a breather and release the angst from your mind. I know our duties have beco tougher these days. I also know that they've been tough on you, but I'm sure a better future lies in wait."
In response, Apollo nodded. It was the truth; the strain they put him through far surpassed any other serfs. While the others would be granted breaks, he wouldn't. This was because of his prior identity. He belonged to the children of the family that owned these serfs.
He was a progeny from the Kaiser Family, which sported an extensive line of reputed Sages and revered Archmages. Yet, in his case, he was unable to tap into the worldly blessing known as Mana. Forget tap into it; he couldn't even sense it.
A short while later, the repeated tapping of heels and boots could be heard in the distance. Due to the sounds, every last serf woke with punctual timing. After all, they were aware of the punishnt that followed their failure to present themselves on ti.
As the sounds grew closer, Clarice leaned toward Apollo with a smile, "I pray that your day goes well and you make it through yet another day to see the light of tomorrow."
"That sounds good, Miss Clarice. Your words always make feel better. If only my family could express the sa affection. But, instead, they just cast away here. I want to thank you for helping find so strength," Apollo smiled in return, thanking her.
Shortly after, the door burst open. The ajar door revealed a lady dressed in crimson robes. Her lilac hair was covered by a magus hat of a matching crimson color. She looked with a disgusted gaze, which soon settled on Apollo.
"What a surprise, everyone is awake today. To commorate this special occurrence, I think I'll pick a lucky individual to receive extra work today. Ah, it'll be you!" the lady smiled. Unsurprisingly, her outstretched arm holding her wand pointed out Apollo's figure.
"Uh… Headmaster Verina, why don't you pick instead? Apollo's sleep wasn't the best. I don't think he'd make a good choice for additional work today," Clarice stepped forward to sacrifice herself.
However, Verina was adamant in her ways. She rejected almost imdiately, "That's fine. What do you think our mages who specialize in healing are for? All you need to do is know your place and quiet down. Anyway, co along; we need to go."
After announcing her commands, Verina exited the dilapidated premises with an about-face followed by two orderly lines behind her.
From the serf quarters to the training grounds was a decent trek. And, because none of the serfs were experienced in the required magic, it was even longer.
As a result, Verina's expression seed more frustrated than any other ti of the day. If it was her alone, she would have perford a simple flight spell to lessen the travel ti, but sadly, that wasn't the case.
Soon enough, her irritated grumbles entered the serfs behind her.
As the serfs behind listened, they heard her complain about being in charge of this nial task. It angered her to have her status deaned in such a way. And, as a result, she even began kicking her feet and swearing to make soone pay.
This signified the targeting of a specific individual.
Therefore, Clarice turned towards Apollo and mouthed, "I'm sorry."
However, Apollo didn't bla her because he knew she offered to stand in; it was just Verina's decision not to accept the suggestion. Truth be told, he expected this much. With this, he focused his attention on the gravel road while ignoring the close view of the expanse seen every day.
Not too long after, they made it to the training grounds. Upon arrival, there was an alarming number of kids dressed in training gear. Similarly, Verina prepped the shoddy defensive equipnt for the serfs.
Afterward, she addressed the new group, "As per usual, those who are studying to beco mages, you will be with . Those of you taking the knight's path, you'll be with Elder Ingrid. We will begin our daily training shortly."
In a trained manner, the other kids followed her directions. After a few short monts, only youths dressed in cloth apprentice mage robes remained. Additionally, they held rudintary wooden wands.
Each of them picked a serf partner to practice on. Yet, when Apollo saw his pair, he frowned. A girl similar in height, carrying a feigned air of innocence, stood before him.
"Hehe, Apollo. Well, well, well. Tell , how are you?" the girl giggled.
Anyone who knew this girl knew the attitude she presented was fake. To describe her in a simple phrase, she was a sadistic cretin.
"lina," Apollo grumbled.
While lina continued to smile, Verina chanted a spell to root all the serfs to the ground. In their now immobile state, they beca living training dummies for the youth to practice their spells on.
"I'm going to have so much fun with you. I learned two new spell sequences just for today. If Mom and Dad were here, they'd witness a pleasant sight."
"Begin!" Verina announced.
Imdiately after, lina lifted her, chanting without hesitation. Before the tip of her wand, a fist-size ball of flas grew until it resembled a basketball circumference. Once it was prid, she released it.
When the hit landed on Apollo's chest, he winced. Tiny embers continued to burn his tattered robes, which caused his visible ribs to show.
Although it was painful, Apollo tried to bear with it. He even tried to tolerate the repeated bombardnt of that sa spell. However, when she conjured a chain lightning skill, Apollo nearly lost it.
"Shouldn't those who practice with lightning spells train under an older mber? Why are you here," Apollo questioned. Given lina's personality, his anxiety ran deep.
"Well, I just learned it yesterday. So, I can't count as an apprentice lightning mage just yet," lina smirked mischievously.
"No more questions! Suffer, hehe!" lina cackled, releasing the chain of lightning. Naturally, with all those volts running through him, Apollo roared in pain.
His screams drew the attention of Verina, who raised her eyebrow in shock. 'Fire and Lightning. A super offensive combination. So might even say Lightning is a variant of Fire.'
As this scenario repeated itself, Apollo struggled to retain his sanity until, finally, it broke. He looked at lina with hateful eyes as a mysterious aura of darkness exuded from his body. Subsequently, that presence broke the lock Verina placed on everyone.
He rushed towards lina intending to kill her. Nothing else mattered anymore because he wanted only to tear her apart.
When lina felt the wave of hostility assaulting her, she froze. The weakness of an apprentice mage was close combat, and now that Apollo was rushing at her, she didn't know what to do. Apollo sought to take her along wherever his destination may be based on the look in his eyes.
Reviews
All reviews (0)