I rub my chin as I stare down at the grass beneath me, and lean back against the tree behind me.
I'm a ways away from the tavern, a good number of meters behind it as I contemplate how to even begin experimenting with my Infusion.
Mana. Infusions run off of the mana that is circulated into my body from the air. They work like organs, using said mana as the energy muscles need to activate it.
"But where to even start… not a clue."
I don't know how to 'feel' mana like how others describe.
'Is it something to do with my Infusion? Nah, no way.'
I scowl absentmindedly as I glance around.
I close my eyes and think back to what I remember from school, which isn't much…
"Ugh."
I've wanted my Infusion for a long time now, since I even learned of some of the abilities they grant, and how strong someone may become.
It just seems… amazing. Who wouldn't want to know what their Infusion is after watching someone use fire to battle, manipulate gravity to fly, or teleport and make gates?
I just need to find out how to use it…
The wind picks up, the sun above me moving along the day like usual, I've been standing out here by the tree for a couple hours now.
I blink.
'Lake's Infusion ceremony could help me understand it, though…'
I take a deep breath.
"Let's try practicing a couple more hours, first. He said sometime later today, I think…?"
I sit down under the tree again and attempt to clear my thoughts.
"..."
"I'll go."
…
Town is as crowded as usual. It's a bit of a surprise at how secluded Tenna is from the rest of the royal domains, given its population and size.
But, it's just too far out, so you either live here or you're on a long journey.
Vendors selling fruits, jewelry, some makeshift weapons from the rivaling blacksmiths.
The same old same old.
I smile a bit whenever I see how much people love and interact with each other in Tenna. It's pretty heartwarming.
The sun beams from overhead, probably more towards the afternoon now.
The stone under my feet shines a bit too brightly for comfort, and the afternoon air is slightly cooler from the later part of the year entering autumn.
It feels nice, overall.
I cross down the street that heads toward the center of Tenna, the City Hall.
Ceremonies like weddings, meetings between higher ups and other important stuff are held there. Just like Infusion Ceremonies.
Not much to say about Infusion Ceremonies, they're just for the kids who have received their Infusion pretty recently and want to show off their ability, it's not required or anything.
'Wonder why Lake wants to show it off…'
I turn the corner following the road and see the City Hall enter my vision.
A tall, stone building with some stained, colored glass at either side of the longer walls. A darker colored roof made of tiles that are angled downward on almost every side. A lot larger and sticks out a lot more compared to the other buildings with more red colored roofs.
The street also opens up a lot more around it, very much so. A circle road around the City Hall that makes up the center plaza of Tenna.
I walk a bit quicker and check the City Hall's front door, hearing a good amount of chatter inside, I slowly open the door and step in.
Quite a big number of people are in here– in a sort of room you'd see in a chapel. Lines of rowed chairs all facing towards a small stage made for a couple people, and a little podium on the same stage.
I walk to the side and take a seat in the chair closest to the center aisle in the middle of the rows of chairs.
A bunch of other people are around me, but not too close so that it's uncomfortable. I glance around a bit, it's a bit dim here, so I can't see too much outside of the main stage and seats surrounding it, so I turn my focus back to the stage.
A few people are there, one being Elder Grant, the leader or head of Tenna, and next to him are a few other kids.
Some seem to be about my age, thirteen to fifteen or so, maybe sixteen or seventeen.
Each person sports a somewhat nervous look about them, whether it's fidgeting with their hands, or smiling a bit too widely.
Then there's Lake, a few people away from Grant, looking pretty confident.
Then, next to me…
"Fault?"
I blink and quickly turn to my left–
It's Hale.
"..."
"..."
"Hale?"
"That's me."
I blink a couple more times, "What're you doing here?"
"Lake asked me to."
"You too?"
He reels back the slightest bit, "Lake asked you to come to his Infusion Ceremony?"
I nod back.
"Huh," he says, "...interesting."
"How so?"
He shrugs back, scooting a bit closer to the seat next to me and turning his attention back to the stage.
I stare at him for a moment before slowly turning my head back to the stage, when…
"I see you got your Infusion." He smiles at me.
I open my mouth to say something back-
CLAP
Suddenly, a loud clapping of hands rings out through the lobby.
"Aye, good afternoon, everyone!" Grant grins a wide grin, his huge, grey beard moving with his mouth as he speaks.
"We got us a few young'ins here who wanna show off their Infusions!"
A small round of applause rings through the room, to which he lets it carry on for a moment before lowering his hands, signaling some silence.
"Here we got…" He leans forward, counting heads, "Seven bright-futured guests here who wanna show off what abilities they've discovered."
He smiles and nods at the first boy next to him, a kid younger than me, it seems.
Brown hair, a thin stature, but a shining hope in his eyes. It was pretty endearing to see.
Silence envelops the audience, same with me and Hale, as we lean in a bit more to watch.
The boy rolls up his sleeve and reveals a dark blue mark that I can't quite make out the shape of. He close his eyes, and the Infusion on his elbow begins to glow softly.
A dim glow, but it's certainly there, especially with how dark the rest of the room is.
Soon…
Swoosh.
Water shoots out from his mark and coats his arms, the water a lighter blue color than the mark it was produced by.
I begin to feel myself grin a good bit as I witness it, I see Hale smiling broadly in my peripheral vision as well.
Grant howls with laughter as both of the boy's arms are soon coated in water. He hurries to the boy's side and straightens up.
"Well done, lad! Show me what you've got!"
The boy turns to Grant and glances at the crowd nervously. Grant blocks his view of the crowd with his hand, and gives the boy a wider grin.
"Come on, lad! Hit me, square in my chest!" He pats his abdomen with his free hand, "Give me your best shot!"
The boy nods nervously… he takes a step back and readies his water-coated fist backward.
"H-Haah!" His fist flies forward and crashes directly into Grant's stomach.
BAM
The impact sends him a couple steps backward, his feet sliding across the stage's wooden floor without flinching a muscle.
…
"Ha! Hahahaha!"
He looks up and roars with even more laughter, his braided back white hair shaking with the bouncing of his shoulders.
"Good! Good one, young man! You'll make a fine man no matter what you do!"
The boy's eyes shine as he puffs out his chest in confidence, "I-I'll do my best!"
…
A bit of time passes, a few more of the kids show off their Infusion's mana usage. Before they begin, the look anxious like they're about to vomit, but as they leave, their face is full of newfound confidence and hope, beaming about their ability.
Grant explained the three classes of Infusions after the first few had their turns.
Though I already knew them, so I didn't pay too much attention. Infusions are divided into three classes based on the location of them on your body.
Hale turns to me, lowering his voice a bit.
"Keeping it short, Fault, neck and above, or on your head, is a sorcerer class. On your arms and legs it's an accelerator class. Finally, if your mark is on your torso, like your chest and back, it's a manipulator class."
"Mhm."
"Are you even listening?"
"Mhm."
Hale groans and leans back into his seat.
Lake stepped up on the stage and brought down the side collar of his shirt, revealing a green mark planted on the right of his neck, along the muscles.
It shines a bit brighter than the previous ones I've seen.
"Oh, hey, Lake's a sorcerer class."
I hear Hale speak to my left, I nod slowly-
■■■■■
"...!?"
My hand reaches up to my left eye, suddenly feeling a searing pain.
"A-ack!"
I jump in my seat, both my hands covering my eye now.
Hale immediately turns to look at me, "Fault?"
"M-my eye-!"
I hardly choked the words out as the pain intensifies.
'It burns! Why does it burn! It hurts! Stop!'
My thoughts speed as the pain worsens, my vision blurring with tears.
I barely see Hale stand up beside me, more people rushing toward me, probably attempting to aid me.
My vision darkens…
…and darkens.
I lose consciousness.