The unknown man dragged Laudis to the body of water. Each of his heavy steps scared off the nearby animals. It was a sunrise; the light reflected on the lake's surface. The birds were signing and bees pollinated the flowers. The kid was blindfolded, so he fell a few times. After a walk they stopped, they stood on the small, wooden pier. The lake was about 3 hectares in size and had an oval shape. The water was fairly clear, yet cold despite the warm morning.
'Judging by the sounds I'm nearby water. He probably wants to get rid of me, yet I don't recall anyone I've insulted or made angry,' thought Laudis trying to free himself from the blindfold.
"You can't take it off, I made sure of that. Anyway, do you have any last words kid?" the aggressor said with a satisfied voice.
"Even if I die today, I won't be forgotten," the boy responded calmly.
"Good joke on you! Now you've got anything else to say?"
"..."
"I consider it as an approval."
Laudis was thrown into the lake, blindfolded and locked in handcuffs. The kid exhaled underwater. Judging by the sound of escaping bubbles, he rotated himself into the right position and swam to the surface. Then the boy moved about ten meters to the opposite side of the throwing point. Using the nearby tree branch he ripped the blindfold.
"Shit, he took off my eye patch. I guess that is the end of my camouflage,' Laudis though with some kind of anger.
The kid decided to look at the attacker. The threat was tall, muscular and didn't seem to be an amateur. His face was hidden behind a black mask. On it was a poorly drawn frown made with a red chalk.
"W—What are you?! Why the hell your eye is exactly the same as the vampire's?!" the clown mask asked with a terrified voice.
His eye which was constantly covered by the material, indeed resembled a devil's. It was black with red pupil; the blood strokes were present because of its rare usage. But he was immune to the sun unlike the vampires, which disqualified him from being one.
"So you know my secret. Let's keep it between us or I will have to silence you," he responded calmly.
"Ha! You are still in the lake, did you forget? Besides as soon as you leave the water I will finish you off," he stated holding a two meters long battle axe.
"You talk, yet not engage. You are pretty unorthodox for a thug."
"I may be a murderer, but I'm not a thug. I still have my honour."
'I have to leave the water soon or I will experience hypothermia and become unconscious. Think, think, think... No weapons, no way to free myself or even to run away. Hell's scenario if you would ask me. Or is it? I hid it somewhere in my pocket... I found it! The knife with the fly line! The perfect utility. I just need to get a steady position and to saw it,' thought Laudis with a neutral face.
The kid slowly swam up to the shore. He secured his position at the shore and started using the fisherman's equipment to free his hands. After three minutes the boy cut through them. Laudis finally left the water after being in it for twelve minutes. His hair was wet and the wrists were red from the handcuffs. He took off his coat and boots to lighten his weight. The kid kept the trousers and shirt to have at least a minimal protection from cuts. The kid finally took an unusual fighting stance. No guard, hands were freely swinging and his right leg was placed in the front.
"You know what it means you freak?"
"I am aware," he replied emotionless.
"See you in hell."
The man charged into him with an axe swing. Swoosh Laudis rolled to the left dodging the attack. Shlick — the knife extended with a fly line cut attacker's leg. Again the weapon swung, but this time from the side. The kid jumped backward, yet he was too slow. His left arm was slashed, causing him to lose control over it. Now the arm was only a burden, not useful, slowing him down.
'If I had a sword I could cut off my arm to have greater speed. Sadly I won't be able to cut it with this mere knife. I have no chance of beating this ogre. A kill or be killed situation. I have to play va banque,' thought Laudis with heavy breathing.
The boy threw his knife into the wounded leg. The attacker lost concentration for a moment. When he tried to look back at the opponent it was already too late. The kid delivered a kick to his chin. The tall man stood still for a second with no response, then fell on his back. The axe, which he let go off was coming right at his neck. Laudis quickly picked it up and threw it to the side.
"Let's see who you really are..."
Behind the mask was the guard, the guard who disapproved his carefree attitude to the king. The kid cut off his left sleeve and covered the unusual eye with it. Then Laudis dragged him to the guards. The band from drinking beer and shouting went silent in a moment. Before them stood their captain with a knife stuck in his right leg. Next to them was a seventeen-year-old, whose arm was limp and bleded.
"Give me the bandages, then take care of him. He tried to silence me, yet he lacked one important thing. He lacked the respect to his opponent. You should never go easy, especially against the unknown ones," stated Laudis resting on the wall.
"Who are you and why did you do that?!"
"I am in charge and not you, weakling. Now, give me the damn bandages or I will butcher him!" he responded by incising his arm with the knife.
"Okay, okay! Here take them and go away weirdo."
The guards gave him bandages, the kid quickly left the room and went straight to the bathroom. Sitting in the corner he poured the water bucket on his head. His hair was again all wet, blocking his vision. The droplets hit the brick floor, almost rhythmically. The water mixed with the blood and created a light red puddle around him. Fsh — he ignited a match to light the cigarette.
'It is a good remedy for the stress.' Puff... 'I was right to steal some yesterday. The cigarettes are probably the best lesser evil for me. They only weaken my endurance, but they don't affect my concentration. The smoke, almost like from a chimney. A chimney from a home, which I never had... The fire, source of life and death. I am surrounded by the contradictions. Now look at me. Naked, wet and smoking. Almost like some depressed guy. Ha. I've better move on,' thought Laudis smoking.
He threw away the butt through the window. The kid tighten up the wound with the bandages and dressed up. His black shirt was cut, yet he still wore it. Laudis didn't care for the paintings or the sun, he only cared to get the knowledge and leave this place as soon as it's possible. He entered the library.
"Oh! You are here, it's good to see yo—" greeted Elisabeth with a smile.
"Yeah..."
"What happened? Why is your left sleeve cut? What happened to your eye? Did someone try to hurt you? I—If so then I will apprise it to the king," she responded stuttering.
"It's not a big deal. I spared with a guard and we went a little overboard. No need to worry about me," he replied walking past her. Then he laid his hand on her shoulder to calm her.
'Despite his wounds he still reads. Despite his exhaustion he still reads. Despite the sadness in his eyes he still reads. But that isn't about reading, it is about everything. He doesn't care what he has to do to achieve something, he is only focussed on the goal. Laudis, you truly are an embodiment of human will power,' Elisabeth thought looking at the ceiling. A small tear went down her cheek.
Laudis went to the magic aisle. The book awaited him, the "Magic basics". Now he went over for the auras and started reading in the same corner.
"There are things called auras. They are a type of curses, but unlike them everyone can cast them. You can only activate them on yourself. They are also split into four categories
Rare: cast by the incantation formula. They cost from 1 to 5% of your total mana capacity per minute. They are either weak or situational e.g. Aura of The Sea. It grants the user a 15% boost to water attacks and immunity to drowning,
Epic. They require an item (it is fully consumed, but easy to obtain) costing you 5 to 10% of your total mana capacity per minute. They are pretty good, but even more situational then rare ones e.g. Aura of Gold Fever. It grants the user better luck and ability to turn things into gold (they change back into original forms after the aura is deactivated).
Mythical. For them you need to have a scroll containing full incantation of it and read it. After the first activation you can just say its name to activate it; they cost from 10 to 15% of your total mana capacity per minute. They grant you a great power boost, most are not situational e.g. Aura of The Devine Tree. It enhances the user's healing and boosts the power of every Plant or Earth element offensive spell by 20%.
Legendary Aura. They have the same requirement as the Mythical one, but with a twist. It is required to sacrifice something after every use. It can range from a part of your body to a skill you have learned (it cannot be something, that kills you indirectly e.g. heart, brain, ability to breath or to pump blood). They cost you from 15 to 50% (50% is the most draining mana aura documented in history, there is not a limit to them) of your total mana capacity per minute. The only one, which I saw directly was the Aura of The Phoenix. The user was granted the fire wings, which allowed him to fly. His Fire spells power were massively increased, but there was a thing greater than those things. In the middle of the battle he was decapitated. In the moment his body evaporated and a strange egg was summoned. It was not possible to break it, even a dragon could not do it. From it the user emerged, yet he lacked his right arm. The aura was deactivated with a moment of his death.
To activate the aura, you must say the basic incantation (of course you must read the full incantation if needed), that is "[Name of the aura] activare" it has to be said, not thought. To deactivate it it is a similar thing, but you say "[Name of the aura] deactivare"."
'Yeah... That would make the end of reading— Wait. I skipped the mana part? Pretty strange, but I guess I have to understand it,' thought Laudis with resentment.
"Mana is quite a strange thing. We do not know how it works precisely, but we know its rough concept. The mana is produced by your heart. Everyone has a limit of a mana that he can hold up — mana capacity. It can be expanded by mana training or even by physical exercises, but not as good. Every magic usage changes mana into the chosen substance or the effect — transfusion. It is advised not to drain your mana completely, because of the consequences — nausea, fever, coma or even death. You cannot collect mana from the surroundings in opposite to some hermits teachings. Everything emits energy (mana) — animals, insects or even plants. You can hide your emission, but not entirely (as far as we are concerned right now). Nonetheless we still do not know most things about it, that is why some people choose not to use it — vendors, bakers, farmers and such. There are gossips saying that every time you use magic your lifespan shortens or you become less potent. To be honest it holds up, because the great mages do not live up to their 40's. Monarchs agreed on one thing (that is the rulers of Carola, Luxaris, Terminara, Piscaria and the State of Insulareum). Every magic user has to be enlisted in official records or he becomes an outlaw — criminal. In short it is a great weapon, but with an unknown cost."
'Ha! Every time I learn, the less I want to know. Damn, this whole thing is pretty messed up to be honest. Also the book is pretty outdate being produced 73 years ago. My hunger is growing stronger. It's better to ask Thomas for some food. I didn't eat since yesterday. Maybe he will spare me some leftovers' thought Laudis leaving the library.
The boy placed the book in its place. Then headed to the doors.
"See you! I'm gonna return after I eat something," he stated with raised hand.
"Yeah... See you too," she replied calmly.
The kid walked through the corridors, today they looked the same to him. The sight wasn't that good as the first time he walked here. After a seven minute walk the boy was at his destination. He knocked on the Thomas' room. Silence... The door was shut.
'Great, now I have to look for him or go to the king. Shit... Both are idiotic choices, but I'd opt for the king. At least I won't be looking all around the bloody castle,' Laudis thought with an unpleasant expression.
Laudis took off to the throne room. The halls were empty, no servants, no guards even no sound was present. He thought that maybe the king was in other place. As he met his destination again the disappointment struck him. The space was empty; only light was present.
'No one is present. Damn... Now, if that's a case then I will go to the kitchen and help myself,' thought Laudis irritated.
As soon as he entered the kitchen someone stopped him from grabbing a food.
"What do ya think ya doing boy?!" shouted a man stopping him in the entrance.
It was a man in his late 20's, with a glass eye and short brown hair. He was around same height as Laudis, yet double his size.
"I wanted to ask Thomas or the king for the food, but they aren't in the castle," Laudis responded with a stoic face.
"Duh, they are in the city at the guild. Why are ya all cut kid? Also I don't recall ya face can ya introduce yaself?"
"Laudis, candidate for the Crusaders. The cuts are from the sparing I've had this morning with a guard."
"I see, the sparing and candidate for the Crusaders ya say... Here, you can help yourself with that," man passed down a plate with rabbit meat and potatoes.
"Thanks. Do you mind sharing your name chef?"
"Chef? Ha! Ya got that joke for sure. I am just a cook. Ya see I was rescued when I was two years old. When Leopold was still a prince, he took me to the king and ask him if I can stay here. The king didn't approve an idea of a prince taking care for a peasant, yet somehow he pulled that off. I couldn't communicate, so he taught me how to speak, write and such. When I became 10 the king gave me an ultimatum: "You can stay here and work or go away and don't come back". I started working here, but whatever I touched I destroyed. I couldn't clean, saw, scribe or even play the trumpet. I didn't want to leave the castle, I liked being in here. I asked for a last try. If I can try cooking. To everyone's surprise I wasn't bad. My meals were eatable, but not that tasty. Of course with time I've became better. "
"And what's your name?" he responded a bit annoyed.
"Ah! Right, my name is Leon, Leon Becker."
"You have a last name? Didn't you say you were an orphan?"
"That's right, but ya see everyone has to have a last name. They picked a random one and I stuck to it."
"It is mandatory?
"Yeah? Why do ya ask?"
"For no reason, I am just surprised. Thanks for the meal, chief," he left the kitchen with a raised hand.
"Yeah come back anytime ya want some," cook replied by waving a hand
'Ha! He is almost like my past self. I also tried to become a Crusader. However the third trial almost killed me, good that I only lost an eye. Yet he has something, that I lacked. That is the flame in his eye,' Leon thought with a nostalgic smile.