Felix flips through the pages of a book with his eyes glowing slightly as he works on reading a spell book with a focus on elemental air. His ears twitch and the end of his tail twitches with every turn of a page as he's focused on learning and understanding as much as he can. He's only nine years old, but he's already learned a lot from the various books he's read.
He only recently got to this one since his mother only lets him read a few books at a time so he doesn't get overwhelmed, but it's been very exciting since he's never read a spell book before. There are so many different air element spells. He doesn't have enough mana to cast spells yet, but he's sure he will soon. He keeps growing his mana pool and practicing to increase his mana control and mana efficiency, and he's sure he'll be casting spells any day now.
His hands shake with anticipation each time he turns the page and his eyes dart wildly as he reads the words. He even sometimes flips back to an earlier part because it was referenced and he wants to make sure he remembers it right. There are so many details to keep track of and learn. Felix is positive that reading this book is going to make him smarter and even increase his mana.
"Felix, sweetie," a motherly voice calls out to him.
Felix's ears twitch again and he turns his head to see his mother carrying a tray of food and a glass of water to him. Melina smiles softly as she sits on the couch beside Felix. "Lunch is ready. Come and eat, you haven't eaten anything since breakfast."
Felix shakes his head, "I'm fine, mom. I'm too excited to be hungry. Just a few more minutes and I'll eat."
Melina's smile grows into a grin, "If I have to, I will hold you down and make you eat. If you get sick because you didn't eat I'm not going to be happy."
Felix looks up at his mom and knows she means what she says. He sighs, "Just a little more. I want to finish this part."
Melina puts down the tray and picks up her son, lifting him easily. "You'll finish it after you eat something." She carries Felix over to a table in their living room and sits him down in front of his lunch, ruffling his hair.
"Mom! I'm old enough to walk over on my own." Felix huffs and squirms a little, his face red.
Melina sits down beside Felix and brushes his hair back. "I like carrying you. I'll do it as long as I can. Once you're too big for me to carry then you'll have to start walking to the table on your own."
Felix pouts and crosses his arms but accepts his fate. Though being held like this isn't the worst either, she feels warm against him and its very comforting. His stomach even growls a little now that he's sitting in front of food. He looks at the food on the table and it's some simple vegetable soup with rice. It doesn't look like anything special but his mom made it, so it'll taste good.
Melina pats Felix's back, "Go ahead and eat. You can read more after you've had lunch."
Felix gives a small nod, "Okay." He picks up his spoon and starts to eat the soup. Each spoonful tasting better than the last until he's slurping it down and eating the rice with it. He drinks the water and then burps, feeling pleasantly full. He wipes his mouth with a napkin and smiles at his mom, "That was good, thanks mom!" He hops off his chair and runs back over to the couch to grab his book, and then runs back to the table to sit down and continue reading.
Melina finishes her own lunch and stands up to take the dishes to the kitchen. "You're welcome, sweetie. Take your time reading, I have a few more things to do before I can help you with any questions."
Felix waves his hand at his mom as she leaves and dives back into the book. He skims the parts he read already and slows down when he gets back to the part he was reading. He already finished the book, but he's reading it again to make sure he remembers everything.
Felix sits on the couch with the same book in his hand, reading it again. He's read it so many times now that he's practically memorized the contents. He's not sure what else to read. There's only so many times he can read the same book before he gets bored of it, and he's starting to get close to that point. He sighs as he closes the book and puts it down. He stands up and stretches, his tail swishing behind him as he yawns. He looks around for something else to do.
The sun is shining through the window and Felix goes over to look out it. The street is busy with people walking around. He taps his fingers on the window as he thinks about what to do. He starts to get sleepy with the sun's warm radiance beaming down on him while he feels bored. It's then he hears his mom's voice call out to him, "Felix? What are you doing?"
Felix looks over his shoulder to see his mom standing behind him. "Nothing really. I've read that book so many times I think I know everything in it. I was just looking out the window."
Melina smiles, "You should go out and play. I'm sure the kids would be happy to have you join them."
Felix's tail droops and his ears flatten, "I don't really like playing with the other kids. They're mean to me. I'd rather stay here and read."
Melina frowns, "I know you'd rather stay inside, but you should still go out. It's good for you to get some fresh air and exercise. You can't just sit around and read all the time." She puts a hand on his shoulder, "I'll make you a deal. You go out and play for at least an hour, and when you get back I'll let you read whatever you want for the rest of the day."
Felix's ears perk up and he looks at his mom, "Really? You promise?"
Melina nods, "I promise. Now go out and have fun." She then places her hand over the inner pocket of his tunic, feeling the locket she gave him inside its protective case. "Remember, sweetie, as long as you have this, I'm with you. It's there to remind you that mommy loves you, even if I'm not there right beside you."
He places his hand over hers for a moment, feeling the locket in its case with her, before they both let go. Felix sighs but agrees, "Okay." He walks to the front door and opens it, stepping out into the bright sunlight. He shields his eyes for a moment as they adjust to the light. Then he lazily strolls down the street with no destination in mind. He doesn't really have any friends, most of the other kids don't like him. They think he's weird because he likes to read so much and he doesn't like the same things they do. He's also not a clan beastkin which makes him stand out even more.
As he wanders he hears a voice call out to him, "Hey! Look who it is, the weirdo who reads all day."
Felix turns to see a group of kids walking towards him. There's five of them, two cat beastkin boys, two wolf beastkin boys, and a bear beastkin boy. Felix doesn't know their names, but he knows they don't like him because they're beastkin.
Felix turns to walk away from them, not wanting to deal with them, but they quickly catch up and surround him.
"Where do you think you're going?" The bear beastkin asks, poking Felix in the chest.
Felix looks at the bear beastkin and then at the other boys. "I'm just trying to go for a walk. Leave me alone."
One of the cat beastkin laughs, "You're not going anywhere. We're going to teach you a lesson for being so weird."
The other cat beastkin nods, "Yeah, you think you're better than us because you can read? Well, we're going to show you that we're better than you."
Felix's ears flatten and his tail bristles. He doesn't want to fight, but he's not just going to let them treat him like that. He also didn't like that comment trash talking reading either. He narrows his eyes at the boys, "I'm not better than anyone. I just like to read. There's nothing wrong with that."
One of the wolf beastkin growls, "There is when you're not a clan beastkin. You don't belong here."
Felix's tail flicks irritably, "I belong wherever I want to belong. You don't get to tell me where I can and can't go."
The bear beastkin shoves Felix, "We'll do whatever we want. You're just a weak little kitty who can't do anything."
Felix stumbles but catches himself. He's getting really mad now and feels like he could blow up. He glares at the bear beastkin, "Don't call me that!" Then one of the cat beastkin punches him in the stomach while he was focused on the bear beastkin. Felix expects the punch to hurt a lot, but it doesn't. In fact, he barely feels it.
The cat beastkin looks surprised that his punch didn't seem to hurt Felix. The other boys also look a little shocked. Felix takes advantage of their surprise and punches the cat beastkin back. He's not sure how hard he hit him, but the cat beastkin doubles over and falls down while holding his stomach. Felix is a little shocked by the effect of his punch, but doesn't have time to think about it as the other boys start to attack him. He dodges some of their punches and kicks, and blocks others. The ones that hit don't hurt nearly as much as he thought they would. While his own punches and kicks seem to hit a lot harder than he expected them to.
The bear beastkin tries to grab him, but Felix slips out of his grasp and punches him in the face. The bear beastkin stumbles back and falls down, clutching his nose. The two wolf beastkin try to tackle him, but Felix dodges and kicks them both in the side, knocking them down. He looks at the last cat beastkin who looks scared now. Felix walks up to him and grabs him by the collar, lifting him off the ground. "Don't mess with me again."
The cat beastkin nods frantically and Felix lets him go. The cat beastkin scrambles away as fast as he can. Felix looks at the other boys who are still on the ground, groaning in pain. He wonders for a moment if he should help them, but decides against it. They were mean anyway, so he's not helping them. He turns around and walks away, leaving them there.
Felix wanders around the streets, not really going anywhere in particular. He's still a little mad about the fight, but also a little proud of himself for standing up to those bullies. He didn't think he could do it, but he did it. He kicks a rock on the ground and watches it bounce away. He's not sure what to do now, he's not sure it's been an hour yet, and his mom will be upset if he goes back too early.
He sees a park up ahead and walks towards it. There's a big tree in the middle with a bench under it. Felix sits down on the bench and leans back, looking up at the leaves. He watches them rustle in the breeze and listens to the birds chirping. It's peaceful here, even if there are some people around.
Felix closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to take his mind off the fight and decide what book he wants to read when he gets back. He wonders if his mom has any new books for him to read. Maybe something about magic or psionics, or maybe something about meditation. He's curious about meditation, he's heard it has something to do with getting more mana, which he definitely wants.
He opens his eyes and looks at the sky, the clouds slowly moving. He picks up a small rock on the ground and tosses it in his hand a few times. He stands up and decides to go to the river, he can skip rocks there. He walks out of the park and down the street towards the river. The river is not too far from the park and it doesn't take him long to get there. He walks along the bank, looking for good skipping stones. He finds a few and starts to skip them across the water. He watches them bounce and then sink, making ripples in the water.
He skips stones for a while, lost in thought. He's not sure how long he's been here, but he thinks it's probably been an hour by now. He decides to head back home. He walks back to the house, skipping stones along the way. When he gets there, he opens the door and walks inside. "Mom, I'm back."
Melina looks up from the counter she was working at and smiles, "Welcome back, sweetie. Did you have fun?"
Felix shrugs before getting excited again, "Never mind that! It was at least an hour, right?! Can I get back to reading?!"
Melina laughs, "Yes, yes. You can read. What do you want to read today?"
Felix thinks for a moment, "I want to read something about meditation."
Melina nods, "I have just the thing." She goes over to a shelf and pulls out a book. She hands it to Felix, "This one is about the basics of meditation and how to start. It should be perfect for you."
Felix takes the book and looks at the cover. It has a picture of a person sitting cross legged with their eyes closed. He opens it and starts to read the first page. He quickly loses himself in the book, reading about the different types of meditation and the benefits of each. He's especially interested in the parts about increasing his mana pool and mana control.
Felix doesn't notice the time passing as he reads. He's so absorbed in the book that he doesn't even notice when his mom calls him for dinner. It's not until she comes over and taps him on the shoulder that he looks up.
"Felix, dinner is ready. Come and eat."
Felix looks at his mom and then at the book in his hands. He sighs and closes the book, setting it down on the table. "Okay, mom. I'm coming."
Melina smiles, "Good. I made your favorite, fish stew."
Felix's ears perk up and his tail starts to wag a little. He follows his mom to the kitchen and sits down at the table. The smell of the stew makes his mouth water. He picks up his spoon and starts to eat. The stew is delicious, with tender fish, potatoes, carrots, and a rich broth. He eats it all up, savoring every bite.
When he's done, he leans back in his chair and sighs contentedly. "That was really good, mom. Thanks."
Melina smiles but then notices a scuff mark on his cheek. She leans forward and gently touches his cheek, "What happened here? Did you fall down?"
Felix shakes his head, "No, I got in a fight with some other kids. They were picking on me for not being a clan beastkin."
Melina's smile fades and she looks concerned, "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
Felix shakes his head again, "I'm fine. I think I might have hurt them more than they hurt me. They didn't expect me to fight back."
Melina looks relieved but also a little worried, "I'm glad you're okay, but you should be careful. Some people can be mean for no reason."
Felix nods, "I know, but it was easy. I'm not worried."
Melina sighs, "Just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."
Felix smiles, "I will. Can I go back to reading now?"
Melina nods, "Sure, sweetie. Just remember to get some sleep tonight."
Felix hops off his chair and runs over to the living room. He picks up the book on meditation and sits down on the couch. He opens it to where he left off and starts to read again. He's determined to learn how to meditate and increase his mana. He reads late into the night, not wanting to stop. Eventually, his mom comes over and tells him it's time for bed. He reluctantly closes the book and goes to his room. He climbs into bed and pulls the covers over himself. He closes his eyes and tries to clear his mind like the book said. He focuses on his breathing and tries to relax. It's hard at first, his mind keeps wandering to different thoughts. He wonders about air magic, what the spells would actually be like if he could cast them. He thinks about the fight, and if he tried punching harder. He thinks about meditation and how it works, more importantly why. Why would clearing his mind give him more mana? In fact, what is mana anyway? He falls asleep before he manages to meditate, or answer any of his questions.
3 years later, Felix sits cross legged on the floor in his room. He's been practicing a fireball spell for what feels like hours. He has the movements down, he knows the chant by heart, but he can't get the damn thing to work. He groans in frustration and slams his fist on the floor. "Why won't this stupid spell work?!" He glares at the empty space in front of him as if it's personally offending him.
He takes a deep breath and tries again, focusing his mana into his hand. He makes the gestures and says the chant, "Ignis globus!" But nothing happens. He sighs and rubs his face, feeling exhausted. He's been at this all day and he's getting nowhere. He can't imagine what he's doing wrong. He's read the book over and over again, he knows he's doing everything right. Yet the spell just won't work.
His attitude gets more incredulous, "Come on! What's the big deal?! I know all the words, I'm making all the right movements. Why isn't it cooperating?!" He tries again, this time with more force. "Ignis globus!" Still nothing. He growls and stands up, pacing around the room. He feels like he's going crazy. He can't understand why it's not working.
He stops pacing and closes his eyes, trying to clear his mind. He takes a few deep breaths and tries to focus on his mana. He focuses harder, harder, and harder. It feels like something is happening, like he's on the verge of a breakthrough. So he keeps pushing, it feels like he's getting a splitting headache, but then it feels like it all pops and snaps into place. His eyes snap open and he looks at his hand. He feels different, like something has changed. He feels more aware, more in control. Everything seems more vivid, like he can see and feel things he couldn't before.
He focuses on his mana again, and it's a completely different sensation now. It's like he can sense it more precisely now, and there's no separation between him thinking about moving his mana and it happening. He's suddenly absolutely confident he can cast the fireball spell now. He holds out his hand and focuses his mana. No chant, no gestures, just pure focus. A small ball of fire appears in his hand, and he grins widely. "Yes! I did it!" He tosses the fireball into the air and catches it, laughing. He can't believe it actually worked. He juggles it a little now before dismissing it.
He doesn't have enough mana for more spells right now, but he's absolutely wired with excitement. He did it! He really, really did it! He has to do something to celebrate! He has to move! He has to do something! He runs out of his room and down the stairs, looking for his mom. "Mom! Mom! I did it! I cast a spell!"
Melina looks up from the counter she's working at and smiles, "That's wonderful, sweetie. I'm so proud of you."
Felix runs over and hugs his mom, "Thanks! I can't believe it actually worked! I've been trying all day!"
Melina hugs him back, "I know you have. You've been working really hard. You deserve it."
Felix lets go of his mom and bounces on his feet, "I have to go do something! I don't know what, but I have to do something!" He runs to the front door and opens it, "I'll be back later!"
Melina laughs, "Okay, have fun!"
Felix runs out the door and down the street. He doesn't know where he's going, but he doesn't care. He just needs to move, to burn off this energy. He runs past people, not even noticing them. He's too focused on his own excitement. He runs until he gets to the park and then he runs some more. He runs around the park, weaving through trees and jumping over benches. He doesn't stop until he's out of breath and his legs feel like jelly.
He collapses on the grass and looks up at the sky, panting. He feels amazing, like he can do anything. He places his hand over the lump in his inner tunic pocket for a moment before letting go again. He grins widely, "I did it. I can cast magic now." He closes his eyes and basks in the feeling of accomplishment. He can't wait to learn more spells and get stronger. He's going to become the best mage ever.
Felix sits in the classroom, his chin resting on his hand as he stares at the teacher. He's only half paying attention, his mind wandering to the latest spell he's been practicing. He's been able to cast a few more spells since that first fireball, and he's been having a lot of fun experimenting with them. He's even managed to combine a few of them to create some interesting effects.
The teacher's voice pulls him out of his thoughts as he hears the word 'magic'. Felix's ears perk up and he sits up a little straighter, suddenly interested. He hasn't heard much about magic in school, most of the classes focus on practical skills like math, history, and literature. Though now it seems like they're actually going to talk about magic.
The teacher continues, "Magic is a mysterious force that some people can tap into. It's not fully understood how it works, but we know that it exists. There are different types of magic, like arcane, nature, and divine. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and some people are more suited to one type over the others."
Felix's excitement quickly fades as he realizes the teacher is just giving a brief overview. He already knows all this, he's been studying magic for years. He sighs and slumps back in his chair, his ears drooping. He feels like his time is being wasted. The teacher moves on to talk about other disciplines, like ki and qi, and Felix tunes them out. He can't believe they're just glossing over magic like this. He's cast spells, and they think 'magic exists' is supposed to be new information? He feels like they're treating him like an idiot.
The teacher asks a question, but Felix doesn't hear it. He's too busy thinking about how ridiculous this is. The teacher calls on him when he doesn't answer, and Felix blinks, "What?"
The teacher repeats the question, "I said, what do you know about qi cultivation?"
Felix shrugs, "It's a way to get stronger. You cultivate qi by meditating and training. It's supposed to make you stronger, faster, and more resilient."
The teacher nods, "That's correct. It's a popular discipline among beastkin, especially clan beastkin. Many of them have their own unique styles of cultivation."
Felix nods absently, not really interested. He's more focused on the fact that they're barely touching on magic. He can't wait for this class to be over so he can go home and practice some more. The teacher continues to talk about qi and other disciplines, but Felix doesn't listen. He's too busy thinking about magic and how he can improve his spells.
Felix drags himself through the rest of the day, barely paying attention in his other classes. History is especially boring, all those names and dates just blend together in his mind. He doesn't see the point in learning about people who are long dead and events that happened hundreds of years ago. It has no bearing on his life now.
Math is a little better, at least he has to use his brain for that. The problems are more challenging and require some thought to solve. He's not the best at math, but he's not bad either. He can figure out most of the problems with some effort. Though he still finds it tedious and would rather be practicing magic.
Finally, the last bell rings and Felix practically jumps out of his seat. He grabs his bag and heads for the door, eager to leave. He weaves through the crowded hallways, dodging other students who are also trying to leave. He makes it outside and takes a deep breath of fresh air, feeling relieved to be out of that stuffy building.
Felix walks down the street, thinking about what he wants to do. He could go home and practice magic, but he's not in the mood to be cooped up inside. He wants to do something different, something more exciting. He remembers hearing about the adventurers guild and how they take on quests to help people. He's never been there before, but he's curious about it. Maybe he could take on a quest and do something interesting. He changes direction and heads towards the guild.
The adventurers guild is a large building near the center of town. It's a three story building with a big sign out front that says 'Adventurers Guild' in bold letters. Felix walks up to the front doors and pushes them open, stepping inside. The inside is bustling with activity. There are people everywhere, talking, laughing, and drinking. There's a big board on one wall with papers pinned to it, probably quest listings. There's also a counter with a few people behind it, likely guild employees.
Felix walks up to the counter, feeling a little nervous. He's not sure what to say or do. One of the employees notices him and smiles, "Hello there, what can I do for you?"
Felix takes a deep breath, "Hi, I was wondering if I could take on a quest."
The employee raises an eyebrow, "How old are you, kid?"
Felix straightens up a little, "I'm fifteen."
The employee nods, "Alright, we do have some quests that are suitable for younger adventurers. They're mostly assistance quests, where you help out a more experienced adventurer. Would you be interested in something like that?"
Felix's ears perk up, "Yeah, that sounds fine. Certainly better than nothing. So, what is there?"
The employee turns around and pulls out a few papers from a drawer, setting them on the counter. "These are the available youth quests. Take a look and see if any of them interest you."
Felix looks over the papers, reading the descriptions of the quests. There's one about helping gather herbs, another about delivering a package, and a third about helping to eliminate an oversized mole that's been terrorizing a farm. The mole one sounds the most interesting to Felix, so he points to it. "I want to do this one."
The employee nods, "Alright, I'll let the adventurer..." She looks down at the Paper again, "John... Know that a youth accepted being his assistant."
Felix nods, "Thanks. When do I start?"
The employee checks a note on the paper, "He should be here soon, he's in the building, I'll go find him now." She heads off into the crowd, leaving Felix to wait. He fidgets nervously, not sure what to expect. He's never done anything like this before, so he's not sure what it'll be like to work with an adventurer.
After a few minutes, the employee returns with a man in tow. The man is tall and muscular, with short brown hair and a beard. He's wearing leather armor and has a sword on his hip. He looks at Felix and grins, "So, you're the youth I'm showing the ropes today? Don't worry I'll make sure you get through it safely." He holds out his hand, "Name's John, nice to meet you."
Felix shakes his hand, "I'm Felix. It's nice to meet you too."
John nods, "Alright, let's get going. The farm isn't too far from here, but we should get started before it gets dark."
Felix follows John out of the guild and down the street. They walk in silence for a while, Felix not sure what to say. Eventually, John breaks the silence, "So, what made you want to take on a quest?"
Felix shrugs, "I was bored and wanted to do something different. I've never done anything like this before, so I thought it would be interesting."
John chuckles, "Well, I hope you're not disappointed. This quest is pretty straightforward. Just a big mole that needs to be taken care of. Shouldn't be too difficult."
Felix nods, "That's fine. I'm not looking for something too complicated."
They continue walking, making small talk along the way. John asks about Felix's interests and hobbies, and Felix tells him about his love for magic and reading. John seems interested and asks a few questions about magic. Felix is happy to answer, enjoying the conversation.
They reach the farm and are greeted by an older man who introduces himself as the farmer. He leads them to the mole's burrow and points it out. "That's where the bugger's been coming out. He's been tearing up my fields and scaring my animals. I need him gone before he causes any more damage."
John nods, "Don't worry, we'll take care of it. Felix, you stay here and keep an eye out for the mole. Let me know if you see anything." He draws his sword and heads towards the burrow.
Felix watches as John approaches the burrow, his sword ready. John starts yelling near the borough, and smacks his sword against his shield to be loud and lure the mole out. Suddenly, the ground starts to shake and a huge mole bursts out of the ground. John jumps back, surprised by the size of the mole. It's at least twice the size of a normal mole, with big claws and sharp teeth.
He holds it at bay as it knows better than to charge while he has his shield up. Then John glances back to Felix for a fraction of a second to make sure Felix is there before looking forward again and saying, "Alright, I'm holding a defensive position right now while I figure out what the enemy is going to do. It's important to not charge in blind and be cautious, learn your enemy before you-" He's cut off as a fireball flies out from behind him and hits the mole. The mole squeals in pain as the fireball explodes on impact, singeing its fur and burning its skin.
The mole was not expecting that at all and starts to panic and rolls around, and it tries to put out the fire. John is just as surprised, but moves in and lands the killing blow before the mole can regain its composure. He stabs it through the neck, and it stops moving. He turns to Felix with a shocked expression, "Where did that come from?!"
Felix shrugs, "It's just a fireball. I've been practicing magic for a while now."
John stares at Felix for a moment, then starts laughing. "Well, I'll be damned. How old were you again?" He didn't think the guild would send a mage to help him out, even one so young. He figured Felix would mostly just be a pair of extra eyes to watch his back.
Felix grins, "Fifteen."
John shakes his head, still chuckling. "Wow, well... I guess you learn something new everyday. Let's head back, and I'll get you a little treat as a 'thank you' for making that mole easier to deal with." They walk back to the guild, John still in disbelief at what just happened. He wonders to himself, 'Did he chant? Yeah, he must have, but I probably just didn't hear it because I was talking over him'. The whole way back he tries to get a feel for how Felix cast the spell. He doesn't ask more questions because it's kind of rude to ask a mage about how they cast their spells. He's content to just be impressed by the fact that a fifteen year old was able to cast a spell at all.
When they get back to the guild, the receptionist gives them both their pay, and John takes Felix to a nearby tavern. They sit down at a table and order some drinks. John orders an ale for himself and a juice for Felix. He raises his glass, "To a successful quest, you did good, kid." He's still a little surprised about the whole thing, but he's not complaining.
Felix grins and clinks his glass against John's, "Cheers." He takes a sip of his juice, enjoying the sweet taste. He's feeling pretty proud of himself. This quest turned out to be more fun than he expected, and he got to use his magic in a real fight. He can't wait to do it again.