The Rise of the Legendary Puppet Mage!

The night sky was glowing with the ethereal light of the twin moons. The streets of Eldora were deserted, save for the occasional flicker of shadowy figures moving swiftly through the alleyways. The tower of mages, standing proudly in the city's heart, radiated a golden hue as a magical shield enveloped Eldoria. Ancient runes shimmered, warding off the otherworldly beings that escaped from the Ground of Worms every full moon. “ Use more mana to hold off these flying Dark Lora. Strengthen our defense to three stars! “ Commanded by a mage clad in dark robes adorned with golden five-star patterns. His voice, amplified by mana, echoed across the top floor of the Twin Moon Tower, where five thousand mages stood ready. Floating above the chaos, he sighed as he gazed at the battle below. “Only if you were here, Raina…” he murmured, watching the battle mages fight until dawn to eliminate the swarm of Dark Lora that had returned after so many years. As the battle ended and a new day began, no sunlight pierced the sky. The residents of Eldoria emerged from their homes, resuming their daily routines as if the night's events were nothing unusual. Magi lanterns floated above, casting a soft glow on the cobblestone streets, while enchanted fountains sparkled with never-ending streams of magical water. The air hummed with energy, filling the senses with wonder and power. Any traces of the night's battle seemed to vanish within Eldoria. Outside the city's barrier, a group of people collected the remains of the Dark Lora, their faces glowing with satisfaction. On this day, they could gather these monster remains, which could be sold for a fortune, though they only received 10% of the earnings due to their low mana and lack of fighting power. Among them, a boy named Xavier Raymond was collecting the carcass of a mangled Dark Lora with his bare hands in the shadows when a guard mage caught him. “You again!” The guard mage moved his wand, binding Xavier to a tree. “Xavier Raymond! You never learn, do you?” He looked at the boy and shook his head. There was a flash of pity in his eyes. The boy would have suffered far worse if any other guard had caught Xavier. “Uncle Black, oh, it’s you!” Xavier sighed in relief and said in a low voice, “You know, the awakening ceremony is tomorrow. That’s why.” “I see. Still, you need to be punished. All your loot will be confiscated.” He called a sentry and instructed him to take Xavier within the city wall. Before that, he released the magical binding and healed Xavier’s hand, which had been touched by Dark Lora’s poison. Xavier didn't argue, knowing he was lucky to escape harsher punishment. He followed the sentry quietly. Later that day, Xavier hurried through the bustling streets after another grueling day at the Eldoria Institute of Magic. As he neared the school gates, a group of boys from his class intercepted him, their wands already drawn and glowing with energy. “Hey, mana-less wonder, late again?” One of them sneered, shoving Xavier into a nearby wall. Passersby glanced over, their eyes filled with disdain, before quickly looking away, unwilling to get involved. “Leave me alone,” Xavier muttered, picking himself up and brushing off the dust from his tattered clothes. But his words fell on deaf ears. “What's the matter? Scared you'll miss another chance to be useless?” Another boy taunted, raising his wand. A spark of mana crackled at its tip, making Xavier flinch. Just then, the school bell rang. The boys smirked and left Xavier behind, scrambling to avoid being late themselves. Xavier hurried into the building, disheveled and out of breath. Inside the classroom, the teacher, a stern woman with sharp eyes, glanced up as Xavier stumbled in. “Late again, Raymond?” she said, her tone dripping with contempt. “No mana and no punctuality. Take your seat.” “But, Miss Seraphina, they—” Xavier began, trying to explain. “No excuses,” she said, cutting him off. “Today, we'll be practicing levitation spells. Everyone, pair up and begin.” Xavier took his seat at the back of the room, his cheeks burning with shame. As the other students effortlessly levitated objects, Xavier struggled, his lack of mana making even the simplest spell an insurmountable challenge. “Keep trying, Raymond,” Miss Seraphina said loudly, drawing snickers from the class. “Perhaps one day, you'll manage to lift a feather.” The rest of the day was a blur of humiliation and frustration. By the time classes ended, Xavier was nearly in tears. As he walked home, his head hung low, and the weight of his mother's absence pressed heavily on his heart. “How can my mother die when everyone else who went with her came back safely?” Xavier had asked himself this question thousands of times over the past ten years. “My mom never lies. She said she would be back. I must hold on and practice more. Then, when she returns, I can surprise her!” Xavier chanted within his mind while walking back from the academy. He endured all the injustice and bullying because of his resolve. It was the only thing that kept him going. When he finally reached his small, shabby cottage on the outskirts of the city, Xavier felt utterly defeated. The home he had shared with his mother felt emptier with each passing day. He sat down at the worn wooden table and pulled out a small, tattered book—his mother’s old journal. Inside were notes on spells, drawings of magical creatures, and bits of wisdom she had jotted down over the years. “Mom, I’ll make you proud,” he whispered, clutching the journal to his chest. “I know you’re still out there somewhere. And when you come back, I’ll be ready.” Then he remembered the box his mother had left him, the one she told him to open only on his eighteenth birthday. Today was that day. With trembling hands, Xavier retrieved the box from under his bed. He hesitated for a moment before opening it, revealing a mysterious bracelet and a locked diary. As he slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, a surge of energy coursed through him. The diary's lock clicked open, and its pages began to glow with an otherworldly light. “Why are pages empty?” Xavier murmured. Still, Xavier’s heart raced. He had a feeling that this was the key to unlocking his true potential. The bracelet, a gift from his father, and the diary, filled with his mother’s secrets, would guide him on the path to becoming the mage he was destined to be. Tomorrow's awakening ceremony would be his first step. But as the pages turned and a hidden message began to reveal itself, just before it could fully manifest, a sudden knock on the door startled him. Xavier froze, the glowing diary in his hands losing its luster, as a voice he hadn’t heard in years echoed through the night. “Xavier, it’s time.” “Who?” Xavier placed the diary carefully back into its box and approached the door cautiously. To his surprise, he found only a black cat staring at him, its ominous meow breaking the silence. Xavier hesitated, ready to close the door, when the mysterious voice echoed again from a distance: “Xavier, it is time. Are you ready?”