WHITE DARKNESS - BLACK MAGIC SAGA - BOOK 1

LEYLA'S BOOK

The end of October was rounding the corner, and when the leaves started to acquire such pretty red and orange shades before falling onto the ground to let the new blossoms be born, Leevanna Vaughan was having problems to understand what was she supposed to find for the first task of the tournament. She was about to crack her head open for it and she was certainly not kidding at f*****g all. The riddle she had been given just seemed so easy yet so difficult to understand.

She had asked Sthepon Reeves to help her understand at least some part of the riddle she had been presented with, but the woman had come up with the same conclusion Lhu had already said. She had to find something. What? She had no idea. Where? That was the problem. She didn’t know where the task was going to take place.

The tale given by the fairy said something about a cave, perhaps a dungeon under the chateau, but then deep into the ends of Earth between the ocean and the sky’s vast death met?

What did that even mean?

Leevanna had tried consulting geographic books she found in the school library now that she spent most of her time there, searching for a cave or something within the earth near Eskarya so the riddle would have an answer at least for that part. Stephon had sent her a book about crystals which had relation with the elements, because perhaps it would be a crystal cave.

And it wasn’t so farfetched to think like that.

In one of the books she had found in the library, Geography and Geology of Crystal Caves, it was said that deep into the Nivercier Forest surrounding the Eskarya Institute was a crystal cave underneath an arch of stone that once had been a mine.

Leevanna was hoping she was right about it, because if she wasn’t, there was no other clue to follow or hold on to. She had tried rearranging the words of the tale, the sentences, search for a deeper meaning behind it all, but it always led to the same conclusion: she had to find something to exit the place the task was going to take place, a crystal most likely. She hoped it was.

It had been a surprise, really, when all her female classmates had stood up for her that say raising the black handkerchief as a signal of their support to her. She knew her friends were saying yes for her, but she didn’t expect so much from it. At first, entering the tournament wasn’t such a big deal, meaning she didn’t believe it would be much more than fighting each other on an arena or something. Entering was for a greater good. Not for herself but for someone else.

And then her name had been announced as one of the champions and the first task came and she was lost.

There was a hope within her though, that the rest of the competitors hadn’t yet resolved the mystery of the rock-seeds they had been presented with. But then she remembered the pleased expressions of Óegnus Kyai when his champions were announced, as if he already knew.

Totally antagonistic to the sealed lips of headmistress Harmony Armstrong, for Uttara’s sake.

That woman was a b***h when she wanted to.

It wasn’t a supposition but a fact that most of the champions from Faris, thanks to Professor Ryuk Lawrence, and Stouvania already knew about the rocks being seeds, and surely at least two of them had already deciphered they had to search for something.

Fucking hell.

Ryuk Lawrence came from the descendance of Osnos, now, the god having so many woman at his feet made it pretty impossible to determine which of them had given birth to Lawrence’s great-great grandfather. He came from a line of soldiers, all of them who had fought alike for so many centuries when the Rebellions happened. Lawrence then by the start of the Second Rebellion had been one of the main strategist to attack The Abolition left, right and centre until they had no choice but back off. That was why he was the head of House Faris.

So, there was zero chance for Lawrence to help Leevanna in completing her tasks.

Fucking hell, indeed. The green eyed huffed.

She couldn’t concentrate in her homework for the class of Elemental Magic, and even if professors had told her she would have different deadlines than her classmates so she could concentrate in the tournament, she just wanted to finish the essay. The library was quiet that day, not many students. Probably because most of them were outside, enjoying the last remaining rays of the sunlight that October had to offer.

She was in a corner, a window in front of her. A huff let her mouth once again before her eyes fixed on the paper she had to hand by the end of the week. Her task was easy, as it was to write about the opposite element that she had been given. Professor Harmony Armstrong, one of the few people who could control the four elements, had assigned her the fire element. Being practically the opposite from her.

She had tried asking Freya and Mason about it.

How they managed their element, how it was to live without being able to lose control. And they had said pretty useful things, it wasn’t as if they hadn’t, but she just didn’t quite understand how to write them on paper and give sense to her ideas. She had to write about fire when she was the mere being who was supposed to extinguish it by nature. She was forgiving, fire wasn’t. She could float and fire just stood there, caged into one place only.

She was freeing and fire was… well, deadly to touch.

Still, she is grateful for the world to be reigned by elements and not simple spell work.

Elemental magic was more versatile than memorising hundreds if not thousands of specific spells that even then perhaps would not have the desired effect.

If you have affinity with your given element, it will do almost anything you can think to ask it.

Tapping her pen twice against the wooden table, her teeth caught her lower lip.

She had no idea of what to write.

And her mind was already somewhere else.

The f*****g tournament.

She tapped her pen against the table again.

An idea of what to write came to her mind.

But she shook her head.

Then another idea.

No, that was too vague.

But then it hit her. The perfect way to start.

She stared at the paper and clicked the pen to star writing what would be her best essay to the mere moment.

Freeing Catalyst

The flowing essence of life, it is the fluid of nature’s embrace. Water, a mesmerizing and ever-changing element that weaves its magic through the world. Tranquil and powerful, embodying the dual nature of serenity and strength. From serene lakes to cascading waterfalls, from gentle rain to tempestuous waves, water’s presence is an eternal dance that shapes landscapes and nurtures life. Water mirrors the sky like a flawless mirror, reflecting the very soul of the heavens. Its surface becomes a canvas for the sun’s radiant brushstrokes at dawn and dusk, a masterpiece of colours that blend and merge in harmonious unity. The ripples on its surface tell stories of whispered secrets and gentle caresses, carrying the essence of peace to those who stand by its shores.

Yet, it is also a force to be reckoned with, a fierce and unyielding power that shapes mountains and erodes canyons. With determination, it surges, carving its path through the hardest of stones, a reminder of nature’s indomitable will. Because that is water, an untameable beast.

Water is life’s elixir, nurturing all living beings with its cool embrace. It quenches thirst and sustains ecosystems, fostering the growth of vibrant flora and the vitality of creatures both great and small. Its gentle touch brings relief to the scorched earth, and its nourishing flow is a lifeline for the intricate web of existence. The element of water embodies emotions and fluidity, mirroring the ebb and flow of human sentiments. It is a muse for poets, an inspiration for artists, and a healer for souls seeking solace.

Water, in all its forms and manifestations, is a reminder of the intricate balance and interconnectedness of the natural world.

It holds the mysteries of the deep oceans and the purity of mountain springs, symbolizing the cycle of life, renewal, and transformation. As we gaze upon its shimmering beauty, we are invited to contemplate the eternal dance of creation and the profound wisdom that water imparts.

Water magic is cooperative and forgiving towards beginners. Contrary to fire, which requires an absolute perfect control of the mind because fire as an element doesn’t act in the same way that the other elements do. The person given fire as their element means they sustain it with their magic, which means, if they lose control of it, the first thing it does is consume you from the inside.

Fire, the elemental embodiment of raw energy and intensity, dances with an enchanting blend of beauty and power. Its presence commands attention, igniting both the physical and metaphorical realms with its captivating allure. At its core, fire is an embodiment of passion, representing the burning desires and fervent ambitions that drive human hearts. Its radiant glow warms the spirit and awakens the senses, casting a mesmerizing spell that draws one closer. Like a beacon in the darkness, fire evokes a sense of purpose and ignites the flames of creativity and determination.

In its gentlest form, fire dances with grace and elegance, weaving intricate patterns of light and shadow. The delicate flicker of a candle’s flame can be both soothing and enchanting, casting an intimate and comforting ambiance that invites introspection and contemplation. Its soft glow seems to hold the secrets of the universe, inspiring poets and dreamers to weave their tales. Yet, fire can also embody fierce and untamed energy, roaring with intensity and consuming all in its path. The crackling blaze of a bonfire or the ferocity of a lightning strike remind us of the elemental power that fire wields. Its untamed nature serves as a reminder of the forces that shape landscapes and forge destinies, leaving both destruction and rebirth in its colossal wake.

Fire is a catalyst of transformation, a force that engenders change through its ability to consume and renew. Just as flames consume wood to leave behind ash, fire symbolizes the shedding of the old to make way for the new. It invites us to release attachments, embrace the impermanence of life, and embrace the potential for rebirth and growth.

One is the freedom of the other, extinguishing the catalyst inside of the beings who suffer from the burns. They are the cascade of emotions which rumble between the earth and the sky’s vast stride. One is the tears and the other the flaming rage. Both are the greater grief of souls and bodies who yearn for the hope of hearts that would want them as they are.

With the final period dot, she leaves the pen by the side of the paper. She is about to rub her eyes, but her fists stop mid-way when she remembers Lhu made her wear an eyelash mascara so her eyes would look bigger or something.

Leevanna sighed. Content with the result of her essay.

All those hours in her manor learning how to write properly and neatly even if with quill or pen had been worth it, she sees it now. Some professors have even congratulated her for having an excellent handwriting, clear and legible just as elegant. Proper of a young lady who had been slapped in the wrist more times than she can count because she had messed up a letter or was to cursive. She smiled to herself, wondering how it may be to flow within flames of rage.

“Leevanna?”

With a yelp, she turned around.

“Oh, pardon me sweetheart, didn’t men to scare you,” the girl smiled. Leyla Trouvé. Her ash-blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in a half-ponytail. She was still wearing her uniform, just that now she had a luxurious white coat with white fur. She had seen some of the Stouvanian girls with it too.

Leevanna looked up and smiled. “Don’t worry, I got carried away doing homework,” she said before checking the hour. One hour and thirty minutes left for dinner. Uttara, she had been two hours there already. “Do you need something?”

She had met Leyla a few years ago, when Neferet had suggested Stouvania Academy as Leevanna’s centre of studies instead of Eskarya. Leyla was two years older than her and had been the one in charge of presenting her academy to Leevanna. They had exchanged directions and started sending letters to each other. So they were kind of friends. Leyla had even taught Leevanna how to use a holograms, what made researching even easier.

“Actually,” said the Stouvanian girl in her best attempt of English accent.

Leevanna knew that even if it wasn’t a require for school, all people were expected to learn English as a requirement for life. “I wanted to see you for, er — to show you something,” this last part she whispered close to the jade-eyed.

Leevanna blinked and started gathering her things to put them in her school bag. She put on her cardigan and followed the Stouvanian girl outside the library.

They walked in silence; the hallways were starting to pack with students who recently returned from outside. It had started to get chilly, and the sky wasn’t so blue anymore, it had acquired a grey colour, and dark clouds were threatening to announce rain. Leevanna glanced at the girl next to her. Layla was tall, a few inches more than her at least, and the natural elegance made her look sophisticated. She made the jade-eyed remember her own mother. They walked similarly. Hips swaying, high heels clicking and hands delicately placed side by side. Leevanna now recalled seeing a picture of her mum wearing the same white coat.

Leyla seemed to know where to go, so Leevanna remained silent and just continued to follow her. They were at the back of the chateau; she could tell by the view. The greenhouses were by the right side just like the spaces where a few magical creatures were raised. It was like a barn but more sophisticated and cleaner. Leevanna held the strap of her school bag tightly, she could feel her nails digging in.

Where were they going?

They continued walking, and as they exited the chateau, Layla paused her walking and stood before the Nivercier Forest which is a perhaps twenty feet away. “The tournament,” she said. “I figured out zat you won’t be receivin’ much help from your headmistress,” her blue eyes into Leevanna’s. “I saw your book earlier, you’re right… We’ve got to go to — er, crystal cave. I left a book on a rock near a clearing, please find it and read it.”

Leevanna couldn’t stop staring at the girl in front of her.

She was actually helping her.

And she had been right all this time. They were going to the crystal cave inside the forest.

“There is a crystal we ‘ave to find,” Leevanna was about to explode in emotion. She had been right. She had been right. “Please read the book,” Layla’s eyes then drifted to the chateau. “I ‘ave to go. The headmaster will be looking for me — he will kill me if he knows I helped —” between murmurs in fast Kilskian, her eyes were now again on Leevanna as she hugged her briefly. “Good luck.”

And with that, Leyla started rushing to the chateau, leaving Leevanna perplexed at the entry of the forest.

The jade-eyed turned around, being greeted by the gloomy enchantment of the forest. She looked up at the sky, the clouds were bigger and darker now. This was a bad idea, she knew. Entering the forest at this hour of the day was certain death, but then, if Layla had left something for her there because it was the only place she could hide it, Leevanna had to find it before someone else did. There was no other choice.

Taking a deep breath and clinging to the strap of her school bag, she made sure nobody was seeing or following her before she started to walk into the deeps of the forest.

As she stepped into the enchanted forest, a world of wonder and magic unfolded before her senses. Tall and ancient trees, their gnarled roots clutching the earth like the fingers of wise old souls, create a cathedral of emerald and deep green that stretches as far as the eye can see. Shafts of the remaining light from the sky piece through the dense canopy, creating a dappled tapestry of shadow that dances upon the forest floor which is scattered with different kinds of flowers in hues of purple, blue, and gold.

The air is alive with a symphony of natural melodies — the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze, the trill of unseen birds perched high among the branches, and the distant murmur of a babbling brook. The fragrance of earth and moss mingles with the sweet aroma of wildflowers, enveloping her in a sensory embrace that awakens her spirit. She can sense the magic from the fairies.

Moss-covered rocks and fallen logs are dispersed throughout, inviting weary travellers to pause and rest. Delicate ferns unfurl their fronds in hidden corners, creating secret sanctuaries, A vibrant array of fungi decorates the forest floor as well in a myriad of shapes and colours.

As she wandered deeper into the heart of the Nivercier forest, the trees seem to lean in closer, whispering ancient secrets and takes of ages long past to her. It is getting darker.

Creatures of myth and reality make their homes here — a cautious deer pauses to meet her gaze, and she almost dies of a heart-attack when a playful squirrel darts among the branches. An old owl perched high above, staring at her. As the day gives away into dusk, the forest undergoes a transformation she doesn’t want to be there for. Fireflies emerge, their soft luminescence punctuating the twilight with fleeting bursts of light. The stars were starting to twinkle overhead, their brilliance unobscured by the canopy’s embrace, as if the forest itself is a bridge between the earthly realm and the vast cosmos.

She knows that in the heart of this forest in specific, times takes on a different rhythm, a gentle cadence that urges her to slow down and embrace the beauty of the present moment. It is a realm where nature and magic intertwine, where dreams and reality converge, and where the mysteries of the world come alive in a symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations that resonate deep within your soul.

But she doesn’t have time for it.

A rock makes her stop midway her walking. The half of a book makes her sigh in relief and smile. Layla had carelessly covered it with a fabric so it couldn’t be found. Leevanna made the fabric aside and read the title of the book: Mystical Wind Crystals and Their Properties by Brooklyn Evershine.

A soft frown decorated her forehead. She certainly isn’t understanding anything about this.

Wind crystals?

What did that have to do with the task?

Suddenly, raindrops started falling over her. Great now she will be all sticky. Honestly, how wonderful.

One sinister murmur made her look up from the book, which she made sure to place inside her bag.

“Who is there?” she asks to no one.

There is a kind of cave in front of her. Covered with moss and ferns. She doesn’t see quite well. It is like a foreign corner. A place to hide…

She feels her body go tense and her head suddenly burning.

Fear wears many faces — a gnawing unease, a racing pulse, a prickling of the skin. It can be a whispering voice that sows doubt in the quiet corners of your mind, or an overwhelming torrent that drowns reason and logic. It’s the instinctive surge that floods your body with adrenaline, preparing you to fight, flee, or freeze in the face of danger.

In the realm of shadows, fear manifests as the imagined monsters that lurk in the darkness, the phantoms of our nightmares that become all too real in the theatre of the mind. It’s the trepidation that clings to the unknown, the uncertainty that tugs at the corners of your thoughts, and the vulnerability that surfaces when facing the unfamiliar.

The murmur became heavier and darker. She gulped.

“I swear if someone is playing me a prank, I will kill you,” she could feel her voice trembling. A pause. The big and large drops of water trespassing her clothes and strands of hair making it stick to her face.

And then the shadows made her eye go wide.

A Phantomind.

A bloody Phantomind.

It was a f*****g joke, right?

The universe was playing f*****g jokes on her or what?

What was she going to do? Say to it that she needed to go to the bathroom and then run faster than in a marathon? Offer the Phantomind a hot cup of tea as they eat chocolate cookies in a tea party dressed like princesses? Yes, she had been joking with her thoughts about how badly she wanted to die… But — well… That was not a good moment for her to die. And — And she needed to get better clothes! Like — Like a black dress or something. And she also needed to fix her makeup and — and a hairstylist to fix her hair — maybe — maybe she could dye it purple — she couldn’t be left on the floor just like — like that! She would look like a potato which had been left behind! That would be extremely embarrassing!

She did not even realise that she had started shedding tears uncontrollably. She stayed frozen in place as the black creature slowly approached her, threatening to attack. She didn’t even have the time to wonder why the bloody Phantonmind was there if they weren’t allowed to approach the school in general.

Phantominds were shadows in the shape of soldiers, phantoms of minds. They were born of them, created by the feelings of desperation, fear and death of the souls who fought and didn’t get to win. They are Astral Projections of the deepest part of hate merged with resentment. However, even if born of fear, they had been made to protect people from their enemies.

They were commonly used in the armies as a barrier to protect the soldiers who would fight. Eglary, Kilska and half of Monatry had been using them to protect the frontiers they had with Shiat so the terrorist group couldn’t set a foot there. Now, they were in the borders of Eskarya Institute as a protective measure now that the two schools were coming over. They were supposed to only be in the borders of Nivercier Forest and Ayrith in case something happened.

The soldier made of shadows starting marching towards Leevanna.

So she runs.

Flees the scene.

The trees seem to lean in even closer. She is lightheaded. Everything goes too fast.

She knows though, she’s not going to exactly die right there and there if the Phantomind touches her. She’s not an ignorant. And it’s a pity for her not being one.

Because she knows that when a person is touched by one of those horrid things, their brain goes instantly to a place in her Astral Projection were her worst fears are a reality. The person’s body would only become a vase. It can’t feel, it can’t think, it can’t process, what provokes for the person affected to completely lose their personality.

Making them also a Phantomind.

If she is touched by that thing that was coming after her, not even a thread of her magic would be able to be recovered because her element would be gone forever. All of what makes her Leevanna Vaughan would be lost.

All the memories.

All the feelings.

Gone.

There would be no turning back.

She knows that if the Phantomind embraces her, all would be lost in a black mass which would just leave the scariest of her memories left behind, that she would find her mind locked in a cage with everything that has haunted her through her life.

The Phantomind embrace is considered to be a punishment worse than death, she knows. And she thinks that maybe she deserves it, no — there’s no ‘maybe’ — she deserves a punishment worse than death. Because death wasn’t entirely a punishment, it would make her stop suffering, that was not a punishment, it was a gift.

However, she can’t.

She would not.

The end of the forest comes into view before her eyes, and she, out of breath, starts to run even faster.

She can feel the shadows behind her, icy and full of hatred.

The end of the forest greets her.

But before she can scream for help, she trips and falls.

Turning around, her eyes make contact with the knight’s.

And just when the fallen soldier is about to catch her and dictate her life sentence, a miracle happened.

“Platrium!”