Purity

“In the midst of destruction, we breathe light into those around us for peace of mind.” That’s what I told Lei as we readied our swords for what may be our final hour. But let’s start from the beginning of it all. My name is James Clearborn. I’m not the most attractive guy being 17, shorter in stature, long brown hair, green eyes and skinny as a stick you pick up from the ground that snaps once you grab it with two hands. I was raised by a family of clerics. Clerics having pride in their magical capabilities, are adamant on pushing your knowledge of power to its absolute limits to create powerful healers and fighters. At least, that’s how my family works. Needless to say, I don’t get along with my family, Because I have no magical capability whatsoever. See; due to my lack of magic power and looking so much like my mother, and nothing like my father, he favors my two brothers Marcus and Seth, over me. Marcus is a tall muscular brute, blond hair and blue eyes. Seth is a medium stance, slightly chubby, red hair and green-eyed moron who only knows spells that makes things explode or catch fire. My father is the cleric High priest. That title means he is the highest power among all clerics in our town Elvios. He is required to bring King Eastwood at least one high level cleric over the age of 18 for the army. All kids in our town go to King Eastwood after they turn 18 and get their role into the army. From that point, they are enlisted for 72 months. In the past 14 years of my recollection, we haven’t had one return. I turn 18 in 3 weeks. No magical power, no chance of survival. I’m dreading the day I have to see the King. Groggy and exhausted I woke up this morning and was given my tasks as I do every day. Run to the baker for 2 Loaves of bread, butcher for a slab of veil, then back home to begin pulling eggs from the hen house for the townspeople to come and get their daily rations. Not having any magical ability, I have taken over the egg cart for the family from the age of 8. I make my rounds and give everyone their rations. Every family has a set amount they receive. Families of 3, 2 dozen, families of 4, 3 dozen, so on and so forth. I remember everyone in the town, so I know how large every family is. The best part of my day is pushing my cart just past the town square to my best friend Lei Wortham’s house. She’s an amazing cleric, beautiful young woman also 17 years old. Her almost orange hair and blue eyes are absolutely distracting from the fact that she can snap your neck with a wiggle of her finger. She is the most powerful cleric our age and my father hates me for it. “Disgraceful for a Clearborn to be outmatched magically by a Wortham. AND A GIRL NONE THE LESS!” he yells. I don’t really care what my father thinks. Yea, maybe I have a slight crush on Lei. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and she never treated me differently for my lack of powers. “Morning Jamie!” Lei shouts, only her head sticking out from her window upstairs from in her home, “I’ll be down in just a second, let me get dressed!” Immediately my mind wanders to what she could possibly mean by that simple sentence. What? I’m 17. Don’t judge me for my mind thinking the way a 17-year-old mind is supposed to think on instinct. She calls me “Jaimie” as her own little nickname for me. She comes out to the street holding a large basket full of an assortment of fresh fruit where I’m standing with my egg cart and gets her families 4 dozen eggs. They are a family of 5. Her parents, her little sister Iris, and her baby brother Zane. And Lei. Iris is 6 and looks identical to her older sister and is another family cleric prodigy. At 6 years old, she’s already able to conjure small healing spells and invoke her land aura to grow poppies and fruits. “What kind of trouble are you going to get yourself into today Jaimie?” questions Lei. “I’m just doing my duties as the priests’ son and the egg cart boy, why would I get in trouble?” I replied “Please,” She smirks, “You are chased by trouble on every brick your feet tread on.” “You’ve got a point Lei, but you’ll be the one in trouble today.” I remark. “And how might that be?” she asks “You forgot your bra when you got dressed today. Your dad is going to be very mad if he hears about you leaving the house without proper clothing.” I explain. “Oh, so you’re only paying attention to my chest? I guess you’re jealous that yours haven’t come in yet.” She replies. “That’s true, you’re a boy! All that hair makes me confused sometimes Jaimie. Maybe a trim would fit you nicely?” “You b***h!” I chuckle. “Anyways, I’ve got your fruit for the Clearborn family in the basket. Maybe later we can skip out on mana studies and go do something fun? Like cart racing or climbing the tree of purity?” She suggests. “You know we can’t climb the tree anymore. Last time we did that my dad made us help the butcher all day.” I muttered annoyingly. “Who’s going to find out when everyone is focused on Mana studies?” she replies seductively. Now, at this point I know what she’s getting at. She knows I am incapable of telling her no, so we are going to inevitably get ourselves into more trouble. We are always doing things together that the entire town dislikes because we get bored of all the nonstop studies and training. Lei and I have been in trouble more times than we could count on both of out fingers and toes combined, but because of that, we have the best friendship. “Well, I need to get going Lei,” I said, “people need protein.” I loudly remark. “See you in a few hours Jaimie,” she replies, “And bring the rope!”