Chapter 26 – VATRANUM
1284 Words
INSIDE the library, Eleand looked for the priestess, but she was not around. He found two male faeries busy reading from a thick old book. They wore hooded gray robes with gold embroidery.
A moment later, Fariyah emerged near him. Her usual cold expression was all over her face again.
“You’ll start your Vatranum training today. Fire magic is the most complicated among the four elements, be careful.” Fariyah earnestly said.
He lightly nodded. Eleand tried not to raise his brow upon hearing her. She wanted him to be careful while she almost killed him twice. This High Priestess was a two-faced witch!
One of his goals now was to get even with Fariyah for trying to end his life. He couldn’t forget what she had done to him. Once he became strong, he would not hesitate to ask her for another deathmatch.
“I will give you a week to master the basics of fire elements. Then you’ll have to fight me again.” She clicked her fingers, and five thick books materialized for his sight. She gently put them on the table, using the icicles covering it.
“I will push my limit just to learn the Vatranum.” Eleand had some internal struggles thinking that Fariyah only gave him seven days to master the basics of fire magic. It sounded so impossible for him, but he had to have faith.
“You will not do it alone. Fire manipulation is risky. Two of my disciples will help you. Since I’m occupied these days securing our land.” She introduced him to the two male faeries he had seen earlier.
“My name is Eleand. I hope we get along well.” He smiled when the two stood in front of him.
At a glance, they seemed to be twins because the resemblance was uncanny. The only difference was their haircut—one had long hair and the other short. But he didn’t voice it out since he was hesitating whether these two could be trusted.
Eleand thought that if they were Fariyah’s disciples, they could also be as deadly as the High Priestess, and they would not hesitate to kill him if he was careless. He should take extra precautions and trust no one aside from Enkille.
“They are Althy and Rade.” Fariyah introduced the two.
“Swasah, Eleand.” The two said in unison. They lightly arched their heads down.
Fariyah started to enumerate the cautions, “You will only cast fire magic outside the temple. Understood?”
Eleand nodded.
The High Priestess continued to reiterate the rules, and she left immediately after.
“Whoa, that was a very long list.” Rade shook his head. His long hair was neatly tucked on the side with a gold hair accessory.
“That’s the High Priestess for you. By the way, are you ready to learn fire magic?” Rade looked at him.
Eleand stood in between the two. “Yes, I am.”
“Great! We’ll have fun.” Althy winked.
Eleand removed his reservations. He was grateful these two were accommodating. He could sense they were equally friendly.
“We’ll waste no time. Let’s start!” Rade sounded enthusiastic.
They guided him towards the lower part of the library. It was dark down there. Althy used his ice magic to give them light.
Eleand was amazed how the two effortlessly cast ice magic without using a magic circle, but only the simplest incantation.
HANDLING the basic spells for fire magic was difficult indeed. Eleand was indebted to his two trainers, who were patient to teach him. Every symbol became complicated. He tried several trials and errors before he could properly make it.
The basic incantations were complex, too. He had to whisper the ancient faerie language with correct and exact enunciation. Although they were not forcing him, he was just persistent. He was just given a week to learn. He couldn’t afford to lose his third battle with Fariyah.
They took breaks. And during this time, he could be at ease with them because they were really strict and serious about teaching him the Vatranum.
“Are you brothers?” he asked when they were resting. They were outside the temple, getting fresh air.
“Cousins,” Rade said, smiling.
They had the same metallic gray hair and ocean blue eyes. Rade’s long hair was about shoulder length. In comparison, Althy’s hairstyle was just ear length. They were fair-skinned. At a glance, they were strikingly good-looking, especially that he noticed a lot of female faeries would swoon in front of them.
“Are you guys a native faerie from here?”
Althy answered, “We’re half-argian.”
Eleand nodded. “I’m curious, how an argian fae looks like?”
The cousins looked at each other. “You have never been in Argia?” they said almost at the same time.
Eleand held himself and silently gritted his teeth. He almost sold off his true identity.
Astonishment filled their faces. But he still chose to be sincere, “I haven’t been there. Normally, I stay in Noyuh, at the Golden Palace. I don’t have much magic, that’s why.”
“But I don’t think you’re just a Commoner. I could sense an unfathomable amount of mana inside your body. It only needs to be tapped.” Althy said.
“Really?” Eleand nodded. He somehow knew that since he had been told about the possibility of him having a faerie origin.
“Don’t worry, once you mastered the Vatranum, we’ll visit Argia.” Rade assured him, and he added, “But, will it be okay with you if we just sneak out and don’t ask permission to Fariyah and Enkille?”
“As long as we won’t take long, I’m fine with that.” Their offer was very tempting. How could he refuse? He wanted to see the Capital City. According to the stories he heard, Argia would leave him in awe.
The cousins grinned and exchanged mischievous glances.
“All right, we’ll tell you when is the right time to leave unnoticed,” Althy said.
They sealed the deal. They went back to his training in full concentration. They praised him for learning so fast.
Eleand went back to his room at dusk. He thanked the cousins for conveying their knowledge in fire manipulation.
WHILE fixing his bed, Eleand hummed his favorite rock song. If Enkille was busy during this time, another faerie was tasked to look after him.
He was satisfied with the fire magic basics. However, he couldn’t wield it yet. In a few days, he would practically summon a fire.
He settled himself in his bed and looked at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and imagined the symbols he repeatedly made earlier. He jokingly whispered the short incantation he learned.
The training was brutal. But he could survive. His hard work would never betray him.
His flashy smile faded when he felt the burning sensation in his right hand.
What the heck is wrong with my hand?
As he raised it, his eyes widened in bewilderment. There was a glint of black fire emitting from his fingers. So darn hot!
He stood up in terror and rushed inside his bathroom. He submerged his hand in the water, but it wouldn’t easily put out. He panicked, trying to remember the spell to get rid of fire, and luckily, he recalled it in the midst of his trepidation. He chanted the spells until the fire was gone.
They were right. Fire magic was deadly.
He almost burned his hand.
And one thing that bothered him, the water couldn’t put out the black fire!
- Writer
