The Reawakened Mage

Chapter 3: Reawakening

Logan blinked once then twice, trying to make sense of it all. But it didn’t matter how many times he thought about it, it still didn’t make sense, and his brain could only provide one liable explanation.

The voice came again, causing him to jolt in his spot. ‘You’ve been chosen for a great cause.’

Him? The weakest in Nexus? Chosen for a great cause?

Logan laughed at the mere thought. “No doubt I’ve gone crazy.” he continued, flopping back on his bed. “This might be a dream too,” I wonder if I get some more sleep then I would stop hearing things.”

Logan pretended to sleep, and for minutes everything settled in silence, but his relief was short-lived.

Just then, Logan felt as if the body was on fire, and he yelped at the sudden pain. A wisp of fog enveloped him, and he watched in awe as the fog took the shape of a man.

Logan sat up slowly, swallowing hard as his heart rammed against his chest. He unconsciously held his breath,

the hairs on the back of his neck standing erect.

The fog cleared, leaving a mysterious man who floated in the air with a refined grace. His figure was tall and imposing, his silver hair cascading down his back like an endless waterfall.

His piercing blue eyes found Logan, his expression impassive as he eyed the boy from head to toe.

“You're……” Caelus trailed off, his eyes narrowed in assessment, “….Just a kid.”

“Is that bad?” Logan blurted out, and Caelus fought the urge to roll his eyes at his stupidity. Was this puny child the vessel his soul had chose to abide in?

“No.” Unlike his domineering appearance, his voice was smooth and calm. “It just means I have a lot of work on my hands.”

Logan settled in silence, staring at Caelus in pure fascination. He had no idea what was going on, causing his curiosity to reach its peak, but at the same time, he was too scared to ask.

“Are you the god from the legend? ” He muttered under his breath, and Caelus tilted his head to the side in interest.

“Legend? Do you know about me?”

Logan nodded meekly, hesitating a bit before speaking. “You were banished from the circle of the gods, and chose to reside on earth.”

Caelus scoffed at this. “Is that how they spun the story?”

Logan’s brows furrowed in confusion, but before he could ask any questions, Caelus snapped his fingers. Logan suddenly felt a surge of energy flow through him, and suddenly he was flooded with visions and memories that weren't his.

He saw Caelus, standing tall and proud among the gods. Next, he saw a fierce battle where Caelus protected a group of humans against the gods. Finally, he saw Caelus being subdued and broken as he was cast out of the heavens against his will.

The visions faded, and Logan hunched over, gasping for breath. The realization of the truth dawns upon him, Caelus wasn't banished because he was evil, but because he chose to protect humans over his position.

But why? Why did the gods banish him just for that? Weren't they as pure and good as everyone believed?

“Do you understand now, child?” Caelus leaned against the wall, his hands tucked into his robe. “There is so much I cannot tell you at the moment, but I will say this….”

Slowly, Logan raised his head, dread seeping into his stomach and settling there.

“I will lend you my power and teach you how to master it. With it, you can rise among the ranks, but this is all to prepare for the main task.”

“Main task?” he dared to ask.

Caelus nodded. “To find my body and return my soul to its rightful place.”

As much as he wanted to, Logan couldn't deny that Caelus was real, and he had somehow roped himself into something he knew would change his life.

Would it be for better or worse?

*****

Caelus had explained that his soul took the shape of the precious stone after he was banished, but his immortal body was hidden by the royal family.

Logan needed to get access to the castle before he could begin to search for Caelus's body.

“How am I supposed to get into the castle?” Logan strolled alongside Caelus through the secluded section of the halls, but only Logan could see and hear him.

“Don't mages get dispatched by the royal family?” Caelus yawned, but Logan still couldn't see his point.

“Yes, but only high-ranked mages, and if you haven't realized yet, I'm the weak—”

“The weakest mage, I'm aware of that.” Caelus waved him off. “But that would change soon enough.”

As Logan reached his class, Caelus's form dissipated, but his voice continued to echo in Logan’s mind.

“Just do as I say.”

Logan quickly moved to his seat, taking deep breaths. His hands were sweaty as he gripped his spell book, the absurdity of his situation dawning on him.

Professor Orion, a stout man with a bushy beard, walked into the classroom with a tired expression, starting the class for today. His beady eyes roamed the students as he spoke. "Today, we will be practicing spellcasting and defense in pairs. Please find a partner and begin."

As usual, no one wanted to pair with him, and the professor noticed and chose a partner for him.

"Logan Thorne, you will be partnering with... Jinx Vex.”

Logan never really paid much attention to his classmates, but he instantly recognized his opponent. She was one of the students who indulged in black magic.

His eyes widened, but then he noticed the emblem on her uniform. It was a clove badge, which meant she was a middle-class mage.

Jinx, a tall, slender girl with long blonde hair, looked uneasy as she faced him. "Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” She had muttered under her breath, but her lips didn’t move.

Logan blinked, his brows furrowed in confusion. Did he just hear her thoughts? How was that possible?

“News flash. My powers. Her mind shield was left open due to the shock of seeing you, opening an entrance for you to read her thoughts.” Caelus reminded him. “But what you should be worried about is why she would want you dead.”

Logan took a deep breath, his grip on his spell book tightening. He guessed she wanted to keep the incident of forbidden magic a secret, and maybe Aira had assured them that he was dead.

Aira Flynn.

Anger bubbled in his chest as the image of her sick smirk flashed in his mind.

“Take your stance.” The professor called, snapping him back to reality.

Logan hesitated, and a snicker echoed through the room, followed by hush whispers.

“He looks like he’s going to pee his pants.”

“This would be over in less than a second.”

“Jinx would mop the floor with him.”

“What a loser.”

Logan's shoulders sagged in shame, but Cealus’s voice came again, sharp and firm,

“Ignore them and focus.”

Logan relaxed, regaining his composure. His spell book floated in mid-air as he prepared himself.

Jinx’s spell book also floated, the pages turning. She was on defense while he was on offense, and if he managed to break down her shield, then he passed.

Jinx’s expression was smug as she

began to cast her spell, while Logan opened his spellbook, expecting to see the same familiar page with a single, pathetic spell. Instead, he was shocked to see that his spellbook had grown, with new pages filled with intricate symbols and diagrams.

Caelus's voice whispered in his mind. “Direct your core energy to your fingertips, pick a symbol, and make the same sign with them to conjure a blast.”

Logan’s fingertips trembled he picked a simple symbol that resembled an S.

“Focus your energy.”

He made the sign with precise speed,

and a burst of magic erupted from his fingertips. Jinx gasped as she stumbled backward, her spell faltering.

The classroom fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Logan. Professor Orion's eyebrows shot up in surprise as well.

Logan's lips parted in awe as he looked down at his hands in awe, his chest heaving with an emotion that felt so foreign to him before this moment. Triumph.

“This is just the beginning.” Caelus sounded prideful. “Prepare for your reawakening child.”