The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 3.1: Braun

Yulian moved his hands along with the hypnotizing rhythm. He chose to ignore the countless eyes fixed on him and did the routines he'd been doing for the past three years.

The routines were designed for women as for the past years only the chosen girls from a young age who had underwent training can perform the rite.

Only Yulian, was an exception as he became a symbol of hope and brought a spark of life during the darkest times of their town.

However, it was a bit awkward for him performing those routines. Altering the moves that suits his body type and at the same time perfectly aligned with his character was frowned by the town first. But he showed his determination and genuine feelings in performing through the past years that they began to accept the changes he brought.

Yulian found his rhythm and put a subtle force on both of his hands and feet creating a ripple effect to the air every time he turned. The once elegant and dreamy dance became aggressive and heart pounding display of power.

The crowd watched, transfixed on the boy below the moon. Anyone gazing up felt inferior to him, and instead of a worship dance, the boy seemed to be challenging the sky.

Yulian kept on dancing to the ever changing beats and as it nears to the end of the note. He began to concentrate his energy on his hands adding sparks trailing as he moved.

The crowd gasped.

The sparks became fires twirling around him and the same time the last beat of the drum struck, a human size eastern dragon made of flame roared out from his hand on to the sky above.

The crowd exclaimed more in surprise, some could not help but step back having the illusion that the dragon would lunged at them but instead it continued soaring up high as if wanting to swallow the moon. Before it could even reach the lonely moon, the dragon burst turning into little sparks raining down to people.

The audience one by one clapped after the breathtaking spectacle. Deafening shout of praises can be heard among the crowds.

Yulian stilled and kept a bowing form in front of them. He slowly raised his heads.

A pair of golden eyes met his.

Alex.

He smiled at his directions when he saw his new friend. He could not make out Alex's expression as shadows covered his face but he was certain the other guy had recognized him the way their eyes made contact. He wanted to get off the platform to greet him but he was already being cued to gather together with the others to exit the platform on the opposite direction of Alex.

Never mind... He'll visit him in the morning. He took one glance back at him but Alex was already gone on his seat.

Yulians dance became a buzz among tourists. Never ending praises came from their mouth for the belle of the festival. Though some foreign rich visitors had seen much more extravagant ceremony than this in a much bigger cities but still they can't help but admit that the boy had an impressive control and technique of fire element. It seems the town of Ruke had a bright future ahead of them for having this kind of talent.

Meanwhile, the 'belle' had been sleeping soundly on his own bed in his house. Curtains shut, small rays of light seeping through the gap unto to the sleeping boy who buried himself in his blankets.

A loud knock destroyed the quiet scene. Followed by the slamming of door and thudding footsteps of a giant coming up on his bedroom.

Yulian covered his face with his pillow as he already know what or who will be coming. Besides he felt the person's presence the moment he step on to the enchantment he set around his house, the only one who would come and had a key was his 'good' friend.

"Morning, sleeping beauty! Need a kiss yet?!" Arthur's booming voice came as he slammed his door opened.

"State your business quickly and rolled out." He said in a muffled voice and yawned. He wanted to sleep some more.

Last night they had a post celebration at the chief's house until the wee hours of the morning. And it's always a mystery why's his friend is so full of energy the next day.

He heard his curtains pulled open then his pillow yanked away from him. He squinted as the sudden light that came from the window shined on him. An overly excited face of Arthur appeared on his view.

"Father wants you in the house."

Yulian groaned and reached for his blanket but Arthur was faster. He managed to take it away from his body. "Come on, get up already!"

"By god..." Yulian muttered in annoyance. "Alright, alright... " He forced himself to get up if not, Arthur would pester him awake. And it must be important for Mr. Wallice to call for him after a weary night.

"Give me a minute."

"Hurry up... and don't bother to wash up as we're in an urgent situation," Arthur tried to stop him from getting to his bathroom.

He rolled his eyes at him and evade his offense. "Piss off, at least let me wash my face." He shut his bathroom door at his face when he tried to protest.

He took a quick wash of his face and all the necessities he needed to start his day, all while playing deaf to his nagging at the other side of the door. When he returned to his room, Arthur was impatiently tapping his feet as if counting every seconds away.

Ignoring his urging eyes, he rummage his warddrobe for clothes and managed to pull a black pants and a long sleeves white shirt coupled with a vest.

He could not helped but notice his friend seemed to be fidgety as he waits for him.

"You know my toilet is just around the corner if you really could not hold it," he said to him after getting dressed and they were exiting his house.

"Hell no!"

"Then what is it? You've been acting like a girl on her first date since." He locked his door and made sure to put an extra enchantment in secret. Just an old habit of his that he could not get rid of from his old life.

"Well... guess who's at the house right now?"

He almost swear he heard a squeal from him. "Just out with it. I haven't had my breakfast or ...," he looked up at the sun on its highest rise. "..lunch yet."

"William Braun! William Braun is at our house! And he brought a very good news..." Arthur wriggled his eyebrows while looking at him and even gave him those annoying mysterious smile.

Ah, William Braun. Now he understands why Arthur been acting giddy. Braun  was his hero.

William Braun was a healer who came to their town years ago before the plague broke out. It was him who saved the town due to his healing abilities. And Arthur had a deep admiration towards the famous healer.

However it was different for Yulian. He actually did not know personally this hero of Ruke, only some vague memories of him from this body so he wasn't much enthusiastic as Arthur.

He came to the body of Yulian when the original soul passed away at the age of ten during the plague. The gods provided him the memories of the original but not his emotions. So when he woke up and saw the familiar faces of the town, he did not felt anything. For him at that time viewed them as merely strangers.

For one year since his reborn, he tried to blend in among them, sometimes mimicking Yulians behavior and when he could not, he would blame his oddness to his near 'death experience'. And eight years passed, Yulian was gone. Traces of the original disappeared within him. Yulian finally became Yulan.

The only thing he felt regretful was Arthur and his family and those who loved Yulian did not know anything and was not able to properly send the real Yulian a proper goodbye. Not knowing that the one beside them was an anomaly.

They reached Arthur's house with the latter chirping away non-stop with his admiration for his hero. He managed to survive by meditating his mind. That way his words would come and go in his ears.

Mrs. Wallice reveled in high spirit had greeted and ushered them towards the study hall. She and Arthur had a matching mood. Only Yulian noticed her shining gazes whenever it landed on him. He was puzzled but chose to ignore it, in any way he will still find out when he gets to meet this healer and what's it got to do with him.

Upon reaching the study, Mrs. Wallice wiped an imaginary dust on her dress and even fixed her perfectly groomed hair before knocking and opening the door.

A man in his mid-thirties and wearing a round spectacles sitting across from the chief in the study room was the first he noticed the moment they entered. The honored guest William Braun, he thought.

"Ah, here they are." Mr. Wallice got up, followed by William Braun.

"William, you already met Arthur earlier and... this is Yulian." He motioned for the two boys to come closer.

"Why, yes of course," Mr. William adjusted his spectacles and gave a warm smile. "Arthur's been such a fine young host."

Arthur on his side gave out a nervous chuckle. "Th...ank you f-for the c-compliment, Mr..Mr. B-Braun. It was a pleasure of mine."

Yulian almost choked in trying to suppress his laughter at his friend's nauseating reply.

Braun gave a low chuckle, his demeanor gave off a older brother type of a guy. "Just Mr. William would be fine and..." his gaze turned to him "...the Albertine's boy."

It must be Yulian's imagination but he sensed a brief paused when he mentioned his parents. But the thought only lingered for a short time as Arthur nudged him hard as if saying that his idol was talking to him and should pay his utmost attention.

This brat really wanted a beating. He suppressed his annoyance.

"Hello, Mr. William, I'm Yulian Albertine" His greetings was curt, as he held out his hand.

Braun accepted his hand for a short handshake. "Hello, Yulian. It's always nice to see the young ones grow up so well despite..."

He stopped short, afraid to continue as it might bring a painful memory especially to the orphaned Yulian.

Mr. Wallice cleared his throat wanting to save his guest and Yulian from discomfort. "Come and be seated Yulian, Mr. William has a great news for you!"

The way the Wallice family been acting since earlier, he's been expecting this but had no clue of what its all about. He looked alternately at the joyous face of the chief and the gentle smile of Braun. "Yes, chief."

He took a step forward but not before looking back at Arthur whose expression was a mirror of his father's.

Arthur upon noticing his gaze tore away his adoring eyes from his hero and gave him a thumbs up. 'This punk definitely knows something.'

Arthur was then ushered outside by his mother while muttering, "...ai this old woman forgot to bring tea," before softly closing the door.