Cineraceorum - Chapter 4 Disasters Eve

It’s been a couple days since I started at Helix academy. They tend to follow the same routine, I go to school, I sit through some boring ass lectures, me and Mika train and then I go home. The training with Mika has taken on a different nature from our first session. I still make sure she learns some of the basics when it comes to defending herself, but for the most part I focus on trying out higher level spells and letting her heal me when I get too worn out. After experiencing her abilities firsthand, I can see why her village worshipped her. When she heals me it’s not just my physical wounds, my mana gets restored as well, almost like she’s healing me on a spiritual level. Its not much, and she can’t put me back to one hundred percent, but I don’t go home tired anymore. If and when she gets stronger, she’ll be a human battery. There is one other thing that’s become routinethose tremors. Ever since the first day of school they’ve gotten more and more intense, and they’re starting to become an issue. On the news there are reports that the sentinels are investigating it, but nothing has come of it. If this keeps up the volcano’s gonna have a hissy fit, and that will NOT be pretty. I feel like there’s something I should be doing but I don’t know what. I have all this power, but what good is it if I can’t even do anything with it?

SMACK!

“OWWW! WHAT THE HELL?!”

“THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR SPACING OUT IN MY CLASS! PAY ATTENTION DUMBASS OR I’LL DO MORE THAN THROW CHALK AT YOU!”

“Yea, yea sorry.”

Lana stares at me with a puzzled expression, before she resumes her lecture. Sounds like she’s talking about the basics of magic usage. I don’t really need to hear this, but I don’t want my head used for target practice again.

“As most of you know magic affinity is a genetic trait. Your parents are the ones you get your affinity from, so if you have 2 parents with a fire nature, you’ll be born with fire, or 2 with water and you’ll be born with water and so on. It is also possible to have a mixed affinity. If a fire and water user were to have a child, said child would have a chance of being born with a high affinity for both elements. It is a common practice in noble families for marriages to be arranged to produce children with desired magical traits, our very own Talion should be well aware of that fact.

“Yea, you have no idea. My parents are already picking out women who they think will add something valuable to the family.”

Oh yea, he did mention something about an arranged marriage.

“I’m sure. Anyway, it is also possible for a child to only take after one parent. This is more common than a child having two natures which is why arranged marriages are not a surefire way to make a “super baby”. Another thing to be noted is that magic affinity is not a block on a mage’s ability to learn other magic. Many mage’s practice spells from other elements or schools to enhance their strength, but it is worth noting that their affinity does mark the type of magic they can use at the highest level. There are 12 known tiers or levels of spells that we know of. Normal humans are only able to perform up to level 6 in an affinity they are not skilled in and on average up to level 8 in the affinity they are born with. Anything above that, and they tend to burn up their mana reserves and die. Most supernatural beings such as vampires, don’t have such a limit due to having larger mana reserves. There are however case’s where humans can exceed that limit for a short time. Does anyone want to take a guess when that is? Yes, Talion?”

“Easy, the answer is Ban-”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence. How aboutyou Reina?”

“Oh, umokay. Isn’t itwhen umthey use Zero Point?”

“Correct Reina, the answer is Zero Point. Zero Point is an enhanced state that any mage can reach through intense training. The mage takes on a state that can be best described as the “true form” of their soul. This state boosts the user’s abilities tremendously, resulting in a boost of power that ranges anywhere from five to ten times. In humans, it also removes the limiter on their mana flow, allowing them to cast spells normally beyond their capabilities. This does however come with a major drawback. If the user stays in this state too long eventually their own mana will overwhelm them and cause them to self-destruct. Again, supernatural beings have a much higher tolerance for this form, so they are able to fight in this state longer than the average human can. Now does anyone know why Zero Point has its name? Yes, Vela?”

“It comes from the dangerous nature of the form. When a mage uses it, it is typically a last resort, and when two mages use this form in battle one of them tends to die.”

“Correct Vela. The term was coined during the Sanguine Bellum when it was common for humans to use the transformation in an effort to keep up with their enemies. It is also worth noting that the transformation is VERY dangerous to the inexperienced, so it’s crucial you have a cool head and a firm grasp on the basics before attempting it.”

With that last sentence she makes a pointed look right at me. Why does she have to look at me like that? I’m not stupid enough to try Zero Pointyet. Then as if almost answering my stomach’s prayers, the bell for lunch finally rings.

“Alright kids, you know the drill by now. Have a good lunch and be back on time.”

I jump up from my seat and make a mad dash for the door, only to be stopped by my teacher’s voice.

“Not you Damian, hang back I need to talk to you.”

Aww dammit.

“AHAHAHAHHAAHHA! Have fun Damian we’ll be waiting for you!”

“SHUT IT LEO!”

“Aww that’s cute. Don’t worry Damian, we don’t mind. Do what you gotta do, don’t let us get in the way of your romance.” Talion says.

Great it’s like I’m just a big, fat joke to everyone and did that bastard just wink at me?!

“ONE OF THESE DAYS WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT, AND I’M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!”

“I DON’T THINK SO BUDDY!”

Damn him he always has to get the last word.

“Ahem. That’s nice and all, but it’s not polite to keep a lady waiting you know.”

“Do you even count as a lady? You’re probably closer to a grandm-”

SMACK!!

“Okay, okay I’m sorry chill out.”

“Come on follow me let’s talk somewhere a little more private.”

I follow her out of the classroom, and she brings me to a room in the west wing of the building. If I remember right, all the rooms over here are teacher’s offices. Whipping out a blood red key, a blue wave washes over the door then dissipates. I didn’t know the teacher’s offices had barriers on theminteresting. I follow Lana inside and look around the room. There’s a desk with a computer near the room’s center with a tv mounted on the right wall. Across from the tv is a brown leather couch and a mini fridge. Behind the desk is a window with a good view of the courtyard. Closing the curtains (which are blood red of course) Lana makes her way over to the fridge and pulls out a sandwich and a juice box. Sitting down on the couch she motions for me to come over and hands me the food.

“Lana, I don’t know how many times I’ve said this but-”

“Yea, yea I know I’m the best. Now hurry up and eat I wanna talk to you without having to listen to your stomach growl.”

Following her advice, I start wolfing down my food while she waits patiently. What’s with that look in her eye? She almost looks like she’s concerned about something. I Finish eating my food, and let out a huge yawn.

“Are you tired, Dami?”

“Yea a little bit.”

After I say that she pats her lap.

Whoa for real?

“Are you serious? Thank you.”

I take my shoes off, put my feet up on the couch, and finally lay my head down on her lap. This is nice. Very nice. I close my eyes and I smell Lana’s distinctive scent, Lilac and berries. The one smell on the planet that can instantly put me at ease. That’s when she starts to pat my head, sending a sudden jolt through my body. Great, now I’m starting to get embarrassed about what we’re doing. She hasn’t let me do this since I was a kid.

“Damiis everything okay?”

Huh?

“What do you mean? I’m fine, especially right now.”

“Well you seem a little off.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well for one thing you actually paid attention in class for more than five minutes.”

“The lecture was interesting this time.”

“Yea, okay. Then how about when you apologized when I yelled at you. You haven’t done that since you were younger.”

“Maybe I just feel bad for causing you so much trouble.”

“Damian.”

This time she says my name with an edge of steel in her voice. Dammit when she gets like this there’s nothing I can do, besides tell her what she wants to know.

“Okay, okay I get it. Give me a second.”

I collect my thoughts, and decide to tell her what’s been bothering me.

“Wellhave you been feeling those tremors that started last week?”

I open my eyes and see her nod.

“Well isn’t it strange? There haven’t been tremors here in centuries, the dragons and the ancient council made sure of that. So why? What the hell is going on to throw a few hundred years of stability out the window? I just feel like I should be doing something more.”

“You’re always acting like this you know.” She says with a light chuckle.

“What?”

“You’re always acting like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You’re just a kid, enjoy doing kid things. Let the Sentinels handle this one.”

“Yea, fine whatever.”

“Damian if you do something that gets you killed, I’ll bring you back to kill you myself.”

“Are you saying you’d fight death for me? That’s sweet Lana.”

“I’d fight the devil himself if it meant I’d get you back. But don’t make me or I’ll kick your ass first hahaha.”

Lana looks up towards clock.

“Lunch is half over. Shouldn’t you go meet up with your friends?”

“Just let me lay here, I’m comfortable.”

I close my eyes, half expecting her to make me get up anyway, but her response is to just start patting my head again. After about 20 more minutes the bell rings signaling the end of lunch. I pick up my stuff, and we make our way back to class. I walk into the classroom I look in my corner, where Leo sits smiling at me with a shit-eating grin. That rotten bastard.

I sit down and think back on my conversation with Lana. Maybe she’s right, maybe I should just relax and let the Sentinels handle this. But, if I start leaving them to handle all my problems, when will I draw the line? Wait, my problems? What the hell I think I really am losing it. WhateverI’ll think about thislaterjust gottamake itthrough thedayzzz

DINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG!

What the hell?! EWW! Was I drooling?! I look at my phone and realize schools over. Damn was I really that tired?! I Feel a tap on my shoulder and look over to see Mika smiling at me, with the others crowded around her.

“What’s up guys?”

“We were wondering if you wanted to come hang out with us. The others felt like hitting Antler Square.” Mika replies.

“What about our training?”

“Don’t worry about that right now, you guys can do that later.” Talion says.

Aw what the hell, maybe he’s right. I have been stressed and hanging out with the gang might do me some good.

“Alright sure, lets go.”

With that Me, Talion, Armin, Leo, Jalen and Mika all start walking out of the classroom.

“Oh yea, I might be a little late Lana.”

“Alright, just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“You know that leaves a lot of room for-”

SMACK!

“OWWWW! USING SUPER SPEED THAT WAY SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!!”

“Shut up and get out of here before I hit you again!”

She’s yelling but she has a smile on her face. That’s what I was hoping for, I feel a little better now.

“Alright see ya!”

“Aww, telling your wife you’re gonna be home late? I guess she really has you locked down huh ‘dami’?” Leo asks.

“Keep mocking me smart ass! What about you and Mira? I see the way you look at her, why don’t you just go confess so she can break your heart already!”

“Come on Damian, don’t get so upset. I think the way you and Lana treat each other is wonderful.” Mika says smiling.

“”

With that we all leave the school and head for Antler Square. The square is pretty large with at least twenty or so stores and a club or two. In the center is a fountain with a stag statue. Running over to the fountain Mika starts talking.

“Hey, I heard you get your wish granted if you throw a coin in and make a wish!”

She then tosses in a gold coin and closes her eyes to make a wish. It’s heart-warming to see her enjoying herself, I should follow her example.

CRRRRRAAAACCCKKKK!

Just as I think that I hear the sound of something cracking, and I feel an intense tremor beneath my feet. What the hell?! This is much stronger than the last one! Before I can yell out a warning the fountain Mika is standing at collapses and she falls, screaming into the abyss.