Neah returned to his room after a seemingly pleasant dinner with his family, but the taste of jealousy still lingered on his palate. He had hoped to find solace in his books, to escape into the familiar world of words and stories. As he reached for a volume, his trembling hand betrayed his inner turmoil, and the book slipped through his fingers, crashing to the floor.
Frustration welled up inside him as he stared at the fallen book, its pages splayed open and its cover crumpled. Unable to contain his anger, Neah lashed out, a surge of mana and aura enveloping his hand. With a furious swipe, he tore the book apart, its pages scattering like leaves in the wind.
"Why do I like this? "Neah muttered, his voice tinged with self-disgust. He sank onto the edge of his bed, grappling with a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
He reclined on his bed, staring at the torn pieces of the book suspended in the air like a cloud of ephemeral memories. Laziness weighed heavily on his limbs, deterring him from the effort of collecting the scattered pages. But as his gaze shifted from one piece to the next, a peculiar thought crossed his mind.
With a reluctant sigh, he raised his hand, fingers splayed as he expanded his mana. It enveloped the torn pages, connecting them one by one into a makeshift formation. His arm grew weary from the effort, and he lowered it with a sense of futility.
He cast a weary gaze upon the lingering mess of floating papers. The reluctance to clean up and start anew tugged at him. His hands rose once more, this time with an intent different from before. With a simple incantation, he summoned a gentle flame, controlling it meticulously to avoid igniting his surroundings and intending only to reduce the pages to ash.
As his mood continued to sour, he directed the controlled flame towards the papers. Some succumbed to the gentle blaze and curled into smoky tendrils, but most seemed to evade the fire, floating away in a delicate dance, caught in the currents of hot air.
He understood the physics behind this, of course, but his irritation grew. In a fit of frustration, he summoned another flame spell without thinking, adding it to the mix. His hands swayed, and the spells of fire collided, resulting in an unexpected burst of energy and a cascade of fiery sparks.
As the sparks rapidly consumed the floating papers, Neah found himself entranced by the fiery display. He reached out, ignoring the slight burning sensation, and began to manipulate the room's swirling mana.
Time seemed to slow, and the sparks appeared frozen in the air, obedient to his whims. The melding of fire with fire intrigued him, leading him to cast another simple spell, manifesting a substance akin to sand. When the two magical forces met once more, the sand dissolved into shimmering glass.
"Glass!" he marvelled in a whisper. He continued his experiments until the room was bathed in the soft morning light.
Two of his older brothers ventured to find him, and upon entering his room, the disarray and burned remnants alerted their senses. Ethan unsheathed his sword, while Evan enveloped his hands in flames. They called out Neah's name repeatedly as they combed the room, and to their surprise, Neah emerged from the heap of chaos, appearing rather drowsy from a long night of exploration.
Upon spotting Neah amidst the magical clutter, both Ethan and Evan initially wore expressions of utter shock. They gripped their weapons tightly, ready to face a potential threat. However, it didn't take them long to recognise the figure amid the chaos. Their expressions transformed from alarm to a blend of confusion and disbelief.
Ethan cautiously lowered his sword and poked Neah's shoulder. "Neah? Is that you? "
Neah's half-lidded eyes fluttered as he slowly regained his awareness. He let out a yawn and groggily responded, "Huh? Oh, it's you guys... What's up? "
Evan couldn't help but chuckle. "What's up? he says. More like, what happened here? "
With an exaggerated sigh, Ethan gestured around the room. "It looks like a magic storm blew through here."
Neah sat up, stretching his arms as if nothing were amiss. "Ah, don't worry about it. I just had a creative night."
The brothers exchanged bemused glances. "A creative night? "Evan repeated, amusement lacing his voice.
Neah nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, you know, experimenting with some new spells and stuff."
Ethan smirked, his sword now sheathed. "Clearly, 'experimenting' was an understatement. We thought a dragon might have paid you a visit."
Evan playfully added, "Or maybe a tornado in a library."
Neah couldn't help but grin. "Hey, magic can get messy sometimes, but I've learned a lot."
The conversation continued with laughter and lighthearted teasing as Neah recounted his night of magical exploration.
During the day, Neah cherished the time spent with his family. They shared stories, and he regaled them with tales of his time at Astoria Academy, being careful to omit the complexities of his own struggles. With his father, he discussed strategies and philosophies of battle, trying to soak up as much knowledge as he could from a seasoned warrior.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Neah's quest for knowledge continued. Once night fell, he retreated to a quiet corner of the estate, where he was free to experiment with his magic. His journey into the realms of magic continued, driven by his insatiable curiosity. He combined different types of magic, seeking hidden harmonies and discovering new applications.
Each night was a deep dive into the unknown, and while his family slept soundly in their beds, Neah remained immersed in the world of spells and mana, knowing that in the realm of Terra Veritas, the pursuit of knowledge was unceasing and unforgiving.
As the break came to an end, Neah found himself in the courtyard of his family's home, surrounded by the comforting presence of his loved ones. He approached his father, and a mutual understanding passed between them. "Father, please give my regards to Mother," he said, his voice even and resolute, though turbulent emotions swirled within.
His father's eyes softened with a mixture of pride and concern. "Take care, Neah," he advised with a fatherly tone of wisdom. "Continue to hone your skills, and remember, knowledge and strength go hand in hand. We'll be eagerly waiting for your return."
With a final pat on the head and a firm grip on his shoulder, Neah exchanged heartfelt words with his siblings. He took a deep breath, ready to face the challenges ahead, and bid farewell to the warmth of his family home. Once again.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the world in shades of twilight, Neah's journey back to Astoria Academy was accompanied by a poignant sense of nostalgia. It was a reminder of the countless times he had travelled this road, back and forth.
One of his escort knights, a stout and reliable fellow, informed him that they would be arriving at the academy the following day. Tonight, they would rest at the familiar tavern in a nearby village. The tavern held memories of their previous journeys, and its rustic charm greeted Neah like an old friend.
He found a table by the window, his book in hand, and gazed out at the quiet village streets. The anticipation of the upcoming challenges mingled with the echoes of his past. As he waited for their food to arrive, a wistful thought crossed his mind. "Wouldn't it be amusing," he mused to himself, "if, just like in the past, she interrupted our meal again? "
As Neah kept his focus on the book in his hand, the subtle scrape of a chair against the floor caught his attention. He lowered the book just enough to peek over the top, and to his surprise, there she was. Elara had indeed returned, and her playful voice danced through the air as she said, "Hey, give us your table and find another place to sit." Her laughter filled the tavern.
A smile tugged at the corners of Neah's lips. Before she could finish her mischievous sentence, he interrupted, "Alright, Princess Elara, you can just join us for dinner."
As the night wore on, the lively conversation and shared laughter continued in the tavern. Neah, Elara, and the knights enjoyed their time together. However, as the hours passed, they knew it was time to say their goodbyes, knowing that they would soon meet again at the academy. Warm wishes were exchanged, and with promises to catch up soon, they parted ways.
The following morning, the sun bathed the entrance of Astoria Academy in its golden light. Neah's determined gaze fixed on the familiar building. With a sense of anticipation, he made his way to the entrance, ready to embrace the challenges and discoveries that awaited him in the coming days.
Upon returning to his room, Neah contemplated his next steps. His eyes drifted towards the mirror, and he saw the metal pendant hanging around his neck. An idea struck him, and he decided to visit the academy's forgery to explore new possibilities.
With a sense of purpose, he set off towards the forgery, filled with determination and curiosity about what lay ahead. As he pushed open the door, the scent of smouldering metal and the rhythmic sounds of craftsmanship surrounded him, ushering him into a world where his creativity and determination could forge new paths.
Neah returned to his room after a seemingly pleasant dinner with his family, but the taste of jealousy still lingered on his palate. He had hoped to find solace in his books, to escape into the familiar world of words and stories. As he reached for a volume, his trembling hand betrayed his inner turmoil, and the book slipped through his fingers, crashing to the floor.
Frustration welled up inside him as he stared at the fallen book, its pages splayed open and its cover crumpled. Unable to contain his anger, Neah lashed out, a surge of mana and aura enveloping his hand. With a furious swipe, he tore the book apart, its pages scattering like leaves in the wind.
"Why do I like this? "Neah muttered, his voice tinged with self-disgust. He sank onto the edge of his bed, grappling with a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
He reclined on his bed, staring at the torn pieces of the book suspended in the air like a cloud of ephemeral memories. Laziness weighed heavily on his limbs, deterring him from the effort of collecting the scattered pages. But as his gaze shifted from one piece to the next, a peculiar thought crossed his mind.
With a reluctant sigh, he raised his hand, fingers splayed as he expanded his mana. It enveloped the torn pages, connecting them one by one into a makeshift formation. His arm grew weary from the effort, and he lowered it with a sense of futility.
He cast a weary gaze upon the lingering mess of floating papers. The reluctance to clean up and start anew tugged at him. His hands rose once more, this time with an intent different from before. With a simple incantation, he summoned a gentle flame, controlling it meticulously to avoid igniting his surroundings and intending only to reduce the pages to ash.
As his mood continued to sour, he directed the controlled flame towards the papers. Some succumbed to the gentle blaze and curled into smoky tendrils, but most seemed to evade the fire, floating away in a delicate dance, caught in the currents of hot air.
He understood the physics behind this, of course, but his irritation grew. In a fit of frustration, he summoned another flame spell without thinking, adding it to the mix. His hands swayed, and the spells of fire collided, resulting in an unexpected burst of energy and a cascade of fiery sparks.
As the sparks rapidly consumed the floating papers, Neah found himself entranced by the fiery display. He reached out, ignoring the slight burning sensation, and began to manipulate the room's swirling mana.
Time seemed to slow, and the sparks appeared frozen in the air, obedient to his whims. The melding of fire with fire intrigued him, leading him to cast another simple spell, manifesting a substance akin to sand. When the two magical forces met once more, the sand dissolved into shimmering glass.
"Glass!" he marvelled in a whisper. He continued his experiments until the room was bathed in the soft morning light.
Two of his older brothers ventured to find him, and upon entering his room, the disarray and burned remnants alerted their senses. Ethan unsheathed his sword, while Evan enveloped his hands in flames. They called out Neah's name repeatedly as they combed the room, and to their surprise, Neah emerged from the heap of chaos, appearing rather drowsy from a long night of exploration.
Upon spotting Neah amidst the magical clutter, both Ethan and Evan initially wore expressions of utter shock. They gripped their weapons tightly, ready to face a potential threat. However, it didn't take them long to recognise the figure amid the chaos. Their expressions transformed from alarm to a blend of confusion and disbelief.
Ethan cautiously lowered his sword and poked Neah's shoulder. "Neah? Is that you? "
Neah's half-lidded eyes fluttered as he slowly regained his awareness. He let out a yawn and groggily responded, "Huh? Oh, it's you guys... What's up? "
Evan couldn't help but chuckle. "What's up? he says. More like, what happened here? "
With an exaggerated sigh, Ethan gestured around the room. "It looks like a magic storm blew through here."
Neah sat up, stretching his arms as if nothing were amiss. "Ah, don't worry about it. I just had a creative night."
The brothers exchanged bemused glances. "A creative night? "Evan repeated, amusement lacing his voice.
Neah nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, you know, experimenting with some new spells and stuff."
Ethan smirked, his sword now sheathed. "Clearly, 'experimenting' was an understatement. We thought a dragon might have paid you a visit."
Evan playfully added, "Or maybe a tornado in a library."
Neah couldn't help but grin. "Hey, magic can get messy sometimes, but I've learned a lot."
The conversation continued with laughter and lighthearted teasing as Neah recounted his night of magical exploration.
During the day, Neah cherished the time spent with his family. They shared stories, and he regaled them with tales of his time at Astoria Academy, being careful to omit the complexities of his own struggles. With his father, he discussed strategies and philosophies of battle, trying to soak up as much knowledge as he could from a seasoned warrior.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Neah's quest for knowledge continued. Once night fell, he retreated to a quiet corner of the estate, where he was free to experiment with his magic. His journey into the realms of magic continued, driven by his insatiable curiosity. He combined different types of magic, seeking hidden harmonies and discovering new applications.
Each night was a deep dive into the unknown, and while his family slept soundly in their beds, Neah remained immersed in the world of spells and mana, knowing that in the realm of Terra Veritas, the pursuit of knowledge was unceasing and unforgiving.
As the break came to an end, Neah found himself in the courtyard of his family's home, surrounded by the comforting presence of his loved ones. He approached his father, and a mutual understanding passed between them. "Father, please give my regards to Mother," he said, his voice even and resolute, though turbulent emotions swirled within.
His father's eyes softened with a mixture of pride and concern. "Take care, Neah," he advised with a fatherly tone of wisdom. "Continue to hone your skills, and remember, knowledge and strength go hand in hand. We'll be eagerly waiting for your return."
With a final pat on the head and a firm grip on his shoulder, Neah exchanged heartfelt words with his siblings. He took a deep breath, ready to face the challenges ahead, and bid farewell to the warmth of his family home. Once again.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the world in shades of twilight, Neah's journey back to Astoria Academy was accompanied by a poignant sense of nostalgia. It was a reminder of the countless times he had travelled this road, back and forth.
One of his escort knights, a stout and reliable fellow, informed him that they would be arriving at the academy the following day. Tonight, they would rest at the familiar tavern in a nearby village. The tavern held memories of their previous journeys, and its rustic charm greeted Neah like an old friend.
He found a table by the window, his book in hand, and gazed out at the quiet village streets. The anticipation of the upcoming challenges mingled with the echoes of his past. As he waited for their food to arrive, a wistful thought crossed his mind. "Wouldn't it be amusing," he mused to himself, "if, just like in the past, she interrupted our meal again? "
As Neah kept his focus on the book in his hand, the subtle scrape of a chair against the floor caught his attention. He lowered the book just enough to peek over the top, and to his surprise, there she was. Elara had indeed returned, and her playful voice danced through the air as she said, "Hey, give us your table and find another place to sit." Her laughter filled the tavern.
A smile tugged at the corners of Neah's lips. Before she could finish her mischievous sentence, he interrupted, "Alright, Princess Elara, you can just join us for dinner."
As the night wore on, the lively conversation and shared laughter continued in the tavern. Neah, Elara, and the knights enjoyed their time together. However, as the hours passed, they knew it was time to say their goodbyes, knowing that they would soon meet again at the academy. Warm wishes were exchanged, and with promises to catch up soon, they parted ways.
The following morning, the sun bathed the entrance of Astoria Academy in its golden light. Neah's determined gaze fixed on the familiar building. With a sense of anticipation, he made his way to the entrance, ready to embrace the challenges and discoveries that awaited him in the coming days.
Upon returning to his room, Neah contemplated his next steps. His eyes drifted towards the mirror, and he saw the metal pendant hanging around his neck. An idea struck him, and he decided to visit the academy's forgery to explore new possibilities.
With a sense of purpose, he set off towards the forgery, filled with determination and curiosity about what lay ahead. As he pushed open the door, the scent of smouldering metal and the rhythmic sounds of craftsmanship surrounded him, ushering him into a world where his creativity and determination could forge new paths.
