Amir's POV:
"What?!!!" uttered in sync.
"Eh, seryoso? So, 'yong sa larawan na iyon ay ang
kuya niya na patay na 10 years ago?"
"... and the one that you're looking for whose name is Marcus Maximo was here all the time? — and that's the swordsman?!"
"Yes."
"Kung ganun, mission accomplished!"
"Eh, Prinsipe Amir. Ano na gagawin mo?"
"Well, I decided..."
"To stay here for a while and wait 'till Master Ki Bou come back here, I need answers from him,"
A week later.
"Are you serious about that?" I uttered, gazing at him.
He nodded.
"Yes, aside from being a fire magic user,..."
Walks forward us,
"In terms of the experience of battling a demon..."
Turned around and walked away from us and turned face at us, smirking.
"I'm way ahead," He uttered, seeming to flex himself.
Cleb reacted defensively,
"Sus! Eh, hindi mo nga napaslang 'yong demonyong 'yon,"
"...Eh, pinatakas mo pa! Way ahead mo! "
Marcus cut him off.
" — you have that raw strength, good offense, but you didn't think well, ..."
Then, he emitted a deep sigh.
"...that's why Omu Magre made you a punching bag,"
Now, he's starting to annoy me. I glanced at Cleb who was just beside me, glaring at Marcus.
"You're a defensive guy, that's your strength!..."
"I let him go not because I want him to live, I did that because I want to save you all... "
"Besides, I admit that you have impeccable raw strength! I've watched everything..."
He uttered, he just watched us all that time while we were on the verge of death? This guy...
" — Seriously? Did you just watch us? And then came at the end like a hero that saves the day?" I emitted.
He just shrugged it off.
"Guys?!..." Li's sudden utterances make us turn our heads at him. A large wide-eye gaze in wonder-struck, we followed his gaze and were delighted as we saw him standing at the entrance of the camp, smiling and waving at us here at the gazebo.
"Master Ki Bou," sync utterances in different emotions, one was shocked, delighted, and confused.
Li ran towards him, and Cleb followed him after. At first, I was reluctant to walk but then I saw Marcus walking towards Ki Bou, so then, I followed them.
"Master Ki Bou," I uttered politely and bowed. He responded with a bow.
"Kumusta kayo?" He said,
"Okay naman po kami, Master Ki Bou," Li said, you can feel in him that he is glad to see Master Ki Bou.
"Ikaw? Kumusta misyon mo, Master Ki Bou?" Li asked, then, his delighted face suddenly turns into dismal.
It catches us and worried.
"Glad you ask!" Ki Bou emitted.
"Why? What happened to your mission?" I asked.
He looked at me and turned his gaze to others; one by one. Then, he requested us to follow him to the gazebo.
"Gazebo,"
We nodded
As we reached the gazebo, the wizard deeply sighed.
"They're everywhere," He emitted.
Who? Where? In my mind.
Marcus walked towards us as he was behind us.
"What?" he emitted.
"They're in here, they are after the stone. Nagkalat na sila and we have to move now, ... "
"What stone?" I emitted.
"You'll know soon,"
Master Ki Bou gazes at us.
"Kayong tatlo, you already knew that the mission that I gave to each of you was connected to meet you at one finish line, but it's not just that, it is to awaken your mana that was motionless inside your body. Your traveling exposes your body to the natural energy of the realm which was the key to the awakening of mana inside your body. Ang boses na naririnig niyo o nakakausap niyo ay ang mana ninyo. That mana inside your body came from the great sorcerer. You..."
"... Li, Cleb, at Prinsipe Amir, together with Marcus was one of the thirteen offsprings of the sorcerer's mana."
Hearing those words gives me goosebumps. Just like that, from a newly crowned prince, now being a descendant of that sorcerer's mana. Different roles but the same obligations, to save the realm from evils and their evil deeds.
"Ano po 'yong Mana?" Li asked.
"Mana is a form of energy that exists in nature and within us, but here in our realm; the Haiyan, mana only exists in nature and not within us, we are not born with magic. That's why other realms called us powerless. "
Master Ki Bou, explained.
"Bakit naman po?" Li added.
"We are hated by mana, the energy around us doesn't want us, but a gratitude to the great sorcerer as he gave us hope, blessed us with his power; the thirteen descendants of his mana."
"Tanda, isa ka ba sa amin?!" Cleb asked, valiantly.
"Hindi, but last of the bloodlines of the great sorcerer," He uttered without stuttering.
So they have a shared bloodline with the great sorcerer. Interesting.
"Look, that mana inside yours came from the great sorcerer who is a half-blood, from the realm of Raiyan, they are loved by mana, influenced by magic..."
"...The moment you are born, inside yourself is a dormant mana and to awaken that, you need to explore and expose your body to the mana of our nature, mana-to-mana connections, they react to each other, and once they do, mana will awaken inside you, thanks to our mana who hates us!" he added.
"So that's the purpose of the mission. Exposing our bodies to nature by exploring and letting the mana's reaction do the thing." I uttered, as I slowly understood the concept of mana.
Master Ki Bou nodded.
"Exactly!"
"Now what should we do?" I asked.
Master Ki Bou and Marcus looked at each other. Then glanced back at us.
"Unleash that mana, discover what attributes you have," Master Ki Bou said.
"In what course?" I said.
Two weeks later.
"Yogic Breathing or Belly Breathing; is a simple breathing technique to perform, inhale deep then allow it to rise into your rib cage as you continue, then exhale, gently contract the abdomen to expel the air from the bottom of your lungs. Allow your chest to deflate..."
"...Concentrate and breathe deeply. Focus, and relax your body and mind. Feel the peace. Try to ignore the voices in your head." Master Ki Bou uttered gently. We've been doing this for weeks. Ki Bou said this is the only way we can alter our inner mana. Just a deep meditation.
"We've been doing this for weeks! Your mana has not yet been in constant awakening for the past week. But this time, you can and you will."
"Now, once you feel the peace, imagine the flowing energy, try to pull it out of you by your breathing technique."
Breathing heavily,
Amir!
It's you again?! Oh, please —
You don't need this, as I said, if you're ready just tell me.
Let me just do my thing. Let me concentrate.
As you say so.
Give me peace! Peace. The sudden flow of energy inside me. I can feel it right now, it's growing inside me. All I need to do is to make it greater and stronger, then pull it out. I can hear it! the blood traveling throughout my body, the muscles contracting, organs functioning, heartbeats crystal clear heard, and the mana had set. I can feel the power. It's light.
Eyes closed. Feeling the mana.
"Now, slowly, open your eyes, and unclench your hands. Then, witness your attributes."
As soon as I open my eyes, and unclenched my fist, a ball of light emerges right in my hand. A spherical luminescent object. My attribute is light, I have the element of light, the light descendant of the great sorcerer's mana.
"Your element tells who you are, what you are, and how could you make it something unique, powerful, and magical in your way..."
I was mesmerized by this luminous light in my hand. This light chooses me among the thousands of offspring.
"Cleb, you have the element of earth and it suits you; a man of toughness, and strong. You embody a hard rock that no matter what it takes, you'll remain tough and potent that can last for a long time..."
I turned at Cleb who was dazed gazing at the spinning rock object floating on his hand.
His gaze turns to Li.
"Li, you have the element of water and it's no doubt that you'll be the offspring of water mana. Like clear water; calm, pure, and full of wisdom..."
Li was delighted looking at a crystal clear orb of water while fidgeting his hands,
"Amir, the opposite of darkness; the light. The symbol of goodness, clarity, prosperity, and hope. Just like a ray of the sun; you're our light, your power is. You only seek truth, justice, and peace in this world of chaos. Being a Prince of this realm, big responsibility is coming, you are our hope."
So, this is it. My responsibility is getting bigger and bigger as I unleash my potential to be a magic user of this realm.
"You'll join Marcus; the fire mana user, to protect this realm from the avenging-seeking demons."
Ki Bou's utterances made me realize that we will have to fight the demons and much better; kill them, so that they cannot harm others anymore.
"Now that we unleash the mana in us, what should we do with it?" I said,
Master Ki Bou steps forward and faces us with arms over his chest.
"Every magic user creates their technique on how to use their magic. Just like Marcus..."
He then took his gaze at Marcus who was right beside Li.
"He's one of my 3rd Class Mage Students in this camp..."
"...He already created his fire technique, For all I know, he has three techniques already. Am I right, Marcus?" He added,
Marcus nodded.
"Yes, Master Ki Bou. I created two fire techniques but the other one was a replication from the great sorcerer's best fire techniques."
Heads up, Master Ki Bou walks forward from me.
"Now, you have unleashed it, create your technique, Amir... "
"Same as well, Li and Cleb. You have to create your magic technique..."
Li raised his hand,
"Yes, Li?" Ki Bou uttered.
"Pwede naman siguro naming sundin o gayahin ang mga technique na ginawa ng Great Sorcerer 'di ba? Since, among the three of Marcus' techniques, isa 'dun ay ginaya or sinunod niya, Pwede?" Li gently pleaded.
Master Ki Bou gazed at Li and sighed.
"Tama, you can replicate it, but much better if you have your technique. It's no rush at all! Besides, I can give you the book of magic if you want to follow some of the Great Sorcerer's magic techniques," He said.
"Thank you, Master Ki Bou! I want to learn muna the basics, at pagkatapos, I'll create my technique." Li said.
"How 'bout you, Cleb? Ki Bou asked.
"Hmm, 'di ko alam, tanda! lalabas muna ako, magpapahangin lang." Cleb responded. Walking out and leaving the gazebo without common politeness showed right after. He is always this rough and tough.
Master Ki Bou just lets Cleb walk out of the scene and seems unbothered by the disrespect towards him. The three of us both gaze at Master Ki Bou.
"Just let him be," Master Ki Bou emitted.
"Li follow me if you want to have my book of magic,..."
"The two of you, do your own thing. You can leave now," Ki Bou added before leaving the gazebo and Li followed him behind.
That's it? Spend weeks just for proper breathing?
"Don't rush everything," Marcus said, leaning at the pillar of the gazebo scraping his sword.
Did he just read my mind?
"What?" I said, arching my eyebrows at him.
He turned his cold gaze at me.
"Learn your magic, once you do, let's have a duel."
Then left right away after uttering those words. Is he challenging me? I didn't even learn any combatting skills! How could I?
Hey! Can you help me?
What is it?
How can I use this light mana? How can I create my technique? Besides, I don't know how to combat.
You don't need close-range combat skills like what Marcus and Cleb had. You have to create your technique, and then find a way to fight back the enemies.
And? How can I battle with them?
Speed of light is the fastest and most agile mana and it's not usually used for a close-range battle, Amir. Unlike other mana, light has a lot of long-range mana techniques.
Interesting! Then, I'll try using that technique.
Long-range combat is fairly play-safe combat.
Well, at least. Safe!
Try the light disc and light beam techniques.
Really?
Yes! I'll help you with that, let's just find an open space.
- END.