Forgotten Tower.
Once a renowned mage tower in Valen territory which harboured some of the strongest mages among The Twelve Divine Families, was now no more than a relic of the past.
When it was first built it was a massive breakthrough, each floor of the massive 81 floor tower was designed with spatial magic, which meant that each floor housed a mini dimension of its own- which was run by a powerful mana crystal.
Spatial affinity was so rare that one wouldn't find one even when searched far and wide.
Spatial mages were a rare commodity, their powers could change the tides of war. They were quite literally 'A mini dimension'.
Even the weakest of spatial mages could house tens of people and one on the weight class of an arcmage could house tens of thousands.
Though, everything came at a price.
They would feel what all of the people they housed were experiencing.
On an atomic level.
This was the second reason spatial mages were treated as a rare commodity.
Most of them were consumed by madness even before they reached their full potential.
Very few survive till adulthood and even less survive till they reach rank 8, the rank of an Arch-Mage.
Edgar William.
That was the name of the first spatial Arch-Mage.
His innovation in this field brought about a new era for spatial mages and spatial affinity machinery. One of the forefathers of Modern Mage craft.
He used his immense knowledge to build the 'Ivory Tower', or that's what it was called back in the day. People simply call it the 'Forgotten tower' now. It's original name lost in the sands of time…
But now wasn't the time to speak of his innovations… He simply had too many...
What matters is:
Like everything tied to the Valen name, the 'Ivory Tower' faded. Quietly. Without resistance.
…
I arrived at the 'Forgotten Tower' half past midnight.
It was a night in December.
Chilly.
The wind cut like knives. The sky was empty. Only the flame in my hand gave off light, flickering weakly against the cold.
That flame was mine. I made it. Controlled it. My mana pool was vast—too vast for my age. One of the few things about me that hadn't been stolen or broken.
The flame shook in the wind. Danced. Died. Came back.
Again and again.
I waited.
I don't know how long. Long enough for the cold to reach my bones.
…
After an unknown period of time I could hear footsteps approaching me.
Faint.
It started out as faint.
It started growing louded.
And louder.
Until it stopped.
I saw a familiar face in the orangish yellow flame.
A small petite young boy… barely 4 ft tall. He looked 7- maybe 8. With raven black hair and brown eyes. He looked calm- almost hollow. No one could tell what thoughts he had behind that perfect little face.
It was Alvin.
…
After Alvin's existence became known to the whole kingdom, it was revealed that he was the illegitimate child of the Valen household.
Although, that didn't matter much, if it was someone else, the rumours would grow and grow until it suffocated them.
But… Alvin wasn't just someone else.
The rumours died as soon as they began.
Simply, no one cared.
…
"What did you mean…?" He said.
His soft little voice touched my ears.
I… saw myself in him.
Naive.
Innocent.
Pure.
Trusting.
Perfect for the family to control.
"I meant everything I said" I began before he could even completely finish speaking. My husky, slightly deeper voice overshadowed his.
"The family is only using you as a tool… they don't care what's good for you… they- they'll throw you off after you're use is done"
"I have experienced this. They did the same thing to me." I continued.
My deep husky voice echoed in the silence of the night.
"But is that really bad?" He asked
"O- of course it is! You should get to live your life as you wish" I stammered
"Did you?" Alvin asked.
"..." I didn't have an answer.
"...I realized too late, you… you shouldn't have to live like me… it's a cage."
This conversation… it… it felt as if I was trying to convince my past self… trying to break his chains... the chains which binded me. To set him free... to set me free...
We stood in silence.
The wind howled through the ruins. The flame flickered again.
"Liste-"
Before I could continue, I felt something unfathomably ominous in front of me and instinctively jumped back.
A wave of pressure.
Twisting, foreign, wrong.
My vision snapped to black. My knees gave out.
:∆ Ó h t o t h i n k y o u s ú r v i v è d t h a t ! Î wàsñt èxpèçting someone like you to ∆:
A voice. No—something trying to speak. Trying to force its way into my mind.
It didn't make sense. My thoughts cracked under it.
"widnkwixsjjxjskxjkxowkxkskxjwkxnakxnwkxnskxnskxnwkxnwkxnwkxnwkcnwkxnskxkwkmxsmxnwkxjwkxkwkxkwkxkwkxkskxkxskckkdkwxkwkcnwkcnwkcnkwncjwcjsjcjskkx-
…
"...e is waking up"
"how dare he do something like that to the young Master"
"He should be executed!"
"the family will not leave him be"
What?
I can't move.
my hands… they were not tied… it seemed to be some spell…
…
I was dragged into the great hall, my boots scraping against the cold, unfeeling stone.
The elders were already there—ancient, sharp-eyed vultures robed in tradition and silence. The family vessels, ever loyal, sat stiff and silent like carved statues awaiting judgment.
Then he arrived.
My father.
Each step he took echoed like a gavel strike, his presence wrapped in authority and mana so thick the air seemed to warp around it.
"The accused—Arthur Valen," he declared, his voice sharp, resonant, each word laced with suppressed fury. "You stand here under suspicion of attempted murder... of your younger brother, Alvin Valen. What do you have to say for yourself?"
The silence that followed pressed down like a vice.
The spell binding my voice unraveled—slow, deliberate.
What? Attempted murder? Alvin...? Why would I ever—what is he—
EIFNWJXNSNXN.
It hit me like a dagger through fog.
That face.
Something was on it.
Something ominous… terrifying, something I shouldn't have seen.
But what was it? Who?
woxnwixj
"Wha—he's foaming at the mouth!"
"Break the bindings!"
"Call the medicae—now!"
"Call the medicae"!
"His pulse! It's getting fainter!!!"
To Be Continued...
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