CHAPTER 5: MAGIC BALL

I woke up late at night. Its already three in the morning. The supposedly busy streets were silent. I drank a cup of water before going inside the bathroom. I feel so dirty because of the dried sweat, I slept as soon as I arrived to my dormitory, earlier. I wasn’t able to clean myself up so I’m doing it now. I took a long bath and made sure I scrub all the dirt off of my body. I went out wearing only my bath robe. I went to my closet and picked proper clothes I can wear outside. In the end, I decided for a black denim short that has a lace design on both sides, a white oversized long sleeved sweat shirt with hoodie, a cool black rubber shoes and a black cap. I checked myself in front of the full-length mirror on one of my closet doors before getting my wallet, just in case I need it. Then I went out.

I looked at the hallway to the elevator, no light is lit so it was dark. Good thing my power is light. I made my power lit the lights on the hallway. I suddenly remembered my father’s words. He said exactly to never use my powers on useless things, lighting the hallway lights might be a bit useless but I think my father won’t find out about this so…

I pulled the control panel down and the lift started going down. When I reached the ground floor, as soon as I step out of the lift, I saw the lady on the counter. She was asleep, I can sense her magic through the whole floor. I was looking around when I saw her lift her head. She woke up.

“What can I do for you Young Miss? I heard the lift going up a while ago then it went down just about now” the lift does not make a noise, her magic must be sound because she was sensitive to sound, she can hear the noise that other magic can’t hear.

“Nothing. I just want to go outside. You can go back to sleep now. I’m sorry for disturbing you” she nodded then went back to sleep.

I made my way outside and I was surprised to what I saw. There were about thirty small tents standing outside. What are these? Is someone camping here? Perhaps they are little mages from far cities who decided to take a little trip here in the capital?

I was inspecting the tents, trying to figure out what was happening. I run my gaze around and saw a cremello colored horse with a black mane. Someone was sleeping on its back. I went near the horse, like I expected it was the guy. I mean, the horse is extremely rare. This horse must be the only one of its kind.

I was just looking at the man who was sleeping on the horse’s back facing the sky. Curious to why he was here.

“You have been staring for me for quite a while now” the guy opened his eyes and looked at me. I tilted my head trying to figure things out. I’m sure it was uncomfortable for him to sleep on the back of the horse. And the horse might be burdened too.

“Quit staring” he said, coldly. He is now sitting on the horse’s back facing towards me.

I fixed my posture and fake coughed. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to… figure out… what you were doing”

“Can’t you tell? I was sleeping” he was sarcastic but I didn’t mind. I was too curious to argue with him.

“Yes, I know. But why here? The dormitory is over there. Why don’t you go inside?” I even looked at the dormitory to be sure hat he knows where it is.

“Are you stupid?” he said as a matter of factly.

“Excuse me?”  I said with pure curiosity and not really offended.

“Look! You caught me stealing apples the other day because I don’t have money. You think I have money to pay for a room when I can’t even pay for apples?” Right. That was so stupid of me. I almost forgot about that.

“What about those tents? What are those for?” I pointed at the tents planted in front of the dormitory. Its not possible that these are equipment for our training later since we do train inside the arena.

“That is something you would never understand. They are similar to me but the difference is they can afford a tent and apples. But still not enough money for a room” I can’t believe he was right. I really did not understand. Among all the families here in the magic world, my family is the wealthiest. We’re even wealthier than the current and past Magic Leaders. I can have everything that can be bought by money. I never experienced sleeping on tents because I can always pay for the most expensive suite. I never stole apples because we have a pantry with a box full of apples. We even have trees that gives us apples. Their world is untouchable by me as my world is untouchable by them.  That is the reality that I can’t avoid. We simply live in a different world. If I brought them to mine, they would probably be ignorant to most thing in my world.

We are all living to the same kingdom but we are living on a different life.

“But… that’s really uncomfortable. I mean… sleeping outside when its cozy inside” The cement floor is cold and hard. Plus, the wind is also chilly. And since the city quiets down at one in the morning, they have to sleep in noisy surroundings or maybe they won’t sleep until the city tones down.

“If we can, we would”

“If you can?” the guy looked creeped out. I know that a small is smile is evident on my face right now. I know what to do now. The guy was looking at me with a puzzled eye.

“Anyway, do you happen to know a store where I can buy a bag? I need it for tomorrow” I did not bring any spare bag, the one I have is a pretty huge bag where I stored my things while travelling to here. Its too big to fit three bottles of water and a few towels. Oh! I just realized that I don’t have any water bottles and towels too, I better buy some.

“Stores are already closed at 1 AM”

“Oh! Really? Tood bad. I should go back then” I guess I have to wait until it opens later.

“Tss!” I rolled my eyes heavenly and started heading back towards the dormitory.

“Looks like you were traumatized from what happened yesterday” Aeolous was pertaining to the small bag that I was carrying. Earlier, I went outside to buy a small bag. I bought it from the store near the diner we went to during our first night here in the city. The bag is just the right size to fit everything I need. And on top of that. The bag is also pretty. It’s a pastel pink colored bag and made with leather. And the three water bottles I have are in pastel violet while the towels are pastel blue. It goes well with my outfit today since I’m wearing a white oversized sweatshirt a plain denim black denim shorts, black rubber shoes and a pastel blue cap.

“I could say the same to you” he was carrying a black leather bag too. I am betting my life that it carries water bottle and towels inside.

We both laughed and continued walking.

As we went out to the elevator, since we are early, we saw a lot of mages going out of the dormitory. And why am I not surprise that all of them have their own bags too? We were all traumatized from what happened yesterday. The ones who were sleeping on the tents are now gone. They must be waking up really early so they won’t block those mages coming out of the dormitory.

“Good morning mages! I hope you had a good night sleep. I see that you have learned a simple lesson from yesterday” he was talking about the bag. Who wouldn’t? I never want to experience extreme thirst again. I was sleeping during the break time but I was definitely thirsty. “You can put your bags on the benches” everyone followed and went up to the bleachers, we went up and put our bags on the seats. As soon as everyone is on the field the Exam Master began.

“We’re going to start with your power ball. Let me see your magic” we did so. Everyone created a power ball in our hands. I saw some mage created a ball of wind, fire, rock, mirror, cloud and a lot more. On my right hand is a ball of light. I was smiling at my magic ball until I was blinded with so much light. The light was too blinding that I was sure that I wasn’t the only one who was affected. After almost a minute, the blinding light started to vanish into thin air and my sight was back to normal. I saw almost all the mages looking at me. I was in the back most of the crowd so they were all looking back to me.

I said and stated, “It wasn’t me” I even shook my head to intensify my disagreement. I was sure that it wasn’t me. I can control my power and I was sure I did not do that.

“It was you! What the heck? That wasn’t funny” we all looked at the mirror magic and the voice magic. The mirror magic can let us see thing in bigger image and the voice magic is used so we can hear whoever is using that. The Exam Master’s magic is sound and mirror magic. He has two magic.

On the mirror magic up, in front, we can see two ladies. One was holding a water ball and the other one has light ball, just like mine. At first, I thought she wasn’t able to control her magic that’s why it scattered to the whole arena but judging the look o her face. She was bragging. She was totally showing off. Light is a rare magic, during my father teenage years, he was the only one wo had it. That’s how rare it was. And it looks like in my generation, there’s two of us. On rare cases, when a mage is strong, Magic can be inherited from your parents but most of the time the magic itself can choose you. It looks like the latter’s her case. To me, I was strong enough to inherit my father’s magic and I was also chosen by the light magic after months of being born.

“Oops! My bad!” the girl smirked. I was annoyed that she was being sarcastic. She was challenging me. That’s what her action meant. The light spirit will only choose one light mage to inherit the spirit’s power. There’s no way to avoiding it. That girl and I will go against each other on the exam day.

The training ended at 11 pm in the evening. I thought that our training was from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening. But I guess our starting time is the only constant. The Exam Master can end the training until whenever he wants. That must be the reason why the dormitory is just right to the arena. The three of us went to the barn and got our horses. We were starving, we plan to get take outs from Divine Dine and eat in our room. I did not put my wallet on the bag but I did put cash on the pocket inside the bag.

On Divine Dine, I ordered three slices of pizza, two order of creamy pasta, five choco brownies, three muffins, three double patty burgers and four bottles of avocado shake. I am planning to eat all of these tonight but if can’t finish it, I’ll just eat the left overs tomorrow morning.

When we arrived at the dormitory after returning and feeding our horses in the barn. We were surprised after seeing a lot of mages on the receiving area of the dormitory. I was smiling when I did not see one tent outside.

We were quietly making our ways to the lift but they were too busy that they weren’t paying attention to us despise us getting their attention to excuse ourselves.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Aeolous shouted when he couldn’t take it anymore. I sighed. He could have been more patient with them. Everyone fell silent after Aeolous shouted, the ones who were blocking away quietly and quickly moved aside.

“Young Lady Eleina! Everyone she is the one who invited you inside the dormitory”

I walked towards the desk after talking to the guy. The lady on the desk got up and sked me, “Is there anything I can do for you Young Miss?”. I smiled and stated my business, “Yes, please! I saw the tents outside, someone told me that they are mages who are taking the exam and are currently training. I also head that they can’t afford renting a room in the dormitory. Can you please invite them inside and provide each of them a room? Which ever room is available, please let them take it. If you are worrying about the payment, I’ll pay for it. Just please let them rest here. Its cold outside and the city does not get quiet until one in the midnight, I want them to sleep comfortably in the dormitory. Can you arrange that for me?” at first the lady was speechless. But after my words sink in, she smiled widely to me and nodded. “I’ll wake them up now” she was about to head out but I stopped her on her track. “Not now! Maybe tonight. They are tired from our raining yesterday, they need all the sleep they can get’ she went in front of her desk and thanked me. I smiled and went back to my room.

Now I regret not telling her that this is our secret.

I smiled at her and bowed slightly before following the boys in front of the lift. I saw the guy leaning on the wall on the right most wall of the receiving area, his arms are crossed on his chest and his left foot is on the wall.

“You did that? Why? Your father will definitely scold you. And we both know that your father’s angry state is unquestionably horrible!” Aeolous was a bit shouting when he told me that. I just shook my hand and motioned him to go inside the lift. Esco entered first then Aeolous, I was about to step inside when the lady called me and asked told me that there are things that I need to do.

“Go ahead. I’ll just finish this”

“Tss! You’ll regret this. You’ll be in grave trouble because of this”

“Its fine” the door to the lift closed and I went near the desk, the mages made way for me.

“Young Lady Eleina, you there are a few things that you need to do. It may take a while”

“Its fine. Let them have a room first, I’ll wait for you to finish” its almost one in the morning and we just finished training a while ago. I’m sure they’re all sleepy. I am too but I still want to eat a lot.  I waited for 20 minutes before all of the mages are gone. They all went to their respective rooms already. The lady was almost done when I arrive a few minutes ago.

I went near her and signed on the papers that I needed to sign on. It only took 2 minutes to do it. I did not read it anymore, I just want things to be done. And I trust that the lady won’t cheat on me. For the last time, the lady thanked me and I thanked her as well before I went to my room.

I was about to close the door behind me when I felt that the door choked on something making it unable to close completely. I looked back to see what was preventing my door from closing.

“What are you doing here?” his left brow raised and he smirked at me. He did not answer me so I pulled him inside, scared that someone would see him here. If that happens, we will both be in trouble. First, he is not allowed here, second, if someone sees him, Aeolous to be specific, with me, my dad would be furious. The best option is to pull him inside. I quickly locked the door, scared that someone would see us.

“Why are you here?” I asked for the second time. Wait, I remember that he was leaning against the wall. I did not see him going to the lady’s desk and got keys for a room.

“Are you here because the lady forgot to give you a room? Let’s go. I’ll talk to her” he then lifted his right arm and showed me a key. If he was able to have a room then why is he here?

“I heard what the guy said. Is it true?”

“What? What’s true?”

“That your father would be mad because of what you do?”

“Most likely”

“Then why do it?”

“I always abide to my parent’s words. But they can never stop me from helping. It’s the only thing that I am free to do so I am not permitting anyone to stop me from doing it” its true. I would always obey my parents but they could never hinder me from helping those in needs.

“I did not know that you were kind. Thanks”

“Whatever. I bought foods. Do you want to eat? I have apples on the cabinets, you can have a few so you can feed your horse. What’s his name by the way?”

“He’s name is Flavius”

“Really? My horse’s name means golden too. Her name is Gilda” what a nice coincidence. They are both off rare breed and their names means golden. Which they really are.

I quietly took out all the food I bought and we ate silently. We finished eating after almost 20 minutes. After eating he coldly thanked me and head downstairs. Good thing no one saw him. I changed into my comfortable pajamas before sleeping.