EdgarFig

[ 26 ] Final Preparations

Really, just one spell, and this is it? Kal glanced across at the two geckos. Kal gut gargled at the thought.

Necrotic Bite was a thing of nightmares. A bite that could tear through flesh and leave behind saliva that would spread out from the wound, infecting any flesh it touched and bringing with it necrosis that would fest and r...

[ 25 ] Prepare for the Exams

Graduation felt a little odd since Kal had barely turned up to school since it had been made optional for him.

At fourteen, they were graduating the equivalent of what Kal considered high school. Students who were headed to a technical university could continue for another couple of years, but in a sleepy town like Ebenshire, many were mov...

[ 24 ] Training

“Hey, that’s the magic kid, isn’t it?” A few Ebenshire locals said, pointing and waving as Kal led Arix and Ellie through town.

“Yeah, the Jakari boy.”

“Hey, Prodigy of Ebenshire!”

“Make us proud!”

“You’re going to be the next Archmage; I just know it.”

“Looks like you’re getting even m...

[ 23 ] Preparing

“When are we going to practice magic again, Kal?” Ellie bemoaned as she, Kal, Arix, and Zander strolled home from school.

“Well, how are the self-led lessons going? Able to form any basic spells yet?”

“Kinda…” Ellie said. “I got some frost to form yesterday.”

“Yeah, a little frost isn’t going to cut it, so...

[ 22 ] The Prize

Making a quick stop at home, Kal dressed in the most ragged peasant boy outfit he could put together. Simple, torn clothing with flat shoes that were about to fall apart. He took some soot from the hearth, speared it on his face, and ran back out the door, charging toward town.

This ought to do it. He doubted some noble rich kid l...

[ 21 ] In Search

Kal’s eyes wearily glazed over page after page of “Lyssian Nobility—A Complete Collection of Esteemed Families and Individuals.” 

Oh my days, this is dreadful. I thought the modern era made us worse, but this somehow manages to one-up TMZ.

Groaning, Kal turned the gold-trimmed page. On the next was a thin-nosed ...

[ 20 ] Hunters

Three days after the incident with the toad, several riders pulled into town, causing a commotion.

Andric had kept a low profile, and many weren’t even aware he had visited until after he had left when the government published its demon-hunting report. These guys, on the other hand, were the polar opposite.

A gaudy mage led the dem...

Moving

Had a wild and very busy last few days moving states. I'll add a new chapter shortly and release on both Saturday and Sunday this week.

[ 19 ] Demonic Whispers

By the time Kal got back to town, the place was abuz. His mom had come home looking for him to tell him the news, and he caught her yelling his name as he bounded over the back fence.

Biting into a sandwich Yandi had thrown together in seconds, Kal sat in Arix’s living room with a few others, including Ellie and Tammy. They waited to...

[ 18 ] Aftermath

Kal groaned and dizzily blinked. A dull ache thudded at the back of his head, and he felt something nudging his arm. “What is it?” he murmured, still calibrating to his surroundings.

“He’s alive, Wort. What now?”

“Poke him again.”

“Hey, quit it,” Arix shouted. “Leave him alone.”

“Poke him, Bougie. ...

[ 17 ] The Toad

A greenish hue of hazy light glowed from a crystal buried into the wall of a damp, muddy cavern lined by roots.

“I can see it taking over. Not long to wait now,” gargled a giant toad marked by swirling red and black patterns. Human-like limbs bent by the toad’s froggish joints protruded from its body, and its hide was lined in jagged...

[ 16 ] Friend in Need

Kal remained quiet upon returning home. Daedrik had returned to the capital in the morning since his classes had started again, and Yandi left the moment she brought Kal home to go join the search party.

Well, at least I won’t need to sneak out.

He took one of the spheres as a back-up mana source. Drawing mana from the sph...

[ 15 ] Missing Pieces

“You three are crazy,” Zander shook his head. “I’m outta here,” he added, turning and storming out, his thudding steps echoing down the stairs a second later.

“Leaving already?” Daedrik's muffled voice came from the living room as Zander reached the door.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Jakari,” Zander could be...

[ 14 ] Mentor

“So, the three little brats return. I’m impressed; I thought you’d be too scared to actually show up to your first lesson,” Zander said, his hands smugly resting against his hips as the trio walked into the timber-floor storeroom at the back of the school that Zander used as a makeshift dojo.

“You talk too much, mop-head,” Elli...

[ 13 ] After School

Sitting on the porch outside the Jakari home, Tammy and Daedrik sat on white chairs by the door with mugs in their hands. They were supposed to be watching the kids, but at eleven years of age, they let them do their own thing.

“I heard that Kal’s close to awakening his mana core. Is that true?”

“Yeah… he’s gifted,” Dae...

[ 12 ] Lead Classmates

Neither Ellie nor Arix were very good at meditating. Not that Kal minded. He wasn’t sure if ten-year-olds running around with magic was a great idea anyway.

By the end of their sixth year in school, they were heading into senior classes—which was essentially high school—and graduated into lead classmates, a term used for senior class...

[ 11 ] Rising Suspicions

Ellie hung from her mother's arm as they walked through the narrow, cobbled alley that cut through the townhomes that clumped together toward Ebenshire’s center.

“You alright?” Kal said, walking with a lackadaisical stride.

“Mmhmm,” Ellie nodded and squeezed on her mom's arm.

“Oookay… if you say so,” Kal shrugge...

[ 10 ] Party

“I’m so excited,” Yandi giddily made her way around the house, stringing up ribbons. “These decorations are so colorful and pretty. Don’t you think, Kal?”

“Yeah, it’s great,” Kal said, sprawled across the living room floor, nose first in a book.

“Don’t you want to get in on this fun?” Yandi bounced her brows.<...

[ 9 ] Demon Hunter

Strolling through narrow alleys between overpacked shelves, Kal’s eyes traced the binders for something interesting in the History & Geography section. He empowered a trickle of mana to boost his intelligence, helping him scan the book titles faster.

Come on. Surely, they have some books about local phenomena and folktales.<...

100. Return

Pressed against the damp walls, the party of scouts and knights crept deeper into the caverns of the Daggers. Callum had considered ordering their retreat, but after a long moment of listening to the distant echoes of footsteps, he concluded that they weren’t heading in their direction.

He held his sword at his side as they walked and re...

[ 8 ] Childhood

“Watchya doing, Kal?” Came a squeaky through the white picket gate that enclosed the yard.

Kal turned around to spot a curious, skinny girl with a rosy, blonde fringe watching him. 

“Oh, hi Ellie. Didn’t know you were visiting today.”

“Surprise!” Ellie waved her hands.

“A bit late for that,” Kal rol...

[ 7 ] Sphere

Thankfully, Daedrik rarely entered Kal’s room anymore. Their relationship seemed to have improved, but he was fairly certain he still had doubts about whether or not Kal was actually his son. But that worked in Kal’s favor. He wasn’t particularly fond of having his studies interrupted, and besides, it might mean that he wouldn’t notice t...

[ 6 ] Magic

Okay, let’s see here, Kal mused, sitting atop the living room sofa. His third birthday had come and gone without another unfortunate event like at his second, and in that time, he had been training his magic every moment he got.

For months after his second birthday, it felt like Daedrik’s eyes followed him everywhere, but he s...

[ 5 ] Spellcasting

So, he’s already learned to hide his mana core, Daedrik mused, hunched over notes in his secret office. Not only that, but his mana is comparable to that of a gifted child over twice his age. 

Sighing, Daedrik leaned back in his chair. He didn’t know what to do about his son. Regardless of what he was, the kid wa...

[ 4 ] Mana Control

Moonlight pierced through a part in Kal’s window blinds, reflecting off Daedrik’s glasses—who stood in the doorway, partially shrouded by night.

“Kal.”

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??? Mana Core

Mana ???

Mana Potential 424

St...