It was the beginning of winter, and this was the time when enrollment for the 'Linear School of Knight and Magic' started. The school was the biggest and most famous in Libra City, and every student dreamed of studying there.
Sameer and I were orphans, so nobody liked us. We had grown up together in the same orphanage. Sameer was my roommate, and neither of us knew exactly when we had arrived there. We had no knowledge of our parents, nor did we know where they were. But because we were always together, our bond was very deep. People often thought we were siblings.
From a young age, I had been passionate about swords and magic. Sameer. on the other hand, loved close-combat fighting and books. But it felt like nature was playing a cruel joke on us from start. Not only were we orphans, but we also lacked abilities.
In a world, where everyone is born with a "Blessing" from an Angel. Over time, people could use the power of their blessing, but they had to worship the angel to give thanks.
While humans get blessings from Angels, demons and monsters received theirs from devils.
But Sameer and I were exceptions. We had no blessing. Perhaps that was why our parents had been taken away or abandoned us. But honestly, neither of us regretted it.
Everything was going fine - until one day, when Sameer and I found a hollow tree while playing. Suddenly, a storm began, and we took shelter inside the hollow trunk, but we began to fall. The inside of the tree was hollow, and beneath it, there was empty space. Which leading to a deep underground space.
As I fell, I saw a beautiful place. Surrounded by glowing trees, birds, and fireflies, I was confused and it felt magical. I realized something strange: where was Sameer? He had been with me, so how was I okay after such a fall?
While I was thinking this and searching for him, I heard a voice whispered:
"The one you are looking for is not here."
I followed the sound and saw an Angel chained up, his wings were burned. And golden blood dripped from his body. A sword was strapped into his back. I couldn't believe someone could do this to an Angel. As I approached, I realized how big an angel could truly be.
"I am the Angel of Mischief, Suxang," the angel said. "I am trapped here because a devil. If you free me, I will give you my blessing."
I was hesitant. Could she be lying? He was chained, so surely he must have done something wrong. But Suxang told me angels could not lie. It's feel like he can read my mind.
I slowly walked behind him and into my trembling hands. I pulled the sword from his back and freed him. He gave me his blessing and told me to keep the sword.
As I tried to stand and look at his, I realized I was lying on the cold ground of the cave. The stone wall above me confirmed that I had been unconscious from the fall.
What a strange dream, I thought. But when I looked at my hand, the sword was really there. The blessing wasn't a lie. I stood up and noticed my clothes were torn, and I was badly hurt - but all my wounds had healed because of the blessing.
I searched for Sameer and saw him sitting a little far away. But something felt different - this was not the Sameer I knew. His smile was gone, and there was no light in his eyes, only a deep, endless darkness.
"Let's try to get out," Sameer said, looking at me. I asked him if he had received a blessing, and he just nodded. No matter how much I asked him from whom or what he had received it, he didn't respond.
After we left that place, everyone learned that both Sameer and I had received blessings. Some were happy, some annoyed.
After that day, everything changed, my talent began to show. That gave me the chance to study at the Linear School of Knight and Magic.
On my first day, I tried to look perfect. I talked to everyone in class, and everyone wanted to be friends with me. Stories had spread about how an orphan like me got a chance to study at such a famous school. Sameer had that opportunity too, but after the incident, he became quiet.
I approached him. He was staring out the window, lost in thought. His clothes dirty and torn, his hair messy, his face marked as if he had come from a poor street. He had been given fine clothes, yet he looked like he had only come from fighting.
I asked him what had happened, but he seemed lost in his own world, not caring about anything around him. He glanced at me once, then turned away. I wanted to ask more, but I stopped.
Suddenly, there was a commotion. A princess had arrived. I didn't know who she was, but people were so excited. A girl in beautiful, expensive clothes caused such a stir - I didn't understand why. I sat beside Sameer, who didn't change his expression. His blue eyes were filled with mystery, as if he had seen more than he should have.
I had heard that one could read a person's emotions through their eyes, but Sameer's eyes seemed to have seen and felt things no one should.
The class started, and the teacher introduced everyone. That's when I learned the girl causing the commotion was Princess Humaira. Her name was beautiful, and her royal aura left me amazed. I watched her throughout the class, measuring our positions in the room. Somehow, I barely noticed when the class ended.
After class, Sameer still sat by the window, staring at something outside. I realized I was going to spend time with a mysterious person.
Our next class was the Mana Chamber. Mana was measured in ten levels, each represented by a color: green, sky blue, dark blue, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, black, and white. We focused mana into a crystal ball, which reflected a color based on the amount of mana.
If someone had little mana, the crystal glowed golden; as it increased, the color changed. My mana was dark blue, the highest in my class. Everyone praised me, but my attention was on Sameer and Humaira.
Humaira's mana was almost equal to mine. Sameer went last, and his was the lowest. A faint golden glow showed he had a little mana, but it was almost negligible. People called him weak and unimportant, but he didn't show fear or shame. As he left, a small smile appeared on his lips. I wondered why - was it comfort, or something else?
I examined the crystal ball and noticed a tiny crack. I wasn't sure if it had always been there or appeared during the test. Could Sameer's smile be connected to that? Or was it something else?
Suddenly, Siyam heard a voice calling his name. He opened his eyes and realized he was in bed. It was Humaira, it was morning. time for breakfast before he had to depart for Kalbi Mountain. Humaira wanted to come, but he didn't want to take her because he didn't want to put her in danger.
At the mountain, Siyam started inspecting a seal, realizing it had been bound by black magic. Such strong magic hadn't been used in ages. The cave also seemed ancient - at least 130 years old. But inside, the artifacts looked even older - over 200 years.
Siyam used fire magic to light the place. There were old weapons and magical tools. Ahead stood a black golem, human-shaped. It's aura was overwhelming, even a slight mistake could awaken it. Behind it was a box, sealed with forbidden black magic.
Siyam wondered if inside the box was what he had been searching for all these years. Driven by curiosity, he stepped closer and that's when the real danger began…