"Swish... swish... swish."
The broom swept across the floor in an unwavering rhythm.
Alex woke every day at dawn, made breakfast for his family, ran, showered, and began his library guard duty.
His father called it that, but Alex was simply cleaning and organizing the place.
This was the Grand Library of the Mountain Mists. Once, it housed the world's most prestigious books and manuscripts. It actually still has them; they just aren't prestigious anymore. Ever since the discovery of Star Ink, people have turned away from knowledge; they've used this black gold on their armor and weapons, forgetting the essence of humanity. People once understood the stars and their message. Now, they've enslaved them for petty quarrels.
Other disciples of the clan were walking by, their boots, headbands, and daggers glowing with Star-mana. They grew up and attended classes with Alex, but always looked down on him.
"Hey, you missed a spot!" They laughed as they passed Alex, and with the agility of an old man, one of the brutes conjured the wind to blow the leaves Alex had spent thirty minutes sweeping.
Why would you waste valuable Ink...
That mana was weak, but in this world, even the rats mock the ants.
A loud bang was heard the next second. It was the sound of metal clashing, to be more specific, the sound of a metal rod hitting the back of an armored idiot. The boy fell to his knees. Alex could have guessed who had intervened with his eyes closed.
"C'mon, get up, I didn't even hit you that hard!" shouted Malena proudly as she smiled back at Alex.
"I didn't need your help, Malena." Alex stared back at her, unimpressed by her performance.
Eric got up, a vein visible on his forehead, and, with his two lackeys, started conjuring a new element.
Alex recognized it the second he began moving; they were about to launch a firebolt. The spell was taught to every entry-level disciple, derived from the tales of Arjuna; it was a fifth-rate 'Revised Myth.'
It was a flashy spell, but no low-level wielder understood its potential.
It's flickering at the dagger's base because Eric's grip is too tight. Not to mention the poor ink quality and the even worse calligraphy.
Malena was weak to fire; everyone in the village knew it, and Alex felt this would get ugly. After assessing the situation, he stepped between them and tried to defuse it.
"Stop, Eric! You're going too far! If you three conjure it together, she might die!" Alex was scared because the last time Malena was hit by one of his spells, she had been bedridden for four days.
"Shut your mouth, you Static!" Eric answered, looking at Alex with anger in his eyes. "If you want me to stop, then fight me like a man! Or will you let your little girlfriend there do all your fighting for you?"
"Leave it to me, Alex, I've learned a thing or two since last time," whispered Malena in his ear right before sprinting straight towards him. Malena wasn't scared of anything, especially not of other disciples.
Panicked, Eric released the spell. A firebolt sprang out of his dagger. It was fast. Too fast. Malena barely dodged it, and it was now coming straight at Alex. He wasn't as fast or strong as Malena, but he had always been more resistant to magic. However, that didn't matter for the current threat.
What a bunch of amateurs... They didn't take the wind blowing towards them into account. Judging by its speed and size, that firebolt will extinguish 5 centimeters away from my face. I won't even have to dodge it.
The bolt suddenly changed its path, hitting the floor and disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Everyone froze, turning their attention to the library entrance. It was Alex's father's doing.
"You have ten seconds to leave my property before I have you written up," the Elder said calmly. He didn't specify who he was talking to, but it was clear Eric was the target.
"But Elder Herald, she star..." replied Eric, like a child caught misbehaving. "I will not repeat myself." his voice was soft, but the threat was real.
Eric didn't add a word. He left with his friends and, on the way out, grumbled something Alex couldn't make out.
"You're lucky Uncle Herald was here, I was about to...!" Elder Herald pulled Malena by the ear.
"How many times have I told you to let Alex handle these situations himself? We're going straight to see Celia!" Even the composed Clan Chief Herald faltered with Malena's wit.
After the incident, Alex went back to his daily routine. These kinds of interaction were "normal" between the disciples. Immature people were bound to sort out their differences with violence. Alex didn't have a choice; he didn't have a drop of mana and couldn't conjure basic spells three-year-olds could.
After taking way too long to sweep back the leaves, he dove into the library and attended to his remaining tasks for the rest of the afternoon.
Alex was lost in thought, wondering how humans evolved to rely solely on Ink. Even for everyday tasks like mending a field or lighting up a house, citizens and villagers alike dumped their Ink as if it were infinite. Too lazy to use their hands or brains.
"Honey! You've worked enough for today, it's time for dinner!" Those words tore him from his deep introspection. They were like music to his ears.
"Alright, Mom. I just need to reorganize a couple of star rocks, and I'll be over," Alex answered, his mouth already watering thinking about dinner.
"I knew you'd say that, so today we'll all be having a picnic in front of the library," she said, smiling with all her teeth. She wasn't alone; Alex's younger brother, Alfred, his father, and even Malena and her mom were there. Everyone was holding way too much food for this to be a simple dinner.
They sat around the fountain, between the oak trees and the chirping birds. Everyone was laughing. They took a second to talk about Roman, Alex's older brother, who was supposed to visit home in less than three months. He had been sent to the best military schools in the capital.
Malena picked a fight or two over food with Alfred, but it would have been odd if she hadn't. They didn't have much, but they were happy.
As the pleasant evening wore on, the air slowly but surely started to weigh on them. The birds fell silent, and their melody was replaced by the uncanny sound of branches moving in the wind. Two figures appeared at the entrance of the park. Two figures that Alex recognized instantly. Two figures that he despised.
The sound of the cane hitting the ground was carved into their memories. Each time they heard it meant bad news. His Father glanced at his mother. She asked Alfred to wash the dishes in the river behind the building. He tried to protest because he was play-fighting with Malena, but she insisted and had everyone tag along.
Alex followed the group to the library. His curiosity grew too strong, so he hid behind a tree before coming back to hear what they were discussing with Herald.
"Hello, head of Clan Klutz, what an honor to have you here! Hello, Mr. Xander, I'm happy to welcome you to my library. Is there a book that has piqued your curiosity?" said Alex's father, while slightly bowing down.
"Those stupid children's stories? Cut to the point. You know why I'm here," Xander didn't even let the head of the Clan speak.
Xander was the outpost lord of the Core clan. He'd been in charge of the land for five years and had been terrorizing the population. Wherever he went, he disregarded, badmouthed, and straight-up insulted everybody. He wasn't that strong. From what Alex had seen, he was only a fifth-rate fighter, and his mana wasn't fully condensed yet and surely never would be.
Klutz, the clan leader, was also a fifth-rate fighter; his mana was of better quality, and he was a lava type. In a fight, even with Xander's goons, he should have won fairly easily. However, whenever he interacted with Xander, he was submissive and agreed to every unreasonable demand.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding." Elder Herald smiled, but Alex could feel the tension rising from where he was. "The rent isn't due until the next full moon; we still have at least three days."
"I decide when you pay the rent. Besides, you're not going to make the cut this time. I saw the report of your auction sale; only one item was sold. I'll be collecting today if that's okay with clan leader Klutz, of course," Xander looked at Klutz while finishing his sentence. They all knew he wasn't actually asking for permission, but Alex hoped that this time, maybe this time, Klutz would stand his ground.
"Of course, it isn't an issue," Klutz looked at his feet, with a pathetic smile, while Alex's Father hawked him down.
"Alright, if Master Klutz agrees, I'll give you your rent today." Alex's father continued looking at Klutz; his eyes didn't show anger, they showed pity. "Let's meet tonight at the main hall. I'll have your money."
The Lord's face closed down; he was holding back his frustration. He wanted a conflict to happen. That's when he smirked; a malevolent idea had spawned in his mind.
"Since I'm being so merciful as to give you until midnight to pay, upraise these rocks for me; if you find a drop of Star Ink, I'll give you until next month for the rent."
He dropped a bag of rocks on the ground and kicked them towards Alex's Father. Even an amateur could tell that those rocks didn't contain any Ink. They were as bland as Klutz's outfit. However, Elder Herald had no choice. If he had refused, it would have sparked a fight.
Elder Herald got down on his knees. Head lowered… reaching for the stale rocks.
Alex was usually cold-blooded, but even he couldn't bear to see his own father like this. A man of his wisdom and intellect, reduced to playing with dirt.
His brain began to think of a way to save his Father's honor. He knew he couldn't fight him head-on, so he came up with a rushed plan.
Alex picked up a nearby rock and threw it at a tree behind them. The impact was loud enough to grab the attention of the three men. This was his cue to attack. He dashed forward and swung his fist, aiming at Xander's jaw. He was sure that he had him, but Xander heard his footsteps as he got closer. He dodged the blow with ease. He wasn't fast; Alex was slow.
"What a surprise! If it isn't the almighty Alex!" Alex grinned, hearing those words.
"Alex, what are you doing?!" Herald looked up at his son, panic setting into his eyes.
"Are you still not emitting any mana? Don't tell me you're still a Static??" Added Xander. He had been called a Static many times, but coming from Xander, the words hit differently; it felt personal.
Alex armed his fists, ready to send the next blow.
"Alex! Stop!" his father shouted, his scream startling the boy.
"Look! Even your own father is telling you to stop. You're a failure, can't even defend your poor old dad. Come on, condense some mana with those mittens you call hands and come at me!" With each word, Alex felt his resolve fading, as if he could never match him.
Xander quickly conjured his spell.
Xander's cane started moving on its own; it wrapped around Alex's hands and pulled him to the ground. It reeked of unrefined ink.
Alex tried lifting his hands up, but it seemed as if his arm weighed more than the whole world. It felt odd.
How could this small cane with this level of mana hold back my hands? My body isn't reinforced with mana, but this thing shouldn't be able to hold me down this much.
"Please, let him be; he's just a child. I'll double the rent for tonight!!" The dignified Father, the person Alex looked up to the most, was begging. He was begging this monster to spare his son's life. This was too much for Alex. He felt a boiling rage filling up his body.
I'm sick of this. Everyone is always protecting me. Fighting my battle in my place.
I'm not going to stay a failure. I'll show them. I don't need mana or magic to survive. I won't be a burden my whole life!
With one last effort, Alex tried lifting his hands; they started moving. He was going to win this fight through sheer will.
"Fine, but make it triple," barked Xander before hitting Alex with his oversized boot to the face. Alex saw his father running towards him. That was funny; he didn't even think the man was able to run. His vision blurred, and he couldn't hear what his father was saying.
Alex woke up to the feeling of a wet towel sliding across his face. Zora, Alex's mother, was cleaning and wiping the dirt off his skin, crying all the tears she had left.
"Why do you keep doing this? You know you're not as strong as you think you are. Do you enjoy making us worry?" Zora held her son's face, tears streaming.
She was right; this was the third time Alex had been beaten up this year. Alex didn't care when people badmouthed or mocked him, but he refused to let anyone harm his family and friends.
"I'm fine, Mom... I'll get him back." Alex still looked upset about the earlier encounter.
"Over my dead body! Are you out of your mind! Say something, Honey!" shouted Zora, looking at Herald for his confirmation.
"You should listen to your mother, Alex. Fighting is for brutes who can't control their emotions. Look how you ended up. Words could have diffused the situation earlier." Explained Elder Herald, as calm and collected as he always is, seeming unfazed by what had happened.
"Yeah...yeah..." Alex replied while getting up. " Look where that got you, upraising dirt on your knees." His words were as sharp as daggers. He scrutinized his father's face, waiting to see a reaction he never got.
"Alexander, you shall not speak to you..." She didn't finish her sentence because the door was already closed and Alex was long gone.
He walked down the streets as fast as he could; his determined pace got him to his second home, where he had so many good and bad moments, where he always hid when things got too heated at the library: Malena's house.
The house was small and appeared to be poorly maintained; it had long since lost its former glory. When they were kids, Alex and Malena used to run around the fountains, climb up the rocky walls, and role-play as pirates on the golden roof and eat around the giant metal chimney. Since Malena's father passed away, they couldn't afford the astronomical cost of maintaining the place, so the fountains were turned off, the gold was sold, and all that was left was the old, cold, and rusty chimney.
Alex went straight to Malena's room, not even acknowledging Celia, Malena's Mother, who was cooking in the kitchen. She didn't say a word. She looked at him with pity in her eyes, she saw him lying on the floor at the library.
"I have a plan," whispered Alex while bursting into Malena's room like it was his own.
"Hahaha, after what you just pulled, I'm not following you anywhere," answered Malena while still reading her book.
"I'm serious this time," replied Alex with an almost menacing tone.
"Okay, hotshot, I'm listening," she snarked, finally looking up from her book.
"We're going to the forbidden archives." Time felt like it had stopped, and they looked at each other for a couple of seconds, the words still hanging in the air.
"Are you for real?" said Malena with a smile beginning to form across her face.
"Yes, I can't beat Xander empty-handed. He's coming back tonight to collect rent. I know there are weapons in there, and if we're lucky, we could find some of the prestige Ink they always talk about. And all I need you to do is keep guard."
"I'm in, let's go!" Malena jumped from her bed, ready to take on the world.
"Wait, it's too risky right now. We leave at Dusk, but you know what will happen to us if we get caught." Whispered Alex, making sure the door is closed.
"Okay!" She jumped back on her bed as quickly as she got up.
"Meet me next to the old well, we'll go in through the back," added Alex, keeping his voice down, before leaving.
On the way out, he locked eyes with Celia; her gaze felt like she was looking into his soul. This quick visit meant they were up to no good. Just as she was about to speak, Alex left the house.