Chapter 3: Red Hands

Chapter 3: Red Hands

Today was an exciting day—or at least it was supposed to be—but I had a lot on my mind from what Eliza and I spoke of a few days ago.

"Lesson Six!" Milinda shouted. "Now, I know how kids like you are," she said, smirking. "You probably find the theory of magic boring. Well, today is your lucky day."

"Who can tell me what the main technique for casting spells is?"

Bethany's hand shot up instantly. "Well, it's called palm casting."

"Well done! Ten thousand points to you, Bethany," Milinda said.

"And how does this technique work?" she asked again. Bethany's hand shot up.

"Palm casting is the act of channeling spark absorbed and stored in one's magic core. The palms work as the exit point for any spells cast."

"Exactly! That's another ten thousand points to you, Bethany." Milinda smiled.

"Spark exists naturally in this world. It surrounds us. To manipulate it, you must feel it around yourself, draw it closer, and imagine it changing forms—twisting and folding over itself—until it creates what you desire. Today, each of you will hone this spark and make it bend to your will. Absorb the mana around you as if you are letting it gravitate towards the center of your body. Absorb it into you."

She paused, walking around the room, watching us carefully.

"Now, remember this carefully. Imagine your spark flowing through veins in your body, like how blood is transported. You will now pump out the spark and guide it down your veins all the way through your arms to the tips of your fingers, then into your palms, releasing it outwards."

"This is the act of palm casting. Now, there are four main elements: fire, water, wind, and stone. Each mage is born with an affinity for one of these attributes. That's what today's lesson is about—finding out what affinity each of you possesses. Now, let's get started."

Milinda's voice softened. "Remember, we do not know much about the origin of this gift we harness, so treat it with respect and learn," she said, pausing for a moment. "So that when you are grown, you too can help those who come after to understand."

Everyone began to focus, closing their eyes and breathing deeply, trying to sense the spark around them. A faint white glow emitted from their wands as they visualized the spark. Some caught on quickly; the first to succeed was Bethany. In an instant, a large sphere of water appeared in front of her, glistening against the sunlight—a transparent, wobbly body of water floating in the air, dripping onto the ground. One by one, each managed to conjure something. Some conjured fire, others big round boulders of stone, and some strong gusts of wind. All of them managed to get the hang of it.

All except me.

Every single one of them except for me.

Milinda stood beside me. "What seems to be the matter, boy?" she asked, looking down at me.

"I'm not sure. I'm trying very hard, but nothing is happening."

"Do not force it, boy. The spark cannot be fought into submission. It is important to treat it with respect—make it one with your body. Do not fight against it. That is a battle you will not win."

Ever since I was a kid, I've known about magic—which is obvious, given where I grew up. Even before the lessons with Milinda, I had tried to learn spells on my own. Yet every time I did so, a sadness would flood over me—a sadness like nothing I've known before. My heart would ache tremendously, worse than any pain I had ever felt. But I wouldn't be left behind. I needed to overcome this. Today, I would finally cast my first spell.

I focused hard, pacing my breathing carefully and adjusting my posture. I felt a strange, warm sensation at the center of my chest. This warmth began flowing through my body, down my legs, and into the ground.

"Yes, just like that, boy," Milinda said, smiling. "The tricky part is concentrating the spark to flow only in the direction you want—through your arms," she added.

Breath after breath, I focused on channeling the flow, visualizing the spark shooting out of my hands. Finally, I opened my eyes again and saw a large ball of water in front of me.

"Good... boy. Now keep concentrating," Milinda said, pleased with my progress. "Don't lose focus."

My body began to feel tingly, a sensation I'd only felt in my fingers until now. I tried to slow the flow of spark to a steady pace, but it continued pumping into the ball, causing it to grow larger. The spark felt as if it was coming from every part of my body, not just my arms. I tried to stop but nothing happened —the ball just kept growing.

"Stop now, boy! That's enough!" Milinda shouted.

"I'm trying!" I yelled as it continued expanding.

At this point, it was almost as large as me, engulfing me and sucking me into its watery mass. I opened my eyes and saw Ola and Ren shouting something at me, but I couldn't hear them over the rush of water engulfing me, filling my nose and throat. The ball was about three times my body size, and I felt like I was drowning until suddenly, it went rock solid. A chill overcame my whole body before I passed out. The last thing I heard was the sound of shattering, and then everything went black.

In the dark void I found myself in, words echoed in my mind:

"Hey, let's go catch wasps, Maddox," The voice said. " Bethany said she saw a huge one the other day."

In the abyss, I saw her—a girl with long, white hair, whiter than the clouds. Her bright blue eyes had a sweet gaze that could make even the toughest men hesitate. Her warm smile turned dark and sinister as she pointed at my hands. I lifted them, and all I saw was red. Blood-red hands. The blood dripped from them. I stared at my hands and started screaming.

"What is this? What is going on here?" My heart was in pain as tears flooded my eyes—pain worse than any broken bone or wound. Unbearable pain. All I could shout was a name, a name that didn't belong to anyone I knew: Livanna.

I snapped back into reality, trapped in ice that had formed around me. My arms were hot with an unbearable heat. Black, shadowy fog trickled out before exploding violently into a gust of black fog that destroyed the ice dome I was trapped in.

I woke up six days later, my head pounding. Ren, Eliza, and Ola were at my side.

"Wow, dude, you really had to show off, huh?" Ren said, grinning.

"Such a dumbass," Ola added, wiping a tear from her eye.

"I've never seen someone get attacked by their own spell," Ren chuckled softly.

"What happened?" I asked, confused.

"We're not sure. This has never happened before," Ola replied.

The doors to the medic ward opened violently as two people walked in: Milinda and Magnus.

"Thank God, I can't have you dying under my supervision, boy," Milinda said, taking a deep breath herself.

She explained that a mage has an affinity for one of the elements—fire, wind, water, or earth—and gains the ability to control it. This exercise was designed to reveal each student's affinity. Yet, I was not only capable of conjuring water but also freezing it—something unprecedented. Magnus's intense gaze bore into me.

"The ice only broke away from you because of another spell you cast," Magnus said. "Do you think you could do it again?"

"I'm not even sure what happened myself, sir," I said, slightly put off by his gaze.

I think he may have noticed my discomfort because he quickly dismissed the situation.

"Listen, boy, you show immense potential. What you did was unheard of. Keep it up, but do not overdo it. You have a bright future, and I am excited to see how you turn out. Shine brighter than the rest."

"Ye... yes, sir," I stammered.

As he walked away, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the air. Even as he turned his back to me, I could sense it—a wicked smile forming on his face. It was the grin of a wolf who had found its next prey.

"Shine brightly, Maddox—brighter than all the rest!" he said enthusiastically as he walked out of the room.

Later in the dorms~

The dorms could house six people, and our small room was cramped with three old bunk beds, an antique chest overflowing with clothes, and a single window on the far side that offered a view of the backyard. The walls begged for a fresh coat of paint, and the ceiling fan wobbled precariously with only two of its three blades still attached. I shared this space with Ren, Ola, Eliza, Bethany, and Isaac.

Bethany was your quintessential bookworm—soft-spoken and content to keep to herself most of the time. Her frizzy, long brown hair framed her face, with bangs just brushing her big, round glasses. Freckles dotted her cheeks, giving her a delicate charm. Once you got to know her, you'd find she had a kind, warm personality that made you feel at ease.

Isaac, her brother, was almost her complete opposite. Outgoing and self-assured, Isaac carried himself with an air of confidence. His short, neatly trimmed hair and easy laughter made him instantly likable. Whether it was sports or socializing, he was always at the center of the action. Despite their differences, Isaac and Bethany shared an unshakable bond. He admired her intelligence and kindness, while she appreciated his boldness and charisma. Together, they were an unbreakable pair. Isaac, by the way, was the most promising wizard after Ethan, and he was next in line to go to Lux.

The six of us had become like a little family in this orphanage, forged by years of shared memories. We'd known each other since birth, after all.

"Look who's back! Don't freeze me now," Isaac said jokingly.

"Shut up, Isaac," I replied dryly.

"Well, I hope you're okay for real, though," he said, more seriously.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"We have news, too," Isaac said happily. "Well, you see, I'm the next one to leave this place."

His words shook my soul.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, the fear in my voice noticeable.

"Well, a few days ago, Magnus stopped by and said he was really impressed with my earth manipulation. So, under special consideration, he's letting me go to Lux early."

My heart dropped as I looked at Eliza. She looked back at me. The room was buzzing with excitement and celebration.

"That's awesome!" Bethany said.

"Yeah, man, well done!" Ren added.

"What's wrong, Maddox?" Isaac asked, turning to me. "Magnus did tell me to keep it a secret for now, but you're all my closest family. I waited for you to get out of the hospital to share this news with you. I'm actually supposed to go to his office now, so your timing is perfect, hospital boy."

"No, I'm happy for you," I said, trying to mask my true emotions. "But…"

"But what?" The room's vibe shifted quickly.

"Well," I started hesitantly.

"Well, what about us?" Eliza stepped in, her voice firm. "We… we always said we'd go to Lux together."

"Yeah, but this is a huge honor for me. I'd be the youngest in the orphanage to ever leave this place," Isaac said, his voice faltering. "I… I thought you'd be happy for me."

"We… we were, it's just—"

"I knew it, Maddox!" Isaac cut me off, his voice rising. "So, only you get to shine, huh? Now that you're Magnus's new favorite student, to hell with the rest of us, right?"

"No, it's not like that, Isaac. It's just—"

"Just what?" Isaac's face contorted with hurt. "I really thought you'd be happy for me, Maddox." His voice broke as he stormed out of the room.

"Wait, Isaac! Eliza called after him, but he didn't stop.

"Leave me alone, Eliza! You're just as bad as he is!" Isaac shouted, disappearing down the hall.

"What do we do, Eliza? I don't know what to do," I said, my voice trembling.

We sat on the green grass in the orphanage's backyard, the cool night air brushing against us.

"We don't know anything yet," Eliza said, her gaze fixed on the stars. "How can I stop Isaac from following his dream when we don't even know if anything bad is actually happening?"

"We need to go to that cabin, Maddox. It's the only way," she said firmly.

I knew she was right, but the thought of what we might discover there made my chest tighten. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face the truth waiting for us down there.

Magnus's Office

"Oh, young Isaac, I've been waiting for your arrival," Magnus said, his tone smooth and calculated.

"S-sorry to disturb you, sir. It's just that I..." Isaac hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I know I'm the next candidate to leave the orphanage."

"And I am grateful for this honor, sir. Truly," Isaac continued, his voice wavering slightly. "But… I just had a huge fight with my friends. It made me realize we made a promise to leave this place together. If I accept this opportunity now, I'd be betraying that promise. So, while I appreciate this chance, I'd like to decline and wait until my friends are ready, so we can leave together."

Magnus regarded Isaac carefully, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, boy. You've done well, and your magic is exceptional. With more hard work, you would do wonderful things at Lux," Magnus said, his voice calm but cold. "It saddens me to hear you reject this offer. While your motivation is honest and kindhearted, I believe you are making a grave mistake."

"Well, that's the thing, sir," Isaac said, his voice growing stronger. "I don't want to become a wizard without my friends. They're my family, and family sticks together. That's why I've made up my mind."

For a fleeting moment, Magnus's calm demeanor faltered. His eyes darkened, and his voice carried a subtle edge.

"I see, boy. That is your choice, and I have no objections," Magnus said with a tight smile. "You are free to go. I will inform the headmaster at Lux of your decision."

"Thank you, sir," Isaac said, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

The Orphanage Backyard

Eliza and I sat in silence, staring at the clear night sky.

"We'll figure it out, Maddox," she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her eyes. "We have to—for all our sake."

In that moment, a brilliant white light flashed across the sky, illuminating everything around us. Its source seemed to come from inside the orphanage—Magnus's office.

And just as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished.

Eliza and I exchanged a tense look.

We both remembered what Isaac had said: he was on his way to Magnus's office tonight.

We didn't want to entertain the idea, but deep down, we both knew.

Something terrible had happened.