First Kill

Between my time hanging out with Alexia, helping my mother in the garden, and learning basic rules and skills the kingdom requires, I was spending time alone in the forest behind the house.

A small circular ripple in the air appeared in front of Elijah. Next, a rock was thrown at the ripple and its momentum was completely stopped by the ripple. It has only been one week since returning home, and Elijah has made a significant amount of progress by testing all the different ways he could use his affinity.

Elijah gently placed his hand on the trunk of a tree, channeled his mana through his arms, and the next thing he knew…

The tree was split in half.

"Space… I wonder if that will work."

With curiosity brimming in his mind, Elijah's hand stayed close in front of his chest. A semi-transparent and pearlescent-rimmed circle was created, and after sticking his hand into a space that looked indescribable, his hand disappeared when shifting the angle of his view.

With Elijah's broad and sophisticated imagination, Elijah created another portal behind his back, and felt his own hand that he had shoved through what he knew was a portal rubbing his spine.

"Welp, I can easily say that works. The biggest question I have is how long I can last." This thought was an obvious one as he knew people had limits. Growing stronger was the only option at expanding these limits.

Months pass by very quickly as the planting season ends in Astraea. At this moment, all of the possible spells Elijah came up with in his head that he could unleash at any time were as follows.

Spatial barrier, portal, space slash, spatial split, and a unique spatial storage spell.

These spells all had their uses, however only one was more functional than the rest. The spatial storage spell. Elijah was simply creating a portal to a tiny pocket in space that he could reach to at any time. It was as if it was "his" pocket in space, or connected to "him" by unknown ways.

Elijah could throw whatever he wanted in there, and to grab what he previously put in the space, he has to remember almost everything about it to grab it again. This was of course if it fit. Everytime the spatial storage was opened, Elijah felt a significant portion of his mana disappear. The size was where this detail mattered, and for now, a small cubic one foot space was all he could handle.

Elijah also realized he can manipulate the mana in the environment to make the same effects happen with the added benefit of using significantly less mana. Theories related to how the dense amounts of mana in the environment allowed him to make sense of this action.

"DINNER TIME!!!"

Elijah's mother is forced to scream at the top of her lungs to reach him, because she knows he is in the forest doing what he does best. Staying mysterious.

…

3 years pass as Elijah solidifies his routine.

Trips to the wall to check for any abnormalities, hardening his body, and studying about not just required skills, but the kingdom itself.

Kingdom Astraea was founded over 6,000 years ago. In the books they say the first settlers saw an oasis amidst the chaos of the beast lands, which inhabits every single place in the world.

After the first 1000 years, the outside wall was built which allowed them to truly flourish with the lush farmlands that lay within. 2000 years and they built the structure known as Centerpool, and the castle that inhabits the king. The island of centerpool was made by countless numbers of earth and metal mages that made the structure amazingly strong with the strategically placed supports that reach into the exterior of the catacombs.

The book Elijah read on different life paths described many different ways to build a life for oneself. Mining, farming, hunting, selling, clothing, government, magitech, teaching, and architecture.

"I want to be a hunter."

Elijah silenced the dinner table, and surprisingly, no one smiled.

It's almost like hunters are seen as people who don't care for their lives. Which makes sense when Elijah thought about when he saw the large group of hunters filled with a different king of embarrassment. Although, he has heard about the hunters who roam The Catacombs for the sole reason of protecting the kingdom. Without them, the beasts would be able to invade the inner city while taking thousands of ill-prepared lives.

Although they were contributing greatly to the kingdom, no one thought risking their life was a good choice when everyone's life was their top priority.

The higher-ups knew of the dismay between the people, but they also knew that they were the reason why beasts were climbing into the city through the catacombs, which seemed to house an almost endless amount of caverns.

"If you want to be a hunter, then first join the Junior Hunters, they don't go too far into the catacombs, but still always get a taste of whether they want it or not."

The words from Don soured the mood of Elijah. However, he was not a child at heart, but someone with mountains of life experiences.

"How do I join the Junior Hunters?"

"There is an entrance exam every year. If you decide to do it, which I won't stop you, please be careful. Lots of nobles take those tests, and not all of them are as nice as the Weltor's." Don responded somberly.

With Elijah already being at the light red stage of his core, he was rather confident in his abilities to pass whatever exam they had.

The only problem Elijah had right now was that his affinity was rather unique. He had no idea if it was possible to have two affinities at once, however, if the opportunity arises, he won't miss his chance.

Dinner was over and it was already time for bed. And just like usual, Elijah would be going to the wall tonight. However, tonight was the night where he would risk more than he has ever risked before.

Over the past three years Elijah has seen a numerous number of beasts, and many groups of hunters. And during these times, he has never once left the safety and cold stone of the wall. Maybe he flew down to the side of the wall, but never anywhere near the rocky grasslands. Just like always, Elijah takes his usual route with his black cloak he hides in his spatial storage, and makes his way to the wall without worry.

"Freedom."

The wind blowing against his face was a feeling he cherished. It reminded him of climbing a tall mountain, jumping from a hot air balloon, wingsuit diving, and driving a flying car which were mass produced 20 years before he died.

"Ashley, if only you could see where I was now…"

WHOOSH

Elijah went flying through the air at a speed of roughly thirty miles per hour directly southwest of the wall. The north and south had a curved mountain range that created a half circle around what Elijah could tell was a crater. To the east and west were hilly and dense forests that led to places he cannot see. And surprisingly in the northwest, was a towering volcano close to eruption that was partially hidden behind the northern mountains. The bright red lava could be seen flowing down the top of the volcano.

Elijah's focus was the large upside down rib cage that now seemed to have a large head pointed in the direction of the wall.

There was a small group of beasts that seemed to be coming from that direction, and from what Elijah could see, they used fire magic. Their bright orange bodies with a flaming beard were obvious to point out with healthy eyes. Blazing lions is what the books said these were.

While approaching the beasts with a height of over seventy five feet in the air, Elijah readied mana in his arms to unleash a powerful attack.

3…

2…

1…

SZHING!

A thin streak of something indescribably hard to see shot towards the beasts at the speed of lightning. Blood splattered over the floor as the backs of two lions practically rubbing against each other slumped to the floor. Out of the 7 beasts in the pack, 5 were left standing.

"It seems like this power I have is truly something."

RAAWWRRR!

The beasts noticed a flying black figure in the sky and immediately started throwing simple fire balls towards Elijah. However, this was just a diversion. One of the blazing lions was bigger than the others, and he condensed his mana into a beam of fire that shot towards Elijah instantaneously. 

"SHIT!"

A large ripple in space materialized in front of his body, but was completely shattered by the power of the blast. A bright reddish-orange light flew past his head while ringing the hairs of the left of his skull. Elijah expected this much since these beasts were recorded to be solid orange or bright orange core beasts. A whole level higher than him.

The only reason why he was able to kill 2 in the beginning was because they had no idea an attack was coming.

This world is cruel in the way that you become powerful. Just because you are the strongest mage in the world, does not mean a knife to the jugular won't kill you.