Savior

The heart of a boy was thumping wildly at the idea of dying.

Small eight inch icicles were being thrown towards Elijah at a speed he could not understand. He used the little mana he could muster to create a small portal while ducking to the ground. Fear was washing over him, and especially when the only thing he was looking at was the wet dirt and rock floor.

Unsurprisingly, his counter did nothing as the ice bears barely used any of the mana on a child teetering on the line of life and death. 

"I WILL NOT GIVE UP" Throwing the torch of his life to the ground, Elijah flew directly outside the stone barrier and used the rest of his mana in his body to send one final slash directly after the ice bears launched a barrage of icicles.

"Hahahaha, why do I feel no pain…" Elijah slumped to the ground on his back along with the heads of three ice bears. Small icicles were scattered all over his body. Though they were shallow, the quantity made up for it. His mana had completely run dry and he no longer felt a shred of life. The hoarse screams of his father were dulled. The burning sensation of the hot ash and rocks felt non-existent. And most importantly, Elijah's drive to live was extinguished.

"What's the point in suffering again just to live in fake peace…" Elijah said while noticing the large amount of towering ice bears standing over his body.

However, the moment he said those words, he felt everything in the area gradually slow to a feeble crawl. The ice bear's claws were headed towards Elijah's throat, yet were moving slower and slower the more time went on.

A familiar voice murmured into his bloody ears…

"I respect you kid." A man with white hair and icy blue eyes beautifully skated his ice path he created while carrying a light-gray haired woman with a long gray and white dress.

Five human sized spears made of ice materialized above the icy man's head, and pierced through dozens upon dozens of ice bears, as well as any beasts that managed to survive the aftermath of the volcano.

Seconds after the battlefield went quiet. A warm and bright light enveloped Elijah's body which brought him back to the land of the living. However, Elijah was no longer conscious during this part. He was swiftly carried by the ice man, while the light mage carried Don.

Was it all worth it?

…

-{Inner West Health Haven}-

A group of seven worried and anxious people were surrounding the badly beaten warriors with dumb luck. Thanks to the healing of the water mages, almost all of their wounds were healed. However, water magic wasn't able to repair the badly beaten mind and soul of the patient, as well as the damaged nerves and spine of Don. At least not yet.

Elijah had awoken after 3 days of on and off rest. During this time Elijah was traveling deep into his mind and remembering some important details of his reincarnation.

Due to wanting to process his thoughts, his eyes stayed closed as he let his mind wander.

…

"I witnessed your successful, but boring life."

"Every principle of any element can be shown with your imagination."

"I will give you part of what makes me, me."

"Save me! Save me!"

…

It seems at unknown times while either sleeping or unconscious, Elijah remembers parts of after his death and before reincarnation. The only phrases that caught his attention were how every principle of any element can be shown with your imagination, and Elijah obtaining a part of what this "it", "it". However, it was a conversation between two people, or atleast a human or an "it" that could understand english.

Elijah remembers the moments leading to seeing his savior, and feeling everything in the environment slowly come to a crawling speed. Could that be what this mystery person means?

Principles of ice that come to mind are cold, freezing, and slow. To be able to instill those principles through magic would only be possible with a wealth of knowledge that would only be prevalent in an expanding and prosperous society. Everything in Astraea Kingdom is managed by magic. No one uses ice themselves, but instead uses ice runes to cool or freeze whatever they need. Farming processes are expedited due to lowering the weight of almost everything with a weight rune as they call it, which isn't lowering the weight, but lowering the gravity of an object. By taking shortcuts, you never understand what is happening in between.

When is a tool considered a crutch?

…

-{Astraea Castle, Council Tower}-

Riveted stone columns act as supports for the windowless extravaganza that is a meeting room for The Council. The Council has a 360 degree view of the entirety of the Inner city. Chimneys are puffing out smoke, tiny specks are walking the streets. And from above, lays a semi-transparent magical barrier that is powered from a light that shoots into the sky. This magical barrier creates a half-sphere of protection that stops at the inner gates and lines the ring of mountains that creates the crater. However, due to the ash and rocks that came from the volcano, there is no longer any light passing into the city.

At a large rectangular quartz table sits sixteen powerful men and women. The king with his right and left hand. And the twelve council members and leaders that keep the wagons moving throughout the kingdom.

With a clear of his throat the mighty King Astraea says, "There are many items we need to address in the coming weeks. Firstly, we need to fully understand the situation of what happened to the outer region. Secondly, recover as many bodies as possible and send them to the underworld. And lastly, recover as much farmland as possible. What is blocking the light and life of the sun, is most definitely covering the ground of the outer region."

A tall confident man with black hair and deep red eyes responded quickly. "I understand your majesty. Shall I send the Judges or the Captains? There are certainly beasts roaming in the outer territory now."

"How about this Balal, allow anyone who is willing to volunteer to go to the outer region to recover their fallen brethren. If the beasts are roaming the farmlands, either kill them all, or kill as many as you can."

"I favor that idea." Lucian Vespertine, the Council head, speaks his mind in agreement.

Every council member has their own territory they oversee, with the ability to send judges and captains who reside in those areas on specific missions. Mostly in the catacombs, and rarely outside the walls. Council members are people of magical power who have proven their worth to the kingdom, and are the final line of defense against any calamity.

…

-{Outer West, Health Haven}-

Tears of joy were coming from the Veran and Sinclair families as they finally met the people responsible for their loved ones' survival.

"My name is Amaris, the Ice Judge."

"My name is Freya, the Light Judge."

Amaris had a smile on his face as he walked towards Elijah's bed. "I can tell you are awake, kid."

Elijah was not shocked, but accepted his defeat. Slowly, his body leaned forward in his bed, and his deep blue eyes shocked the people in the room with the starry glint that was within. "Thank you for saving me… Is my father okay?"

Phloria hugged him tightly knowing that his large number of wounds were healed. "Your father is still asleep, but don't worry, he is alive and will wake up soon. I hope…"

Amaris said, "we will talk later," before exiting the room.

In actuality, the gracious water mages that were responsible for the four badly injured patients explained to them that no matter how much water magic they used, Don's nerves and spine still remained damaged without any sign of healing. This wasn't necessarily the limit of magic, or even that of water magic. Unfortunately, the level of mana that was needed for this type of action was something the kingdom was short on. Only a cyan water mage would be able to have any sort of effect.

All hope was not lost, as Freya the Light Judge stepped forward.

"I can heal his body, however I have seen this before and even with my intervention, the mind will have to slowly adapt to the change in the body's state."

Elijah nodded in embarrassment. Do the people in this kingdom not realize what has happened? Do they know what nerves are in the body? Do they even understand how the body works?

It seems not only the magical tools that have been made are crutches that eliminate the need to know what is happening in between, but also the use of healing magic eliminates the need to take deep dives into understanding the body. Everyone in the city is extremely healthy and fit, besides lazy people who drink alcohol on a daily basis. The only injuries occurring are wounds from sparring and hunter missions in the catacombs and outside the walls.