The Ritual (4)

"Mana is the fundamental building block of life. It exists everywhere but can't be seen by normal people, only few people can see it and even fewer can control or harness it." Alex explained, his voice was full of life as he explained this.

Charles's eyes widened.

'it was something like that? I'm part of the few who can control it? How special am I?'

"The people who can control and Harness this Mana are called Mages. No one knows where mana came from, some say it was a blessing from the gods, some say it's a fragment of the dust of creation used by the creator of the Universe." Alex said. He clapped his hands and outstretched his palm. A flame of fire ignited and danced around his palms, lighting up the entire room.

Charles was entranced, he was enchanted by this flame. It was beautiful, it was the first time he had called something other than Marcelle beautiful, that's how beautiful the flames appeared to him.

They were bright red flames that were warm Instead of hot. It was scientifically unexplainable for Charles who had a degree In Physics, that's exactly why he found it beautiful and exciting, he wished to study it.

He reawakened the interest in Physics that he lost while chasing wealth back in his youth. He loved Physics and it was the only thing that made sense and was logical to him throughout his years in Highschool.

'How does one create a flame that isn't hot, but warm? I know it won't burn me just by feeling it. I feel like jumping into it to study it.'

"This is the power that every Flameworth possesses and must possess, but to prove your worth to possess this power. You must enter the Mana pool and survive it that will increase your control over the flame and your overall mana, and you should try to catch the interest of the Guardian Phoenix, the one who wields the flame of eternity and gives whoever is worthy a chance to wield the eternal flames, though it's almost impossible to do so, even I who was hailed as a genius couldn't do so." Alex dropped the lore on Charles, his eyes were low as he couldn't bare to speak of his only failure.

Charles was bewildered 'a phoenix? What is that?' Charles thought to himself. He was surprised at the raw absurdity of what Alex had said.

The flames on Alex's palm disappeared, taking away the only source of light in the dark room.

As soon as the flames disappeared, a source of light was found on the ground. It was glowing a brilliant blue light, this new light shined around the entire room.

Charles took a closer look at the Source of the light, it was like a pool of water, it was shining brightly. 'A pool inside a room? I'm not even gonna be surprised anymore.' Charles thought to himself.

"Is this the mana pool for the ritual?" Charles asked Alex.

There was no response, it felt like he was talking to himself. He no longer felt Alex's presence in the room. He finally realized, he was alone, he was the only one in the room.

"I guess I have to enter that ominously shining water huh?" He muttered under his breath. He was surprised that Alex was nowhere to be found, but he knew what to do. It was time to begin his real journey as a mage.

"As I step into this pool..." He walked slowly to the direction of the glowing water.

"I leave behind my potential last words." He continued walking towards the pool.

"I, Charles Liam Flameworth..." He said as he put his first leg inside the pool.

"Die as a free man, it was a good one year." He entered into the pool.

'Attaboy, that's how you do it.' A wicked grin formed on Alex face. He was there the whole time watching, he hid his presence with mana to analyze how Charles would act in the presence of unknown danger.

He had planned to reveal himself if Charles got too scared, knowing he was a kid after all. But he didn't expect Charles to quickly get a sense of the situation and walk in to the pool on his own.

"I pray that you make it alive Charles... The exceptional genius of Flameworth, no, with wit like that, he'd definitely make it for sure." Alex said as he turned on the light in his room and sat down on a chair waiting patiently for the pool that disappeared with Charles to reappear again.

"I can feel it."

'but it might take weeks, time in the mana pool is almost non-existent.' He pondered as he quietly stroked his red goatee..

"I'll make sure to tell his Nanny his last words of he doesn't make it out after a month." He closed his eyes to take a nap, never stepping out of his room except the Emperor Himself gave the orders, this was the authority of the head of the Flameworth's.

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'I can't swim. What is this? Is this even water? It feels like it's going to burn me to death, why is it so hot? Is Water even supposed to be this hot? Aaaaaghh!! I can't even scream.' Charles had immediately found himself in a pool that didn't seem to have a way out.

He felt stuck, no, he was stuck in the endless water. No light, the beautiful glow he saw at the entrance of the pool was all an illusion. It was completely dark and Hot, he felt like his skin was peeling and like he was boiling.

He couldn't swim up at all as every stroke felt worthless, he could only sink and he kept sinking, his body weight didn't even matter as gravity itself was non existent in this water. The water itself was the one that dragged him down. Hurling him into the endless abyss.

He couldn't even count the time but it felt like months had passed or years but his body was still the same. His lungs were getting squeezed and he still couldn't breathe, he was holding his breath the whole time.

'i need to do something about this. This can't go on!' He thought to himself as he just stayed still in the water, heading deeper and deeper. He had given up on even trying to swim, it was useless.

'Can't I solve this with mana? I do have some considerable amount that I have absorbed.' He thought to himself, his eyes were tired, he didn't know how long he could keep them open.

'let me try to do this, to imagine....'

END OF CHAPTER