Chapter 2: Lilly and Markus
Ezekiel arrived at the center of the village, the big market square bustling with activity despite the early hour. He looked around for his friends Markus and Lilly, but he didn't see them anywhere.
Ezekiel gazed upon the group of military recruiters that had accompanied the carriage for the evaluation. It was a familiar sight, one that had graced the village every year since before Ezekiel's birth. He remembered a conversation with his father, who had become angry as soon as the conversation turned to the empire's military. His father had referred to the recruiters as vultures, waiting to swoop in and prey on the vulnerable. And though it took him years to fully understand, Ezekiel had come to realize the truth in his father's words.
The recruiters came with the promise of glory, of battles fought and won, of becoming a hero in the eyes of the empire. Yet, Ezekiel knew that their true intentions were far from honorable. He had seen it happen time and time again, with the children who failed the evaluation, feeling defeated and lost, falling prey to the recruiters' beguiling tales.
No matter the outcome of the evaluation, Ezekiel made a promise to himself that he would not fall for the recruiters' trap. He could not bring himself to disappoint his mother in such a manner. He would find another path, one that would not lead him down the path of war and destruction.
Ezekiel walked over to one of the carriages that had arrived early in the morning to take all fourteen-year-olds to the capital. These carriages were specially sent out to transport young hopefuls to their evaluations, traveling through all the villages close to the big cities to bring them to the annual tests. Ezekiel's village, Feldstadt, was the last one before they reached the capital city. Some of the other kids must have spent days or even weeks on the road just to make it to the evaluation on time.
Ezekiel stepped up to the carriage and greeted the driver, a gruff-looking man with a bushy beard and piercing eyes. The man looked him up and down, and Ezekiel felt a sense of pride as he saw the man seemingly impressed upon seeing how well he held up under the pressure. He addressed the man respectfully, eager to make a good impression.
The driver nodded, his eyes softening slightly. "Get inside the carriage and wait until the rest of the kids arrive," he instructed.
Ezekiel climbed into the carriage and took a seat, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. He looked around, expecting to see Markus and Lilly sitting next to him, but to his surprise, they were nowhere to be found. He scanned the faces of the other children, hoping to spot his friends, but they were not around. Instead, he found himself sitting next to a timid-looking kid he had never seen before. The boy was small for fourteen, with a mop of curly hair and big, round eyes. He seemed to shrink into his seat, as if trying to make himself as small as possible. Ezekiel gave the boy a friendly smile, trying to put him at ease.
"Hi, I'm Ezekiel," he said, extending his hand. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to trust Ezekiel. But finally, he reached out and shook his hand.
"I'm Peter," he said in a small voice.
Ezekiel nodded, still smiling. "It's nice to meet you, Peter. This is my first time going to the capital, but I'm excited to see what it's like. How about you?"
Peter's eyes grew even bigger, and he looked down at his lap. "I-I'm scared," he whispered.
Ezekiel's smile faded slightly as he realized how nervous Peter must be. He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. "It's okay to be scared," he said softly. "But remember, you're not alone. We're all in this together. And who knows, you might even surprise yourself with how much you can do."
Peter looked up at him, his eyes filled with hope. "Do you really think so?" he asked.
Ezekiel nodded confidently, "I know so," he said with a grin. "We'll make it through this together, Peter. And when it's all over, we'll look back and be proud of what we've accomplished."
As the carriage filled up with more and more children, Ezekiel continued scanning the faces of the other children. They were all around the same age as him, all fourteen years old, and they all looked nervous. He could see it in their eyes, the fear and uncertainty that came with the unknown. None of them, however, were his friends Markus and Lilly.
He noticed a girl with bright green hair sitting across from him. She was fidgeting with a small, intricately carved wooden figurine, her eyes darting around the carriage as if looking for an escape. He speculated if that meant that she had a Nature affinity, for what else would be green? And whether she was aware of the possible connection. Next to her was a tall, lanky boy with dark circles under his eyes. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, his eyes staring off into the distance as if he were a million miles away. Ezekiel wondered if he was worried about the evaluation, or if something else was on his mind.
The carriage began to fill up, and Markus and Lilly still hadn't arrived. He couldn't help but feel a sense of worry grow in his chest. Had something happened to them? He knew they were both nervous about the evaluation, but he had never expected them to be late, or to miss the chance altogether. He tried to push the thought to the back of his mind, knowing there was nothing he could do at the moment. He would just have to wait and see.
Before Ezekiel could immerse himself in his thoughts, a commotion outside the carriage drew everybody's attention. As the noise grew louder, Ezekiel turned to the door and saw a group of four children entering the carriage. He recognized them all immediately: Karl, Paul, Andreas, and Martin. Of all the kids in the village, Martin was the one Ezekiel disliked the most. Martin was the son of the village's only mage and saw himself as Ezekiel's rival. The two of them had a tumultuous relationship, and Martin and his friends had often tried to bully Ezekiel since they had been younger. However, Ezekiel was strong for his age and always fought back.
As Martin and his friends took their seats near him, Ezekiel met Martin's gaze and held it, determined not to show any weakness. Martin sneered at him, but Ezekiel refused to look away. The tension between them was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed as if a fight might break out. But then the carriage driver appeared in the doorway, his gruff voice breaking the tension.
He announced, "Alright, kids, that's everyone. Time to get going. We've got a long journey ahead of us."
Ezekiel tore his gaze away from Martin and turned to the driver instead. He took a deep breath and focused on what was truly important. He needed to find his friends, Lilly and Markus, as soon as possible. He couldn't bear the thought of spending the long journey to the capital with his rival, Martin, and his cronies.
He hurriedly made his way over to the driver and asked him where Lilly and Markus were. Despite an annoyed grunt, the driver asked Ezekiel to describe his friends. Ezekiel had always had a keen eye for detail and could remember even people he had only seen in passing almost perfectly, so his description of his friends was detailed and accurate. Thankfully, the driver seemed to know who he was talking about and told him that Lilly and Markus were in the other carriage. Ezekiel breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the driver before making his way out of the carriage.
As he left, he patted Peter, the timid boy he had been sitting next to, on the shoulder and winked at him. He wanted to reassure Peter that everything was going to be okay, even though he knew he couldn't promise anything. Peter gave him a small smile in return.
He made his way over to the other carriage and saw Lilly and Markus sitting on the steps, their bags at their feet. They looked up as he approached, their faces lighting up with relief.
"Zeke!" Lilly exclaimed, standing up and rushing over to hug him. "I'm so glad you're here. I was starting to worry you'd be stuck with those jerks from our village."
Markus nodded in agreement, his dark eyes flashing with anger. "Yeah, I can't stand those guys. They think they're so much better than everyone else."
Ezekiel smiled and hugged his friend back, feeling the familiar sense of camaraderie they had developed through their many years of friendship.
The driver's gruff voice interrupted their moment. "All aboard, or you'll be left behind," he shouted.
Quickly, the three scrambled into the carriage and found empty seats close to one another – and not a moment too soon, because they had barely fallen into their sits when the carriage lurched into motion with a jolt. Ezekiel grinned at his friends happily.
Lilly was a shy girl with long, curly brown hair and bright green eyes. She had a soft-spoken personality and wasn't at all comfortable around strangers, but when one got to know her, she turned out to be a joyful, happy girl with a sweet smile. Despite not having a particular talent, Lilly was known the village over as a do-gooder who always lent an ear or a helping hand, and her friends valued her warmth and empathy.
On the other hand, Markus was a tall, lanky boy with short, black hair and piercing blue eyes. He was quiet and reserved, often keeping to himself, but those who knew him knew that he had a kind heart and was always there for his friends when they needed him. Markus was incredibly skilled with his hands and was often called upon to fix things or build new objects. Many people expected him to do well in the future because of his talents.
"So," Ezekiel said. "Are you guys as nervous as I am?"
Lilly nodded, her eyes wide with worry. "I'm terrified," she admitted. "I don't even know if I'll be able to become a Mage, I don't want to disappoint the both of you."
Markus shrugged, his nonchalant demeanor a contrast to Lilly's anxiety. "I'm not worried about the magic part," he said. "I just hope I don't trip and make a fool of myself in front of everyone." He grimaced.
Ezekiel chuckled, feeling his own nerves ease a bit at his friends' words. "We'll be fine," he assured them. "We've all been practicing, and we've got this. And hey, even if we don't make it as mages, we'll be together."
The three friends smiled at each other, their bond of friendship strong. As the carriage rumbled on, they chatted and laughed, pushing their fears to the back of their minds and focusing on the exciting events ahead. As they chatted, the driver navigated them out of the village and onto the main road. Ezekiel couldn't help but look back at the place he had called home for all of his fourteen years. He wished he could have said goodbye to his little sister Maya that morning, but she was still fast asleep in her bed. He had said goodbye to her the night before, but he already missed her dearly.
As they left the village behind, Ezekiel felt a pang of anxiety. He had lived there his entire life, surrounded by familiar faces and the comforting routine of village life. Now he was leaving it all behind, venturing out into the unknown in search of something more. Soon, their village had disappeared from view, and the scenery passing by outside grew less and less familiar to Ezekiel. The rolling hills and fields of green seemed to stretch on forever, an expression of the vast world beyond their small town.
He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to focus on the present moment. He had always been drawn to magic, had always felt like he had a deep connection to its arcane mysteries. And now, he was finally going to have a chance to learn about that connection, to discover his potential as a mage and hopefully be able to explore it.
Ezekiel had come up with their own form of meditation, a way to connect with the magic that flowed through them, he had been so eager to have his friends practice with him back then. They would sit on the floor, close their eyes, and try to feel the magic in their cores. Ezekiel was convinced he could feel his own core, a pulsing energy deep within him that called out to him. But without knowing his elemental affinity, his practice had reached its limits. He longed to know more, to unlock the full potential of his magic and see where it would take him.
He hoped the evaluation in the capital would provide answers and would allow him to unlock the vast potential that he was sure lay within him. So, as the carriage rumbled on toward the capital, Ezekiel began his meditation, focusing all his attention on the magic he felt in his core.
"Soon," he told himself. "Soon."
Chapter 2: Lilly and Markus
Ezekiel arrived at the center of the village, the big market square bustling with activity despite the early hour. He looked around for his friends Markus and Lilly, but he didn't see them anywhere.
Ezekiel gazed upon the group of military recruiters that had accompanied the carriage for the evaluation. It was a familiar sight, one that had graced the village every year since before Ezekiel's birth. He remembered a conversation with his father, who had become angry as soon as the conversation turned to the empire's military. His father had referred to the recruiters as vultures, waiting to swoop in and prey on the vulnerable. And though it took him years to fully understand, Ezekiel had come to realize the truth in his father's words.
The recruiters came with the promise of glory, of battles fought and won, of becoming a hero in the eyes of the empire. Yet, Ezekiel knew that their true intentions were far from honorable. He had seen it happen time and time again, with the children who failed the evaluation, feeling defeated and lost, falling prey to the recruiters' beguiling tales.
No matter the outcome of the evaluation, Ezekiel made a promise to himself that he would not fall for the recruiters' trap. He could not bring himself to disappoint his mother in such a manner. He would find another path, one that would not lead him down the path of war and destruction.
Ezekiel walked over to one of the carriages that had arrived early in the morning to take all fourteen-year-olds to the capital. These carriages were specially sent out to transport young hopefuls to their evaluations, traveling through all the villages close to the big cities to bring them to the annual tests. Ezekiel's village, Feldstadt, was the last one before they reached the capital city. Some of the other kids must have spent days or even weeks on the road just to make it to the evaluation on time.
Ezekiel stepped up to the carriage and greeted the driver, a gruff-looking man with a bushy beard and piercing eyes. The man looked him up and down, and Ezekiel felt a sense of pride as he saw the man seemingly impressed upon seeing how well he held up under the pressure. He addressed the man respectfully, eager to make a good impression.
The driver nodded, his eyes softening slightly. "Get inside the carriage and wait until the rest of the kids arrive," he instructed.
Ezekiel climbed into the carriage and took a seat, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. He looked around, expecting to see Markus and Lilly sitting next to him, but to his surprise, they were nowhere to be found. He scanned the faces of the other children, hoping to spot his friends, but they were not around. Instead, he found himself sitting next to a timid-looking kid he had never seen before. The boy was small for fourteen, with a mop of curly hair and big, round eyes. He seemed to shrink into his seat, as if trying to make himself as small as possible. Ezekiel gave the boy a friendly smile, trying to put him at ease.
"Hi, I'm Ezekiel," he said, extending his hand. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to trust Ezekiel. But finally, he reached out and shook his hand.
"I'm Peter," he said in a small voice.
Ezekiel nodded, still smiling. "It's nice to meet you, Peter. This is my first time going to the capital, but I'm excited to see what it's like. How about you?"
Peter's eyes grew even bigger, and he looked down at his lap. "I-I'm scared," he whispered.
Ezekiel's smile faded slightly as he realized how nervous Peter must be. He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. "It's okay to be scared," he said softly. "But remember, you're not alone. We're all in this together. And who knows, you might even surprise yourself with how much you can do."
Peter looked up at him, his eyes filled with hope. "Do you really think so?" he asked.
Ezekiel nodded confidently, "I know so," he said with a grin. "We'll make it through this together, Peter. And when it's all over, we'll look back and be proud of what we've accomplished."
As the carriage filled up with more and more children, Ezekiel continued scanning the faces of the other children. They were all around the same age as him, all fourteen years old, and they all looked nervous. He could see it in their eyes, the fear and uncertainty that came with the unknown. None of them, however, were his friends Markus and Lilly.
He noticed a girl with bright green hair sitting across from him. She was fidgeting with a small, intricately carved wooden figurine, her eyes darting around the carriage as if looking for an escape. He speculated if that meant that she had a Nature affinity, for what else would be green? And whether she was aware of the possible connection. Next to her was a tall, lanky boy with dark circles under his eyes. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, his eyes staring off into the distance as if he were a million miles away. Ezekiel wondered if he was worried about the evaluation, or if something else was on his mind.
The carriage began to fill up, and Markus and Lilly still hadn't arrived. He couldn't help but feel a sense of worry grow in his chest. Had something happened to them? He knew they were both nervous about the evaluation, but he had never expected them to be late, or to miss the chance altogether. He tried to push the thought to the back of his mind, knowing there was nothing he could do at the moment. He would just have to wait and see.
Before Ezekiel could immerse himself in his thoughts, a commotion outside the carriage drew everybody's attention. As the noise grew louder, Ezekiel turned to the door and saw a group of four children entering the carriage. He recognized them all immediately: Karl, Paul, Andreas, and Martin. Of all the kids in the village, Martin was the one Ezekiel disliked the most. Martin was the son of the village's only mage and saw himself as Ezekiel's rival. The two of them had a tumultuous relationship, and Martin and his friends had often tried to bully Ezekiel since they had been younger. However, Ezekiel was strong for his age and always fought back.
As Martin and his friends took their seats near him, Ezekiel met Martin's gaze and held it, determined not to show any weakness. Martin sneered at him, but Ezekiel refused to look away. The tension between them was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed as if a fight might break out. But then the carriage driver appeared in the doorway, his gruff voice breaking the tension.
He announced, "Alright, kids, that's everyone. Time to get going. We've got a long journey ahead of us."
Ezekiel tore his gaze away from Martin and turned to the driver instead. He took a deep breath and focused on what was truly important. He needed to find his friends, Lilly and Markus, as soon as possible. He couldn't bear the thought of spending the long journey to the capital with his rival, Martin, and his cronies.
He hurriedly made his way over to the driver and asked him where Lilly and Markus were. Despite an annoyed grunt, the driver asked Ezekiel to describe his friends. Ezekiel had always had a keen eye for detail and could remember even people he had only seen in passing almost perfectly, so his description of his friends was detailed and accurate. Thankfully, the driver seemed to know who he was talking about and told him that Lilly and Markus were in the other carriage. Ezekiel breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the driver before making his way out of the carriage.
As he left, he patted Peter, the timid boy he had been sitting next to, on the shoulder and winked at him. He wanted to reassure Peter that everything was going to be okay, even though he knew he couldn't promise anything. Peter gave him a small smile in return.
He made his way over to the other carriage and saw Lilly and Markus sitting on the steps, their bags at their feet. They looked up as he approached, their faces lighting up with relief.
"Zeke!" Lilly exclaimed, standing up and rushing over to hug him. "I'm so glad you're here. I was starting to worry you'd be stuck with those jerks from our village."
Markus nodded in agreement, his dark eyes flashing with anger. "Yeah, I can't stand those guys. They think they're so much better than everyone else."
Ezekiel smiled and hugged his friend back, feeling the familiar sense of camaraderie they had developed through their many years of friendship.
The driver's gruff voice interrupted their moment. "All aboard, or you'll be left behind," he shouted.
Quickly, the three scrambled into the carriage and found empty seats close to one another – and not a moment too soon, because they had barely fallen into their sits when the carriage lurched into motion with a jolt. Ezekiel grinned at his friends happily.
Lilly was a shy girl with long, curly brown hair and bright green eyes. She had a soft-spoken personality and wasn't at all comfortable around strangers, but when one got to know her, she turned out to be a joyful, happy girl with a sweet smile. Despite not having a particular talent, Lilly was known the village over as a do-gooder who always lent an ear or a helping hand, and her friends valued her warmth and empathy.
On the other hand, Markus was a tall, lanky boy with short, black hair and piercing blue eyes. He was quiet and reserved, often keeping to himself, but those who knew him knew that he had a kind heart and was always there for his friends when they needed him. Markus was incredibly skilled with his hands and was often called upon to fix things or build new objects. Many people expected him to do well in the future because of his talents.
"So," Ezekiel said. "Are you guys as nervous as I am?"
Lilly nodded, her eyes wide with worry. "I'm terrified," she admitted. "I don't even know if I'll be able to become a Mage, I don't want to disappoint the both of you."
Markus shrugged, his nonchalant demeanor a contrast to Lilly's anxiety. "I'm not worried about the magic part," he said. "I just hope I don't trip and make a fool of myself in front of everyone." He grimaced.
Ezekiel chuckled, feeling his own nerves ease a bit at his friends' words. "We'll be fine," he assured them. "We've all been practicing, and we've got this. And hey, even if we don't make it as mages, we'll be together."
The three friends smiled at each other, their bond of friendship strong. As the carriage rumbled on, they chatted and laughed, pushing their fears to the back of their minds and focusing on the exciting events ahead. As they chatted, the driver navigated them out of the village and onto the main road. Ezekiel couldn't help but look back at the place he had called home for all of his fourteen years. He wished he could have said goodbye to his little sister Maya that morning, but she was still fast asleep in her bed. He had said goodbye to her the night before, but he already missed her dearly.
As they left the village behind, Ezekiel felt a pang of anxiety. He had lived there his entire life, surrounded by familiar faces and the comforting routine of village life. Now he was leaving it all behind, venturing out into the unknown in search of something more. Soon, their village had disappeared from view, and the scenery passing by outside grew less and less familiar to Ezekiel. The rolling hills and fields of green seemed to stretch on forever, an expression of the vast world beyond their small town.
He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to focus on the present moment. He had always been drawn to magic, had always felt like he had a deep connection to its arcane mysteries. And now, he was finally going to have a chance to learn about that connection, to discover his potential as a mage and hopefully be able to explore it.
Ezekiel had come up with their own form of meditation, a way to connect with the magic that flowed through them, he had been so eager to have his friends practice with him back then. They would sit on the floor, close their eyes, and try to feel the magic in their cores. Ezekiel was convinced he could feel his own core, a pulsing energy deep within him that called out to him. But without knowing his elemental affinity, his practice had reached its limits. He longed to know more, to unlock the full potential of his magic and see where it would take him.
He hoped the evaluation in the capital would provide answers and would allow him to unlock the vast potential that he was sure lay within him. So, as the carriage rumbled on toward the capital, Ezekiel began his meditation, focusing all his attention on the magic he felt in his core.
"Soon," he told himself. "Soon."
