The Fifth Season

CHAPTER ELEVEN: SPECKLED-BLOOD

SNOH

            There were three main magical academies that talented elementalists could enlist to in order to cultivate their natural-born gifts: Godria Mystical Academy located in Godria, Aurora where the creation of air itself known to have begun.

              The next was Knoc Red Mystical Academy in Smoesil, Fiestras—the natural home to the birth of the element of fire, and finally, Clouiths Mystical Academy, located in Oaocene, Wysteria—home to the nation of water; it was the most prominent and sought-after institution to challenge one's abilities and evolution. That was due to the fact that Wysteria's intense focus on higher academia and research.

              And it also happened to be the one that Her Imperial Majesty was suggesting I begin taking my courses at. At first, I was completely befuddled by her request as this was the first time someone had suggesting something of the sort to me. Talks about higher education—magical at that were never spoken in regards to me since I was the child born without an ounce of magic in them.

             I remember as a young child, I would get jealous when my parents spoke of having my older brother attend the academy when he was of age. Whenever I would inquire about the very elite school, my father would brush me off as if the topic were not important enough for me to know about.

             I grew up my entire life having to accept that I was an average being in this world and now the Empress was informing me that my magic was so great that it would be a detriment to remain untrained and unsupervised for the rest of my young adult isos.

             "You've been quiet for quite some time, Snoh... is something bothering you?" The Empress asked me. I looked up at her, a clear-set frown etched on my face, "I'm sorry... this is just a lot of information at once." I replied.

             She nodded slowly as if she understood my position. "You can explain your concerns to me, I promise I won't judge you." She stated. Her voice and words sounded sincere, even the way her brows furrowed in worry for me made me relax a bit, but I still didn't want to overbear the Empress with my personal family troubles, instead, I smiled.

             "I'm just used to being a regular person is all... I suppose I'm just feeling a bit insecure right now." I admitted to her. I watched as the Empress cocked her head to the side as she studied me, "Is that so?" She muttered to herself more than anything.

             I nodded slowly. "I mean...I have been mostly surrounded by magic-users my entire life. My best friends, my family... even some of the people I work with, and now... all of this." I gestured to myself, dropping my hands into the lap of my dress before sighing.

              "Again... I deeply apologize for the tsunami, I really had no idea I caused any of that." My mind couldn't help but remember that night at the marketplace; the fear that had shaken my body as I watched the ocean floor rise from where it rested almost to the point it covered the moon in a deep curtain of waves.

                  I did that....

                  I could have hurt and or killed people! I'm not sure that was the kind of magic I saw myself having whenever I fantasized about the possibility of it all.

                  Empress Aquila shook her head back and forth. "You had no control of that and you were not aware, so do not apologize for that. Honestly...." She sighed deeply, "I warned him about this..." She muttered that last part to herself as she covered her face with one of her hands in frustration.

                I furrowed my brow at her statement, still close enough to hear it. "Warned who?" I asked her.

                The Empress slightly jolted at my question, removing her hand from her face so she could gaze at me again. "Snoh... do you know the story of how Wysteria came to be?" She questioned me abruptly.