Past Memories ~ Julian Devorak

Capitolo 4

On the morning of my birthday I woke up before the sun had the chance to wake me. I threw on the outfit I had picked out and raced downstairs. As I hit the bottom, I noticed there wasn't anyone there. Prospero hopped behind me and I lifted him up into my arms. "I guess I woke up a little too early this time."

"Can... breakfast?" Prospero asked. I smiled and nodded at the pieced question. Aunt Miley has been helping me with communicating with him after we found out he was my familiar. Prospero isn't very talkative in the first place, but he tells me when he wants something or if there's something going on.

I carried him up to the kitchenette and sat him on the counter next to the stove. "So what are we thinking this morning? Maybe... a fruit bowl?" He thumped in response and I got to chopping fruits and mixing them together. As soon as I finished, I heard the back door creak close. "You stay here, I think that was dad!"

I raced down the stairs to see Aunt Miley approach the entrance to the stairs. Her hair was put up hastily and she had a disappointed look on her face. "Hey there kid, I didn't realize you were awake so early." She said, startled. "I came by to wake you. I have some good news... well good or bad whichever way you take it." She gave a dry laugh and we went upstairs. Prospero was about half-way done eating when he joined us on the bed.

"So... where's dad? Is he gonna be here soon?"

"About that, he told me to take you out for the day and that he'd join us around dinner time." She grabbed my hands and continued before I could say something. "But do you know what that means? I can teach you some defensive magic, we can go to the fields outside of the city."

"so he's... not gonna be here for my birthday?" I thought about it for a moment, and the thought of finally practicing magic that isn't a basic tarot reading or lighting a candle was exciting. "I'm in. Let's go."

Aunt Miley smiled and let go of my hands, "that's great! Y'know what, I was gonna give you your gift at dinner, but you could use it right now. You'll be needing it going into town today." She said with a wink, reaching into her side satchel and pulling out a box wrapped in brown paper and twine. The box was about the same size as her bag, and I got curious.

She sat the box on my lap and I immediately started ripping through the paper. Once I opened the box, I pulled out a beautiful purple side satchel, only slightly larger than Aunt Miley's, with a golden heart clasp. "A-aunt Miley, how did you afford this?"

"It's a gift from Selasi, Maddi, and I. Selasi has a friend in the palace who was able to get this clasp out of the pieces Count Lucio didn't like, Maddi picked out the fabric for the bag, and I sewed it all together. Obviously with a little help from the magic department." She made the bag float a little with a wink and I smiled.

"It's beautiful, I'm so thankful." I opened the bag and started to put my books into it. I glanced at my tarot cards sitting on my beside table and put them on the hidden pocket within the bag. I looked over to see Aunt Miley petting Prospero, while Prospero is just staring at me. "Do you want to be in the bag? I'm sure there's still room."

The rabbit hopped over and I opened my bag so he could just jump inside. He started to reposition himself within the bag until his head poked out of the side. "Comfy!" I giggled and pet his head.

"Alright, we're ready to go!" Aunt Miley and I linked arms and made our way out to the fields.

After some time walking, we reached the outside of the aqueducts past the south end and I paused. I calmed my breathing and tightened my grip on my bag. "Okay?" Prospero thumped in my bag, perking his ears up.

"Yeah, just overwhelmed. I started embracing magic after my mom passed away, I wanted to be able to protect my family with it. It just feels so surreal that I'm finally going to be able to do that. Bitches beware." I told my familiar with a small smile as I caught up to my aunt.

We made it far enough away from the fields and Aunt Miley backed away from me. "I'm gonna teach you how to do some pretty powerful magic. Are you ready dear?" She asked me, while sitting herself in the field. I nodded and she closed her eyes. The wind picked up and foggy air started to encircle her. It was something I've never seen her do before.

The wind picked up and lifted her from the ground, I watched as her tell-tale golden aura formed with the wind to solidify a cloud under her. She opened her eyes and smiled down at me. "Do you need to show off so much?" I yelled up at her.

"Of course I do. Haven't you met me before?" She responded with a laugh. She grabbed a part of the cloud and started to form a bow. "The first part of your training, utilizing your shield spells."

"Shield spells? But I only know how to make small fire walls!"

"Exactly." She said with a smirk before standing up. She reeled the string back and I saw three arrows in her fingers, ready to shoot. She released them, and everything went by in slow motion. I formed a small wall between my hands and moved it before each arrow. "It's going to need to be bigger than that!" I quickly looked up at her to see what she meant, and there were over thousands of arrows encircling her.

"Now wait a sec-"

"I won't shoot until you're ready, so take your time!"

I nod and take a deep breath. I imagine the small shield of fire I already have getting larger. I widen my arms above my head and the shield grows across me to cover my body. One by one I hear the whistle of the arrows flying towards me, and before I know it their ash lands at my feet. I feel more and more of them pelting my shield like hail. I shuddered as heavier objects started to fall on the shield. I fell to my knees and put the rest of my energy into making the flames stronger. "I-is that all you got Aunt Miley?" I yelled out to her.

"That's all I'm willing to do. You can release the spell now dear!" I did as told and watched her slow to the ground. "That was beautiful spell work, I could see exactly when you strengthened your shield. The way those flames roared- it was beautiful."

We had a snack to boost my energy back up and did more exercises. I learned how to make strong enough rope to temporarily tie someone down and how to throw some fireballs. There was only one thing left to do. "You want me... to do what?"

"Cause an explosion. You're very advanced when it comes to fire based magic, your mother is to blame for that. You and her are like pyro-psychos. I think learning how to blow something up would be very beneficial to you, think of it as an escape-plan. In case you get really caught up, you can make a diversion to escape." She said with a wink. "So how I do it is: I form a little ball of magic... in my hand. Like this." She allows her aura to ball up in her palm as she shows me. "And then I just..." and with a dramatic flourish she throws it to the ground and a large billow of smoke rolls into the sky.

Once it clears, Aunt Miley has the biggest grin I've ever seen. "Just imagine you're in danger and the only thing you can do is escape." I did as directed, and let my aura pool to my fingers. I balled it up and stared at the ground. My aunt walked behind me and Prospero hopped out of my bag. "Now throw it!"

I threw it down and watched as the magical explosion enlarged. The smoke settled, but the flames didn't. "Oh no..."