Inner Discord

Chapter 6

Lying in a deserted landscape, I slowly opened my eyes again. Next to me stood Aphron. When he saw I had awoken, he smiled and before I even could get up well, he said the following: 'Hi Phoneus. Your training starts today. First assignment: get to the camp where you will stay, using only your magic. On the way, you will have to collect at least 300 arguria, or you won't succeed. You only have this day to go 400 km. Have fun!'

He had already faded before I could ask a question. Now I was sitting there, astonished. How was I supposed to find it without even knowing where to search? Nobody was here, so I was unable to ask someone. I had to use my magic, but I did not even know how to summon one of those katana. I got up while growling and tried to concentrate on summoning air. Maybe I would be able to fly? But nothing happened. I tried to say some words like: 'Air katana please!' or 'Let me control air now!' but nothing seemed to work. I gave up began walking in a random direction.

After a few hours of walking I had become thirsty, hungry and I still had no idea where I was. Sighing I suddenly heard a voice. 'No, please, don't! I need my food! Otherwise I'll maybe die!' Only paying attention to the word food, I ran towards the sound. Maybe I would finally be able to eat? I arrived there shortly, and what I saw was a Kallistos bullying a little Kratistos. 'Just give it here. If you already survived one month without food, what would one more day do?' I looked there and saw that the Kratistos carried a bag, full of food and water. On one hand wanting to save that poor Kratistos, and on the other hand wanting to eat, I decided to interfere. 'Hey, you, you stupid, ugly, Kallistos. We don't need your kind here. Just you DIE!'

I saw that a katana had appeared in my hand. I did not even know what element it was from. It shined a deep blue light. I took off with my feet and scratched the body of the Kallistos. 'Not enough... He's still alive...' The angry Kallistos now formed a little circle with his hands and suddenly, water spouted out of the ground, hitting me fully in my face. But I only laughed. 'Is that all you have?!' I held forward my katana and the water bended towards my attacker. It hit him in his face. 'Hah, trying to attack me with some stupid water, are you? It won't work!' I changed my katana, instinctively knowing what to do. It was the fire one. Holding my two weapons like a cross, a rotating spiral of fire and water came out of it, forming steam. The steam hit my opponent's eyes, blinding him for some moments. I took advantage of that little time by setting his feet aflame. When the effect of the steam had worn off, and the Kallistos looked at his feet, seeing them burning, anyone would have paid to hear his scream. 

The Kallistos ran away and I first wanted to begin a pursuit, but I was too hungry for that. I looked at the Kratistos sitting there that was smiling at me. 'Sir, thank you for saving me! You may have said some mean words to me in the beginning, but I'm sure they were to make my bully angry, right?' I first was only surprised, not knowing what to say, but afterwards, that joy came up again, softening my anger. When I looked closely, I saw that the Kratistos was extremely cute. She had black hair and was far too small for a Kallistos. Her big eyes looked super grateful. 'You can stop fearing him now, little girl. I think he will remember this day a long time from now.' I smiled a warm smile and her face cleared up. 'My name is Boeithe! Nice to meet you! Accept a little of my food and all my money as a token of gratitude!' 

I accepted it eagerly, was happy to see she had 100 arguria with her and enjoyed the taste of the delicious meal. After a while I asked her: 'You can do something else for me. Do you know the way to a training camp, some 400 km from here?' 

'I'm afraid I don't know any place like that.' 

'A pity...' I was thinking of what element might be of use to find the way, realizing that if I focused on the weapon itself, and not on my goal, the katana would come out of itself. 

'You could use soul magic to find the way', Boeithe said. I was surprised. 'How do you know I have that kind of magic?' 

'You're the one of the prophecy.' 

'What prophecy are you talking about? And how do you know it for sure?' 

'Oh come on, you must have heard it once. And you have that pentagram-shaped scar on your side, that's why I know you must be that one.' I looked, and saw that my clothes were torn by the water. A glowing, pentagram-shaped scar was visible. That scar must have been the one from the lightning. 'No, I haven't heard of such a prophecy even once...' 

'Well, it goes this way:

Once an Anthropos, Kallistos and Kratistos will converse

To save all of us

From the 1500-yearly danger

They will have scars

Symbolizing their category of magic

Extremely powerful, together they are God

And that's about it. Do you understand now how I know your magics?' I had no idea what to say now. I had to think of that old man that had done a similar prophecy. Was he, in fact, right? Everyone seemed to expect something of me, something big, and I did not even know what it was. I wanted it to stop. All these desires, killing and saving, why could they not just stop?!

Boeithe looked worried at me. 'Sir, are you okay? I suppose you know everything of your task, don't you?' 

'Yes, I'm okay, thanks...' I did not want to disappoint this friendly kid by saying I knew nothing of it. So I came back finding the training camp and said her: 'What was that about using soul magic to find the way?' 

'Well, one of my elements is soul magic, and one of the basics is use it to find your way somewhere you don't know.' 

'Okay, explain it to me. And, Boeithe, what would you think of coming with me at this quest?'

'Yes, I'd like to!'