The Final Hope: Awakening

Chapter Two

With renewed vigour, I rummaged through the books, trying to find something interesting. There it was, How Magic Works. Using both hands, I dragged it out and began flicking through the pages, I could still read everything! Curiously, I sat down and flipped back to the first page and started reading:

The basis of all magic is the ability to extract one's own energy, and release it in various forms. Although there are many forms in which energy can be unleashed, all those forms can be placed under two categories based on their usage: Non Combat magic and combat magic.
Non combat magic refers to the all the forms of magic which cannot be used to directly attack one's opponent, such as: healing, protection, detection, sealing, purification, etc. 

Combat magic, therefore, refers to the types of magic that can inflict direct injury upon others. These are also known as elemental magic, of which there are five types: fire, water, air, earth and storm. However, individuals can only use one of these elements to their fullest extent depending on the nature of the energy which resides within them. The crystal at the end of this book can show what one's affinity is by glowing the element's corresponding colour. 

Immediately, I flicked to the back to find a clear, transparent crystal (similar to all the other crystals) embedded into the back cover. Curious to find out what my 'affinity' was, I pulled it out, waiting for something to happen. At first, the crystal remained as clear as ever, but then something began forming inside. 

It looked like a spiral vortex which kept expanding until it filled the entire crystal in a deep, dark purple. Glancing back to the book, I realised that this meant I had a storm affinity. I could use storm magic! I was just about to rejoice at this discovery when I heard a faint noise.

I couldn't make out what it was, but it sounded like banging. A lot of it. Someone or something was trying to break through the door. Instantly, I recalled the creatures outside. Whatever was keeping them away must have worn off. Terrified, I tried to think of a way to survive but nothing came to mind. 

Cursing myself for my luck, I realized that I had no choice. Quickly replacing the book, I sprinted back up to the kitchen and looked for a knife among the drawers. If this was how everything was going to end, I wanted to die fighting. 

Grabbing a nearby knife, I rushed into the living room and desperately looked through the window to catch a sight of my odds. It was still dark so I couldn't see very clearly. But the monsters were unmistakably staying well away from the building. No way, I thought. That could only mean... that someone other than myself, has also come to this place.

"Who's there?" I yelled.

"Please, you have to help us! Let us in!" cried a girl's voice. It sounded human enough to convince me. "Open the bloody door!" shrieked a boy's voice, followed by further banging on the door. He too sounded human, and I didn't want to make them suffer any longer so I immediately undid the locks and let them in. Two people stumbled inside and crashed into me. The boy immediately got back up, closed the door and bolted it shut, before falling onto his knees. 

Gasping for breath, they both sat there for a few moments. Allowing them to recuperate, I waited, before gently asking, "who are you guys?"

"My name... is... Freya" answered the girl. "Thank you... for... letting... us in", she stuttered. She looked around the same age as me, maybe sixteen or seventeen years old. Her modern clothes were tattered with tears and holes which revealed bruises and cuts (no doubt she had had a brawl with those monsters). Her dark, medium sized hair was all tangled, making it look like it hadn't been brushed for days. 

"I... am... Ryan" gasped the boy. He too appeared to be the same age as us. Similar to the girl, his clothes were also ripped and he carried several bruises from falling and fighting with those monsters. His hair was dark and short like mine and he had a deep voice. They were both in bad shape, so I decided to take them to the bedrooms and try to find them suitable clothes.