The Secrets of the Aorta Ruins

Chapter Sixteen

"Long ago, there was an aorta mage that lived in the castle that stood there. He practiced aorta magic well after it had been banned, which was why he lived there alone in secret,"

"Aorta magic? I've never heard of that Becca. Are you sure you aren't making this up?" Dare asked suspiciously.

"Blood magic, it's one of the dark magics that has been banned for centuries now Dare. Its also one of the few magics you aren't born with but is learned. That's why it was able to be banned. If it had been a natural born ability, it would have been a lot harder to ban. If you don't believe me look it up online," Becca explained.

"Fine, continue," he said still sounding pretty skeptical, but at this point she knew more history related things than any student in the castle. Even the headmistress admitted as much. Becca's next goal was to pass the teachers too.

"Thank you. Anyway, the magic council still existed obviously since they were the ones who banned the dark magics. Well, they found out he was still practicing in secret still and went to arrest him. He didn't take too nicely to that. He didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing," Becca continued on. She paused for a moment, wanting to make sure Dare hadn't fallen asleep on her. Instead she found him listening intently and full of curiosity.

"But he was, wasn't he? I mean I'm guessing he was hurting people to get the blood he wasn't only using his own? What did he do when they tried to arrest him? Did he fight them?" Dare's questions began rolling in, much to Becca's surprise. She had to cut him off to answer though.

"Well that is where the historical facts end, and legends begin Dare," she said, sadly.

"Woah, wait. You can't just leave the story like that! There are too many questions left unanswered!" he complained loudly despite the late hour.

"Well, I didn't say I didn't know any of the legends Dare. That's just where the facts end. Would you like me to continue?" she asked smirking already knowing the answer. She watched as he silently nodded his head waiting for the rest of the story to unfold. She made him suffer for a moment longer before breaking the silence in the room, "I wasn't satisfied with that ending either so when I was in the library, working, you know I checked out all the local history books for fun anyway...I found what appears to be the only theory on what happened from there. Now, it could all be false but its likely the closest to the truth since it appears to be quite old..."

"Just tell me already! Please!" Dare begged.

"Ok ok," she said laughing, "Well yes as you already guessed he didn't go quietly. A fight broke out. The legend says that he was born with fire magic and learned the aorta magic. He used both skills in the fight. Since he was so outnumbered though, he was bound to lose anyway despite having wiped out almost all of the council. The few remaining members fled, and the aorta mage supposedly used the little bit of strength he had left to use one final spell; it caused him to not die. But he isn't exactly alive there either. There wasn't any other documentation I could find about the incident though."

They both sat there in silence. Neither were sure for how long. This time, it was Dare to break it between them though, "You don't seem satisfied with that ending either,"

"Well, are you? Honestly?" she asked.

"No," he said after thinking for a minute.

"Yeah it still leaves a lot of questions. Questions we could go find answers to Dare," she said excitedly.

"You heard the Headmistress though. What do you think she's worried about? The aorta mage still being there?"

"Most likely. That's what the book said," Becca was more filled with curiosity than fear though. By now both of them should have been wanting to go to sleep for their classes in the morning, but neither were really in a hurry to move either though. In different ways, they were both preoccupied by the story of the aorta mage.

"So how come all that's left of his house is the door?" Dare asked.

"From what the old map shows I have a few guesses. Either the mountain wasn't as big, or he built his house into the mountain itself," she said. Her money was on the latter option since he was supposed to be living in secret at the time he lived there anyway. The door was easy enough to miss, and it had taken Becca this long to see it on their trip to the city.

"What are you thinking Becca?" Dare asked cautiously while looking at her. Becca's thoughts snapped back to the present day and moment, a second later.

"Huh?" she asked, confused.

"What are you thinking?" he patiently repeated.

"Oh, I was still just thinking about the aorta mage and aorta magic in general," she answered trying to keep her voice casual.

"Yes but I don't like that look in your eyes," he said firmly.

"Don't worry I'm not thinking of learning a second kind of magic before I've even learned mine yet." She answered with a smile.

"You never did tell me why you're here or what kind of magic you do have," Dare reminded her.

"Oh right," she said laughing, "I accidentally set a little fire and my parents got scared,"

"A fire mage. Just like in the story," he noted.

"I already said I'm not going to try to learn a new kind of magic without learning anything about my own first. Maybe later on," she said, jokingly.

"Wait, really? You're going to try to learn one of the dark, banned magics?" he asked, horrified.

"No!" she said, gently punching him on the shoulder, "That would literally be insane. And probably impossible by now anyway,"

"But you would?" he asked concerned.

"No Dare. Relax. Like I said, that would be insane." She said, laughing once more. He finally looked reassured and relaxed again. He yawned and checked his watch.

"We really should get to bed," he said without moving.

"Probably,"

"We have class in the morning" he reminded her.

"Yup. Anytime you're ready to get up you can. I'm not holding you here," He sat up for a moment to see her point before slouching back again his back against the wall.

"I suppose you aren't," he said smiling. A few minutes more and Dare was on his feet and heading towards the door. Becca was tired enough from their trip and her own imaginary adventures that she didn't even bother changing into her pajamas before falling asleep, grateful that Dare always locked the door before leaving her room at night.