Having lived in the environment he had, Izaneus understood that some part of him had reacted poorly, some small portion was living in unending anguish, holding onto ties he perceived as poison.
Yet, how was he supposed to let go? Those ties made him who he was, how was it possible for someone to simply discard such important events in one's life?
Confusion gripped him, confusion of the past, of the future, and of his current incomprehensible emotions. Confusion on who he was, as a person.
If someone asked him, how was he supposed to answer? What did the name "Izaneus" mean to him? What did he himself mean to himself?
A breath of despair escaped his mouth as he quietly looked at the scenery, a small pencil held tightly in hand, and a book, with a portrait of the same scene painted with charcoal on the pages of his Artbook.
He understood what he liked, he liked magic, art, music, he liked food, and friends.
But were his interests what made him unique? Were his experiences what shaped him? Or was it how he dealt with them?
By that token he was a coward, he'd run away from home rather than continue his solemn studies of the ambient magic. How else would a coward be described? Then a fool who absentmindedly ran from their responsibilities?
Inhaling the deep freshness of air, Izaneus did his best to calm his swirling mind, thoughts buzzing about at a pace he couldn't control. Which he understood, led to needless despair.
He would be okay, he just needed a moment or two.
"Izaneus!" Called Siesta from behind him, Louise sat next to her, still visibly perturbed, but less so since a few days had passed beyond her initial reactions.
The girl was potent, in more ways than one. Her magical aptitude and stubbornness bowed to no other, and the quiet wizard couldn't help but wonder why as they went to bed most nights.
"Yes?" He replied curtly, allowing mild curiosity to adorn his tone.
"I believe I'm ready for something new!" The maid answered excitedly.
Ever since discovering she too could perform wizardry, Siesta had thrown herself into the artform more diligently, and elegantly faster than anyone Izaneus had ever seen.
(Which, to be fair, was three people, including the maid herself.)
She matched Louise in stubbornness and persistence, her upbringing as a peasant however, brought with her an air of humility, and understanding that getting things on the first try, simply wasn't common. Therefore holding the expectation would lead to needless depression.
The pink-haired noble next to her could learn from her example, but that was something more deeply rooted, Izaneus knew.
"Do you now? Hm…" The boy thought carefully.
The first thought coming to mind however was.
"Then go learn something yourself, leave me alone."
A horrible thought, but the sudden responsibilities of teaching threw him for a loop, he wasn't ready for this. How could anyone expect him to be?
"Well, let's see. Why don't you try creating something of your own? That's always a fun pastime of mine."
As the wizard spoke, Siesta understood exactly what she wanted to do.
"Okay! But.. Do you mind keeping an eye on me? Ever since we exploded that fern-"
"Correction, you exploded that fern." Louise piped up, not allowing some commoner who managed a few tricks to insult her skill like that.
...even though she was the one recently known for explosions.
Maybe it was a bit more truthful than she'd like to admit, but she digressed.
"Ever since the fern was destroyed, yes?" Iza asked impatiently, wanting to get to the point.
"Well.. I realize that this magic can quickly get out of hand, and I'd like you to keep an eye on me… in case it does."
Onyx eyes fluttered innocently, pleading silently.
Izaneus turned his gaze, a mild amount of crimson adorning his cheeks. "I guess… just.. Y'know, be careful. You'll be fine."
A quiet giggle escaped Siesta as she witnessed how truly vulnerable her teacher was. The teasing was fun. But now…
Sitting down, she focused. Recently, she'd gotten another reminder of her inevitable purchase, and this thought drove her forward, wanting to make just a bit more progress so she wouldn't have to leave this life.
For all its misfortunes dealing with the bratty nobles, times like the current ones made it worth it.
Now.. How was the best way to go about creating the effect she desired..?
As she sat and pondered, Louise did the same. But not on new spells, on the writings she'd encountered during her vision.
As soon as she awoke after she'd seen them, she wrote them down as fast as she could, being able to fill in the bits and pieces she couldn't remember by making sense of the context.
However, the dream, and the understanding of its runes and rituals had long faded, leaving her only with gibberish. It wasn't a particularly fun time.
Frustration overwhelmed her as she fell backward from her sitting position to her back.
She now held magic in her palms, in a way no one but her could hold…
...well, for the most part anyway, there were two others who could also understand and use this magic. But currently, she'd achieved her dream, she was casting magic.The small breeze she was controlling to cool herself off was proof of this.
So… Why did she still feel so unbearably broken inside?
Louise too, was very confused at her current predicament. Her mind was in the same place as her mentor, though she was unaware of this, and held envy toward him, after all. He always seemed so calm and collected. Much like her sisters, just as compassionate as one, while just as steely as the other.
When would she reach this level of skill?
She was torn from her thoughts by a hand gently grasping her shoulder.
Instinctively she went to slap it away, before realizing Izaneus as its owner. A small shade of embarrassment found her cheeks too at that moment. But she quickly pulled herself together, instead, replying with a cold "What?"
"Is there anything you need my help with before I keep Siesta from ending anymore innocent shrub life?"
The way he worded it sent the poor maid into disarray, looking down at the grass and fiddling with a few blades of it in a mixture of shame and embarrassment.
That emotion seemed to go around today.
"If I do, you'll find out. But I'm working on my own.. Projects today.." She stated, nearly tripping over her own words. She planned on…. Well, asking him about the runes in his book would inspire suspicion. Seeing as he hadn't talked at all about any kind of runic language.
"I wouldn't mind if you kept an eye on me too however…" She stated, trying to shrug off any thought toward her. While also trying to make sure she was safe while exploring this new ma-
A sudden explosion from the school caught them all off guard. Dust and debris that weren't simply annihilated flew off, scarring the ground with their impacts.
A towering mass of rich stone and earth, with a cloaked figure holding tightly a stack of papers, as well as something else, slowly became visible to the three casters. Two of Whom found themselves moving before they could think.
"Do you think help will come?" Izaneus asked as he and Louise dashed toward it, nearing the explosion point, and finding it to be a stone wall which the golem had punched a giant whole out of as it exited the building.
"I would think so! It felt like an earthquake!" Louise retorted, stressing her words as much as she was herself, the girl hadn't run much, and her frame didn't hold much endurance.
She felt herself begin to lag behind until Izaneus grabbed her hand, and yanked her close to himself.
It was here after a short incantation that the two mages zipped forward on a small platform of earth, gliding across the ground as though it were water.
The wizard then began pulling on the wisps of ambient reality all around them, as quickly as he could. Determining the best course of action… aim for the golem? Use something with enough force to break its legs? Or aim for the rider? Who was likely controlling the thing?
He didn't have time to finish that thought however, as the rider turned around, a large white glow emanating from a staff of.. Some.. Sort.
His eyes widening, Izaneus abandoned his spell in favor of raising a defensive ward around him and Louise, grabbing her tightly before the ground around them seemed to plummet a short ways. Before erupting upward, throwing the two skyward.
The pink-haired mage screamed in terror as they came closer and closer to the fluffy clouds that adorned the sky. She was beginning to freak out, as slowly, their upward momentum diminished and they found themselves beginning to plummet downward, once more constrained to gravity.
Shouting to the high heavens as the wind whipped past her, before said winds began to whip around her, slowing her descent. She watched as Izaneus fell grimly, his arm outstretched, guiding the wind spirit of Tseyphalk to Louise. Making sure she didn't hit the ground as he would if he didn't do something fast.
Spinning his body around, with the comfort of knowing at least she was safe, Izaneus knew he needed to do something quickly. But what?
Not long now. Until he slammed against the ground dangerously, it was getting closer…
As the ground became unbearably close, Izaneus found himself trapped within the most potent emotion he'd ever felt, flickers of his life added onto this.
This terrifyingly powerful fear powered him as he threw his hands in front of him, forcefully ripping power from himself, creating a field of stasis, and stopping him an inch from the ground.
Then the magic faded, and he fell lightly on his stomach.
Looking up, he saw Louise still floating harmlessly down. He reminded himself to thank Tseyphalk properly later.
As he was looking up, a shadow of some winged form passed by him, and as it did so, the light illuminated it. A blue, large dragon, flying in the direction of the Golem.
His eyes widened, as he called after them
"Stop!! Wait!!" But it was far too late, the wind was in the rider's ears, and they passed him by chasing their prey.
Until a spire of stone speared upward from beneath them, piercing the dragon's wing, and throwing it off balance. Spiraling out of the Sky with a pained Roar, into the nearby forest.
With its pursuers thrown into the sky or shunted to the ground, the golem and it's rider melded into the earth, hidden, and likely travelling faster now.
With a sigh, Izaneus got up from his homely spot on the ground.
Louise finally got down to the ground and walked up to Izaneus, a shocked expression still trying to find its way off of her face.
"What.. Just happened?"
She asked, shell shocked, at the recent dilemma.
Izaneus stared blankly at where the giant golem used to be, and replied.
"I.. Don't know…"
Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter!! I hope you're all doing well!
I can't wait to start diving into the things I've got planned, and will plan.
But as always, be sure to comment your criticisms! I want to continue improving for you all, so that this becomes something truly beautiful we all love.
aside from that! good night everybody! thank you!