1 The Village

Centuries had passed and a single titan still held "Romaturs" together. This is a story of a time when the concept of life or death, or before even time began. At the start, there was nothing but "Romaturs". A single source of light, so large that one could not fathom, surrounded by an endless void. To end its isolation, it decided to create life or rather make imitations. But to create a will, was no easy task. The light decided to sacrifice its body. First, he removed most of its power and the entirety of his being from its own body. Then it split it into eight pieces. The goal was to create 8 forms of will/life from his own. Even with the vast amount of magic within each piece, they showed no signs of life. So, within each piece, he created a center a core and poured power in it. Yet something was amiss. Few millennials passed. He saw no progress. Enraged by his failure, he lashed out and destroyed his own body. He clashed each of the pieces violently against each other causing an explosion so large so bright he himself seemed dim. His body dissipated into billions of pieces. In doing so he created the universe and along with it he created life small and insignificant but these creatures had a will of their own. The aftermath released an immense power that could destroy this new form he had created. So, he compressed that immense power, producing stones. These stones began to show attributes so he chipped very small pieces from each stone and placed them inside his new creation. Althoug a small speck was used the result caused great variation creating new species. The light happy with the results named each stone and each of his creations from these stones. Each stone was given a name.

 "Legend says if you know the name of those stones then you can call upon their power."

"grandma who's this light you keep talking about?"

"He's God my child". She said with a warm smile, as she closed the book in her hand. " He is the created of all kinds big and small alike." She looked at her grandson, his glittering dark blue eyes, little feet dangling out of a rugged piece of cloth, black hair and pale skin due to malnutrition, one could make out his bone frame from a single glance. she leans back on her chair. "Alex" water began to fill her eyes.

"hmm" Alex looks up at his grandmother, she was light-skinned she showed signs of aging with a few wrinkles yet beautiful as ever, with green eyes and blond hair with red tips. "I have to tell you something" she began to think about how to tell a 4-year-old boy that one of these days might be the last day she spends with him.

"what is it nana," said Alex.

"you are the cutest," said nana as she pinched his cheeks. Thinking he is far too young.

"NANA," he said in an annoyed tone. "I told you a million times not to do that, it hurts".

She chuckled. "let's go to sleep," said nana. She picks up Alex who was sitting in her lap and put him onto the hey, she looks around. They were inside a small room, the walls were made from wood, old and infested with termites. There were no windows just a door and some hay on the floor with a larger rug shriveled up at the base of it, a small table with some books on it and few shelves covered with candle wax and a few lit candles, they seemed like they would snap any second. she places a large piece of wood wrapped in an old dirty cloth under his head, she grips the rug and before she tucks him in, she notices his clothes have worn out. I will make him some new clothes she thinks to herself before pulling the rug over him. she then snaps her fingers to put out all the candles.

After watching Alex fall asleep, she steps outside the room. Looks around. She stands in a long hallway on either side. She looks to her right and sees a man about 6 feet tall which is well above the average height in this village, he starts to walks towards nana and into the light, you can see his light blue eyes with silver hair, wearing a large piece of cloth that is wrapped around his body. Tanned skin mostly from working in the son wearing small pieces of wood for shoes. The tapping sound grew louder as he walked towards her.

"Amelia, have you told him yet," said the man.

"no, I don't know how to tell him. Every time I decide to tell him he looks at me with those eyes and I become powerless" said Amelia.

"You always were a sucker for blue eyes," said the man.

"James don't say nasty things he's my grandson," said Amelia.

"I dint say anything you just assumed; you will have to tell the boy someday he has to grow up soon if he wants to survive," Said James as he giggled.

"he will be fine," said Amelia.

"He has black hair, so far we know that relates to no magic affinity. On top of that, he has no mana to strengthen his body, tomorrow is an inspection they will check the populus, if they find him, they will throw him out" said James.

Amelia's face immediately tensed up. "I will hide him; they won't find him I just need a few more weeks," said Amelia.

"That's what you said a few months ago. You are out of time, I know he is too young but he needs to learn before it happens, You are half-elf so your 200 years will be up in a few days, and to top it off its harvest season again and you are a conjurer. If they take you how will he get food. You need to tell him" said James.

"Just a few more days, I will tell him," said Amelia.

"I hope you know what you are doing," said James in defeat.

She turned around as James began to walk back into the darkness. Tomorrow after the inspection. I will give it to him and tell him everything she thought to herself as she opened the door and laid beside Alex and dozed off to sleep.

The next day Amelia woke up early at sunrise. She got up and looked over at her grandson and began to shook Alex to wake him up when she heard a knock on the door. Amelia looked at the cracked filled wooden door with a confused look. It's too early for the inspection and the work dose not start until after the inspection. Everyone had to work in some form in this village this was the way to earn food. Since she could conjure water among other things, she would help in the villages with the water supply.

"who is it?" she said in a tired voice.

"it's James, hurry up we have a problem"

She got up on her feet and started to walk towards the door while sliding her hand down her hair to get rid of the bed head. "this better not be one of those good morning jokes" said Amelia. She opens the door and saw James. He was drenched in sweat and heaving as if he had been running for miles.

"A..are you ok?" said Amelia in a worried tone.

"I'm fine where is Alex, we have a problem," said James who was still trying to catch his breath.

"he is sleeping, what's the matter?" said Amelia. You could hear her start to get nervous.

"General Moa is coming for the inspection which means he will also take some people for the harvest, and you know the only reason he didn't take you last time was because you still had a few years left and General Han was with him, he always wanted to take you and to top it off you only have 2 days left. You have to tell him right now and get him out of here" said James.

She instantly turned around and said, "how long do I have?".

"An hour at most, they will be here soon. I scouted their camp about 30 miles from here. I already told the chief. They must be on their their way now"

"Thank you, I know you overexerted yourself just to buy me some time," said Amelia as her voice began to shudder.

James turned around, he felt powerless knowing this was the most he could do. Amelia sat down next to Alex and shook him to wake him up. The little boy opens his eyes and gazes at his nana and drawed a smile check to check.

"Good morning nana," he said

"Good morning my child," she said.

After making sure the boy had gained consciousness. She began to talk. "listen Alex I have something very important to tell you." She said as she picked him up and placed him on his feet. Then by casting a few spells she washed and cleaned him up.

 She then turned around and lifted the hay. Under it was a wooden plank merged with the soil. She removed the plank to reveal a small hole under it, the hole seemed dugout by hand. She then took out a box, dark grey like ash from a fire wood, made out of wood surprisingly untouched by the termites. It looked as if it was just made, and the polish just dried. She then placed the box in front of Alex. His eyes followed the shine of the box as it was placed before him.

"Give me your right-hand Alex," she said as she reached out with her hand. Alex did as his nana asked of him. She gently caressed his hand before saying "this will hurt a bit but please don't make a sound"

Alex look at his nana and understood. He nodded, she then made a small cut on his thumb and placed his hand on the box

"I Amelia pass this token onto the next of my kin may he and only he makes use of it." After a short pause, Amelia looked at Alex and said "repeat after me"

"upon my blood, I swear"

"upon my blood, I swear"

"I will accept this token as my own until I pass it on"

"I will accept this token as my own until I pass it on"

The box turned bright red before disappearing completely. "Listen, Alex, I don't have much time left so I will tell you a few things now you must remember my words," she said as tears began to roll down. Although Alex was young, he was still much more mature than his age, he knew this was something serious. He looked at his nana with complete focus.

"In a few minutes, I will send you somewhere far away from here, do not try to comeback here. It is no longer safe for you to stay with me."

 At hearing this Alex began to cry before he could get any words out his nana continued

"The color of your hair determines the amount of mana and the type of mana you can control. The base color tells you the amount of mana and the tips tell you the type. The darker the color the stronger the magic capacity."

"We don't have much time so you need to pay attention. Magic is the base of this world, the power is what you need to survive. Keep that in mind hide your self until you find a way to protect yourself, and trust no one."

She then got up and rapped a few cloths and a book inside a worn out bag. "This belonged to your mother" she gestured at the bag, then passed it onto to him.

Alex looked at his nana, her eyes began to tear up as she lifted her hand and started to chant a spell. It was now that he realized this was the last time he would see her. Everything happened so fast, that boy could not even register what was about to occur.

"dont send me away" he cried out in a desperate tone. His surrounding blured nethier his nana nor the cozy room was in sight All he could see was tresses beyond tress with no end in sight. the flickering sunlight between the leaves. A cold breeze forced him to crouch down. He tightly hugged his bag, silently crying with his face planted into his bag.....