1 Rise

   "Without magic, one is a dud. One's hands have been cursed manaless, and one shall plea for protection."

    "What brings you here?" The Stryde at the bar asked as she saw me walked into their den.

    "You guys hiring? I can fit into any role." 

    The Stryde raised one hand, and a mandala pattern appeared in front of her. After the brief channel, something like a list appeared in between us. It was like a floating menu, of my information, apparently. Her speciality was pretty cool, but I doubt if it would be useful in battle, which was kind of a daily thing if you are a mage.

    "Nazareth. You have a last name? A title?"

    "No. Do you really need one?"

    "I guess you don't." The Stryde scratched her long ears, annoyed. 

    "Oh...that's why. We will hire a mage. Not a cleaner, Nazareth."

   The other mages sitting in the bar started laughing vulgarly.

    Damn. She found out already. I kind of expected that, but I was just hoping that I could at least get a job. Did I mention anything about being a mage?

   Magic speaks for you. It is an extra pair of wings for everyone on a daily basis. But one without wings have no place in the sky. 

   "A cleaner you say? You probably meant you want me to slice your heads clean off."

   "Watch your mouth manaless, my specialty 'flame ward' does not prove worthy."

   I don't really want to describe the next part. Basically I was beaten up.

    I am Nazareth, I live in Lenzal, a small town in Blade. If you want me to describe this place with one word, it has to be "mess". Actually, this applies to any other town or country. A glimpse at the streets you can see how the society works. No ruler, no rules. Take this as an example. I was beaten up, and it was the most normal thing in the world. Nobody cares.

     I just tried to apply to join a guild. Guilds, which is a better way to refer to gangs, dominated the whole land of Magivania. It is not as bad as it sounds when everyone is in one. Too bad I will have to view it in the bad way.

    The ruler you ask? We call it the Empire. You will never know of its existence, except that the castle covers almost a whole country. I am serious. All they do is sit in that thing. 

    It was not as bad, actually it was much better before. To make things easier to take in, there was a war, and a bunch of mages stopped it. To prevent their power from going berserk, they sealed themselves. The event caused a singularity, causing a cataclysm in the land of Magivania. The terrain was all messed up, and different tribes were warped to one land - Entha. Since then, the four human races, Strydes, Demis, Gonglorians and Humans were forced to live together. That was probably when the Empire left the game.

    The people did not lose hope. With mutual faith and ambitions they formed gangs, or guilds whatever, and the profession of "mages" came into the limelight. In the mage society, everyone had a meaning.

    Maybe I was different.

    Maybe not everyone was born equal.

    I always look up to the mages, and I spend most of my time studying magic and their history. If there is a term called a magic nerd, I will probably be called that.

    Few years ago, when I was still optimistic about this world, a mage struck my house. My parents were weak mages, and they owed a lot of debts, they also never managed to get into a reliable guild. They also never taught me any magic, but they let me learn it myself. 

    The mage, looked a lot like a really heavy-armored knight. He had a face that could kill. My parents fend off the mage with their magic, but it was too weak.

    That was not all.

    The mage was so powerful that he could take the spells with its body, unscathed.

    But that was not all.

    I decided to join the fight, but the mage did not seem to be targeting me, and he kept on approaching my parents.

    It was when I realized, I have no mana.

    All the training, studies, admiration, ambitions, were never realistic.

    Blood filled the air.

    And I stood there like a useless piece of trash. Manaless, lost.

    I lived in a chapel, or an orphanage of some sort with some other children. Most of them were younger than me. Also, they could use magic. Just to make things worse, they were all from other humanoid races, like Strydes, Gonglorians, and maybe one or two Demis. I am not saying that I wanted to be racist, but I was actually the one odd out. 

   All humans were supposed to coexist. Well, we did, but as the Empire lost control, the other races seemed to be doing whatever they like, which included discriminating against humans. 

  It was kind of pathetic, as I was born of the odd ones, and I was the odd one among the odd ones.

   I walked along the terrace knocking on doors, but they either didn't want a human, or they were recruiting mages only, and not a manaless. And I learnt not to say anything, even when I am insulted to the ground. Just accept your useless self.

   I saw the sky turning dark, so I went back to the chapel.

   The sister that watched over us was a Demi, but she was surprisingly nice to me even though I was a human. But still, I could not find a home in a place like this. I am not talking about the chapel specifically. I am talking about this world.

   "I am sorry-"

   "It's totally fine," the sister cut me off. She did not want me to feel too bad. She shone a smile and handed me some copper.

   "Use these for now."

   She was kind of pretty, but I couldn't help myself to like her, or anyone else. I was different from them.

   "Hey guys!!" Then a boy came rushing in the chapel. He was one of the kids that lived there. 

   "A mage is fighting a 3-meters tall demon! Right outside!"

 A mage? Wait, a demon? I think he meant a dark mage?

    I used to look for any opportunity to meet a mage, and I especially liked the fights.

    But again, I was different from them.

    I still decided to take a look, because they were causing a ruckus just outside the chapel.

    When I reached the door, I suddenly heard a demonic voice. Well, obviously it was the demon speaking. It was definitely not anything I have seen before. I will call it a demon for now.

   I opened the door, only to see people screaming, running around like guinea pigs. In front of me were three chunks of gore. They were supposed to be mages, and one of them was torn clear of flesh. Their robes were ripped and turned into strips. The air was thick with blood.

   The others in the chapel rushed out to look. The kids all screamed and ran back into the chapel, while the adults and the sister readied themselves for battle.

   "Grawwww…."

   The demon roared deeply. He was much taller than an average human, almost twice the size. His entire body was wrapped in black bandages. The parts that were uncovered shone in bright red. Its huge horns made it look even more menacing. Horrifyingly, it had large rods stabbed into his body. He was also holding a needlessly large sword in one hand.

   His air reminded me of the mage I had seen a few years ago. The one that traumatized me. I could not help but to run for it.

   I fled and hid behind the chapel door. I did not know I could be this timid.

   "In the name of Horython I shall defeat you! Twin Spell, Aqua slash, Wind vortex, Aqua Vortex!" One of the mages from our chapel spread out her hands, and a magic circle appeared in front of her. A spell shot out from her hands. A storm eye appeared in the middle, and water started squirming around it. It formed a shape of a tornado, and flew at the demon.

   The demon flinged his blade, and blocked the spell with the spine of his weapon as if it was the easiest thing ever.

    Judging by the mage's incantation, it was clear that the mage had not mastered the spell yet. If she did, she could use a shorter incantation, or even cast it without using one. A weak spell could not hurt this demon. What she used was a Twin Spell, which is usually two basic spells combined. She would need to use a stronger Twin Spell or a Tri Cast, or some higher ranked spells.

   "Impossible! That was one of my strongest spells!" She jumped, she was almost about to tear up. 

    The other two mages started chanting, and the demon did not move from his spot, as if knowing that the spells could not hurt him.

    "Fifth Stone Blast!"

    "Greater Fireball!"

    The demon left his comfortable position and got into a battle pose. He held up his cleaver behind him, and swung it with the help of his waist. The spells vanished as they touched the blade, as if nothing had happened.

   The demon rested his weapon on his shoulder and casted a spell with one hand.

   The demon shot them a menacing glance, and within a second, the bandages on his right arm loosened, and a spiral of red particles emerged. It looked somewhat like blood. 

   Breaking down spells and analyzing them is kind of my thing. But this spell could not be recognized at all.

   A red beam of deathliness split into three, and flew at the mages. The mages held up their hands in unison and cast a simple defense spell, but the attack was too powerful, although they blocked the fatal damage, they were still sent flying away and fell to the ground.

   The demon slowly approached them. I slipped away from the door and hid under a bench. Cold sweat was dripping from my forehead.

    I can't do anything.

    I can't use magic!

    I have to watch them die again!

    Damn! I don't care if I have a specialty or not! Just let me do something!

    The demon raised his weapon and plunged the floor. Black mist came out from the cracks and pierced the fallen mages. They screamed in agony as if their souls were being pulled apart.

    The demon thrust it further into the ground, and the mages screamed in even more pain. Blood was leaking from their mouth, and was slowly pulled towards the demon.

     I have to do something. Not that I could do anything, but I did not want to watch them suffer and die. I am not that heroic or anything, but I don't only want to be protected! I want to protect people, or at least, be a little bit more useful. I was wavering back then, so I was lying, I wanted to be a mage. A mage that could protect the weak and smite the evil.

    I imagined myself suddenly gaining the ability to use magic, like in a fiction novel. The more critical the situation was, the more likely your power will awaken.

    Exactly. I am about to do something reckless enough to get me in trouble.

    I crept behind the demon. Ha! If I had no mana in me, he could not sense me! All I had to do was to avoid stimulating his other senses.

   The demon seemed to be occupied as he cast the spell that tortured the mages, or sucking blood, or whatever. I swiftly jumped behind him, and waited for any kind of opportunity.

   I removed a sword that was held by a statue next to me. 

   I want to be a mage. Desperately.

   "Haaaargh!"

   I pushed the sword to pierce the demon, but the blade only scratched him.

   "Hruuuaagh?!"

   Demon turned around, his eyes showed his inner anger.

   "Graaaaaaaaagh!!"

   The demon abandoned the mages, and its spell lost effect. It tightened its grip on his weapon and charged at me. The bandages that covered his mouth was torn apart, revealing his jaws.

    I quickly jumped back, but the demon swung his long blade at me. I ducked and managed to dodge it by a hair.

   Unexpectedly, the demon struck again but with his free hand, and the hit connected directly.

   "Ugh…."

   I fell to the ground. Blood cover my whole body. I could feel my body getting weaker. Well, at least I did one cool move before I died.

   I could see blood spilling even more rapidly than before, and the pain was restraining me from standing up. Even if I could, I would end up the same way - dead.

   The demon lifted his weapon behind his head, and was about to swing it at me. I had no tricks left in my sleeves. I still held up my hands to cast a spell, although I knew I could never.

    If I really died here, at least I would die a death that was worth remembering. "Manaless young man fights a demon" would look nice on the board of a guild hall.

    My life was a mess. I was born a human, with no magic, my parents died. I did not belong to this world. Maybe it was time to move on.

    What was the meaning of life anyways?     When everyone is just so much better than you? When you are born to fail?

    I looked at my pathetic hands that were lifted above me.

     Huh?

     A strange light glowed bright behind me, and it was getting even brighter.

     Then I saw a sword flew over my head aiming at the demon.

     The sword plunged into the demon's chest. It was an impressive attack. Even a spell could not hurt him, but a mere sword that was thrown could go through his skin and into this chest.

    "Ryaaaaaaaaaarrrrr!"

    The demon let out a monstrous scream. For one second a thought my power awakened, but then I looked behind and saw who had thrown the sword. 

    I could not see clearly. All I could see was a man, wearing a hood that covered part of his face and his body. 

    Knowing his attack connected, he took off his cloak and revealed a short robe on top of bright golden armour. The robe was not from any guild I could recognize. 

    "Man, I am not ready for a fight! Make this quick, big guy."

    The man chuckled. He sounded kind of childish, but he stood up as a serious man. It was a weird mash. He snapped his fingers.

    "Lightning Solidification, Lightning Confinement!" 

    The sword let out a light, lightning sparks were released from the hilt and quickly solidified into cables that snaked around the demon's body to restrain him. 

    The man walked confidently towards the demon and kicked him over. He stepped on the sword that was stuck on his chest to plunge it deeper. 

    "Well done over there kid. The people outside told me 'there was one young man fighting a demon on his own'."

    I just realized he was talking to me. Well probably me, because I was the only one who was conscious and not a demon, and most importantly, fought the demon. Kind of. I was too tired to answer him though.

   He then raised his right arm above his head, and blue mana started to gather in his palm. Abruptly, a thunder bolt struck his hand and charged him with lightning. 

   "Have a taste of my speciality! Lightning Style, Lightning Chains!"

    More solid lightning cables came out of his hand and squeezed the demon even harder. He then violently threw the demon into the air.

    "Lightning Judgement, Exploding Sphere of Lightning!"

    I could not catch what was happening afterwards. All I saw was his body turning into a blur, and he jumped into the air and struck the airborne demon a million times in a blink of an eye. The cables then turned into normal lightning, which electrocuted the demon, damaging it even further.

    "Phew. That was overkill."

    He looked at the fallen demon. After a few seconds, it gradually strunk and left behind only the bandages and the rods. Even his weapon disappeared.

    The mage picked up his sword and sheathed it. He then removed his hood, revealing his face. He had bright red hair, his face was handsome, and he was about 20 years old. Not much older than me.

   I mustered my strength to stand up. I had one more thing I wanted him to do. "Mage, please heal these guys."

   "I called the medic already. Did you just call me a mage?"

   "Are you not?"

   He paused for a while, and switched the subject. 

   He pointed at me, his eyes filled with confidence. 

   "You, you are good. You are like me when I was young. Brave."

   "Brave? Me? I could not use magic. Quit sympathizing with me. I don't enjoy that kind of thing."

    Self depreciation is kinda my thing.

    "Yes you. Without you, the mages would have died. Even if you don't have magic, you still managed to let out your will to fight. You are better than a mage."

    "But… better than a mage?"

    The man smiled and looked at me again. He pointed at me and said.

     "A hero! Young man! That's right!"

    The words did not move me. But it felt great. Because of who I am, I had never been praised. I am the furthest from bravery. But now this man, a powerful mage, acknowledged me.

    "Oh… about the mage thing, I am not a mage. But knowing my true identity could put you in great danger, and great responsibility will dawn on you. I did not come here to look for the demon, ya know? I came here for you. Just you. Are you ready to receive my message?"

    He is not a mage? He came for me? He is what? Too much was happening at the same time. I couldn't catch up. But I nodded anyways.

    "I am Kaisar of the Storm. I am from the guild called - the Soul Weaver. Which contained our Grand Master, who had the power to create a link that was missing in the manaless, which connected to the spiritual world, to your specialty. One who is chosen by the Grand Master to become a Soul Weaver will gain a new power, but must shoulder great responsibility. That means, I used to be manaless. Are you ready to be the chosen one?" 

    I could hardly believe my ears. Is this some kind of "the chosen hero" thing? No way. The specialty part though, will I get one if I joined? Knowing that was great enough actually, and I was kind of emotional. I held myself up with my hands.

    "Damn. You could have started with that."

    "Stop pretending to be cool! I know you are happy! Ya coming or not?"

    He held out a hand.

    "Let's go then."

    "Now there you are, smiling. So it is decided. Come with me, unleash your power!"

    And this was the beginning of my journey. I did not just get my powers from being the brave one. Yes, this world is unfair. But if you put in effort, it will always pay off.

    "Soon one day, one shall find their pleaing effective in no ways. One shall stand up for oneself. Then there is growth. When one's will surpasses oneself, they shall rise."