1 Where Am I? Part I

(Read the prologue first if you haven't. You don't have to but you might be confused about some stuff.)

A feminine voice could be heard talking outside the door. "I don't know how much longer we can last. On your salary, we can't feed four mouths."

A masculine voice angrily replied. "This struggle doesn't matter. We can't just let him rot alone. He lost his parents. His father was my best friend!"

Silence pervaded for a moment. She then replied. "Even considering that, he'd be better off at the orphanage. They would be able to provide proper meals for him there!"

The man instantly replied. "NO! We can't let him grow up without parental figures. It would soil the memory of his parents."

The woman audibly scoffed. "Hmph. I'll give you a year. If we are fine after that much time, I'll be fine with him staying here. Don't get me wrong, he is a pleasure to have around. I just don't know if we can afford it."

The conversation paused for a moment. The man then replied. "That's fine. I'll figure it out. I promise you that this will all be worth it in the end."

The woman replied almost immediately. "I know, he is a bright kid. He definitely will accomplish things in the future. Unfortunately, we will starve before that happens."

The man replied. "I know. Let's just hold on this one more year. If we can't handle it like we have these past two years, then we will bring him to the orphanage."

The woman replied happily. "That sounds good to me. Let's just try and raise him to the best of our ability. Lisa was my friend too, ya know?"

I opened my eyes and thought to myself. 'Hmmm, that's my mother's name. I haven't heard them speak of it since the funeral.'

Looking around me, I saw the sight that greeted me each time I awoke in the past two years. It was quite the humble room.

I chuckled to myself. 'This is definitely small compared to what I had back home.'

It was a small room. Probably double the size of a typical bathroom in a house. My twin sized bed took up about a third of it. Looking from the window to the door, my bed was on the left side of the room. Next to it was a small table that contained a small journal and my lamp. Across the room, on the right side was a small dresser. It contained all of my clothes that were salvaged from my previous home.

I call it humble because that was all that was in my room. The only thing that wasn't included was a coat rack. On it was a singular winter coat and a hat. These were necessities to keep warm during the harsh winters that struck this town.

I let my head fall back to the pillow. 'Speaking of winters, we are having quite the cold one right now. No wonder they are struggling to keep us all fed.'

I took a deep breath before sitting up. These past two years have been quite uneventful. Aside from helping out around the house, I haven't done much. I can count on my two hands the amount of times that I've left the house on my own.

I tossed the crunchy blanket off of me and followed my usual morning routine. Once my legs were on the floor, I stood up.

Reaching over to my bedside table, I realized how stupid I was. 'HA! I guess that taking my pills was so deeply ingrained in me that I instinctively reached for them.'

I pulled my hand back and laughed audibly before approaching my dresser. Opening the top drawer, I grabbed a pair of pants and slipped one leg into them at a time. I then opened the second drawer and picked up a cotton shirt. I lifted it up and pulled it over my head before pushing one arm at a time through the sleeves.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. 'Time to continue this adventure, eh?'

I turned towards the door and walked towards it. Grabbing the door handle, I pushed it down. The warmth of the central room of the house assaulted me.

I smiled. This warmth was refreshing in the morning. Electricity didn't exist in this world so the only heat in the house came from the furnace. It also served as the place where we cooked our food and boiled our water for tea.

Sonia turned to me as she heard my door open. "Cal! Come eat some breakfast!"

I smiled and nodded, pretending to have not heard the conversation from earlier. I can't exactly hold her thoughts against her. I doubt anyone would choose someone else's kid over their own. "Thanks, Sonia. What is there to eat?"

She smiled. "I made some eggs and oatmeal. Savor your eggs today. I had some coin to spare for some cracked pepper at the market."

Despite it being something so simple back home, I smiled excitedly. "That sounds amazing. Thanks!" This was my new home afterall.

I sat down at the table and Sonia placed a plate with some eggs and oatmeal down in front of me. Next to them was a cup of water.

I pouted. "When can I have some tea?"

Sonia shook her head. "Cal, you are too young to be drinking caffeine in the morning. You're only nine years old!"

I sighed. "Fine." I dug into the plate in front of me. The eggs tasted especially delicious today. "Wow, the eggs are really good today. The pepper really made a difference!"

I finished my breakfast quickly so she came over and picked up my plate. She went over to the sink to do the dishes.

I watched excitedly. Sonia reached out both of her hands and pulled them back gently. A stream of water emerged from the faucet. She gracefully waved her hands around and manipulated the water to clean the plate I ate from.

I walked over to get a closer look. "Sonia, when can I learn how to do that?"

She was about to open her mouth to say no like she does almost every day. However, today would be different. "You know what? I'm gonna teach you a little bit of magic. Help me clean the house and then we'll get started."

I let on a smile that extended all the way across my face. "YES!" I then ran to grab the broom. I had never cleaned so fast in my life. I scurried across the house, sweeping every inch of the floor until it was spotless.

Going back into my room, I made my bed and opened the curtains. I then went to the couch to fluff the pillows. After that, I opened the front window just a crack. I immediately realized my mistake and closed it.

I shivered. "Geez, it's cold outside."

Sonia looked around and smiled. "I don't think I've ever seen a kid move so fast. You must really be excited. Well, come sit."

I rushed over to the table and stared at her attentively. "I'm ready."

Sonia nodded and sat down across from me. "Before I teach you how to use it, you must learn a little bit about magic. Every person possesses some amount of this energy called mana. Some people have more than others. The more mana you have, the more magic you can use. I only know how to use simple magic so I can only teach you that."

I nodded eagerly. "That's just fine. How do I use my mana?"

Sonia laughed. "Quite the impatient one, aren't you? Well first we have to unlock your mana. It is said that a mythical beast unlocked the mana of the first mage. Do you know what this mage's name was?"

I shook my head. "What was his name?"

Sonia shook her head. "Her name was Sylpha."

I tilted my head. "Sylpha? Her name is pretty weird."

Sonia chuckled and smiled at me. "How observant of you. The reason her name is different is because she wasn't human. She was a high elf."

My eyes widened in shock. "High elf?"

Sonia smiled and nodded. "That is a lesson for another time. Let's just focus on unlocking your mana for now."

I nodded and sighed. "Okay. What do I do?"

Sonia reached her hands out across the table. "Put your hands in mine."

I lifted my arms and reached across the table, My tiny body was barely able to reach her. I then looked her in the eyes in anticipation.

Sonia nodded. "Good. Now I am going to send some mana in through your right arm before pulling it out from your left."

I tilted my head in confusion."What will that do?"

Sonia laughed before looking at me again. "I don't exactly understand it myself but it has something to do with getting mana to start circulating in your body."

I nodded and smiled. "Okay. I'm ready."

Sonia smiled and nodded. "Be very attentive. Make sure you feel the mana flowing through you."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In through her nose, out through her mouth. She sent her mana through her left arm into my right hand.

I suddenly felt a warm wave wash over me. The warmth congregated at my navel and sat there for a moment. I looked down towards that spot and enjoyed the euphoria.

I then looked up and saw Sonia seem as if she was struggling. I tilted my head in confusion. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "My family has passed down this method of mana awakening for generations. Never has there been a record of it giving this much resistance."

I sighed. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Almost as if some unknown force was listening in on the conversation, I felt the warmth in my navel start to fluctuate. It would get hot then cool down repeatedly. The length between cycles constantly getting shorter.

I started to worry. "Is it supposed to feel like my body is having some sort of reaction?"

Sonia opened her eyes, looking quite startled. "Alright, let's give this one more try."

I suddenly felt a tug at my mana from my left arm. Like a dam breaking, a huge amount of the warmth exploded towards Sonia.

As soon as the wave hit her, she was thrown back, falling out of her chair.

I quickly rushed over to her. "What happened? Are you okay?"

I grabbed her right hand and noticed something. It was horribly burnt. I immediately dropped it and shuffled back in fear.

Dropping down to the floor, I nearly started crying. "There really is something wrong with me. What have I done?"

Sonia looked over to me and saw my concern so she smiled. "I don't know what that was. I'll be alright though. Don't you worry one bit."

I nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm sorry."

Sonia chuckled and shook her head. "It's not your fault. Neither of us could have known." She looked down at her scorched hand. "Could you fetch me a wet rag please?"

I shot up and hurried towards the sink. Once I got there, I froze.

Something felt different. I was able to feel some unknown force moving around me that seemingly connected to everything.

I grinned as I had an idea. Like I had seen her do for years, I took a deep breath. In through my nose, and out through my mouth. As I exhaled, I gently raised both of my hands before pulling them back down just as gently.

I stood there waiting for something to happen but nothing did. I heard laughing behind me so I turned to the source.

Sonia was on the floor laughing hysterically. "That was hilarious. It will take you a while to be able to do that. All in due time, sweetie."

I pouted as I turned around to grab a rag. I turned the faucet on and covered the rag in cold water. I then brought it over to Sonia and handed it to her. "Here you go."

She smiled and accepted the rag, gently wrapping it around her hand. "What made you try that? It looked like you had some kind of epiphany."

I sighed and sat on the floor next to her. "When I got to the sink, I had this weird feeling that I was connected to everything. I could almost feel the flow of it all. Is that mana?"