2 Chapter 1 - Iris

A soft breeze travelled through an open window, brushing against the boy's hair as he gazed upon the ever so tall walls. The sight of those walls which blocked even the sight of clouds was dreadful to his eyes. To him, those walls represented humanity's acceptance of their place in this world. He ran his finger across the window sill, flicking the dust off his finger as his mind wandered.

After an unknown amount of time dreaming away in his own thoughts, a knock was heard on the boy's door. A middle-aged woman stood in the doorway, wearing an olive green apron as she gently tapped the side of his wooden door. Her crisp, rosy brown hair flowed down her shoulders, contrasting her beige eyes.

"Mavis, dear? Supper is ready." She said with a soft voice, showing a warm smile across her lips.

Mavis nodded his head, adjusting his shirt as he had been startled by the sudden knock bringing him back to reality. He fixed his messy hair the best he could, despite his young age, he had light, misty grey hair. The boy left his room, making his way around the house before arriving in the kitchen. The aroma of cooked chicken emitted from the stone oven, a pleasant smell that seemed to always relax him.

His mother was already sat down at the table, as well as his father. His father wore a pair of round glasses in front of his hazel eyes. His well kept brown hair made him truly fit the appearance of a scholar. Mavis sat down across from his father, scooting his chair in quietly. His plate of dinner was already set up for him, cooked chicken with various vegetables and berries. A common dish, but something he never seemed to grow tired of.

Just as he lifted his fork, his father spoke up.

"So, Mavis, how are your studies going?" His father asked, raising his gaze from his dish onto Mavis.

"I think I've got the basics of fire mana grasped," Mavis answered, twidling his fork between his fingers.

"The basics? Tell me, what are the basics for your curriculum now? When I had to learn about magic when I was your age, the basics involved the simple concept of conjuring but a small ember. Is that what you mean to tell me you've learned?" His father adjusted his glasses with a slight cough.

"No, I mean, I can do more than that, it's just-" Mavis began to answer before being cut off by his father.

"Just what? Mavis, if you're going to choose to study alone at home, you have to show us you can teach yourself. I know you're a smart boy, just don't take advantage of this situation."

"Dear, that's enough, magic is a difficult concept. I mean, the best most of us can do is just improve our basic day to day lives." His mother chimed in, placing her hand on the father's hand.

"His path isn't the same as ours, you know that. Mavis, you want to be an adventurer right? I can't let you go outside those walls unless you can show us you have the capabilities to use magic at that level. You have to be an extraordinary person to even get into the Explorer's Hall, I just want what's best for you." His father narrowed his gaze and gave him a gentle smile.

Mavis averted his gaze, looking down towards the brick walls as he let his mind wander again briefly.

Extraordinary, huh? That's what it always comes down to with them. I can tell they don't want to say it directly, but they think I'm not special enough to become an adventurer. Does one really need to be so special just to be free?

"Mavis? Are you listening?" His father tapped the table with his finger.

Mavis snapped back into reality as he straightened up in his chair, nodding.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you." He brushed his silky hair with his hand, poking at the chicken with his fork. "May I be excused?"

"You didn't even take a bite out of your food." His father sighed, rubbing his chin.

His mother placed her hand on his father's shoulder and shook her head gently.

"Just let him go dear, he needs some time." His mother said quietly to the father.

Mavis backed out of his chair and made his way back to his room, lightning the small lantern near his window sill as he brought his chair near the window. Closing his door, making sure his parents weren't near, he pulled out a heavy, damaged book from underneath his bed and sat down on the chair.

"The Journal of Frederick Switzh", and old, tattered book that had surely seen better days. A gift from Mavis' uncle, the week before he had been selected for that year's expedition beyond the walls. He never returned, but Mavis never gave up hope. He felt this book had something in it that his uncle wanted him to see. In the book, were detailed descriptions of many organisms and findings in the outside world. Creatures that could replicate themselves endlessly, ones that could destroy mountains with a single breath. The contents of this book would be sacred within the walls, he knew if anyone found out about it, it would be taken away without any hesitation.

However, there weren't just descriptions of creatures inside this book. It spoke of the land outside the walls. The bountiful lakes that shimmered in the light, the mountains which stretched higher than the walls, things which seemed otherwordly. Beyond that, there were even descriptions of passive creatures, that showed no signs of hostility towards humans. This very book was the catalyst for Mavis' boundless desire to leave these walls and see for himself the endless mysteries that lie outside.

The day soon began to settle into the night, as he kept the lantern close to his book, studying it carefully.

"I'll find a way out of here, even if it isn't as an adventurer. I'll see for myself what it is humanity fears, and decide for myself if it was worth the cost of our freedom. It's in our nature to soothe our curiosity and to quell that is to quell humanity. Even if I have to act out on my own and venture beyond those walls, I'll do it, because that's my right as somebody born into this world. "

Those words were written by Frederick, words that resonated with me ever since my uncle had left for his expedition. These words shaped me into who I am, or rather they showed me what it was I truly wanted to do. Frederick was like me, weak. However, we both share that yearning for the outside world. I believe this is what my uncle wanted to show me, that even if I wasn't strong, or couldn't do it the conventional way, I could make it out there.

Hearing footsteps in the hallway, Mavis quickly blew the small fire out from the lantern, causing the room to go dark as the only light peeked in from the moon in the sky. He slid the journal back under his bed before getting under his bed sheets and resting his head against the pillow.

The door creaked as it slowly opened, Mavis' mother stepping into his room and sitting next to his bed.

"About dinner, your father-" His mom began to talk with a soft voice before Mavis chimed in.

"I know, I get that he was only trying to say what he thinks is best for me." Mavis sighed to himself and brought his gaze to his open window, looking at the bright moon hanging in the sky.

His mother patted his head, playing with his grey hair as she smiled.

"You know, your father wanted to become an adventurer too."

"He did?" Mavis sat up on his bed slightly, leaning on his elbow.

"I was always by his side, playing alongside him and your uncle. Uncle Blanc was hotheaded and always got into fights, but your father who was usually a meek boy who couldn't hurt a fly would run in to aid his brother every time." Her eyes seemed to water a bit at the mention of these past memories.

Mavis sat there, listening carefully now as he watched his mother wipe a tear from her eye.

"He was so protective of Blanc, despite being smaller than him. Your father took the role of being a big brother serious. That's why I believe he wanted to become an adventurer." She spoke softly with a warm smile.

"Why exactly?" Mavis asked quietly.

"Blanc made it clear early on that being an adventurer was his dream, and he excelled at learning magic quite early. After it became clear then that Blanc would likely succeed in achieving his goal, your father suddenly began to study magic harder than ever. All of his life before that he was only interested in becoming a doctor, but after that all of a sudden he wanted to be an adventurer. He wanted to protect Blanc out there."

"When was this? I never knew." Mavis said, furrowing his eyebrows as he felt a new feeling wash over him, a sorrow that he couldn't quite explain.

"You had just been born around the time he really became obsessed with it. After Blanc officially became an adventurer, he was set to leave for the yearly expedition the very next month. Leon, ah, your father, went into a frenzy, he drowned himself in grimoires, studying as much magic as he possibly could. However, no amount of knowledge made up for the fact that he just couldn't do it. As you can imagine, when Blanc never returned, well, he didn't take it too well. That's why he's so wary about this for you, Mavis. He cares deeply about your well being, and he knows personally the risk involved."

Mavis looked down for a moment as he collected his thoughts before looking back up at his mother. Her eyes widened as she saw the look on Mavis' eyes, a determination that could only be explained as, "immovable".

"Tell me, why do you want to be an adventurer so badly? Why is it that you want to see the outside world, Mavis?" She asked quietly.

"Is it so wrong to want to see the world you were born in?"