Chapter 7: Furnish (2) & Training (1)

Another day had passed and the cabin is almost done.

"It looks fine, teacher!"

"No, it lacks a bit of an element."

"The family symbol?"

"Yes!"

"But do you have it, teacher?"

"Of course, I kept it safe when I evacuated the children." He proceeded to go to the cabin. "I'll get it, just wait for me!" I followed him a bit and the teacher was happily searching through the boxes he had under his bed. He then grabbed a big box and cleaned the dust that covered the box.

He opened it slowly and sat it on his lap.

It was a big circular frame. He touched it a few times while smiling before standing up. I immediately stopped peeking at him and ran back to the front of the almost-complete small hall.

He arrived seconds after me. "Oh, you're here, teacher."

He just smiled at me and attached the family symbol. "It looks really good, I'm glad to see it placed in a hall."

"Rather than seeing it, isn't hearing it from other people more grandiose?" I paused a bit and looked at the teacher, and laughed. "It would be nice if we're manumitted from this island, teacher."

"Why?" He tilted his head asking me.

"Nothing. Maybe leaving this island would ease me and forget what happened."

"Then, would that also mean that you're okay to abandon the memories the Elders had formed and left behind on this island?" He looked at me seriously, waiting for my answer.

"N-no." I hesitated.

"Peace is here. War is there."

"If we leave this island, we'll be caught up in the countless bloodshed the kingdoms are doing. Plus, monsters don't live here that much compared to the powerhouses. It's horrific and dangerous."

"But there are monsters here too, teacher. Just like the past event…" I interrupted.

"Monsters are not limited to those creatures, Exi, they can be humans too." He smiled at me while philosophizing this lecture. "So be careful of whom to trust."

"Anyway, instead of going to a kingdom far away. Wouldn't building your own kingdom sound a lot better?" My eyes dilated at his words. "Wouldn't you as a king sound good rather than bowing to someone else?"

"Just make me your secretary if you plan on making one." The teacher joked.

"A kingdom." I dozed off while looking at the blank air. "That sounds good, teacher! I want it!"

"Come on, come on, you're too young yet. A kingdom is hard to manage, plus, there aren't many people here on this island. It could only be us you know."

"We won't know unless we explore, small as you say, the island is vast and full of mystery," I remarked. "I'll work hard to manage a kingdom, teacher!"

"Sigh, fine then. It's up to you today, tomorrow, or any day, the future is in the youth's hand after all."

"I'll leave it to you then, future King Exi." He said praising me.

"Pft. Ahahaha. You look hilarious, teacher."

I looked at the cabin doors that were slowly opening. "Everyone is awake."

"Since we finished the hall. We should start the lecture." He said loudly.

The wooden cabin doors that were slowly opened shut closed instantly. I can't hold on to my laugh as soon as the professor's face turned bitter.

"You said it too loud, teacher. You scared their souls." I grabbed my stomach to control my laugh but I was not able to contain it.

Unexpectedly, the teacher laughed too. "I guess I need to use force."

I looked at him going towards the first cabin. He grabbed the children and Ei out of the first cabin, and the same thing with the ones in the second cabin. They all looked energy deprived.

"Rain!" The teacher chanted.

The wind got strong and the clouds gathered. The weather darkened a bit and water started to pour on them. They all tried to scatter and run, but the teacher didn't allow it.

"Scatter, follow, and pour." The clouds divided themselves into 7 and followed each one of the children, including Ei.

"This is the first lesson for today."

"Mageia Command."

"This was a technique taught by the Elders, I learned it personally from them. So I owe to teach them to you too." He looked dignified while saying it, his eyes peeked at us a bit, he was looking for an extravagant reaction but the kids were not listening.

"Hey, listen!"

"Listen to me, I know you guys still haven't mastered nor manifested aether so listen."

They all looked back at the teacher and started to gather in front of him. I laughed at them mockingly. They all stared back at me.

"Now, now. Focus your eyes and ears here," The teacher raised his hand fixing his hair. "We'll proceed now." Water came out of his hand making his hair wet. Consecutively, air appeared on his right hand while the firing was on his left hand. The fire was small.

'Maybe he's using it to create warm air, drying his hair.' It was fascinating. 'I never knew that Mageia could be this interesting.'

"That's it. That's the technique."

"As I said earlier, everyone has not mastered nor manifested their aether yet and a part of this technique is knowing the fundamentals of aether. However, you guys haven't done it yet."

Everyone looked interested at the sight of the convenience of aether learning to operate Mageia but got displeased with the idea of learning the basics.

"I'll leave you guys here. The training is what I have told you, as usual, I'll be out on the shore relaxing. Have fun." The last laugh was really on him. "Oh right, Exi, come after me. I'll talk to you about something."

"Ah, okay." I followed before him. "May luck be by your side, everyone." I winked at them.

"There will be a reward for those who can do it." The teacher added with a good luck blink.

-

"Exi, I just want to ask you about something."

"Yes, teacher?"

I know what he was thinking.

"The Rings you picked up."

"What about them?"

"They are Mageia rings." I knew exactly what he will ask about. The book had told me about the rings I just collected and I know it's worth being curious about.

"Ah?! What does that do?" I pretended to not know the concept of the rings, asking him to explain it to me whilst knowing what it is. The book told me everything about each ring, its properties, name, and even grade. All in detail.

"So you have no idea, I see." He sighed.

"They are rings infused with an Aether-enhancing property. When used, the Aether Matrix expands a bit and allows the usage of Mageia greater than what you really can do."

I just looked at him unfazed by what he said.

"Are you not surprised?"

"Ah, no, I just dozed off. It's amazing, I haven't heard one of that things back then."

"Are they still usable? Maybe everyone can one each?"

"That's what I am planning."

"Let's sit down first," As the sound of the waves and the chirp of little birds met my ears, I sat down in the grass while looking at the shore. "You know you're capable, right?"

"Me? No, no, no." I declined his praise.

"Aether is the root of power in this world, if you have it, you can change how this world works, you can trample on others, and you can save those who are dear to you. And you have an aether, a rather ambiguous one."

"I don't even know yet how this works." I looked down, trying to bury my face down my legs.

"But learning is a process, and it is a matter of time until you learn something." He punched me softly. "I trust in your capabilities."

"Why are you suddenly saying this teacher? Haha." I awkwardly asked him out of nowhere.

"Future is vast and unpredictable, along with that is death, which no one is able to escape. As the oldest, I am obliged to protect you, the future the Elders left behind."

"Don't joke like that, teacher. You will survive, no, everyone will. You're gonna become a secretary, patrolling through the big halls of my kingdom covered in gold, and guide us in the future." My heart ached for a moment hearing the teacher's 'what ifs.'

The conversation halted a bit, causing a dead-air to occur between our stares.

"Let's go back." The teacher smiled at me while ending the topic. It was bitter.

"Yes..."

-

It only took minutes for us to talk yet the looks on everyone's faces looked like they traveled through an unending journey. Sweat reeked in the hall and everyone was gasping for air.

"Ha- I am so tired! Let's stop this, please, this is worse than labor." Kaian said.

"No, the prizes are so cool! Don't you want to get your hands on it?" The teacher cheered them a bit. "If you manage to manifest it, you can get a ring that helps you control Mageia like earlier."

Fufu...

He took one ring out and showed it to the kids. Look, look, look. He then withdrew the ring back while the kids' eyes shaped like a star astonished.

"I'll be back again in the evening. Make sure to manifest one." He continued with a laughed.