19 The Beginning (Vol. 1 End)

3rd POV:

The tomb started to shake and rubble rained down. Alex quickly grabbed Kathyln's hand and ran to safety. They didn't know what was going on, but it started when the place started to shake all of a sudden as if it was destroying itself.

They ran as fast as they could, and even though Alex was exhausted, adrenaline soon kicked in again. He could feel his legs about to break, but he bit his lips and kept going.

He couldn't draw his mana to keep his legs going because of how little mana reserve he currently has. He honestly felt hopeless, but even so, Kathyln was the key for him to keep going.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped them. Their vision was blurred and everything went dark.

*̵̰̻̒̃͜ ̶̥́̂͌*̷̱̟̲̀̈ ̵̳̓̓̇*̶̥͖̣̈́

It felt suffocating breathing in the dark, Alex spent a few seconds trying to breathe. He finally escaped the dark when he felt the dark disappearing.

"Gah!"

Alex opened his mouth, he felt suffocated in the dark. He looked around to see Kathyln and she was beside him, unconscious.

He breathed a sigh of relief seeing that she was safe and sound.

"Where am I?" He took a glance of careful look at the place they were in.

It was dusty but looked like a room or an office to be precise. With old books that seemingly decayed on the bookshelf.

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" A raspy voice startled Alex.

He quickly turned around to see the person who is talking but he couldn't see the person.

"Child, look at the crystal." Alex turned to look at the Crystal on top of the table.

"W-What?" Felt surprised that the Crystal was talking.

"I guess you are confused enough, I understand."

Alex shook his head, this wasn't the time to be confused. He need to escape with Kathyln but he couldn't find an exit from this place.

"Who are you?"

"Well, firstly let me apologize for the sudden teleport, it wasn't the best teleport to go through but it was an emergency." The voice apologized.

"Now, it's not important for who I am. But you amazingly found the tomb and passed the trial but again, the golems were weak because I was too focused on my research so you and the girl were quite lucky."

"Huh? They... are weak?" Alex was in disbelief hearing that.

"Now, don't be disheartened. I see that you struggle against my creations but it's really impressive to see a child like you, fighting alone against my creations and coming out as the victor in the end."

Alex stayed silent, he didn't know how to take the compliment.

"But of course, seeing that you are now half-blind, it will surely hinder your progress and I apologize for that."

"It's okay... It's my fault that I suffered because of it."

"A humble kid, I like it. Let us go to the main point of this conversation, I'll give you two gifts, one for you and one for that girl over there."

"A gift?" Alex asked, feeling curious about the gift.

He never expected any gift when they came to this tomb but it was a surprise and a welcome one to be sure.

"This will hurt for a second." Before Alex could say anything about that.

A light that shaped a sphere formed on top of the crystal. It's soon shot to Alex's left eye and a purple light enveloped his left cheek.

"Argh!" Alex held his left side as the pain come in.

"Oops? I guess the pain isn't for children." He chuckled to himself without no guilt.

"Next, a gift for that young girl over there. I am sure it will be important for her growth." A speck of blue energy appeared out of nowhere.

The blue energy started to move to Kathyln's body. It precisely aimed for her heart. Strange lines glowed on Kathyln's body but soon disappeared.

Meanwhile, Alex let go of his left side face. A purple line that shaped like lightning appeared on his cheek, Alex unwrapped his bandage and his white eye changed to a purple eye.

"Guh!" The eye color changed back to white and the purple line turned back to normal and disappear.

"W-What did you just give me?"

"I just replaced your non-working left eye with a special one. But sadly, you can't use your left eye to use it as a normal eye. I call it Aether eye! Amazing right?" He enthusiastically said.

"Aether eye? What does it do?" Alex began to feel the pain is gone and sat on the ground.

"Well, the information is locked about the abilities of Aether eye but one thing that you need to know is that you need to learn how to use it by yourself."

"Then what about Kathy, what did you just give her?"

"Haha, that was a boost for her growth. I can see her potential on ice magic so it felt normal for me to help her a little bit."

Alex let out a tired sigh. He was a bit stressed with this situation, there were many things that had been happening. A mysterious woman and Aether eye are already too much for him.

"Don't overthink, kid. You must face the unexpected and I know that my words may mean nothing to your future but no one can decide what will you do with your life, you decide it for yourself. I hope you remember that well, kid."

Alex nodded. He knew that his life was his but it was just that he always feel burdened because of the future.

"Now it's time for you two to leave. I'll activate the portal for you." A sound of click was heard.

Alex turned around to see the bookshelf moved to the side to reveal the secret entrance to the portal.

"Well, that's surprisingly advanced."

"Haha! Did you really think we only advanced on magic, kiddo?" He laughed.

"I see. Thank you very much." Alex slightly bowed his head.

"Don't thank me, kid. I don't deserve gratitude."

Alex picked up Kathyln in princess style but he suddenly unconsciously said, "Wow, she's a bit heavy."

"Kid, don't let her hear that. Anyway, I have more important things you should know about Aether Eye is that your fragile body isn't strong enough to use Aether Eye for more than 10 minutes. I recommend that you get rid of your fragile body which you need to find a way somehow since I couldn't. Don't overuse Aether Eye or it'll break your body. I'll leave my valuable research to you and prove to me that you can achieve things that I can't with Aether eye."

"Still, thank you."

"Tch, kid. I don't... Sigh, alright, this time I'll accept your gratitude. Now, go, leave this dark place."

Alex nodded and walked to the portal. They are finally leaving this place after surviving.

"One day, you'll suffer either emotionally or physically, kid. But this trial is only a beginning for you and the fate that is within you." An old man with black hair and green eyes can be seen on a chair even though his body looked a bit transparent, a smile can be seen on his face.

* * *

A young boy with auburn hair and large bright azure eyes. His cute face is full of nervousness as he stood in front of the Helstea's Manor.

He knocked and was greeted by the maid and a little girl.

"He look liek brudar!" Eleanor shouted.

(A/N: What? I am trying to make it seem like a toddler talking, I am trying!)

"Eleanor Leywin! There you are! Your brother hasn't come back yet and you have got to stop running to the front door every time expecting your brother to come back..." Alice suddenly stopped herself and dropped a small bowl to the floor.

The young boy clenched her knuckles and took a deep breath.

"H-Hi mom... I'm home." He gestured a small, awkward wave, not knowing what to do. His vision became blurry as tears filled his eyes.

"Oh my baby! Arthur!" She embraced her lost son, Arthur tightly as if she were afraid of losing him again.

Arthur couldn't hold his tears anymore as he sobbed too. The pair of mother and son crying in front of the Helstea's manor.

"Arthur!" Reynolds shouted. He is running as Arthur turned his head.

The father embraced the pair of mother and son. A warm reunion for the three of them.

After sobbing, Arthur asked his parents about someone, "Where is Alex?"

"Alex, your brother... He is currently not here right now, he's away with his master at Sapin City. He'll get back next week." His mother answered.

"Master? Alex has a teacher?"

"Of course, his master is the renowned S-Rank adventurer, Lucy." His father proudly answered, feeling proud that his son got a very capable master.

Arthur knew who Lucy was. After all, he read the book about the mysterious S-Rank adventurer, she is a living legend in this era. He was a bit envious but his teacher was a former elf king, Virion.

It was hard to determine if Lucy and Virion's power levels are the same but they are massively strong and Lucy is still young as her face is still in her 20s.

"Now, Ellie say hi to your brother. He was away for a while but now he'll live with us from now on. Come on, say hello." Alice gently urged Ellie.

"No! Brudda Alec is my onli brudda!" She hide behind Alice.

"Ellie..." Alice could only shake her head.

"He is your and Alex's big brother, Ellie. I'm sure that Alex will be sad if Ellie won't accept Arthur as your big brother." Number one trick from Alice, using Alex to make Ellie accept Arthur.

Ellie was unsurprisingly got convinced by her mother's word. Child really do love getting tricked by their parents.

(A/N: Technically Arthur is older than Alex by a few minutes so it won't be wrong to say Arthur is Alex's big brother but Alex will have the hard time admitting Arthur is his big brother)

"Hai Bruda!" She beamed. Her mood suddenly changed to a cheerful little girl.

Arthur smiled and patted Ellie's hair.

* * *

Alex's POV:

We're finally out of the tomb. A tiring adventure has come to an end... This wasn't the adventure I was expecting but I couldn't look at the negative only.

I... want to find an answer. But now, I'll grow stronger for whatever that shall come. I'll be prepared for what will come... hopefully.

Sigh, what a predicament I'm in. I just want a rest... But now, I need to carry this princess home. I don't need to make this problem bigger than it is, just a princess sneaking out with a mage boy, that's it.

"A-Alex...?" Kathyln slowly opened her eyes.

"It's me, are you alright?" I let out a sigh of relief seeing that she was okay.

"A-Ah... What happened? I only remember that we were running..."

Should I tell her about the mysterious person? No, maybe not now, she will be confused. I don't need to burden her mind for now.

"You fell unconscious and I found a portal that we finally escape free." I answered.

"I-I see..."

"Can you walk or should I carry you?" I asked.

"No thanks... I can walk by myself." She stood up and clean the dust off her clothes.

"Then let's go back."

We hold hands as we walked back to Glayder's Palace. We smiled as if we didn't experience the horrifying experience earlier.

. . .

Finally in the backyard of the Glayder's Palace. We looked at each other with sad smiles.

"We'll part ways here." I said.

"Yes..." Kathyln seemingly doesn't want to let go of my hand and could only look down.

I patted her head and removed the leaf from her hair.

"Thank you, it's a fun adventure we had." I thanked her.

"Will I ever see you again?" Kathyln asked.

"We will see each other again, we are friends remember?" I answered.

"I... I will cherish our memory together and I can't wait to meet you next time."

"Me too." She let go of my hand and walked away. We waved at each other and I see her figure going away.

"See you later, Kathyln."

. . .

"Now that I need to somehow explain my left eye to master. Well, I guess I'm in trouble." But even feeling I will be in big trouble, I couldn't erase the smile off my lips.

That was an interesting adventure and mishap.

But the truth hasn't been answered.

I'll find the truth and find my true purpose in this world someday. But... let's go to my master and hope she won't kill me.

- Volume 1 End

(A/N: HELL YEAH! FINALLY, VOLUME 1 HAS COME TO AN END! I am freaking happy and satisfied with this ending to Volume 1. I am gonna make myself milo and celebrate it to myself!)

(Author Special Note:

Thank you to all the readers that have been reading! And especially to Meri_1831, you gave me the motivation to keep writing with the comments. The reason why I can keep writing till this now is because of all of you that have been supporting me and I am sorry if the writing quality sometimes is not good but I will try my best to improve myself.

I will take a few days off writing after this to make a plan for Volume 2. And again, thank you all for the support!

- AshbornKRAVKE)

(Warning: Any grammar mistakes, please notify me)