A Tale

As time steadily drifted by, the carriage continued to move forward, its wheels rolling smoothly. Cyrillus's journey remained uneventful, or so it seemed to him. His sole task was to sit by the window, gazing at the passing scenery until drowsiness overcame him. He would drift into slumber, waking only when his restlessness subsided.

The academy was the sole institution in the kingdom of Orchomenus that boasted more than 80 mages, each specializing in different elemental magics and teaching numerous students. Thousands flocked to its gates each year, but only a select few, not exceeding 900, were chosen through ever-changing tests.

As the first day drew to a close, Sagaris finally broke the prolonged silence. His voice cut through the quiet, capturing Cyrillus's full attention. With anticipation in his gaze, Cyrillus leaned in, expecting an important discussion. However, all Sagaris had to offer was a genial remark, 'Have a restful night, Mr. Cyrillus. Tomorrow may hold surprises for both of us, or it may not. Who's to say?' A mysterious smile adorned Sagaris's face, one that might leave some in awe and others baffled. But for Cyrillus, too preoccupied to dwell on it, his only response was a casual wave of his hand.

Cyrillus followed the coachman to a secluded area, where he observed a tent in this fantastical world, adding to the enigma of his new journey.

'All you have to do is throw the plate in which the tent is compressed onto the ground while manipulating some of your mana inside the plate to trigger the decompression. Then, just pull the red lever inside the tent. It's as simple as that,' Cyrillus wondered aloud. 'Why would people need different code words when you can achieve the same with straightforward actions?'

The very next day, Sagaris sat on the small benches that the hardworking coachman had crafted from a nearby tree, savoring the sunrise scenes before him.

"Have a seat, Mr. Cyrillus," he said without turning around. Cyrillus was amazed at how Sagaris could identify him without even looking.

"Magic is a wondrous thing, Mr. Cyrillus," Sagaris began. "It can be a powerful force when used correctly, yet a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. Its nature depends on you. If you connect with the elements through mana, you'll gradually feel their presence, and they may even communicate with you. They are the ultimate spies, capable of uncovering secrets no one can hide. But be warned, they can abandon you if you prove unworthy."

Sagaris continued, "You are not from this world."

Cyrillus wore a blank expression as Sagaris stared directly into his eyes, triggering a whirlwind of a hundred different thoughts simultaneously. After a long pause, he chuckled.

"Shall I rephrase it, then?" Sagaris offered. "You've been isolated from the outside world during your time in Humblestone, a town that was once happy and self-sustained but has now fallen behind in time. It would be wise for you to observe and learn everything you can until we reach the magic school."

After absorbing Sagaris's advice, Cyrillus found his nerves settling. 'Well,' he thought, 'he certainly knows how to send a chill down one's spine.'

"Mr. Cyrillus, there's a very old legend that most mages are aware of, but nobody knows whether it's true or false. Would you like to hear about it?" Cyrillus silently nodded his head as he sat beside him.

"The world, as we know it, was shaped by the influence of six superior beings. These entities were not gods but rather embodiments of fundamental elements: creation, fate, dreams, time, death, and void.

"The Keepers of the Void and Cosmic Matter, along with the Keeper of Light and Creation, collaborated to craft the world and its inhabitants, molding the very essence of existence. Working in harmony, they laid the very foundation upon which all life would flourish.

"The Weaver of Fate, along with the Keeper of Dreams, Mind, and Thought, bestowed purpose and meaning upon these beings, shaping their destinies and influencing their thoughts and dreams. Together, they meticulously wove the intricate fabric of existence.

"The Keeper of Death was entrusted with the solemn task of upholding the laws that govern the cycle of life and death, ensuring that each generation gracefully made way for the next.

"Lastly, the Keeper of Time and Reality stood as the steward of the relentless flow of time, allowing the world to progress, evolve, and embrace its destiny."

Sagaris took a sip of the tea that the coachman handed him before continuing the story. Cyrillus, lost in thought, paid no attention to his surroundings; his entire focus was on Sagaris's narrative.

"Through the responsibility of the six eternal beings, as they are called, the world slowly took shape. Humans were the quickest to adapt to the world and were also one of the most beloved races of the eternal beings. But alas, human nature, which has always been marked by greed, slowly but surely started to harbor desires for the powers the eternal beings possessed.

"The most corrupt among them came together to rise against the eternal beings. But blinded by their greed, they failed to comprehend one vital truth: a parent would never harm their own child. We were the children created and cared for by the eternal beings. When humans began their attacks on the beings one by one, the eternal beings did not oppose these assaults. They accepted them as gifts from their own children. One by one, they ceased to exist as physical entities, willingly surrendering the power they held, so that the world could continue to function, even in their absence."

Sagaris paused in the middle of the story and smiled at Cyrillus. "Why don't we continue the story later? Perhaps in the carriage? We have to reach a certain place before sundown, so we should keep moving." He stood up, handed his now-empty cup to Zero with a smile, and calmly made his way toward the carriage at a leisurely pace.

Cyrillus remained deep in thought, not looking up or paying attention to Zero's call.

Sagaris's story had captivated Cyrillus, leaving him deep in thought, reflecting on the profound tale of the eternal beings. The knowledge of their sacrifice and the humans' betrayal weighed heavily on his mind. Slowly, Cyrillus looked up from his contemplation, his eyes meeting Sagaris's.

"I would like to hear the rest of the story," Cyrillus said. With a smile, Sagaris climbed into the carriage, beckoning for Cyrillus to join him.

The carriage soon started moving at a moderate speed Cyrillus sat exactly opposite of Sagaris he seemed impatient as he would often peek at Sagaris but did not voice out his impatience at all, He knew that even though the story was interesting and a part of it was myth there had to be a partial truth to it.

"There are no myths without truths Mr Cyrillus, even though it is not the complete truth it is not far from the real thing either. I know you would like to hear the complete story as soon as possible. But trust me on this one when I say the longer the wait the sweeter the results are" Sagaris spoke as if he could read his mind.

The thoughts of his mind being read gave Cyrillus goosebumps.

He again heard Sagaris's voice "Don't worry Mr Cyrillus there is no such magic in this world that can read someone's mind, it's just that each thought of yours can easily be interpreted from your face. That face full of expressions is good as well as bad for you."

Cyrillus let out a sigh of relief before he relaxed again, Sagaris smiled at these actions of his.

"I'm sure you must be wondering why we moved in such a hurry from that place? Also where the place that I mentioned earlier is?"

"would you like to hear the truth or the lie? Sir Sagaris?" Cyrillus asked back with a faint smile.

"hahaha of course if you really feel like it then I would prefer the truth"

"I really am curious about those two questions, but honestly I do not have the right to ask you such questions"

"why would you say that Mr Cyrillus? Well we are travelling together so you have the right to know such minor details" said Sagaris with a faint smile on his face, pausing a bit he then continued "we are travelling through a small forest even though it's not as huge as other forests that are in or around our kingdom it can easily top the list of the deadliest forest, the place where we are supposed to visit is right next to the forest. Oh, you probably haven't heard the name of this forest yet right? It's 'The Dark forest'. And yes it is the most dangerous place to be in after the sunset, it doesn't matter whether you are a mage or not this place spares no one."

Cyrillus couldn't help but marvel at how casually Sagaris spoke of such profound matters. As he absorbed the intricate details about the forest, he nodded slowly, signaling his understanding and acknowledgment.