Magics and Shackles

On the open page of the summoning ritual, all the magic circle illustrations in the book began to blur. And then, new words appeared on the ancient page… words that I was sure weren't originally there.

Ren and I read the text which was blurry yet readable.

"When the bond between two souls that disrupt the order of fate is connected, the first shackle toward a dark destiny will be broken. The next shackle awaits you at Adventus…"

I reached out to touch the strange writing, my finger gliding over the fading ink, and Ren's hand joined mine. At our touch, the words disappeared, as if swallowed by the ancient paper itself.

We looked at each other in confusion.

"What does this mean…?"

Ren, still looking at where the words had been, gave a shrug. "Beats me. Hey, maybe we should check who wrote this book?" he suggested.

I opened the cover page of The Art of Summoning Ritual. In an elegant script was the name Daedalos, L.

"Daedalos, L.?" Ren echoed. "Any idea who that is?"

I shook my head slowly, but the name felt hauntingly familiar, lingering at the edges of my memory.

"Daedalos, L. … Daedalos, L. …" I kept muttering the name.

Why does it sound foreign yet strangely familiar to me...? Wait a minute!

My eyes widened as the pieces clicked together. "Oh my God! I think I do know who Daedalos, L. is!"

Ren raised a curious eyebrow. "Who?"

"The pen name of Twilight's Chronicle's author is LOLasDEAD!" I exclaimed.

"Huh? What kind of silly name is that?" Ren blinked, looking slightly incredulous. "LOLasDEAD? Sounds like a twelve-year-old's idea of edgy."

"Don't ask me! You know how some web novel authors can have… odd pen names," I replied with a small smirk.

"So what's the connection between LOLasDEAD and Daedalos, L.?" Ren frowned.

"Think about it, genius! Doesn't LOLasDEAD sound similar to Daedalos, L.? Like an anagram?" Excitement crept into my tone as I said it. "It can't be just a coincidence, right? It has to mean something!"

"Hmmm… You're right. It would be strange if it was just a coincidence…" Ren considered this, his face thoughtful. "Whoever Daedalos, L. was, they somehow knew our fates before we even arrived here. Do you think so?"

I nodded.

"Do you remember or know who LOLasDEAD was in the real world?" he asked again.

"No. As I told you before, most of my memories of the real world before I reincarnated are gone…"

I tried to recall but the fragments of my past life were still like broken glass in my mind. Some pieces glittered with clarity, but most were lost, a blur of forgotten faces and places... Only the parts related to Twilight's Chronicle stuck with me… And I kinda hate it.

Ren's brow furrowed as he thought. "Maybe we should ask someone with knowledge of ancient magic. Owen or Master Ixius might know something about this Daedalos, L."

I felt that Ren's suggestion seemed like a sensible idea, so I agreed and tucked the book under my arm, determined to get answers.

***

The next day, during our sword training, I decided to try my luck with Owen.

"Good! Keep swinging your sword like that, Princess!" Owen called, his voice authoritative as he blocked my strike with his dual swords. His movements were effortless, his expression one of fierce concentration. "Come on, Son of the Marquess! Put some force into it!"

Ren stumbled back, wincing as Owen knocked his sword aside. "Hey! I'm doing my best here!" he protested.

After some time of intense sparring, Owen sheathed his swords and looked at us with an approving nod. "All right, that's enough for today."

Relieved, Ren and I dropped to the floor, catching our breath. My arms ached, my fingers numb from gripping the blade so tightly, but there was a certain satisfaction in the exhaustion.

"Except for you, Young Master," Owen said, singling out Ren.

Ren groaned. "Wait. Why just me?"

Owen crossed his arms, eyeing Ren critically. "Your stamina is lacking. The Marquess family didn't teach you the basics, did they? If you can't master the fundamentals, you'll never make a competent knight."

"But I came here to train as a mage, not a knight!" Ren argued.

Owen smirked, unconvinced. "A mage still needs strength to wield their staff, or at least last a few rounds in combat. Now, run twenty laps around the courtyard, then you can rest!"

Ren shot me a withering look as he stood. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

I smiled innocently. "Maybe a little."

Grumbling, Ren followed Owen's instructions and started running.

"Go on, pick up the pace! You're still too slow!" I shouted, teasing him.

He rolled his eyes, muttering things I didn't quite catch but were likely less than flattering as he started his laps.

When he was out of earshot, I turned back to Owen. "I wanted to ask you something."

Owen raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Have you ever heard of someone named Daedalos, L.?"

Owen's face twisted in a frown. "Can't say I have. Who's he supposed to be?"

"An author of a magic book in the royal library," I explained. "The name appeared under a strange passage in the book."

Owen shook his head. "If it's magic-related, you'd be better off asking my grandfather. He's the magic specialist in the family. My skill's always been in the sword, not in magic."

"Then, where did you learn about EMBLEM powers if not through books?"

"My grandfather taught me the basics, but I chose a different path. Magic never felt like my calling," Owen said, his gaze sharpening. "For me, being a knight always came first."

"Oh, Okaay… I see." I nodded thoughtfully.

In other words, you are so talented in using your SKY EMBLEM that you could become a mage knight, right? What an arrogant thing coming from The Great Owen Falgria, as usual.

***

The following week, we had magic training with Ixius. Ren seemed nervous, as if bracing himself for another round of golem-destroying madness.

"Are we destroying golems again, Master Ix?" Ren asked, a mix of hope and dread in his voice.

Ixius chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Young Master. Today, we'll return to the basics. I need to understand how you both approach your magical skills."

Ren and I nodded, feeling a sense of relief.

Ixius crossed his arms, studying us carefully. "Tell me, how do you think of mana?"

Ren quickly raised his hand. "Magic energy, or mana, is the life energy found in nature and every living being in Magaia. Mana flows within a person like blood and grants them the ability to do various things such as using spells and perform feats beyond ordinary abilities of a normal human."

Ixius's gaze softened, there was a hint of approval in his expression. "Exactly. And what would you say a mage truly is?"

"A mage is an individual blessed by the Gods with the ability to manipulate and channel mana from within and around them," Ren replied confidently, "They can create miraculous effects or control objects around them that hold mana as well."

"Good answer, Young Master Lazarro," Ixius replied, nodding.

Ren's expression brightened with pride at the praise, a rare smile touching his lips.

"As mages, we manipulate mana to create whatever we desire. However, there are limits to our talents, gifts, or abilities…" Ixius continued, "What we know as an EMBLEM defines how far we can push our abilities."

He pulled back his cloak, revealing a tattoo shaped like a swirling cloud. "For instance, I possess the SKY EMBLEM. From the moment this EMBLEM was awakened, it allowed me to control air currents, adjusting wind directions or the pressure around me."

With a flick of his fingers, Ixius conjured a tiny whirlwind on his palm, the air currents spiraling gracefully around his hand.

"With skill and experience, a mage grows in their abilities to perform magic, from controlling a small gust to summoning a hurricane as their wish," Ixius moved his hand, and the whirlwind in his hand gradually grew until he clenched his fist, making it vanish. "But there is always a cost. Larger spells demand more mana. This is a basic rule you must remember." The man explained, his voice calm but filled with authority.

"So it's like the saying, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch,' isn't it, Master?" I quipped.

Ixius's eyes twinkled. "Precisely, Princess. Every spell has a price. And when that price is ignored…"

Ren leaned forward, curious. "What happens if someone overdraws their mana?"

The room grew silent as Ixius looked at us, his gaze steely. "Death," he said quietly, letting the word hang in the air.

The finality in his tone sent a chill through me. It was a warning, a reminder that even in our newfound powers, there were limits. A mage might control mana, but in the end, mana also had the power to control us.