[3] Hecate's Blessings

Act 1 | Prologue | Hecate's Blessings

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"*Zzzz~*" Zack cutely snored away on the couch as the maids huddled around him gushed at his sleeping form.

"Awww... *Ahem* So, quite the awakening our little Zack had last night. " Esther began as she sat across Eve across the dinning table who was having a much need breakfast.

"That... Is an understatement. It was the most powerful, most peculiar and most strange experience ever recorded." Eve said sighing in exhaustion but the proud smile she had didn't waver a bit. "Now without limitations, his potential is overflowing and we'll have to start his training."

"I agree. After he wakes up we will ask about some details about his awakening, what he experienced and how much he managed to comprehend about his magic." Esther began and the came up with suggestions. "Then accordingly we can train or hire trainers to focus on developing his magic. Begining with his stronger areas, balancing his weaknesses if has any, along with basic education."

"Hmmm. Good idea." Eve nodded sipping on some orange juice. "Let him wake up first."

As soon as Eve said that, Zack took that as his cue to wake up. He got up muffling a yawn and stretched his body. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he was startled but not that surprised to see his maids surrounding and gushing at him. Well... It was surprisingly and kinda eerie at first but now he had gotten used to it.

"Mm.. Good morning everyone." He greeted and immediately the maid chorused back happily and went to attend him.

"You should freshen up young master, we will have you breakfast ready by then." The head maid said with a doting smile. "Lady Esther and Eve are eager to have a conversation with you about your awakening. Which reminds me, Congratulations on your awakening."

"Congratulations!" The other followed which caused Zack to grin.

"Thank you Olivia and my beautiful maids." He said with a grin and slightly embarrassed face causing them to giggle.

"We are sure you will grow into a strong and capable man. Now I'll go first to prepare your bath." Olivia Grace, the head mead with a beautiful visage graced with brown hair, blue eyes, pink succulent lips and a hourglass figure covered by a maid uniform smiled as she helped Zack up and and straightened the disheveled couch he was sleeping on.

Zack nodded as he went to brush his teeth and do his business while in the meantime Olivia with the help of magic prepared his bath.

"Fuuuah~" Zack sighed in pleasure as he allowed himself to melt in the pleasantly hot water. He leaned his back again the bathtub as he began to think about his awakening and he had to admit it was one kind of experience.

Now even though very young, Zack was incredibly smart and intelligent though he knew that his aunt and his surrogate sister would want to know what happened during his awakening and he obviously couldn't tell them everything.

"Especially after what I read about last night..." Zack muttered as he came across his discovery. Later night after his awakening he had gone to library to get some information he came across the origin of Hecate.

In the library she was said to be a Goddess of Magic from the Greek Pantheon but what he felt was much more than just that. When he looked at Hecate he couldn't see the depth of her power it was like she didn't exist but her touch and her warm aura said another thing.

Not malevolent like Goddess described in the books, far from it. It meant she was much more than a 'mere' goddess, much more than any entity listed. And it's enough for him to withhold this crucial piece of information. He couldn't just say he meet a goddess much less one who was much powerful than any they could name.

Now magic. It was strange for him now. First it was incredibly easy for him to express his will to perform wandless magic now it was like magic itself could read his intentions and was almost eager to bend itself to his will. It was strange, but in a good way.

The size of his magic reserves has also increased astronomically and it didn't mess his control either. He felt his magic bubbling inside him, travelling to every part of his body subtly strengthening him.

He had no doubts that Hecate's Blessings were part of the reason why he felt so many major changes in his entire being and there was till more of it to discover.

And there was an embarrassing matter. She called him his 'hers' and when he looked up what it meant he found at that apparently she had marked him as her 'mate'.

"..."

He didn't quite understand that and was confused.

Untill it clicked...

"...I'm already married. Uwaa!" Zack's face turned red as he buried his face nose deep into the water in turn to flush his blush. "I'm five..."

He sighed as he got out of the bath after calming his flustered self. It was no use concerning himself about something that has already happened so he decided to think about more pressing matters.

Getting dressed he went and settled himself on the dining table to feed his very, very hungry stomach.

"So, how are you feeling? Do you feel any kind of discomfort or any sort of off-putting feeling?" Esther asked sitting beside Eve across the table in front of him.

"No, actually I feel good, better than I have ever felt." Zack said gulping down sausages and eggs and was quick to ask for seconds getting a raised eyebrow from Olivia who complied anyways. " I feel stronger and have metal clarity that I never had before."

"I see... That's good then." Eve said putting that aside. "So, can you tell us what happened to you during the awakening?"

"Well, after I began meditating to relax myself as my magic began to rise I found myself in a strange place. It was very strange, intriguing and beautiful." Zack smiled.

"Huh? Can you elaborate?" Esther asked as she folded her hands paying close attention.

"It was like I was in space. Like the center of the universe. There were many beautiful stars forming many constellations and cosmic rivers. Planets I had never seen or read about and much more." Zack said getting surprised and curious gazes from Esther and Eve. "I didn't know what to do there exactly. So I sat there and stared at the stars, the constellations and I felt my myself being... Empowered physically and mentally."

It was the best and elaborate lie/bullshit he had managed to come up with and he hoped they would buy it.

"I see now." And they did. Eve nodded sagely as if 'understanding' everything.

Zack's lips twitched as he was struggling not to smile like an idiot.

"*Sigh* It's not normal at all. How strange, but considering it's you I guess it's not that of a big deal." Esther said 'understanding' causing Zack's eyebrows twitcher in annoyance.

'How rude.' Zack forced a smile as he looked at her. "Is that so... You make it sound like I am some kind of monster."

Esther smiled. "No doubts there, that you certainly are one."

'Ouch...'

The pain that he was feeling in heart couldn't be described in words.

--[LineBreak]--

Zack was sitting infront of Eve as she taught him about spell casting which he already knew but still decided to listen. After a lengthy lecture which almost magically out him to sleep it was time for the exciting part.

"*Ahem* Now, I'll demonstrate to you and cast an extraordinary spell infront of you so make sure you burn the awesomeness of your favourite aunt into your memory okay sweetheart?" Eve exclaimed her voice eager and full of pride as she resolved her best to impress her lovable nephew.

Zack's face twitched. No matter how much he loved his aunt he had to face it. She wasn't cut out to be a teacher in these matters. So he, with incredible effort managed to force a smile and nodded promoting her to began.

"Alright here I go!" Eve said as she raised her infront of her in a grandiose manner and great flare. "Make sure to remember this!"

Zack gave her undivided attention.

"Lumos!"

'...' Zack just looked at the bright ball of light infront of him with empty expression and soulless eyes as deadpanned. ' Extraordinary spell my ass.'

"...V-Very go-ood Aunt-" Zack stopped mid-sentence as something incredible happened. As he looked at the ball of light infront of him. His vision zoomed in, forming a tunnel vision and with a transition he found himself in the place where he had meet his... 'wife.'

But this time this place had a floor and it was made of water. Yeah water and he was able to stand on it apparently.

'Solid water? What the heck! How does that even work?!' But he quickly shook those thoughts away as he concentrated on what was infront of him.

Infront of him was an intricate diagram composed of magic circle marred with geometric shapes and patterns. As he concentrated at a particular area the diagram broke down and that particular section expanded revealing runes and strangely he was able understand the ancient alphabets and numbers.

"Light... This section is solely made to convert magic into light the next sections are to anchor it wherever the caster wants as long as they supply sufficient magic and then the intangible aspec-Wait... Could this be... the structure of Lumos Spell?!" Zack was shocked. "That's incredible."

Zack walked near it and touched it and he felt a rush of knowledge in his brain as he suddenly understood the structure of the spell, it's limitation and while there were some blank pieces he was unable to understand that was because of his lack of knowledge in arithmancy.

"Wow... If I can do this, is it possible to somehow modify it?" Zack rubbed his chin in wonder. "Let's check it out."

He followed is insight and he did what he could come up with in a very short amount of time.

"Let's get rid of the intangible aspect." And that section broke down. "Let's change it to tangible."

As he did a promt appeared infront of him and gave him a summary of his modified spell and he began sweating.

"Let's add two stabilisers to manage the out out of the spell!" He said hurriedly. "Can't believe I actually made an unstable spell with the output of a mini-nuke. Eh... Not bad for a first try though right? It can be quite lethal in combat. No, no... I don't think even I'll come out unscathed if I used on my enemy."

Genius are weird and abnormal some would say they are actually insane and this part is were Zack came across his weirdness/insanity.

"What cha' talking bout? Sanity is overrated anyways."

...

"Done!" Zack finished modifying the spell and recieved a prompt and the smile he had was enough indicator that he was satisfied with the result. "Alright then no-"

But before he could carry more experience he felt a tug and his conscience returned.

"Zack? Are you okay? Did aunt's awesomeness put you to a shock? Hehe~ Don't worry you'll be like aunt too if you practice enough. Anf if you give me a kiss and say you only love your aunt I'll even give you personal tips." Eve said slyly as Zack's conscience returned.

'This woman sure has her priorities and interests thought out...' He thought smiling dryly. "No, well I mean yes. Yes! It was awesome Auntie Eve! It was so awesome that it instantly gave me an insight! You are best Auntie."

"Of course I am-" Eve raised her head in pride before she registered his words. "Eh? What kind of insight."

"Oh?... Oh! Let me show you!" Zack said as he raised his hand and whispered. "Lumos."

Surely a ball of light appeared and Eve was shocked.

"What the fuck! You managed to cast it on your first try and in such short amount of time?!" Eve was shocked. "Don't tell me you have been practicing this spell for a while now. Didn't I tell you not to-"

"No, no aunty I didn't. Prior to today I have only used Wandless magic and that also to help me in daily tasks." Zack said to ease her and then his face it up with excitement. "Infact I have something else to show you."

"You are not lying right? That's good. It's really shocking how monstrously gifted you are." Eve shook her head with a helpless smile. "Alright show me what else you have."

Her nephew was a monstrous prodigy unlike any other and she had come to terms with it a long ago but it still surprises her to this day. 'I don't think I can be surprised anymore.'

'Don't go raising flags.' That advice certainly applied here and if only she knew how wrong she was, she would have never said it.

"Okay, here I go." Zack raising his and whispered. "Manifesto: True Lumos."

A spark appeared and then a soccer-ball sized ball of light appeared floating above Zack's extended and open palm. The ball pulsed every now and then, and gave of a peculiar warmth a normal lumos was unable to provide.

It looked like a mini-sun of energy.

"So? How's it? I modified the origin Lumos Spell. Mine, it's tangible you know. There are many difference between the two like, mine doesn't require to constantly feed it my magic as it's self-sufficient, I can increase the size, potency and the heat output." Zack ranted folding his arms like a scientist geeking out about his new invention. "Well, it's more of a light AND heat source spell, but I can also turn it into a combat spell if I hurl it at someone while discharging it or shape it and shoot it like a beam of energy. Oh well, I'll have to see what I can do and how. So, what do you think about it auntie...? Hmm? Auntie? Hello~~ You there? Oh no!! Say something auntie!"

Eve sat there frozen, her gaze of the tangible ball of light while her expression was iced into one that of absolute shock and terror.

"Damn... I think I broke her."

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A/N: Edited. :)