The ground shook from the blow. The wind was howling. I didn't see it coming. I opened my eyes to see the world rushing past me until I met the land again. As soon as I could, I got to my feet and climbed out of my crater. When I got out, I could not see the man who hit me. The bastard. I started to run, each stride making the world blur yet again around me. I needed to get to him before he did something stupid.
But it was too late. I felt the ground shatter. In the blur of my vision, I saw the land cleave apart. A new cliff line was made that day. The east coastline of the fields was sunk into the sea. The rebel army of the east was completely destroyed. Our forces only suffered one casualty. But if I was honest, I would have sacrificed almost everything for that man. He was my friend and like a brother.
Eventually, our force regrouped and established our presence in the region. The majority of our force returned to the capital. I remember the screams of joy as they celebrated their heroes' return. I see that place when I close my eyes, wishing that my friend was there. I thought of what he would say—of how the celebration needed more, how the effort of war was nothing to him. But he killed himself not to save the world, not to save our men. Our forces were retreating successfully. I just needed to buy some time. If he had trusted me, he wouldn't be…
After the parade, I went to the tower. My master stood in his grand library. He studied maps and moved wooden pieces across them. That's all he ever did. If I didn't love my master, I would kill him. I took my place in front of him, kneeling, waiting for him to acknowledge me.
"Report."
My breath was caught for a second. "The eastern rebels are devastated. The region is ours. Casualties… minimal."
"Hmm. You made those gauntlets for that boy, right, my child?"
"His name was Adrian Soomar, my master. And yes, I made them."
"You never showed me that technology."
"It should never have been known." I made it just for him."
The master was not surprised, as expected, even though I never told him of it. He knew.
"The gauntlets infuse a person with extreme amounts of mana. For most, this would be lethal, but Adrian… he didn't have magic, so his cup was empty."
A look I haven't seen in years flashed across his face. Now he was interested.
"Now, that should not be possible. The boy lived a hell I could not imagine; no mana, it's like never feeling a cool breeze, never knowing the warmth of the sun. Well, it's good to know that he knew something of it, thanks to you."
My heart was being torn apart by the man from whom I wanted comfort and love. I knew what he wanted.
"Indeed, my master. Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Where are you going?"
"To tell Adrian's brother and father of his death."
"...Yes, that boy. Hmm. Give them our condolences."
My master was always practical, a true son of Soomar. I left my master without another word. As I started walking down the stairs, my chest got tight, but I didn't focus on it. Once I got to the street, I started to sweat. Then, soon enough, I could see the Soomar home. I called it my home once. With every step I took closer to that place, my heartbeat got louder and louder and louder. I can't break. I can't break. I can't break. I can't break. I can't break. I can't break.
Then I got to the door. I managed to bring my hand up to knock. An armless man opened the door by magical means. This was Drain Soomar, brother to Adrian Soomar and the man I love. His face was pale and his eyes were puffy. He had been waiting for me. Once I saw him, my pulse slowed, my tension left me, and my body went cold. I pulled a paper out of my pocket.
"Captain Adrian Levarious Soomar died six weeks ago in action. His bravery saved the lives of all allied forces in the region. Unfortunately, a body… could not be recovered. Her Majesty offers her sorrow and her respect to the Soomar family."
After the paper was read, I did not know what to say. Neither did he, but he knew what to do. He grabbed me with the spectral hands of magic. There, on the doorstep of Soomar manor, we both suffered, one's own hate and pain pouring into the other, 'til we were both full of each other's poison. Soon enough, I pushed him away. Only then could we talk.
"My brother once fell down the stairs of our home. Mother ran to pick him up; he had this huge gash across his head. For a moment, the doctors and healers thought he might not make it. But he did. He was silent, though, never wanting to speak of it. Ever since that moment, I hated my brother. But now that he's gone…"
For a moment, I saw no pain or shame or sadness. I saw nothing. In an instant, a man whose personality could fill a room was now gone. My love was empty. No amount of holding, caring, or nice words would change that. But I could distract him for a moment.
"Do you want to go to the potion shop?"
"Huh?"
"I heard they got something in there to make your teeth itch."
"W-why would I want my teeth to itch?"
"You should try everything once."
"Hm. Hmm. Hahahah... hahahhahahahhahaha!"
We laughed together. Moments grow, but silence ends them.
I–I am Sulfur Sholl. Yes, that's who I am. These dreams, these memories she shares with me, seem to grow. With every memory added, the more I realize what needs to be done. But I still have some time. That is the thought that wakes me from my slumber. I am not in the stables of the tower but somewhere different. The bed is soft and the room is warm. I pull off the blanket and get up. I raise my hand. I know the image of a ray of sunlight reflecting off an oasis. This image summons a ball of light. This spell is a paradox: light with no warmth, but it's useful. This room I am in is rather simple but well-made. The glasswork for the window is fine. As I look out, I see the city below me. I must be at least halfway up the tower. On the desk, there's what seems to be a set of pajamas. I look down and see I am still in the rags I wore during the fight. I went to open the door to leave. I open the door, and my master is just standing there.
"Hello," I say.
"Hi," he says.
"Where am I?"
The train of thought finally seems to get back on the tracks for my master.
"Oh, yes. This is your new room. It resides in my domain."
"Okay, what does that mean?"
"You are my apprentice, and you will be recognized as such by the public. You cannot be seen living in that state."
"That means I am going to the academy."
"That means you are going to be the best at the academy. Now, let's prepare for the entrance exam."
He led me out of my room and down a hallway that went on and on until we reached the end. There, he pushed open double doors into a grand hall. Each wall was lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves full of books and tomes from ages gone by. I have few memories of this place yet, but it still steals my heart to see it. The shelves of this hall go on for so long that a fog obscures the end from sight. Magic didn't begin to describe this place; it was both a miracle and a tragedy. The books in the back of the library are so old that their information is no longer relevant. If you read the books from the age after, though, you would realize that so many tragedies could have been stopped. So many stars could have stayed in the sky, so many smiles could have been real for a little longer, but now they are less than memories. Just words on a page, all because the knowledge was in here and not out there. This library may be a storehouse of knowledge to be used, but it is also a prison for secrets so corrosive that they warp and change the history around them. Heroes you read of in one book become villains once you learn what they had to do to become heroes. The greatest villains become martyrs who sacrificed everything for peace. This place is where the old Sulfur damned the whole world because she read these books and learned too much. In her fear of becoming like the tragedies of the past, she only embodied the worst parts of them all. I may study these books, but I must realize that I am not them. I am not a legend or myth yet. I am just a little girl wanting to save my family, even though I have not met them. So please, let things change. Just enough to let this world live. I look to my master, standing at his desk near the entrance to his library. He prepares the materials for our study. Already, I know that I have changed things, but I am not sure that this is better than before. Only time will tell.
"Master, what's my lesson now?"