Chapter 2: Chapter 1: Leaving Home

Chapter 1: Leaving Home

Ezekiel woke up slowly, his eyes fluttering open as the morning sun filtered through the curtains of his bedroom window. He lay there for a moment, letting his thoughts drift aimlessly. And then it hit him – today was the day. The day he had been waiting and preparing for.

Today was the day he finally went to the capital for his magic evaluation.

Hurriedly, Ezekiel sat up in the bed, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. He had always hoped to be different, had always hoped to have a special gift. And today, he would finally know for certain.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Ezekiel's thoughts drifted back to a memory from when he had been nine years old. He remembered the day he had met the wandering mage, a man with piercing blue eyes and a kind smile. The man had told him that he could feel very potent magic emanating from him, and he was certain that Ezekiel was at least a duo- or even tri-affinity mage.

Ezekiel had been thrilled by the man's prediction, now certain in the belief that he had the potential to become a powerful mage. But his parents had been skeptical, unwilling to put too much stock in the words of a stranger. They had encouraged him to focus on his studies and on his mundane abilities.

But Ezekiel had never been content with just being "mundane." He had realized early on in his life that his potential would be limited if he remained in the small village he had been born in. The thought of being trapped there, never having the opportunity to see the world and all its wonders, filled him with a sense of suffocation. He yearned for adventure, to be a hero, an explorer, a monster slayer – anything that would allow him to transcend his predetermined fate and become something greater. And today, he was finally going to embark on that journey. He was going to the capital, and he would do his utmost to prove himself, to show his parents and everyone else that he was more than just a small-town boy with big dreams. The meeting with the wandering mage had been five years ago, and Ezekiel was now fourteen years old – evaluation age.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching with his arms over his head before pulling clothes from his dresser. He had chosen them carefully the night before, wanting to look his best for the evaluation. He dressed quickly, then slipped on a pair of comfortable boots and grabbed his bag, stuffing a few essentials inside. He walked over to the full-length mirror that hung on the back of his door and examined his appearance. His red hair was a mess, sticking up at all angles. He tried to smooth it down, but it was no use. He sighed and turned his attention to his golden eyes. They seemed to glow in the morning light, a hint of hesitation lurking behind their light.

His red hair was a source of both pride and worry for him. The color of one's hair was often linked to one's magic affinity. He knew that this wasn't always the case: People with black hair didn't necessarily have a Darkness affinity, and people with brown hair didn't automatically have an Earth affinity. But Ezekiel felt sure that for him, it was true. His hair was too different from his father's black hair or his mother's blonde hair. In cases like his, the link to an affinity was practically inevitable, and he couldn't help but speculate on what his deep shade of red signified.

For years now, Ezekiel had been sure he had the Fire affinity, the most destructive and, some said, the strongest of all elements. He couldn't wait to get to the evaluation, to have his affinity confirmed, and to begin his journey as a mage. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, gathering his resolve. When he opened them again, he saw an entirely new conviction in his own gaze. He smiled at his reflection, excitement washing over him. Without hesitation, Ezekiel exited his room and made his way down the hallway.

His parents were already up, and he could hear their voices coming from the kitchen. He knew they would try to talk him out of going, would try to make him stay. He couldn't let them do that, not now. He steeled himself and made his way to the kitchen. As he entered the room, his parents turned to look at him. His mother's face was etched with worry, while his father's was set in a firm, determined expression. Ezekiel knew they were concerned for his safety, but he also trusted they understood what this meant to him.

Ezekiel glanced over at his mother. She was a woman in her thirties, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had once been the most attractive girl in the village, but the years of hard work and the birth of her two children, Ezekiel and Maya, had turned the beautiful girl into a mature woman. She was still attractive, but there were traces of a hard life on her face and body. The lines around her eyes and mouth spoke of long hours spent in the fields, tending to the crops and animals. The callouses on her hands were a testament to her hard work, and the way she moved spoke of the weight of responsibility she carried.

Ezekiel's gaze then turned to his father, who had dark hair and broad shoulders. He was a tall, strong man who towered over the other villagers. He was the first person everyone came to when they needed help moving heavy objects. Despite his size, his father was a silent man, with a calm and measured demeanor. But the care he had for his family was unmistakable to anyone who spent time around him.

As he looked at his parents, Ezekiel couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and love. They had always supported him and believed in him, even when they couldn't quite understand his ambition. And he knew they would continue to do so, no matter what his future held. Ezekiel stood in front of his parents, a sense of determination in his heart.

"I'm ready," he said, his voice firm. "I've packed everything I need, and I'm ready to go."

His mother looked worried, her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you want to do this, my dear?" she asked, her voice laced with fear. "It's a dangerous journey, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Ezekiel gazed into his mother's eyes, searching for the right words to express the tumultuous emotions swirling within him. The thought of spending the rest of his days trapped in the small village where he had grown up, living out the same mundane routine day after day, was suffocating.

But as he struggled to find the words to convey his feelings, he realized the futility of his efforts. His mother, so content with life in this village, would never truly understand the longing that consumed him. He forced a smile and spoke the words he thought she wanted to hear, "Mother, I'll be fine. Whether I make it as a mage or not, it's only a couple of hours' ride in a carriage. I have nothing to lose."

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He knew that his decision to travel to the capital and test his magical abilities had been a source of contention between them, but he couldn't let fear and uncertainty hold him back any longer. He had to take the chance, even if it meant leaving everything and everyone he had ever known behind.

His mother sighed, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she couldn't change her son's mind. Ezekiel was determined to leave the village and seek his destiny, no matter how much it pained her to let him go. She stepped closer to him and wrapped him in a long embrace, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. In a soft whisper, she said, "I hope the world you find out there is as magical as you dream it to be."

Ezekiel felt a weight in his chest as he realized the depth of his mother's words. She sounded like one of the ancient seers that occasionally visited the village, a woman who had seen and experienced all the world had to offer. But as the embrace ended, his mother was once again the same woman he had always known, tears still in her eyes as she playfully shoved his father and urged him to speak as well.

His father had remained silent during the conversation, his face impassive. But when Ezekiel turned to him, he saw a glimmer of pride in his father's eyes.

"Good luck, son," he said, his voice gruff. "Come straight home if you've had enough of fighting the world."

Ezekiel nodded, grateful for his father's support. He knew it wasn't easy for him to let his only son go, but he also knew that his father understood how important this journey was to Ezekiel. He took a deep breath and smiled at his parents one last time. Then he turned and walked out the door, his heart full of hope for the future. He was finally going to the capital.

Just as he had stepped out of the door, his bag slung over his shoulder and a sense of determination in his heart, he heard his mother's voice call after him.

"Zeke, wait!" She hurried over to him, a worried look on her face. "Please be careful, my dear. And keep an eye on Lilly and Markus – I don't want anything to happen to them, either."

Ezekiel smiled reassuringly at his mother. "I will, Mom. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

His mother looked as if she wanted to say something more, but she hesitated. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, as if struggling to find the right words. In the end, she simply reached out and pulled him into another hug. "Be careful, my love," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll see you when you get back."

Ezekiel hugged her back, feeling a powerful surge of affection. He knew his mother was worried about him, and he couldn't blame her. This was a dangerous journey he was embarking on, and anything could happen. But he also knew he had to go, had to take this chance to prove himself. He pulled away from his mother and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said.

And with that, he turned and left. As Ezekiel walked through the small village, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. He had lived in this village his entire life. His surroundings were intimately familiar, and he knew practically all the villagers. He wondered how long it would be until he saw his home again, and who he would be when he returned. The people he passed greeted him warmly, their faces lit up by heartfelt smiles. They seemed to have a good impression of him, and he felt a sense of pride. He had always tried to be a good person, had always tried to help those in need. And it seemed that his efforts had not gone amiss.

His steps faltered as wistfulness washed over him. He was leaving behind the only home he had ever known, trading the constancy of his mundane life for the uncertainty of what he considered his destiny. He hoped he would be able to return, to see the people he cared about again, to one day enjoy the embrace of the place he called home once more. But for now, he had to focus on the journey ahead, and he couldn't afford to get sidetracked. He took a deep breath and continued on his way, his stride losing all hesitation and becoming purposeful and determined.

He was going to the capital, and nothing was going to stop him.

 

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