"move forward idiot" someone said from behind at August as he stared at the magnificent building that stood at the centre of the town square, "you're blocking the way."
The beauty of the building wasn't the reason for him to be staring at it though. August, was questioning himself, his sense of making decisions.
'why am I here after refusing my mother again and again. I am a fool'
While it was true that his mother requested him to attend the mana basics classes along with the other kids in town again and again but the reason for him to refuse was also her. Like, to him she was his mom. How could he act like a student around her?
Which was understandable.
Another reason though was his rather antisocial personality. He didn't care enough for anyone until they approached him themselves. It wasn't like he had a problem regarding talking to people, the reason was much simpler than that.
August was a single child. Not having any brother or sister never bothered him. Because he never got to know what loneliness felt. For him being alone was a natural state. He never got anyone to accompany him therefore never got to feel what people call being alone.
For him being alone was a bliss. He enjoyed living in solitude. Having no one to disturb, felt much better than an annoying brother or sister. If it weren't for Shelly he might very well be without any friends.
Another reason though, was for some reason almost everyone in the town knew August. Because his mother and father were the most respected individuals in the town so was their one and only child.
Townsfolk were always kind and welcoming to him. Which suited him quite right. Being respected by everyone without doing anything was a feeling that couldn't be expressed with mere words. The only thing he had to do in return was to be respectful to them also.
Well, August wasn't bothered by that either. Giving respect and getting respect in return was a fair exchange and understandable.
Ignoring his second thoughts and the passerby as well, August walked inside that magnificent building.
From the booklet published by the town committee, August knew all well the importance of this building that was standing in the centre of town.
The structure, better looking than any of the houses in the town served as the common place for official decisions regarding the townsfolk and a kind of basic magic school for the kids. In which Lady Sophia used to teach them everything they need to know about mana and its applications.
Walking inside the great structure, August took a glance at the portraits on the wall. They were most of the prominent personalities with the famous quotes they left behind to motivate the upcoming generations.
It wasn't hard to locate the learning place as it was the most crowded area of the building as compared to the other parts.
On his way to the class he saw various portraits on the wall now less of the mundane influential personalities and more of the high grade mages and warriors.
'Hell, it's the divine mage himself'
A portrait of an old man with a long moustache and beard, holding a long staff with a bright red gem on its top. It was quite difficult for August to believe that this muscular old man has lived more than a hundred years. Or so he read in a book. He was none other than the world famous divine mage.
There was hardly anyone in the empire and the neighbouring kingdoms, unaware of the presence of the infamous man who walked across his life battling the unimaginable, to protect mankind from unknown or some might even say otherworldly threats.
Even, if he wasn't the strongest man alive, the old muscular man was easily the only human having a deep understanding of mana, far more than any of the so called powerful mages.
His name however. August took a glance at the bottom of the portrait where his name should have been but for some reason, the paper was torn from right there.
'I also can't remember what his name was.'
Ending the search for the forgotten name in his memories, August took a step forward which led his sight to fall on another portrait. This time however, the picture was of, if nothing more than he could only be considered as equal to the divine mage in fame.
The hero from the legends, the one who beheaded the demon king Zareoth and saved princess Aurora of the Empire from the vile demons. The muscular man stood tall facing the observer directly in a dangerously elegant pose. He was none other than the individual most sung by humanity, the great hero, Cornelius.
The legendary sword given to him by the goddess of light herself made the picture look more intense.
All the might aside, the expression of the hero however did look quite odd to August. Like the reality wasn't like anything he had read in the history books.
Maybe August felt that way because the hero's tale of victory was one of the most controversial topics in the history of humanity.
Any other time August would've loved to explore this place further, but sadly today he had a class to attend to in the next ten minutes to say.
Well, it wasn't like these influential figures had done anything for their town though. Being situated at the outskirts of the last city of Empire was a bit hard to remember. Even in the city of Eldoria itself, there were very few people who knew about the existence of their small town. Well it's not like there was someone to be blamed for that.
August stood in front of the large hall where the class was supposed to take place in the next five minutes or so. He was surprised to see how crowded the place was with children around his age.
'were there always this many children in this town?'
Not trying to attract any unnecessary attention, August climbed the stairs which led him to one of the last benches, high above all. He chose the seat because it provided him with an exceptional view of the whole class. He was able to see everyone from above.
He saw some of the children dressed in battle ready gear and others also somewhat similar to that. Which was all but given because of the injuries one could suffer from messing up the mana spells.
August, on the other hand was dressed in simple clothing which could easily be torn apart by applying a little bit of force let alone handle the pressure of dangerous spells like fire and wind.
Which suited him fine, since he was the one sneaking into the class his mother was about to teach. If she knew she wouldn't possibly have let him head out without any protective gear.
August didn't want to attract the attention of his fellow mages but far more than that he didn't want his mother to find out that he was here after refusing her plea to attend again and again. He couldn't possibly let her have that satisfaction above his own self respect.
Therefore he had to remain hidden and unnoticed for as long as he could.
'Gods! Please keep me hidden from my mother today'
Who knows what might befall August if Lady Sophia were to find out her son is among the students. Would she be nonchalant about it or would she jump from excitement making everyone known about his existence. Well knowing her, the second option seemed more possible.
'that would be scary'
Diverting his attention from these scary thoughts his gaze once again fell upon the student mages present there.
Some were holding long staff and some short wands with some also having colourful gems on top of them. These were artifacts, August knew various mages kept these kinds of things with them to ease up the strain some spells might put on their brain.
Many students, girls and boys were standing in small groups. Some were having casual talks with their friends, some had cozy moments of happiness and some were introducing themselves to each other.
Of course the day August had chosen to take the class wasn't a regular one. It may have possessed a problem to his antisocial personality. In a regular class in which most of the students have more or less known each other, August might have become the centre of their attention. It was the idea he disliked by heart.
This was also the reason, Shelly wasn't here because she was a regular student and this was somewhat of a trial class held four times a year to find students interested in magic and teach them about mana and its applications.
"Hey you punk!" A low pitched voice attracted August's attention, "yes you black hair, I am talking to you"
'why tho?'
"Who, Me?" August turned in the direction of the voice, innocently pointing a finger at himself.
He saw two boys standing in front of him. The one talking, seemed tall for his age. His unusual hair, dark at the roots and fiery red at the tips. His brown eyes glaring down at August like he was looking at his lifelong enemy, which made August wonder.
'what have I done to this moro.. a this boy.'
Dressed in a battlesuit he seemed like, ready to throw hands at any moment.
The other one though, seemed a bit timid.
'his underling perhaps'
"Um.. excuse me sir" August acted like he was taken aback knowing well in a company like a loud boy like this he couldn't possibly remain unnoticed, "to what I owe the pleasure?"
"Hell with your sophisticated speech" the boy retorted, August grew more and more confused by the actions of that boy. As he was contemplating, what might have inspired for this strange boy to react this aggressively to August whom he barely knew, the boy continued answering the question August have not asked yet, "I bet you trapped Lady Shelly with that honey coated tongue of yours."
'oh it's that, he's a Shelly fanboy' smiled reflexively as though he understood.
"What‽" Then August shouted louder than the boy in front of him in pure amazement and surprise. He was clearly caught off guard. All of the students stared at him for a moment but nobody seemed to notice for long.
'he? Shelly? He? This moron here? Likes Shelly? ... Shelly? Why tho? Are you deaf or blind?'
"You poor child" August placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with pity, "may God give you enough strength."
Then he turned his face away from the boy as though hiding back more pity. The strange boy though also seemed surprised by his reaction. Clearing his throat, he said not knowing the right way to talk anymore.
"The Audacity" the strange boy said in a rather awkward tone, "don't you think that you could take a beauty like Lady Shelly as your wife without facing me, the great warrior mage Elias, in a battle to death first."
'beauty? Who Shelly? ...Shelly? Really. Calling a creature like that a beauty would be a crime. A disgrace to all the real beauties out there.'
August started imagining what Shelly looked like in this boy's imagination but sadly he couldn't even close his eyes. All he was able to visualise her eating watermelon like a gluttonous monster with her mouth wide open.
"Ahmm.. Lord Elias" said August, his voice devoid of any humour and full of pity, "Shelly, You say? She's my ...sister."
If anyone had asked August what relation does August have with Shelly he would've thought twice introducing her as his sister. But this time things were different. If he haven't done so, he would've landed himself in more of an escalated conflict with her fanboy.
For the first time since he met her, August felt good to be her brother. This situation was ... complicated. If not responded wisely, August could've very well became the centre of attention.
Only when he thought the matter was as good as done. The boy named Elias said something about Shelly which August himself didn't knew,
"You think I am a fool. Don't you dare to mock the dead brother of Lady Shelly. Have you no shame?"
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