Hoots and hollers could still be heard, even a great distance away. Today was Matthew’s graduation from his intermediate mana training school. Alongside his friends, Matthew was considered a prodigy, a title he was not too fond of, but accepted regardless. While everyone else looked forward to being able to leave the kingdom for missions, even if briefly, Matthew had his concerns.

At the age of Fourteen Matthew had few adult worries to concern himself with, instead he was burdened by older brother woes. He had to keep an eye out for his ten-year-old brother Luke who not only lacked any ability to use mana but also had no element. This was unheard of until now and it was not looked upon emphatically. The other kids his age, some older, some younger, would mock him, tease him, and once he was even challenged to a fight. This bullying quickly ceased when Matthew stepped in. This would not last forever, and the boy knew his younger brother would need someone else to protect him soon. Luke was also not a fan of being protected despite needing it, both physically and emotionally.

Matthew had always cheered when Luke excelled, as despite the physical handicap, he was still an ordinary boy. Matt had always tried his best to drown out the disappointment from their father, but that was difficult when he would always praise and reward Matthew for his excellence, but rarely seemed to acknowledge Luke. Matt brought it upon himself to give Luke whatever he felt the younger sibling earned. Meanwhile, their mother, when she wasn’t working at the castle, had rarely talked to them or their father.

Snapping back to the present, Matthew glanced to his left where he could see the castle from atop the hill his home set upon. Matthew had never grown weary of the castle view across from his home. Between his father being a noble knight and his mother working within the castle, Matthew and Luke were always welcome without hesitation. Matthew rarely visited, but Luke had become great friends with the princess, a relationship that their father cherished. Matthew knew he would have to say good bye to his home soon, so he had hoped the princess would be enough to keep Luke company in his absence.

As Matthew entered his house, he was welcomed to a familiar scene: his mother in the kitchen with an aroma that invited him to take a seat, his father reading a paper quietly too himself, and Luke keeping his head down, also remaining silent. As he seated himself next to his brother, his father had stopped what he was doing. “So, how was the graduation?”

“It went well dad. I can’t wait to start going on missions” he feigned excitement for his father’s sake. “Well don’t get too excited or else you might not be able to sleep. Rhat happened to me, made the first few days hell.” Matthew didn’t share those sentiments, but he did share the anxiety.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go out for desert, just you and me?” The father looked expectantly at the boy, clearly fishing for a yes. Matthew, however, was used to these treats that were never between anyone except him and his father. The older brother looked to the younger brother, hoping this time could be different. “Uh, perhaps you and Luke could go? I want to remember the kingdom as much as possible before I have to go on a mission.” The father had simply nodded his head disapprovingly. “Well, I suppose no treats then. It’s your choice, but I understand wanting to steel yourself against homesickness.” It was clear by the man’s words that he had rejected his son’s proposal, but he didn’t want to push the matter further.

After a typical dinner, involving focusing solely on the food with the only sounds being the ambience of the feast, the family parted to their respective habitats. Down a narrow hall were two bedrooms and a bathroom, one bedroom for each brother. After a brief trip to his room, taking in the sight of his room as it were a new world, Matthew had left the house, making sure to alert his parents.

As Matthew stood atop the brow of a hill, he took his time viewing the vast outstretch of country before him. His home had sat on one of the tallest hills in the kingdom, lending him vision that stretched from the front of the castle to the kingdom’s wall. This wall had held the city from the outside world, various exits leading to a land many had never seen. From this wall was a long stretch of farming areas and other small, hardworking jobs, from bakeries to plumbers; they lived a rough but survivable life. Further away from the wall lived the middle class, a rather ambiguous status that could mean better than barely surviving to living comfortably. These people were the average warriors, house builders, and the occasional business owner. Finally, around Matthew’s small ring were the nobility, the well known warriors, the business heads, politicians, and personal servants of the monarchy.

The young man felt a spike of adrenaline thinking about what adventures he would have out in the world. How many monsters would he fight? What kind of people would he meet? Would he get to meet other races? What were the other cities and towns like? What were mountains like? Oceans? Forests? Matthew had lost himself in thought, as he watched the light begin to wane, giving way to beautiful twilight as the sun sunk below the kingdom wall. Although light posts had luminated a guiding path home, the boy didn’t want to stay out too late.

After some time spent in his room, organizing his decoration of shields and sword, gazing at his map, reminiscing over a terrarium that once housed a chameleon with a peculiar fondness for the boy, and analyzing his book shelf for a story to read to his brother, Matthew departed from his room. As he ventured out into the narrow hall, Matthew caught wind of a rare exchange: his parents having a conversation. Attempting to ease drop, he discovered his father and mother were simply discussing their day. While a mundane conversation, he was at least relieved his parents were still capable of having a relationship, or something resembling it.

Upon entering Luke’s room, he saw his brother was lost in thought. “What you thinking about?” While Matthew had been taught proper conversation and always used it around his father, he knew Luke preferred casual talk. “Just thinking about what to do this summer, when you’re gone and all.”

Tonight the conversation was going to happen, as if Matt’s day wasn’t filled with enough stress and anxiety. He knew it was only a matter of time, but he had been busy (procrastinating) on scripting his response. “Luke, I know you’re scared, but you have the princess. Nobody will mess with you while you’re friends with her.” Luke seemed skeptical of his brother’s logic. “Luke look, just wait a few more years and I’ll take you adventuring with me, with or without mana!” At this, the younger brother jumped up. “You really mean that?” The elder brother nodded, sincere in his statement.

“It’s getting close to bed time though, so why don’t I tell you a story?” The brothers rearranged themselves, Matt pulling up a chair in the bedroom while Luke buried himself under his bed. “How about the boy who cried Vulf?” The younger boy shook his head. “Umbro Devil?” Again, his brother didn’t seem interested. “Alzal tails?” His audience didn’t look please at the book for toddlers. “Hmm, perhaps the story of the legendary city.” This got a gasp, the only indication Matt needed to proceed.

“Long ago, people of every race, humans, Vulf, Devils, Alzal, all gathered from far and wide. Small villages, tiny towns, humble huts, all came to one location seeking bigger, better lives. This large community became a legendary city believed to have dwarfed anything built before and after. Despite their differences, there was peace, trade, and a sense of community. Like all things remarkable, however, the city would not last forever.

Little is known about the city, and even less about the events that transpired to its fall, but what is known is that there was a war. Our wars today are fought by many people on both sides, but this war was fought between the citizens of the city, and a handful of enemies. Those enemies? Base mana users. They may not sound special, but they were extremely dangerous in combat, so much so that despite there being less than one hundred of them, the city was in danger of falling.

When it seemed all hope was lost, two gods came from the heavens: Lumina and Umbro. The two fended off the last of the base mana users, saving the few remaining. Those inspired by the god Umbro were instructed to head north, while those who listened to the goddess Lumina were to head south. Only humans were to head north or south, the other races were instructed to move west. And that’s how we got to where we are today.”

“You’re still not asleep?” The boy looked at his younger brother exasperatedly

“Sorry Matt, I was just so interested in your story. It’s a lot better than homework.”

Matthew scratched his head, unsure of what to do now that he was done telling his story. Luke had always fallen asleep before he finished the story. “Maybe you’re too old for someone else to be reading you stories.” Thinking about it, he had also considered that father was going to have his brother train daily now, as he was getting desperate for the day his brother would finally unlock his true potential, assuming whatever ailed Luke was not permanent.

“I know father’s going to work you to the bone, but he just wants what’s best for you. Besides, it’s going to be more difficult if you don’t get enough sleep.” He patted his brother’s head, much to Luke’s chagrin. Luke had let out a yawn, furthering his embarrassment. “See, you’re more tired than you think!” Luke finally gave in, pulled the cover over himself, and had tried to mimic the action of falling asleep. Matthew had exchanged goodnights with him, relieved that he found an escape.

Although he loved his brother, he was not skilled at conversations, especially ending them. Matthew went to his bed, hoping that it would take a couple weeks, perhaps even a month before he was assigned his first mission. Perhaps that mission would be short, as some missions were only a couple of days. Whatever the case, Matthew had let himself fall to sleep, hoping tomorrow offered respite.