My vision was hazy after I woke up for a few minutes. I was fatigued from the complete explosion of mana I had just expelled. I grunted attempting to sit up but I was held down by magical hands that sprung out from Landel's body. Landell was rocking back and he knew I was awake after that. I couldn't believe how hard it was just to even sit up. I'm glad he made me lay back down. I was not up to standard and my body yearned for rest. A moment had passed and the magical hands that had sprung out disappeared into a small cloud. Landell may seem off socially, but he seemed like a formidable mage just from that trick alone. I was surprised, to be frank. He doesn't seem to be cut from the same cloth as most Levanants I've run into in the past.

"That was quite a show you put on out there for your brother and me, Tudor." I looked out the window towards the front yard, it was a night out. I was wondering how long I had been out so I asked Landell,

" Thanks, I guess, but how long have I been passed out on the couch for? "

He twiddled his thumbs for a few moments and then met my gaze, " You have been asleep for three days, no need to worry though, we have kept track of you in the meantime. Whenever you're ready to talk about the future of your magical training I'd like you to come to see me. I'll be staying at the Guild of Prowess on the opposite side of Gristmill. I'm sure you've seen it before, it's the building with the two golden arches at the front of it. All the other local magicians and Levenants go there for jobs and such. MY quarters reside at the building for the moment so I will await your arrival. You should certainly take your time though, Tudor. Things in your life are going to be different from now on."

I couldn't help but repeat "Three days, I can't believe it. Three whole days. Wasted and gone, three days of my life." My mind was in a state of shock, to say the least. Landell was right about me needing some time to convert what just happened outside into a logical perspective.

I sat up from the couch pulling back my long hair, It's been too long since I've cut it. It's now becoming an annoyance. Maybe Lauren will be kind enough to cut it for me. "I will try and get back to you in the next week or so Landell, sorry if it takes me a bit. I just need to understand what's happening."

Landell got up from the couch giving out a small grunt as he stood. “It’s quite alright Tudor, all I’m going to ask of you in the meantime is to start practicing your handheld magics before you do show up. You’ll need to create your ice magic more in order to start getting used to it. If you don’t, you can overflow with mama and can get killed. You will know how to control it just don’t freak out. Start outside then when you feel like you can hold ice in your hand with the flick of a finger, come inside.” Landell gave me a quick smile and reached out to shake my hand. I returned the gesture and sat straight up on the couch across from his rocking chair.

My mind was a little anxious from what magic has brought about in my life already at this point. The night before Landell shows up on my front doorstep, I have a dream of a seemingly fictitious God of Ice, then I wake up and I created a blizzard in my own front yard. Eventually passing out in front of a Levanant and I didn't wake up for 72 hours minimum. My brain doesn't even want to comprehend all that information and I'm back to being conscious. It's such an odd feeling now. My body felt completely different. It's hard to describe, the best way I can come up with is when I touched the sides of my face, I could feel my skin, then there was a cooling sensation underneath my fingertips. If I touched one of the pillows on the couch, I couldn't feel it yet I knew it was there at the same time since I was looking at it and perceiving the pillow as being next to me. The pillow was incredibly warm as well. But I wasn’t being burnt. It was quite odd.

Landell knew I was losing myself in thought, and he decided to end my parade of intrusive thinking by commenting on how he was willing to take any questions I had for him. As well as giving me reassurance if I desired to come to see him at any time. I have been genuinely pleased by Landell's company and now he seems more like an acquittance. He may be different in nature, but then again who isn’t different? Taking the time out of his own schedule to come to watch a couple of boys spew magic out of their bodies. Nobody wants to do that when they're that old and have more pressing things to care for.

“ I have one question for you Landell, "

he gave me a quick nod of the head before I went for the rest of my question.

" What if I don't want to have magic, or feel like I'm not ready to even wield the powers I have been destined for? "

A moment of silence came across the both of us, broken by the gruff voice of Landell,

" You are still quite young Tudor, and same goes for Osiris. I get that the both of you have never lived the lives of common folk but you must remember, your parents were once magicians or even Levanants themselves. Now that we have figured out the capabilities both of you possess, your true potential is finally in sight. As well as the possibility of you two being killed by your own mana build-up. Letting that happen to you both before I arrived would've been horrible not just for you but for Lauren herself. I've known her for a long time and after what happened with her and Garrett. I had to get as much magic out of the both of you before something bad happened. You of all people should know how much she hates magic users. That's why Garrett left her, magic and money. Not just another woman. Individuals are allowed to choose their own paths.

Though, magic can drive the unworthy to a place of power and wealth that the average commoner can never reach. It's through envy and pettiness that all the darkness spawns and keeps the world dilapidated and turned, like a fungus in a forest. Ultimately, your decisions Tudor will determine what discrepancies get to stay or leave this planet for the better or worse. "

The way Landell was talking to me made me seem like I was willing to remain a nobody for the rest of my life. It was a little funny and a tad cliche, but I understood the motive behind the words.

" Thank you Landell, odds are I will be interested in learning about my powers, I just feel off from earlier. You can go back to your guild for the night. I need to go talk to Osiris and maybe even Lauren if she can even look at me without crying."

Landell let out a small laugh and smacked both of his hands on his knees before standing from the rocking chair. He gave me a quick farewell and walked out of the living room and out the front door of the house. He may be a little off when you first meet, but Landell is slowly growing on me. It would be interesting how much he can help Osiris and I with training in the world of magic. Hopefully, it's free, I don't exactly have a ton of coin to my name. Though, maybe he'll give us the family and friends discount if we actually decide to go forth with his plan. Come to think of it, where was everybody? I know the sun had gone to bed, but just how late was it? Must've been a lot later in the night than I originally thought, I got a closer look at the outside window and watched Landell walk down the path from the house. He walked slow and steady like he hadn't a care in the world. I guess Levanants can do that since they can just use magic to kill someone instead of relying on mere iron or steel. The gold and white cape that he had was drifting behind him like the outfit itself had magic warped into it.

As his figure slowly drifted into the darkness I turned my back to the window. I needed a bath, I haven't cleansed myself in a while and I needed some time to myself alone. I looked at the table that I ran into before we went outside only a few days ago. The wood in it was cracked, all alongside one leg and I knew I was the one who did that. I couldn't help but think how I didn't feel the table cracking with a simple nudge from my hip. Anybody else who walked into the table except maybe Osiris would have just said ouch and winced a little then the pain slowly faded away. The theories I'm making up in my mind as I pondered these events while walking up the stairs kept my mind busy. It's fascinating, mana has the capability to negate pain and increase overall stamina and strength. It took me a while to really confirm these theories. I said hi to Osiris as I walked into our room real fast to grab a towel and some fresh clothes in order to get ready for my bath.

He looked up from under his comforter, "Oh, hey Tudor, I would love to chat but my eyes have become sacks of potatoes. I'll chat with you in the morning. Sound good?"

I gathered my fresh pants and undergarments and picked up a red towel as he said, "No problem bud, I am going to read this book and probably hang out up on the roof a little bit tonight anyways."

Walking towards the door and holding on to the handle I heard his response as he drifted back to sleep, "Awesome man, I got fire powers. That's pretty cool right?"

With the door fully opened, I chuckled and trudged on to the bathing room after Osiris passed out soon after that remark. He's a weird kid sometimes, but he is someone who has gotten me through some dark times. Maybe someday I'll tell him just how much his life meant to mine, like a brother that I could keep watch over and protect. The family I never had. He watches my back and I watch him, that's how we have always operated. We made a good team, and I think Landell might be impressed with how quickly Osiris and I can catch on to previously unknown tasks.

Personally, I feel like I could become something great with these new Ice powers that I've received. Though, now that I bring that up, why was I the one chosen by Forbos? That question alone was going to take a long time to figure and I just knew it. There's so little I know about magic, and so little I know about the world that I couldn't even tell you if there was a war going on in my own front yard. Survival is the only thing I've known for a long time. It's that or getting a job and making money. This magic makes me feel like I can finally grab life by the throat and make my own way. Yet, I still haven't even learned a damn thing about it yet. That's what makes me scared the most. Being granted the option to become a god, and not even being able to use it. That is irony, in its purest form.