The sound of arrows whistling through the air sounded throughout the field as I let them loose one at a time.
After I had been instructed to learn how to use the bow before moving to the dwarven rifle like weapon, I had been spending every chance I got at the now hastily build shooting range at the end of mothers vegetable field.
Father had taken three pieces of tree trunks he had chopped down and placed them as targets at different distances.
I was slowly progressing with the bow. This body of mine was not inline with my old muscle memory from my past life so in some senses I had to teach myself everything I new about target practicing from scratch.
It did help me a lot though, as I was already familiar with how to think when it came to aiming at a target.
I had placed ten arrows to the side of me with the tip in the ground so it was easy for me to reach them. I held my bow steady and brought one arrow to the bow string and pulled. I aimed at the closest target at 5 meters and let the arrow hit the target.
I was a little off from the center by a few centimetres to the left. I adjusted my aim and brought a new arrow to the bowstring and let it hit this time dead center on the target.
I grabbed a new arrow and let it go and it the target again close to the previous arrow. I repeated this process until all ten arrows was stuck in the tree trunk.
"You are getting a hang on that quickly I see." Rachel had been observing my practice from time to time and was now standing behind me, observing my progress. "I think it is time you increase the distance to ten meters. I would guess that you till reach the goal within the next year then it will be time for the next step."
"What is the next step after the bow?" I asked.
"The next step will be related to magic so we won't start it until you get your first disc."
"Magic!" I felt my pulse quicken, the thought of both magic and guns was a dream come true.
"Hey take it easy! Your pulse is like a frightened reindeer!"
"Oh sorry Urpie."
"But I do understand. Magic is so fascinating, I can't wait until we can start practicing it. Only three months left..."
That's right, it was winter right now. The winters here in Twisting woods was quite mild. The temperature never truly reached freezing and snow rarely fell. I kind of miss the cold snowy winters but this wasn't that bad too. Here at least you could go outside and exercise even if it was winter.
Only mother seemed to hate the colder temperatures. She said that as an Inferma you are usually more sensitive to the cold air and couldn't understand how I was able to stand the cold as I was practicing my archery.
But yes...only two months left until our first Magic disc. All though, I did feel a bit nervous. Even though Tess had continued her research and concluded that I was not in any dangers for now whe did say she couldn't explain why I showed signs of Yarklan syndrom but no signs of decay or danger.
I was nervous because what would happen if the disc showed to much information about Urpie and Tess and my parents decided that she was dangerous.
No! Everything was going to be okay. Urpie had truly grown on me these last months. She helps me with a lot of things such as studying and keeping my sanity in check.
Yes, I know the irony that a voice in my head was keeping me sane. But that is the truth. Every time I felt my mind slipping and starting to doubt things around me she reals me in.
"Now Bellz, try shooting at the ten meter target." Rachels brought me back from my thoughts and I returned my focus on practicing my archery.
-----
"Happy birthday Bellz!" Every one in the dining room shouted as I entered. Today was my fourth birthday and gathered in the dining room was my parents, sister, Rachel and Maxime but also Tess. On the table was a massive cake decorated with whip cream and meringue.
I sat down at the table to blow out the candles. As I was about to get served my first slice Tess gave my mother a knowing nod. My mother looked at me and said. "Bellz, today is a special day. We have come to decion regarding your Magic disc."
I stopped myself from eating the slice of cake Rachel had put infront of me. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"We know we had talked about going to the temple next week to get you your disc but..."
I felt my pluse quicken and breathing getting more shallow. Getting the Magic disc and starting my study of magic had been what I had been looking forward to ever since I learned about magic. But know I won't be able to...
"Register in a temple sends some of your information to the government. This is the law in every kingdom and country in the world as we know it. And this village is special Bellz."
"Special how?" Maxime was the one to ask as I was doing my best to keep my mind in check.
"This village of Oakhill is a neutral area. Even though it is officially a part of The kingdom of Luteria it is also part of the Republic of Beastkin. The village is not affected by neither countrys rule and has it's own self governing. But when it comes to registering your disc it is sent to both countries."
"So?" I asked a little bit irritated.
"So that means we decided that you will not register in a temple, be it Temple of Twilight or any of the others that exists in Oakhill. And that is why Tess is here, what we are about to do Bellz is very illegal."
"What?" Illegal?
Tess took out a crystal ball the size of a basketball. It was cloudy in colour and a faint aura emanated from it.
"This is a oracle's orb, it is used as a tool for high priest and priestess to commune with the gods but also the tool used to register a Magic disc."
"So...I am getting my disc now?" I felt the panic subsidied and got replaced by excitement.
"Yes, but the information won't be sent to neither country. The thing is that if the disc would show anything to out of the ordinary you could be put in danger so we will do this in secret and if everything seems okay you can register next week at the temple." Tess explained as she prepared the orb.
I ate my cake as I observed her getting everything ready. She placed the orb on a metal stand and placed an empty disc underneath the orb then brought out a small glass vail with a blue liquid in it.
After I had finished my cake and everyone else seemed done I sat down infront of the oracle orb and Tess handed me the blue liquid.
"What is this?" I pointes at the blue potion.
"This is a mana potion. It replenishes your inner magic essence, but if consumed in high quantities the essence inside you goes in overdrive and it becomes dangerous. But if you have an outlet let say the orb it will absorbe it. That way we can register it and send all information down to the disc." Tess explained.
"But won't it be dangerous?"
"Like I said the orb will absorb your magic. This way we get the purest information. Both your mother and I will be by your side if anything would go wrong. But you can rest assured, this process rarely goes wrong. Only in cases of corrupted beings and true criminals in the eyes of the gods does the ritual fail."
"Corrupted beings?"
"Demons." My mother said as she sat down beside me.
"Demons?" Maxime chimed in.
"Well...best way to describe them is monsters... people that has turned to the evil gods of old and getting corrupted by magic." Mother thought for a bit and looked over to father before she said. "The kingdom of Luteria six years ago declared all Dromos to be demons..."
"What!?" Urpies voice echoed in the back of my mind.
"I will explain it more when we start to study magic Bellz. Lilly already know some of it but understand this. Dark magic is not evil, even someone using light magic or any magic can get corrupted."
I gave a nod before I took a deep breath and looked at Tess and said. "I am ready."
She handed me the mana potion. And took of the lid and put it towards my mouth and felt it's smooth thick liquid coat my mouth. It had a floral flavour mixed with berries.
As the liquid hit my stomach I felt a surge of power rise inside of me. My heart started to beat faster and faster and I could hear the sound of my heart clearly as my pulse quickened.
"Place your hand on the orb." Tess voice could be heard in the distance.
I did as I was instructed and as my plam touched the orb Urpies voice echoed in my head. "I feel like I have to rest. I'm loosing my conscientiousness..." I felt her presence inside me disappear and the orb drawing the overwhelming amount of magic inside me in to itself.
After a few minutes the feeling subsidied and Tess took out the disc from underneath the orb. She looked at it and her eyes went wide.
My mother walked over to it and looked at it and a wide grin spread across her face. "Bellz...my dear child...what has the gods planed for your future..." She said under her breath.
Tess handed me my disc and I started to read it to my self.
[Name: Bellz Mephisto
Race: Dromos Inferma
Titles: The one of two, Twin souls, One who got a second chance, Watched by the gods.
Crimes: None.
Primary element:
Fire Quality: A
Secondary element:
Wind Quality: D
Earth Quality: C
Advanced elements:
Lightning Quality: E
Magma/Metal Quality: D
Magic essence: C
Empty...
Body magic:
Healing factor E
Skill/spell mastary: None
Empty... ]