My Dearest Nico,
If you are reading this letter, then the day I have feared for so long is here. I am probably about to die soon if they find me, just like your father did a while back. The world is a dishonest place, Nico, more so than you can ever imagine. Trust your gut; it saves you more than you can imagine.
My hands grip the sides of the old piece of paper so hard I think I am going to tear it to shreds. The more I read, the blurrier my vision becomes as my body shakes uncontrollably. My parents never leave me on purpose or by accident.
Someone forcibly removed them from my life.
My gut is right.
Mom is telling me to trust my gut, and I should have the first time I feel something off.
Our nation, Tarondar, once a beacon of hope on the continent of Glozaria, has become a land shrouded in deception. The very thing that brings Tarondar glory is the same thing that causes its corruption. Glozaria is once a place of beauty, a realm where magic flows freely and life thrives in harmony.
But that harmony shatters long before you are born, by forces that seek to reshape the world in their image. You see, Tarondar's history is written in blood and betrayal, and the Keepers, those who are once our protectors, are not who they seem. The Keeper Academy is not what it seems.
I know, Mom, I think to myself as my cheeks grow wet. Keeper Academy is nothing but shiny on the outside and absolute pathetic stupidity on the inside. I know the Keepers have something to do with my parents. I can feel it.
Justus is right about all of this all along. I bet dark magic isn't that bad either; I think to myself as I tighten my grip on the letter. I keep reading the letter as Ivy tries to comfort me.
Long ago, when the first sparks of magic are discovered, there are two paths: the path of light and the path of darkness. Together, they form the origin of the magic of the universe. The Keepers, chosen for their so-called purity and strength, are to be the guardians of this power.
They vow to protect the world, to ensure that magic is used for the greater good. But power corrupts. Nico and the Keepers are no exception. Over time, they become something else, something far more sinister. They become the Eradicators.
The Eradicators. In my mind, I will always associate that word with evil.
They kill my parents! They are supposed to be our guardians! They are supposed to be our inspirations!
I tighten my jaw to the point I think my teeth are going to pop out. I am going to exterminate every freaking Eradicator on this planet.
I scream to myself on the inside.
The Eradicators are not human, though they wear the faces of normal men and women.They are superhuman beings, able to use extreme forms of light magic, hungry for control, and they will stop at nothing to eliminate all mages who do not use light magic. They have woven a web of lies so intricate that even the strongest minds have fallen prey to it.
They teach them that we, the survivors, are the Eradicators, the ones who must be hunted and destroyed. And so, our children become our greatest enemy, our greatest fear.
My eyes widen at reading those words. I gesture for Ivy to come over and read the same words I just do. She is speechless. If what I am reading is correct, this means the so-called "Keepers" are not the protectors of Terrathis, but are the Eradicators trying to kill everyone else who isn't like them.
The Eradicators, in the appearance of a Keeper, are training us to fight against the remaining non-light mages. Mainly the adults so we can take each other out? How cruel! Especially after so many kids look up to the Keepers!
But you, Nico, are different.
You are the child of two worlds, born from the union of a very powerful corrupted mage of light and one of the strongest mages of darkness. Your father, though he may have seemed like one of them, was a man of honor and courage. He betrayed the Keepers by putting a stop to their annihilation ritual, which would have destroyed the entire world except the light mages.
He did all of this at the cost of his own life.
It is like I catch air in my throat. My father is an Eradicator.
If the Eradicators are "Keepers" and they can control light magic, what does that mean? I look at the palm of my hand. I might be capable of light magic as well. If I am capable of both light and dark magic, what does that mean?
I put the thought on the side as I reach the rest of the letter. My father is a good man who sacrifices himself to save the entire planet. He is a genuine hero. I wipe my blurry eyes with my hand.
You possess a power that the Eradicators fear, a magic that they cannot control. It is why they have banned the use of your magic at the Keeper Academy, why they insist on overseeing every spell you cast. They know that your magic is unique, that it comes from a place they cannot reach—a place of darkness, yes, but also of strength, love, and hope. Only in the darkness can you see the stars.
If anyone recognizes my magic for what it is the most, it is you, Mom.
I think to myself as I look outside the window at the sky. Darkness can hurt, but it is also a great source of protection. My parents grant me this power. I won't let it go to waste. I will take down all the Keepers.
Light, on the other hand, is not always as pure as it seems. The Eradicators wield light magic with a cruelty that stains its brilliance. They demand perfection, a world molded in their image, where only the strongest, the most obedient, survive. But perfection is a lie, Nico.
It is an illusion that blinds us to the truth, that hides the flaws and the beauty of what it means to be human. The light they offer is cold, empty, and unforgiving. It is a light that destroys, not because it is strong, but because it seeks to erase anything that does not fit its vision.
Light magic isn't as pure as we all think it is. They think they are the angels sent from heaven and they think because of their unique power; they are superior. Their idea of perfection is strength, order, and only letting talented or wealthy people get the resources.
I am writing this letter because I know that the Eradicators will come to us. They will try to silence us, to erase us from your memory, but I want you to know that it's okay to be afraid. Fear is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of life, of humanity. And it is your humanity, Nico, that makes you strong.
You may be the child of a former Eradicator, but you are also the child of a human, a human who loves you more than life itself. To have happiness, you must experience sadness. It is in your pain you will find your true strength.
I walk over and slam my hand down on the table. Ivy rushes over to me in concern. Of course, the Eradicators try to erase my entire memory. If they don't, I will beat them up right now.
At least I can keep some of my memory. With this letter, I can get all my memories back at least one by one. I read the rest of the letter.
I wish I can be there with you, to guide you, to protect you, but fate has decided otherwise. Know that your father and I love you more than anything in this world and that our greatest hope is for you to live the life you live. A life of truth, honor, and love.
Stay strong, my son. Trust in yourself, and remember that even in the darkest of times, there is always a light within you that can never be extinguished.
With all my love,
Your Mother
That light within me will not go out until I rid humanity of these disgusting excuses of living beings.