My earlier actions had been eating me up inside. Maybe I wasn't abandoning her then, but I was now.

Joining a clan was supposed to be sacred. Private. I wasn't sure Kovi would ever forgive me.

She wasn't technically old enough to join. But she was only a few days short and Vorneya's Scythe was able to bend the rule.

I could practically feel the prince's eyes burning into me. He wasn't supposed to see any of that.

"What?" I glanced at him.

He shrugged. "I never realized that was how people gained their magic."

"Did you assume we were born with it?" I joked.

"I wasn't sure, but I didn't expect that. I mean, I don't even know what that was." He didn't look like he had a malicious intent at all, he was just curious. "It's like everything I was ever told was wrong."

"Well, it probably was." I laughed. "What did you think anyway?"

"You want the full story?" He raised his eyebrows. "It's more the creation of Kalhiem and less about magi."

I nodded. It was a long walk to Ceravis, I could use the entertainment. "You tell me the lies, I'll give you the truth."

He turned his attention to the path ahead. "There used to be a great kingdom called Markute. Markute was the most powerful kingdom of its time because the land had magic. The people who lived there were able to use the magic of the land to their advantage. The magic seemed to be alive. It knew the people and protected them. The people were dependent on it, they used it for everything."

His tone changed like he was reciting his own memory. "One day the magic vanished. It was there one moment and gone the next. It was as if it suddenly died. The people knew that they had become dependent on the magic, but they hadn't realized how dependent they were. Buildings caved in, waters raged, forests and farmlands blazed like firewood. Famine and plagues killed half of the population."

He glanced at me and took a deep breath. "Then, eight people arrived in Markute. They called themselves magi. They had stolen the power of the earth for themselves. The people of Markute were in no shape to fight, so the people took the kingdom and most of the land for themselves. The king and his family managed to escape and keep a small portion of the land. They rebuilt the kingdom with other refugees and survivors who refused to bow to the thieves."

It was hard to keep myself from laughing but I managed to, there was more to tell.

"They named the new kingdom Kalheim after the first king. Years after his death the kingdom had gained enough strength to attack the magi. But, when they struck the first one down the magic didn't return to the earth as they had hoped. It was gifted to the followers of the magi instead."

There was a small patch of skin that was in direct contact with Vorneya's Scythe, it allowed me to hear the voices of the founders. They raged in my mind, aching to be let out.

Lies.

Who does he think he is?

King Kalhe was a tyrant, we saved those people.

Stole?

You are playing with fire, boy.

Release me, Veya. I just want to talk.

I thought Celeste said he was smart.

"Quiet." I whispered.

If I was alive I would punch you.

Don't worry, I'll force my way out eventually.

How would you like it if people disrespected you after you died?

You know, you were my second choice for this job.

Quiet? I wasn't quiet when I was alive I'm not starting now.

I'll be quiet when you learn Vision magic.

Vorneya, hurry up and overpower her already.

I am trying Cairo.

Thankfully, Eres didn't notice. "So, outnumbered and defeated, the people of Kalheim retreated."

That is so wrong it's laughable.

Hah. No.

Sure they did.

I mean, they did in a sense?

Outnumbered and defeated? Yes. Retreat? No.

I was dead so I have no clue.

He is going to have a stroke when he finds out the truth.

"But the original eight died eventually and-"

The yelling in my head was so lough I could barely hear Eres anymore.

This is boring.

Let me out Veya.

I miss Celeste. There is no drama anymore.

Yeah, when are we getting her back?

Good question, Veya let me out so I can ask him.

I don't think she's going to let you out, Vorneya.

She will, she loves me. Right Veya?

Gaiana, how is this not drama?

Shut up Malve, you were killed by a pre-teen.

And you died of old age. Boring.

My magic suddenly flared up and I couldn't control the shadows coming from my hands. Eres jumped as Vorneya's soul materialized in front of us.

"Hah! I told you I would get out!" She smiled at me.

"Get back-"

She stepped towards Eres. "Listen here you-"

I threw the Scythe to the ground and her soul disappeared.

"What the fuck just happened?" Eres stared at me.

I laughed awkwardly. "You upset the founders."

"The what now?"

"The original eight magi, they're called the founders." I wrapped a cloth around my hand and picked up Vorneya's Scythe.

"How did that one just do that-" He motioned to the ground where Vorneya had just been standing.

I motioned to the Scythe. "When I touch this I can summon their souls, she forced her way out."

He stared at me for a long moment. "I think you've heard enough, what actually happened?"

I smiled at him. "Let's keep moving."

After a few moments of silence and debating in my head I started to talk. "King Kalhe of Markute was a tyrant. The magic of the earth was never meant to help the people, he exploited it."

Eres shot me a confused look. I continued. "Nobody knows where the magic came from. It just appeared one day. Vision legends say it may have been some sort of ancient creature. It started in the forest between today's Naris and Sifa." I looked at the trees around us, everything began here. Eres seemed to do the same thing. "The kingdom of Markute grew quickly and eventually, they found the magic in the forest. The people thinned the forest out until the magic was forced to move, but some of it lingered behind. When the people discovered this they forced the magic into every corner of the kingdom. The magic did aid the people, but only because it was forced to. It kept foreigners away out of fear, not as an act of protection. The people of Markute weren't only dependent on the magic, they abused it. They were so high on the power they didn't realize that the magic was dying."

I could see the confusion and anger on Eres' face. He had been raised on a lie. I felt a bit of sympathy towards him, it wasn't his fault he hated us. I should be glad he was open-minded enough to listen. "One day eight people arrived in Markute with the intention to trade. They were outcasts in their homeland, but they were all a sort of family. Cairo was the oldest, he was a blacksmith. His two younger sisters were Gaiana, a florist, and Wyvrea, a ship's captain." I shot Eres a quick glance. "This is where it gets confusing so hang on. Cairo was married to Celeste, she was an empath. Ahryrex was married to Wyvrea, he was a doctor, and also Celeste's brother. Gaiana was married to Malve, he was a fortune-teller. Malve was the older brother of Vorneya, who you just saw, and she was something called a spirit guide. Finally, Vorneya was married to Chrisis, who was also a doctor."

Eres stared at me with wide eyes. "Can you repeat that?"

I chuckled. "It doesn't matter much in the long run, just know they are all close. Try to remember the careers though, they do matter a little."

He nodded and I continued. "At this point in time these people were not magi, but they knew of magic, and they knew there's was something wrong with the magic in Markute. Celeste and Malve practiced some magic, but it was nothing like the magic you have seen. It wouldn't even be called real magic now. But, this meant they had enough knowledge to know magic can be helped. So they took one of the healing rituals from their homeland and asked the others to help. The ritual required many people because the magic had been spread out across the land. The others agreed and each sacrificed an item to the cause. I won't tell you what they were because I don't want to put any more artifacts at risk, but know that's what they were."

"However, since the eight people had never experienced or dealt with this kind of magic before, the ritual went wrong. The eight people, now magi, woke up separated and alone in the middle of nowhere. And now they had the magic of the earth. However, they only had a small part of it and it seemed-"

Eres cut me off. "To go along with their careers?"

I found myself smiling at him. "Yes."

My smile dropped as soon as I realized what I was doing. He is not your friend, Veya. I cleared my throat. "Anyway, they eventually found each other and drove the tyrant out of Markute. When the citizens of Kalheim rebelled against them, they somehow caught Mavle by surprise. Since he wasn't a defensive magi, he couldn't fight back and died. In her grief, Gaiana made mountains to protect the other founders and their followers. They were just as shocked when Malve's followers gained his magic. When his body was burned, it didn't leave behind ashes. It left behind his artifact, now known as The-" I glanced at Eres, he wouldn't know what the Visions have for an artifact. "It was the artifact that holds the Vision magic."

Eres nodded, taking everything in. "So what about the magi wars? Were those a lie too?"

It sounded like a genuine question, so I answered it as nicely as possible. "No, those were real. That's why we have council members. We are meant to keep the peace."

"How does that like work?" He looked amazed.

I rolled my eyes. "We should start to make camp, it's getting dark."

I was a little amazed by how much time had passed.

"Campfire story?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

I sighed. "Maybe."

...
Please tell me this made sense.

This took three days to write.

<3