Chapter 8 - A Web Of Connections

Water, fire, wind, and earth. The foundational magical attributes that make up our world are all interconnected in life, the environment, and our very soul. Complex layers cascade light and dark magic, yet they are also the simplest thing of all. Light is not always a surface-level concept. Darkness is not always how it appears. Darkness is dangerous, but in that danger lies the ability to change. 

My eyes scanned the first paragraph of the book.

“Magic and Emotions written by Justus Amin.”, I whispered to myself so I would remember the book for future reference. Justus Amin is one of the top Keepers who runs this school alongside the Principal Keeper. He is the mysterious second-in-command Vice-Principal Keeper. As my eyes flew through the pages, I could not help but think something was off about this book, but in a good way. 

The Keeper Academy Administration, through their teachings, has always spouted the fact that light equals good and darkness equals good.

It’s no wonder that light magic is praised while dark magic is banned at the academy unless a Keeper is present. This author does not convey light and dark magic in this sense. My gut was telling me that there was a deeper meaning behind these texts. 

For reference, the Principal Keeper runs the academy with an iron fist. Individuals who speak positively about dark magic or negatively about light magic are forbidden by the Principal Keeper from being at the school. The only way to have a say against the system in texts or speech is to hint at it passively. The thing that confused me the most was why would the Vice-Principal Keeper, the right-hand man of the Principal Keeper, be against the Keeper philosophy. 

The adaptability of water, the passion of fire, the flexibility of wind, and the centeredness of earth reflect various aspects of our emotions. The discovery of magic makes it seem like we are superior human beings now. However, this discovery could not have happened without being rooted in human personality and emotions.

There is a connection between all emotions.

All nature interconnects. The entire universe is connected. When the universe was born, there was only darkness and light. However, there would be no darkness without light and no light without darkness. Two different sides of the same coin. Only by having the opposite concept appear can you acknowledge your very own existence of your personality and magic. 

My mind started taking in this information like wildfire. My neurons burst like fireworks, creating new pathways as I attempt to understand how all forms of magic are connected. As I paused reading the book, my hands appeared pale.

Is my magic who I am to the core, not that different from everybody else? I thought to myself as I looked out of one of the library windows. 

“Hey, Nico! Fancy seeing you here.”, a familiar energetic voice said to me. 

I turned around to see who was speaking to me. I was frankly shocked because everybody in the academy seemed to avoid me. The voice that called out my name was none other than Ivy McKinley. As my mind and heart noticed this, I felt a slight shift within my heart. It was as if an army of butterflies had lifted a slight weight on me.

I quickly ignored the feeling and rushed to think of what to say to her. 

“Hey Ivy! Um…. how have you been?”, I awkwardly said to her as I put down my book on the table. To be fair, I was not expecting to have any more social interaction today. 

“To be honest, not doing that great, haha,” Ivy said lightly, her voice trailing off as she spoke the words. She noticed my book on the table. “What are you reading there?”

“Magic and Emotions by Justus Amin. This book is fascinating! The book provides great information about magic and how everything is connected. A top Keeper wrote it, so you know it is going to be great. I love how the book differs from a lot of other books written by other Keepers and-”, I paused as the words came tumbling out of my mouth.

Whenever I get super passionate about something, I completely forget that I am socially awkward. I forget my words come out way too fast. “Anyway, what are you doing here, Ivy?” 

She laughed cheerfully at my words. Her laugh gave color to my eyes, unlike the hurtful monotone laughs of others.

“I am sure that book is great. Let me know all about it once you finish it! I am here just to get some homework done. The library is a great place to study since it’s silent, unlike other places. Also, this place helps me calm down when my thoughts become too overwhelming. For example, today I lost my duel against Leena Grey, which means I am stuck in the normal classes for now. I just came here to think about it in perspective. Her magic was in another league than mine. May I ask how your duel went?”, she asked me.

“I am sorry to hear that. I won my duel, but I thought I was a goner. Does that mean I have to fight Leena Grey then to get 1st place?”, I asked in a slightly anxious tone.

If I have to fight someone that powerful, that means I cannot afford to hold back at all, even from the get-go, I thought to myself as I waited for her response, which I already knew the answer to. 

“Congratulations on winning! It means you have to fight her. I wish you the best of luck because her fire magic is on par with the top students of the upperclassmen. The only thing that separates her skill-wise from the best of fire magic users is her lack of control over her 8th-level affinity magic techniques. Her mana capacity is astounding.

If she had perfect control over her magic, she would be one of the strongest Keeper students in the entire academy. I should also mention she focuses on explosions,” Ivy told me in a wavering tone. 

I felt my body internally shake with anxiety as I took in every single word from Ivy. Fire magic? She focuses on explosives. Without my dark magic, I am her but a million times worse. I will have to truly give everything I have to win the next battle and do my best to end it in a flash.  

My fist slammed into the table, causing other students in the library to focus on me. 

“Nico Lotus, please proceed to Justus Amin’s office. I repeat, Nico Lotus, please proceed to Justin Amin’s office.”, the school’s magical intercom system rang across the academy. My head was bursting with questions with no answers. 

What does the Vice Principal Keeper and author of Magic and Emotions want with me?