The First War Mage: Skyline Trials

A pained groan escaped my lips as my eyes creaked open. Brilliant, bright lights washed into my irises with such intensity that colors raced across my field of vision in incomprehensible patterns My head was screaming at me in pain, like a thousand thoughts tried to race across my head at the same time.

Every cell in my body screamed in agony at once, a cacophony of pain that grew worse with every waking moment. The pain only accelerated, reaching a crescendo as I moved my arms in a vain attempt to prop myself up.

"Woah, woah, lay back down," A vaguely familiar voice spoke quickly, followed by an agonizing pressure on my shoulders that pushed me back down. "Focus on your breathing, cycle your mana."

It took everything I had to focus on those words. Every shaking breath shot fiery agony through my lungs, it was like the flesh inside my chest was being torn open with each breath.

My mind was so frazzled that I couldn't begin to visualize my mana. My origin felt like a distant limb, one which was nearly separated from my body—Leaving only a hollow feeling in its wake.

Yet, there was something inside of that hollow. It was a vague feeling, like a thought that begged to be tapped into but I couldn't quite comprehend. It hummed and muttered nonsense, sounds inside of sounds that begged to be heard.

Before I could even attempt to go further, to reach towards that faint feeling, my world suddenly shaped back together. A soothing warmth pulsed through my body, chasing away the hollow echo to be replaced with an all encompassing ache.

"Owww…" I groaned out weakly, my eyes only just beginning to focus on the world.

I was inside of an unfamiliar room, laying upon a gilded bed inside of an ornate chamber. The walls were covered with white plaster walls, cleaned to such a degree that they were nearly reflecting the violet light cast in through the purple curtains.

The sheets laying over me felt incredibly soft, matched by the plush bed and pillow to create a domain of comfort I desperately wanted to sink back into. But, before I could even attempt to roll over and drift away into sleep, the same voice spoke again.

"Are you with me now, Kirin?" Carmine's gentle, almost maternal tone reached my ears. Her words slowly brought my gaze towards her.

"I… I think so?" My voice was weak, grating against my coarse throat in a way that forced a series of coughs to escape my lungs.

"Good, good," Carmine let out a slow breath, accompanied by the squeak of an old chair releasing weight before her face filled my vision. "How are you feeling?" She asked gently.

"Everything…" I groaned just trying to get the words out. "Everythinghurts." I forced the words out in a near explosive burst.

"Mmm, that does make sense," Carmine met my gaze with a somber expression before she continued. "It's really my fault for not informing you—But, Kirin you nearly killed yourself in that race." Carmine's words left a heavy silence hanging in the air between us.

"Huh?..." I met Carmine eyes, confusion written across my face as I did. Carmine took in a slow breath, nodding slowly before she explained.

"When you were using your magic in the race, the world seemed to slow down right?" She paused, meeting my gaze until I nodded affirmatively. "Right, then what you were doing is called Embodiment. You channeled your elementally attuned mana through your body, which in the case of our shared element, you sped up every facet of your being." She took in a quick breath continuing a moment after.

"The reason everything hurts is that your body isn't ready for that physical strain. The fact that you're cognitive means your mind is ready. But if I had to guess, you were moments away from your heart bursting thanks to the dramatically increased blood flow." Once Carmine finished speaking her gaze fell upon me, a strange sight of somber regret laying on her face.

"So… Levi's torture actually has a purpose?" I asked with a series of coughs soon following.

"Yes, magic is just as much about training the body as it is training the mind." Carmine's words were followed by a white missile of fur leaping onto the bed, yipping happily as she growled up to lay next to my head.

Akemi's trio of tails wagged in unison, her lively eyes meeting my own with concern and care coloring her expression.

"Hey Akemi," I chuckled as one hand raised to scratch her ears. "I should really stop going so hard that I pass out…" A derisive sigh broke from my lips, washing away the momentary joy.

"Indeed you should, you're relying far too heavily on your unnaturally exorbitant stockpiles of mana," Carmine added with a chuckle of her own. "But get some more rest, after all you four completed a race meant to take two weeks in two days. You'll have plenty of time before the harvest festival and the final trial." Carmine stood up slowly, her gaze casting a warm smile that lit up the room.

"And one last thing. Please allow me to be the first to welcome you to the City of Ferilis, and my home—The Ferini Estate," Carmine turned away, already beginning towards the door before she glanced back to speak softly. "And congratulations on your victory—I hear Kendrick is rather infuriated about losing." Before she could continue out of the doorway I reached a hand up, calling out for her to stop.

"W-Wait! There's something else that happened," The memories of the strange man and the soldiers still fresh in my head had to be spoken sooner rather than later.

"What is it?" Carmine asked as she turned around, her arms crossing under her chest.

"There were things that happened during the race—A lot honestly," And so, I found myself recounting the entire race to Carmine. The conversation with the strange man next to the campfire and the last moments of the fight with the Beast as I threw myself in to help.

"So that's why your shoulder was injured," Carmine nodded in affirmation before sighing slowly. "That certainly sounds like O'Neille and his group, they were the soldiers sent to hunt the unspeakable… But the fact that it was this close to my lands," Carmine muttered a few things under her breath, shaking her head with a sigh as she continued.

"I have no idea who that man you met could be, but I would keep that much to yourself Kirin. Creating a bond with a magical beast… I'm not sure what that could mean either," She took in a slow breath, raising her arms in a helpless shrug. "Honestly I don't know, but I'd expect O'Neille will want to see you once he arrives here."

"He's coming here?" I asked in surprise.

"We're the closest city to him, he has to report somewhere about that beast—And those soldiers accompanying it. It's only natural he'll want to see you after that showing," With a deep inhale Carmine turned around, raising a single hand behind her to wave. "Now, if you'll excuse me I do have a lot of work to get done around here. You can have the next three days off from training, you've earned it at this point, past that we'll have a lot to cover."

"Alright," I nodded as I sunk back into the covers. I opened my mouth to say thanks, but the door was already closed before the words could even leave my lips. With a soft sigh I relinquished myself to rolling over, throwing one arm over Akemi to hold her silky fur next to me. I really was exhausted, sleep finding me in mere moments after my eyes closed.

I woke up the next day to the sun beating its wrathful gaze down upon my eyes, casting long strands of lavender light that tinted the room into a purplish hue.

I couldn't tell whether it was early morning or later in the evening—But I did know I was ready to get moving again. My body felt stiff, desperate to be stretched with the motion of at least walking.

Sitting up I could feel how tender my body still was, my shoulder in particular ached from the still healing injury. Yet, it was healed more than it should have been in just a day's time.

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With a start I took the room in once again, feeling more than a little out of place inside of the population chambers. The only thing that seemed more out of place than me inside of the room was the pile of fresh clothes on the nightstand next to the bed.

I was still wearing my school uniform, one which was in desperate need of washing by this point—So with little reason to wait, I picked up the clothes. Only pausing when a note fell out from between the folds.

Bending over, I reached to pick up the note reading it quickly.

"Baths are down the hall to the right. Once you leave the guest quarters down the hall to the left a Maid will come and help. —Carmine."

I blinked a few times after reading the note, impressed a little by Carmine's foresight before shrugging and moving on towards the hall.

Akemi jumped off the bed, pouncing after me with an excited yip.

"You wanna come with? I'm going to take a bath," Despite my words the small Kitsune was determined to follow, falling in step beside me as I opened the door. "Alright." I said with a shrug.

Without any further fanfare I began my way down the hall, finding the door to the bathroom with ease. It was rather well marked, not to mention the fact that I could feel the humidity wafting through the seams.

I knocked on the door gently, once I was satisfied that no one would reply I pushed the door open and entered. Blinking away the steam that assaulted my eyes I glanced around to take in the room.

It was built like a sort of entryway, opening wide enough for dozens of people to fit. The intense scent of fancy soaps and perfumes assaulted my nose, all wafting from the inner door that exuded all of the steam filling the room. Not to mention the multiple benches and… piles of clothes?

On the ground only a few feet away from me were two piles of clothes, clearly made up of the uniforms of the school. Each one was folded neatly, yet seemed to be haphazardly discarded to the side.

"Tulip and Silva must have forgotten theirs…" I thought idly as I sat the fresh clothing I had been offered on the bench, stripping out of my own clothes only a moment after.

Grabbing a towel before and wrapping it around myself I moved forwards, pressing the inner door open to reveal what lay behind.

What I had at first expected to be some inordinately grand shower instead turned out to be the nearly open outdoors. High wooden walls sat in a circular formation surrounding a pool of steaming water.

Inside of the pool I could see two figures sitting at a modest distance apart—Two whom I could quickly recognize.

Silva and Tulip both turned their gazes towards me, bringing such an intense blush to my face I felt as if I had begun glowing.

"Kirin!" Tulip exclaimed, raising one arm out of the water to wave. "Come on the waters great!" She waved her arm emphatically, gesturing for me to join them.

"It really is quite nice…" Silva added as she sunk a little lower into the water, keeping only her chin and above from submerging.

"B-But—Isn't that wrong to bathe together?" I worried aloud as my body moved forwards against my will.

"It's a public hotspring, people bathe together all the time, just don't do anything weird." Tulip answered with a nonchalant shrug.

"Just—At least turn around please, please," I practically begged them, bringing a mildly annoyed roll of the eyes from Tulip and quick compliance from Silva. "Thank you." I muttered as I walked over to where they sat in the water, dropping the last decency I had left in the towel before quickly sliding into the water.

By some miracle the water was rather opaque, as if by design from the ample magic I could feel flowing through it. It was still uncomfortable, I could still see the far more filled outlines of the two girls even while they were a few feet away. But, with a slight effort I was able to look away—An effort made easier by Akemi who with a running start dove straight into the opposite end of the spring.

"Better now?" Tulip asked as she turned slowly around towards me.

"N-No, not really…" I grumbled, pulling my knees up to my chest under the water.

"God, your hair is a mess…" Tulip grumbled, moving without any further warning to sit directly behind me. "Here, just relax and let me brush your hair."

"H-Hey!" I began to protest, just to be cut short as Tulip grabbed handfuls of my matted hair.

"Oh hush," Tulip cooed as she ran her fingers through my hair. "You need to take care of your hair more, it really is pretty." I felt warm water being poured over my scalp, seeping into it with a soothing feeling.

"She's right, why do you take such poor care of your hair?" Silva asked as she rose out of the water a little bit, still keeping everything below her shoulders submerged.

"M-My Dad—" I cut myself off, wincing in pain as Tulip pulled at a particularly thick knot in my hair. "—My Dad always told me I should hide the color of my hair. Tulip, is this really necessary?" My tone turned pleading, but I was answered with another, more deliberate yank at my hair.

"Yes it is! You won one of the events, and in a flashy way at that!" As Tulip spoke she began running yet more water through my hair, washing away the dirt dust and grime that had been caking into it.

"That's strange… White hair is hardly rare," Silva spoke softly, tilting her head as she stared with uncomfortable intensity towards me. "Albeit, you two do look similar. Maybe that had something to do with it?" Silva wondered aloud.

"Maybe it had something to do with whatever got him executed…" I grumbled, wincing as Tulip again pulled at my hair. Yet, somehow it felt almost deliberate this time.

As the room fell into an uncomfortable silence my head fell, glancing between the darkened frames under the water. I couldn't help but feel somehow inadequate while sitting in the same waters as Tulip and Silva, my own body was so skinny and lacking in definition that it barely looked more than androgynous. Even if I was more filled out now than I ever had been, it was only since I wasn't malnourished now.

Silva, even despite having a similar petite frame, left me behind. I could tell her body showed the curves that people considered beautiful, not to mention the way her arms and shoulders were toned had to travel lower than that. I didn't even have to look at Tulip to know how poorly I could compare to her—Yet, their words about my hair struck some sort of nerve that was desperate for something more.

"Do… Do you two really think I look pretty? Or, is it just my hair you like?…" I started to trail off, my already downturned face falling even lower. I was at least thankful for the continually wafting steam, knowing my face couldn't really grow much redder.

"Mmm, I would say so, yeah," Silva answered with a nod. "Plus you're still growing, you were below Tulip's shoulders when you both arrived at the school half a year ago. Now you're almost at her shoulders." Silva was clearly trying to sound reassuring. But her monotoned, neutral tone struggled with that.

"Plus you're not a bag of bones anymore," Tulip added in the same moment that I felt a sharp pain in my side.

"Ouch—Tulip!" I cried out in embarrassed pain from the larger girl pinching my midsection.

"Fine, fine, I'll be nice—" Tulip giggled as she spoke, letting silence fill the chamber as she once more returned to managing my hair.

Eventually the conversation started again, albeit mostly between Tulip and Silva as they discussed their shared classes. I was content to just lean my head back a little, giving little attention to them and focusing more on the little fox who was contently paddling around in the water.

"There, done finally," Tulip's words caught my attention as the last of the pressure pulling at my scalp faded away. "Definitely need to cut it, but that looks better now." Tulip added as she moved forwards, falling to a stop beside me.

"It at least feels a bit nicer now," It had been so long since I had my hair properly taken care of, I'd almost forgotten how it felt for it to just be clean and free of knots. "Feels way too long though…" I grumbled, pulling my arms up to fix the stringy mess that cast over my shoulders into the water behind me.

"Like I said, we can cut it once we're done in here," Tulip looked at me with a smile on her face, soon raising an arm out of the water where a mirror would form in her hands. "Alsoz here. Take a look at yourself—You look great, honest."

I took the procured mirror after a moment, doing my best to take in how I looked despite the steam fogging the reflective surface.

I didn't look different per-say, the twin orbs of crimson that filled the reflection of my eyes were the same. My face had perhaps grown a little more defined, no gaunt from malnutrition. But my hair had certainly changed quite a bit.

I never quite realized how much my hair had grown, it was always so knotted and matted that it never spread past my head. But now it lay at a length that would easily cast down to my mid back if I were standing, its white luster shining with the moisture trapped inside.

"It does look nice… Thanks, Tulip." I returned her smile as I handed the mirror back to her, only to glance at Silva as she started to speak.

"We… We could go out once we're done in here, I've always heard the harvest festival makes a great time to go out into the city." Silva offered, sinking into the water a little more once finished.

"Oh! That sounds like a great idea, what do you think, Kirin?" Tulip asked, turning her gaze back towards me.

"That sounds nice—But, what's the harvest festival?" I asked almost timidly, worried about what I was about to be dragged into.