1 Prologue 1 (1/2)

Rejected.

This one word crushed me. My body felt heavy and light, cold and hot, I was angry and sad, confused and clear. This moment in my life was the lucid I ever was. I knew I had no chance, but I couldn't help but ask.

”Is there anything that can be done?”

Hearing my quivering voice my emotions slowly started to take control of my mind as tears formed in the corners of my eyes.

”I'm sorry child. But you, having an empty soul means that you won't be able to practice martial or arcane arts.”

Empty soul. Something that only 1% of the population has, it's not harmful and is not considered a disability, it means one thing. Whoever has it, doesn't have the elemental essence in his soul that is required for practicing both arcane and martial arts. And now I'm this one percent.

”Unfortunately, the University of Martial and Arcane arts can't accept you. But I saw your results. On top of your class every year, beast in school three years in a row. Almost perfect results. Any university would fight to have you. Since you passed the two first two exams, I will write a letter of recommendation.”

Only three tests. Just this much is needed to enter the most prestigious university in a country. First is a written examination, then an interview with one of the tutors, and if everything goes well you will be granted a chance to touch an awakening stone. As long as you can do that, you can search your soul for the elemental essence and then bring it back to your body. And 99% of people that are given this chance succeed. And I'm the one percent that can't.

”Child…”

The interviewer spoke again. His face… saddened. He really felt sorry for me. But my dream, of becoming an Arcane artist… cannot be achieved anymore. A martial artist is also out of the question… there is nothing left. All those years that I spent preparing for this day, all sleepless nights so that I could have the best results in every subject. All of this was rendered useless.

I felt tears slowly moving down my cheeks, dropping from my face to hit the floor.

This was my first time crying in years.

”Don't be saddened child, the world is huge, and becoming an arcane artist is only one of many paths you can take. Don't cry, raise your head and face the future. Here, take this, it's my recommendation, with it and your results any university will accept you.”

I took the piece of paper form the interviewer, I couldn't even read it through the tears in my eyes. I stepped out of the room and left the building.

In this world, where people with incredible abilities walk the earth, I was cursed to be ordinary. The Artists, that's what people call them. They awakened their power and are able to use elemental essence to cast spells, enhance their bodies, perform feats that are otherwise impossible. Their power… limitless.

I wanted to be this kind of person.

It all started when I was six, I just started school when one of my friends showed me a video of a man shooting flames from his palms, charring a horde of monsters, all of it with a calm face. I heard my parents talk about them before, but that was the first time I saw it with my own eyes.

It immediately became my obsession, I learned that you needed to awaken your power by extracting the elemental essence from the soul. There were only two ways I could accomplish this, either get accepted to the University of Martial and Arcane arts or join the Army Special Division. There they would let me use an awakening stone to do it.

So I tried my best, studied restlessly and was able to come out at the top of my class every time, got almost perfect results. I thought it all paid off when my application was reviewed, and I was invited to take the entrance exam.

I thought that even if I fail to join the university, I could still try in the military, but now… it doesn't matter.

Like a phantom I traversed the city with slow steps,, I had no goal or desire to stop. I didn't want to stop, I felt that if I stay put everything that happened will become real.

Hour… two… maybe more, I continued to walk. My legs were in pain, but that didn't stop my feet from moving. My vision no longer blurred by tears, started to pick up more details. I was at the outskirts of the city, old buildings, slightly rundown surrounded me. There was no noise other than a passing car from time to time.

I had no idea where I was. But I continued to walk.

Until… someone grabbed my shoulder from the behind. Robbery? I wouldn't be surprised that this day can get any worse.

Behind me, middle-aged man wearing ragged clothes, and with a wrinkled face and a long beard, he looked like a homeless person. His crazy looking eyes and a twisted smile made him look utterly insane.

”Hey, kid… ”

---

Ring-Ring-Ring.

”Hallo.”

”Dominque, how are you doing honey?”

”I'm doing fine mom. But you know… you don't have to call me every day.”

”And you don't have to stay at that person house. It has been already two months since you started to train there, and we haven't seen you even once since then. Your father is worried about you. I know that not being accepted to the university was hard on you, but you shouldn't let it get you down. We…”

”Mom. I told you already, I need to take a break.And there is no need for 'You' to worry, I talked with dad already, and we came to an agreement.”

”…”

”But you are right, I should at least visit you. Next week should be ok, right?”

”Sigh… fine. But are you sure it's fine? Staying over there. If you need, I can send you some money, and you can rent your own place.”

”It's fine…”

'BUMP!!!'

”…I have to go now. Bye.”

I felt the heavy blows coming from downstairs. Wasting no time, I put my clothes on and head downstairs. The house I was in, belonged to my Master that I met two months ago.It looked like it came from the last century, but internally it was still stable. But with the abuse that master is giving it, I wouldn't be surprised if it collapses soon.