Baxter Ale

So I guess now is the time to finally tell you all my backstory. This was the part of the story that I wanted to avoid, but if you all are going to follow me then I guess you need to know my backstory. The tale I am about to tell you is the same story I told Ulguc and Thor that night, but there was some stuff I kept out of my retelling back then because the kid would be too young to understand.

But I have no intention of censoring anything from you guys! I will completely let out all my emotions and thoughts of the time!

Seventeen years ago, I was born in a small town in the center of a vast forest named the Town of Lore. It was located in the continent of Aore, once the home of elves from the ancient past before the demons drove them out. The once gorgeous and magical forest became old and barren but it was the perfect place for humans who had no home.

My family was commoners, while we weren't dirt poor we were definitely not rich. We got by thanks to the pawn shop my mother and father opened up. They sold old antiques and valuable magical items.

With my home fully explained I will now tell you about my parents. My father, Elisha Ale, sadly passed away due to an illness while I was still a toddler. I never met the guy and only ever saw his face in pictures. I was raised by my mother, Ava Ale a loving woman who continued to run the pawn shop after her husband's death. She was also a mage with the ability to manipulate water.

I was very young at the time and it wasn't like I witnessed my mother doing millions of cool water spells. The one time I remember seeing her using magic was when I was four. There was a pool in the neighborhood and I decided to try and swim in the deep end. I almost drowned and nearly met my end, but the one who saved me was my mother. Using a simple spell she had in her arsenal, my mother used the very water of the pool to lift me out.

In the Town of Lore, I only had one friend who would always play with me. She was my next-door neighbor and her parents were close with mine back in the old days. Her name was Iris Brimstone, the toughest and most happy-go-lucky girl I have ever met. The first time I met her, I could remember as clear as day her scarlet red hair that flew in the air and her golden eyes that even put coins to shame.

Any day we could, me and Iris would go down to the playground and pretend to be Holy Knights on a mission. We would swing our wooden swords around while we fought the scary monsters we were able to conjure from our imagination. Iris would pretend like she had fire magic while pretending that I had water magic, like my mother.

"I am Iris of the Unending Flame!"

"And I am Baxter of the Raging Ocean!"

Being a Holy Knight was a dream that I always desired. The reason why was thanks to my mother who would always read me "The Tale of the Hero of Light" before I went to bed. I idolized Philip and wished to be a hero like him. A swordsman with powerful magic, slaying monsters, and saving the day.

Iris also wanted to be a Holy Knight but her reason was because of her grandfather, Ivan Brimstone. He was a legendary Holy Knight who was famous for slaying two metal dragons and defending an entire city against an army of orcs singlehandedly. I could recall seeing the fire in Iris's eyes whenever she told the stories about her grandfather.

"I want to be a great Holy Knight like Grand Pappy Ivan! I want to embed my name into the legends of Ocaleveth!"

"Let's both do it then!"

I remember boldly declaring as I grasped Iris's hands into my own.

"When the Blessing comes and we get our magic, let's work hard to become Holy Knights! You and I will be the strongest heroes in the entire world!"

Iris smiled widely and captured me in a hug that I felt could crush my spine.

"Yes! This is going to be awesome!"

The Blessing is an ancient ceremony where the priest of a church would reveal the magical prowess of a young child during their coming of age. Humans usually awakened their magical power at the age of twelve however there have been some who were just born with their magical talent. These humans are called "The Gifted" and always end up being influential people who will impact the world in some way.

Some humans would awaken their magic late in life, those people would be called "Late Bloomers". According to my mother, my father was a late bloomer when he was young. Originally he was the son of a traveling merchant who came to Lore for business and he couldn't use any magic to help him out at the time. But when he turned sixteen, he was able to conjure fire from his palms.

And the third result for a human, which none would ever want, was to be a Null or One Forsaken by Mana. At the time, the possibility of either me or Iris being Nulls didn't even register in our brains. We truly believed that once the Blessing was finished the start of the next great stage in our lives would begin.

Well, the Blessing was the beginning of the next stage in my life. And it was great! Greatly terrible.

The promised day had come. The Town of Lore had waited until at least more than ten of the children had reached the age of twelve. The ceremony was held during Easter, I could remember being full of energy as if I consumed a whole bowl of sugar and Iris matched my excitement. Right behind us were our parents who smiled warmly at the thought of their children finally awakening to their latent powers.

We entered the small rundown church which was packed with half of the entire town inside. The priest was standing by the podium that had a crystal ball.

After saying some long and exhausting prayers the leader of the church raised his arms to the sky and proclaimed in a booming voice.

"Today is a day of rebirth! For you, Children of Ocaleveth will born again as Wielders of Mana! May your power be used for righteousness and may you continue to grow in faith! Now let the Blessing begin!"

The priest called up the names of the children from a list. As they approached they put their hand on the crystal ball which glowed with a color that indicated the type of magic they had. Red represented fire, blue represented water, green represented earth, yellow represented air, white represented light, and black represented darkness.

A bunch of kids were called some cheering for the great power they had some crying, complaining that the magic they had was not the one they wanted. I personally didn't care what I ended up getting, I knew that with dedication I could turn any magic affinity into the most powerful it could possibly be.

"Iris Brimstone!"

When Iris was called, me and the adults cheered for her. She ran up to the podium and slapped her right hand onto the crystal ball, almost knocking it over. Instantly, the magical sphere turned red.

"Iris Brimstone! The Lord has given you the Gift of the Flames! Use it responsibly!"

"Flames? Awesome!"

Iris ran down and hugged me tightly.

"Baxter, I got flames! I'm going to be a Flame Holy Knight!"

I responded with the same happy attitude.

"That's amazing Iris! I wonder what magic I'm gonna get!"

"I hope it's water! You and I could be a water and fire duo! Wouldn't that be so cool!?"

"Totally?"

"Baxter Ale!"

And then my name was called.

"Good luck, my son!"

My mother kissed my forehead and ushered me up to the altar. I smiled at the priest while he just stared at me with an emotionless expression.

"Alright...let's do this!"

I placed my dominant left hand onto the crystal ball, waiting for whatever color to show up...but nothing happened.

"Huh?"

Everyone in the church started to murmur and whisper while I looked up at the priest confused.

"Uhm...sir? I think the crystal ball is broken."

"No, Baxter Ale," the priest said in a cold tone. "It's working..."

"W-what do you-"

"Place your hand on the crystal ball again."

"B-but what does—"

"DO IT!"

Frightened by the priest's sudden yell, I put my hand to the crystal ball once more, but still no change.

"I-I don't understand! What's going on!?"

"It's very simple, Baxter Ale..."

I looked up to see that the priest was staring down at me with a rotten look.

"The Lord has abandoned you! Baxter Ale, you are Forsaken by Mana!"

At that very moment, my world crumbled. I felt weak in my knees and stumbled off the altar. I turned to my mother who wore a shocked expression while everyone else in the church turned their heads away from me in shame.

Iris was the only one who looked at me dead in my face, still showing the same energeticness and kindness. She was too young and naive at the time to understand what being a Null meant for me. In a world of magic, someone like me who could never produce it was doomed to have a hard life.

Ever since the Blessing, the people of Lore have started to treat me differently. Back then, I was met with smiles and kind words but after I was declared a Null I was shunned and ridiculed. Denied entry into stores or restaurants I used to enter before. The kids on the playgrounds would bully me. And my family's pawn shop was losing customers.

While my life was getting worse by the day, my mother continued to try and give me hope.

"Don't worry Baxter! I'm sure you are just a Late Bloomer like your father! Just give it some time and your magic will awaken!"

I prayed every night hoping that my mother's words were correct. And then when morning rose I would dedicate hours to try and conjure mana out of my hands. In the end, nothing came out and I just looked like a fool.

As for my relationship with Iris, it had become complicated. Her parents who once loved me like their own refused to even let me approach their door. Iris herself still wanted to see me but her family did everything in their power to keep her away from me.

Having enough of being held down by her mother and father, Iris hatched a plan. She managed to send a letter to my house telling me to meet by the lake which was another area we used to play a lot.

That night, I did as instructed in the letter and went to the lake. Standing right by it was an impatient Iris.

When my friend noticed me she grinned and waved.

"Hi, Baxter! Long time no see!"

"How did you convince your parents to let you out this late?"

"I didn't. I snuck out."

I gasped in a very dramatic fashion.

"Idiot! You can get in serious trouble for just being out here so late!"

"I shouldn't get in trouble for just meeting a friend! I don't understand why Mom and Dad are being so mean to you!"

"It's not just your parents Iris, it's everybody in the town! I'm the first Null they had in years and they are treating me as if I am sort of...disease!"

"Do you...really think you're a Null?"

"...I don't know. Mother says I'm just a Late Bloomer. But what if she's wrong? What am I going to do if I really can't use magic!?"

As I continued to let out my fears, sadness, and frustration my voice raised in volume. An uncountable number of tears fell from my eyes, blinding me as my body began to tremble as if it would fall apart.

"I-if I can't u-use magic...I can't become a H-Holy Knight...!"

Before any other words escaped my lips Iris embraced me. Her arms felt warm and her hair smelled like strawberries. I started to calm down bit by bit as I allowed myself to fall into Iris's hug. Once I stopped crying, Iris looked me right at my face. Slight tears were coming out of her own eyes but she was trying to keep her smile on.

"Baxter, you are one of the strongest people I know. No matter how hard the task or how big the obstacle you always managed to push forward! I don't know if you are just a Late Bloomer or a Null but regardless I know you--Baxter Ale, can still become a Holy Knight!"

"H-how can I become a Holy Knight if I'm a Null?"

"If you can't become stronger with magic then just get your strength from your own body! Maybe you will go down in history as the first non-magic Holy Knight!"

Iris's words of encouragement caused me to release a fit of laughter I never thought I could make. Feeling the same strange joy, Iris joined in and we basked in the moment as the full moon's light shined over us.

That night with Iris gave me the determination to keep on trying. No matter what my future would end up being, I swore under the gorgeous night to become a Holy Knight. To become a hero.