Anti-Magic!

I feel like an emptiness is consuming me from the inside. What did he do to me?

“I didn’t think that would actually do anything!”, Lexon exclaims as he continues to try to help me. “It was an anti-magic spell.”, He explains to me while sitting me up straight. Anti-magic? Why would it feel like I am being eaten from the inside out!? “A human shouldn’t be affected so much by it.”, The mage says as a gentle breeze begins to blow around us.

A silence fills the room as the breeze dies down. I feel, a little better. The gnawing within me is still there but it is lessened. I open my mouth but no words come out. I am unsure if it is because I cannot find the words or if I simply cannot speak at the moment.

“At most you should have felt a tingle across your body.”, The mage says breaking the silence. “Hold on!”, He says clearly trying to reassure me. A metallic scent fills the room. Is he healing me using his elements?

The scent fades away. I feel, better. The gnawing has finally passed. I sigh in relief.

“I am so sorry.”, Lexon says to me while checking my vitals. “I am not sure what you are. But that high potential might even be an understatement.”, He continues after finishing his check up. His gaze meets mine as he asks, “Are you feeling okay now?”

I do not know… I feel better. But I am not sure if I am okay. I look human. I feel human. But I am clearly not human…

“I’m better.”, I answer bluntly letting no emotion show.

“This is the last part of the practical exams for now so you should head to the infirmary to make certain.”, Lexon says to me before walking over to the door of the small room. “Oh Lydia.”, He says stopping himself from opening the door. “Welcome to the guild. Sorry your first day probably hasn’t been what you thought it was.”, The mage says with a weak smile as he turns the knob.

-- -- --

“Well I didn’t expect to see you again.”, Irfan greets me as I stand in the doorway of the infirmary. “What’s the problem?”, He asks me calmly as he stands up.

“I…”, I begin. Should I tell him everything? Would Lexon get in trouble? Would I get in trouble? Forget it, no point in lying. “At the magical part of the practical exams an anti-magic spell was cast.”

The Lautanese medic raises a brow at the mention of anti-magic. Does he even know what that is? Will I have to explain this too? I do not even really know what it is…

“Who cast it?”, Irfan inquires bringing my mind back to the room.

“The examiner.”, I answer keeping it purposely vague.

“And why would the examiner do that?”, He inquires further. “That examine does not have anything threatening happen during it.”, The medic says matter-of-factly.

I sigh in defeat. Everyone would probably find out eventually anyways.

“The test said I have affinity with all eight elements. And the other test said I have very high potential with all of them as well.”, I explain. I wait a moment to see if Irfan will say anything but he simply looks like he wants me to continue. “I’m not sure why he did it.”, I begin. “He started. He started.”, I stammer as my vision begins to blur.

“Yamakuma?”, Ifran asks me. His voice is distant for some reason. Why would it be? He is right next to me and the infirmary is not that large.

-- -- --

“Maybe you’re a bit too special.”, A woman’s voice mutters in annoyance.

I try to speak, but no words come out. Who is this? Why can I not see anything?

“Don’t bother kid.”, The voice huffs. “That anti-magic spell hit you a bit too hard.”, She says as I feel a gentle pat on my arm. Her voice is familiar but I cannot place it. “Poor little Yamakuma. You’ll be fine though. You’re too resilient now for that to kill you.”, She says nonchalantly. “Well for anything to kill you really.”, The voice adds with an alluring chuckle. I do not appreciate that I am finding this voice charming. The words she is saying are confusing and aggravating.

“I-”, I whisper weakly. Why can I not speak? What happened?

“Well that’s impressive.”, The voice seems to reply to me. “You did something even I wouldn’t have expected.”, She says.

“What, do, you, mean?”, I ask struggling to vocalize each word almost as though the air itself was trying to repress my voice.

“You might just be one of my favorites little Yamakuma.”, The voice replies clearly ignoring my question. “I’m so glad your file stumbled on my desk!”, She says, her voice sounding sickly sweet. My file? Her desk?

“Lydia?”, I hear Ifran’s voice call.

I open my eyes. It is the infirmary ceiling again.

“I’m glad you’re alright.”, Ifran says as he puts an arm against my back. “Can you sit up?”, He asks me. I simply nod my head. He helps me up to a sitting position. “You just passed out all of a sudden before you could finish explaining what happened.”, The medic explains.

“How long ago was that?”, I ask the medic.

“Not too long ago.”, He answers. He puts a hand on my shoulder as he inquires, “Are you actually okay?”

What? If that happened not too long ago, who was that talking to me? She said something about a file. And no, I am not okay. I want to be honest. I want to tell him, anyone really. I am no longer human. I am something else. But I do not even know what!

“I’m better. I think I just needed some rest.”, I lie to the medic. If he can tell I am lying, he sure does not show it. Maybe I just cannot read Lautenese expressions very well and he is very obvious about it. I doubt that but still.

“So the test said you have affinity with all eight elements.”, Ifran voices before an awkward silence can fill the room. “That’s unheard of.”, He says with a smile. “It’s so ridiculous that it has to be true.”, The medic adds with a chuckle. An interesting sound, it almost sounds like a gurgle mixed with a horn. “High potential in all of them though.”, He says resting his chin in a webbed hand. “That sounds truly unbelievable. It’s pretty common knowledge that the more affinities you have the more likely your potential is lower with each of them.”, He explains to me.

“I know.”, I respond rather weakly. “It’s why Lexon cast that anti-magic on me.”, I blab unintentionally spilling that added bit of information.

“He cast it on you!?”, Ifran inquires. A mix of anger and confusion filling his voice. “What happened to you after that?”, He asks. “Is whatever happened to you why you came here?”, He asks another question before I can answer the first.

“He did cast it on me.”, I answer. “Neither of us expected it to do what it did.”, I explain a little before taking a deep breath. I exhale slowly with my eyes closed, collecting myself before I relive the sensations.

“It…”, I begin, “Hurt.” I sigh before continuing, “I felt as though I was being eaten from the inside.”

“That’s-”, The medic says clearly at a lose for words. “Horrible.”, He adds as the only thing he can think of. No shit it was horrible. I cannot say that to the man though.

“Are you alright!?”, Nir’s booming voice echoes in the infirmary. Ifran and I look at the doorway to see the tall Slayer standing in it. Almost like stone, worry is etched into his face. “I heard from Ming what happened.”, He explains while walking to my side. “He will be adequately dealt with.”, The man answers before either of us can even ask the question.

“I’m fine now.”, I answer meekly bending my knees into my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

“Even if he couldn’t believe the results what he did was dangerously stupid.”, Nir says unable, or unwilling, to hide his anger at the Dwarf. “Apparently what usually happens to people in the presence of an anti-magic spell is they just get a shiver down their spines or something.”, He adds with a huff.

“That’s if the spell is cast near them.”, Ifran corrects his superior. “Anti-magic spells are only cast on an individual if they are deemed too dangerous.”, The Lautanese explains to both of us.

Too dangerous? Does Lexon think I am some kind of threat? If so, why?

“Well that is definitely going to be taken into consideration with Ming’s consequences.”, Nir says rather cryptically. Nir looks at me as he asks, “What were the words Journeyman Ming used to cast the spell?”

My gaze lands on the large man sitting next to me. How can I say them and not hurt someone? Or not hurt myself? If I just say them will anything happen?

“It’s alright Lydia.”, Ifran says giving me a reassuring smile. “Just say them. No need to focus on anything specific.”, He explains to me. “Strangely it’s actually safer to not focus on anything in particular.”, He adds. I merely look at the medic for a moment. It is as if he could read my mind. Maybe he could just tell what I was thinking, no mind reading necessary? I clear my throat.

“All things are connected in this world.”, I slowly begin to recite. “The elements flourish and give life. Binding all things together.”, I quicken my pace. “I now call upon the emptiness. The silence between all. Break the elements’ chains.”, I finish.

Nothing happens except a silence hanging in the room.