Freedom Jumper

At a long wooden and blue clothed table, laid an abundance of color and flavor. Steaks, chicken, potatoes, mixed veggies, fruits, wine, and milk.

"What an amazing spread George!!"

"Hahaha, thank you for the kind words Elijah, but this is all thanks to the maids and their exceptional cooking and preparation skills."

With fifteen people graciously sitting at the dining table, conversations were being thrown around left and right. George was conversing with Don and Phloria about his situation, and Novius and Elijah were having conversations with all the siblings about the Junior Hunter Program.

As half the food was gone and the eating started to slow, George interrupted the dinner table. "Ahem, pardon for my interruption, but it is time for the main dish." A long gulp of his water made, and the sound of the glass cup against the table started the announcement. "I truly do not want to scare any of you, but knowing this is important for you to think about your future, especially the kids. The outer west and north are littered with black ash and rocks that have practically destroyed the farmland. Beasts are roaming the lands and are slowly going to be killed by hunters and judges with the intent to repair the wall when the chance arises. There are multiple holes within the wall from what looks like rocks that fell from the sky. The daylight situation will hopefully be cleared within the next fortnight. However, from what I have heard, there are an extremely large number of beasts outside the walls. Do not tell anyone this as I expect the council is downplaying the situation. Nothing like this in the history of Astraea has ever happened before. And if it comes down to it, we will be forced to eat the meat of the beasts we kill."

Silence sat in the room as many people took huge gulps at the realization of the situation.

The only thought going through Elijah's mind was how he could help. He was nearing ten years old, and from the sound of it, the Hunter Guild would need all the help they could get. However, going public as a hunter would mean people would find out his affinity. Just to be on the safe side, only the people close to him can know. Although, is it possible to have two affinities?

Worried chatter started echoing through the room, but Julian asked a question that silenced their thoughts. "What was even the cause of this calamity?"

"That is a question that I do not know, however, there is one last thing I wanted to tell you that might give you all some hope, the kingdom hope. 3 days from now, there will be a gathering in the Grand Park to explain the plan for the kingdom, and to address every issue that the people have."

Elijah desperately wants to know if any of the Junior Hunter's are going to be sent to the outer region to help, but part of him already knows the answer.

Dinner finished with food still on the table due to the sour news that lowered the hearts of the people, and Elijah walked outside with Novius and Alexia. As the three were walking down the neat cobblestone sidewalk, Novius casually popped a question into the air. "So Alexia, what are your goals in life?"

Alexia tilted her chin up confidently and said, "I want to be strong, and help people!"

"So you want to be a healer?"

"Yes I guess so, but I don't have an affinity yet. My family are simple farmers and have been saving up for this exact moment. But we lost everything in the calamity and have to start over. I don't even think we have started, considering we will be staying in your house thanks to your generous father…"

Alexia was clearly holding back her emotions and suffering because of it. Elijah put his hands on her shoulders and gently massaged them, then moving up the back of the neck to release tension and stress. She felt no ill will or embarrassment due to this being something natural everyone does in this kingdom. Massages were a vital part of health due to its ability to lower stress dramatically. Stress can be held within muscles, and the rise of massages brought about massage clinics where the masseuse's go in depth into every part of the body. Some people would call it sexual, and some would call it healing.

"I know the three of us haven't known or seen each other for a very long time, but I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. If we are all eyeing to become stronger, then why don't we vow to explore outside the walls!" Elijah exclaimed as he threw his fist up into the air.

Novius and Alexia both look at Elijah with worried eyes. "I'm sorry, but that is not something I can agree with."

Elijah was hoping his friends were different from the norm, and similar to Amaris. Instead of probing more about why, he calmly responded. "Okay, I understand. This kingdom is pretty great anyway, who knows if there is life outside the walls."

"There is not." Novius responded without hesitation. A response that seemed automatic.

"How would you know that?"

"Simple, if there was life outside the walls, we would know by now. It has been six thousand years."

Elijah continued walking with a worried expression in his head. The time may come when he has to abandon his friends. Fortunately, it would be rather easy for him as he has already done it in his past life multiple times. He understands that not everything lasts, except for maybe his life cycles, which he still wonders if this is just a one time exception, or a never ending cycle where he just happened to be lucky and retain his memories. The person he is now may truly not be Lukas, but instead of memories that were somehow transferred between the death and life of two people. This explanation would follow with his idea of how life is cyclical and eternal, because if it was not, life would not exist in the first place.

The three returned to the Weltor Estate, and greeted their families on the way to Novius' bedroom. Elijah raised his hand into the air and conjured a portal from which he pulled out a black cloak littered with holes.

"How did you do that?" Novius and Alexia both asked the same questions as they were dumbfounded from the performance.

Elijah gave a quick smile and replied. "Space magic"

Both of his friends questioned him about his magical affinity and watched as Elijah demonstrated the possibilities. However, Elijah said that even with this powerful affinity, it was not possible to cut through the magic of other more powerful beasts. This was a fact Elijah unfortunately found out himself. It does not matter what affinity you have, if two attacks clash, the attack that came from the more powerful core would win one hundred percent of the time.

Elijah knew there had to be some type of workaround to such a flaw of the way magic works. In fact, his portal of transference is the perfect example of this. Magic that transcends the limits of cores. However, there had to be more uses, and especially spells like his portals that originate from different elements.

"Novius, instead of asking me questions, why don't you show us your affinity?" Elijah said with an eyebrow lifted.

"I think you might be onto something Elijah, and if you will, please cut the candles." Novius responded as he walked into the center of the room.

Darkness and silence spread throughout the bedroom, and then it happened. A small and controlled string of white energy spread into smaller strings as it made its way to the cut candles. Novius was doing all of this with one hand, while holding his other hand as if he was about to snap his fingers.

Snap*

The candle's in the room instantly lit up again with the snap of Novius' fingers.

Elijah was excited beyond belief. "Lightning?"