Maintaining a constant fire wasn’t too difficult. Even a novice wizard could maintain holding a flame for a few minutes. Eldin on the other hand, had to maintain the fire in the hearth. As well as any fire used for cooking. Normally, controlling a flame was really simple, but controlling multiple sources and maintaining them at different temperatures required an excessive amount of concentration, and an almost equal supply of energy.
Elrin had been training Eldin as soon as he demonstrated the ability to manipulate the elements. Such was a typical practice among parents and their kids. The last thing any household needed was a 3-year-old child running around throwing fire everywhere.
Everyone on the planet could control the elements. Most people had a natural knack for controlling one or two types. Those that wanted to control more dedicated their time to learning and understanding. These individuals were commonly known as Wizards. Scholars who have made it their pursuit in life to understand the nature of their world.
With his test complete, Eldin had just achieved a status ranking him in the upper echelons of wizardry as dictated by the Runefal Magic Academy. They were responsible for creating the ranks among wizards as well as setting restrictions on what was legal and illegal.
The world was made from the seven elements. Being able to control all of them essentially meant that you could shape reality. As with any great power, their existed a spectrum of good and evil. The Runefal Magic Academy was created to teach the correct use of elements, and to suppress the malicious intent of those who would rule the world with destruction and fear.
Eldin sat on the couch in the living room. The hearth was lit and providing a comfortable heat despite the fact that there was not a single log under the fire. He called upon the wind to grab a book from a nearby shelf and deliver it to him. Its title: “The Nature and Origins of the Elements.”
Elrin had constantly told him that the answer to all his questions about controlling the elements existed in this book, literally found in any household. He sighed as he opened it to the table of contents and read through the listed sections.
Another frustrated sigh escaped his lips, “There is absolutely nothing in here about advanced techniques! Let alone how to have them work together seamlessly!” Eldin closed the book and set it on the couch as he got up and inspected the stew that he was reheating.
The front door opened and closed with a thud. “Smells like stew.” He heard his father say as Elrin hung his mantle on a hook in the entryway. “You came just in time. It just started to boil.” Elrin entered the kitchen and grabbed two bowls and a pair of spoons then set them on the table. “Ready to eat then?” He asked as he took a seat.
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Eldin picked up the pot and set it in the middle of the table and let the fire in the stove disappear. He took a seat at the other end and stared at his dad.
“What is it?” Elrin asked innocently, knowing full well that his son had a million questions going on in his mind.
“Aren’t magic scrolls really expensive? Was it really worth using one so casually?” Eldin asked as he got some stew from the pot.
“The materials to make a magical scroll are indeed expensive, but its true price comes from the amount of power the creator used to make the scroll.”
“So how much was the scroll you used worth?”
Elrin put a hand to his chin and thought. If we are going at a black market price, probably one silver crystal. Just to keep things even.” Eldin started choking on his food in surprise. After getting a drink from the sink he sat back down coughing. “A whole silver crystal?! You sure that was alright to use it so freely?” Elrin chuckled as he started eating, “You can’t put a price on knowledge. Not to mention, did you see how dangerous that scroll was? What if your mom decided to use it on the town when they annoyed her?” Elrin’s last few statements were said in a joking manner.
Eldin still could not believe the price of the scroll. A typical wage for a villager for a day of work in Woodvale was 2 blue crystals. Most people never saved enough for a yellow crystal, let alone a silver. “Was that your scroll then?” Eldin asked as he continued eating.
Quick note on Currency
1 Green Crystal = About 1 drink
1 Blue Crystal = 10 Green Crystals
1 Red Crystal = 10 Blue Crystals
1 Yellow Crystal = 100 Red Crystals
1 Silver Crystal = 1000 Yellow Crystals
“That’s a silly question. I may know how to control the elements, but I devoted my life to healing and mastering the element of light. It was made by Adrok. I believe he labeled that spell ‘Tactical Nuke’. Apparently, it was a recreation of a type of weapon ancient humans used before the Great Cataclysm.”
Eldin continued to sit there in disbelief, “You mean we used to have technology that could create something like that?!”
Elrin shrugged in response, “Adrok made it his life’s goal to learn everything, especially about the time before the world was destroyed. How he came to learn these things he never explained to me.”
“You guys never really talk about him that much. Weren’t you all friends?”
Elrin finished his bowl before speaking, “He was close friends with your mom. Me and him though? We were more rivals than anything else. We constantly argued about a plethora of issues.” He put his bowl in the sink and moved to the living room. “I thought you would have questions about the spell and your test, not about the scroll.”
Eldin also finished his food and joined his dad. “I mean I do have a lot of questions, but I am pretty sure you were just going to tell me to read that book like always.” Elrin chuckled as he picked up the book his son left on the couch, “It’s true though. While the book may not detail exactly what you have to do in order to cast spells like the one earlier, it does hint at how to do it. It just takes some advanced application on the purpose of the elements.”
Eldin took the book from his dad, “Chapter 1 has the answer I’m seeking in taking the next step in my studies then?” Elrin nodded as he patted his son’s shoulder, “I trust you will figure it out eventually.” The two sat there and relaxed, enjoying the weather of a spring night with the gentle warmth of the hearth. They jumped in surprise when they heard the door open with a bang as it hit the wall of the house.