It all started on the happiest day of my life and the worst night right after.

  As a student of the Magic Elite school I was extremely competent, in fact I was the third best ice mage in the world, which although it's a rare study of magic, was a impressive feat for someone just 21 years old.

  I woke up at my desk, with paper stuck to my face and ink on my nose. Another one for the books I guess. The stone desk certainly wasn't comfortable but... actually no it's not comfortable. back then I had a theory that some ice magic isn't actually ice magic. But instead a variant of time magic. Which turned out to be true

  Anyway I mention this because it will be important later.

  After I brushed the paper off my face. I cleaned myself up using a mixture of magic and water. Dressed in the signature light blue robes of the Ice magic department. Organized my desk, and ate the standard meal of mages world wide. Hard biscuits and dried meat. Sure most could afford something better, but most mages cared only to improve our craft, and neglect meals as a whole. Take Arthur for example. I've only seen him bring up two things. His maid and magic. And I know for a fact he barely eats.

  The best mages just tended to be single minded in their desires. I've heard some rumors that people think mages sustain themselves with nothing but magic. And it makes me laugh everytime. Because frankly we just live very unhealthy lifestyles. And the idea that we are able to feed and care for ourselves with only magic is funny.

  Tangent aside, that morning I was going to vist somewhere very special. So I stretched my arms as my body popped and clicked Then I looked around my simple stone room once more, mostly at the bed I never used, plus the magic circle on the ground, and smiled. This was my life, and boy was I happy to live it.

  I then did my favorite part of the day and woke up to a game a chicken. I pulled open my door and looked down the sheer cliff face it presented and the lake of water several hundred meters down. Any self respecting mage knows how to fly. And I was no different. I then jumped.

  Although I did make sure to close my door, I'm not a savage.

  Anyway my feet hit the rough stone and instantly ice formed between the two. With literally no friction, cause magic, my speed increased nearly as fast as my heart beat did. It pounded like a war drum as I fell faster and faster. My skin struggled against my muscles, my robes flew behind me with the grace of a flag in a hurricane. I wanted to break my record today and the only thing stopping me was bravery.

  And today I felt good.

  The water grew moment by moment. It's deep blue hue taking my entire vision. I trusted my intuition, so when it said it was time I didn't hesitate. I began pulling away from the rock. Preparing for the rapidly approaching end to this deadly sport. I pushed my magic out and formed a ramp of solid ice infront of me and cast every layer of defensive magic I knew. Then the next moment I slammed into the ramp well above terminal velocity. It cracked and shattered underneath me, but it served it's purpose.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  My math was correct, my timing perfect, and my magic sufficient. I was redirected back up, away from the water. Several shields of magic shattered. Then my body glowed as the reinforcement magic took their place.

  My bones cracked and my muscles cried. But my magic held up and I lived.

  Shot back up into the air I took it all in. The great forest around my home. The blue lake beneath me, as usual the lake side was filled with people watching the morning ritual. And I saw them cheering. That alone told me I'd probably broken my record. But I'd wait to see the proof. I relished in the moment even if I was in pain. I savored my victory. I continued to fly up and away from the cliff looking back I saw another mage begin his daily ritual as he too jumped off the cliff.

  Although, I could tell from a glance he wouldn't be nearly as reckless as I was. Smart man, he will live to tell great tales and never truly master magic. Probably even eats like a normal person.

  My ascent slowed down and for a moment I stood completely still in the air. Actually for a while because I used some light air magic to hover for a bit. Before I let go and began falling again. This time I just let myself fall freely enjoying the view one last time for the day.

  I ended my daily ritual with a mix of air magic and ice magic to slow down to the speed of a falling snowflake. When I did I saw him. Arthur was at the lakeside watching the mages wake up and fall out of their nests like small birds who hadn't learned to fly. A few fell into the water below too.

  I approached my target, who definitely didn't spot me and was currently trying to look as far away as he could. And for some reason had at this point casted a shield spell.

  I say some reason because no measly spell could stop my assault. I attacked. "Hey Arthur!"

  Stunned by my sudden boldness he slightly flinched before smiling and turning to look at me. "Hey Jake, how are you? Sleep well last night?" He deflected.

  Heh, pathetic attempt. I pressed onto victory. "Oh great better then ever actually, what about you? I wasn't there to witness your morning dive but I'm sure it was great."

  I could practically see the sweat on his brow as he continued to resist. "Oh not really the same old, same old. Still the champion."

  "Oh that's too bad, by now I would have thought someone would have taken you up on your generous offer to give them your copy of "Familiar love" you know it's not often you find a book that goes in depth on how to summon and care for a familiar. Or is it perhaps you made a mistake and bought the other book titled "Familiar Love" without checking the author?" I pressed my advantage. He was cornered and he knew it too.

  "Hey Jake is that Joseph diving over there?" He pointed to the cliff his eyes shifting around looking for a way out. Sorry bud, you aren't getting out of this.

  "I'm sure he's doing fine, as my sort of student he should have mastered flight magic easily by now." I replied keeping my eyes locked and my tongue as silver as the snake I was. Joseph was the worst at flight magic I'd ever seen.

  "Ah I see well if you are confident in him so am I." He said letting go of that stick the moment it didn't work. He raised his hand and waved to someone behind me. "Hey Liz! Come over here, I want to talk to you."

  Well stab me 13 times over he found a way out.

  I was stuck here. The moment I stopped looking at Arthur he was going to turn invisible and run. But if Liz really was behind me and I didn't look at her... I shudder at the thought.

  I stared down Arthur, throwing fireballs and water whips at his soul. I was going to turn around and if Liz isn't behind me. So help me Arthur I'm going to write some gay fanfiction about you and the bottom on an ice golem's foot.

  Slowly I turned around never breaking eye contract until I physical couldn't send mental death threats at Arthur's psyche. I then fully turned around and looked for the aforementioned Liz. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately. There was in fact no Liz. I sighed, feeling defeated because I definitely was. The battle was over but the war will continue.

  A annoyed, female voice spoke behind me. "Jack, Arthur said you were looking for me?"

  She's behind me isn't she. Oh I'm definitely posting that fanfiction now.