Chapter 9: Magic Towers

Leon watched her spell. He watched the water flow around her and splash onto the ground, his eyes carrying a certain glee as he watched it. When she was done with it, she turned to look at Leon.

"The birthday boy," she said with a smile.

"You did not come to celebrate my birthday with me," Leon said and walked closer.

"I’m sorry, but that’s something for your family," she said and then proceeded to lift him off the ground. She twirled Leon around one time and then placed him down.

"I’m still shocked at how clear your speech is for your age."

Leon stepped back a bit, ready to get into the casting, but she suddenly got on one knee and then looked at him right in the eye.

"Leon, I have something to tell you. I could wait a year before I do, but I feel I owe it to you early to say it."

’What could she want to say? She sounds serious. Did something happen?’ His mind was already racing to find the answer before she even said anything.

"What is it?" he asked after his mind could not find any answers.

"Well, my master said she might not be back any time soon, and so she had contacted one of the magic towers of the empire. I’ll be leaving for the magic tower at the capital of the empire in a year’s time, when I am eighteen, to complete my training and research."

’Oh, that’s it. She is leaving. I guess it was long overdue for someone like her, skilled in magic and very smart.’

Leon recalled what the towers were in the empire. Each one was made by a gathering of great mages. They used it to train the greatest mages of the empire, keeping the greatest research inside.

The one at the capital was known as the Central Mage Tower, and it was one of the most renowned ones. If Ash was getting called there, then she was a real genius.

’The towers might hold information on the past and exactly what happened. If I can become good enough of a mage, I might be able to go there and research.’

"I see," he replied to her and then turned. He walked away a few steps while she stretched her hand and tried to stop him.

"Leon, wait," she called out.

He stopped and turned around. He gave her a smile. "As long as you promise that when I am of age and she can leave here, you’ll let me come visit you wherever you are."

She was stunned when she heard that. She expected him to completely flip, but he did not. She let out a smile. "You are one of a kind, Leon," she said and then stepped back.

"I promise." She placed her hand on her chest.

Leon smiled and nodded. "Now let’s get to practice. My control over wind has gotten a lot better."

"Hmm, alright then. Come at me," she replied.

He nodded. Wind gathered beneath his feet, lifting him off the ground.

"You still manage to shock me. I can never get used to seeing you use magic this easily," she said.

She was the only person that knew the full power of Leon. She kept it as a secret from everyone as well to ensure that he did not become a target. As it was already, he was a target.

Leon propelled himself forward while keeping focus to ensure he did not suddenly change direction. He thrust both his hands forwards. A ball of ice formed, and then he fired it.

She pulled out her wand fast and swung it down, causing the ice to scatter. Then she muttered under her breath, using a spell to disrupt the wind under his feet. He fell and hit his behind hard on the ground.

He clicked his tongue and got up, a flame surging in his palm. Before he could attack with it, she cast a water spell that doused his hand and quenched the fire. He looked at his palm in shock, then looked at her. She had a smile on her face.

"Alright then," he said and stepped back. He began forming a large ball of water between his hands. It grew in size until it was large.

"Oh, that spell. Pretty decent one-star spell, but it’s very weak for someone like me," she said.

"I know, and that’s why I have modified it a lot," he responded, and then split the water apart into many small water droplets that were then shaped into bullets.

Her eyes widened when she saw the spell take that form.

"You...you basically created an entirely new spell," she said in shock and amazement.

Leon smiled in return and attacked. The water bullets fired through the air at her, but she handled that easily. She swung her wand, and a wall of wind formed around her, stopping the water bullets from hitting her.

’If it comes to spell power, there is no way that I will be able to win her. I have to be cunning and think faster than she can react.’

He bolted after that, rushing in her direction while a ball of flame formed in his hands.

She looked at him and simply pointed her wand at him. She cast the same water spell, but suddenly used wind to propel himself into the air, evading her attack cleanly and then attacking with the fireball. She tried to block, but it was too late as the flame slammed into her, burned her arm, and caused her to stagger back.

Leon landed on the ground and looked at her. She was standing normally, like the attack had not just landed. She had a smile on her face.

"Nice work, Leon. I always forget that you can already do dual casting."

"This is the first time I landed a hit on you," Leon said in a happy tone.

"Yeah, you are catching up at a stunning pace, Leon. I’m proud."