The Awakening

CHAPTER 2

Eric made his way to the vegetable shop after the mages made their speech and left. The fact that the man ignored him like he weren't human made his blood boil in both anger and sadness.

But there was nothing he could do. Even though that was how everyone had been treating Eric ever since he was born, he still wasn't used to it, and it affected him daily.

Eric picked up the vegetables and settled the bills before heading back home. While Eric made his way back home, he heard footsteps from behind, but he chose to ignore them and kept walking forward.

He kept walking through the silent street, and the footsteps kept following him. Eric finally halted his steps and turned around, but no one was there. 

He glanced around in bewilderment before shifting his gaze forward and attempting to move forward, but there was already someone standing in front of him.

They were three in number, and all of them had a magical wand in their hands. Glancing at the boys' faces, Eric recognized them instantly.

It was the same boys who burnt his clothes yesterday at the river, and also one of the group that has been making his life miserable in the village. "What do you want, Kent?" Eric questioned in an audible tone.

"What I want is an answer." Kent, the boy standing in the middle of the group, responded.

"What answer?" Eric questioned.

"What was that out there?" Kent asked, his face already bright red in anger as he glared at Eric.

"What was what?" Eric questioned with a dumbfounded look etched on his face.

"You think I didn't see you back in the market? You were trying to collect a flyer for the Mages Test coming up in two days!" Kent voiced out.

"So? What does that have to do with you?" Eric inquired, his voice low, and he tried not to make eye contact with the group.

"What do you aim to achieve exactly? You are a trash with no magical ability, Eric. There's no way you would get picked!" Kent voiced out without holding back. "All you would do is waste everyone's time and space!"

"Me participating is none of your business, man. I will participate in the test, and I know I will win and get enrolled in the magical academy." 

Eric finally shifted his gaze upward and glared right into the eyes of Kent with a look of determination etched on his face.

"Haha, don't make me laugh, man." Kent and his friends then burst out in laughter after hearing the words of Eric. "You seriously want to participate in the test? A trash like you?"

Eric didn't bother replying as he just stood there in silence. "The test is no place for losers like you, that's why the mage didn't give you the flier earlier, because he knows you don't belong there. It is meant for powerful magicians like me and my friends here, so I suggest you back down and don't bother coming!" Kent retorted with an evil grin on his face.

"Why are you so concerned about me participating anyway? Are you afraid of me or what?" Eric snapped, and Kent's face grew brighter red. "If I am so weak, then let me just be when you know I would lose?"

"I don't want you to waste anyone's time by displaying your pathetic moves, so don't bother joining, or you wouldn't like what happens." Kent threatened.

"I already made up my mind, Kent. It has always been my dream to join the magical academy, and this test could grant me that wish." Eric replied.

Hearing the words of Eric, Kent clenched the wand in his right hand, and what looked like yellow sparks of energy could be seen at the tip of the wand.

"I gave you a chance to do this the easy way, but it seems you love it so much when I apply force," Kent uttered in a deep tone, and his expression darkened.

Eric began to take a few steps backwards with his heart racing and sweat trickling down his face. "Don't do this!" Eric pleaded, fear written all over his face.

"Blast!" Kent stretched forth his wand towards Eric and called out. Saying that single ward, a round ball of energy shot out from his wand and headed towards Eric.

With nowhere to run to, Eric had no choice but to grit his teeth and close his eyes.

BOOM!

The energy blasted him off and sent him flying several meters backwards, until he finally crashed against a tree and fell down on the floor. 

"Ugh," Eric grunted in pain as he lay there for several minutes. His whole body was now covered in bruises, and he felt part of his bones shatter the moment he crashed against the tree.

After lying down there for a few more minutes, Eric finally picked himself up slowly and wiped the dust off his face with his sleeves. 

Before he could catch his breath, he caught sight of one of Kent's friends stretching his wand towards him, meters away.

With the wand pointed at him, Eric felt a strong force pull him off the floor, and he was now hanging several meters in the air. 

The boy then dropped his magic wand, and at the same time, the force left Eric, and he fell face-first on the floor.

Kent then began to walk towards Eric slowly with a dark expression etched on his face. He swiped his wand upwards, causing Eric to rise back to his feet against his own will.

Kent finally arrived directly in front of him and held Eric's jet black hair. "I hope you've learnt your lesson? And I hope you will heed my warning and won't show your ugly face in the marketplace during the test. If I see you anywhere around there, I am going to kill you." Kent threatened before releasing Eric's hair and allowing him to fall back down.