The Awakening

CHAPTER 5

"Shut up!" Eric shouted as he threw out both of his hands with his palms wide open, and what looked like a round fireball shot out from the palms of his hands and headed towards Ali.

Catching sight of the beam heading towards him, Ali stretched forth his wand and muttered a quick spell, and what looked like ice shot out from his wand and got rid of the incoming fireball.

Eric's eyes widened in shock at what had just happened, and he quickly shifted his gaze to his palms, where the fireballs came from. "Did I just cast a spell?" Eric uttered in disbelief.

"You are a natural, Eric. I didn't expect any less from the descendant of the Phoenix goddess. Your magic must have triggered unconsciously when you were filled with several emotions like anger, sadness, confusion, and joy. Sometimes your emotions could help you control your abilities and use them to the fullest." Ali explained.

"Also, I am sure you didn't notice the bracelet in your hand glowing before it vanished into thin air," Ali added, and Eric began to search for his bracelet, but it was nowhere to be found.

"Your mother, the Phoenix goddess, must have added a bit, or probably all her magical energy, into that bracelet to help you awaken your magical core and automatically inherit the power of the goddess," Ali spoke further.

Eric still stood there in disbelief. What just happened? Did he really just conjure a fireball all by himself? Did he just use magic?

Those were the thoughts racing through his head at that moment, and his heart was racing in joy.

Eric never thought a day would come when he would finally be able to cast his own spells and become a great magician. 

He thought his fate was already decided and he would die a worthless commoner, but with all that was happening right now, he knew he could change that fate and finally become someone.

"I am sure you didn't believe my words earlier because it sounded surreal, and all of it was just too much for you to digest at once. However, now that you just cast a spell, you finally see sense in what I've been telling you this whole time." Ali spoke further after a few minutes of silence, and his voice echoed throughout the temple.

"Yeah. I believe you." Eric finally muttered. "What do I need to do?" Eric questioned.

"Your magical ability is already awakened since you just need magic; all you have to do is concentrate and embrace your newfound power. Concentrate, feel the energy flowing inside of you. Circulate the energy all around your body. Once you do those two things, you won't find it difficult to cast new spells and become a great magician in the near future." Ali instructed, and Eric listened attentively.

"I can't teach you everything right now; those are things you would have to learn on your own." He added.

"Learn on my own? I barely even know what is going on right now. I am new to all of this, and you want me to figure it all out on my own?" Eric blurted out.

"This might help you in your journey," Ali uttered as he waved his right hand, and a big old book with a hard, ancient cover flew out of nowhere and headed towards Eric, who caught it swiftly.

"What is this?" Eric questioned.

"That was the goddess's spell book, which I believe might help you. There are a lot of important spells written down there and instructions on how to master them. If you focus and practice daily, I believe you would master it." Ali informed.

Eric glanced at the book in his hand and flipped through the pages. There were different sentences that were written in English, but in an ancient language that Eric had no idea about, and there were also different, strange drawings here and there in the book.

"This isn't even written in English. How am I supposed to read something that I can't even understand?" Eric lamented with a frown.

"Once you are ready to learn, the book will speak to you and you will definitely understand it, trust me," Ali responded.

Eric nodded as he placed the book inside his bag of vegetables before hanging it around his shoulder.

"I should probably get going, it's getting late, and my Dad would be worried," Eric remarked.

"Goodbye, Eric." Ali waved him goodbye.

"I can still return here in case I have any other questions, right? I mean, I still have tons of questions, but I can't do that right now since I have to head home. So I guess I'll be coming back here tomorrow, if that's okay with you." Eric spoke up.

Hearing the words of Eric, Ali went mute for a few seconds before he finally responded.

"I will be expecting you."

Eric smiled before turning around to face the gigantic door that still blocked his path.

"The only way out is if you use your magic!" Eric remembered Ali's words from earlier, and he took a deep breath in and out before stretching his right hand towards the door with his palm widened. 

He stood there for a few minutes gazing at the door, before a huge ball of fire shot out from his palm and headed towards the door.

“BOOM!” 

When the fire made contact with the door, it blasted it open, allowing the moonlight to flicker into the temple. 

Eric turned around to face Ali one more time before dashing out of the temple and began to head back home.

Ali stood there as he watched Eric dash away joyfully after what had just happened. "I never knew a day like this would come. A day when I would finally meet the descendant of the Phoenix goddess. So he is truly alive. That's a relief. At least now I know there is hope for this world, and now I can finally rest." Ali pondered internally.