Chapter Two

SETH

*8 Years Later*

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Uncle Eric asked while I walked out of the house with my bag on my back.

"I'll be fine Uncle. I can't live the rest out my life hiding in the shadows. It's been 18 years. If going to the Saki Empire is a risk at my life, then it's a risk I'm willing to take. They won't execute me without a trial. I never murdered anyone for this power so I'm innocent.

"And if they find you guilty?" Auntie Anna asked, still scared for me.

"Then I'll destroy half of the kingdom trying to get back to you guys. No one's going to kill me. The difference between me and the other casters that have been executed, is that I've had my power longer than them, and I know how to use it. Sooner or later I'm going to end up there. Why not let it be on my own terms?" I asked smiling. Uncle laughed and pulled me into him.

"I've taught you well. Just be safe."

"I will." I wrapped my arms around him. "Just so you know. Even though I'm going to search for him, you will always be my father." I pulled away and he had already tear up. That's my first time ever showing him that level of bonding. I don't blame him for crying. I leaned in and kiss Auntie Anna on her cheek. "I'll miss you, guys. I promise to keep you posted."

"We'll miss you too. Be safe!"

I turned away and began walking off. The first thing I did was put on my winter hat to cover my hair. Saki Empire here I come. I have at least 200 miles before I get there. Luckily there's this thing called a train that I can take to get there fast. I've never seen one before, in fact I've never even met another person. I heard it was invented by a human scientist trying to develop our planet. This world is so strange to be compiled with Magic and Science. How do we even coexist together?

I finally made it to the edge of the forest. I came out on a hill and saw the town uncle had told me about. I also saw a huge metal mechanism at the edge of town that was on iron lines. That must be the train. It's the only thing big enough to carry a mass amount of people. This is going to be so awesome! I began to run down the hill towards the town. When I got to the town I saw tons of people. Not all dressed the same and not all spoke the same. There were a lot of markets and people selling things.

"What kind of town is this?" I asked myself, walking through trying to get to the other side. I heard the sound of a loud horn that can probably be heard from a mile away. I quickly noticed that some of the people who were occupied started heading in the direction of the train. I guess if that's the signal that the train is leaving then that means, they were visitors. . .I think.

I started running and squeezing pass everyone. When I got to the train people were already getting on board. I just stood looking around because believe it or not, I'm not sure what to do now. There are so many words on this thing.

"You seem confused. If you're wondering whether you have to pay or not, you don't. It's a ferry train." I looked back wondering if this person was speaking to me.

A guy in a black hood wearing a mask that covered the lower part of his face walked by me and stepped onto the train.

"If you're going to just stand there you'll get left behind."

"Actually, there were two things I was wondering. The second is whether this goes to Saki Empire or not?"

"It passes by there but it doesn't go directly into the empire." He turned and entered. I guess that's all I needed to know. I walked in and ventured down the narrow walk way. I sat in the first available seat and slide straight to the window. Just as I did, the train doors closed and it started moving forward. I stared at all the strange things that I've never seen while we moved really fast. I wonder what powers this machine.

"Hey, stop him!" I heard yelling and shouting. I looked forward and a door leading to the other half of the train opened up. That guy from earlier came bursting through it. He seems like he's running from someone. His eyes fixed on me and he tilted his body and slide into my seat right beside me.

"Act natural!" he said, removing his mask.

"Y-yeah, okay." I stuttered agreeing while watching him remove his hood then his jacket. He looked at me and that's when I realized how wrong I was. I felt a hand pull me in and suddenly our lips connected. We Remained as though we were kissing while the people that pursued ran by. After they got to the other half of the train, I pulled away and stared with a wide-eyed expression.

"You're a girl!"

"The last time I checked." She smiled, letting down her hair neck length brown hair and putting one side of it behind her ear.

"I thought you were a guy!" I shouted.

"You would've kissed a guy?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Wha—no! I realized you weren't when you were about to kiss me!" I defended quickly. "So that's what you do? Go around kissing random strangers." I claimed.

"You're not random. We've already met, remember? Besides, you're cute. I wouldn't have done that to anyone else." She smirked at me while leaning down and sliding her pants up. She pulled a small bag from a tiny pocket that was strapped around her thigh and opened it up. Her smile widened exponentially. "That's what I'm talking about." She dug her hand into the bag and pulled out a shiny stone which looked to be a crystal. "I can eat for weeks when I convert these to money."

"That's why they're chasing you? You stole from them? You're a thief?" I said in an irritated tone.

"Hey!" She snapped suddenly. "Not all of us are born all high and noble. Some of us don't have a choice." Her face saddened for a split second before she smiled again. "Besides," she said, resting a book on the table. "Knowledge is more expensive than jewels. And this right here, is rare knowledge."

I leaned in and looked at the book closely. But in all honesty, I'm not the least interested in some book. I don't care how expensive or rare it is.

"What's that?" I asked anyway cause let's be honest, I don't know what it is.

"Are you kidding me? You're a caster and you don't even know what this is? What century are living in? This is a Monarian spell book, one with rare, and powerful spells. The guy I stole it from is some kind of lord under the Sothern Empire. Don't get me wrong. I want to sell this baby so bad but I'm a freak for knowledge. I simply cannot let it go." She started hugging the book, then tucked it beneath her jacket quickly when the men who were chasing came by again.

"Well, if that's your passion then why not? Me on the other hand, I hate anything that's associated with words. If you hadn't noticed, I can't read." I sighed. One of the many perks of being raised in the middle of a forest.

"Y-you can't read?! Monarian nor English?" Her eyes widened in a confused and baffled expression.

I shook my head saying no.

"If you can't read, how do you use your magic?"

"Would you believe me if I told you?" I smiled.

"Try me." She squinted her eyes.

"I'm a sacrificial caster that can use physical magic and I'm heading to the Saki Empire to be put on trial. Hopefully I avoid imprisonment and, or beheading."

She bursted into laughter immediately after my conclusion.

"Okay. That was pretty good. And with your facial expression, I almost believed you. That's when I realized, if you were actually a True-Caster you'd already be dead. There are only a few True-Casters out there, and they're still alive because of how they gained their abilities."

My brows furrowed. "I'm curious about something. How'd you know that I was a caster when I never even told you?"

"I can feel all of this magical power surging from your body. It's practically out there like you're not even trying to conceal it. That's why I was surprised when you told me you couldn't read Monarian." A knot developed in my forehead.

"You can sense my magic? I didn't know casters can do that."

"Casters can sense other casters magical force if they don't have it concealed. That's like the first lesson in a common Monarian. Oh, I forgot you can't read. I'm so sorry."

"It's not a problem. It's not my fault so I'm not ashamed," I assured.

"You know, I wanted to say this earlier but I wasn't sure whether it was coming from you or not because you don't look strong at all. Now that I'm positive, I just have to say that the magic radiating from you is the most power I've ever felt from any ordinary caster. I normally only feel this kind of power from a coronal and a lieutenant. You're strong. I just know it for some reason. You also seem like a really good guy."

"Maybe because I am." I smiled at her. The train started making that loud sound again. I stood up and looked around wondering what was wrong. "What does that mean?" I asked quickly.

"It means the train will be stopping soon. You ask a lot of questions. It's like your life was stuck on pause while the world around you moved on."

"You'd be surprised." I smiled looking out of the window. "I'm still not sure how this contraption you call a train, works."

"Technology is advancing and things are being invented faster than ever before. Everything that has been invented so far, was created by humans," she said in a bothered tone, causing me to look at her in wary manner.

"Why so troubled by humans?"

"Lower your tone!" she said quickly. "I'm just saying. Most humans think that magic is an unfair practice, that it is the use of dark power. They believe that the world shouldn't be run by it, and that science is the only way to explain every event that has occurred on our planet. Studying matter and rotating copper to create electromagnetic fields. They even created a device that tells the time of day with a ticking hand. I'm just saying, if the humans ever invent a weapon that can wipe us out, then there will be a rising war on our planet and I fear that not even the magic council can't prevent it."

I developed a concerned look. I'm not use to how the world rotates as yet but her conclusion does sound like something to be tense about. Right now the world's at peace, and it's beautiful. I'd hate to see it dawn into darkness. The train slowed down then it stopped while making an annoying screeching sound. People stood up and started to exit the train. I turned my head to the window again. All I saw were hundreds of houses spread over a landscape.

"How do I know when I've arrived to the Saki Empire?" I turned my head to ask her. She was already on her feet preparing to exit.

"We're already here. What kind of Saki Caster are you to not know when you're home?" She moved aside and pointed to the other side of the train. "Look out the window."

I got up slowly and made my way over to the other side. As I approached, my eyes widened completely mesmerized at what I saw. I looked back at her quickly before running off of the train to get a better look. Upon exiting, my eyes made their way straight to the top of it. It was a wall about 40 meters in height and it extended and curves in a circular manner. There was a huge gate about ten meters high with a large humanoid looking statue that stood beside the entrance with an enormous sword.

"This is it! This is the Empire that rules over the Eastern lands. This is the Sacrificial Empire! I'm finally here!" I started to grin to myself.

"You act as though you've never seen it before." She walked beside me. "Every Saki Caster has seen this district before because it's the most popular, seeing as it's the home of the emperor."

"Not me. I was raised in a forest. That's also part of the reason I can't read."

"Huh?" she questioned.

I started walking forward heading to the walls. I noticed something strange while heading to it. There are hundreds of homes outside of the walls, and also on the other side of the train. They're not all that well looking and the houses look low graded.

"Why are all these people not inside the Empire? They look. . .poor."

"That's because they are. The people that are residing outside these walls are humans, ones that are not a part of any clan. Only magical beings are allowed within the walls of an Empire. That is the law." 

I started to look at them with a saddened heart. "This world has too many horrible laws." I sighed beneath my breath.

Upon approaching the gates, I could already see that the inside was way more unspoiled and polished than out here. Something strange suddenly caught my attention. About 17 people who had exit the train were just standing a few feet away from the gates.

Why isn't anyone going in? Two men dressed in uniforms came walking from the city. Their clothing were identical; dark blue pants with a few pockets calf length grey shoes with their pants tucked into it, and a grey jacket that had pocket holders on the chest area of it. They wore their jackets unzipped and both of them had on their own color under shirt. When one of them turned slightly, I saw an insignia on his back. It's most likely written in Monarian. I don't know what it means but they seem to be upholders or protectors of the city. Which means that it's probably the crest of the Sacrificial Empire that they're wearing.

"Okay people, you know the drill." One of them said easing his hand forward. "Mon fitori del rosé." Some kind of eye thing appeared from a small magic circle in the air. It started to scan people as they walk up to it.

"What's that for?" I asked confused about what was happening.

"That's the scanner. It scans your DNA as a Caster and. . ." She raised up her hand and pointed at a purple device around her wrist that had a flat black circular glass on it. "They also scan your projector watches for your identity to tell whether you're wanted or not, and to tell what kind of Caster you are."

"Next!" The guy called, and she walked over to it as it scanned her from top to bottom. Everything she said to me was a pile of confusion except the part about scanning me to be a Caster.

"Next!" The guy said, meaning that it was my turn to be scanned. There was no one else behind me, and I needed to get into this city.

"What if I do not have one of those projector things?" I asked while being scanned.

"The council made it mandatory that every Caster should have their own projector watches by the age of 10. If you have none, then you can neither enter nor exit a Caster empire because you have no identity," he told me halfway through my scan. "However, if you are one of us, you will be evaluated for cases in which you lose your watch or it was broken. If you pass, you will gain a new one."

When the scanner reached to my eyes, the transparent line that projected turned red. The scanner suddenly started beeping wildly.