Recently, one of our players Ashley B (Twitter: @AshleyBFilms, ashleybproductions.com) wrote a short story about the low magic background. Some bookish LMA players may want to read the short and nice story since there is no official LMA story yet ;)
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No Magic First Spell - Short Story
by Ashley Beaufoy
Twitter: @AshleyBFilms
ashleybproductions.com
Long ago: There was the golden age of magic. A time when
mages and witches were revered as heroes; as the leaders of the
free world. Children looked up to them; hoping one day to be
like them. People saw them as their protectors; dependable and
always watching over them.
However, this was also a time when the magical factions
waged a bitter and un-winnable civil war among one another. Some
saw magic as a way of "healing the world". Others saw it as a
weapon used to bend the weak to their will and rule over those
they saw unworthy of the magical essence that surrounded them.
As a result the people turned against the once worshiped
magical users. They began to be hunted down and either killed,
or captured in order to learn how to abolish magic. Or to tempt
the free users out of hiding.
Over 100 years have since passed, magic has long since
faded from this world. Those still alive who once possessed the
ability to control magic have slowly felt it leave them.
Until...eventually, it has all but left them.
Now in the town of Depletion, we follow the story of a
young boy known as Lucent. Unlike his fellow town members, he
still believes in what magic can do for the world.
#
The town of Depletion is small and out of the way. Most
people keep to their own devices and do their jobs before going
home. Socializing here and there as part of their everyday life.
Lucent is sitting on the steps leading up to the town hall,
watching over the center of town. He wonders how people can just
live on without the use of magic, but appreciates that they all
seem happy. He quietly listens to the chatter and various sounds
around him.
Lucent, growing tired of watching over the town begins to
walk home. Walking into his house we see his farther setting the
table, a couple small handfuls of bread are laid out. "Hello
dad, how goes the day". Lucent 's farther looks up with a faint
smile and sits down in one of the chairs. "Oh, hi son. It 's
alright, barely enough food for today but we 'll get by. Me and
you always do, without you I'd probably have left a long time
ago".
Lucent recalls the last time he saw his mum. It 's a faint
and distant memory but the only one he remembers. She suddenly
left; in the middle of the night alone. He was still awake and
scarcely able to see her leave. The last thing Lucent remembers
is hearing the screams of his mum as she struggled to break free
of the guards hold before leaving the town.
Lucent stands still in front of the table looking over into
an empty chair. "Are you alright son, don't let the food go to
waste, it 's all we have haha". Lucent snaps out of his trance
like state to faintly smile at his farther. "I'm alright dad,
just a little tired from being out all day". Lucent 's father
looks concerned at Lucent "Well come on son sit down and we 'll
eat our food". Lucent takes a few bites out of the bread, as he
has never been a big eater. Lucent now gets up out of his chair
and begins to walk out of the room "I think I'll go to bed dad,
I need the sleep. Lucent 's father nods and begins to take all
the plates off the table, putting the spare bread away for
another day.
#
The sun begins to rise high into the sky. Lucent is already
up and about walking seamlessly around the town. Stopping to sit
at the steps before the town hall, as he always does. The day
continues to pass on and we see his father running around after
the towns blacksmith; being the only good assistant he has, the
only assistant he has ever had.
Lucent wants to tell the blacksmith to better treat his
father. But is afraid of the burden it might place on his father
and the ability to earn the few shards of food and warmth they
have. He patiently sits and waits for the day to pass on, hoping
something good will come of it.
One of the towns old and retired elders walks around the
town, generally saying hello and glancing at all the people and
the various goods laid out for sale. Stopping to look at some
jewelry; the elders eyes fixated on a small necklace with a blue
sapphire pendent. The elder holds up the pendent and brings it
around to show everyone "I say this is beautiful, it reminds me
of the amulets used to protect those from physical attacks".
One of the nearby guards walks over to the retired elder
and attempts to remove the amulet from his hands "Stop and
refrain from speaking of old magic at once!". The confused and
retired elder turns to the guard and refuses to let go of the
necklace "I meant no panic, I only wanted to reminisce of my
fond memories".
The guard insists he lets go, as people begin to grow weary
of the talk of magical items. Lucent sees the commotion and
rushes over to break up the conflict. The amulet glancing
Lucent 's hand, lightly shimmering before hitting the ground and
shattering into pieces.
The guard turns with an outrage to swipe at Lucent; who
swiftly dodges the blow. "How dare you intervene in something
way beyond your sight!". Lucent begins to run, knowing he cannot
attempt resolve this with words. The guard eagerly chases after
him, almost matching his speed; barely trailing behind.
Lucent runs into a dead end, with nowhere to run and no gap
to slide through. The guard : cornering Lucent, smirks at the
fear in Lucent 's eyes. "I would have thought a watchful boy like
you would have thought of a better route to escape. I'll make
sure you and that foolish old elder don 't spread such deception
again". Lucent 's face turns cold, now aware of how his own
people fear magic, not releasing the good it can do. "You 've
turned this people into fearful shells". The guard : loosing any
patience he has left to speak with the boy, moves forward.
"We merely keep the peace, magic has already pushed these,
our people to fear it. We only nurture that fear to keep them
going. You should know. Say, when was the last time you saw your
mother, or heard her voice hmm?". Lucent growing angry, with an
intense and uncontrollable blind rage taking over. "I heard her
scream, trying to get away from you. I've been afraid ever since
that day to speak of magic, to anyone..only watching".
The guard raises his already unsheathed sword, ready to
strike : "I'll allow you to leave this world the same way your
mother did..screaming!". Lucent raises his hand, a small yet
sharp blue spark emanating from his hand before leaving to
strike the guard. The guards face turns hollow, as his body
falls to the ground; still barely moving. The shock of this
event causes Lucent to fall; dropping to the ground.
#
A women is walking through the woods near the village of
Depletion. She suddenly stops, sensing something in the air.
Almost as if an energy once lost has found it 's way into the
world again. "What, no. This cannot be possible. It had all but
left us. I don 't have the time to wonder, I might be the only
one still holding on". The women puts her hand into a small
pouch and opens a small crystal bottle. This bottle has a small
engraving of a half empty circle. The bottle is almost empty;
only having enough liquid for a single gulp.
The women takes a single sip, almost nostalgic as she does.
Stepping slightly aback from her original spot, the women holds
both her hands up to the open plains. Just beyond the trees in
front of her. A overwhelming light shoots from her hands into
the air in front of her; appearing to hit an invisible wall
before forming a oval shaped portal.
The women takes a couple steps into the portal, arriving at
the cornered off area the guard and Lucent are laying in. "This
aura emanated from a young boy. It looks like a simple elemental
spell. How on earth did he manage to make himself pass out from
it? No matter, I need to take him somewhere safe. Especially
considering what this boy could do to the world".
Lucent begins to wake up, finding himself in a small cave
not far from the village. His body still aching; feeling a pain
which tingles through his entire body. "The guard? My hands
ah-". The women walks into the cave, running over to Lucent.
"Relax, please. The guard is fine. You hit him with a faint
elemental shock spell. For some reason you passed out. Which is
strange considering it was a simple spell". Lucent exhales,
surprised at the words that ran from her mouth. The women sighs,
realizing the time is turning, even for the world around them.
"I don 't have the time for you to grow into this. I wish we
could wait, but you don 't have the choice, especially with the
world we both live in. "Long ago magic existed, and people
believed in it; welcoming it into their lives. But with the
light, comes the shadow that falls behind it. People were sided
and the magic took it 's forms. The water that flows, and the
fire that burns. Eventually the magic, once like our breath.
Transcends into another realm. One we cannot reach. You have a
choice. I will help you to learn how to use magic, teach you
what it can do; the spells that protect, and the ones that
destroy. My name is Blind, I was once a Witch. But my time with
magic has passed me by now. Much like my name : You have the
ability to help people see what we once lost again".
Lucent struggles to comprehend what this all means. He has
always wanted magic to come back. But never thought he would be
the one to make that kind of choice. He wonders about his
father, what he 'll do, how he 'll manage without Lucent. How
people may react, and what they 'll do when they realize what
potential magic has.
Lucent slowly walks out of the cave, looking into the
distance; as if to take it all in for one last time.