Chapter 6: The Reality of the Situation

Chapter 6: The Reality of the Situation

Ezekiel wandered the academy grounds aimlessly, the headmaster's words ringing in his head. He glanced around, searching for any familiar faces among the throngs of people. He wanted to find his friends and seek comfort and guidance in their company. Eventually, he found his way back through the hallways and out of the Elementium.

The boy approached the large square in front of the academy. There, he saw a large group of initiates gathered near the fountain. He quickened his pace, hopeful that Markus or Lilly might be among them.

When he arrived, he looked around for any sign of a friendly face - Markus, Lilly, or even Peter. He didn't recognize anyone, however. The students milling about ignored him, and he didn't have the confidence to approach anyone.

He waited for a while, hoping that someone he knew would show up, but as the crowd thinned out, he started to get worried. He decided to sit and eat the rest of his provisions, waiting a little longer in hopes that his friends would show up.

Ezekiel sank down onto the steps of the academy, his bag open at his feet as he rummaged through it. He pulled out a small pouch of dried fruit and a hunk of bread. The growling of his stomach reminded Ezekiel of how hungry he really was. He had to remind himself to pace his eating. He put each piece of dried fruit into his mouth separately and tore little pieces off of his bread, trying to make it last longer.

As he ate, he started to feel the significance of his disappointment. He had dreamed of attending the academy. He had dreamed of becoming a powerful combat mage that would make a name for himself. He had dreamed of bringing glory and prosperity to his family. But today, he had been forced to wake up.

Ezekiel had been so certain that his red hair signaled something great. So willing to believe that traveler who had prophesied his strength and greatness. Tears of bitter disappointment welled up in Ezekiel's eyes, and he lowered his head so passers-by wouldn't see. How confident he had been! How foolish! He had no primary affinity and no chance of becoming a true combat mage.

And yet, the thought of going home, of admitting his inadequacy, was unbearable. His family would not blame him. His parents would just be happy he was home safe, and Maya would be ecstatic to see him under any circumstances. But it would mean giving up on his dream once and for all, as Markus had done. He just couldn't bring himself to do it.

Listless, Ezekiel watched the train of carriages arrive in front of the gate. He recognized the driver on one of the magical vehicles. It seemed this was the very carriage that had brought him and his friends to the capital that morning. They all had been buzzing with excitement and filled with hope.

Through the carriages windows he glimpsed the faces of some of the rejected candidates. Some with their eyes swollen, some sunken in on themselves, and some, worst of all, with looks of complete despair.

No matter the circumstances, no matter how hopeless the situation, Ezekiel knew he couldn't give up. He wouldn't.

Minutes or hours passed, Ezekiel couldn't be sure. Finally, he was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He was relieved to see Markus standing in front of him.

His friend's smile was a welcome sight. Ezekiel couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness wash over him at the sight of his best friend. He grinned back at him with real warmth.

"Where's Lilly?" Markus asked.

Ezekiel shrugged. "I lost her at the Evaluation," he told Markus. "I suppose she went to settle into her new dorm."

With her new friends, a bitter voice said in the back of his head. With real affinities.

He shook his head as if that could clear the negative thoughts, and grinned sheepishly up at Markus. "Not sure if you heard, but initiates without a primary affinity don't get to stay in the dorms. The carriages back to Feldstadt already left - I guess we're both homeless, now."

Markus looked at him for a long moment, the expression on his face unreadable.

"Walk with me for a bit," Markus said abruptly. "I need to talk to you about something."

Ezekiel stood up and followed his friend. Despite his words, Markus didn't say anything for a while. Zeke could tell that his friend was thinking hard about something. They had turned a number of corners, navigated numerous junctions, and crossed countless alleys before Markus finally spoke.

"I'm sorry I left you earlier," he said. "I was just really upset about my affinity. I didn't mean to leave you alone."

"It's fine," Ezekiel said emphatically. "I understand how you feel. And Markus - I'm really sorry."

"Your situation is truly bizarre," Markus explained with a frown. "If you only had your Space affinity, you would have a decent chance of getting adopted as a Space Mage. If you only had the Mind affinity, you might even be able to marry into the royal family. Paradoxically, having more affinities has barred both those paths."

Ezekiel and Markus walked along the empty streets, the only sound the falls of their footsteps on the cobblestone. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a dim orange glow over the city. As they walked, Ezekiel couldn't help but think about his future, or lack thereof. But his thoughts kept turning in circles, and eventually, he just sighed.

"Well," he said to Markus with a lopsided smile, "Lilly will have to become a true combat mage in both our stead, I guess. When she's rich and famous, maybe she can adopt us into her noble family."

Markus grinned back, the hesitation behind his eyes easing the slightest bit. "She'll have to become an exceptionally powerful noble in order to be able to adopt a blacksmith's apprentice and a Blood mage into a noble family."

Ezekiel tried to lighten the mood with a joke. "To be fair, I can much easier picture you wielding a hammer than the might of the arcane."

Markus mimicked an arrow piercing his heart at these words before chuckling and playfully punching Ezekiel's shoulder. "At least I have a plan, Mr. Perfect Affinity!"

Ezekiel's smile faltered a little a the mention of his affinities, but he pasted it back on.

"So do I," he claimed victoriously. "I guess I'll just have to become the greatest punching bag in the history of the empire!"

Both of them laughed. They continued joking back and forth, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating as they walked through the increasingly deserted streets.

Ezekiel looked down at the small pouch of coins in his hand, his brow furrowing as he counted out his few bits of money. He had saved up for years to afford to come to the academy, but even so, it wouldn't last him for more than a few weeks. Markus, noticing the distress on his friend's face, offered a solution.

"Zeke, why don't you stay with me and my uncle? He has a spare room, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind you crashing there for a bit."

Ezekiel hesitated. "No, it's okay," he said finally. "I'll figure something out. I don't want to be a burden."

Markus waved off his concerns. "You're not a burden. Besides, it's better than you sleeping on the streets. Just think about it, okay?"

Ezekiel sighed as he looked at Markus. "I appreciate the offer, really, but I can't just sponge off of you and your uncle," he said. "I have to find a way to make this work for myself. I'll figure something out, I promise."

Markus seemed to be hellbent on not letting his friend down. They were both aware of how much being accepted into the Elementium Academy had meant to Ezekiel. Now that dream had been tarnished beyond recognition. But Ezekiel had also always been fiercely independent, and wouldn't accept any charity or handouts without a fight. So, instead of pushing the issue, Markus decided to change the subject. He hoped to lift both of their spirits by talking about something else. As they walked, Markus tried to steer the conversation toward lighter topics. He brought up memories from their childhood and revisited carefree times. But no matter how hard he tried, the weight of the situation hung heavy in the air between them.

Ezekiel, for his part, was deeply grateful for Markus's efforts to distract him. However, he still didn't manage to shake off the feeling of disappointment and failure. He felt like he had let himself, his family, and his friends down by not being able to live up to the expectations placed upon him, albeit mostly by himself.

As the two of them walked, the sun began to set and a cool breeze blew through the streets. Markus shivered, and Ezekiel offered him his jacket, which Markus gratefully accepted. They walked in comfortable silence for a while longer, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Markus spoke up. "Hey, I know things aren't looking great right now, but we'll figure something out. You're not alone in this, okay? We'll find a way to make it work."

Ezekiel nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. He knew that Markus meant well, but the reality of the situation was starting to sink in, and it was a heavy burden to bear.

As night fully fell and the stars came out, Marcus spoke up. "I won't push you to stay with us permanently," he said. "But could you do me a favor and just accept the room for tonight? It's dark already. You can look for another place to stay tomorrow, okay?"

Ezekiel couldn't deny that he was exhausted after the day's events, and so he agreed. The two friends made their way toward the blacksmith shop.

The road ahead would be difficult for both of them, but at least they had each other's backs. That would have to be enough for now.