COTE x TBATE | A Masterpiece

Chapter 03: The Twin Horns

^ NEW COVER.
~3723 words

The carriage juddered marginally as the wheel of the carriage hit a small rock. The journey until now was a breeze. After almost 3 years of being imprisoned in a the most backward city of a medieval era world, it was a good change- both for the eyes and mind.

Placing my arms over the edge of the carriage, I took in the sight of huge mountains covered in a prolific veil of green. The clear blue sky was slowly but gradually being filled with multiple grey clouds spreading overcast.

Cold wind blew as I felt a slight chill. Opening my mouth, I took in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the unpolluted and untainted air to the brim. A rejuvenating wave washed over me, the tranquil quietness that was unperturbed, calmed my nerves.

Birds flew overhead, happily chirping as they flew in brisk wind without restraints. Looking back, I saw Alice, sitting with Helen as they chatted about various things. My gaze travelled from Alice's face, taking in the sight of her vibrant auburn hair. I looked down at her or more specifically at her belly.

Her demeanor had changed over the course of past weeks. Awkward movement, nausea, change in behavior, agitation. The signs were there but I decided not to pay much attention to it. As of now, I wanted to focus on myself. Closing my eyes, I peered inwards. Two spheres of energy brimmed with an unbridled amount of energy, surging, waiting to be unleashed. My primary core was light red already, however this core was something only I knew about. My parents and the twin horns knew only about my secondary core that just a breath away from dark red.

Usually, a mage's elemental affinity manifests upon reaching the light red stage. At first, I thought that an elemental affinity was based upon lineage and environment. Just like how elves are close to nature, so only the have the ability to use plant magic which is a combination of earth and water magic. The more exposure to ambient elemental mana one gets, the more chances are there that the core composition will be of that specific element, making it the specific element of that mage.

However, in my case it was different. Due to me preparing for every possible element and their deviant forms in advance, I was able to unlock all elements. The knowledge of chemistry from my past life was helpful in many ways. Changing the bonding of water molecules, I could create ice, morph fire into lightning. But all of this was theoretical. I was barely able to maintain the elements for long. The amount of mana in a light red core was not as much as I thought it would be. However, the existence of second core helps to supplement it.

Wind and Fire were the elements that I had the most proficiency in. My conversance with Water and Earth element were almost the same. Alternatively, I was close to unlocking the deviant forms of the former two.

My gaze ventured from one place to another- from one latitudinous mountain to steep and lush green valleys, then the lofty clouds, alternating between white and grey. The burning orange orb- Sun, played hide and seek as it was exposed and obscured by the playful clouds in a rapid succession. The winds continued to get colder. For the first time since coming to this world... It felt good.

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Throwing a dry twig in the bonfire in front of us, I sat between Alice and Reynolds. The other member of the 'Twin Horns', sat around the bonfire, making a circle. The girls giggled as they joked and gossiped... except the mysterious girl, Jasmine. She sat in the corner, her hands around the warm mug as she sipped the contents of it slowly, savoring its taste by licking her lips. Her eyes, as red as crystallized blood shot upwards and looked at me. With a simple tilt of head to the other side, I averted my gaze.

She's sharp.

"So, Reynolds... You were saying that your son is a one-in-a-century genius", The goofiest of the Twin Horns, Adam Kresh, said shooting a taunting smirk at Reynolds.