Beginnings of the Modern Mage - Heating Up

…~~Wake Up~~…

…~~Nao~~…

…~~Arthur~~…

…~~Alphon~~…

…Wake Up…

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1QvL7PDBv
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIP9OHzBqn

My eyes explode open and I feel fire boiling my flesh causing me to scream in agony. Blood pours out of my mouth and my lungs burst open only to reform again.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPYxD2zfkG
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA8xEeLgFx

This pain is…too much. Why am I going through this? What is happening? Instantly, I feel bugs slithering on my legs and arms, holding me down. Forcing me into the flames.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr85wDklxh
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFWySzwWHr

I fight back, struggle, and push away the bugs but their grip on me tightens. Not again, I don’t want to die again.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yK39Ofq13
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRexcdidFO

~~“Nao!”~~

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3l6kXZr6J
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptrBgImX25

*Door flings open*

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VFJoSpmpZ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F5yAt35nm

~~“What happened?!”~~

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18OmQV86ng
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfNuIjOFGq

~~“Sorry, he’s just having a really bad nightmare.”~~

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8b2gb9fTX
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM16dDNTvyK

More bugs crawl into my mouth eating up the blood flooding it. No, please don’t crawl in there! NO!

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewGGqjd4bh
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk9st2UoqQ

~~“Let me through!”~~

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrq1W8fCWW
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYPvFdN6Lg

No! Not another one! Get bac-

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXbFQtyn0H
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtLMgt9x3t

“Nao, wake up! Please honey, wake up.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiBUfgKXmO
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y02CM3wbR

~~Nao~~: “Huh?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPjF6T6o0l
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALlqGOV6l8

Another bug consumes my form but it’s…warm. My body cools and the flames subside. The skin that was torn and burnt returns. My vision clears and I see bodies without faces.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8wXaWtkzq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR37BtVe7z

My eyes slide over to the girl hovering at the door with concern covering her face. For some reason, I feel something from this warmth and the girl. Their faces return and I try to breathe air that’s strangely not filled with smoke.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgQdcTBglF
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1poQgKJkmO

~~Nao:~~ “Where…am I?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ajEM5OnOK
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStWP50DkNu

“You’re home, whatever happened in that dream is over. You’re okay.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMEy2I1QMw
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgMcoYxG2s

Dream?

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB2a4qV2ek
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe0zNDim33

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmNsE9G3Cx
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklSHLvKY7m

I return the hug and sigh in relief.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6sT2S8Fms
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtCMq5xi4r

Nao: “I am okay now, thank you…mom.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k2mKgkgsW
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ133vqGMliL

Nell: “Are you sure? I never seen you like this before?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFmaf7rcbI
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef5PLocIqP

Nao: “I’m sure. It was…just a dream.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoSc4bh7Py
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRck8dmtqrh

Nell: “…Can everyone give me a minute with Nao.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQWmqIs2i9
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1vU5JYQca

Everyone leaves with worry still on their faces. Now I’m all alone with my mother, sitting on the bed soaked with my sweat.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ut29DXwYp
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLghYGFLru

Nell: “Nao, do you want to talk about the dream?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUrv07su96
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPXFHI4xCp

Nao: “I…can’t remember it.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0vuRcxj98
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jn0rxD1BX

Nell: “I see…maybe it’s for the best. Do you want me to stay with you?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbQzQ384zm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cHl3Gbppi

Nao: “…Yes please.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRWJpupXuB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ63iZRzDNZ

I embraced the warmth once again and held onto it for dear life. We stayed like that for a while before the silence was broken once again.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5PFdEmasZ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHirXJJ4rfm

Nell: “If there’s anything bothering you, at home or at school, please tell me. It won’t inconvenience me or this home.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRawTNWQbJ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3kDsQbwbm

Nao: “…I’ll tell you, I promise.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvkUN8wiWm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiCs7hfWGi

Nell: “Good, I’ll cook you and Alyson some food. Take as much time as you need to collect yourself.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrAFrNXx3D
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppFY79bqkE

And so the warmth leaves me in this cold room with the only light coming from the window overhead.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGPO8CVfy1
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5fbgnjK6E

I sit there in silence for an unknown amount of time. I…just sat there, staring at the wall. Eventually, I collected enough of my pieces to leave the room.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKLK91hbh4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUYwodqTRN

Standing outside, leaning against the wall in front of me, was Alyson.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumA67xbFvr
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixgaTZ0vBI

Alyson: “Are you…okay?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELJLZtQzwl
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVLwEi3Ngz

Nao: “Yeah, thanks for caring.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgVFDCjTjF
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6rLJyFzXx

Alyson: “…I want you to know, you’re off the Black List. I won’t be responsible if you…”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFhzkNZYAn
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCZYb2MIq5

Alyson: “I’m going out, I hope you’re better by the time I get back.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ODBKUCXOo
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRCDx3XNh0

She left before I could say anything in response to her strange brand of….affection?

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymByapSEEa
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFxLSBWhT2

I go downstairs to see the group looking with worry. They crowd me, asking me questions I have no answers to.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1y6Qrx9GV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yxVsVtQPg

That pain and…whatever happened before, that wasn’t all due to increasing my stats…right?

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMzN7fvLPN
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmhqzgNo9M

Anthony: “Maybe we should postpone our plans for a while.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgejOGCifPj
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThgia29kCu

Nao: “No, I’m good. I can do it. Alyson will leave after eating breakfast which will give me an opportunity to see her outside the house.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmEDX5cLbx
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ49knW3rMN

Anthony: “…I guess. Fine, we’ll see you later today for the magic items.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBaC4k4Tc5
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhtVhOzYQl

Nao: “Oh yeah….got it.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dOnTU1FCL
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp16Al16NyX

The group said their goodbyes and left our home. I went to the kitchen to eat my first meal of the day with mom. Alyson seems to have taken her food to go so it was just mom and me.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4exOe6mmr5
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTkDnUdB13

We said nothing but that was okay. Just being near her was putting me back together. I thanked her for the food and went into the bathroom. Time to find my ideal form for Alyson.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxikpgLoJW
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq0ap2mwXt

I look into the mirror and Nao stares back. I breathe in and out, thinking of what to change myself into. Someone else, someone not Nao. The answer came easily and so I closed my eyes.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkY7ugZypc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q7ZlWtw2J

The next time I opened them, someone else stared back. Tall, handsome with a clean shave, well built, and a different facial structure. This person looked nothing like me but the form…it felt right.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpbyszjU9d
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtLciHUVhA

Even the size of my clothes seem to change to fit my new body. I don’t know how exactly this spell changes my clothes too but I don’t question it. It’s too convenient to be suspicious.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSTSZcIxzp
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzDURtw2qs

I regretfully revert back and leave the bathroom. I still need to leave here as Nao, as me. I’ll transform somewhere safe and try to find Alyson at her usual hideouts.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECRC2hunRq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUijFVJr7E

I go to my room and grab the best clothes I can. They have to be nice but generic enough to not give anything away. The best I could find was a form-fitting black t-shirt and jeans. I go downstairs and to the front door while hoping this is enough.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53DnIssXkQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIprCXT2Kem

Nell: “Where are you going Nao?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJkF7nWJIn
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn12vHk1Ts

Nao: “I’m going to the bookstore, I need something to relax my mind.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LOTUy6OWF
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG0C56KQpk

Nell: “O-Of course, I’ll see you later. Right, Nao?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3MlScR9JX
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2iGxVQAEW

Nao: “Don’t worry mom, I will be back. You won’t stay here alone for long.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCosGQz3hV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhBVEodnKP

I open the front door and head towards the local cafe. It’s a humble little store with white round tables out front. Alyson may be queen but she doesn’t really have friends. Too busy studying to care about such things.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDWHmGLhG4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzssHEivUA7

This is one of those spots she goes to relax while working on school work or just studying. Luckily, I picked right. She sitting at the middle table drinking a smoothie while studying.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtL9kIv4Yl
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR9neZrN0J

I stay out of sight and sneak into the store bathroom. I find an empty stall and close my eyes once again.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xa7e1ZLL3

*Breathe In*

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vN9iVvKVG
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqSrOXWjz6

*Breathe Out*

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQFd0YJdWO
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnqBMRzZDw

I exit the bathroom a new man with clothes really fitting my muscular build. I stride out of the bathroom with confidence that only builds with the glances I get.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaWjDvWF4X
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIBTGufbSH

The girl at the counter and some with boyfriends take in my body. Yes, this is what I wanted. I soak in their attention and go back outside towards Alyson.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm0aUvnU0w
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsW7LLgJy7

Nao: “Hey, is this seat taken?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlZEb6c3AQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K4CwAaUs0

Alyson: “…No.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuoch0ZlxT
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0f0KYUh7y

I ignore her dismissive glare and set down with a casual smile. Now, let’s see what’s in that head sis.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNup7uEhiea
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY2ve33CpW

Mind reading.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEtZ0mbGXm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi7gIQM330

Alyson: (Great, another try hard desperate to get with me. At least this one is cute.)

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs8M0maNOi
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO5ePSkpaK

At least I’m cute, it’s a start.

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWM7FBjsPn
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y0p4IKGsY

Nao: “So what are you working on?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexT2hNeTrf
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiYDYqPmx

Alyson: “Paperwork that doesn’t really concern you.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTRBZpBlUV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXjjzZDQWg

Nao: “Ouch, I can see that I’m not the first guy to hit on you. So I won’t, I’m new in town and just looking for a friend.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmokBIgghyJ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeenlwpqbk

Alyson: “And out of everyone, you choose me to be your first friend?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnW0IKMiRU
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRLebFkX19

Nao: “Yeah, you’re the most interesting person I’ve seen so far. A pretty girl hard at work, that I assume is school-related, on a Saturday. As soon as I saw that I thought, this girl has a story to tell.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgYdiDTrNj
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj38JRJuF0

Nao: “Besides, I like hard workers. They’re the ones that can go the distance in life.”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32jXW7VzLs
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzYR7HXSkV

Alyson: “…Okay, you got my attention. My name is Alyson, what’s yours?”

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u0zGDO4RA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVM4FOjbvk

Nao: “Hm….my name is….Alphon. Nice to meet you Alyson, I hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”

ns216.73.216.39da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically