Do you believe in magic?
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Well, I do. All my life I knew that there must be more to our bland and poor world. Something beyond all the pain and something not reliant on absent sky fathers.
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No.
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What I seek is something with substance. Something that can benefit all of humanity. Something I think I found on that day. March 25th, 2025 is the day I rediscovered wonder and uncovered humanity’s sins.
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I walk out of my comfy tent and into the desert ash. I covered my mouth and glared at my poor research assistant.
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“Bob, you better not have called me in the middle of the night for something stupid again.”
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“N-No mam, I-I’m positive we have something for you to see.”
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“You better, I helped dig all day yesterday. It’s your turn to sweat.”
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“I know, don’t worry though. I found something I know you’ll find interesting. Follow me.”
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Bob finally led us out of this fine weather and toward the research cabin. It’s beat up and covered in dust but it’s like a second home at this point.
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It’s not much but what do you expect from someone researching “Pseudoscience”?
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“Mara, I hope you like it.”
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“Using my name are we? Must really be something then.”
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He opened the door with his key and revealed the old research room. Scarped together using tape and tissue paper but still in good enough shape. He leads me to the center table that now hosts a normal briefcase.
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“A new briefcase, you really shouldn’t have.”
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He says nothing and opens the case to reveal 20 glowing gems that sparkled with the colors of the rainbow. I was going to comment that I wasn’t here for precious gems. But something about these gems screamed special. These weren’t something you’d sell.
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“What are they?”
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“That’s why I brought you here, to answer that question. Don’t worry, none of us touched it with our bare hands. We made sure to use every precaution. You’ll be the first one to touch these bad boys.”
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“T-Thanks Bob, really.”
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I didn’t know what to say. Was all my research and money about to pay off? This isn’t full-blown magic but it’s a start.
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Wasting no time, I went to grab one. The closest one that called for me to touch.
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As soon as I touched it, my world goes black and an old man’s voice echos in the void.
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“This once glorious age is dying. Suffocated by the worst of us. Bled dry by a new paradigm that doesn’t glorify magic or science. Passion or logic.
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No.
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What they deem worthy are control and power. The values of the past are an obstacle to the final goal. The domestication of our fellow man.
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It was a slow process but the champions of the age of magic and enlightenment have shrunk to one. The last man of the past age is all we have left of the previous age. That last true mage, our hope and light, is being hunted like a dog.”
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I cut through the thicket, letting it rip off cloth and skin. I ignore the pain and desperately swallow the humid air.
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“Give up Albus, you’ll be given a fair trial!”
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I ignore the traitor’s pleas and continue to run through this now nameless forest. I force my glass legs to move past their limits. Every second slowed causes the rumbling of horses to get closer.
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But the will of a person can only go so far. My legs finally give out and I trip over a branch. My face hits the cold hard dirt and I’m forced to swallow grim. The houses are coming closer.
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“Please, just a few more steps. Not…like this.”
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I try to pour my strength into my body. Even if I have to crawl, I won’t let them have me. Inch by blood-paid inch, I drag my broken body out of the forest.
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“The ocean…”
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The look over the cliff toward my goal. The sea me and my long gone friends used to watch during a sunrise. It still sparkles with magic and life. But even I can tell its well is running dry. Even so, the sight gives me enough strength to barely walk to the edge.
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“Albus!”
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When I reach the edge to behold its full brilliance, I hear the call of the traitor. I turn around to see a small army of men on horses. But only one keeps my attention. Look at him, adored with so many awards on his military black uniform.
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“Was all the gold and medals worth killing my people, Lucas? I thought you different than the rest.”
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“Magic has no place in the new world we’re building. If only you would give up the old ways and join us. I’ll be sure to give the commanders a good impression of you. You won’t have to burn like the others.”
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“Burning would be better than becoming what you are.”
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I look around to see the other horsemen looking at me like some sort of caged animal. Their hands eager to draw their blades and gut me. There is no peace in the path Lucas offers.
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I look behind me and close my eyes. I relive all of the good times I used to have with the magical creatures of this area, my friends and who I thought was family. But it’s all over now. At the very least, I won’t let them have this place.
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I open my eyes and turn to Lucas.
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“Remember that forbidden spell we read about during our first campfire together?”
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“Albus please, I don’t remember-”
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Instantly, his face goes white. I can’t help but feel happy knowing I’ll get the last laugh.
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“You’re bluffing. None of you had the power to do that!”
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“Not unless I sacrifice my life for it to work.”
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“K-K-Kill him! Quickly!!!”
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The housemen quickly draw their swords and brutally kick their horses to move.
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I clasp my hands together in prayer and get on my knees.
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“One more time, old friend. I need your help.”
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Blood begins to drip from my mouth as I ask for help and begin preparing the spell.
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“Die scum!”
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Before the blade can remove my head, the horsemen were stopped by an unstable water tendril.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhNci9sPk0
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“Thank you, Ariel.”
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The soul of the ocean we all loved heard my call. Even though this will use up the last of her strength, she still chooses to help me. I will never forget this, even in the afterlife.
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Ariel uses her tendrils formed from the water below to hold back the swordsmen. Despite her waning strength, she still bought me enough time.
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Flames begin to form around me. Beneath me a magic circle depicting the arcane symbols for fire, earth, space, annihilation, and peace forms. Blood explodes from every orifice of my body but ignore I the piercing pain. Instead, I continue chanting the words I memorized from back then.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpLyvsLU68
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“S-Stop him you fools or we’ll-”
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“It’s too late Lucas.”
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I wanted to open my eyes to Lucas’s face but I couldn’t. My eyes melted long ago. But it doesn’t matter, I can sense it.
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Lucas turns around and looks toward the sky. A gargantuan earthen ball of searing fire slowly descends upon our location. Already the trees begin to catch fire from its approach.
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“You won’t have me, Ariel or anyone else. It’s…over.”
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“R-Retreat! Retreat!!”
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The horsemen and traitor ride back into the forest. It doesn’t matter, I know that won’t escape the devastation.
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I force my melted hands apart and finally give in to the pain. I try to scream but nothing but ash comes out. I would’ve gone insane from the burns that scraped the skin inside of me. But I feel sudden relief as I feel one of Ariel's tendrils hold my hand.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0353e4FhMG
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I understand, we’ll face the end together. We wait for the inferno to consume us with bated breath. With every second that passes, I can feel the heat getting more extreme. Enough to even evaporate Ariel.
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For a second, I felt fear and regret. Was this the right choice? Should have joined Lucas. The pain seeps into my mind and gives riise to doubt. But those thoughts were immediately blown away when I felt something in the coming cataclysm.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtjj14CW7t
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Within the fire, through the blind darkness, I could see my long-gone friends. I could feel that they were waiting for us. Understanding this, I let go of Ariel and welcomed it all.
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I open my arms and shed tears that instantly turn to vapor.
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“I’m…coming home.”
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As if she saw the same, Ariel raises her water tendrils up toward the flame. Despite the intense pain she must be feeling, she welcomes the end peacefully. We both do.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulBfJAqF5Q
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[3]
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The trees turn to ash.
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[2]
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The water is instantly reduced to nothing. Ariel is the first to go.
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[1]
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My skin boils.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFmwJ5D25w
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[0]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhueSaUsxm
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It impacts and I’m obliterated along with everything else around.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9VO7BByZ9
…276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WAc6WZP0M
…276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlRldySTt3
“And so the age of magic ended. Our light snuffed out by corruption and lies. One day, I hope someone will find these gems I’ve created from the memories of various points of our once glorious history.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWF3fBM041
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“Please, don’t let us be forgotten. Remember our tragedy.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QDn3HikHG
…276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRagFAZs7tr
…276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WPh1KXeTp
“Mara. Mara!”
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Instantly, my world returns and I see Bob’s stupidly cute face staring at me with concern. I feel a tear slide down my cheek and all at once, I understand what we lost. But…it’s not too late to change things.
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“Bob…”
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“Oh thank god, I thought I lost you.”
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“Magic is real.”
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“W-What?”
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“I saw what we lost, what was taken away from us. Who suffered from our past sins.”
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I gently place the gem down like a newborn baby. My path in life is clear. I’m going learn all I can from these gems and bring back magic! I won’t let them be forgotten.
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“Bob, wake up everyone and let’s continue digging.”
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“E-Excuse me?”
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“We have a world to save.”
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