Magic is not one single thing; rather, it is a diverse and complex art, divided into three main types:
Combat Magic: Combat magic is the rarest type of magic, used by professional sorcerers in battles. It is characterized by its great effectiveness against the creatures of darkness, but it is not easy to use. Combat magic cannot be unleashed without opening the Mind Core or using a special Magic Matrix. Each magic matrix differs according to its strength and method of learning, and they are usually of very limited copies; therefore, those who possess them are rare.
Astrological Magic (Astrology): This type of magic is commonly used among the people of Babylon. It relies on reading the movement of the stars and prophesying the future. Some sorcerers claim there are ways to convert stellar energy into combat power, but these ideas remains mere rumors and have not been proven yet.
Alchemical Magic (Alchemy): This magic deals with the creation of potions that enhance abilities or treat injuries. Alchemical potions are divided into two types:
Recovery Potions: Less common, used to treat injuries, but useless if the wound is mortal or fatal.
Truth Potions: Very rare and unique, forcing the user to speak the truth for a short period not exceeding 35 seconds. They are considered high-quality potions possessed by only a few.
Despite the existence of more mysterious alchemical potions, they disappeared from history long ago, and no one knows their true fate.
Back to the past…
Inside a dark cell, darkness wraps around a small boy bound by chains at his wrists, suspended in the air, helpless. He hears the sound of footsteps approaching slowly. A mysterious man approaches, his voice carrying the weight of time and authority. He shouts at the guards angrily: "Why have you done this to the boy?"
The voices fall silent; it seems the guards are in awe of this man. The boy raises his head tiredly and calls him in an angry but expectant tone: "You didn't tell me your name, old man."
A calm smile appears on the mysterious man's face, then he answers: "My name is Erold Lionheart… I was the Master of the Knights of Egypt, but you are but small in my eyes."
The boy rested a little and said: "I thought you were the only one who could catch me." Erold smiled with admiration: "Why don't you join me? You have talents that could serve the country; do not waste them in prison."
The boy looked at him with a frown and mockery: "How much will you pay me? That is what matters to me." Erold laughed and said: "Nothing… unless you wish to stay here until you grow old."
Astonishment appeared on the boy's face, then he said: "Do you want me to work for free? You are more of a thief than the King of Thieves!" Erold laughed again: "The choice is yours, boy." And he turned his back to leave.
The boy shouted loudly: "Fine, but you must feed me and provide me with a large house." Erold replied quickly with a smile: "Goodbye… I don't need you."
The boy quickly changed his offer: "Fine, fine, food and a medium-sized house."
Erold continued on his way, ignoring him. The boy screamed again: "Can I at least get the food?"
Erold confirmed while laughing: "Guards, release him." The guards were shocked, and one of them asked: "Sir, are you sure? He might escape again." Erold replied with confidence: "Don't worry, I will take care of him. He will accompany me wherever I go."
The boy was released and followed Erold. The guards held their swords, while Erold was relaxed without any worry. One of the guards shouted: "Chief, watch out for the boy!" The little boy whispered firmly as he ran behind Erold: "Where to now, old man?" Erold replied: "To the royal bath so you can bathe."
The boy's eyes filled with wonder and he said: "I didn't expect to enter the palace in my life, even if the reason was theft." Erold looked at him impressed and said: "Try to steal by my side, boy, or should I say, Little Tiger!" The boy was annoyed and said: "Don't you dare call me that, you senile old man, I hate that name!"
Erold replied happily and said: "You don't have a name. What if I give you a name instead of calling you Little Tiger? I fear that name might be a burden to you." The boy raised his head suddenly and smiled a wide smile, his eyes shining with the enthusiasm of a child who knows no bounds of fear, and said in a strong voice full of excitement: "Then, what should I do?! Will I fight criminals?!"
Erold's breath hitched. He froze in his place, and time around him contracted as if it had disappeared. He saw him. Not the boy in front of him… but his son. The same eyes, the same tone, the same enthusiasm… as if life had returned to him a moment from the past. As if his soul was split between two times… suddenly he was not in the palace, but in an old training field, and that little child was running toward him with a wooden sword, laughing and asking the exact same question.
His heart trembled, and his hands shook slightly without showing it, so he muttered in a voice closer to a whisper, saturated with amazement, nostalgia, and disappointment: "Arthur…"
The boy looked at him in wonder, then smiled saying: "I like the name… much better than 'Little Tiger'." Erold continued staring at him for a moment before turning his face away quickly, hiding a look filled with more than the days could bear. Erold finally smiled, a true warm smile that had been absent from his face for years, and said in a calm voice: "Let's go, Arthur."
The guards fell silent in surprise and exchanged glances, before one of them whispered: "Is… is this his true spirit?" The other replied, still staring at Erold: "I swear… I have never seen him smile like this before." Another added slowly: "I thought he was emotionless… worse than the creatures of darkness… but look at him now."
Erold woke up from his sleep, the faint light creeping through the window. He was breathing with difficulty, cold sweat on his forehead, and tears trickling from his eyes without him knowing. He sat on his bed, staring at the mud wall… "That dream again…" he muttered in a faint voice. The dream that was not a dream. The memory that does not die… Erold's voice, the warmth of his words, his sudden look when he said to him: "Let's go, Arthur." But no one called him by that name anymore.
Erold sat on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the old voice, the name he used to carry: Arthur. He whispered to himself in a faint voice full of determination and regret: "I'm sorry, Erold… I should have honored your name, been better, and avenged you." He raised his head, breathed deeply, then said: "I promised you."
Suddenly Jasmin entered the room unexpectedly and said in a disapproving tone: "Whom did you promise, old man?"
Erold sighed, leaning his head back in an exhausted tone: "Go away, little one." Jasmin looked at him mischievously, laughing and saying: "Hehehe… you rascal, did you promise a girl marriage and run away?" Erold was surprised by her boldness but remained silent.
Jasmin laughed a mischievous laugh and said as she ran out of the room: "You didn't answer… that means you did it! Fatheeer! Erold promised a girl marriage and ran away!"
Erold sighed again and mumbled: "That annoying little girl…" There was a knock on the door, and Ali entered saying: "Get ready, today is the Festival of Stars… and I have brought the goat." Erold, getting up: "Fine, I'll get ready. Thank you, Ali."
But Ali looked at him with a disgruntled look and said in disapproval: "Did you really promise a girl marriage… and run away?" Erold replied with annoyance: "That little girl…" Ali laughed and said jokingly: "I'll wait for you outside, man."
Erold went out after preparing himself, then called out: "Let's go." Jasmin clung to him with enthusiasm and shouted: "To the Festivaaaaal!"
On their way, Erold looked around him, contemplating the atmosphere. It was not easy to distinguish between those who belonged to the high class and those who were commoners; everyone here appeared equal, colored with the colors of joy. Children were running in every direction, laughter echoed between the shops, and sellers distributed food for free without charge.
Erold was surprised and asked: "Free food?!" Ali replied with a proud smile: "Yes, the royal family funds this day. No one in Babylon goes to sleep hungry during the Festival of Stars." Erold was impressed and said sincerely: "It seems the royal family truly cares for the subjects."
Ali interrupted him, pointing ahead: "We are approaching the Shrine of Knowledge. I will go to talk to the guards; keep Jasmin with you."
Ali moved away, but something… something hidden, was drawing Erold to another direction. Toward a dilapidated, dark shrine, as if time had forgotten it. He felt something deep within him involuntarily pushing him there. He took Jasmin by her hand and headed there. The shrine… its walls were covered with the blackness of time, and its roof barely kept the dust from falling. He opened the door, and the faint light seeped in.
Jasmin looked at him mockingly: "Do you want us to die from the dust? Cough… cough…" But suddenly, everything went quiet. The sound disappeared. Darkness prevailed. Erold turned… Jasmin? She was not there. He was alone.
A voice whispered in his ear, not from his mouth but from his soul: "Finally… you have come." He turned quickly and said: "What is happening?!" He felt his waist… no sword. Impossible… I brought my sword… He muttered: "This is not reality…"
The unknown voice laughed and said: "I like your ability to analyze. Yes, this is the Spiritual World." Erold stared into the darkness: "Impossible… the spiritual world is a myth." The voice replied in a calm tone: "And how can it be a myth when you are inside it?"
Everything began to become clear… then the unknown person continued as if delivering a lesson carved into existence:
Types of Magical Powers:
The Mind Core: The primary source for sorcerers. The more your knowledge and the depth of your perception increase, the more your power increases. But beware, for when a madman obtains the mind core… he becomes an unpredictable danger.
Legendary Tools and Weapons: Extraordinary things that can destroy kingdoms or turn a child into a warrior.
Soul Powers: These are divided into:
The Spiritual World: An isolated place that you cannot enter except with conditions related to your soul and the soul of the one with you.
The Soul Sword: A sword that forms since your birth, but its use is difficult for one who does not know themselves.
Soul Separation: A rare phenomenon, with no confirmed information about it.
Erold said in amazement: "This is… amazing information. But who are you?" The other replied calmly as he approached from the shadow: "I cannot say my name, Erold… or should I call you Arthur?" Erold gasped: "No one knows that name… who the hell are you?!"
A light appeared from the top of the shrine, directed towards a well surrounded by roses and grass. From inside that light, the features of two unknown persons began to form… but they were still unclear. Erold said steadily: "Tell me, what is your purpose in this?"
The unknown replied: "Our purpose… is to help you. And you will thank us later." Before Erold could utter anything, the man placed his thumb on his forehead and said: "Remember your muddled past… Arthur."
A scream… reality tore apart. Indescribable pain. Then stillness.
Erold opened his eyes and was surprised. It was not his voice… he looked at his hands, at his feet… they were small. He ran to the mirror… and was shocked. He had returned to being a small boy. He had returned as… Arthur.
Arthur was amazed: "This is my room… I don't believe this… wait…" Then he remembered that he used to live with Erold in the royal palace.
Little Arthur ran out of the room shouting: "Erold! Where are you?" He ran through the palace corridors calling: "Erold!" One of the maids stopped him and called him: "What is wrong with you, Arthur?" Arthur: "Where is Erold now?" The maid replied: "The King has summoned him."
Arthur headed quickly to the King's wing, saying: "I must warn him." Arthur entered the King's wing, but the guards stopped him. One said: "What are you doing, Arthur? Isn't this your training time? Go back to training, or Erold will be angry with you and us." The other guard: "And what business is it of ours? Everything this brat does, we are punished for!"
Erold came out of the King's wing and noticed Arthur's presence, then said with annoyance: "You naughty boy! Have you shirked your training?"
Arthur looked at Erold, his eyes overflowing with nostalgia and tears, then he ran toward him, hugging him, and said: "I missed you, Erold… I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry… that I left you. I couldn't do anything on that day…"
Erold wondered and looked at him saying: "What is wrong with you, boy? What are you talking about? Are you okay? Did you fall on your head?" The guards looked in shock; it was the first time they saw this boy in this state.
Arthur said in amazement: "How did this happen? Wasn't I with that unknown person?" Then he remembered the last thing the man said to him: "Remember your muddled past, Arthur." So he concluded that he was now inside his memories.
Arthur asked Erold: "Erold, did you meet Hor a while ago?" Erold was surprised and said: "I know you are rude, Arthur, but you must respect Prince Hor."
Arthur was shocked and thought internally: "So that's it, Hor is still a prince…" He heard one of the guards saying: "They found a princess murdered in a gruesome way… severed limbs and scattered entrails. It is said that one of the monsters of darkness ate her."
(People describe the Jinn as monsters of darkness for a logical reason: no one has seen them before, only something moving in the darkness, except for a few… and some of them went mad after that. Jinn are creatures with strange abilities that some cannot imagine, but they do not eat humans. That case was not because of the Jinn, but rather one of the nobles who did this to her to escape her, and cast the blame on the Jinn race).
Arthur thought: "This crime happened before Hor became king, after he assassinates King Amon, and after he betrays Erold… Erold suspected that Hor was the one who assassinated his father, so he went to confront him, but he was betrayed. Erold found himself surrounded by many soldiers, and ended up drowning in blood… but I will stop this."
Arthur to Erold: "Erold, where is Lady Elizabeth?" A hint of suspicion appeared on Erold's face, and he thought: "Why does Arthur seem different today? Why is he polite with me and doesn't call me a senile old man? What happened to him?"
Erold said calmly amidst the noise of the guards: "Arthur, why don't we spar together? We haven't done that in a while." Arthur thought: "Why does Erold want to spar with me? In the past, he wouldn't do that so I would get angry and train more… but why not? I want to know whose level is better… me or you, Erold?"
Arthur said with eyes full of firmness: "Let's do it, Erold." Arthur, Erold, and some guards headed to the city square. Arthur asked for two daggers from Erold to be able to bring out his maximum potential.
Arthur (arrogantly): "So you want the duel to be to the end?" Erold replied: "Do not boast, little one, I think you forgot who I am."
One of the new guards whispered to the other: "Sir Erold, wasn't he the Master of the Knights previously?" The other guard replied: "Yes, but the King made him his advisor, because Erold possesses strategic intelligence and indescribable strength. His loyalty is always to the King, so he didn't want to keep him as commander of the knights, but rather made him his personal guard and advisor. Erold is a personality you only see once every five hundred years."
Erold called out: "Arthur! Are you ready, boy?" Arthur replied: "Where is my weapon?" One of the guards brought a dagger for him, so Arthur thanked him. He said to himself: "This time will be different, Erold." Arthur gripped his two daggers and prepared for the duel.
Erold looked at him in shock… he saw Arthur in a stance he was not used to, rather a perfect stance for using daggers; holding them from the bottom of his palms, his left hand—the weaker one—raised upward to close his weak points.
Erold blinks, only to find that Arthur has moved toward him with immense speed, attacking him saying: "Try to block this, Erold!" With amazement, Erold blocked the attack, and Arthur continued attacking with astonishing speed.
The guards were shocked and said: "Since when did the boy become this fast? He was fast before, but now much faster!" Erold thinks: "What happened to Arthur? He is strange today… wait, was he possessed by one of the Jinn? Impossible… but why do I feel excitement?! Calm down Erold, it's Arthur."
Erold said amidst the attacks: "You are not Arthur… but you have stirred my excitement, you!" Arthur sees Erold's facial expressions frowning, but he is smiling, so Arthur wonders. Erold began exchanging attacks with him. One of the guards described the scene: "You cannot see anything except swords moving and sparks from their hands… you cannot keep up with their speed."
Erold continued the attack and said: "Impressive!" Arthur wondered while struggling and said to himself: "Wait… was Erold this strong? There are things I don't understand about this man…" Erold continued the attack, and fatigue began to show on Arthur.
Arthur (inside himself): "Damn this weak body… I'm not even used to moving in it!" Erold thinks: "I knew it… he is possessed. It seems he is not used to this body… don't worry Arthur, I will help you."
Erold stepped back a little, then said: "Time for seriousness… I will use a medium-level matrix, you… if you have a winning card, bring it out before you regret it!" Arthur wondered with fear and said: "What is wrong with you, Erold? I was joking with you!"
Erold (calmly): "I will not kill you, but you will answer my questions, you." He raised his sword to the sky and said with a mighty voice: "Matrix of the Night… Let darkness prevail!"
From Erold's feet, darkness emerged and extended around him for five meters. Arthur tried to flee, saying: "It's me, Arthur!" But no one could see. He sensed something behind him, turned… no one was there. Erold said from behind him: "You have sharp senses, you!" Then he struck him on his head, and he lost consciousness.
Arthur woke up tied, and in front of him was Erold saying: "Good morning, you bastard!" Then he struck him on his face. Arthur felt pain, and sadness appeared on Erold's face, so he said: "I'm sorry, Arthur, this is only for your own good…" Erold directed questions to Arthur and said: "Who are you?" Arthur: "I am Arthur." Erold shouted: "Stop lying! Why am I wasting my time?"
Erold took the truth potion out of his pocket and let Arthur see it. Arthur said to him mockingly: "Man, you don't stop depleting the kingdom's potions! How many potions do you carry with you in a day?" Erold wondered and said to himself: "Why does he act like Arthur now? Was the thing that possessed him watching him for a while? I will know after the potion."
Erold grabbed Arthur's mouth to force him to drink the potion, but Arthur was cooperative, which increased Erold's suspicion. Arthur said: "I trust you, Erold… ask what you need to know, and do not make me say what I hide if you trust me." (Arthur saw Erold as an older brother and a role model for him).
Erold's eyes shone and he said: "You have that… boy?" Arthur opened his mouth, and Erold poured the potion into it, then asked him: "Are you really the Arthur I know? Answer: yes or no." Arthur replied: "Yes, my older brother."
Erold felt relieved and said: "You scared me, you naughty boy… it's a potion with a ten-second effect, you will speak freely at any time after it." Erold said to himself: "I don't know what you are hiding, boy… but I respect this." Erold freed Arthur and said: "You have a great style, you have surpassed the level of the new Master of the Knights." Arthur laughed and said: "And I will surpass the old one soon."
Erold laughed and said: "I don't think so, boy… you were good, but not enough. Come, let's go, Lady Elizabeth wants to check on you." Erold said: "She is in the wing of…" but he could not finish his words, for he saw Arthur dashing away, saying: "The servants' wing! I sensed her!"
Arthur went quickly to the servants' wing, saying: "I haven't seen you in a long time, my older sister Elizabeth!" Arthur reached the servants' wing and found an old woman with grey hair, somewhat short, with kind features. She was wearing a simple maid's dress. She turned to find Arthur jumping in the air, saying: "I missed you, Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth wondered, then said with joy: "Arthur! What happened to you?" Arthur fell while hugging her and said: "I missed your stew, Elizabeth… I haven't eaten it in a long time!" Elizabeth laughed and said: "You little liar, you ate it yesterday!" She noticed a bruise on Arthur's eye, was surprised and said: "Who did this to you? And what happened to you? Erold told me you were possessed!"
Erold appeared from behind Arthur and said: "He is fine, my doubts were controlling me." Then he said, directing his words to Arthur: "Boy, what happened to your senses?" Arthur replied: "I used to sense your anger in the past, but now you are like a stagnant well!" Erold smiled and said: "Smart boy."
Arthur asked him: "Why were you in a hurry to take me down?" Erold replied: "Because the mind core cannot bear the matrix. Unfortunately, I cannot use more than two matrices, otherwise my mind core will be poisoned… and I am not in a mood that makes me bedridden for a whole month because of a medium matrix."
Arthur: "I should have exerted more effort… I would have won against you!" Erold laughed: "In your dreams, boy! Matrix of the Night is much stronger than that, but I didn't want to kill you."
Arthur was annoyed: "I still don't understand the mind core." (Arthur was talking about the past and the future, and he had not been able to use magic no matter how hard he tried or exerted effort). Erold: "For the mind core to awaken within you, you must make your mind separate from your body." (What Erold didn't know was that Arthur did that… but in a moment of despair, nothing happened, and he was not able to activate the mind core.)
Arthur rose from the table tired after eating the stew and said: "Thank you for the food, Lady Elizabeth… it was delicious." Elizabeth replied smiling: "Your appetite seems open today, my little one!" She stepped toward him, hugged him while crying, and said: "I don't know why… but I feel I won't see you again, Arthur. Please, take care of yourself."
In the blink of an eye… Arthur moved through time in the same room. But he found someone lying on the floor, and their blood was flowing. Arthur approached trembling and said: "No… not again… please, let it not be you…" With a trembling voice he said: "Eliza… beth?"
He found Elizabeth lying on the floor, stabbed, whispering: "Ar…thur… Ar…thur… es…cape… ple…ase…" Arthur hugged her while crying: "Elizabeth! Please don't leave! Nooooo!" But unfortunately, Elizabeth breathed her last while saying: "Escape… please…"
Arthur remained beside her crying: "Why is this happening again…?" He remembered Erold and said crying: "I will come back, Elizabeth… I will come back for you… I'm sorry!"
Arthur ran to the royal hall, only to find it in a state of destruction… fires burning everywhere. He entered the throne room to find Erold surrounded by 100 knights, and King Hor sitting on the throne, saying arrogantly: "Do you want to rebel against your king, Erold? Is this what you promised my father?! Loyalty? Or betrayal?! I see only a traitor who wants to kill the new King!"
Erold replied: "You conspired with the King of Thieves to assassinate the King, and you sent mercenaries to distract the guards… and you are the one who killed him." Suddenly… the sound stopped in the hall, as if everyone was struck with deafness. The guards wondered to themselves: "Is this a matrix? Or a strange magic?"
Erold sensed a dark magic, then said: "You are possessed…" Hor's eyes turned black and red, and he said: "Ooh… Erold, Erold… I didn't expect this trick to work on you!" The sound returned suddenly. Hor said: "Guards… kill Erold!" Then the sound stopped again. Hor said: "Do you want to kill your soldiers? They all have families and children… will you return to killing, Erold? Or should I call you by your old title… the retired Butcher?"
Erold froze in his place. He did not want to kill them. He remembered their faces, their laughter, their training… he remembered one of them saying happily: "I've been blessed with a child!" Then he remembered his son contemplating the sky from inside the destroyed palace, saying: "How lucky I am, I've been blessed with two sons in this life… and they are all wonderful."
Erold looked back and saw Arthur shocked. He smiled at him, then King Hor said: "Guards… At-taaaack!" Erold was stabbed 100 times… they did not stop until his breath stopped. But he was saying to Arthur in his final moments: "Take care of yourself… my son…"
Arthur ran toward Erold's body, tears filling his eyes, he screamed: "Erold!! Please! Don't leave me… please!" He placed his head on his chest, the dead chest. King Hor looked at him and said with disdain: "Annoying boy!" But he noticed the symbol on Arthur's chest, and he was terrified… he could not even speak.
Arthur said: "I promise you, Erold, I will take revenge… whether it was from whoever controlled Hor, or Hor himself…" Arthur noticed that his words changed, and Hor was trying to escape… in a moment of fear… a circle from the symbol on his chest glows… then the second… then the third. Arthur's eye turned into an eye without a pupil.
Arthur moved with lightning speed, choked Hor, and said: "I know you won't die this easily… but I will destroy you mentally… and that is much better!" He broke Hor's back and said: "I will deal with you later…"
The guards shouted: "His Majesty the King!!" Arthur turned to them and killed ten with unbelievable speed. They attacked Arthur who was moving fast. Some of them were killed at the hands of their colleagues out of sheer fear.
And inside him, Arthur was screaming: "I don't want this! Why can't I control my body?! Who are you?!" An internal voice answered him: "Shut up, you weakling! Do you want Erold's blood to go to waste? I swear I will annihilate all the Jinn!" Arthur asked him: "Who are you?!" but he found no reply.
He turned toward Hor, who was crawling to escape, and said to him: "I want to stab you, but you won't feel Erold's pain… half of you is paralyzed… so, I will crush your head!" He stomped on Hor's head until it shattered. Arthur fell unconscious, beside Erold's corpse…
He woke up after a while and remembered all that happened. With feelings mixed between sadness and anger… he carried the corpses of Erold and Elizabeth with him and walked in the city. The people were afraid of him. They nicknamed him "Arthur the Demon." They accused him of killing the King and the knights, and they accused Erold of treason. But he ignored them and said: "You will die ignorant… this man killed himself so you may live." In a moment of silence, someone shouted: "Get out of here, you demon!"
In despair, Arthur left the city and buried Erold and Elizabeth in a nearby village. An elderly man approached him and asked: "Who are these?" Arthur replied with brokenness and a faint voice: "They are my father and mother… the most beautiful thing I obtained in this world."
The old man said with sorrow: "And what is your name, boy?" Arthur was silent, then said in a faint voice: "My name is… Erold."
The old man with a kind smile: "Welcome, Erold…"