Aegis: Pandora's Box

Parting Gift

159 years later,

 

In the busy town of Floris, the streets are bustling with young people moving towards a certain building. The excited look on their faces is evident that something good is about to happen to them today.

 

“Look at all these young men and women going to the evaluation center. I remember that we have that kind of expression back in the day.” A baker said while using magic to bake.

 

“We have all been there. Those were the times. Now that I think about it, it's almost an entire year after that kid failed to pass test?” the baker shakes his head in dismay when it is brought up.

 

“I know, the mayor has high hopes for his son but to think that he would end up in that state. How devastated the mayor could have been.” They both stare at the tallest building in town where the mayor and his family resides.

 

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               “Ibis, even if you are the mayor’s son. This is unacceptable!” a young man in the age of 22 tries to stop the mayor’s son, Ibis from touching a black stone resting on the podium.

 

               “Shhh! I just want to find out if what happened last year was a fluke! Just grant me this with, Fernan.” He says with a smile, and the latter instantly denies helping him.

 

               “I can’t allow that, Ibis. My work is at stake here. If I have the slightest idea that you are going to do something like this, I would not have allowed you to come here!”

 

               Ibis looks at his friend as his shoulders drop. “So you don’t want to give me a chance to see if I am really just a normal person, huh?”

 

His tone made Fernan feel guilty of the words that he said towards Ibis. He had seen the suffering and all the people their age that made fun of him. It reaches to the point that the mayor’s status.

 

Because of that, he grants Ibis a chance to touch the black crystal.

 

“Fine! But just touch it, okay? I don’t want to be in trouble.” Fernan give away. Ibis embrace his friend with a huge smile on his face. “You really are my best friend in the world, Fernan! Thank you very much!”

 

The latter smiles Ibis praises him and the two walks up to the black crystal. “What are you waiting for?” Fernan asks.

 

“I -I don’t know. I don’t really know what to expect. I’m afraid that I will receive the same result.” Ibis says filled with melancholy.

 

Fernan understands Ibis’ feeling towards the result as he had seen what happened last time. To comfort his friend and show his support, Fernan his friend’s back. “It’s okay. I know you’re strong. Whatever the result is, I’m still the friend that supports you.” He says with a reassuring smile.

 

Ibis feels a bit of relief after hearing that from Fernan, and because of that, he finds the confidence to touch the black crystal. He immediately close his eyes the moment he made contact with the crystal.

 

“I hope this time is different.” Ibis says to himself but the look on Fernan’s face says differently. “Something happening?” Ibis asks Fernan, but the latter just pat his back.

 

He slowly opens his eyes and finds the same result that he got from last time. “I guess this is it, huh? I’m just a normal person from the very beginning.” Ibis falls into despair.

 

He is hoping that this year will be different and looks forward to this year’s results, but he just ends up in the same situation. “The Arc doesn’t lie, right?” Ibis asks Fernan who reluctantly nod his head.

 

“Yes. The Arc’s results are absolute. There has been no case of a wrong result in the entire history of using the Arc.” Fernan adds in.

 

 

 

“I guess I really am just an ordinary person after all.” Fernan don’t know how to comfort his friend. In the past, he was not able to do anything for Ibis.

 

Because of their different results, Ibis distance himself from Fernan thinking that he will drag his friend along with him if Fernan stays beside him all the time despite their difference.

 

Fernan did everything that he can just to make Ibis open up to him. It was hard since Ibis is a persistent person but in the end, they remain friends.

 

DING! DONG! DING! DONG!

 

The bell echoes throughout the entire building, it is a signal that the test is about to commence, Fernan hastily walk with Ibis out of the room before the authorities arrive.

 

They sneakily got out of the building with ease, but Ibis feels distant after getting the same results as last year. “I’m sorry, Ibis. I wish I can do something.”

 

“It’s fine. Not all people have the affinity for magic, right? And I am just one of them.” He says on while on the verge of tears.

 

That sight makes Fernan feel Ibis’ pain. As his one and only close friend, Fernan knows how much effort Ibis has allotted for research and for the result to be the same is devastating even for him.

 

“Do you want to be alone for now?”

 

Ibis thanks Fernan for his consideration and nod his head. Fernan reluctantly leaves Ibis to give him some space, knowing that he needs space at the moment. He watches Ibis walk toward the same library where he did his research for the entire year.

 

“I hope that you get over it soon, Ibis.” Fernan says to himself.

 

CREAK!

 

An old man with glasses is arranging all the books in the public library and put them all to the large boxes. He notices the door is open and calls out to Ibis.

 

“You’re back here, young lad?”

 

“Yes, mister. It did not turn out as I expected.”

 

The old man feels the despair and frustration behind Ibis’ words and immediately stops what he is doing and turns to him. “Poor child.”

 

He walks up to Ibis and comforts him as he breaks out into tears.

 

SNIFFLE! SNIFFLE! SNIFFLE!

 

“There, there, child. It’s not the end of the world yet. There is still so many things better than being a mage. It is not the end yet.” The old man says with a reassuring tone.

 

A few minutes after he breaks out into tears, the old man successfully stops Ibis from crying.

 

 “Do not be discouraged, young lad. If being a mage is not written in your destiny then that means you are destined for something different. Believe that you are destined for something greater, young lad.”

 

Ibis takes his master’s words to heart and the latter hands him something covered by a cloth. “What is this, master?” Ibis asks out of curiosity.

 

“That is a gift from me, I will be leaving this town for another one. We might not be able to meet again, so I am giving this to you.”

 

Ibis reluctantly accepts the gift and sadly looks at his master. He had finished packing all the books in the library. Because the library is barely used, the town decided to get rid of the old library to replace it with a new establishment.

 

Just as the two are sharing their last moments, a carriage stops in front of the library. “It seems like my ride has come. This is fair well, my only student.” Ibis embrace his master and so does the latter.

 

They both exchange goodbyes and the librarian leaves the town, Ibis watches as his master’s carriage disappears in the distance.

 

“In the end, I did not get to ask what the gift was.” Ibis says to himself while staring at it. Without thinking too much about it, Ibis goes back home and goes straight his room.

 

He puts the gift on the table and lies on his bed thinking about what happened. “What do I do now?” he asks himself.

 

Ibis then remembers that he did not get to see what his master’s gift was, and so he reaches out to it and unwraps the rugged clothe. The more he unwraps it, the more it resembles a book. “What? A book? An old grimoire?”

 

Ibis feels something different about the grimoire and as he opens it, something fell on the floor.

 

TING!