บท 5: Mage without Magic

In Ice valley town the forest clan or the Lin clan is a hidden as well as a clan of mythical existence. No one dared to oppose or slander them because no one know their existence in Ice valley town. No one in the Lin clan is allowed to bully the common peasants or can they reveal their identity in public. So no one knew that Lin Cian is the son of Lord Lin who was the lord of the mysterious castle built deep in the forest.

Lin Cian had the habit of helping the people in need as much as he could. He didn't have any allowance like the other children of the family who got a monthly allowance to help them in their training and to let them spend some. All the money he had was earned by him was the pay of his working as a servant in the Lin Castle. His wage for a month working as a servant in the Lin Castle was a silver coin. It is much less than that of the allowance for an inner member of the clan which is a gold coin.

As the son of the lord of the Lin clan, he would get two extra gold coins which will be three gold coins. As one of the five eldest children of the Lin family, this amount must be doubled which will be five gold coins. Even without being a warrior or not having a specific title, he could have gotten four gold coins. But Lin Cian refused it, saying allowance can best be given to the warriors who serve the clan and protect the country. A silver coin is worth sixteen copper coins and twenty-five silver coins made a gold coin.

When Lin Cian saw an old man who seemed to be hungry, Lin Cian thought of walking toward the man to offer him a meal. Lin Cian noticed him be a blind man once he came near him. Much to his surprise, the old man just raised his head and stood in front of him. He just stood up as he knew Lin Cian was coming to him. Lin Cian just hung his jaws for a moment before shaking his head in disagreement. Lin Cian believed that was a coincidence. He gave an attentive stare at the old man. He offered the old man a hand and helped him get to the table. Lin Cian was surprised and wondered how in the world could he see such a scene. What he saw was the old man, he was walking without a stick or anything to support him. He just walked casually as any other old man could do. Lin Cian kept his cool and made him seated at the table. The old man enjoyed the meal while Lin Cian was taking care of him. Lin Cian wondered how the old man who was visually impaired could eat food so he offered to help him to eat. When he helped the old man Lin Cian was careful enough to not let him choke the food. The old man was very moved by his care and decided to ask him something.

"Can I please know your name benefactor?" an elderly trembling voice came from the mouth of the old man as he realized the young man who helped him was not a simple person. Lin Cian replied "the lame man" and smiled at him. Even though the old man could not see him smile at him he could feel it. The old man jerked in the blink of an eye. He was clearly shocked to hear those words. asked. He turned in the direction of the voice he heard "Are... are you lame?... I dare not to think so".

Lin Cian smiled as his breathing sound could be heard by the old man. He replied, "No I am not, but it used to be my name for years". The inner members of the Lin clan used to call him the lame guy. It includes his brothers as well as the other children of the five elderly children of the Lin Clan. "Can I help you with something?" the old man asked Cian with a pleased face. His elderly voice resembled his sincerity. His lips were split open and the edges of his lips went wide. He wished to help Lin Cian as much as he could. Lin Cian replied, "I wish I would learn how you walk all by yourself without sight".

The old man was very silent for a few minutes. He inwardly wondered what kind of young man was in front of him, he asked Lin Cian "don't you have a good sight? Why do you want to learn this from me?" The old man was quite surprised as well as confused. He was curious to know why a young man wanted to learn something this stupid.

Lin Cian replied "learning anything is gaining knowledge" with a smile of sadness. Even the old man could feel the sadness in his words when Lin Cian's tone entered the old man's ears. The old man stood up with his hands supporting the table. He looked in the direction from which he assumed he heard the voice. He opened his mouth and said, "follow me". His elderly and trembled voice was slightly modified this time. It also included a little commanding tone.

The old man walked into the street without the help of Lin Cian. Lin Cian followed the old man closely as his jaw dropped when he saw the old man not even bump at someone mistakenly. All his steps are as planned. That is said, only a person with perfect vision and a body reflex speed as a blink of an eye can do it. Walking without bumping anyone in a crowded area is not something even an average person without visual impairment can do. In a particular area, his expressions and his body language seemed different. There were no people around the area. There was a huge rock.

The old man gestured to Lin Cian, who walked behind him to stop. He didn't look back at Lin Cian. He just raised his hands without even saying a single word. But Lin Cian, the smart kid did understand it and stood where he was. The old man made a firm stand on the ground. He joined both his legs and placed them together on the ground. He inhaled and exhaled deeply. He did some moments and with a calm, steady, and slow posture he joined his hands. Both his wrists touched each other. His palms and his fingers were open and it looked like one of his hands is above the other. He just pushed the thin air without saying or chanting anything. The rock rolled behind as if it was pushed back by the gesture of the old man. Lin Cian's mouth hung loosely just like his eyes that were popping out. "Wow, a Mage" Lin Cian almost whispered in amusement.

The old man shouted, "Don't compare those idiots with me, I am not a mage". Lin Cian wondered himself about what the old man is saying. He knew that mages are extraordinary people who can do magic. 'Don't he have any idea about what a mage is?' he said himself. Lin Cian was confused "if you aren't a mage then what are you?" he asked the old man.

The old man asked, "have you seen a mage who can see without his eyes?" His tone seemed to be mocking despite its trembling tone. 'Do I look like an idiot to him?' Lin Cian wondered and replied politely "No, I haven't".

"Those lowly mages only knew to create something but they cannot control them but we can do it," the old man said to Cian in a dominant and boasting tone. Lin Cian stood silent for a minute and asked calmly "What does that mean? Then what are you?"

The old man analyzed for a minute. He examined each and every word that Lin Cian spoke and nodded internally. The old man asked Cian "Do you know a spell? Can you recite one for me?" Lin Cian remembered Lin Tamayo reciting a simple spell, the water bubble. Lin Cian adjusted his neck and in a calm tone he said, "Ooh god of waters. Grand me your strength to hold the droplets into an ocean. Water bubble".

The old man giggled and in some way, Lin Cian understood that the old man was in a mood to mock him by the noise he made. The old man controlled himself and mocked "look, you just begged someone for a bucket of water". Lin Cian never expected that coming, he was shocked as the old man laughed louder. Lin Cian didn't get surprised or shocked by the mocking of the old man. What surprised him was his hand was completely wet and drops of water dripping from his hand.

"What is going on here? How can a person who is not a mage use a spell" Lin Cian was quite confused when he was wondering about what the hell is going on without any knowledge of what is happening the old man said, "this is called bending. The ability to command an element. It doesn't require spirit or soul power it requires will power. I bend earth so I'm an earth bender".