[ENG] Mayalastum #1 - The Reign of the Nostros

In the world of Asmos, magic has reigned for thousands of years. The people of Asmos even carry this magic on their clothes, which are like that a second skin. The more pure or powerful the magic is, the more beautiful the garments will be. A child born nude will eventually acquire his clothing throughout the duration of his magic apprenticeship. However, sometimes a child can be born already clothed. These could be children coming from renown families or in some cases children born with a pure magic, promising a big future to come.
 

This was the case of Maya, who was born wearing a magnificent black dress and a large pointed hat. Her parents fled at the sight of this and abandoned Maya. Alastum, an orphanage that teaches their children the magic of illusion, welcomed and took Maya in. Not long after, Maya was adopted by a couple of measly wizards, Alex and Adèle Nostros.
 

Alex is a rather tall man with a striking silhouette, a square jaw, a shaved head, a scruffy neglected beard, and big eyebrows that overhang his little black eyes. His arms are big and muscled, covered in hair that reaches all the way to the tops of his hands and down his back. He wears a white stained t-shirt that is torn on the left side of his torso as well as a pair of brown pants with holes in it.
His wife however, is petite and thin, with a short red a-line haircut, intense blue eyes and a beaming smile which could convince you to do anything. She wears a torn and tattered brown dress that matches her husband’s pants.
 

When they saw Maya’s garments, they immediately thought that for her clothes to come out like that, she must have an expert knowledge of the magic of illusion.
 

When Maya was one year old, she wore a black dress and matching black flats, with white gloves and a pointed hat which covered her short blonde hair, and the face of an angel with big black eyes and an always present smile that reflected her innocence. And so Alex and Adèle adopted her.
 

Six years later, before her seventh birthday, Maya finds herself in an abandoned gloomy room filled with dust and spider webs, with cardboard boxes covering the room. Maya stands in the middle of the room, her arms pushed out in front of her. She hasn’t changed much in six years. Her face and her hair remain the same. She had grown a little and her gloves now reach her elbow. So she stands here, at the center of the room, with the same joyful expression that she’s always carried. She then casts a spell, “Drolastum!”. At the same time a big black smoke came out of her hands and took the form of a flock of bats. “I did it! Look Mat, they are just like you!”. Behind her there was a white bat flying with stars in the eyes and a big smile, enthralled by the spectacle.
 

Above them, Axel and Adèle are sitting at a big table, covered with different plates and things to eat.
 

-She is very talented, says Alex, we made the good decision at the time.
-Yes, I would have never imagined that her clothes were actually real, responded Adele, it’s exactly what we need!
-You think she’s ready now? asked her husband.
-Either way we need to do it tomorrow, it’s the only day where Asmos is aligned with Alast. It is the only time when the magic of illusion is at it’s maximum power. It is tomorrow or nothing!

The next morning, Maya was awoken by the light shining through the door, which had been opened by the Nostros.

-Get up Maya! We are going to take a walk, said Adele softly.
-Yes mama, Maya responded joyfully.

-Don’t go! cried Mat to warn her. They want to finish it today. You don’t have to listen to them, it’s too dangerous! But Maya, who was unable to hear him, left with her parents.
 

They rode the train to Otralast plains. Once they arrived, Maya was in awe, she had never seen a place that big. There were no trees or buildings, just big grass plains. Big blankets of light covered the sky. From afar, there is a hill named Otralast Hill and upon it there is a white covered place, at the center there is a big circle surround by a lot of magic symbols.
 

-What is that circle mama ? Asked Maya intrigued.
-We are gonna play a game Maya, you in ? Say’s Adele ignoring Maya’s last question.
-Yay ! Say’s the little girl with enthusiasm. What is the game ?
-You’ll go to the center of the circle and you’ll cast the spells that I tell you.

-All right ! She answer joyfully. So she turn back and walk towards it.
-It’s the time of truth ! Say’s Adele. We’ll know if she can cross it.
-When we tried, despite our power, we lost everything. How do you know that it will work with her ? Ask Alex.
-We were powerful, but it’s different for her. She is powerful too, but her magic is pure.

The Nostros focus now on Maya who is about to cross the circle. And when she put her feet inside, the symbols all around it start to shine and a halo of blue light goes up to the top of her head. The little witch looks all around her, surprised and marveled. She had never seen anything that beautiful, but it was the first time that she had felt a magic that powerful even if she wasn’t aware.

-I knew it ! Adele says. So now it’s time to give a try.
-Wait ! Says Alex. If we do that while her essential energy is aspirated, when she casts a spell it will be even less probability for her to…

-Shut up ! she interrupted. To get our powers back we have to go that far if we need to.
-Mama ! What do I do now ? asks Maya.
-Right Maya ! answers Adele with something sly in her voice. Now, you’re gonna change our clothes.
-That’s easy ! Says Maya.

She stretches out her arms in the direction of the Nostros, closes her eyes but still smiles like always. And when she opens them she yells “Colastum”. A black smoke leaves her hands and parts towards the Nostros, and begins to turn around them, hiding their bodies. When the smoke finally disappears, their clothes have changed, nothing to do with the normal “Colastum”. Alex is now wearing a grey sorcerer’s dress - the color of high society in Asmos -which falls down low enough to hide her feet in black boots. On his chest there is a black diamond and drawn on it there is a white hand with eyes on each fingertip, the symbol of the archmage. His shoulders are covered with grey pointed shoulder pads and his hands with black gloves. Adele is wearing a black dress that falls down to her ankles, showing her heels of the same black color. Upon which we can see small amethysts lined just above her chest. Her shoulders are covered by discreet curved shoulder pads. From her shoulders to the bottom of her back there is a black and purple cape.

- Incredible! exclaimed Adele.
- We must be dressed like that to defeat the world. says her husband.

- I see that you have finally decided. It is now time to to finish our plan, Adele turns towards Maya et asks her gently, now you’re going to cast the spell that we’ve seen this whole year, but instead of casting it on an animal, you are going to cast it on a bigger area.
- Ok! agrees Maya.
 

The little girl lifts her hands towards the sky, still smiling but very concentrated. She closes her eyes again and when she opens them she yells, “Entiplastum”.  The same black smoke leaves her hands and flows up towards the sky, and when it is a bit higher it scatters and darkens the sky. A big smile appears on Adele’s face, who watches this phenomena with satisfaction. However, Maya’s own smile disappears, and is replaced by a pained look.
 

“Mama!” she yells, “I can’t take it anymore, can I stop?”
“You cannot stop under any pretext!”  
“Oh yes she will stop.” says an unknown voice from behind them.

The surprised couple, turns around to put a face to the voice. It’s a rather tall and skinny man, with short raised hair and an ordinary face. “Hey, you can’t say that!” he exclaimed. As for his clothes, he wears black pants and a grey t-shirt with a symbol of a black flame. He only wears one glove on his left hand and a ring on his index finger.

“My name is Daril! I am here to stop you Alex and Adele of the Nostros!”
“How are you not under the submission of the spell?” asks Adele angrily.

“You’ll need much more of that to subdue me, and I won’t let you kill a little girl with a great future.”
“A great future?” asks Axel.
“Yes, it’s been said at the beginning of the story, you didn’t read it?” says Daril.
“You can stop Maya”, screams Adele ignoring what Daril had just said, “Now I would like you call upon an evil animal.”

Maya was relieved only for a short moment, but she wasn’t upset with him. However, she felt useful, which was enough to satisfy her even though she didn’t understand. So she closes her eyes and casts a spell which she knows very well, “Drolastrum”. This time, the smoke doesn’t take the form of a bat but that of a big black dragon, making it’s way towards Daril. “I prefer bats” Daril says. Without saying a word, he inhales deeply and breathes out fire which make the dragon disappear. Next he throws a small ball of fire towards Maya to get her out of harms way. Finally, he creates fire rings and throws them on to the Nostro’s wrists and ankles, who get him back with their old clothes. He takes Maya into his arms and leaves in a whirlwind of fire.

A little later, Maya wakes up in front of Daril’s house.

“Sir,” she says timidly, “where are my mom and dad?”
“These people were not your parents, Maya. They just wanted you for your powers.”

“But what do I do now?” she cries.
“You will continue your magic training with me.” He smiles at her. “But before that, you will have to stop your crying. I read somewhere that you always smile.”
 

She dries her eyes and gives a little smile.

“Perfect. And one last thing, Nostros is not your real name, so you will have to find another.”
“Any one I want?”
“Yes, it’s up to you to decide.”

“I’ve decided! It will be Alastum, Maya Alastum”

Draw By Ayaluna (http://www.ayaluna.be/)