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  Aqua: The Unforgiving Sea

  The Magus Wars Book One

  J.C. Ritchie

  About the Author

  J.C. Ritchie was born in the city of Norton, VA. He lives in Tennessee and spends most of his days reading, writing, and playing massive amounts of video games. His influences are Brent Weeks, Mark Lawrence, George R.R. Martin, J. K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is the author of the Mystics of V’nairia Trilogy and the Magus Wars Series.

  J.C. Ritchie Novels

  The Magus Wars Series

  Aqua: The Unforgiving Sea

  Ventus: The Storm Winds (Coming 2019)

  The Mystics of V’nairia Trilogy

  I: The Fated Swords

  II: The Crusader King

  III: The Last Mystic (Coming 2019)

  Aqua: The Unforgiving Sea © 2018 by J.C. Ritchie All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  First Edition Printing, 2018

  Published by: Dark Magick Publishing Edited by: J.C. Ritchie

  Cover design: Copyright © 2018 by J.C. Ritchie Texts and illustrations: Copyright © 2018 by J.C. Ritchie

  For Tyler and Quincy

  Ego flumen, quod fluit per siluas.

  Ego sum qui flare ventos, per arbores.

  Ego in terra, magna nee incerta.

  Ego autem in ardenti flammis exitium.

  Ego sum qui scindit fulgur caelo.

  Ego sum lux in tenebris lucet, quod.

  Ego umbra qui manducat meam.

  Ego sum id quod jacet inter diis et hominibus.

  Ego protector hominis est

  -The Mage’s Prayer

  Aqua: The Unforgiving Sea

  The Magus Wars Book One

  Chapter 1

  The room was dark when Creo awoke from his sleep. He stretched as he rose from the floor and rubbed his tired eyes.

  “Where am I?” He had asked himself looking around the pitch-black room.

  He was unable to see anything, not even his hands in front of his face. He felt around the small dark room looking for a light switch but there was nothing there. There was an eerie feeling surrounding him, and he wanted nothing more than to get out of there.

  “Hello?” Creo called out. There was no answer, the room was completely silent.

  He ran his fingers through his short brown hair, “Is anyone there?” he called out once more, but again there was no response.

  He was confused as to why he had woken up in such a strange place. The air was stale and cold, and he could see his breath as he exhaled. After a few moments his eyes finally adjusted to the blackness of the room and he could see the faint silhouette of a cloaked figure standing just a few feet in front of him.

  “Hello?” He called out to the shadowy figure. “Can you hear me?”

  The figure stood perfectly still and remained silent. Creo was beginning to get nervous; the hair on the back of his neck started to stand up. It was his first instinct to run as far away as fast as he possibly could, but his legs wouldn’t budge.

  “Who are you?” He asked the figure in a more aggressive tone this time. “Why have you brought me here?”

  The figure was still silent; Creo felt like someone was behind him. He quickly turned to see another figure a few feet behind him this time. His heart begun to beat rapidly from fear. Creo noticed that this figure was not cloaked like the other. He could see a man with hair the same shade as his only a bit longer and curled. The two figures stood silently staring at each other for a moment just before the cloaked figure pulled out a golden staff. Under his cloak he had also carried a sword on his belt.

  The curly haired man also pulled out a staff that looked identical to the staff the cloaked figure had carried except it was silver in color. He also wore a sword that looked like the sword of the cloaked figure as well. Creo was confused as to why he had stood in this place between these two figures in the darkness. They were preparing to battle one another when a flash of light pierced the darkness of the room. Suddenly the two figures vanished, and the room was now white. Creo was alone once again, except this time he could see more clearly.

  “Who were those two?” Creo asked himself. “Why am I here?”

  “Creo.” A voice called out suddenly. Creo looked around and found that he was still all alone in the white room. “Creo.” The voice called out once more, this time with more urgency.

  “Where are you?” Creo asked the voice expecting a response. After a few moments of waiting, the voice slowly faded away. The strong light from before flashed once again even more powerful this time.

  “Creo!” The voice shouted loudly.

  Creo shot up out of bed and fell to the floor. “It’s about time; I’ve been shaking you for a good five minutes now.” A voice said, it was a familiar voice that Creo knew all too well. Creo looked up to find his best friend Finn at the foot of his bed shaking his black spiky haired head. He was the same height and build as Creo; they were childhood best friends and had grown up together.

  “So it was all just a dream?” Creo said to himself.

  Finn looked at his friend strangely. “Was what a dream?” he asked.

  Creo shook his head, “Nothing, it’s nothing.” He said lying to Finn. It wasn’t nothing, it wasn’t nothing at all. In fact it had been the strangest dream that Creo ever had. It had been even stranger than the reoccurring dream of Creo standing in the middle of the city’s cathedral during the weekly service in nothing but his underwear.

  Finn rose from the foot of his bed and held out his hand to help his friend up off of the floor. “You should probably hurry and get dressed, if were late we will surely regret it.” Finn said urging him along.

  “What day is it?” Creo asked.

  Finn let out a chuckle and handed Creo his white robes. “It’s the holy day of course; we had better hurry to the cathedral.” Finn said. Creo quickly threw on a black t-shirt and brown pants. He hurried and pulled his white robes over top of his clothes and followed his friend down the stairs of his home.

  As they made their way downstairs, Creo walked into the kitchen to find his mother preparing breakfast while his father sat at the kitchen table reading the morning paper. “Good morning Creo, Happy Birthday.” His mother said gleefully.

  “How does it feel to be fifteen?” his father asked him from across the room just before biting into a slice of toast. Creo smiled widely quickly remembering his own birthday

  “I feel about the same I guess.” He said.

  “Ha don’t be silly, today is the day you see the Seer.” His father said. “I just know that you’ll become a fine cleric just like your mother and I?”

  Creo hoped so; it was his dream to become a well respected Cleric in their home kingdom of Lytos just as his parents had been. They were employed at the local infirmary by the Sanctorum, which was the theocracy that ruled over the six kingdoms of Le’Freya

  Creo’s father walked over to him and pulled out a black box. “Happy Birthday son.” He said handing the box to Creo.

  Creo opened the box and inside was a black roped necklace with a bright green emerald stone in the center of it. Creo placed the necklace around his son’s neck and fastened it. “Thanks father, I love it.” He said very appreciative of his gift.

  His father rubbed his head and hugged him tight, “Now hurry along.
You’ll be late.” His father said. Creo and Finn said goodbye to his parents and headed out the front door.

  The city of Lytos was bustling; everyone was making their way over to the cathedral for the holy day service. It was mandatory for all the citizens of Lytos to attend the service on the holy day. The theocracy had been very important to not only the citizens of Lytos but to everyone in Le’Freya. For the most part Le’Freya believed in simplicity to a certain extent. According to the holy praecepta Le’Freya was to be free of all technology and machinations. Firearms were also strictly forbidden, only sword arms were allowed within the six kingdoms. The most important praecepta of all was that magic was strictly forbidden. Anyone caught using magic in any way would be arrested immediately and scheduled for execution.

  Magic’s use was only authorized by two groups of people; the clerics and evokers. The clerics used their healing powers to protect and heal the sick and wounded. The evokers on the other hand were one of the main defenses that the kingdoms had possessed. They could use their magic to bring forth powerful guardians known as Numina. The Numina were the protector beasts of old, each embued with magic of a different element. The elements included; water, wind, earth, fire, lightning, and light itself. Creo’s kingdom of Lytos guardian protector was the mighty Seraphim, a powerful angel with great white wings that carried a flaming sword. Seraphim was a powerful deity from the realm of light known as Caelum.

  Le’Freya’s Sanctorum is headed by the High Priest whom with his council of chancellors upholds the praecepta and governs the people of their respected kingdoms. The Sanctorum’s armies, known as the Knights of Mercy defend the six kingdoms from foreign invaders. Le’Freya has seen peace for well over a century since the Magus War. The Magus War had essentially been a civil war during the time that the six kingdoms were trying to decide whether to create a praecepta to ban all magic in Le’Freya. Three of the kingdoms raised their armies against the Sanctorum thus starting the bloodiest battle in all of Le’Freya’s history. High Priest Kyate II led the Knights of Mercy into battle with Seraphim by their side and wiped out all of the magus and those who had defended them. The Sanctorum had once and for all put an end to the war and restored order to the six kingdoms by banning the use of magic.

  Creo and Finn ran as fast as they could to make it to the cathedral in time. “Creo, let’s take the back entrance so Father Josei won’t see us.” Finn said.

  Creo hated his friend’s half-baked ideas; it almost always meant trouble for both of them. Hanging out with Finn had given him quite the reputation, and not necessarily a good one. The cathedral was tall, taller than anyone had expected it to be. The building itself was made of white stone, as white as a pearl. Its height hadn’t been what was impressive about it; its sheer size was unbelievable. It was said to hold the entire kingdom all in one building. Whether or not those rumors were true they would never find out. While the service on the holy day was mandatory, there were a lot of people who hated going and hid themselves away.

  Finn walked up to the back door of the cathedral and expected to have to pick the lock. Surprisingly however, the door was already unlocked. “Finn this is not a good idea.” Creo said thinking rationally.

  “Come on Creo. Where is your sense of adventure?” Finn asked his nervous friend. Creo looked down and could see his hands trembling with fear.

  “Back home in bed, where I can dream about these so-called adventures and not get in trouble for them.” Creo said. They looked at each other and cackled for a moment before walking inside.

  They had made their way into the kitchen to avoid being noticed by any of the priests. The Sanctorum often catered large parties for special days throughout the year so the cathedral’s kitchen was massive in size. They carefully walked past the pots and pans hanging from above them making sure not to knock anything down and cause a commotion.

  “Alright, we will wait for the hymn and then sneak in the back.” Finn said. “No one will even know that we were late.” Finn was so sure of his plan, he always had been even when the previous had always backfired. “Okay.” Creo agreed.

  Suddenly the boys felt someone tap both of their shoulders. “We’re in trouble aren’t we?” Creo asked Finn afraid to turn around to see who was behind them. Finn remained silent, also afraid to make a move.

  “Why does it not surprise me that the two of you are late for service yet again?” a familiar yet unwelcomed voice asked. The boys turned to find Father Josei glaring at them, peeking over his glasses that sat upon his long crooked nose. He was wearing his silver service robes and his hood had covered his graying hair.

  “I’m not sure Father.” Finn dared to answer.

  “It is because you two are late almost every service day Mr. Reigns.” Father Josei explained. “For Caelum’s sake you think the two of you would have learned how to arrive on time by now.”

  Finn and Creo looked down at the floor in disgust, partially because looking at the priest gave them the creeps and the other in disappointment with themselves. “You two are exceptionally lucky that I’m feeling generous because it is Creo’s birthday today.” The priest told the boys. “Since you two are late, you will have to leave. I had better not catch you late again.”

  “Yes father.” Both boys said sorrowfully. The priest pointed to the back door and motioned for them to leave the cathedral.

  “I told you that we would get caught.” Creo said angrily.

  “So it was one time that I steered us wrong, big deal.” Finn said.

  Creo instantly raised his eyebrow, “Alright, Alright a great many times.” Finn added.

  “I’m never going to be a cleric and you’re never going to make it into the Knights of Mercy if we keep getting into trouble like this.” Creo said trying to reason with his friend.

  I still don’t understand why you want to be a boring old cleric.” Finn said leaning up against a tree on the outside of the cathedral.

  “Clerics aren’t boring thank you very much, they save people’s lives.” Creo said passionately.

  Finn began to laugh as he walked over to the fountain out front of the cathedral. He bent down and looked into the water to make sure that his hair was the way that he had liked it. He was only person that Creo knew that was as vain as he was. “Whatever you say Creo, you’d better hurry and head over to Sanctorum Headquarters.” Finn reminded him.

  “That’s right I have to see the Seer, I completely forgot.” Creo said looking down at the ground.

  Finn began to walk down the street towards his home, “It will be alright Creo, your future will be a bright battle free one I’m sure of it.” Finn said trying to reassure his friend.

  “I just hope your right Finn.” Creo said as the two boys parted ways and walked down opposite sides of the street. Creo then walked on to meet with the Seer at the Sanctorum Headquarters where he would find out what his future had in store for him. The very thought of being anything but a Cleric made him sick to his stomach. He had prayed to Seraphim and begged her for a bright future just like his parents had had. Only time would tell what his future held for him.

  ***

  As Creo had arrived outside the Sanctorum’s Headquarters, the nervousness had finally set in and it he had felt like there was a large lump in his throat. He was terrified to find out what the Seer had to say to him. He looked up at the building noticing its many windows. It was the most heavily guarded building in all of Lytos. Knights were placed at every entrance and exit as well as on the rooftops for further protection. The Headquarters was definitely not a place where any humana or non gifted person wanted to go. He had only been there once before with his parents, and even then it had given him an eerie feeling. While the Sanctorum had believed in spreading joy and happiness throughout Le’Freya, the employees at Headquarters had had a funny way of showing it.

  Creo walked up to the gate, noticing the two knights standing in front of its large double doors. The knights wore gold plated armor with white capes that draped off th
eir shoulders. One of the Knights had stepped forward, stopping Creo’s advance. “Halt, state your business.” The man said.

  “My name is Creo Naviae and I’m here to see the Seer.” Creo said nervously.

  “I suppose it’s another one who wishes they were part of the Knights of Mercy.” The Knight said looking over at the other.

  “Nah, this one is too scrawny, he wouldn’t last a day in training.” The other Knight said.

  “Actually I’m hoping to become a full fledged cleric like my parents.” Creo said interrupting them. The two Knights looked at each other once more and then moved aside without saying a word. Creo could tell just by looking at their faces that they were judging him with their eyes.

  Creo walked past the knights and opened the doors behind them, walking on through to the entrance of Headquarters. Inside, it had been even more beautiful than he had remembered. It had been a very large and bright room. Many lights had hung from the ceiling and lining the walls were large portraits of previous High Priests. He slowly walked up to the nearest priest for help.

  “Excuse me father, I’m here to see the Seer.” Creo said respectfully. Creo was one of the only children his age that knew how to respect the figures of the Sanctorum or any adult or elder for that matter.

  “What is your name, my child?” the priest asked kindly.

  “My name is Creo Naviae.” Creo said.

  The priest pointed to a small white bench against the wall, “Please wait there and we will call for you.” He explained to Creo.

  “Thank you, father.” Creo said and turned to walk over to the bench against the wall and sat down. Creo was not a very patient person and hated to wait. It had made his nervousness worse and now he had felt nauseous. He watched as the priest had entered a room just down the hall from where Creo was sitting.

  After about five agonizing minutes of waiting, Creo had saw the same priest walking towards him with a warm smile on his face. “The Seer will see you now, right this way.” He said. Creo rose from the bench and followed the priest down the hall. The priest opened the door for him and motioned him inside.