Shadows of a second life

The evening shadows stretched long across the Voss household as the sun dipped behind the Whispering Woods. Elias lay propped up on a thick cushion in the main hall, his small body still aching from the brutal training session. The heart magic Liora had cast on him earlier had dulled the worst of the migraine and dizziness, but a deep fatigue lingered in his bones. Every movement sent dull protests through his muscles, a painful reminder of how far he still had to go.

Worth it, really worth it,ouch damn this sucks, but even so,he told himself, staring at the ceiling beams. Pain today means strength tomorrow. I won’t stay average. I won’t let them look down on me again.I must get stronger, maybe then...

Soft footsteps approached. Selene plopped down beside him, her silver braids swinging. The ten-year-old elf looked surprisingly energetic despite the long day of helping with chores. She had a small plate of leftover honey cakes from the welcome dinner and offered him one without asking.

“You look like death warmed over, little genius,” she said with a teasing grin. “Mother really pushed you, huh? She does that to me too when she thinks I’m slacking.”

Elias accepted the cake with a quiet nod, nibbling slowly. His pride wanted to deny the weakness, but the exhaustion made lying pointless. “It was… necessary.”

Selene leaned back against the wall, chewing thoughtfully. “You know, since you’re going to be training with us for a while, I might as well tell you about the different types of magic. Mother’s all about theory and ranks, but the kinds of magic are what actually matter in practice.”

Elias perked up despite the soreness, his sharp mind pushing past the fatigue. Knowledge was safety. Knowledge was power. He listened intently as Selene continued.

“There are five main classifications,” she said, holding up fingers one by one. “Attack magic—that’s the flashy stuff you were doing today. Fireballs, water cannons, rock bullets. Pure destruction and force. Then there’s Barrier magic: shields, wards, domes of protection. Great for defense. Summoning magic lets you call creatures, spirits, or even temporary constructs to fight for you. Black magic is the nasty one— shadow magic,hexes, weakening enemies, draining their strength, or worse.”

She paused dramatically, her violet eyes sparkling with pride. “And finally, Divine magic. That’s what I specialize in, just like your sweet Mum. It’s different from the others. Most divine spells require proper incantations in the ancient tongue. You can’t just visualize and push mana like attack spells. You have to learn the words, the rhythm, the intent behind them.”

Elias thought back to the soothing wave that had washed over him after destroying the garden. His mother’s gentle voice chanting those melodic words. It all clicked.So that was divine magic,it could be helpful to learn,he thought to himself.It could come in handy sometime.

Selene continued, clearly enjoying her role as teacher. “Divine magic has several branches. Healing magic forces cellular regeneration—mends wounds, restores tissue, even helps with broken bones and if you’re good enough heal downright fatal wounds. Heart magic heals the soul directly. It chases away fear, despair, and emotional wounds, leaving you with a feeling of safety and bliss.

Elias nodded slowly. The unnatural calm after his panic… it had felt too perfect. Too comforting.I think it's what my mum used on me yesterday. That beautiful feeling

“Then there’s Detoxification magic,” Selene went on. “Super complex. It cleanses the body from curses, poisons, and internal corruptions. Really hard to master. And Purification magic—my favorite. It purges malevolent essences and demonic energies outside the body. It can neutralize almost any magic if done right. Demons are basically made of corrupted mana, so purification spells hit them hard. Way more effective than regular attacks.”"Using normal fire or any normal spell against a demon is like trying to drown a fish".

She shrugged. “All these divine spells follow similar ranking to attack magic—Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and so on. But instead of bigger area effects, stronger spells just work faster and more potently. A high-level healing spell can close a fatal wound in seconds instead of hours.”

Selene’s expression turned more serious. “It’s difficult to learn, especially the higher ranks. The ancient language is tricky, and the incantations demand perfect pronunciation and focus. Mages are already rare. True priests who master divine magic? Even rarer. Some kingdoms and powerful families kidnap talented ones and force them into servitude. It’s dangerous work.”

The words landed heavily. Elias’s gaze drifted toward the kitchen where Lira was quietly helping Maria prepare supper. His mother—gentle, patient Lira—had cast heart magic on him without hesitation. The realization hit him like a rock bullet.

She must be one hell of a mage… or priestess. To pull off something like that so naturally. A wave of genuine respect bloomed in his chest, warmer than any spell. In his old life, no one had ever protected or comforted him like that. His parents had been distant ghosts. Here, Lira had soothed his broken spirit without a second thought.

It made him respect her even more. Not just as a mother, but as someone strong in her own right. Someone he didn’t want to disappoint.

Selene noticed his distraction and nudged him with her elbow. “Hey, don’t space out. You’re lucky Mother’s teaching you attack stuff first. Divine magic takes years of study. But if you ever want tips on the incantations, I guess I could show you some basics… since we’re stuck here together.”

Elias offered a small, shy smile—the first real one he’d given her. “Thank you, Selene.”

She blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity, then grinned back. “Don’t get used to it, tiny genius. I’m still older and wiser.”

As the family gathered for evening meal, Elias sat quietly among them, the ache in his body a distant hum now. The conversation flowed around him—, Liora discussing lesson plans, Lira’s soft laughter mixing with Maria’s practical advice. For once, the voices didn’t feel threatening.

Don’t screw this up, he reminded himself internally. Learn everything. Get stronger. Earn this respect.

But deep down, the old fears still whispered: How long until they see the flaws? Until it all breaks?

For tonight, he pushed them aside and focused on the warmth of the hearth and the new paths opening before him.

"I won't stay the same.I have no excuse not to change ".

"I must get stronger both physically and mentally."