Heeeyo! This is early, enjoy! :D

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Grasping Fate

Chapter 7

"Give me one more chance to be with you again"

"Seto Magi." The name rolled off the Kulnak's mouth, like he was tasting it, his head was tilted in though, "Do you know someone by the name of Soro Magicks?"

Seto looked at him funny, "No, I do not."

"He was the first sorcerer to be born, he also possessed a very unique gift passed down into his family. Your last name is very similar--"

"Magicks?" Seto sounded somewhat excited, "A friend of mine told me that I might be related to the first family of magic users, is it true?"

"I don't know, you tell me. It could be a coincidence with the name, but it is possible. No one is really sure if the Magicks family is alive."

"And why is that?"

"The rumors are they died in the attack of Alu--but don't mind me," he laughed, "I'm just an old man who likes to gossip.

There it was again, the town of Alu. Ty's mother was born there, and supposedly the only survivor, but was there a possibility there were others? Or was the Kulnak mistaken?

"Come with me," The Kulnak moved from his seat and walked slowly to the door. Seto hurriedly got up and carefully moved the chair back before following the Kulnak out quickly. He still had that blanket wrapped around him for warmth. As they walked out into the cold air he noticed Alesa and Tyler farther down in the village. They looked to be mingling with people here. Seto smiled, he was glad that the people here were nice.

Much nicer than Emedo made them out to be... But then again they made sorcerers out to be monsters and his father was not even close to a monster. It was more likely Vragan was a nice kingdom that was only made out to be bad in order to convince the people of other kingdoms of its evil intentions

"This is Ula'ree. I'm sure you've already caught a glimpse of the area, but have you had a chance to really look?"

"What? Well, no, but what does--"

"Shh, enjoy the peace, look around you." Seto looked to the snow covered village.

The sun was out, and those same dark clouds were far into the distance. The snow glittered below his feet, he noticed the small village was cheerful. Even in the cold weather everyone was bundled up, laughing and enjoying the day around them. It was so peaceful.

"Peacful, is it not?

"D-did you read my mind!" Seto said shocked.

"Oh, ho, ho, no but I recognized the look on your face as someone at peace. I do not have magic, as is tradition with a Kulnak. Retro being an exception."

Seto was curious, "Can you explain--s-sorry, if the question is weird since I'm an outsider and you may not want to share, but my father always taught me to learn as much as I can if I ever traveled. It would be the only way to experience other cultures."

"I don't mind, it is rare sometimes to find someone so young so interested in the world around him, it is refreshing."

Seto smiled and walked with the Kulnak slowly as he started to speak.

"Here in Vragan, villages have what we call a Kulnak. One might mistakenly refer to us as a sort of spiritual leader, but that is not the case. Kulnaks are the people designated to lead the town through political matters and through our ceremonies. Do you know of any of our holidays?"

Seto nodded vigorously, "Yes! A friend told me about your celebrations once, he spoke very fondly of them."

The Kulnak studied his face for a moment before smiling and continuing, "Yes, I personally do think they are marvelous. These celebrations are very important to our people and the King stands as the Kulnak of the capital. But here it is me. I lead our ceremonial dances and rituals. Now even in the capital, the Kulnak must choose a successor."

He paused his speaking to take in a breath of air, "It is tradition for the Kulnak and the King to be non magic users, it strengthens the bonds between sorcerer and humans as equals instead of superiors. Which is why, myself and the kings are magic free."

"You said Retro was an exception, why is that?"

"Retro is my successor since the death of my previous one. I've been training my first successor since he was 7, and sadly since his death I am too old to do that once more. Retro is a bright man, even though he possess magic, he studied these matters in the capital. So the King appointed him to be my successor, and when I pass, Retro will train a non-magic user to continue the tradition."

"I'm sorry," Seto said.

"What for?" The Kulnak smiled.

"For your loss, he must have been really great."

"Yes," he smiled, "He was a wonderful student, I'm sure he's happy. Now, about returning your magic to you, there is only one way you can do that," Seto looked up and realized they had left the village and were closer to the mountains, though not quite at their base either.

"Those marks mean your magic was locked away inside you. You must have felt an intense emotion when it happened. Do you remember that feeling?"

Seto though back for a moment. Memories flashed. Anger, intense anger as Jerome was shot by Sub. Seto was angry, he acted out in terrible vengeance, and soon after he lost his magic and felt burning on his skin. The marks had appeared.

"I think it was anger..."

"Anger? Anger for what?"

Seto bit his lip and looked away, how much could he say..., "My friend was almost killed in front of me. I didn't want him to die, I was so angry when it happened. I acted out against the one who had attacked him, I couldn't lose another person..."

The Kulnak nodded his head with his arms behind his back, "Is that all?"

Seto nodded, "If that is so, then take a seat with me." The Kulnak patted the snow covered ground and took a seat. Seto looked around wondering if this was some sort of trick, at least he spoke.

"On the snow?"

"Mhm," he nodded peacefully with his eyes closed, "Close your eyes and just take in your surroundings."

"O-Ok," Seto sat on the cold snowy ground and placed his staff beside him. He shivered instantly, his feet were already cold and numb, but if this would help him get his magic back, he had no choice but to deal with it. Seto closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

~~~~~

Two days and nothing. He was getting nowhere. He didn't want to tell the Kulnak he had friends he needed to return to, but he couldn't keep doing this. Even he was getting irritated. For hours he would sit, then he'd return to the village and eat with Tyler and Alesa, before heading back for more sitting, and then go to bed back in the village. He's done this now for two days, and still nothing. Not even a tingle or a tickle.

"Excuse me, Mr. Kulnak, I need to go to the...bathroom," he nodded and Seto stood up and hurried back to the village with his staff in hand. He let out a sigh of relief before dusting his butt to get rid of snow. He was so cold, Tyler kept laughing at him for having a red nose. Seto sniffled and rubbed his runny nose.

He sighed again, he was getting nowhere.

"Hey Seto!" Seto looked up and saw Retro.

"Oh, hi..." Seto responded.

"What've you been doing these past few days?"

"Trying to get my magic back, it isn't working. Maybe I'm not meant to get it back..."

"Is he making you sit on the ground and 'take in your surroundings'?" Seto nodded, Retro sighed, "Follow me."

Seto walked after Retro, "So tell me, what was the reason you lost your magic, what emotion caused it?"

"I told the Kulnak it was anger...anger over the almost death of my friend."

"Was that the only thing you felt?" Retro asked him, Seto quietly thought about it, maybe it wasn't. He told the Kulnak it was anger and that was it, but having two days of nothing but sitting to do, he had plenty of time to mull over his thoughts and memories.

That day in Eflido. That day when Sub had betrayed everyone for an unknown reason. That day he almost lost his friend, he lost his magic, and helped save the rebels. So much happened he wouldn't be surprised if small details were left out like what he was feeling. Anger is one of the stronger emotions, its very existence clouds all other feelings, but is that because he felt anger so strongly that it blocked everything out, or because it was the most noticeable emotion?

"Why don't you tell me what happened, everything that crossed your mind."

"I don't know if--"

"I can only help if you tell me what happened."

"But there is so much to say."

"Then tell me what happened leading up to your loss of magic."

Seto sighed and nodded as they took the long route back to the village. Seto told Retro, he told Retro how he and his friend Jerome were helping people escape a terrible fire. He told him how he suddenly had this feeling like something bad would happen, he told him that soon after he was being dragged away. His friend Jerome came to his rescue.

From there everything was so vivid. So clear. The sound of the shot ringing, the look on Jerome's face, he saw Jerome collapse. He screamed, he felt fear, and that memory or dream or whatever it was surfaced. Something about liars and Tyler. Seto was shivering in the snowy kingdom as he realized how scared he was. He was so scared when he thought Jerome had died.

So scared, he thought he lost Jerome.

Thought he was gone just like everyone else.

Like his mother and his father.

Like Ty.

Like Tyler.

He...He didn't want to lose anyone else ever. He couldn't take it if someone else were to leave him.

He was so scared.

So very scared.

Seto felt arms around him and sniffled and blinked. Seto was crouched on the ground hugging his knees and crying. Tears were spilling from his face, he realized Retro has hugging him.

"I think you'll find that it was as easy as realizing why you did what you did and coming to terms with that feeling."

"H-Huh?" Seto hiccupped.

"Now try, try using magic."

Seto's eyes widened, Retro moved away to allow Seto to stand up. Seto opened and closed his hands, strangely he did feel different, like a feeling he's had his whole life has returned. "I...I don't really know how, I didn't learn I had magic until a few months ago, so I don't really know how to use it..."

Retro's eyes opened wide in shock, "But that--" Retro was interrupted by the sound of a scream.

Seto's eyes widened, and Retro had all but forgotten what he was going to say, and the two rushed back to the village. When they got there, the Kulnak had also already arrived. Seto wasn't sure when or how but that didn't matter.

Seto first saw a crowd of people as he pushed and shoved his way through the tall people he saw Alesa.

The crowd was huddled around the side of a small home, a ladder was propped against it.

"T-Tyler, just offered to h-help f-fix their roof, a-and then he slipped and fell. H-he's ok right? The snow cushioned his fall, r-right?" Alesa was stuttering and then her eyes widened when she saw Seto, "Seto!"

Seto had heard what she had said and gasped. He saw Tyler on the ground groaning as if in a daze.

"Ow, f*ck that hurt..." He sat up, he was missing his glasses. "I'm ok...I think, but I can't see sh*t." He groaned again and rubbed his head. When he sat up Seto saw his glasses were broken underneath him. For a moment, he caught a glimpse of icy blue colored strings of light floating from the glasses, paired with green light too. But they were so thin and faint, he hardly believe what he saw was real.

"Seto! Didn't see you there," Tyler grinned, he held out his hand and Seto grabbed hold.

"You worried me for a sec," he laughed, he helped pull Tyler up. Tyler's legs shook, he gasped in surprise as Tyler couldn't stand. He used his little strength to support Tyler, "Tyler!"

"Sh*t, I-I don't think--" Tyler was interrupted by coughing, terrible throat-tearing coughs. Tyler had kneeled over on the ground and let go of Seto's hand to cover his mouth.

"Tyler!" Seto screamed as he kneeled down with him, "Tyler what's wrong!"

"S-Seto," he grimaced, he was coughing non stop. He doubled over and groaned. His hands...His hands were stained. Stained red...

"Tyler!" Seto screamed, Seto didn't realized Alesa was pulling him away as several people barged through to lift and carry Tyler away.

~~~~~

Mitch grumbled. Even with having only been away for a month, his home already felt foreign. After he was scolded for having a messy room and just barely convincing his mother that he would clean up she left but not before telling him that she loved him, and that he would be a good king.

Jerome left after that, telling him good luck, Mitch snorted just thinking about what happened last night. He didn't need his luck, he would be fine--BUT having to switch out of that commoners clothing into his normal royal attire was both nice and uncomfortable. He forgot how much of a hassle it was to put on all the parts. The crown, the royal combat attire, which in Duhita it was known as the rekryiim. A specially designed clothing for his specific combat preferences. He also had to wear the veiana, styled threads for decorations. Normally they were pure golden threads made into thin ropes. But it wasn't just that he had so much to put on, it was that he wasn't even putting them on.

He forgot just how annoying it was to have others dress him and all that. But he did it as it was custom, and he had the coronation tomorrow. Today however he was preparing for that. Rehearsing for the ceremony... Everything was going just to fast and he wasn't ready. He didn't feel ready. He sighed then felt another tug as his clothing was tightened.

Just another hour....

Uh.... SURPRISE???

The writing schedule will change to at least 1 chapter weekly until I begin GAME OVER.

Also, remember back in Falling to Rise when everyone was commenting 'if you kill tyler i will skin you' It probably wasn't that extreme, but you get the point. 

Let's just say, the entire time I read those comments, I was like, well fuck, what will they say when Tyler is thrown into a sudden life threatening condition? Cuz I had this planned since before those comments. This doesn't mean Tyler has died...yet. Who knows if he will die, just wait and see XD

But yea, that happened.

Also, darn you littlewolf XD Seto did have to face a fear of his, his fear of losing people. And now after getting magic back, Tyler is dying, lol. Seto's fear all over again

Yes, Seto has his magic back now, but his journey is not over.

Theories?? I always forget to ask lately, but your guy's theories are fun to read, even if I can't tell you if you are close, right, or wrong.

Also, if you didn't know. I've been streaming the remake of the GAME OVER cover. I post when I'm streaming on twitter, insta, and my art book. So if you add the book, you'll be updated when I go on and stream. It's kinda fun in my small little 6 person stream lol.

Usually out of 6, there are like 3 people chatting XD

But hey, they're fun, I play Undertale music and chat quite frequently in the chat.