Nothingness.

  A place that feels as though my mind is being restrained.

  Darkness I could see and feel.

  It tasted like everything I have ever had; and every scent I have ever breathed.

  Cold yet warm.

  Where am I? A bit of panic starting to set it but is quickly met with a wave of calm. That's when it appeared.

  A Spark- a bright sparkle of light blinked into existence within the darkness. For a moment it stayed still and the next, it began to move.

  At first it progressed slowly, steadily gaining momentum. Circle after circle began to carve itself into the darkness. It shifted colors from green to, blue, purple, white, to a black that melded into the darkness. A pattern that resembles rainbows, filling in the space - infinite bands of iridescent light, taking the form of clouds.

  Water. Fire.

  Air. Earth.

  Light and Darkness.

  The emptiness that I had felt enclose me, the Darkness - now a luminous landscape of possibility.

  I feel - I see - everything!

  Air, a simple breeze flowing in one moment and in another; windstorms ravaging whatever is in its path.

  Though the darkness has been overshadowed, its presence still remained. Its heaviness - its fullness, an anchor for all that exists in this space. I marvel at the vastness of it all, my mind soaking in all it can. As I'm trying to understand it, a rush of emotions came over me.

  Elusium

  This is it! This-is-Elusium.

  Its beauty encapsulating every emotion.

  Then nothing.

  Inside of darkness; yet this did not feel as heavy. I try to lift my head to no avail, the strength absent in my body. My eyes begin to adjust to the dark and I see Ava; leaning her head onto the bed, resting. Ol' is lying next to me, both of their faces smeared with worry even in their sleep.

  What happened?

  What was that - that, Darkness?

  How long has it been?

  I try and raise my head and again to no avail, letting out a little groan, "Argh." waking Ava. "Ne..Nephra?" she spoke softly while rubbing her eyes. We make eye contact. "My love." the words come scratching out my throat. Tears swell in her eyes, until she can restrain them no longer. "Nephra!" She shouts and then proceeds to give me a hug. Olvior is startled awake. "Father?! Father!" he follows suit.

  "Hmph." the sound forced itself from my belly as Ol landed. The pain in my body letting itself be known.

  "Now, c'mon," wrapping my arms around them both. "It's okay, I'm fine." I say, as they both continue to sob. They must have been so worried. That night a fog in my mind. The only thing I remember was the Darkness.

  "Ava." the words come softly as I try to get her attention. "Ava." once more. "Avaline!" she stops and raises her head as she wipes the tears from her face "Yes my love?"

  "My Notebook. I need my notebook - please." Her face confused at first but grabs the notebook giving it no thought. The images still fresh in my mind from the Darkness. I begin sketching the space as it appeared, the depths, the circles, keeping its pattern identical. Ava and Ol looked perplexed, as if watching a mad alchemist scribble nonsense.

  "Nephra, what is that?" Ava asked as I finished the last line.

  "Elusium." I lifted my pen and smiled. I can see that they're still confused.

  "Here, help me up." Ol rushes to the other side of the bed and grabs my hand.

  "Ol, can you grab some things from my alchemy bag?" Ol nods and I explain to him what I need.

  "What do you mean Elusium, Nephra?" Ava asked, trying to understand what's happening.

  "I found it Avaline." my breaths become deep as I sit on the edge of the bed "I found it. What my mother was looking for."

  Olvior returns with the supplies, I gesture to the work table.

  Trying to muster the strength to stand, Ava sees me struggling and grabs a hold of my arm. "Thank you, Ol." Ol nodded. Ava walks me over to the table.

  "Ol, please hand me my spear." He runs over to the corner of the room. "The shield as well."

  He hands me the shield and spear, I grab the blank parchment paper and wrap it around the spear. I trace the outline of the carvings on the spear, I then did the same with the shield.

  Avas' parents step into the door way, "What is happ-" I interrupted "My apologies Iyvani, I need to focus for a moment - please." Everyone now watching in silence as I set up the experiment.

  After setting up the first two layers, all that is left is for the center. A modification of the earlier design, an 81.28cm wide circle where I will transcribe the Elusium.

  "What does it do Nephra?" Ava asked as I drew out the patterns.

  "Its Elusium." I thought for a second "Or at least how you access Elusium." Everyone was confused, but so was I.

  I have no idea what Elusium is, yet I feel it. Before finishing the last circle, I looked up to everyone.

  "You ready?" everyone nodded in unison.

  Once I finish the circle the parchment started to react, its tone gradually getting darker, into something that resembled the Darkness.

  The layers of alchemy circles lit up green, then flashed from a deeper hue to a brighter one. After just moments, a black mass began to form in its center.

  The mass flowed onto it self, resembling a liquid and then just moments later; it vanished.

  A warm breeze filled the room, sweeping through the curtains and the hair of everyone who stood there before settling.

  "What was that!?" Ol ran over to the table looking at the parchment, eyes wide.

  "Yes Nephra. What was that?" Ava walked closer putting her arm around my shoulder.

  My gaze turns toward her with the largest smirk. "That was the wind." My knees buckle. Ava tries to catch me and barely succeeds, that’s when Ol comes over to help her.

  "Get some rest my love," she says as she and Ol lift me to my feet. "We can talk about it another time."

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Both of their faces, the ones that were just filled with awe, now have worry on them once again. "I’m okay, I promise." Their faces soften a bit when they look at me.

  "We know father." Ol said to me.

  With no warning a tear fell from my eye.

  I was barely able to get out of bed for the next three days. Ava and Ol' both took turns helping me eat, I couldn't ask for a better family. Over that time I tried to describe to them the Darkness and what it had felt like. Apparently, I was sleep for eight days, no wonder they were so worried. News from the city arrived the next morning after that night. It explained that the eastern district had been almost completely destroyed. They were able to defeat the demons but; about twelve-hundred people lost their lives. By fire or demon. The Academy was mostly left unharmed, it ended up saving a bunch of refugees. They estimate the casualties would have been exponential if everyone didn't make it there. That's good. I'm happy that more people didn't have to die.

  A messenger was sent from the Academy a couple of days ago checking on me. Director Fenza heard about the attack on the town so, he sent his best wishes. Stating that I can return to work whenever I'm ready. It’s almost scary to think how the world still moved on while I was out. In the state I am in now, just thinking about those stairs to my office is tiring.

  Today I decided that ill help Ol do lite training. Euel has been giving a hand in that matter while I've been incapacitated. I walk over to grab my shield as I grab it a sharp pain shoots through my body. Probably shouldn't push myself to hard. Hehe. When I grab a hold of my spear both it and the shield illuminate in green light. An image formed in my mind of the academy stairs; then wind formed beneath my feet. TSSCHK! BANG! The air leaves my lungs when I hit the ceiling and again when I slam into the ground.

  A thud, followed by an audible "Umph!" everyone came storming into the room.

  Avaline was first, than Iyvani, followed by Ol and Euel.

  "Oooh...oo...ooh." Ava runs to me. "Nephra!"

  Kneeling down trying to figure out it if I am okay. The sound I made crashing into the ceiling was similar to that of a tree snapping, she has every right to be concerned.

  I roll over "Ahh. Ha ha ha." their heads slightly tilted.

  That's it - the third layer. What I saw in the darkness wasn't Elusium it was the Key. "That's it." "What's it?" Avaline asked with slight irritation in her voice as I continued to chuckle at the thought.

  "Nephra!" laughter ceased to exist.

  '"You almost died! Now you lay here, barely healed and you - you are giggling like a giddy child!" She looks up at the ceiling then back to me, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

  "Please. Please recover. Regain your strength and then you can continue with your silly experiments." the ferocity left her expression.

  I looked at her eyes wide and silently agreed. I have never seen Avaline like this.

  She reached out her hand to help me up, Euel and Ol came over to assist her. "Aaaah." The pain drumming throughout my body, "Slow." Both Euel and Ol helped me over to the edge of the bed. "Thank you." I said as I fell into the mattress.

  I can't stop thinking about all the experiments with the elements I'll be able to do when I finally get back. The excitement returning to my face but then I look up at Avaline.

  Face in a partial scowl.

  "Okay, okay..."

  I'll have to hold off for now, before Avaline rips my head off.

  Since we arrived home its been nothing but work, Ava is volunteering at shelters and food stalls after work. Ol is helping clean up the remaining debris from the attack. I have been busy at the Academy dealing with overdue assignments, experiments, and finances. Apparently there were about twenty demon corpses from the ones I defeated in Yurse. They sold for around Twenty Thousand gold, more than enough to finance my experi - I mean department.

  Today is another late night at the Academy. Myself and Director Fenza are going to be conducting an experiment, with a few board members in attendance. Fenza has been helping me get the experiments up and going. Since Ava was keeping an watchful eye, I was unable to conduct any.

  On our way to the Auditorium I ask "Why do you think it is that; even though we complete the circles the exact same - you can't access Elusium?" Fenza looks down then raises his hand to his chin.

  "I feel it has to do with the circles themselves." He throws his hands up "But who knows. The concept itself still eludes me."

  I've explained it to him multiple times but he still looks at me like Ava and Ol did at first.

  Like a mad alchemist.

  We arrive in the Auditorium and there awaits five board members.

  "Hello everyone." I said as I entered the room but only received cold silence.

  "Tough crowd." Fenza whispered.

  As we began to setup the experiment I can feel their eyes etch doubt, impatience, and skepticism throughout the room.

  "The experiment today will demonstrate a new found-" I pause. Thinking about how I have explained this to Fenza multiple times and he still hasn't grasped it.

  "On second thought. I'll just show you and if you have questions I will try my best to answer them." All of their faces remained the same.

  "Okay then." I mutter under my breath.

  Thus the experiment began, I laid out the parchment, "This is Abramelin Oil treated parchment. It is known for it spiritual properties, allowing for a greater connection to Elusium." Their eyes narrow. I follow by mixing all the ingredients, and painted the Base Layer and the Middle Layer.

  "This final layer is one where the concept is a black-box." Scowls now on their face. I'm pretty sure they think this is a waste of time. I paint the layer to near completion.

  "The experiment will be an attempt to lift and reposition said object," I gestured to the miniature statue standing around waist height.

  The stage of the auditorium at its center,

  "My goal is to take this statue from its current position, to the upper level." They all began to whisper.

  As I am finishing the last layer I imagine every step, every aspect of the outcome. Fenza takes a few steps back. Once I finish, it illuminates and all their faces shift just the slightest; not much but noticeable.

  A powerful gust of wind condensed at the base of the statue, lifting in slowly. Its movement controlled; steady. Their faces rising with intrigue and excitement upon mine. Just for a moment my concentration wavered, and the wind faltered. The statue dropped half a meter, I was able to regain control but the Elusium remained unstable. The statue shot into the upper floors like a cannon. Destroying the balcony before tumbling into the stands.

  I turn my attention toward them. I fully expect to be reprimanded. They all stood and walked to the stage and studied the parchment for a few moments: still in silence.

  The Chairman circles the parchment and says "I'm sure everyone is overflowing with questions, just like myself."

  He lifts his attention toward the board members. "We will all submit written documents concerning such matter."

  Then he walks towards me. "This- is- something Director Peranze." smiling, a thing I don't think anyone has ever witnessed.

  "Treat this as a national security matter. This does not leave this room." giving a cold sweep of the room.

  "Come see me in my office in an hour." snapping his gaze toward me and I nodded.

  Fenza and I cleaned the room after they all left, I feel bad for the maintenance crew. I'll come and give them a hand when I have time.

  "Do you think they were impressed?" Fenza jokingly asked.

  "Impressed? No- but curious? Certainly." I said triumphantly.

  Fenza finished rolling up the parchment "What do you think the meeting is about?"

  "No idea." I was left pondering on it just as much as he is.

  "I do know - that I'd like to ask for more funding." Fenza laughed.

  "You know how cheap the Chairman is," He looks toward the wrecked upper level. "with the eastern district and this I doubt they will be handing out extra funds."

  He is right. There is probably no chance I'll get more funding. It doesn't hurt to ask though.

  The Chairmans office is on the ground floor, same as the auditorium. The doors here matched those of my office, mechanical and massive. Though these have no buttons or mechanisms, when you approach; the doors slide open.

  I walk into the room, "Hello Director. May I call you Nephra?"

  "Yes sir." I nodded.

  "Now, concerning your discoveries." He walks over from the bookshelf and sits at his desk.

  "This is something I would have never imagined seeing." As he flips through a book. "You see, in this book and this one alone," he stops at a page, pointing to a picture. "has something that resembled the base layer in your experiment." lifting the book to present to me.

  I reviewed the material. It was remarkably similar to my base layer, its circles slightly smaller.

  "Where is this book from?" I asked. He reached into his desk. "It was turned into the Academy almost fifty years ago." pulling out another book; this one is three times thicker than the journal.

  "No name or title. I'd like to know what you need to further your research."

  "Funding-" I began thinking about the Darkness and all it held inside; as well as the Auditorium. " and I need more space."

  "The Academy grounds are pretty limited. What do you suggest?". He rose an eyebrow. The eastern district I thought.

  "Maybe we can buy a portion of the eastern district." Making the suggestion, unsure of how it would be received.

  "And what would you use it for?" Something I haven't given much thought to. These last few weeks start replaying in my head.

  "Training grounds." pausing for a moment, "Maybe an additional emergency shelter."

  He stood from the desk with the thicker book in his hand. "You will have full support of the Academy! Any expense will be made!" saying as he waved the book around.

  "Nephra you have discovered something that is unknown to the world." placing the book down. "If you can control this; your name will be known everywhere." The Chairman looking as excited as I was when I first uncovered Elusium.

  "Well done Nephra." Emotions welled up, thinking of my mother and Elusium.

  The building blocks of the world.

  A0-23-96

  Start Note:

  **Pen Taps** All materials successfully assimilated.

  Darkness. The place that carved this pattern into my memory. This seems like the depth of Elusium.

  Addition: Parchment seems to remain intact. May be able to re use in future experiments.

  Reaction: Wind formed and flowed through the room. Slightly warmer than the rooms temperature.

  End Note