Atizaya

Volume 1
Allix Morgen
By
Rak Nay
Episode 01
The Highwayman
Chapter 01
Once upon a time
!ere "as a little girl "!o lo#ed e#eryt!ing related to
magic$especially %airy tales&
'!e !oped t!at someday( "!en s!e gre" up per!aps(
s!e "ould )ecome a "izard&
'!e "as a sad and lonely girl )y day( )ut "!en s!e
closed !er eyes s!e dreamed o% an enc!anted )oy "it!
)eauti%ul eyes( eac! o% a di%%erent color& *e promised to take
!er to a "ondrous place "!ere %airies li#ed and s!e could learn
magic&
O#er time( t!e !ards!ips o% t!e "orld %orced t!e little
girl to gro" up and %ace t!e responsi)ilities and o)ligations o%
adult li%e& '!e tried to gi#e up !er )elie%s in t!e supernatural in
order to )ecome a mature "oman& '!e t!oug!t t!at adults
didn+t )elie#e in "!at t!ey could not see "it! t!eir eyes( touc!
"it! t!e tips o% t!eir %ingers( !ear "it! t!eir ears or taste on t!e
tips o% t!eir tongues&
A%ter all( e#en in a "orld surrounded )y satellites(
"!ere space tra#els are common( you still %ound people "!o
1
didn+t )elie#e t!at t!ey tra#el to t!e moon& ,n an alternati#e
reality "!ere magic "as disco#ered and used to create gigantic
mac!ines some people still say- .!ere is no suc! t!ing as
magic&/ And s!e )elie#ed t!at no one "ould e#er argue or start
a "ar o#er somet!ing as silly as magic&
*o"e#er( s!e "as "rong
, Allix
.!e %orget%ul %uture&/ !e "oman #oice said in Allix
dreams& .Remem)er/
'!e tried to remem)er( !er instincts said t!at "as
important( and e#en i% s!e couldn0t remem)er not!ing )esides
t!at( t!e dream repeated e#ery day&
Allix took a little croc!et pouc! under !er pillo"&
Resting inside "as a deck o% cards t!at )elonged to !er %at!er&
*e "orked as a game de#eloper creating cards %or Atizaya( a
game t!at !ad )ecome popular among )ot! c!ildren and
adults& E#ery year( many di%%erent t!ematic decks "ere
released and !er %a#orite "as t!e dream deck designed )y !er
%at!er& 1ust !olding t!at deck and s!u%%ling it ga#e !er t!e
strengt! to keep mo#ing %or"ard&
'!e reminded o% !er %at!er and %i#e years )e%ore( t!e
last t!ey "ere toget!er&
.2!at you "ant no" dad3/ '!e pulled do"n !er
glasses to see !is c!eer%ul %ace "a#ing at !er %rom t!e pro"& ,t
"as "eird to see a six %oot tall man( all goo%y t!at "ay&
., "ant to kno" "!at is your pro)lem( my dear& 4ou
al"ays asked to 5oin in my )usiness trips( )ut in t!e last year
"e ne#er played anymore/ *e stared at !er "it! !is "orried
green eyes& ., don+t like to see my ginger )a)y all gloomy t!at
"ay& 2!y you don+t !ang out "it! 6oya anymore3 '!e+s all
2
7uiet in t!at corner reading !orror )ooks( you t"o !ad a
%ig!t3/
.2e don+t %ig!t and it+s not am !orror )ook dad&/ Allix
lay do"n in t!e )eac! c!air& .,+m 5ust sun)at!ing&/
.,+m pretty sure t!at is a )ook a)out #ampires&/ *e
stared "it! t!e !and co#ering !is %ace& .*o" are you
sun)at!ing "it! t!is giant !at3 Also you !a#e green eyes(
%reckle+s and red !air& ,sn0t good to gingers get muc! sun&/
.,0m not a ginger dad( , !a#e au)urn !air and my skin
is not so pale&/ Allix took out t!e !at and sited&
.4ou are in denial( you kno"3/ *e crossed !is arms
and nodded !is !ead& .8ook a cruise c!ip9/ *e pointed like an
excited c!ild& .4ou kno" t!at )e%ore you )orn a )oat "it! t!at
size used millions o% gallons o% polluting oil3/
.4es dad& , see cruise s!ips e#ery day( "e li#e in t!e
s!ore&/
.4ou see& :or t!ousands o% years( magicians !ide t!e
existence o% magic in secret societies( until a couple o% decades
ago "!en t!eir secrets "ere re#ealed to e#eryone&/ *amlet sat
next to !er ent!usiastic& ."!en magic )egan to appear around
t!e "orld( scientists 7uickly em)raced t!e kno"ledge and
called it Mantrazastra( "!ic! is 'anskrit %or ;Magic studies&+
!e great %irst creation t!at c!anged t!e "orld( "as t!e ;sigma
dri#er&1 "!ic! con#erted t!e magic energy kno"n as .mana/
into ot!er t!ings like !eat and electricity& !at allo"ed t!e
creation o% t!e ;steam )alls+ a)le to energize gigantic
mac!ines( making it possi)le %or t!e construction o% "onders
and terri)le "eapons %or "ars&/ *e sounded like !e "as telling
a scary&
/And t!e steam )alls !ad t!e size o% a )asket)all& 4ou
already told me t!at a )azillion times( dad&/
.4ou lo#ed to kno" t!ings a)out magic&/
.,s not magic dad9/ Allix snorted angry& .,0m not a
)a)y9/
3
.4es you are(/ !e played "it! !er& .4ou are my cute
ginger )a)y( nom( nom( nom&/
.,0m educated girl and , intended to go to college and
)ecome someone important&. Allix pus!ed !im and made !er
smart pose crossing !er arms and legs& /1ust ignorant people
)lame nonexistent t!ings like magic %or t!eir trou)les&/
.Really3/ *amlet sated mimicking !er pose& .4ou
don+t kno" a)out t!e magic "ars( t!e Noza Empire( "izards in
t!e go#ernment( and t!e po"ers o% t!e Arcanum army3/
.!ere "asn+t anyt!ing supernatural in t!e so<called
;magic "ars+&/ '!e made 7uotation marks "it! !er %ingers&
.!at "as all a !oax& 1ust pompous military titles( you kno"3/
.*o" you explain t!e spiral zone3 A place "it! a
cursed cloud t!at )locks t!e sun( t!e animals )ecame mutant
monsters and t!e people )ecame "eak dum) sla#es3/
/,s 5ust a place t!ey don0t "ant no)ody to enter& !ey
5ust take ad#antage %rom t!at stupid people "!o )elie#es t!at a
young adult )ook can teac! "itc!cra%t&/
.!e army+s all around t!e "orld are dra%ting young
kids to )e trained in t!e Arkanatuns( t!e ;Magic academies+&/
*e 7uoted "it! !is %ingers&
.o me( t!e in%amous "itc!<!unting( "ere excuses
%rom t!e military to eliminate re)els and political opposition&/
Allix looked at !im "it! a smug smile& .!ose people la)elled
as ;sorcerers+ are 5ust scapegoats&/
.=on+t t!ink you are smart %or not )elie#ing in t!ings(
my dear&/ *e li%ted !is %inger "arning& /A lot o% people die
e#ery day %rom middle age deceases )ecause t!ey don+t
)elie#e in #accines&/
.,s not t!e same t!ing( dad&/ '!e said indignantly&
.4ou are %orgetting t!at ,0m a po"er%ul 2izard& , tell
you a)out t!e last time , %aced t!e Noza necromancers3/
., don0t "ant to see your tricks or !eard your
anecdotes( dad&/ Allix "!ined pus!ing !er !at and )eating t!e
%eet+s&
4
.=on0t tell me you "ant to )e one o% t!ose re)ellious
teenagers , !eard a)out& 4ou "ill stop to !elp in t!e c!ores and
"ill start to %ig!t "it! your mom to get out "it! !airy tattooed
guys3/
.,0m not re)ellious dad&/ Allix rolled !er eyes& .2!at
you "ant me to do a%ter all3/
.*a#e %un9 2e are in a yac!t> t!ere are tons o% t!ings
to do& 2e can %is!( get t!e di#ing e7uipment and enter in t!e
"ater( sing sailors songs and play like "e used to do&/ *e
"a#ed !is !ands and s"ung&
.,s too cold to di#e( and t!is t!ose stu%% aren+t %un
anymore& Besides( mum "ork in t!e yac!t clu) at t!e end o%
t!e street& ,0m tired to "alk in )oats&/
.4ou s!ould )e more t!ank%ul( Allix& A "eekend in a
one !undred %oot yac!t is t!e li%etime dream %or lot o% girls
"it! your age&/
.A lot o% girls "it! my age "ere pregnant&/
.=on+t say suc! !orri)le t!ing to your %at!er or , "ill
"as! your mout! "it! soap&/
.4ou started t!e analogies&/ Allix raised !er !ands
s!o"ing s!e surrendered& /Okay9 !ere are a lot o% girls "!o
"alk ride on !orses e#ery day( , 5ust touc! t"o !orses in my
li%e and ne#er ride&/
.4ou ride )e%ore( may)e you don0t remem)er )ecause
you !ad t!ree years&/ 1im remem)ered a little and turn )ack to
!is ent!usiastic mood& .!at+s it3 2!y you don0t say )e%ore3
O%% course "e can ride !orses& , can get a "ay in t!is tra#el&/
'!e sig!ed& .=ad9 4ou need to understand t!at ,+m not
a c!ild anymore ,+ !a#e t!irteen years old( you kno"3/
.4ou talk like you %inis!ed t!e college( and until t!irty
one o% Octo)er you still !a#e 5ust t"el#e&/
.?lease dad&/ @aring s!e put a !and in !is %ace& .4our
drama is not %unny anymore( no" is o)noxious&/
5
.4ou lo#ed to !a#e a dad "!o designed Atizaya
cards&/ *e pulled a deck o% cards %rom !is pocket and started
to s"ing %is %inger in t!e ground crest%allen&
., also lo#ed to play "it! dolls& Atizaya cards are not
t!e most important t!ing to me anymore& , pre%er to !ang out
"it! my %riends& , 5ust need a little time o% my o"n( you
kno"3/
.4ou don0t play "it! your dolls anymore3/ *e asked
surprised&
.No dad9/ '!e sig!ed& .*o" many times , !ad to say
t!at ,0m not a c!ildren anymore&/
.,% is "!at you "ant( , "ill ca#e you all t!e time and
space you need& 4ou "ould )e !appier i% , take you )ack !ome
to !anging out "it! your %riends3/
.No dad9/ '!e said in a caring tone& .,0m glad to )e
"it! you&/
.=on+t need to patronize<me&/ *e sni%%ed& .8et+s 5ust
play Atizaya cards one more time( and , promise t!at , "ill not
annoy you anymore& Or is a game 5ust %or kids3/
.,s more a game %or geeks and Nerds&/ Allix giggled&
.Being a geek still is cool3/
.4es dad&/ '!e took out t!e !at&
., "ant you to stay "it! it(/ *e ga#e !er t!e cards&
.!e dream deck( dad3/ Allix "as surprised& .,t+s your
%a#orite&/
.And is your %a#orite too(/ *e "inked& .'ince you aren
0t a c!ildren anymore , t!ink you can take care o% it( and ,
al"ays "ill )e "it! you&/
.=ad9/ Allix !ugged !im& ., "ill treasure t!ese cards
%ore#er&/
Boot kept t!eir promises&
*amlet ne#er annoyed Allix again( !e ne#er returned
%rom !is tra#el&
Aro"nups !ad t!e )ad !a)it to talk as i% c!ildren+s can
0t understand or aren0t present at t!e time&
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Allix !eard people talking a)out !er %at!er a)andoning
t!e %amily& But s!e al"ays kno" t!e trut!( !e "as #ictim o%
cross%ire( in one o% t!ose countries at "ar !e tra#eled&
Allix treasured t!e cards and learned t!e !ard "ay t!at
!er %at!er "as rig!t( Not only do gro"nups )elie#e in magic
and all sorts o% in#isi)le t!ings( )ut t!at a lot o% t!em "ere
eager to kill and start "ars )ecause o% t!ese )elie%s& 8ike "!en
t!e No#a Empire )om)ed !er )elo#ed to"n( A7uamarine&
:earing more attacks( most people %led %rom t!eir
!omes to t!e countryside taking only t!e essential and lea#ing
all t!eir possessions in to"& '!e couldn+t go )ecause ,#ana( !er
mot!er %ell ill( and decided to !elp !er neig!)ors )y keeping
t!eir )elongings until t!ey came )ack& 2!en s!e noticed t!at
"ould ne#er !appen( s!e )egan to trade #alua)les %or %ood and
medicine in t!e )lack market&
E#ery nig!t( s!e sca#enged t!e a)andoned !ouses(
taking all t!e most #alua)le t!ings s!e could& '!e li#ed in a
"ealt!y neig!)or!ood and !ad a lot to c!oose %rom> s!e
gat!ered so many t!ings t!at !er !ouse seemed little more t!an
a deposit o% #alua)les& Bn%ortunately( in a ra#aged to"n in
times o% "ar( luxuries "ere not in demand and it didn+t take
long %or Allix to regret not taking "!at "as really important-
%ood&
2!en !er plundering started Allix ne#er "ondered t!at
s!e could e#er )e in suc! a situation& '!e t!oug!t s!e "ould
!a#e %ood %or years( )ut a %e" "eeks later all t!e peris!a)les
spoiled at almost t!e same time& 2it! t!e perpetual cloud o%
toxic smog o#er t!e to"n( no plant could sur#i#e& !e people
"!o remained ate )read "it! canned %ood and %is! caug!t )y
t!e anglers( "!o could c!arge anyt!ing t!ey "anted& ears
"elled up in Allix+s eyes e#ery time s!e remem)ered all t!e
%ood s!e "asted in t!ose %irst "eeks&
.Enough with self-piety, I need to dress up&/ Allix
t!oug!t and get up&
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'!e looked at t!e )urned )ucket "ere !er !and lay
do"n t!e "!ole nig!t& !e "ater e#aporated& '!e "ill need
more "ater %or t!e next nig!t( !er magic !and it "as getting
"orse&
,% t!ings keep t!is "ays( s!e "ill not )e a)le to keep
!idden %rom t!e "itc! !unters&
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