The next morning Emilia woke up bright and early. Today was the beginning of her new life. A smile was evident on her young face and as she stretched her muscles, she suddenly jumped out the of bed. She had to get ready if she didn't want to be late to her first day at the academy.
Amelia rushed to her rest room to get ready and change. This was truly a blessed day, one that she had been waiting for her entire life.
As she did not know if the Academy had a uniform code or not, she just decided to wear her usual training attire: dark gray trousers, a white long sleeve shirt and suspenders. While her hair lay loose it reached bellow her waist. This length could have a negative effect on her training, so she planned to soon ask nanny to braid her hair and put it up.
Emilia was set. She exited her rest room ready for the day, but as soon as she gazed outside her smile completely faded away. Tension filled the air, and she knew she was in trouble. Her mother was waiting for her.
"Emelia, we need to talk" her mother's always soothing voice was nowhere to be found. She was angry and Emelia knew there was nothing she could do or say to escape from the incoming punishment. Her actions from last night were inexcusable and although her father had been understanding, or better yet complaisant she knew her mother would not be and at the end Emelia knew her mother was on the right. And so, the young child decided to not fight it and just give in. She knew her actions yesterday were reproachable and there was no excuse for a young lady like herself to behave in such a way.
"Mother I am sorry and ashamed for my behavior last night. Please, let me apologize and make amends" Emelia started. Hoping that her mother would hear the sincerity in her voice.
"No words will help you escape this time. Your behavior was not appropriate for the lady of the house. You did not only run away from your loving home, but you also threaten the life of two of your maids. They have done nothing but take care of you and this is how you repay them?"
Emelia knew that the only thing she could do at this moment was keep her head down and listen. After all her mother was right, she was always right. Emelia was ashamed. She still could not believe that in her desperation she had pointed an arrow at her maids. She was truly sorry.
Her mother continued, "Your punishment will be as follow: for a month you will help the maids with their tasks, that be gardening, preparing the meals or cleaning the stables. You are expected to work in the morning from sunrise until breakfast time. Then you are expected to work in the afternoon until dinner time. You will listen to them and follow their every direction." Amelia was desperate to teach her daughter a lesson. She had worked so hard to bring her up right and she could not risk losing her. "But before any of this you will go to Rose and Marge and apologize, after you are done apologizing to them you must go and find nanny and apologize to her as well. Your actions yesterday were horrible, and I hope this is never repeated again."
Amelia knew that she might have exaggerated a bit, but she had to in order to keep her daughter's clean spirit intact. Even angels could be tempted to the dark.
Emelia was not shocked, by her punishment. She actually expected something worse. She even thought her mother would take the academy away. The deal she made with her father suddenly flashed in her mind and she was scared about the fact that her mother did not even mentioned the academy. Was this a lie? No, her father would never lie. Angels are not capable of lying much less Archangels, right?. Just as her mother was turning away to leave Emelia felt a sense of urgency. She had to ask if the academy was still happening.
"Mother!" Emelia spoke out with fear in her tone.
"Yes?" Amilia stopped her retreating steps.
"Mother I am truly sorry for what happened yesterday, and I will make amends to all those involve I promise, but Mother you did not mentioned the academy. Perhaps father changed his mind?" Emelia was sincerely scared to hear the answer. She was desperate for friendships, and she felt her heart was breaking at the uncertainty. As if in reflex she closed her eyes while waiting for her mother to respond. She was silently saying a prayer begging the all-mighty to not take this away.
Amelia stared at her daughter and all the anger fled away. Her heart which had been fortified to face her tiny angel warmed up and love came rushing in. All Amelia wanted was Emelia to be happy and to live a normal life and she would not take the academy away nor would she allow her husband to do so now that he had made this promise and commitment. Amilia took slow steps to her daughter and placed her hand on her cheek. At this Emelia opened her eyes and met the warm stare of her beautiful mother. Hope was brought back to her. She felt a sense of relieved even before listening to the anticipated answer.
"No, he has not nor will he. You will attend the academy starting today" Amilia's words were clear and precise. She did not toy around and had no heart to play with her daughter's feelings.
Forgetting that she had just being reprimanded for her actions Emelia felt joy and she did not hide it. She hugged her mom with all her might. Amilia started to chuckle. She could not lie, and she had to admit that she was just as excited as Emelia about the academy.
Amilia carried her daughter and started spinning her around the room. They were both happy and there was no reason to hide such a joy. Soon after someone came in the room and joined the exited atmosphere by laughing. It was nanny. She was carrying a blue outfit that looked to be the perfect size to fit Emelia.
Amilia noticed nanny and she stopped playing with her daughter to turn her attention towards the elderly woman.
"Nanny did you hear the news? Emelia will be attending the academy starting today?"
"I did hear the wonderful news. I am so happy for the young miss, Madam. I hope that the academy is all the young miss expects and even more" Nanny was sincere in her statement. Just like Amilia, nanny was also worried about Amelia and her lack of real-life experience. Training and preparing was all good and fine but that was not all in life. Emelia had to be given the opportunity to experience life.
"It will be," Emelia declared "But before that… Nanny I want to apologize for my behavior last night. I was rude, impolite and there is no excuse for my actions. I hope that you can forgive me and not think less of me?" Emilia bowed her head and offer her heartfelt apology.
"My young Emelia I would never think less of you. You are a true angel that brings a smile to this old lady's heart. Your apology is accepted." The warmth in nanny's voice was so soothing that for a second everything about the academy was forgotten. Well just for a second because soon Emelia noticed the outfit in nanny's hands and enquired about it.
"Nanny what is that?" Emelia pointed at the garment in nanny's hands.
"Oh yes, yes, young miss your father asked me to deliver this to you. This is your uniform. He said to go ahead and changed and meet him downstairs he will be taking you to the academy himself."
Emelia's eyes darted from the outfit to nanny to her mother and soon she took the outfit and disappeared to her rest room. When she emerged, she was wearing blue trousers, a long sleeve ivory blouse and a blue long vest on top. The vest was closed up with a thick black belt that landed above her waist. The ten-year-old child looked ready to conquer the world.