I cannot leave it at that.
I mean, how could I with such an amazing opportunity of having a teacher being here and there, so many possibilities to unfold, only to give up because she said no once?
So of course the following week I used and abused of the fact that she had to stick around me, at least to come and go from school, to torment her to death about it.
"Lily, teach me magic."
"No."
"If I call you master will you teach me?"
"Of course not."
"What if I bring you some candy and sweets?"
"What this lady is, a kid? Don't compare this lady to you!"
But even though I found the most annoying ways to make her change her mind, and at times even lay my pride to rest and begged, she does not change her mind in the lightest! Too bothersome, too troublesome, this lady does not have the time nor the patience for this were her excuses, but in the end she is just too lazy to care at all!
So that's why, in one of the rare moments I'm back in the nest with mother not just to sleep or for a quick stay, but rather a full day free with her, I'm left disturbed at the slow advance that I've done so far, and most advance is only regarding reading and writing, not much to do with getting stronger, and even if I know that it is a long time investment I cannot help but feel restless.
Especially that, from time to time, we would still see that lion flying about, his bunch of winged feline griffins sneering and scoffing at us, high and proud and not mixing in with others beyond their kind pass to bully them, that is.
His massing shadow and piercing gaze would always remind me of my task at hand, and the urgency of it.
For every encounter, for every exchange of looks and threats, he grows bolder and more disgustingly obsessed with mother by the minute.
And his anger toward me only increases, as much as my physical growth, and my own anger towards him too.
That disgusting man should leave us be, but at least his presence helps me keep focused on getting stronger so he and no one else can ever look down at me and mother ever again.
So, in this rare peaceful idle morning, with no classes nor hunt in sight, I have enough time to test another type of theory out… and that is, my mother's line of thought mixed with my own insight.
Sigh, I guess this will go badly, but it doesn't hurt to try I supposed.
Surrounded by snow mother chooses to stay on a clean path over a rock to sunbathe, all stretched out and with her pink pads up, looking very comfy but not shutting her eyes once since the last time she did I ended up hurt real bad.
So I knew that her relaxed self is only on a superficial level, for she is rather tense and alert of our surroundings since we are out of the nest, alone in the wilderness.
And it bothers me to be such a nuisance to her, having her on alert on her free day, and since I cannot fasten my growing speed I can only focus on learning as much as possible.
And one of the things that I could learn that did not matter size, strength or age, is magic.
So I give it a try.
After observing Lily use magic more than once, I'm confident in at least having memorized it, and since, thankfully, I too possess wind elements myself, is a matter of being able to reproduce it.
Sounds easy enough… and yet I stand there without knowing what to do for a while.
Ok, maybe I'm too nervous, I should first calm down, I think while taking deep breaths and calming my beating heart.
Alright… so, what did mother said, to feel it, right? I shut my eyes for it. The wind, the snow, the cold breeze brushing, I can feel it all sweeping against my fur, like needle claws trying to pry the warmth away from my body and drench me into a shivering thin bone creature.
The combination of strong winds and freezing temperatures, such deadly combination, and yet for me it felt like home.
And that's it, when I feel it, and repeat Lily's actions:
"Wind Shield!"
At that the once passing wind actually gathers around me, twisting and turning visible to the naked eye, and yet not in a devastating way, cozy even if cold, like an embrace, softly moving around me.
"Oh! Good job hon!" Says my mother, jumping up from the sudden air shift only to find out that I was the cause. "Who is mommy's little smart boy?!"
Even after uttering such embarrassing words I don't question her right now, for I'm too happy about this achievement!
Though part of me is annoyed that her advice is somewhat useful in the end… and turns out not to be some mumble jumble nonsense.
I mean, can it be that it is this natural for us to use magic like as is to breathe? Or are we just truly two genius beasts?
I'm betting on both.
"Oh my, I'm going to talk about it for everyone tomorrow, how my little boy is already this grown up, you make me so proud little one!" I guess by tomorrow everybody will know that I finally learned magic it seems, sigh, such an owl gossiping mother.
But even as she keeps talking none stop, happy and trotting in place with light in her eyes, I cannot help but let a smile grown on my own beak from all this love she is pouring on me, even if a tiny bit too much.
Only that, another thing grabs my attention, something that I've not seen before, but would early await and search for later in life, something very connected to my wishes to become strong.
And it appears… with a ding.
Ding – Level Up – Evolution available.