After the party, Noriko and I visited each other often. We talked about books, about spirits and magic and about the upcoming school term. We were both nervous to start. I found out that she had fire magic, but was not as interested as me in learning how to use it. She once said that the only thing she wants to use her magic for if it's for the good of those around her. How precious she is!
We would also eat some extra cookies that I subtracted from the kitchen and spend time in the garden at my favorite place. I introduced her to Chopa, who was very happy to make a new friend, but Noriko was a little cautious at first because of Chopa's wolf genes. But he is a good boy so everything went well. After a few weeks of coming here, they became friends and I was beginning to feel jealous as my beloved little wolf would gladly spend more time with Moriko on our meetings than with me. No problem, I made sure to love him plenty afterwards.
During the last five weeks, my nightmare came back a few times and everytime I woke up in the middle of the night shaking and trying to shake off the feeling of falling into a pit. Better said being pushed there as a punishment for my deeds. The only new piece of information I could gather was that I was found guilty of plotting to dethrone the king and was an important factor that led to war with a neighbouring country. It produced a confusion in my head and couldn't understand anything. But after a few times dreaming the same events, I concluded that the royal family was scary and I should never cross them in the future. Better yet, maybe total avoidance was the key.
Although my nights were interrupted by awful nightmares, my days were full of lessons and training and during those weeks my magic was almost blooming. I could almost fly, although I haven't shown this to no one besides Chopa and Noriko, not even Mr. Gerald who would constantly praise me. My parents were delighted by these praises, especially my father which loved magic almost as much as I did. My mother on the other hand, would have liked me to focus on the other lessons as much as I did during the magic one. Knowing that I could float so high as to go over the biggest tree in our garden, would assure another long lecture for me. I was sure of that. I don't think that my father would be that pleased either. What they knew was that I could finally use water magic, which meant that I could use two elements already. It was unheard of for someone to be able to use two elements before even starting school.
Some time during my lessons I started to see what I could combine with air. With fire, the air will make the first stronger. Having air and lightning can produce a storm. But my favorite was the combination between air and water to make ice. I always loved snow when I was little and ice in my beverage makes hot summers more enduring. And also, now I could have ice cream! That will be the first thing I do after learning to combine these two elements, I can't wait!
One thing that I wanted to do more and more was getting outside our property. There is a little town nearby, not far from our house and I caught a glimpse when we went to the party last time. It is really peaceful from what I've heard and it's under the protection of our dukedom. The people there are rather wealthy, although not as wealthy as nobles, but there is no poverty in this town compared to other parts of our country, meaning there weren't many crimes either. Knowing that, I hoped I could ask permission to go visit it sometime. Not alone, but with Mia. When I told her that I wanted to go, she was against it. Firstly, because it was dangerous and, secondly, because my parents won't approve and sneaking is out of the question.
"What if I have my parents' permission?" I asked her. She bursted laughing. "How rude," I continued, "don't you think they'll let me?"
"No, I don't." she promptly replied.
"But if I get it." I insisted.
"It's still dangerous." she added.
"You can protect me." I added knowing that she was a skilled fighter, especially with that light sword of hers, she was really fast. I also wanted to fight, but my mother didn't allow it yet. I was hoping I could learn it in school.
"Maybe I can, but who will protect us from your parents?" She asked, obviously considering that I will never get their permission.
"You don't believe I can persuade them I see. If I'm successful, will you promise me you'll come?" I put on my most beautiful smile while pleading.
She laughed again. "Yes, I will follow you." she said while patting my head.
Yes! One down two to go. I know my mother will be more difficult to convince, but my plan is to persuade my father first and ,maybe, she will also come around. The afternoon after my discussion with Mia, I went into the saloon where I knew my parents would be having tea together. After greeting them and taking a cup of tea myself I put my plan in application.
"Father, mother," I said in a serious tone "I want to visit the town nearby with Mia."
Mia froze. She didn't expect to be mentioned here. The smiles on my parents' faces faded away and they were serious too. I continued talking before they had time to say anything.
"Before you dismiss my wish, I would like to add that I think that visiting the town and becoming acquainted with how commoners live will help me understand what their needs are and I will be able, in the future, to give them the same care they received from you. I know that all this reading and lessons will help me when the time comes, but I would like to see the situation for myself. I want to see what is outside our property and I'd love to see how other people live. You yourself are visiting the town alone with the same intentions. I would like to follow your path."
They were silent. I put the matter in such a way that they can't say it's wrong for me to go as they also do it. And the fact that is not related to magic should be a bonus. The first to speak was my mother.
"Even though I understand your intentions, dear, the town is still very dangerous. It would be a tragedy if something happens to you." She really meant it. She is just worried about me.
"I will have Mia with me. She is able to protect me…. And I can protect myself by using magic." I said quickly before anyone could answer. "I will be very careful! I really wish to see the town and its citizens."
"Although your evolution in using magic is splendid, -" It was my father who spoke this time. "- how will you be able to protect yourself? Will you float someone away? Or splash them with water? You need to learn more in order to protect yourself and those who are important to you." He glanced at Mia. He knew that she was as important to me as I was to her. "When you learn to use magic to protect yourself, then you may be able to go" my father finally agreed.
"You shouldn't neglect your other studies either!" my mother added."I will only agree if I heard good news from your other teachers as well."
I felt as if I was flying to the clouds! They agreed! On some conditions, of course, but now I had a chance to go!
"I will work hard!" I jumped from the sofa and kissed both of them on their cheeks.
"You've matured in the past months. I look forward to your evolution." my mother said smiling.
I won't disappoint you, I said in my head. I will really do my best. I finally had a plan to make my wish come true! I went to my room almost skipping. After entering, with Mia behind me, I started really jumping until I saw her face. She wasn't really pleased that I mentioned her in my negotiation.
"Come on, Mia! We will finally go!"
"You kind of tricked me, you know. Using me to protect you, a good argument!" she pouted.
"I thrust you will keep your promise." I looked her in the eyes and when she said yes, I ran to hug her. She hugged me back and patted my head after. "I really convinced them." I said happily.
"Well, you still have a lot of work before you can go there, you know!" a smirk appeared on her face, but I knew the hard work that would shortly come would be rewarding.
I was spending much of my time with Noriko and Chopa which led to me not putting as much effort into my lessons. While magic was still a priority and I was still slowly improving, my other lessons were not so good. Another time consuming event were the parties at Spiritus. Since I got permission to visit the town, two more such parties took place
This, my parents were seriously overseeing my studies this time to make sure I wasn't slacking. Shortly after our promise, my mother seemed displeased with how my lessons were going.
"Your ethics teacher wasn't so pleased yesterday. After your lessons with her she told me that you were distracted. Is there something on your mind? Or maybe you don't want to go outside anymore? It's not only magic where you should improve, I hope you have not forgotten."
"Not at all, mum. It isn't my magic lessons that took my time away, but no worries, I will study harder on all subjects." I added pouting.
She smiled and asked me to move closer to her. After putting a hand on my hands which were resting on my lap, she began "You do not need to exhaust yourself. I know you've been busy with having to make time for your lessons, for your friend and also go to all the parties. You can skip a few parties now and then, especially if you've been to that family before. But you should not decline them all!"
After the first party, there were at least 3 parties weekly that I was invited to. Having a guest from our family come to your party ment a lot to most people and I tried to go to all of them, although it was tiring and sometimes boring. Noriko wasn't invited to all parties as she wasn't from such a high family. And the princes only attended the Spiritus gathering. But I knew that it would be best to show myself there, and mostly, that my mother will highly approve of this behavoíour. So hearing her now I felt relieved and happy to finally concentrate on what is important to me: going to the town.
After our tea that afternoon I actually declined many such invitations and went only to those parties where I had to. Instead, I focused more on my education and that could be seen on my mother's face as she was receiving only good news from all my teachers. I mean, I still wasn't a rising star on the piano, but a little improvement could be seen. Noriko was a genius with the piano and I enjoyed playing it with her. She would sometimes join me on my lessons and Mrs. Kim would not stop praising her to the point that Noriko's face would turn crimson. Even my ethics teacher was pleased with my work.
Now, the biggest task left was to create magic strong enough to be able to protect both me and Mia while visiting the town. I can now use wind to fly from my garden spot to my room and can blow pretty strong winds, but I am not able to make a tornado, not even to the degree of the first one. It must have been that liquid that helped me then. I could also float most things easily and I could redirect them to a certain point. But no one will back off while being attacked by leaves and I was not allowed to have weapons. I could also use stones, but if they weren't big enough, still no effect. And I also had to search after the stones first which can take time.
Water was another thing. I could not summon water on the spot yet, and I needed some water to manipulate. Luckily, I had the river nearby and could use water from that. And, although I could lift big portions, it was difficult to direct it somewhere. Making a good barrier or shield with water was difficult as I needed a considerable quantity of it or else it would be easily penetrated. Ice was the answer to my problem. I only needed a small amount of water which I could freeze and it would be pretty hard to break. I could also make small ice needles to attack someone if needed. But that was easier said than done. While I can now make ice and actually make ice cream to eat it with Noriko one time, I had to make it bigger and stronger to build a shield or more precise to make the needles. I was pretty fast at making small bits of ice, but I still had to improve.
Well, it seems that my mighty barrier has to wait. Next week is my birthday and it will be a big party I presume. My mother is working non stop on it. I wonder if she wants to have a bigger party than the one at Spiritus. It wouldn't surprise me if it will.