After some minutes of hugging each other, they parted from each other with a Chandler who was more likely as he eyes had regained more life. Layla felt so good since this was her first time hugging him so much.
'His hug felt so warm that I didn't want to stop it. His warmth went all over my body that I could explode. Didn't know that it would feel so good to hug him' thought Layla.
She was in another world right now after the hug they shared. She felt to happy and they love she had for him grew more and more by the second.
"Chandler, I will always be there for you whatever the situation, just don't forget to notice me when you are in need" Saying so with a red tinted cheeks while she looked down. She was not saying this out of nowhere, they all came from the bottom of her heart.
"I really thank you Layla, I couldn't ask for a more caring friend like you" He sincerely said after he felt relieved. These words of his too we're from his heart and not some random words which he said out loud.
Layla felt very happy after she heard what he said. She felt a warm feeling in her chest that she couldn't explain. It was like it was the sun burning in there but felt really nice for her that she couldn't help but blush and smile. And yes, Chandler didn't see that or it could be really embarrassing for Layla. She soon processed what Chandler said earlier and decided to ask about it.
"So you were saying that you haven't yet awaken the Zolritch affinity, right? "
Chandler hearing what she said just looked at her as he went sad again. He just silenced for the moment. Seeing this, Layla started doubting if she was been nice asking him this as her heart fell.
After sometime, Chandler decided to talk again "Hmmm... Yeah, I haven't awaken the affinity till yet Layla, am just a deficit Zolritch. Not being able to awaken our affinity for one full year till yet, that's just a... a great deficit. I'm not a Zolritch Layla"
"Why say that Chandler? Even if you haven't yet awaken the affinity it would still be nice since you can still use Qi. You also told me that since you were five years old Sir Hansel has been training you hard so as you can be like him. You said you had so many deadly training which you all survived in, so why feel so down about all this Chandler?"
Layla couldn't understand why he was saying all this. The fact that he didn't awaken the affinity doesn't mean that he wasn't a Zolritch and to that a deficit.
Furthermore, he didn't ask his dad about all this so he could get an explanation. But the problem was that Chandler wasn't knowing how to approach them and wasn't knowing how they were really feeling right now. So he was hesitant to how they will react by the time he will come to them and ask about his problem.
"Why not ask about some explanations to your parents. It would be nice is you also see them, you said you always have that dream right? So just tell me them everything before we leave for the Academy" exclaimed Layla tring to cheer him up.
"I don't really know Layla. I'm really nervous about it all and I don't think they will even....i don't even know what to say" responded Chandler sadly. He was still very sad till yet but that was all logical.
"What are you saying Layla? What would they say when they see that am not able to produce and ability? What would they say when they see that a Zolritch can't use the Zolritch's affinity? How would they think about all this? What would they say when they see that a Zolritch can use only Qi?"
Asking question upon question, he gave no time to Layla to answer even one of them. She saw that he was becoming paranoid as the time passed. So she just went forward and have him another hug which made me calm down. He just stayed still and enjoyed her warmth. He felt secured in her embrace and that was all he needs right now.
"You Chandler, it doesn't matter whether you are angle to use the Zolritch ability or not. All that care is that you show everyone that you worth to be a Zolritch with what you have. So just stay calm and be yourself, be Chandler Zoltitch and don't change no matter what. You are unique in your genre and that's all that matters"
Layla said while she ruffled his hairs a bit to calm him down. Chandler just stayed still and enjoy the moment to the fullest. He knew that Layla would be with him and would help him in whatever situation. He felt rejuvenated and took a resolution in his heart to never show his weakness ever again and make all to become stronger to show that he is worth a Zolritch.
"I really thank you Layla, I will ask my parents about all this tomorrow and also tell them about my dream. You are a treasure friend Layla, really thanks"
Hearing this leaving Chandler's mouth, Layla blushed and Chandler snuggled more in her embrace as her blossoms were pressed on his face, making him take in her strawberry scent with was all over her body. His action made her blush more and she just smiled.
They couldn't see that all they were going was watched by someone. Someone familiar to them who was no other person than Anabelle. She was frowning like crazy seeing Layla hugging him like and him not rejecting her embrace but snuggled more.
She followed Layla all the way as she left the yard and just stood there not disturbing them to the least.
After watching them hug each other for about five minutes, she turned around with a frowning face and stomped her feet while going away. She directed herself to the apple tree which there were first sitting at.
"Ahhhhhh Layla, why take all the opportunity to you own benefit. This is not fair. Is it a most that he should also take in her embrace? Couldn't he just turn her down and act cold as always. He always feel like himself with her. Am I not also attractive?" She said as she had an angered look on her face.
She was saying all the truth. Chandler always felt like he could act like himself around her. Maybe it was because they grew together and he knew that she knows every aspect of him, right?
She walked in a circles around the apple tree and the area around the tree and the grasses started freezing. Seeing that she just sat down and calmed herself down.
"Just calm down Anabelle, this is just a little problem. It doesn't means that he loves her son you still have probability that you can take him as yours, so just calm down yourself Anabelle"
She started talking to herself and the freezing just stopped and ice melted instantly.
"Maybe I should also show that I have feelings for him. That Layla is just making me feel like aaarrrhhhh....i can't hold myself back from getting angry. If I don't fight for my love, she would take him for her alone. However if It was possible for us to share him I wouldn't be against it either" she said as she laid in the grasses contemplating the moon which was shining bright.
*****
Back at the backyard, Layla stopped hugging Chandler and they were just sitting beside each other with Layla blushing all the while. Chandler being who he was couldn't even see that as he was focused on his new objective: become stronger and make his parents proud of him.
"Chandler, what are you gonna do now" inquired Layla with a concerned look. Chandler just looked at her and smiled back.
"Don't worry Layla, if it turns out that I can only use Qi, I will make sure to work hard and become strong enough to make my parents proud and know that am worth to carry the name of the Zolritch." Chandler said with a determined look in his eyes. He was obsessed with the fact of making his parents proud.
"And I will be there to help you Chandler" said Layla with a blush which Chandler saw and smiled.
"Thanks Layla, that will be great of yours. You and I forever against the world" said Chandler looking at Layla.
*****
And so they made party till the next day where all the invitees when back home at 6am when the party ended. Thanks that it was public holidays and they could stay home till Friday when they would be taken to the Comelot Academy.
Chandler was in his room deeply sleeping but was sweating buckets still dreaming the same thing all time.
*****
It was already 2pm. At the Zolritch mansion, his parents were in their room which worried expressions on their faces. It was exactly this day that they decided to tell him the truth.