After her family had thoroughly embarrassed her in front of the entire village, Freya was finally able to break free of their affections and excuse herself for a brief moment of peace and quiet.
With the festival in full swing, the entire village was present in the town square so Freya slipped away down a side street walking on unsteady legs as her heart pounded in her chest.
The feeling was still fresh in her mind, the magic that had flowed through her body like a gentle summer breeze. Even now, Freya could feel the pathways that the mana had traveled still raw, like a strained muscle.
Stumbling to the side, Freya felt her world tilt before a steady hand reached out and caught her. Tensing at the sudden touch, Freya spun around and froze as she craned her neck to stare at the Examiner.
He had fair skin with long brown hair combed back, revealing high cheekbones and a square jaw. But the most startling feature was his bright orange eyes framed by a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.
The man looked like a scholar to Freya, which was disconcerting as the man had managed to get within arms reach without making a single sound.
"You are Ms. Freya Crane, correct." The examiner asked in a well-spoken manner as he pushed up his glasses.
Nodding, Freya didn't take her eyes off the examiner, still wary of the man, "What do you want?"
Letting a small smile stretch across his lips, the examiner took a small step back, clearly sensing Freya's unease, "My name is Mordecai and I am fortunate enough to represent the great Heros Adventuring Academy. Are you aware of its existence?"
Freya snorted as she crossed her arms, "There isn't anyone in the Empire who doesn't know about the Academy."
"Perhaps, but assuming what others know isn't a very productive way of conducting business," Mordecai replied calmly.
"Maybe you should try it. Otherwise, you seem kind of like a stuck-up asshole." Freya shot back, making Mordecai raise a single eyebrow.
"Have I done something to offend you, Ms. Crane?"
Taking a deep breath, Freya let out a long sigh, "No, I'm just tired and annoyed."
"You did use a significant amount of mana for your first time casting magic," Mordecai commented offhandedly.
"I thought magic was supposed to be flinging fireballs from your hands, not making plants grow," Freya responded tersely.
"Magic can take nearly an infinite number forms, what you accomplished was only an instinctual use of your natural affinity. When you receive proper tutelage, I doubt you will find your talents so lackluster." Mordecai answered.
Narrowing her eyes, Ferya stared at the examiner, "You're talking like I've already decided to go to your fancy Academy."
"You want to go, that is obvious, but something is holding you back," Mordecai said confidently.
"You're telling me you can read thoughts now?" Freya asked skeptically, only to get a knowing smile in return, "You're full of horseshite."
With a light sigh, Mordecai looked back toward the festival, "I understand your plight. You feel that embracing this new side of you will mark you as even more of an outcast. That if you leave, the place you called home will stop being so."
The fire in Freya's heart died down as Mordecai seemed to cherry-pick her thoughts right out of her head, "Does your magic actually let you read minds?"
Chuckling, Mordecai shook his head, "No, my specialty lies elsewhere, but it doesn't take a mind reader to understand the thoughts of a young woman who's wondering what to do with her life."
"So you're saying I'm easy to read," Freya half-joked.
"What I'm saying is you need to decide if the walls around this village are enough to contain your true potential. Being born with an affinity is a very rare thing, out of all the cadets enrolling in the academy as first years only twenty so far have managed to awaken an affinity."
Freya paused, not expecting to be included in such a small percentage. Seeing that he had made an impact, Mordecai slowly turned around and began walking away, "Wait!"
Looking over his shoulder, Mordecai raised an eyebrow in question. Hesitating briefly, Freya eventually mustered up the courage she needed, "What about Fenrir?"
Smiling, Mordecai turned back around, "What about him?"
"I saw him talking to you before walking away angrily. Did he not get in?" Freya asked nervously.
Mordecai shook his head, "Fenrir was upset for a different reason. He was accepted and has already agreed to accompany me back to the capital."
Freya nodded stiffly, "Well, what affinity does he have? I didn't see his sigil change colors."
"Affinities are not the only way to be accepted into the Academy. While they are a good bonus, the main characteristic the Academy looks for is mana attunement. The ability of a person to absorb and hold mana within their body." Mordecai explained, fitting his scholarly appearance to a T.
"Well, how good was Fenrir's attunement," Freya asked, a bit of a competitive spark rising up within her.
Smiling Mordecai didn't answer her question, instead turning and walking away while shouting over his back, "We leave at dawn tomorrow be at the Eastern with a week's worth of supplies."
Before Freya could ask anymore questions Mordecai flickered with a hazy blue light and he disappeared, vanishing into thin air.
Gritting her teeth Freya cursed, "Damn magic."
---
The day passed quickly as the entire town of Demit participated in the coming of age festival. Parents handed their son and daughters mugs frothing with thick foam. Music floated down the street as musicians grabbed their instruments and began to play. It didn't take long for those still able to stand to began to dance
Sitting at a table with her parents, Freya had a smile plastered on her face, which was partly from the joyous atmosphere of the festival and the half-empty mug of ale on the table in front of her.
"Oh my little girl is all grown up," Martha said, her eyes red with emotion.
"Mom, could you please stop crying," Freya asked as ducked her head down in embarrassment.
"Your mother is just happy for you BunBun, you're a woman now with your whole life ahead of you," Lee said, using Freya's nickname only making her blush more.
Martha nodded as she lovingly rubbed Lee's shoulder, "Your father's right, it feels just like yesterday I was changing your diapers. Now you're going off to the Academy to learn magic."
Freya chewed her lips nervously as she thought about her conversation with Mordecai, "About that, I don't know if I want to…go to the Academy."
Martha and Lee stared at Freya as if she had grown a second head, "Why not." Martha asked, stupefied, "I thought you would be excited!"
Freya snorted as ran her finger along the rim of her mug, "Well I'm not."
"Freya, this is serious." Lee said, leaning forward with a frown, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have a gift that many would and have killed for."
"I didn't ask for magic powers, besides, you guys need me. Who's going to work the farm if I'm gone." Freya rebutted, making her father sigh.
Looking her in the eyes Lee spoke, "I'm retiring Freya, and before you say anything, that was always the plan. It has nothing to do with the Academy, your mother and I want you to live the life that you deserve."
Freya's eyes watered as her throat clogged up with emotion. Seeing her daughter overwhelmed Martha leaned over and enveloped her in a hug, "Oh don't cry dear, it's all going to be alright."
Getting up from around the table Lee walked around and kneeled to embrace his wife and daughter as the family held each other up.
After a second Freya eyes shot open as she shot out of her seat, "I need to start packing! We're supposed to leave tomorrow."
Without another word Freya ran off leaving her parents shocked at the table before they turned to look at each other as large smiles spread across their faces.