The days swiftly changed to weeks. In three more days, Zoe would be leaving for her family at the Hayman manor.
She had gained great control over her mana in just a few weeks which made all who were cultivated in the arts of mana very surprised.
Like all other nights spent with Ethan, just like this night, they never overlooked their 'night talks'.
Zoe was buried under the cozy sheets in the bed as usual and Ethan laid on the hard floor. Unlike before, he had grown quite used to, and comfortable on it even though his body ached each morning.
"Today," Ethan said, "at the dinner table I realized you looked moody. What troubles your mind?" he asked.
"Nothing," Zoe replied.
Ethan stood up and walked to the base of the bed. He knelt and said with a smile, "oh, come on, Gorilla. A penny for your thoughts?"
"Stop calling me a gorilla! (SIGH) If only my thoughts were that cheap. I wouldn't be this burdened, would I?" Zoe asked.
"I guess not. But sharing always makes it lighter, no matter how great."
"(SUBMITIVE SIGH) You can really be annoying sometimes, you know?"
Ethan smiled and got back up. "Just a sec. Let me bring my pillow closer. I want to hear every syllable loud and clear," he said as he brought his beddings to the base of the bed and fell there. "Now, shall we?"
"I was just thinking about home is all. I keep thinking about the expected reactions when I arrive but I can't get rid of this brewing thought that my father is happier with me gone." Sobbing started to gurgle in her voice. "I used to feel so much love and care in his eyes. Even a glance was enough to quench the flames of all negativity. But ever since I turned out a disgrace, a failure, a thought of his dark eyes was enough to send shivers down my spine. Looking in his eyes made me feel like a deathroll criminal staring down a deep well, with the scared sweat falling down the chin echoing his thought, 'if only…, what if…'."
"Oh, tough childhood, huh?" Ethan uttered. "You know, mine was kinda similar. My father would always pound in me manhood brewing. But now that he—now that he is gone, I will make sure that no matter the cost, someday, no matter where we meet, he will be proud of the man I will become. It's just like yours actually. You have become what he wanted. Don't you want to take some revenge by dropping his jaw so hard it would need some fixing?"
Zoe burst into uncontrollable laughter, and after about a minute of one-sided joy she spoke, "I wish I was as optimistic as you. As a duke, he is known among the citizens as the Responsible Mountain. Nothing moves him but his responsibilities. I don't think my arrival will change that man's heart."
"Come on. No matter the man he is, I am sure he misses his daughter deep in his heart. He probably has a search party out there looking for you now."
"Oh, you don't know?" Zoe asked. "Everyone thinks I'm dead. I guess my mana overload and all that explosion made everyone think I was assassinated."
"Really? I'm totally confused right now. I mean, first of all, why?"
"Yeah. Why? That's the exact think I have been thinking about for the past three weeks."
**********
Three weeks ago;
It was the first night Zoe was spending with Laila and Ethan. She had been called outside by Laila for the commencement of their training.
They stood in the sandy backyard under the clear stary sky. Their home was what one would call a 'remote abode in a remote town'.
Their house was completely isolated from the rest, almost at the outskirts of the Senebkay.
"So, everyone thinks I'm dead?" Zoe asked Laila.
"Did I stutter?" Laila threw back. "And knowing this, knowing the grief your family will be in, do you still want to stay here for a month to hone your control over your mana? Your home, Nania of Hither, is about a month's gait from here, you know?"
"Yes, I know. And as much as it hurts, sacrifices are needed for glory. Yes, I will stay." Zoe answered.
"Well spoken," Laila said with a warm smile.
"But then why?" Zoe asked befuddled. "Why would father draw that conclusion? What could possibly be gained from assassinating me, the first daughter of Ronald Hayman?"
"That's yours to discover dear. Now, let's start today's work."
Laila took a seiza pose in the sand and Zoe followed. A smooth wind blew past and their hairs swam rhythmically in it.
Both closed their eyes and started to take in periodic deep breaths and breathed out slowly out the mouth. They continued for a couple of minutes till it was halted by a huge blast of wind.
Zoe immediately opened her eyes and was bewildered at the sight of Laila in her white Mask and the wind howling at her command. "H-how are you doing that?" Zoe asked.
"How is anything done?" Laila also asked. "Without control, nothing but destruction can be attained."
"And how is control acquired?"
Laila took a moment and allowed her Mask to fade off. She smiled and answered, "with faith which is accompanied by work."
"Faith and work, huh? And what makes me lack any of them?" Zoe asked with a bit of frustration, "I wouldn't even be here if I lacked any, would I?"
"(SIGH) Kids. What do you see behind me?"
Zoe took a cursory look then answered, "mmm... nothing."
"Wrong. Try again."
Zoe took a long stare and answered again, "a tree."
"Wrong again," Laila remarked. "Why do you lack faith?" she asked.
"I don't. I am trying, aren't I?"
"You say you have faith, yet that necklace is tangled around your wrist. Why do you restrain your limitless potential?"
"I don't. I mean I am not trying to. I just don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to lose control again and get innocent souls caught up in my disaster."
"And you claim not to lack faith?"
"I DON'T!" Zoe shouted and slammed her hand into the sandy ground.
"I will say this once. Watch your tone around me," Laila warned. "Now, why don't you try taking off that shiny enchantment."
"But—" Zoe hesitated for a while and then responded, "yes, Master Laila."
Zoe squeezed her eyes shut and ripped the necklace off her wrist with haste expecting there to be another overload and explosion. Slowly she opened an eye and saw that everything was fine, she uttered with awe, "I—I did it."
"Now tell me," Laila asked, "what do you see behind me?"
Zoe took another glance and just froze. Her eyes begun to water as a smile drew on her face. "It's beautiful," she said. "I see the wings of an angel."
"Correct. With enough control over mana, you can materialize it into many things. On a certain level, you can make your mana even visible to a person without an oz of mana," Laila said.
"But I have mana," Zoe pointed out.
"Yes. I never said you didn't."
"Then how?" Zoe asked. "I should have been able to see the wings then."
"Have you noticed your mana didn't ooze out like before?"
"Now that you mentioned it, yes," Zoe responded.
"With a mana overload and burst like before, it will take more than a week to recover all that mana. Plus, I thinned out the mana I used in forming the wings."
"What? Then—" Zoe looked down at the necklace in the soil. "I see," she said sadly.
"Don't be sad, dear. Faith can disappoint sometimes but the work is a stepping stone," Laila advised. "Cheer up."
"Yes. Master Laila. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, dear. Ask whatever you want."
"How has Ethan not fallen into Mana Paralysis?"
Laila smiled as if she was expecting such a question then said, "let me b ask you a question. What is Mana Paralysis?"
"Erm…it's a disease caused due lack of mana in the core for a long time."
"(SIGH) The same childish explanation it seems. Do you know even you are capable of falling victim to Mana Paralysis? —How? If you overload your core and causes it to break. Some people are born with very small mana capacity cores and those people are often labelled as not having mana. Except in the case of Ethan, he really doesn't have mana, nor a core."
"WHAT!? How is that possible?"
"Mm… it's a secret. Enough about Ethan. Let's talk about the objective of your one-month training."
"Yes, Master Laila."
"In one month, you should be able to make wings like those at my back and secondly, Ethan should be able to see them as clear as day."
The days swiftly changed to weeks. In three more days, Zoe would be leaving for her family at the Hayman manor. She had gained great control over her mana in just a few weeks which made all who were cultivated in the arts of mana very surprised.
Like all other nights spent with Ethan, just like this night, they never overlooked their 'night talks'. Zoe was buried under the cozy sheets in the bed as usual and Ethan laid on the hard floor. Unlike before, he had grown quite used to and comfortable on it even though his body ached each morning.
"Today," Ethan said, "at the dinner table I realized you looked moody. What troubles your mind?" he asked.
"Nothing," Zoe replied.
Ethan stood up and walked to the base of the bed. He knelt and said with a smile, "oh, come on, Gorilla. A penny for your thoughts?"
"Stop calling me a gorilla! (SIGH) If only my thoughts were that cheap. I wouldn't be this burdened, would I?" Zoe asked.
"I guess not. But sharing always makes it lighter, no matter how great."
"(SUBMITIVE SIGH) You can really be annoying sometimes, you know?"
Ethan smiled and got back up. "Just a sec. let me bring my pillow closer. I want to hear every syllable loud and clear," he said as he brought his beddings to the base of the bed and fell there. "Now, shall we?"
"I was just thinking about home is all. I keep thinking about the expected reactions when I arrive but I can't get rid of this brewing thought that my father is happier with me gone." Sobbing started to gurgle in her voice. "I used to feel so much love and care in his eyes. Even a glance was enough to quench the flames of all negativity. But ever since I turned out a disgrace, a failure, a thought of his dark eyes was enough to send shivers down my spine. Looking in his eyes made me feel like a deathroll criminal staring down a deep well, with the scared sweat falling down the chin echoing his thought, 'if only…, what if…'."
"Oh, tough childhood, huh?" Ethan uttered. "You know, mine was kinda similar. My father would always pound in me manhood brewing. But now that he—now that he is gone, I will make sure that no matter the cost, someday, no matter where we meet, he will be proud of the man I will become. It's just like yours actually. You have become what he wanted. Don't you want to take some revenge by dropping his jaw so hard it would need some fixing?"
Zoe burst into uncontrollable laughter, and after about a minute of one-sided joy she spoke, "I wish I was as optimistic as you. As a duke, he is known among the citizens as the Responsible Mountain. Nothing moves him but his responsibilities. I don't think my arrival will change that man's heart."
"Come on. No matter the man he is, I am sure he misses his daughter deep in his heart. He probably has a search party out there looking for you now."
"Oh, you don't know?" Zoe asked. "Everyone thinks I'm dead. I guess my mana overload and all that explosion made everyone think I was assassinated."
"Really? I'm totally confused right now. I mean, first of all, why?"
"Yeah. Why? That's the exact think I have been thinking about for the past three weeks."
**********
Three weeks ago;
It was the first night Zoe was spending with Laila and Ethan. She had been called outside by Laila for the commencement of their training. They stood in the sandy backyard under the clear stary sky. Their home was what one would call a 'remote abode in a remote town'. Their house was completely isolated from the rest, almost at the outskirts of the Senebkay.
"So, everyone thinks I'm dead?" Zoe asked Laila.
"Did I stutter?" Laila threw back. "And knowing this, knowing the grief your family will be in, do you still want to stay here for a month to hone your control over your mana? Your home, Nania of Hither, is about a month's gait from here, you know?"
"Yes, I know. And as much as it hurts, sacrifices are needed for glory. Yes, I will stay." Zoe answered.
"Well spoken," Laila said with a warm smile.
"But then why?" Zoe asked befuddled. "Why would father draw that conclusion? What could possibly be gained from assassinating me, the first daughter of Ronald Hayman?"
"That's yours to discover dear. Now, let's start today's work."
Laila took a seiza pose in the sand and Zoe followed. A smooth wind blew past and their hairs swam rhythmically in it. Both closed their eyes and started to take in periodic deep breaths and breathed out slowly out the mouth. They continued for a couple of minutes till it was halted by a huge blast of wind.
Zoe immediately opened her eyes and was bewildered at the sight of Laila in her white Mask and the wind howling at her command. "H-how are you doing that?" Zoe asked.
"How is anything done?" Laila also asked. "Without control, nothing but destruction can be attained."
"And how is control acquired?"
Laila took a moment and allowed her Mask to fade off. She smiled and answered, "with faith which is accompanied by work."
"Faith and work, huh? And what makes me lack any of them?" Zoe asked with a bit of frustration, "I wouldn't even be here if I lacked any, would I?"
"(SIGH) Kids. What do you see behind me?"
Zoe took a cursory look then answered, "mmm... nothing."
"Wrong. Try again."
Zoe took a long stare and answered again, "a tree."
"Wrong again," Laila remarked. "Why do you lack faith?" she asked.
"I don't. I am trying, aren't I?"
"You say you have faith, yet that necklace is tangled around your wrist. Why do you restrain your limitless potential?"
"I don't. I mean I am not trying to. I just don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to lose control again and get innocent souls caught up in my disaster."
"And you claim not to lack faith?"
"I DON'T!" Zoe shouted and slammed her hand into the sandy ground.
"I will say this once. Watch your tone around me," Laila warned. "Now, why don't you try taking off that shiny enchantment."
"But—" Zoe hesitated for a while and then responded, "yes, Master Laila."
Zoe squeezed her eyes shut and ripped the necklace off her wrist with haste expecting there to be another overload and explosion. Slowly she opened an eye and saw that everything was fine, she uttered with awe, "I—I did it."
"Now tell me," Laila asked, "what do you see behind me?"
Zoe took another glance and just froze. Her eyes begun to water as a smile drew on her face. "It's beautiful," she said. "I see the wings of an angel."
"Correct. With enough control over mana, you can materialize it into many things. On a certain level, you can make your mana even visible to a person without an oz of mana," Laila said.
"But I have mana," Zoe pointed out.
"Yes. I never said you didn't."
"Then how?" Zoe asked. "I should have been able to see the wings then."
"Have you noticed your mana didn't ooze out like before?"
"Now that you mentioned it, yes," Zoe responded.
"With a mana overload and burst like before, it will take more than a week to recover all that mana. Plus, I thinned out the mana I used in forming the wings."
"What? Then—" Zoe looked down at the necklace in the soil. "I see," she said sadly.
"Don't be sad, dear. Faith can disappoint sometimes but the work is a stepping stone," Laila advised. "Cheer up."
"Yes. Master Laila. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, dear. Ask whatever you want."
"How has Ethan not fallen into Mana Paralysis?"
Laila smiled as if she was expecting such a question then said, "let me ask you a question. What is Mana Paralysis?"
"Erm…it's a disease caused due lack of mana in the core for a long time."
"(SIGH) The same childish explanation it seems. Do you know even you are capable of falling victim to Mana Paralysis? —How? If you overload your core and causes it to break. Some people are born with very small mana capacity cores and those people are often labelled as not having mana. Except in the case of Ethan, he really doesn't have mana, nor a core."
"WHAT!? How is that possible?"
"Mm… it's a secret. Enough about Ethan. Let's talk about the objective of your one-month training."
"Yes, Master Laila."
"In one month, you should be able to make wings like those at my back and secondly, Ethan should be able to see them as clear as day."