Ember returned home that day depressed. His grandma saw him coming in and the moment she saw the look on his, she guessed what might have happened. Nevertheless, she smiled warmly at him and welcomed him in.
"Having no magic doesn't mean you can't become what you want to," she consoled him. "You are destined for greatness, my child."
"Grandma!" He yelled and went to hug her.
"You can cry all you want," she said and instantly, he began to cry. It was as though he had been keeping it in right from the time he left the awakening hall.
His grandma felt so bad for him. It was one of the reasons why she didn't want him to pursue his dreams earlier but since he had insisted on it, there was no point in trying to talk him out of it. He just had to be ready to face whatever may come his way.
"There now, that's enough," she said and patted him on his back. Ember stopped crying and wiped his face. They broke from the hug and he lowered his head in shame. "Hahaha, look at you now," his grandma teased him.
"Grandma!" He called and she laughed the more.
Ember was now smiling and that made her less worried. She didn't care what people said about him, she loved him and that was all that mattered.
"Grandma, thank you so much," he suddenly said. "Thank you for saving my life, for giving me a home, and for all the love you've showed me all this while. I will never forget them."
"I picked you up that day because you are one special child. Don't ever forget how special and important you are because the day you forget that will be the beginning of your failure," his grandma said.
"I will never forget that, grandma. Never!" He replied.
"That's my boy," she said and he smiled. "I have prepared your food, let's go in so you will eat."
"Okay, grandma."
The two of them went inside and Ember had his food. He was not happy about the outcome of things but at the same time, he was thankful. He was thankful that he had someone who believes in him and for that reason, he was not going to give up that easily. He will become a mage king and then come back and take her away from the village to the big city.
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Later at night before the old lady fell asleep, Ember told her he had something to talk to her about.
"Child, come and sit down. You said there was something you'd like to talk to me about," the grandma said to him.
"Yes, grandma. It's about the entrance examination," he replied as he sat down beside her.
"Okay, child. What about it?" She asked him. She had guessed what the conversation was all about so she prepared her heart for it.
"The examination is coming up in four weeks time and the city is far from here. I want to start my journey in seven days times so I can get there before the examination day. Remember it's going to be a foot journey so I wouldn't want to be late for the exams," he replied.
"That's a great idea," the old lady said but then a frown appeared on her face. "But isn't it to early to leave?" She asked him.
"It is not, grandma. I have to make it in time for the exams," Ember replied. He knew the reason for the frown on his grandmother's face, thus, he added. "Don't worry, grandma. I'll spend the remaining days with you before I leave."
The old lady sighed. Instead of using his remaining days to practice, he chose to spend it with her. She knew he was only trying to make her happy but...
"Okay, if you say so," she replied reluctantly.
Ember smiled because he thought she was acting like a small child but he didn't let her catch him laughing at her or she would think he is making fun of her.
That night, the two of them went to bed shortly after their little conversation but Ember didn't sleep immediately. He was thinking about his journey to the big city — The Emerald city. Something tells him that things won't be easy but he doesn't want to let fear get the best of him or he would fail abruptly. So he waved his worries away and forced himself to sleep.
----- Seventh Day ------
It was the day he was going to start his journey and Ember was already dressed up in the clothes his mother sewed for him. He was standing outside his home, spacing off and he didn't know when his grandma walked up to him from behind.
"What are you thinking about, my child?" She asked him the moment she noticed that his mind was somewhere else.
"Nothing mother," he lied. Since he woke up, he had been having a bad feeling about his journey but he could not tell it to his grandma or she would be worried sick about him.
But the old lady knew that he was lying to her. So she wondered what could be making him worried at a time like that.
"You know what, kid," she said to him. "This is your only chance to leave. If you don't get hold of yourself and leave, I will make sure you won't leave again."
"Grandma," Ember grunted. Seeing that she was serious, he sighed. "Fine, grandma. I've heard you."
"Take this bag with you, you will get hungry while on your journey so make sure you eat," the old lady said as she handed him a bag.
Opening it, Ember saw that it was filled with pancakes and a bottle of milk.
"Thanks Grandma," he said to her.
"Quick, go, leave before I change my mind!" She urged him and turned around, giving him her back.
Ember was now reluctant to leave. He could not bear to leave the only person that brought hope and light into his dark world, but he had to. It was a must! So he went on and hugged her from the back. "Good bye, grandma. I will be back!" As soon as he finish saying that, he turned and ran off. He didn't want to spend another second there because he could end up not leaving again.
"Are you gone?" The old lady asked and when she waited a while without receiving a reply, she turned around and saw no one. She soon teared up but she quickly wiped her tears and consoled herself. "You are going to become the magic king and then you will return to take me out of this place, for that, I will not cry."
Meanwhile, Ember who was thought to have run away didn't actually leave. He was hiding behind one of the trees there, staring at his grandma. When he saw her teared up, he got ready to return to her but seeing how she consoled heraelf immediately, he stopped.
"Grandma belives in me so I must go on with this journey and become the magic king. After that, I will come back and make her proud of me!"
With that, he set off, to a city unknown.