Javir lay in her bed at the inn, staring up at the ceiling with wide, sleepless eyes.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, all centered around one incredible, unbelievable moment.
[She made a spell,] Javir thought, for what must have been the hundredth time that night. [A real, honest-to-gods spell, right in front of me.]
It was a feat that most mages spent years, even decades if they were particularly unlucky, trying to achieve. And Melisa, a nine-year-old nim girl, had done it like it was nothing.
That was the worst part. She did it in the same casual way one might sharpen a pencil.
[How is that even possible? What kind of mind must she have, to grasp the- the intricacies of magic so easily, so intuitively?]
Javir's thoughts spun and spun, chasing each other in endless circles.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she was witnessing something truly extraordinary.
Most of the time, one couldn't tell until long after. But, right now, she was wondering if she was perhaps witnessing a world-changing event, the birth of a world-changing person, right in front of her.
[And yet, here she is, tucked away in this tiny village, her talents hidden from the world. It's... it's not right.]
A part of Javir was glad, in a selfish sort of way, that Melisa's genius wasn't in the hands of the Academy.
She knew all too well how they could twist and manipulate such gifts, how they could turn a bright young mind into just another cog in their political machine.
But another part of her, the part that had always believed in the power of knowledge and the importance of nurturing talent, couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice.
[Melisa deserves more than this. She deserves to have her abilities recognized, to have the chance to reach her full potential. Keeping her here, letting her skills go to waste... it's not fair to her, and it's not fair to the world.]
Javir sighed, rolling over and burying her face in her pillow.
She knew what she had to do, even if the thought of it made her heart ache.
[I have to talk to her. I have to give her the choice, the opportunity to seek out more than what this village can offer.]
It would be a difficult conversation, one that could potentially change the course of Melisa's life. But Javir knew it was necessary, knew that she owed it to the girl to be honest and upfront about what she saw in her.
[Tomorrow,] she vowed, and, for the first time that night, as she closed her eyes, she could feel her eyelids agreeing to remain closed. [Tomorrow, I'll sit her down and we'll have a real talk, human to nim. I'll lay out all the options, all the possibilities, both good and bad, and let her decide for herself what path she wants to take.]
It was a daunting prospect, but Javir knew it was the right thing to do. Melisa deserved the chance to choose her own future, to follow her dreams wherever they might lead.
[And whatever she decides, I'll be there to support her, every step of the way,] she also decided. [I'm her teacher. She won't know anyone in Syux if I don't go with her, and that just feels like tossing someone into a furnace. Especially a nim. I'll have to stick by her if she goes through with this.]
She exhaled.
[And, I will. I absolutely will. I won't let anyone get their slimy hands on her.]
With that thought, Javir finally felt a sense of peace settle over her.
And with a small, satisfied smile on her lips, Javir drifted off to sleep, ready to face the dawn.
And, to hear Melisa's answer.
---
{Melisa}
Melisa was in the garden, practicing her spellwork when Javir arrived at the Blackflame household.
There was something different about the woman today, a certain gravity in her expression that made Melisa pause.
Javir caught Melistair just as he was about to leave for work.
"Excuse me, Melistair? Good morning. Could I have a word with the family as a whole? It's important."
Melistair blinked, surprised by the request, but nodded.
"Of course, Javir. Let's sit in the garden, shall we?"
Once they were all settled, Javir took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for what she was about to say.
She turned to Melisa, her gaze surprisingly intense.
"Melisa, I want to ask you something. What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Melisa grinned, the answer coming easily to her lips.
"I want to be the best sorceress in the world, the best swordswoman in the world, and become a hero!"
A flicker of emotion crossed Javir's face, a mix of pride and something that looked almost like pain, like she'd just confirmed something in her mind.
She nodded slowly.
"I thought you might say that. But Melisa, if you truly want to achieve those dreams, you can't do it here, in this village."
Melisa felt a sinking sensation in her gut.
Deep down, she knew Javir was right. She had been so caught up in the joy of learning, of discovering her own potential, that she hadn't thought much about the future.
But, that was a fact that she could agree with in an instant. This village wasn't exactly the right stage for greatness.
Margaret frowned, a protective edge to her voice.
"What are you suggesting, Javir?"
Javir met her gaze steadily.
"I want to take Melisa with me back to Syux."
Instantly, Margaret and Melistair erupted in protest.
"Absolutely not!" Melistair exclaimed. "Nim are nothing but slaves in the human kingdom. They'd put her down like a lionwolf the moment they saw her!"
Margaret nodded vehemently.
"We won't let you take our daughter into that kind of danger, Javir. It's out of the question."
But Javir held up a hand, her expression calm and assured.
"Please, hear me out. There are multiple ways for a nim to become free in Syux. One of them happens to be if the nim in question earns a scholarship to Syux Academy. And that's what I believe Melisa should try to do."
A stunned silence fell over the garden. Melisa's heart was racing, her mind whirling with the possibilities.
[Syux Academy? The most prestigious school in the human kingdom? Could I really...?]
Javir took a deep breath, launching into an impassioned speech.
"Listen, I won't lie to you. If Melisa goes to Syux, yes, she will face prejudice and opposition. Yes, there will be people who actively stand in her way, who try to make her life difficult. A lot of them, even. It won't be easy."
She looked at Melisa, her eyes shining with conviction.
"But Melisa, I truly believe that if you want to reach your full potential, if you want to become the hero you dream of being, this is the only way. You have a gift, a talent beyond anything I've ever seen. It would be a tragedy to let that go to waste."
Melisa looked back at her parents, wanting to gauge their reaction.
They looked completely torn.
"You don't have to make the decision right now," Javir said. "I'll... I'll hang out at the inn for the rest of the day. Talk it over. But," she added, "I'm serious. In my opinion," she looked at Melisa's parents, "if you want to do right by your daughter, this is the way to do it. I'll see you all later."
And, just like that, Javir left.
Leaving the Blackflame family with one of the heaviest questions they'd ever be asked.