After about 3 hours of silent and tense waiting, Maren finally comes home, he almost immediately notices the tense atmosphere, and he sees Ingvald, Sene and Gesalt sitting in silence.
Maren: Hey uh... did... did something happened?
Sene speaks up, with a serious face: Yes. Ingvald will... explain.
Maren turns his attention to Ingvald, with a confused expression: What's up, man?
Ingvald takes a deep breath, and speaks: Look, Maren, so, as you know, today I came here to check your son's affinity... well... thing is, the test didn't show just one affinity, but 3, he has light, red and dark affinity, which means Healing Magic, Fire and Magma magic, and Curse Magic...
Maren is taken aback, 3 affinities has never happened anywhere in this world.
Maren: TH-THREE!? A-Are you sure? Maybe the stone was faulty?
Ingvald shakes his head and responds: I've reset the stone, it still showed the 3 colors, then I used another new stone, and it still showed 3. It's true, Maren.
Maren is visibly shaken but he takes a deep breath and calms down: S-Still... isn't that a good thing? Why are you all tense?
Ingvald responds: Well you see... as you remember, Gesalt has EMR, Early Magical Release, he only has 15 years until his magic cannot progress anymore, and since he has 3 affinities, he'll need to work 3 times as hard. We originally discussed for him to depart at the age of 12 for tutelage, but, now that we know of this... I know this will be hard to suggest, but, if Gesalt wants to properly take advantage of this, he has to leave for my tutelage now.
Maren is taken aback: Right now?... But... A-Are you sure? I mean, he's just a young boy after all, he's barely 7.
Ingvald nods with a solemn expression: I understand the apprehension, but this is the best for him, now, Sene doesn't want this to happen at all, so, you two should go and discuss for a bit and decide for yourself.
Sene finally speaks up.
Sene: Maren, you better choose wise, I-I understand Ingvald's points here, but, Gesalt is just too young, even him leaving at the age of 12 was pushing it, but at 7? It's almost half of that, it's just... insane.
Maren nods: I understand, Sene... but... I don't know... I mean, is it fair for us to stunt Gesalt's potential?
Sene is taken a bit aback from this statement, she hasn't thought about it this way, stunt his potential... it was something she didn't really think about.
Sene responds: Stunt... his potential? What do you mean?
Maren responds: Well, he has 3 affinities, it-it just never happened before, that's incredible potential, enough to even change the world of magic, us just shielding him could impact that potential.
Sene sighs and takes a deep breath: I-... You are... right I suppose, it wouldn't be fair of us to take away any chance at growth he has this early, his growth is already stunted heavily due to EMR. Gesalt... what do you think?
Gesalt stood there in silence, thinking to himself.
*Is this really what I want? Going off somewhere when I am barely 7? Sure, my mind is still the same from my previous life, so intelligence wise, I'd be doing fine, but this body is too young and weak to do much. Besides, I still don't know much about Ingvald and his personality and ideology, all I know is that he and Maren are childhood friends, hmmm, yet, he does make a good point, I don't have many years to train and get stronger, and now that I know I have something that has never happened before, I'll need to work 3 times as hard, being around an experienced mage who is world renowned can bring me a wealth of knowledge that I can't get here. I... I suppose I'll at least have to try, I'll propose something.*
Gesalt finally took a long breath, and spoke: Mr Ragnar, Mom, Dad, I think... I should probably go for the tutelage now... but... I-I have a proposition to make.
Ingvald is curious about the proposition, and so are Gesalt's parents, so Ingvalds asks.
Ingvald: A proposition...? Very well, tell us.
Gesalt nods and responds: I-I'll go for tutelage, however, if I am in any mortal or serious danger, I will be sent back home, is that good?
Sene and Maren look at each other, considering this, it would soothe their worries, while Ingvald was thinking.
Ingvald: So, you'll come to learn, but if you are in any real danger, you are to be sent home... hmm... I think I can work with this, but it's up for Sene and Maren to decide.
Sene speaks up first: I-I suppose it's a good idea, if it doesn't hurt Gesalt, I suppose it's fine, but-but he has to write to us at least monthly, and he needs to be safe.
Maren then speaks: And he has to show real progress, we won't send him away for him to come back at the same level, so you need to train him for real.
Ingvald nods and says: That's fair and doable, alright, well, Gesalt, your final words?
Gesalt took a deep breath, and nodded: Yes, I'll come for your tutelage, and I'll do my best.
Ingvald sighs as this is finally over, and he speaks: Good. Finally, Okay well, I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, so I'll come here at around 6, be up and ready by then, take some luggage that you need, and we'll take our leave.
Gesalt nods, and responds: Okay, 6 in the morning. Got it.
Ingvald bids his farewells, and leaves the house. Sene and Maren look at each other, then at Gesalt, and both sigh.
Sene: This is such... a ridiculous thing... but... well we agreed to it, there's nothing else we can do. Look, son, my dearie, my honey, tomorrow on, you'll be travelling the world, and you'll be learning and becoming stronger, I want you to not promise just me, but promise me and your father that you'll learn, become strong, and come back as a fine young man, okay? This is the only chance you have, so use it.
Gesalt nods, and responds with a serious expression: I promise, I promise that I'll come back here strong and smart, I won't disappoint you.
Sene smiles weakly and responds: Good.... good. Now, I-I'll.. I'll make your luggage, Maren, can you please come and help me? As for you, Gesalt, I suggest you take the rest of the day to play and have fun, this might be the last time you'll have the freedom to do so.
Gesalt responds: Yes... y-you are right... I-I'll go outside for a bit.
Gesalt walks outside in the garden, as Maren goes with Sene to make Gesalt's luggage.
And so, the choice has been made, Gesalt was to set out tomorrow to learn and become stronger, and finally leave this village, will Gesalt become strong and fulfill his promise? We'll find out soon enough.