A year has passed since my father returned from the battlefield, and I am now ten years old. This year, I'm supposed to enter the academy in the capital, where I'll begin my formal training in magic and swordsmanship. Over the past year, I've made significant progress, thanks to my father's guidance.
I've mastered the beginner wind magic spells: Wind Slice, Sonic Boom, and Wind Repel. I've even managed to learn an intermediate water spell, Beating Tide. As for my swordsmanship, I've been struggling with intermediate techniques, but I've managed to grasp one move, Horizontal Arc, an improved version of the basic Horizontal Slash.
The academy's doors will soon open to me, but with that comes the weight of expectations and the unknown. I want to be ready, to be as strong as I can be before we leave.
"Will, get down here! Breakfast is ready!" My mother's voice echoes from downstairs, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, coming!" I shout back, a little too loudly, but I want to make sure she hears me.
I quickly make my way downstairs and head to the dining table. My mother, father, Chris, and Aunt Lyshia are already seated.
"Good morning, Will. You overslept again," Chris teases, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Good morning to you too, Chris, and I didn't oversleep," I reply, trying to sound indignant but failing to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
"Come on, take your seat," my mother says, gesturing to the empty chair beside her.
I sit down, and we all begin eating breakfast together. The atmosphere is warm and familiar, a routine I've come to cherish. As we eat, my father brings up the subject of our impending trip to the capital.
"Next week, we'll be heading to the capital," he says, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Will and Chris will both be starting at the academy."
Chris's expression changes for a moment, her usual cheerful demeanor faltering. It's subtle, but I notice. She quickly recovers, smiling and nodding along with the conversation, but something is off.
After breakfast, Chris and I head to the backyard, not to play as we used to, but to train. Over the past year, our relationship has grown stronger, and we've spent many hours practicing magic together. Chris has made progress, though she still struggles with precision and sometimes fails to cast her spells correctly. Today, however, something seems different.
"Water Shield!" Chris shouts, her voice full of determination. A wall of water begins to form but collapses before it can fully take shape. It's the fifth time her spell has failed.
"You're not your usual self today," I say, watching her closely. "Did something happen?"
"Ah, no, nothing happened at all," she answers quickly, her tone too light, too forced.
"Then why aren't you your usual self? Something on your mind? Tell me, maybe I can help," I press gently, wanting to ease whatever burden she's carrying.
Chris hesitates, then nods. "Okay, but let's sit down first."
We find a spot under the large oak tree that stands a few meters from the house, its shade providing a cool respite from the sun. The leaves rustle softly in the breeze, and for a moment, we sit in silence.
"So, what's on your mind?" I ask, turning to face her.
"You know, we're going to the academy next week," she begins, her voice tinged with uncertainty. I nod, encouraging her to continue. "I'm thinking… maybe I shouldn't go after all."
Her words catch me off guard. "Why?" I ask, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.
"I'm weak, Will. I'm afraid I'll just end up like Papa," she says, her voice trembling. "So I'm thinking that hiding my magical affinity might be a better choice. What do you think?"
Her expression is heartbreaking, a mixture of fear and resignation. I remember how Uncle Philip changed after his time on the battlefield, how he became a shadow of his former self. Chris witnessed it too, felt the terror of it more deeply than anyone else. It's no wonder she's scared.
"If that's what you decide, I won't oppose it," I say slowly, choosing my words carefully. "But is that really what you want?"
Her eyes flicker with indecision, and I can see the internal battle she's fighting. She wants to go, but the fear is holding her back.
"If you choose not to go, you can live a peaceful life here without the fear of being harmed," I continue. "But if you decide to go, I promise that whenever you're in trouble, I'll always be by your side. I won't let you suffer alone, that's my promise to you."
Chris turns her head away, trying to avoid my gaze, but I gently take her face in my hands and turn it back to me. "So, tell me what you really want to do."
Her eyes fill with tears, and she throws her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. I hold her as she cries, waiting for her to find the words.
"I really want to go with you, Will," she finally says, her voice muffled against my shirt. "I want to go to the academy with you, but I'm afraid I'll just cause you problems. I don't want to rely on you too much and make you think I'm a nuisance."
"You could never be a nuisance to me, Chris," I say firmly. "No matter how many problems you cause, I'll be there to help you. You're my precious childhood friend, after all."
She clings to me tighter, and I feel her body shake with sobs. I can only imagine the fear and doubt she's been carrying all this time, but I want her to know that she doesn't have to bear it alone.
"So don't be afraid," I whisper, resting my chin on top of her head. "Let's go to the academy together."
"Yeah, thank you, Will," she replies, her voice small but filled with gratitude.
We stay like that for a while, the world around us fading as we hold onto each other. Eventually, her tears subside, and she pulls away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry," she says with a small, embarrassed smile. "I didn't mean to cry so much."
"There's nothing to apologize for," I assure her. "You're allowed to cry."
She nods, taking a deep breath as if to steady herself. "I feel a little better now," she admits.
"I'm glad," I say, smiling at her.
Chris gives me a brave nod, and I can see the resolve returning to her eyes. It's not complete, not yet, but it's a start. We'll take it one step at a time, and I'll be there for her every step of the way.
As the sun begins to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the yard, we stand up and head back to the house. There's still much to prepare for our journey to the capital, but for now, I'm content knowing that Chris is willing to take that journey with me.