The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light casting a soft glow over the quiet courtyard. Stars scattered across the heavens like shards of glass, glittering against the endless black canvas. The air was cool and calm, carrying the faint scent of blooming night flowers from the garden.
I sat on the cold stone steps, my gaze fixed on the vast expanse above me. The stillness of the night was a comfort, a quiet reprieve from the noise of the castle and the bustling capital. I often found myself here, lost in thought. Tonight was no different.
"Can't sleep again?"
The voice startled me. I turned to see Sosa Ojai, her figure bathed in moonlight, walking toward me with the same composed authority she carried during the day. Her green robes seemed to shimmer slightly in the faint light, blending with the surrounding garden.
"You're out late," I said, my voice steady, though I was caught off guard.
She crossed her arms and looked at me intently. "It's been seven days, Uzu. Seven days, and you haven't attended training even once."
I turned my gaze back to the sky. "Well, without magic, I can't survive on the battlefield. What's the point of training?"
Her expression didn't change as she stepped closer. "The princess told me something interesting. She says you've been skipping sleep for midnight walks like this. And... you're planning to settle in a nearby city as a farmer. Is that true?"
The accusation stung, but I didn't deny it. "I don't have anything to do here," I admitted. "So, I thought it would be best to leave the capital."
"Are you feeling jealous because you didn't get any magic powers?" she asked bluntly.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping slightly. "It's half true, though."
Sosa sat down beside me, an unusual move for someone as authoritative as her. "I wanted to talk to you earlier, but you're already making plans to leave. So, let's get straight to the point."
I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
"There are two paths that might help you use magic," she said, her tone serious.
I blinked in surprise. "Two paths? What are you talking about?"
She smirked slightly. "You've already given up, haven't you?"
"Of course I have," I said, laughing bitterly. "If it's anything like the tests we did with that device, I already know I'll fail. But if one of your paths is easy, I'll think about it."
Her smirk softened into something resembling encouragement. "Before we get into that, let me tell you something about your friends."
"They're good people," she started, leaning back slightly. "But they're far from ready to face what's ahead."
I glanced at her, intrigued despite myself.
"Tai," she began, "is powerful and talented. But he's reckless. He rushes into situations without thinking, relying too much on his strength. That kind of carelessness could cost him—and the group—their lives."
I nodded silently. Tai's overconfidence wasn't new to me.
"Ono is the opposite," she continued. "He's calm and strategic. A strong defensive fighter. But he overthinks, which makes him slow to act. In a fast-paced battle, hesitation is just as dangerous as recklessness."
That sounded about right. Ono was always analyzing everything to the smallest detail, sometimes to his own detriment.
"Sen is spirited," Sosa said with a faint smile, "and her fire magic is strong. But she struggles to find her role in the group. She hesitates between being a healer and a fighter, and that indecision weakens her."
"And Yuuki?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Yuuki is cautious," Sosa said thoughtfully. "Her sealing magic is precise, and she's a quick learner. But she lacks confidence. She's afraid of making mistakes, and that fear holds her back."
I frowned. "So, they all have weaknesses. What's your point?"
"My point," she said firmly, "is that they need you."
I blinked in confusion. "Me? What can I do without magic?"
"You're not just their friend, Uzu," she said, her gaze piercing. "You're their anchor. You see things they don't. You understand their strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. Without you, they'll fall apart."
Her words struck a chord, but I didn't want to admit it. "That sounds nice and all, but I'm not sure how being an 'anchor' helps in a fight."
"That's why I'm giving you these two options," she said, her tone softening. "The first path is one you've already started walking. You can support them in ways they can't support themselves. Strategy, coordination, planning. Those things are just as important as magic on the battlefield."
I stared at her, unsure of how to respond.
"And the second path?" I asked quietly.
She hesitated, then looked directly at me. "The second path is something I'll need to show you in time. But for now, let's focus on the first. If you stay, I can help you find your place in this group. You don't need magic to be valuable."
I looked back up at the sky, the stars twinkling like silent witnesses to our conversation. The idea of staying still felt daunting. The weight of my inadequacy was heavy, but Sosa's words stirred something inside me.
"You think they really need me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I know they do," she said firmly.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The night stretched on, beautiful and infinite. Somewhere in the distance, the faint sounds of the capital could be heard—a reminder that life was moving forward, whether I wanted it to or not.
"Alright," I said finally. "I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask," Sosa replied, standing up and brushing off her robes. "But don't think too long. Time waits for no one."
As she walked away, I stayed seated, my thoughts swirling as the stars above seemed to shimmer even brighter.
Nothing was not coming in my mind, even after rethinking of the conversation. But still...
"Time waits for no one,hmm" I muttered.