31 Thank You, Master.

"You really should not worry about these things. Let your parents and the town handle it." He admired how the girl cared for her brother. If Ovandarrak could not go, Master Bufan was sure that Savyrran would do everything she could to support her brother through soul recovery school. Thankfully, they did not have to worry about that.

"What do you mean?"

"I've known your father since he was a baby and I even trained him, just like you. He is one of the most responsible people I know. Do you think once he had learned that his son wanted to be a soul recovery doctor, he would not prepare for it in whatever way he could?"

Savyrran thought carefully about Master Bufan's words. It was becoming clearer to him. Of course, it was their father who had encouraged them to pursue their dreams. He had been buying books for Ovandarrak ever since he learned to read. And once Ovandarrak showed interest in soul recovery, Fani had him trained in mental techniques as soon as Ovandarrak manifested. It was obvious their parents had been preparing their future for a long time. A smile starting forming on Savyrran's face.

"Besides, for your act of bravery in rescuing the children five years ago, the mayor has decided to help out. Kasko was the first in this town to go to Royal Dream, and now you two are going to make us proud. I know for a fact you will pass the trials. Well, they may be the most difficult ones in the kingdom, but it really makes no difference. We will be having our very own soul recovery doctor very soon."

Savyrran's heart swelled not from the praise she was receiving but rather because it was the old man praising her. Master Bufan had never said anything like this to her before, and for a while, she was overwhelmed at how high his expectations were for her and his brother.

Savyrran knelt on one knee before Master Bufan, and looking at him intently with all the love and respect he truly felt for this man, she proclaimed with sincerity, "thank you so much, Master Bufan, for all your guidance. For all your training. For all your teaching. For never going easy on me, and for molding me to what I am today. I will be eternally grateful to you and I am honored to call you my master."

Master Bufan nodded profoundly, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction grow within him like a vast ocean. Out of all his one hundred and nineteen years of life, he had been a teacher for eighty-nine of those years. Throughout all those decades, he had taught thousands of students and had acknowledged forty-five direct disciples including Fani, Danjo and Savyrran. To him, Savyrran was his best student. He would never tell her that though, lest she grew complacent. But Master Bufan had come to learn that Savyrran did not let her strength get into her head like it did to others.

Perhaps, it was because in a world where everyone had an essence and could eventually awaken a soul armos, being the only one not to have that must be a strong motivator to push her forward everyday. She could not afford to relax when everyone was technically supposed to be more powerful than she was. Maybe, yes, she had a slight advantage in her unusual strength, but there was no doubt that she had pushed herself beyond her limits to become even stronger than before. That was not luck. That was hard work.

Master Bufan smiled when he imagined the look of shock on Haniki's face once he witnessed for himself Savyrran's true potential. Perhaps, Haniki would be more shocked by Savyrran than Master Bufan had been by Haniki's legendary soul armos.

….....

When Savyrran got home, her Fani was still in his workshop while Wikka was not yet home from visiting a friend. Ovandarrak on the other hand was in his library reading one of his large books. Over the years, his book pile had grown larger and so Fani had built him a small wooden cottage which had six high book shelves within them. Four of the book shelves were already full and the other two were almost empty.

Fani had also created a space containing a table and a chair where Ovandarrak could read at any time. Savyrran hardly came here when her brother was busy, because Ovandarrak hated being interrupted when he was learning. She only did unless it was important, and this was certainly important.

Ovandarrak raised his head when he felt the presence in the room. Due to all those years of mental training, his sense had sharpened to the highest degree and his mental and emotional fortitude had grown tremendously.

"Has something happened? You never come here." Ovandarrak asked. He had only turned fifteen a about a week ago and yet, his voice had gotten so deep. He himself had grown much taller, and if not for his young looking face, he would have been mistaken for someone in his twenties. He ran his hand though his dreadlocks which had been styled into a bun on his head.

Savyrran chuckled at her brother's attempt at a joke. Then, she proceeded to tell him about the conservation she had with Master Bufan.

At first Ovandarrak's face beamed with anticipation, but an intense look in his eyes changed his countenance. Savyrran knew there was something wrong and she waited for him to express those concerns. Ovandarrak was not the type to live things unsaid. He was nonchalant about most things, but once something bothered him, he would do everything he could to stop that thing from bothering him.

"What if the time comes and I haven't yet awakened?" He lowered his eyes. But Savyrran slowly lifted her brother's face by the chin so that he was looking directly at her.

"It is only a matter of time until you awaken. Besides, it says here here in handbook that trials in the soul recovery school are mainly mental. You only need your essence for something like that, don't you think?"

Ovandarrak thought for a while, and then nodded in agreement.

"Here, you like books. So read it yourself." She put the handbook on the table and then left the library to go and look for her father. She had to talk to him about Ovandarrak's tuition fees.