5 A New Mentor

Fear struck Timmy's heart. Just as the two brothers had finally averted the crisis of starvation, another problem arose. All sorts of thoughts of ridicule and public condemnation: "Did I really make the right choice? What if people found out that I have strayed from the Light? What would happen to me? Will I be burned at the stake like all of those blasphemers? Worse, what would happen to Danny? No! I will persevere! I must do so… for Danny's sake… "

Although the overwhelming fear was spreading throughout his consciousness, his will sparked a new resolution within. At this moment, he made another vow. He promised that he would become stronger, no matter what. Stronger to protect himself and his little brother. He was in deep thought for a while until the priestess continued her questioning.

"What is that?" the priestess asked while pointing at the peculiar badge on Timmy's chest.

"Oh, this? Nothing, nothing," answered Timmy with a nervous smile, as he quickly unclipped the badge and pocketed it.

"Mmhmm, it better be nothing. Have you two eaten today? Go bring your brother, and I'll make get you guys something to eat." said the priestess as she began preparing some leftover soup and bread for the two brothers.

"Ok, be right back. Thanks, Sister Marie!" said Timmy, as he rushed back to the church's main hall to find his brother. After a short while, the two walked to the kitchen and happily ate their late lunch.

"Go home, after you're done. I'll clean up," said the priestess.

"No, we will clean up before we go," declared little Danny with a big smile on his face and Timmy nodded in agreement.

"Alright, see you boys tomorrow," said the priestess as she headed back to the main hall of the church.

Timmy and Danny returned to their homes before the sun went down. As they approached their home, they found that the door was open. The two looked at each other with confusion and slowly opened it with caution. They saw two figures sitting at their dining table and smelled a strong alcoholic odor.

"You boys back? Sorry, we let ourselves in after waiting a little while before realizing you guys weren't home. Oh, this is--" greeted Alastor.

BANGBANGBANG

"Drink Ally, you lost!" a woman screamed while banging on the table.

Alastor was startled and felt embarrassed, he then chuckled while picking up a cup and drinking from it. 'Glupglupglup.' "Happy? Let's end the game here; the boys are back." Alastor said to the wild woman sitting across from him.

"Whatever, you explain everything. I'm gonna keep drinking!" the woman exclaimed before picking up her cup on the table while her other hand was grabbing hold of a bottle, and continued to drink. Spoiler Alert! It's alcohol.

Timmy and Danny were both wholly taken aback by the scene before them as they entered their home.

"Ahem! Timmy, this woman here is your new mentor. She will be teaching you the skills that are more suitable for you, and for you to perform well at your job. Come and greet your new mentor, Her name is F-" before Alastor could finish, the woman's hand covered his face and pushed him away. She drunkenly approached Timmy to get a better look at the boy. Timmy could not help but pinch his nose to block the strong alcoholic scent coming from her. Meanwhile, Danny rushed to the table to get a drink for himself. 'Gulpgulpgulp.' He must've been really thirsty because he chugged the bottle on the table without hesitation nor complaints. Then, a sudden crash happened; a bottle breaking into pieces sounded with a thud of a body falling to the floor.

"Danny!" screamed Timmy as he ran to help his brother. Alastor waved him to the side to check Danny's condition himself.

"He's fine, just passed out from the alcohol. He'll wake up after some sleep. Don't worry too much." Alastor assured as he waved his finger in the air and a dim light appeared from the tip. A glow of light surrounded Danny as his body started floating in the air and slowly moving towards the bed in the corner of the small home. Alastor set Danny down and pushed the sheets to cover him in the same way, with a simple twirl of his finger.

"Hahaha! What a man! I like him!" cheered the woman.

'Smacksmacksmack.'

The woman smacked Timmy on the back and said, "Hey! Your brothers got some guts! Ha ha ha!"

Timmy was startled, "Ow… "

"Stop giving him such a hard time, Fee. He's just a kid. He may look like a grownup but keep in mind that he's still 7-years-old." said Alastor.

The woman waved him off and ignored what Alastor had just said to her. She turns to Timmy and says, "He'll be fine… Listen, kid; the name's Felicity Anhur-Tyr. You can call me master from now on, and I'll be your new mentor."

Upon hearing those words, Timmy quickly got on his knees to show respect and proclaimed, "Yes, Master! I will do my best, master!"

The woman patted his shoulders with a bright expression and said, "good, good. Now get up, your training starts now! Pack your things and let's go!"

Timmy got up hurriedly and was confused. "Go? Pack my things? Huh? What?" he asked.

SMACK

The woman smacked his head again and pointed out the window. Once again, Timmy rubbed his head in pain and followed where his mentor was pointing to. 'Is she pointing at that mountain?' Timmy thought.

"I'm gonna whip you into shape in no time! Well, it'll probably take a couple of years, but you won't have the energy to even think of anything else other than the training I'll be beating into you! HA! HA! HA!"

"What? A couple of years? What about my brother? Can he come with us?" Timmy's mind was filled with confusion.

"That one too? Am I running a nursery?!" the woman protested while rolling her eyes.

Alastor pushed the woman with his elbow and convinced, "C'mon Fee, you promised… "

"Ok, ok! We'll come back tomorrow then. Be ready to set off tomorrow, kid. Alright, alright. Let's get outta here and find a nice place to drink some more, and you're paying, Ally!" she said while dragging Alastor toward the exit.

While his brother was still passed out on the bed, Timmy started to pack their things for their departure. As he was going through everything in the home, he realized they really didn't own much.

The next morning, there was no knocking.

Noon came, and there was still no knocking.

The two brothers waited and waited all day, but no one came to get them.

Then, finally, a knock came from the door.

Timmy opened the door with excitement only to be greeted with more confusion and a little disappointment. It was not his new mentor at the door; it was Alastor. Leaning against the side of the door while holding his temple, Alastor greeted Timmy lazily, "Sorry for being so late, kid. This and that happened… 'Huuuuurgh.'" Alastor retched and was about to burst. It seems he had drunk too much the night before. Timmy reacted by holding Alastor up, keeping him from falling over.

"I'm fine... I'm fine… go get ready and let's go," assured Alastor while rushing the brothers to ready their trip to the mountains.

After a short while, they were ready.

"Ok. We're ready to go, sir," said Timmy with his brother by his side. The two had nothing in their hands. Not big luggage, not small luggage. They were poor after all. Possessions were privileges for those who had money, and these two brothers did not even have one cent. The house they lived in was their only 'belongings,' but they can't bring that with them. Therefore, they decided to go empty-handed. "Better this way, fewer things to carry on their journey up and down a mountain," they thought.

Alastor didn't care that the brothers had nothing with them. He merely nodded and performed a spell. Circling his finger in the air, and with a bright light, the three suddenly disappeared from the house.