CHAPTER 19: CHRIS' WORRIES

A year has passed since Father returned, and I am now 10 years old. That also means that this year we are going to the capital to enter the academy. This past year I also improved; with the help of my father, I now master the beginner wind magic spells.

I can now easily cast wind slice, sonic boom, and wind repel. I also improved in water magic because I now know one intermediate spell called beating tide. In terms of swordsmanship, I'm now learning to use intermediate skills, but to no avail, all I learned is one called "horizontal arc"—an improved version of "horizontal slash."

Next week, we will depart from here and head towards the capital. That is why I'm doing my best to improve as much as I can before we depart.

"Will, get down here!" "Breakfast is ready!" shouted my mother from downstairs.

"Yeah, coming!"           I shouted too for her to hear my reply.

After hearing that, I started to go downstairs and then headed to the dining table. What greeted me were my mother, father, Chris, and aunt Lyshia. 

"Good morning, Will." "You overslept again," said Chris.

"Good morning to you too, Chris, and I didn't oversleep," I replied.

"Come on, take your seat," said my mother, and I took my seat.

After that, we had breakfast, all five of us. While eating, Father said to Chris that we would head to the capital next week. We agreed that Chris and I would go together with my father to the capital. 

After my father said it, Chris's expression suddenly changed for a second. Maybe I'm the only one who noticed it because after that she returns to her normal cheerful attitude.

When we finished eating, Chris and I headed to the backyard—not to play like we used to do but to train together. We started training last year after we reconciled, and Chris asked me to train with her. She said that she wants to get stronger; I agreed, and after that, every time she visits, we train in magic together like this.

Chris can now use all beginner water magic spells, but not as precisely as I do. She still does the chanting and sometimes fails at casting the spell, but all in all, she's improving.

"Water shield," she shouted, and a wall of water started to appear but collapsed before it could take its form. This is the fifth time her spell has failed.

"You're not your usual self today; did something happen?" I asked her.

"Ah! "No, nothing happened at all," she answered.

"Then why aren't you your usual self?" "Something on your mind?" "Tell me, maybe I can help," I said to her, trying to help her.

"Okay," she agreed to tell me.

"We must take a seat first," I said. 

"Yeah," she replied.

We take a seat under the tree just a few meters before our house. 

"So what is it in your mind?" I asked

"You know, we will head to the academy next week," she said. 

I nodded as if saying, "Continue."

"Maybe I shouldn't go after all," she said.

"Why?"             I asked, surprised by what she just said.

"You know I'm weak, and I'm afraid I'll just end up like Papa." "So I'm thinking that just hiding that I have magical affinity is a better choice." "What do you think?" She said it with a sad expression.

So that's it; she's afraid that what happened to Uncle Philip will happen to her too. She experienced it firsthand, so she knows how terrifying it is. That's why she's thinking about not going to the academy.

"If that's what you decide, I won't oppose it, but is that really what you want?" I asked her.

Her face says it already. She wants to go but she's too afraid to the idea of happening to her what happened to uncle Philip.

"If ever you choose not to go, I will not oppose you." "You can live your life in peace here without being afraid of being harmed." "But if you decide to go, I promise you that whenever you are in trouble, I'll always be by your side." "I won't let you suffer alone; that's what I promise to you," I said, looking her in the eye. 

She tried to avoid my eyes by turning her head to the side, but I stopped her and held her face, then placed it in front of me so that she wouldn't avoid my eyes. 

"So tell me what you really want to do," I asked.

She started to cry, then hugged me. Her face was buried in my chest. I waited for her answer, which she finally gave.

"I really want to go with you, Will." "I want to go to the academy with you, but I'm afraid I will just cause you problems if I rely on you too much and you think of me as a nuisance," she said.

"I won't ever think of you as a nuisance." "No matter how many problems you cause, I'll be there to help you." I said.

"You're my precious childhood friend after all," I added. She continued to cry after hearing that.

"So don't be afraid; let's go to the academy together." I said.

"Yeah, thank you, Will," she replied.