Learning a Trade

Learning a Trade...

Jet had been so absorbed in his reading that he lost track of his surroundings, utterly disregarding caution. Thus, when Nana caught him red-handed, a startled yelp involuntarily escaped his lips.

"I thought I had identified every rascal in this village, but you, young man, remain an enigma. What's your name, kid?"

"Lith. And you?"

"Lith, huh? You're Elina's little mischief-maker, aren't you? It's no wonder I didn't recognize your face; you were but a newborn the last time I laid eyes on you."

Nana's unexpected appearance had hushed the room, prompting some women to inquire about their imminent turns, while others merely indulged their curiosity. Elina sprang from her chair, apologizing profusely for Jet's actions.

"No need for apologies, Elina," Nana's calm voice interjected. "No harm, no foul. The little rascal didn't harm the book, merely delved into it."

"Yes, Mom, there's no need to apologize," Jet retorted, irked by being treated as though he were invisible. "And I wasn't playing with it—I was reading."

"Reading? Young man, you're just three years old, aren't you? This isn't a jest—it's not humorous at all. I never expected one of Elina's children to be a fibber."

Jet's face flushed with indignation. He'd had his fill of people discussing him as though he weren't present. "He's not lying. During the recent storm, Lith was bored, so he beseeched his father to teach him reading, writing, and counting. Here's proof." Elina presented the wooden ruler as evidence.

Elina's unexpected defense caught Nana off guard, striking a nerve. After scrutinizing the ruler, Nana begrudgingly admitted its cleverness.

"Tell your husband that this contraption is indeed a brilliant idea. He could potentially sell it to Teacher Hawell. Extra money never hurts."

However, Elina wasn't ready to let Nana off the hook. She persisted until Nana apologized for branding Jet a liar.

"Raaz didn't devise this tool—Lith did, to allow him to study without inconveniencing anyone."

Nana was taken aback by the barrage of revelations. Stubborn pride wrestled against the urge to apologize; yet, tarnishing Elina's credibility before the entire gathering wasn't something she wished to do.

"So, young man, what's seven times six?"

"Forty-two."

As Jet answered, Nana retrieved the book from his grasp, opened it to a random page, and handed it back. "Read aloud from the beginning of this page."

Suppressing a smirk, Jet complied. "The fundamental principle of studying magic is recognizing it as a tool. While anyone can wield it, utilizing it adeptly is the mark of the few. In fact..."

"That suffices. I owe you an apology, Lith," Nana admitted, though her gaze lingered on Elina. "It appears that your son is indeed graced by the light."

The room hummed with conversation once more, though now it centered around a common topic.

"What does Nana mean by 'graced by the light'? Isn't that just a fairy tale?"

"I wish my son were that sharp. Every morning feels like a war just to get him to school. Not to mention trying to see some actual results!"

Such comments reverberated throughout the room.

Jet wasted no time capitalizing on his advantage. "May I...," he started, then noticed he'd neglected the word 'borrow.' "May I borrow it for a while? I promise to return it in the same condition."

Nana scrutinized him, clearly curious about his intentions. "And what would you do with it? Can you already use magic?"

"Yes, I can," Jet replied before realizing his blunder.

"What a fool I am! I've blown my cover in one careless moment! Years of meticulous planning, shattered by my own loose lips. Now it's all about damage control."

"Is that so? And what magic can you perform?"

"Yes, Lith. What magic?" Elina chided, her foot tapping impatiently.

"I can wield wind and water chore magic," Jet admitted, his voice tinged with apology, eyes fixated on his shoes.

"I apologize, Mom. I know you forbade me from using magic. But everyone else in the house employs it, and I was unbearably bored."

The chatter escalated in volume. Elina was clearly furious, yet she refrained from scolding him in public, especially when they were the subjects of admiring gazes.

"Nana seems quite impressed. Perhaps this will be a turning point in Lith's life. If she takes him on as her apprentice, we could have a healer in the family. I can't let this opportunity slip away."

Consequently, she maintained her silence, contemplating her son's future.

"Could you demonstrate for me?" Nana inquired, the first smile gracing her lips.

"In for a penny, in for a pound. Here goes everything," Jet mused.

"Brezza!"

Jet spun his middle and index finger in elegant arcs, conjuring minuscule whirlwinds that he deftly guided around the room. Purposefully feigning occasional mismanagement, he aimed to impress rather than to intimidate.

"Oh, oh, oh!" Nana exclaimed in genuine admiration, recognizing more and more of herself in the young imp. Nana had been a precocious mischief-maker in her own right. Though she'd exhibited greater talent at his age, Jet's performance was still captivating.

Typically, men were less adept at magic, as women's innate connection to the life force due to their capacity for childbirth rendered them more attuned to the planet's energy—referred to as mana by some, world energy by others.

Moreover, rural boys generally leaned towards manual labor in fields or the military, shunning years of scholarly pursuits.

"Now, I have a task for you. You mentioned you could conjure water, correct?"

Jet nodded in response.

"I'd like you to perform a specific feat for me. Call forth water, regardless of the amount. However, don't let it fall. You must keep it afloat, like this." A perfect sphere of water, roughly the size of a fist, materialized about half a meter from Nana's open palm.

Though Jet didn't grasp the underlying motive behind this peculiar request, he complied.

"Jorun!" He summoned a mere fraction of a glass of water, shaping it irregularly and maintaining an appearance of instability. Aware of the limited margin for error, he strained to appear lacking in control.

For three seconds, the water levitated before descending. Instead of colliding with the floor, though, it hovered again, forming an additional flawless sphere. It orbited Nana's conjuration akin to the moon circling Earth.

Jet stood dumbfounded. Not due to Nana's mastery over mana manipulation—he had already accomplished similar feats, if not better.

His gaze remained transfixed on the spectacle unfolding before him. Both water spheres rotated ceaselessly, capturing and reflecting their surroundings. As sunlight interacted with them, iridescent rainbows danced in the air.

For the first time in over three years, Jet ceased pretending. He was genuinely astounded, captivated by the shimmering lights that triggered an onslaught of memories from his past life.

Recollections surged forth—memories of childhood hours spent at the planetarium with his younger brother, Carl. Together, they'd dreamed of becoming astronauts, venturing to the stars to escape the torment of their existence.

Yet as quickly as his joy had blossomed, his grief overtook him, amplified by the pleasure he'd permitted himself. Pain seeped back in, eclipsing his elation. Tears welled in his eyes.

"Lith, are you okay?" Elina's voice broke through his stupor.

Confronting his own vulnerability, Jet was deeply disgusted. "Water is just water; no reason to succumb to sentimentality over a simple light display. Toughen up and stick to the plan," he admonished himself. "No more being vulnerable. I won't allow myself to be hurt."

"Yes, Mommy, I'm fine. I was just moved by the old lady's magic."

"My name is Nerea, Lith. But everyone calls me Nana."

"Why Nana?" Generally, the title was reserved for grandmothers.

"Well, you see, back when I was a young woman, everyone addressed me by my name. Over time, however, I aided countless births, which prompted them to call me 'Mama.' Eventually, those children had children of their own, who began to refer to me as 'Nana.'" She affectionately tousled Jet's hair.

"I have a proposition for you. You're still young, but when you turn six, instead of attending school alongside those dullards, consider coming here. You can read these books to your heart's content. And perhaps, you'll take up my profession." 𝗻𝗼𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Jet cocked his head, feigning innocence. "I don't know, you don't seem very nice. But I'd like the books."

Elina struggled between laughter and exasperation. Her dream had materialized, yet Jet remained unaware of the opportunity he was dismissing.

"Please excuse him, Nana. He's only three years old; he doesn't fully comprehend his words. He hasn't yet grasped the significance of apprenticeship."

"Three years old," Nana repeated thoughtfully. "Almost too good to be true. But you're right; he'd probably choose toys over gold if asked."

"We'll revisit this conversation in three years." Kneeling to meet Jet's eyes, she continued, "If you haven't been dulled by the same influences as the village boys, and if you're still interested in magic and books, I might consider you as my apprentice."

Jet nodded, clutching his mother's skirt as if seeking protection. Behind his vulnerable facade simmered a seething anger.

"Three years? I might as well starve by then! All because of you, you greedy old hag." Hunger had wearied him, his frustration urging him to bite.

"Relax, Derek, and remember your lessons. Endure and grow stronger, for strength is your ticket to freedom. Power alone shall safeguard your family."