Chapter 5

Back at the west side of Earthnia is Aros preparing for his long journey to the land of Pili. "Call Nimfa, tell her that we'll be leaving in twenty," Aros ordered the guard next to him. Minutes later when Nimfa walked into the throne room with an army behind her. "The Lord of Discord, shall we leave now?" Nimfa asked. She's the captain of the army of Daxthar's army.

As they board the ship Aros calls Nimfa. "I want you and your army to do everything that you can to get us to Pili as soon as possible. We don't want to upset the King, don't we?" He said. Nimfa puts both of her hands on her chest and bows. "Of course my Lord." She answers as she instructed her crew.

As the ships began to move Aros stares at the sunrise as they slowly move away from the palace.

-

As Alexa wakes up she headed straight to the kitchen to drink some water. As she drinks, she heard a loud explosion from her mother's laboratory. "Mother?!" Said, Alexa as she runs towards the laboratory. She pushes the door open and smoke welcomes her. Alexa coughs as she tries to get in the room. "Mom?" She called.

"Oh yes, dear?" Answers Ezotl from the thick smoke. "What are you doing?" Alexa asked as the smoke starts to get thin and saw her mother. Ezotl grabbed a broom and starts sweeping the floor. "Trying out the new smoke bombs I made, time is evolving and so should magic." She answered and giggles. Alexa roamed around the room and picks up the bottles lying on the floor. "Where did you get the idea of making those... Smoke bombs?" Alexa said as she stacks the bottles on their shelves.

Ezotl grabbed a bottle and poured some liquid into it. "I got the idea when the baker in town accidentally dropped a bag of flour into the floor. After the smoke was gone, some of his finest bread were too. So the main idea of this is for escaping." Said Ezotl as she puts the little bottle inside Alexa's pocket. "So, any plans for today?" Ezotl asked as she continued sweeping.

Alexa sits on the nearest chair as she stacked the last bottle. "Study magic maybe?" Ezotl looks at her suspiciously. "What have you been eating and why do you suddenly have an interest in this kind of thing?" She asked. Alexa laughed at her. "Well, I'm considered as one of the skilled warriors here in Enchantia, why not study magic? Besides, it's in my blood, isn't it?" Her mother eyed her from head to toe and grabbed a bag. "Get dressed."

Alexa looked at her confused. "What? Why?" "We're going shopping, for your wand and other stuff. Hurry!"

--

"Mother is this necessary?" Asked Alexa as Ezotl tossed her a mage's robe. "Oh of course it is! Now hurry and try those on." Alexa was about to object when her mother shushed her. "No more questions."

As Alexa looked at herself in the mirror wearing a robe she turns around to see the full of it. "Ugh, I look ridiculous."

"Come out Alexa! Let's see what you looked like." Her mother shouts from outside the dressing room. As Alexa walks out of the room she looks down. Ezotl looked at her from head to toe. "You're right, it is hideous." Alexa sighed in relief, thinking that her mother would stop all this ridiculousness. "It's too big for you, sir! Can we get a medium robe, please!" Alexa unbelievably looked at her mother and gently shush her. "Mom! I don't want a robe." Ezotl raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "Non-sense Alexa, what are you planning to wear to Glam Academy hmm?" Alexa's jaw dropped as soon as she heard what her mother said. "Wait, did you just enrolled me in Glam Academy, again?" Ezotl innocently looked at her. "Why yes."

"Mother!" Ezotl shushed her for her loud voice. "Oh come on Alexa! You spent half your life training to be a warrior instead of being a mage. Just give me this one." Ezotl said as she looks at Alexa. Alexa sighed in defeat and seats at the nearest seat as they wait for the robe. As she looks down she saw a pair of feet facing towards her. She looks up again and smiled at who she saw.

"You look fancy," Micah said and smirked at her. Alexa laughs and rolled her eyes at him. "Oh shut up." Micah laughs and sits beside Alexa. "So what's with the robe? You going to Glam Academy or something?" Alexa sighed before she speaks. "Mothers planning to enroll me at Glam Academy, again!" Alexa said as she stands up from her seat.

Micah couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously?" He asked, Alexa, nodded as an answer. "Well good thing I'm applying as a spells teacher," Micah said proudly. Alexa stared at him blankly. "Well, congrats on your new job. But I'm already twenty years old! Are they even going to accept me?" She asked. Micah smirked at her. "In learning magic, there is no age required Alexa."

"Oh, there you are Micah." They turned around as they heard Ezotl speaking behind them. "I just heard that you were accepted as a new spells teacher. Congratulations, good thing I decided to enroll Alexa this year." Ezotl said with a sweet smile on her face. Ezotl faced Alexa and handed her a bunch of robes. "Now get in there and fit them on." Alexa walks towards the fitting room with a heavy heart.

--

Holding a basket of fruit in her hands, Alexa looks up, but the view never changes all she can see is a sky full of thick clouds. She knows its night time but she can't see the beauty of it. She can't see the stars, the moon, and the sun. She always wonders what they look like, she saw drawings of them on books but she knows that it's far from the real thing.

"Hey."

Alexa turned to her left as she heard a familiar voice, "Hey." She replied softly.

"Mind if I walk with you?" Micah asked, Alexa, nodded in response.

An awkward silence surrounded them as they walk, Alexa can't help but feel uncomfortable, as for Micah, he can't bring himself to say the words he wants to say. But then he saw that they're almost at Alexa's house so he gathered up all the courage that he can and opens his mouth.

"Alexa." Alexa turned to him as she stops walking. "Look I just want to talk about the other night. I didn't mean to do that I swear. But now that happened I might as well tell you everything." Alexa was about to speak but Micah continues his explanation.

"I've been having these feelings for you ever since we were kids and I've been keeping it because I don't want to risk our friendship. And I couldn't help myself last night and I kissed you and--"

"But I kissed you back." Alexa interrupted.

"Not my point... entirely." Micah continued. "So that's why I wanted to talk to you, to clear things out. I kissed you and to my surprise, you kissed me back... why?"

Alexa paused, why did she kiss him back? Micah's been by her side all these times, he's the only friend that she ever had. She loves him but does she love Micah the way he does? Honestly, she doesn't even know what love means. Then why did she responded to that kiss? Honestly, she can't answer that question herself. She doesn't know.

"I-I..." Alexa let out a big sigh as she felt teary-eyed.

Micah grabbed her and hugged her tight. "It's okay if you don't know the answers to that question yet. You don't need to rush yourself, but I'll be waiting for your answer whenever you're ready. No pressure okay?" Micah broke the hug as he left a peck on Alexa's forehead. Micah started to walk away from Alexa with a bitter smile on his face.

As Alexa watched him disappear from her view she continued to walk home. As she gets in her room she throws herself on her bed and can't help but feel bad. She feels bad for hurting Micah, for giving him false hopes by responding to that kiss. She doesn't know what to do! What if things won't ever be the same again? What if they don't talk anymore? What if they won't become friends anymore? What if they grew apart?

The thing that they both feared to happen is at risk of coming true.