Graduation Gift

Every day has been a blur but according to the calendar, it's been months and we are creeping up on graduation day. Garrett, Terrison, Ivy, and Brant are doing their parts to get everything ready. I'm working on ensuring that the locker we reserved for our Class A's is cleaned out. Any dust, lint, or blemish on these uniforms needs to be addressed immediately. We have one more dress inspection in two days. After that, we sit around for a week to clean up, return equipment that was issued, and do what we can to not injure ourselves.

We were warned constantly how there were recruits who had made it to the end who did something stupid that landed them in the hospital and they were delayed. I'm not sure that matters here. The ceremony isn't that public. Close family members are allowed to come but they are loaded up into a bus from a parking lot and shuttled in. The rest of us are lined up, paraded around, and then we go through the motions before we are dismissed.

I was informed that we are given 10 days of mandatory leave to go home before we have to report for our orders. That is what is bothering me. The 10 days' leave would give me more than enough time to head back to the manor but could I face her again? After all this time, could I just walk back? I guess no matter what I think I have been prepared for there are still things that rattle me deeper.

The other guys are excited though. "Welch! You got a lady back home waiting for you?" Water off a duck's back. "I wish!" I just have to let it go. Brant starts talking about his girl and how he was excited to tell her about how he discovered his powers during the first week of training. He started working himself up at the idea that maybe she does as well but just needs help to understand it. I sit back and wonder if that's a good idea.

It's been beaten into me by Madam Odette that the world of magic is hidden away for a reason. She told me about the Salem witch trials where the villagers there went crazy. Accusing their neighbors and killing them for a false belief that they were witches. Then imagine that, but worldwide. People are afraid of change, things that are different, and what they cannot understand. Magic users fit into all three of these.

After spending the last few months learning magic from a military perspective, I can see why. I've used magic for a constructive or utility purpose. A lot of what I've learned here is aggressive. It's meant to cause harm. I imagine that with my abilities it could be used on a mass scale. I'd rather not. I figured that it would have its uses in an offensive capability. I have used it in such a capacity. But if I had my choice, I would rather not.

It wasn't all destructive. They did have some valuable lessons in first aid. Not just magical. They had practical applications as well with a proper kit. The idea behind it was simply that if you are in an area where you cannot perform magic then you need to have the knowledge to perform something. "They are relying on you to not let them die!" is what was drilled into our heads.

At this moment! We have been given a bit of freedom. The days are almost ours to do what we need to. We still need to show up to afternoon PT but other than that, we are free to move about the base. I spend a lot of my time in the training room. I work on my magic basics to ensure I keep my skills sharp. I've also noticed that I'm able to have greater output and use it for longer periods. I imagine that mana is much like stamina or muscle strength. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. Magic can also become more efficient the more you work with it. You learn how to trim off some portions of elements or what you need to refine or not refine. Adding that up can make a huge difference in the production of spells and abilities.

Brant and Ivy drop by to remind me to eat. And to make fun of me for not taking it easy. I have to remind myself that I am not under Madam Odette's care. Some habits die hard. But when it comes down to it there is a clear difference in skill between me and the rest of the squad. I'm not sure if that's my understanding of magic or just talent. I can still tap into that power that I have hidden away now and again. I've learned a few extra things while I am here.

During the recruitment phase, I was told that I needed to take the ASVAB. A test the military uses to gauge the intelligence of their incoming recruits. You only need a 33 out of 100 to pass. I was informed that there would be those who passed with a 33 and even some who got a waiver for being under that 33. With these four I can tell that one of them was on the lower end of that scale.

I did ask one of the magic instructors if they knew anything about alchemy magic. They laughed at me and told me that "no one in the army has that kind of ability or brain power". That set the bar for where I stood. It also explains why I was able to use alchemic magic and no one seemed to care or even notice. Unlike Madam Odette who would know if I was even thinking about using magic. I guess there are just those who are more attuned to the forces at work.

It's fine. The final inspection comes and goes as we expected. The five of us passed. Maybe not with flying colors but we passed. The next few days are spent returning equipment and taking inventory. We need to make sure that this place is empty and cleaned up at graduation. We'll lead up our bag, take it down, do the ceremony, and grab our stuff to leave. There's no coming back.

Almost in a blink of an eye, I'm standing between Terrison and Ivy as our commanding officer addresses a small crowd. He does an about-face before shouting out the platoons for dismissal. Our number comes up. We shout back, one step backward, about-face, and we are done.

We all grab onto one another in a small circle and share our appreciation for one another. We break away and the four of them walk off to grab their bag and meet with someone who came to see them. Ivy hugs his mom. Terrison picks up his little brother and talks to his dad. Brant wanders off somewhere rather quickly but he looks like he's with someone. Garrett gives me one last pat on the back before he heads off to a group waving for him.

I grab my bag giving one last look as the different platoons spread out to collect their visitors. My orders are in my bag and they have me going to Florida for something. I just know who I need to report to. They take it from there. I should have a follow-up education at that point. They'll get me slotted into a school where I learn my job. Well, maybe. With the sudden change from the scheduled training I should have received, I'm not sure they'll have me assigned to a MOS other than Mage Bomb. I hate that title so much…

I have 10 days to get through. I'll reserve my plane tickets to take me to Florida later today when I have the chance. I should be getting the items I brought with me back as well. My casual clothes, phone, and all that nonsense. I need to go to pick it up. I have a feeling that my phone will need to be charged before all the notifications from turning it on kill it. I'm expecting quite a few missed calls and messages.

Everything still smells like when I put it in here. It smells like the bus, the plane, and… home. I'll have time to mess with that in a bit. I grab my phone to power it on. The splash screen comes up. It's got about a half charge left. I'm impressed. I figured sitting in the box would have died by now. I drop it in my pocket, throwing the box itself into the trash. My clothes go into the bag before I leave.

This time is mine to do as I see fit. I can leave. I can wander around. I don't have a place to go. I've just been told that I cannot stay here. I make my way to the front gate and out into the wilderness. Well, into the city. I need to find a place I can stay for the few days I have off. My phone must have reconnected. I can feel it buzzing as everything starts to come through.

Once I'm back online it isn't hard to find my place. I just need a hotel to stay at for the time being. Then I can grab a taxi and head to the airport when my leave is up. Because of the base being so close by, there are quite a few that have popped up over the years. They make a great place for visitors on graduation day to come and stay. Lucky me, a small motel has a room available. I pay for the full 10 days before taking the key.

It's small. It's cozy though. One bed, a decent TV, a private shower, and somewhere I can sit down. The bag is dropped on the floor. I drop myself on the bed. It's still early afternoon. I can change, get comfortable, and go out to try and find someplace nearby that has food. But for right now I can take a breath. I finished a large goal by reminding myself why I was doing it. To protect those close to me. To make sure that those I care about are safe.

I let the hours pass until my stomach tells me that this is the normal time when I eat. I kick off my uniform grabbing my clothes. They're a bit tighter than I remember but I also put on some muscle here. One good thing about this adventure was the constant moving and training. My body had to adapt so my muscles grew as I did. I may need to find some more clothes later. I may do that after I get some food in me.

Just anything will do. I found a small diner that has no wait time. I step in, get seated, handed a menu, and before I know it I have food. They had a pretty generic selection but all of it looked good. I've been eating food that was prepackaged and mixed with water to be made for so long that the real flavor of food may be a shock to my body. Even if it's bad, having a steak is the goal.

I'm not sure I even tasted it. My plate was cleaned before I even knew it. I paid the bill before heading back to the motel. My room is empty as I return. I'm too used to hearing the other guys chattering away. The silence is disturbing. Having the TV on helps alleviate that but there's still something missing.

Day nine comes around. I'm bored out of my head at this point. I did break down and buy myself some new clothes so I have something more comfortable to wear. I've been just walking around most of the day to keep my body busy. Tonight I'll head to sleep early. I have to catch my flight at 2 am. It's an ungodly time but it shouldn't be too crowded.

I walk back from the diner to the motel I've been staying at when I'm stopped at the door to my room. A familiar face that I haven't seen for a few months. She stands up as I approach. I can't read her face but I've never been able to. I had a feeling this would be an inevitable meeting. And there's no sense in avoiding it.

She smiles as I get closer, "It's been a while, stranger." I stopped by her to open the door. "It has. Please, come in." She accepts my invitation and takes the lead. I head in a second to watch as she moves around the room. She steps up to my uniform I have to hang from the bathroom door. "You traded up your suit."

"I don't know if I would call it a trade, Ma…"

"No titles. No… formalities. Just talk to me like a normal person."

"...ok."

She continues her self-guided tour of the two-room space. She takes her time looking over any little thing that I have out. There's not a lot of personality in this room. It's just a place to stay while I wait. "Red?" She grabs my attention. Her voice is soft as she talks to me, "Be honest. Was it something that I did that pushed you away?"

"No. You did nothing wrong." Do I tell her what it really was or just let it sit there? She'll want an answer but I still believe that I should leave it as it is. "Odette, I want you to understand that I had my reasoning for this. And I ask that you not pry into it." She nods as she takes a deep breath, "I will respect your wishes. You are an adult after all. I'm just disappointed and a little hurt that you didn't tell me."

That… hurts. But she's right to feel that way. Leaving the manor, the entirety of getting away was rooted in a lie with the hope that I could protect her. Then after that, it turned into self-preservation when normal methods didn't suffice. I did what I could to keep everything calm on the surface while I was trying to get everything ready to go all at once. It worked, for the most part. The end goal was accomplished but at what cost? It is true what you have to sacrifice for security.

She stands in the center of the room looking at me. I can see it in her eyes. All the hurt and worry that's been building up is coming to the surface. I stop her before it becomes too much, "I hope you understand that this decision did not come lightly. That I did what I did because I firmly believed that I had to." She calmed herself, "I'm certain that is the case and I can't fault you for it. You have to make your own decisions in life." She put her arms out with a smile as her eyes watered, "But that doesn't mean I'm not mad at you and demand you make it right."

I throw my arms under her while she rests her on my shoulders. "You were a hard man to find, Red." If she had trouble then I do not doubt that Reed was unable to find me. That brings me some comfort that the decision I made was correct. Even so, I wish I didn't have to do what I did. This woman is something special to me. I knew that staying at the university would be manageable where I could come back on breaks and spend some time there. But things got extreme and more drastic measures had to be taken. I had to isolate myself to ensure the safety of those I care about. Knowing that what I was doing was the best for others kept me going through these hard months.

Even so, being able to hold her feels like a dream. She smells like the manor. She smells like her home which brings me a sense of peace that I have not felt in a long while. I only wish that I could stay like this. This path will take me away from her once again. I will have to stand by my conviction that this is the best thing for us.

I can feel her tighten her grip on me the longer we hold. "Red, please… don't just leave me. At least let me know what's going on." I wish I could. I wish I could tell her but she's bound to my family. What can she do if Reed comes for her? "Odette, I…"

"Shh. You already explained enough. Just let me have this."

Her grip around me tightens again as she refuses to let go. Her face is buried into my shoulder. I can feel her body shake. Her nose is buried into my neck as she holds on as tight as she can. I know I can't go back. She knows I can't return just yet. I have a commitment to fulfill first. She whispers in my ear, "Red. I'm proud of you." One paw pulls away from my back to crawl across my cheek to my neck. She pulls my muzzle to hers with fierce contact but a soft reception.

It's a feeling I'm familiar with but haven't been able to enjoy in a long while. She lets me go for only a moment before our lips meet again. I still can't read her. Her actions are telling me one thing but her eyes are filled with pain. I don't know what to do about this. My original plan was to get some sleep before my flight. It looks like I won't be able to get that shut-eye I wanted. But I'll only have until midnight.

She plays with my fur as she tries to make a decision. I can see it as she moved her head into my chest. "Red, please. If only for a little while, treat me like your lover." She's showing weakness. She never does this. Have I been gone that long? I can't deny her though. I move my paws across her fur feeling the curves of her body. I still know her body well. She moves into my grasp rolling with my motions.

She's putty for me. With no hesitation, she assists with removing her clothes. In-kind, she helps me out of mine leaving us both bare for the other. She begins to feel my body while I feel over hers. I try to be gentle but it's been a long while for me. Those wants are bubbling up to the surface.

I lay her back on the bed with as much ease as I can. I've gotten stronger since I left. I've held her up before and she felt almost weightless. She lays on the bed naked and open for me. I get over her staying on all fours. There's still a wanting in her eyes as she speaks, "Be gentle with me. It's been a while." She gives me my go-ahead.

I close the gap between us pressing my bare body against hers. Her legs move to wrap around my waist. I move in closer. I can feel the heat of her body on my member. I slide along her slit feeling her readiness before slowly pushing my tip inside. Her eyes close as she takes a deep exhale. I halt myself trying to read her reaction. Her breathing is still heavy but inviting. I roll my hips slowly pushing further in. Her voice cracks as I go deeper. I'm moving slowly to ensure she can adapt.

It's hard though. There is so much I want to do but I'll take it slow. I read her signs and work my way until our hips meet. She's panting as I come to a stop, putting my weight on her. Her paw grabs the back of my head pulling me to her. "I've missed you, Red." Her legs tighten as she holds me close. "Now come on. Love me."

The night blurred as the two of us enjoyed one another. We hadn't forgotten one another. She knew where to touch me. I knew how to work her body to make her putty. The room quickly picked up our scent from the activity as we moved around. We took a breather to take a shower to clean off but we didn't stay clean for long. She was just too tempting for me to keep my paws off. Fresh out of the shower, I had her bent over the counter. I could watch her face in the mirror to see her enjoy what I could give her and that only motivated me further.

I occasionally caught the clock out of the corner of my eye. I wanted to enjoy all the time we had but I had to make sure I didn't miss my flight. The two of us got to lie down around 11 pm. She laid on her back, arms and legs spread out trying to cool her whole body down. "Red, I don't think I can stand." I sit myself up, looking her over once more. I just touch the outside of her thigh and her body shakes.

I think she's had enough. I grab the blanket that we threw on the floor hours ago to give her something to cover herself up. I slip under the covers myself setting an alarm for an hour. I still have to get my flight. I want this moment to last but I know it can't.

I'm not sure I slept. I felt my phone start to vibrate letting me know I had to get ready. I listen carefully to the soft breathing next to me. I'll lend her the room for the night so she can sleep. I pick up the last of my things, shove what I can into my bag, and in silence, leave. I hope our paths will cross again. Even if it may take a while.