Growing 4

'Now that's interesting. If the healer agrees to teach me I'll be able to learn the hand signs and magic words for fake magic. Which means I'll have a way to turn my true magic spells into fake magic.'

"What did she say?"

Smiling, Willow tells him, "I can't say anything just yet, but she said she'll consider it after evaluating your magic skills?"

"Really? When can I go and see her then?" Lux asked.

Learning from the healer might not help him improve his skills by much, but with her guarantee, he'll probably be able to work with her and get paid for his services.

Farming is good and all, but it's slow money. Working as a healer will get him paid more and give him a chance to test out some of his magic on test subjec- willing humans.

"She's fine with us popping down during the afternoon tomorrow. I've already asked for some time off work so I can walk you there." She uttered while checking on soup behind her.

"You don't have to do that, I'll be fine taking myself there." Lux declared, not wanting to trouble his mother.

Walking over to ruffle his hair, "Don't worry about it. Did you think I'd let you go yourself on your big day. This could be important for your future, there's no way I'd send you without backup" Willow assured him.

"I'd love nothing more than to see you become the first healer in the family."

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The next day, Lux and Willow made the semi-long commute from their house to the healer's cottage at the centre of the village.

Unlike his mother, Lux was relaxed about the meeting, because unless this Miss Barend takes the piss and asks the impossible of him, he was confident he could satisfy her magical quota.

Willow on the other hand was a nervous wreck, she seemed to think that this test would make or break his life.

He can't really blame her though, having lived in Salix her whole life being the village healer is probably one of the best prospects she could think of. The pay was great, they are always in demand, and you'd rarely have any problems with cutsomers.

To the villagers, being a healer was the dream job.

Lux wanted to go onto bigger and better places with his life than a small mountainside village. While he wasn't sure what direction his future would take him, he was positively sure about staying away from the military.

He's had enough of that in the last life, and for every amazing memory he made during his service, he had ten bad ones accompanying it.

Having a large part in his death, the thought of enlisting again left a bad taste in his mouth, even if he joined, he's not even sure he could be responsible for a unit anymore.

As much as he knows it wasn't his fault how that final mission turned out, a small part of his mind stubbornly disagreed. Even now he still feels responsible for his unit's eradication, and their deaths still haunt him to this day.

With all the baggage he still has, he's not enthusiastic about going for a round two.

Skittishly, Willow enters the cottage with Lux's hand tightly in her grasp, but whether it was for her, or her son's sake she wasn't so sure.

The waiting room looked as dull as its owner, and was nearly empty, with only a single couple awaiting Miss Barend's services.

Business was much slower in the warmer months, hardly anyone came down with illnesses. Meaning the only one's needing a healer are those who have been physically injured, or those who are expecting an addition to the family.

Like the couple currently waiting.

Taking a seat across from the couple, the room entered an awkward silence where nobody spoke. The couple looked as nervous as Willow for some reason - who was anxiously jerking her head around at every sound, as if the healer was going to jump out from the squeaky floor boards.

Lux just sat holding Willow's hand bored out of his fucking mind. Inwardly debating if he should play around with magic right here just to alleviate his ever increasing boredom.

Soon enough, the healer came from the treatment room to take a new patient.

'Finally, time to get this over with'

Miss Barend walked over and informed them, "I'll be with you both in a short moment" before turning to face the couple, "Rab, Lily, come on in and we'll see how your baby is doing".

…

..

.

'Fucks sake'

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After a while longer than a 'short moment' Miss Barend was finally ready for Lux.

Once they were escorted to the back of the house, the healer spoke to him, "So your mother was telling me you prefer playing with magic to playing with your friends."

'Slightly inaccurate but otherwise true' Lux thought. You can't prefer magic over friends if you don't have any to begin with.

"Yes, I love playing with magic. It's so much fun!" Acting like an excited child made Lux want to barf, but what needs to be done, needs to be done.

"It's good that at least one of you brats has some sense in you." Barend nodded in approval.

'She must've been the life of the party back in the day.' Lux sarcastically thought.

"Might as well get to it then. Tell me…" Barend trailed off.

"Lux" He answered, filling in the gap for her.

"...Lux, what kind of magic can you cast?" The healer questioned.

Counting with his fingers, Lux rhymed off "Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Light and… Darkness." he finished off timidly, sneaking a glance at his mother giving him the death stare - who made it very clear to steer clear of the final element because of its potential dangers.

But for the sake of showing off to his future employer, he gave demonstrations of the elements three at a time, showcasing admirable control for his age. Though he made sure to made it look as if he were really struggling.

'I want to impress her, not scare her away.'

"Impressive, very impressive. Did your mother show you how to use them?"

"I only showed him how to do his chores" Willow answered for him, "I also distinctly remember telling him that a certain type of magic is dangerous, and that he shouldn't be using it without supervision." She pointedly added at the end.

"Natural talent and the initiative to learn. My boy, you're making it difficult for me to not want to teach you" Barend remarks, ignoring the fact that Lux went behind his mothers back to practise some potentially dangerous magic.

But as long as it's for the sake of magic, she doesn't see the problem with a little rebelliousness.

"Does that mean you'll teach me?" Lux excitedly squealed.

Smirking for the first time since they arrived, Barend stated," Stop asking questions you already know the answer to, and follow me inside. I'll show you what you'll be reading for the coming week."

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