Chapter 21 - Adulthood

"-ara" "Lyara" "LYARA!" I hear someone yell my Name. I slowly wake up and look around me. I'm still a bit fuzzy from yesterdays Coming of Age Party... I must have been drinking too much.

As I adjust myself and sit up, I see Victoria standing before me. She looks as beautiful as ever... even more beautiful as she did back then.

Right... we're 16 already. Much has happened in the last few years, but to put it simply... I haven't really felt any difference happening to my Body.

But, we learned a lot of Magic at School and I already found out, through the many Magic Lessons, that Victoria apparently doesn't know how to use all Magic, right about 8th Grade she stopped knowing about the Magic that we got taught after. 

Now, as we are 16 years old, we are soon to be graduating from School. Especially as I just had my Coming of Age Ceremony yesterday. At the End of this Year, it means, I will be forced to act as the Crown Princess of this Empire. While I talked more with the King, I still haven't found out much yet. I still don't know more about my Family or about Victoria. But one thing I am certain of is that she didn't tell the truth back then... or at least not completely. My Visions have stopped and something like back then never happened again, as I can now completely control my Magic and I am even better than Victoria or my Teacher. But still... I don't feel any Physical difference... is that supposed to be normal?

"Whatever!" I think, as I stand up and walk towards Victoria.

"Good Morning!" I hug Victoria, as she is still my Best Friend, of course.

"Good Morning to you too!" She hugs me back and we embrace each other much longer than usual.

It feels like minutes are passing until we finally let go. We look at each other.

"You look beautiful today, as ever!" Victoria speaks first.

I giggle and feel myself flattered. "You too. Remember, I'm not the only one that is admired by everyone in School."

We both laugh.

"So... today is Monday, huh?" Victoria says, in a slightly sad tone.

"Yeah... I think it's our last normal School Week, right?" I reply to her.

"Yeah. It is. It's really surprising how fast the time has passed."

I nod. "You're right... It almost feels nostalgic, looking back at the past."

We both have a moment of Silence, that is until Victoria breaks this Silence.

She claps her Hands. "Alright!" She smiles. "How about we get you dressed up and after Breakfast we slowly go to School!"

I look at the Time on my Phone. It's early in the Morning.

"So early?" I say, in a Surprised tone.

"Early? We need to have our Fun in this last week." Victoria says. "Still... I'm still not really used to your "Phone" as you call it. It's really impressive to me. How you can read the time on a whim and other stuff." She giggles.

"Yeah, it's a marvel of Engineering." I smile.

About One and a half hours later, we have arrived at School. No one is here yet, as expected.

We look and walk around the Area and take everything in. This will be the last week where we see the School, after that we will need to write our Exams and then graduate. All in a different Area, of course.

About another Hour has passed once we finished looking around the entire School.

We then decide to already go to Class. Magic Class... the only Class we still have.

As we wait for the others to arrive, we talk about various things, but especially about yesterday when my Coming of Age Ceremony was held.

"But really, you looked really beautiful in that Dress yesterday. Who even made it?" Victoria says to me.

"Thank you! To be quite honest... you should probably know who has made it." I snicker.

"Wait... do you mean...?" Victoria says in a daze.

I nod while smirking. "Yes. Heira made my Dress. I was surprised myself, but apparently after she gave up her Knighthood two years ago to fully serve me as her Servant, she has learned to do embroidery and such..."

Victoria has a surprised expression. "I'm really surprised. It's really not what I would have thought her to do."

We look at each other for a bit and then laugh.

"Yeah. Who would've guessed that such a Person would end up becoming this Girly." I say.

"Right. I mean, she's even wearing dresses now. She also wears make-up and let her Hair grow out, way too long even." Victoria responds.

We both laugh and talk some more, until the other Students and the Teacher arrived.

"Alright Class, as this will be our last Lesson, since you need to prepare for your Exams, I will teach you the most important Spell."

Everyone seems surprised. We are surprised too. Did she just say last lesson? But we thought that we still have this whole week, why hasn't anyone told us yet?

"Teacher! Why is today our last lesson? My older Brother didn't have this curriculum last year!" One of the students says. Some of the other ones agree.

The Teacher has a serious face, it reminds me of the old days, when she was stricter with us.

"Well... how do I tell you..." She hesitates for a bit. "I... The..." She has trouble speaking. But then looks at me. I look back at her with a confused expression.

She sighs. "The King is not well. There is a possibility that the Exams might need to be moved forward in the Schedule."

Everyone gasps... except for me. I... feel as if my Heart just dropped to the Ground. Although we have never really spoken much or even seen each other really, I still feel overwhelmed and saddened by the Fact.

The others start talking and whispering. Victoria looks at me with concern. And then whispers to me. "You don't look so well. Should we go outside for a bit?"

She has a tone of concern in her Voice.

I shake my head. "No... I don't want to miss this Lesson. I will manage." I try to straighten my Face, but Victoria still looks at me with worry but accepts my will.

A few Minutes later after we calmed down for a bit, the Teacher starts with our last lesson.

It is about a spell called "Aetherious". Apparently it is a spell that lets one use Magic while flying.

"While I do teach you about this Spell, I must tell you one Thing. This spell can't be used by everyone, as it uses a lot of your Magic Power." 

Almost everyone sighs in disappointment. But I don't. I'm quite certain that this spell won't be a Problem for me.

After our Teacher has demonstrated the Spell, she calls out the People whom she knows are capable of utilizing it. But... I'm not named. One after one after one... she calls up every Person that is at least half as Strong as Victoria, even Victoria herself is called up. But not me.

Why? How? I am always strong. I am actually quite certain that she would know that. I've proven it to her countless of times.

I try to swallow my Anger. "Teacher... Why wasn't I called up...?" I can barely talk normally, but I need to restrain myself.

The Teacher looks at me with worry. "Well... I know that you probably will be capable of using the spell... but..."

Now I get really angry. Why. Won't. She. Tell. ME?

"TALK!" I say in a commanding voice.

"Y-yes. Well... I'm just worried... th-that something... like... like back then... could happen..." She closes her Eyes in Fear. 

That is the Moment when I realize why she worried about me. I got angry... way too fast at that. For a moment I quickly glance over to Victoria, but she neither smiles nor looks sad or confused. She doesn't have any kind of Expression, actually. Can it be... that I just found her out? I shake my Head. "No... that can't be." I talk to myself with a slight confidence, convincing myself for now.

I walk over to the Teacher, tap her Shoulder and say, "Don't worry. It won't happen again."

She still looks at me with worry but then nods.

I then begin to fly and in the Air I use the Spell. After that I use a few Spells. It works!

But then, as I was about to descend, I feel a throbbing in my Heart. As if it is about to Burst. What is that? I try to calm myself down, but it won't stop. That is when I suddenly fall down to the Ground and Collapse.

Everyone is rushing towards me, but I slowly drift away into darkness.