Sorceress, Part Two

{Javir} 

Javir couldn't believe her eyes.

A nim, a little girl no less, capable of casting spells? She felt like she was dreaming. 

[For so long, we've all been told nim can't cast spells,] Javir thought. [Was that a lie?] 

She had only planned to stay in the village for a day, just long enough to restock her supplies. But now, faced with this incredible discovery, she knew she had to stick around a bit longer.

[I have to observe her, learn more about how she does it. I won't be able to sleep at night if I don't.] 

With that in mind, Javir found herself standing before Melisa's parents, introducing herself with a polite bow.

"Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Blackflame. My name is Javir of House Folden. I couldn't help but notice your daughter's remarkable magical abilities and... I figured I could teach her a thing or two." 

Margaret and Melistair exchanged a surprised glance, but Melisa was practically vibrating with excitement.

"She's going to teach me, guys! Javir's a real mage, and she's going to show me how to cast all sorts of cool spells!"

[Aw, isn't she adorable?] 

Javir chuckled, pulling a scroll from her pack and handing it to Melisa.

"Let's start with the basics, shall we? This is an earlier version of the Ice Storm spell, a bit simpler and less powerful. I want you to learn this one first, before moving on to the more advanced version. Just try to memorize it. That's all." 

Melisa snatched up the scroll, her eyes shining with determination.

"You got it, teach! I'll have this mastered in no time!"

With that, she dashed off, eager to begin her magical training.

Javir shook her head, a bemused smile on her face.

[Enthusiastic little thing, isn't she? Eh, at the very least this should be interesting.]

She turned back to Melisa's parents, gesturing to a nearby bench.

"Perhaps we could chat for a moment? I'm curious to learn more about your daughter's unique abilities."

Margaret nodded, leading the way to the bench.

But as they sat down, Javir made sure to leave a significant gap between herself and the nim woman.

"Before that, Javir, tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from?" 

Javir leaned back, crossing her legs. 

"Syux," Javir answered. "Well, in fact, I used to be a teacher at Syux Academy." 

Margaret's eyebrows shot up, impressed. She had good reason to be. 

"Syux Academy? That's quite prestigious! But what are you doing so far from home, then?"

Javir's smile faltered, and she looked away, her gaze distant.

[Ah, crap. How do I answer that without getting into all the... details?]

She didn't really want to tell Margaret about the scandal that had rocked the academy. Not because she'd done anything wrong but because the whole affair had left a bitter taste in her mouth.

[Best to keep it vague, Javir. No need to burden this nice lady with your baggage.]

She cleared her throat, turning back to Margaret with a shrug.

"Oh, you know how it is. Sometimes you just need a change of scenery, a chance to stretch your legs and see the world."

It wasn't a complete lie. After everything that had happened, Javir had been itching to get away from Syux, to put some distance between herself and those awful people and their endless politicking. 

But as she watched Melisa practicing her new spell, tongue poking out in concentration, Javir felt a pang of nostalgia.

"Though I have to admit," she said softly, "seeing your daughter's enthusiasm for magic... it's starting to make me miss teaching, if just a little."

Margaret followed her gaze, a proud smile on her face.

"Honestly? She's never really been the curious type. I'm kind of shocked she took to magic so quickly." 

"What do you mean?" 

"As far as I know..." Margaret smiled, bashfully. "She only figured out how to use magic this week." 

Javir's brows shot up. 

"She did? You-" 

"We had nothing to do with it, my husband and I," Margaret made clear. "It was all her." 

[That's... incredible.] 

Javir chuckled, shaking her head.

"You've got a real prodigy on your hands, then, Mrs. Blackflame. With the right training and guidance, Melisa could become quite the individual." 

Melisa suddenly noticed the odd seating arrangement, Javir being so far from Margaret, and piped up.

"Hey, why are you sitting so far away from my mom? Is something wrong? Does she smell or something?" 

"MELISA!" Margaret sputtered but Javir just cackled.

Then, Javir hesitated, glancing at Margaret.

"Have you... have you had 'the talk' with her yet? About the effects of nim on other races?"

Margaret shook her head, looking uncomfortable.

"No, not yet. Not that part, anyway. She's still young, and, um... Due to health complications, she's only just now getting to see the world around her. We just hadn't gotten around to that."

"Hm. I guess I could give her the short of it." 

Javir sighed, turning to Melisa with a serious expression.

"Listen, kid. If I sit too close to your mom, or any other nim for that matter, my mind can get a bit... messy."

Melisa tilted her head, confusion written across her face.

"Messy? What do you mean?"

Javir ran a hand through her hair, trying to find the right words.

"It's like... like my thoughts get all jumbled up. I start feeling things, wanting things I normally wouldn't. It's not your mom's fault, it's just the way nim are. It's your nature."

Melisa's eyes widened, a sudden understanding dawning.

"Oh! You mean because of the whole 'nim need physical affection' thing, right?" 

Javir blinked, surprised by the girl's knowledge.

"Uh, yeah. That's right. How did you...?"

"We did talk about that part," Margaret added, blushing. 

She looked back at her mother, then at Javir, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So, if you're worried about getting too close to my mom... does that mean you think she's pretty? Do you like her?"

Javir sputtered, her cheeks flushing red.

"What? No! I mean, not that your mother isn't attractive, but that's not the point!"

Margaret, for her part, just laughed, shaking her head at her daughter's antics.

"Melisa, dear, why don't you go practice that new spell of yours? I'm sure Javir and I will be just fine chatting on our own."

Melisa pouted but obeyed, skipping off with the scroll clutched to her chest.

Javir watched her go, a rueful smile on her face.

[Cheeky little brat.] 

---

{Melisa} 

Later, Melisa flopped onto the grass, panting heavily as the last of her Essence drained away. She'd been practicing the new spell for hours, determined to master it before Javir left.

[Ugh, I'm completely tapped out,] she thought, wiping the sweat from her brow. [But I think I've got the hang of it now!]

Javir approached, a tired smile on her face.

"Alright, kid, I think that's enough for today. You've made some real progress, but I need to get some shut-eye. Been walking for a while, and these old bones aren't what they used to be."

Melisa saw Margaret's brows shoot up. 

"Are you kidding? You're so young!" Margaret said. "Trust me, it only gets worse from here!" She laughed. 

Smirking, Javir walked over. 

Leaning in close, Javir said:

"If you are an example of what I have to look forward to, then I have nothing to be afraid of." 

Margaret's eyes widened. Melisa's eyes widened.

Javir took a step back, looking embarrassed, clearing her throat. 

Melisa raised a brow. 

[Ah... Was that an example of that "messiness" she talked about?] 

Melisa sat up, a mix of disappointment and understanding on her face.

"Aw, already? But I was just getting the hang of it!"

Javir chuckled, getting back to normal and ruffling Melisa's black hair affectionately.

"I know, I know. But trust me, rest is just as important as practice. You don't want to burn yourself out."

She turned to Margaret, giving her a polite nod. 

"I'll be staying at the local inn for a few days, if that's alright with you folks. Figured it'd be easier to continue Melisa's training if I'm close by."

Margaret smiled, nodding in agreement.

"O-Of course, Javir. We're grateful for the time you're taking to teach our daughter. Please, make yourself at home in our village."

Javir grinned, shouldering her pack.

"Will do. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow, Melisa. Be ready to work hard!"

With that, she strode off, leaving Melisa and her mother alone in the garden.

Melisa watched her go, a thoughtful frown on her face. Something had been niggling at the back of her mind during her training, a question she couldn't quite shake.

She looked up at Margaret, her voice hesitant.

"Mom? Can I ask you something?"

Margaret sat down beside her, a curious expression on her face.

"Of course, dear. What's on your mind?"

Melisa bit her lip, trying to find the right words.

"Well, it's just... Javir said that nim have this 'messy' effect on other races, right? That we make their thoughts all jumbled and stuff."

Margaret nodded, a hint of discomfort in her eyes.

"That's right. It's a part of our nature, something we can't really control."

Melisa's brow furrowed, confused.

"But I've never seen that happen with me. And Javir also said that nim get sick if they don't get enough physical affection, but I feel fine. Why is that? I mean, are hugs and forehead kisses really enough?"

Margaret sighed, pulling Melisa into a gentle hug.

"That's because you haven't come of age yet, sweetheart. You're still young." 

She pulled back, looking Melisa in the eye with a serious expression.

"But when you do come of age, that's when the real effects of being a nim will start to show up. You'll start to have that... 'messy' effect on others, and you'll need far more physical affection than just hugs and kisses to stay healthy."

Melisa nodded. 

"So... so at that point, I'm going to make people feel weird? And I'll get sick if I don't... hug them or something?"

Margaret nodded, a sad smile on her face.

"I'm afraid so, dear. It's part of who we are." 

Melisa swallowed, her mind racing with the implications.

"Just keep this in mind, though," Margaret said and Melisa's eyes were pulled to her. 

"Yeah?" 

"When it starts happening," she began, "and, trust me, you'll know when the time comes, come to me, alright? I'll tell you all about how to deal with it responsibly then. Okay?" 

"Alright." 

[That... sounded a bit scary, but okay.]