The days that followed were calm and peaceful. These were the years that were most morable for Adam and Anna.
An unexpected encounter between a princess and a peasant blood into a beautiful sibling relationship.
Ever since the incident where the tavern burned down, Anna revealed to the boy that she was a Magus. Of course, she didn't tell him that she was the one behind the death of the tavern owner and the rest of the staff. Neither did she tell him of her royal background.
She simply ntioned that she was a Magus from a kingdom across the Galestine Ocean. Needless to say, Adam was imnsely excited about this discovery.
On this day, Adam stood amidst the sea of golden wheat crops, his palms facing the sky and a solemn expression marring his face.
Beads of sweat trickled down his face but he remained in that uncomfortable position. Seeing such a ridiculous scene, Anna, who was standing at the entrance to the hut, couldn't help but call out to him, "You idiot, I told you that's not how magic works!"
"Hmph!" Adam snorted in displeasure. "You won't teach magic so this is the only thing I can do."
Hearing his response, Anna couldn't help but begin to massage her temples in frustration. There was only one mana extraction technique she knew, but it was forbidden to share it with people outside the Fireborne Royal Family. She had sworn a mana oath.
A few days ago, she had already found out that Adam had the talent for spell-casting. She couldn't exactly pinpoint the aptitude that he was born with, but it was already shocking enough for her to learn that the boy had the gift to beco a Magus.
Naturally, Adam was ecstatic to learn about this. He imdiately asked her to teach him magic. But after being refused on nurous occasions, the boy took it upon himself to point his hands at the sky and try to control the winds and the rains.
"Co inside first, you brat!" Anna snapped at him. "I'll teach you the basics of arcane magic."
Adam turned around and looked at her with dubious eyes. "Really?"
Anna nodded. "Yes, but first you need to learn the the common language of the human species
- Acaros. I cannot allow you to remain illiterate for your whole life."
"What?!" Adam trembled, fear flashing in his black eyes. Without hesitating for another mont, he bolted in the direction of the town.
"Never! I hate studying! Stay away from !"
The veins in Anna's forehead began to throb from anger. She gritted her teeth in rage and chased after the boy. "Co here, you! I'll beat the alphabet into you if it's the last thing I do!"
"No, don't co near !" Adam ran for his life.
Standing under the oak tree, two figures witnessed the ga of cat and mouse with amusent. The hazy silhouette stroked his long beard and muttered, "She truly adores you."
Adam smiled warmly, "Of course, she does. Although we're not blood-related, she is no different to than my own sister."
His eyes suddenly narrowed and he cast a side glance at the gray figure. Why is he showing these mories? The ti I spent with Anna was so of the best days of my life. What's his motive?
Going by the objective of the trial, the illusions should be centered around the concept of death. But Anna is clearly... unless-
The hazy figure's chuckle interrupted his train of thoughts, "Do not fret, young magus. This is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity to relive your fond mories, is it not?"
Adam glanced at him with an expressionless face, not responding to him at all. Then, he shifted his attention to the scene before him.
The seasons changed one after another, and the years continued to pass by. As Anna started to slowly recover, she was able to increase the pace at which she chipped away the curse magic inflicting upon her.
During this ti, she tutored Adam regularly. Not only academics, but she also taught him how to fight. Although she was not a great fighter herself, she trained him enough for him to defend himself.
She had also managed to gather a lot of crucial intel during the ti she spent recovering. One such piece of information was about the existence of Clover Academy and it being the greatest institute for learning magic in the Southern Federation.
However, she would not be able to take Adam there herself. Now that she had recovered, it was imperative for her to return ho. She had to let her family know that she was alive and
well.
Moreover, if she didn't reach the Ignisra Kingdom as soon as possible, it would be utter pandemonium. She had a lot on her plate to deal with back ho.
Regardless of how happy and peaceful the ti she spent with Adam was, it was now ti for her to leave. But before she departed, she was going to help her dear brother one last ti.
It had been seven years since the two t. Now, Adam was already fifteen years old.
"It's ti, Adam," she said softly to the raven-haired youth packing his belongings inside the hut.
"Yeah, one mont," Adam replied with reddened eyes.
This thatched hut, although tiny and cramped, was the place where he was born. It was the place where he grew up, spent ti with his parents, and of course Anna. It pained him to part with this place.
He cast one final glance at his ho before walking to his parents' grave. There were two headstones on the grave. One read 'Papa', the other read 'Mama.' He had carved those letters himself.
The youth knelt down before his parents' grave and clasped his hands. He closed his eyes and spoke with a tone filled with emotions, "Papa, Mama, I'm going to be leaving now. You won't be seeing for a long ti. But the good thing is, you both have each other so you won't feel
lonely.
"Papa, like you once told , I will aim higher and beco a Magus. I promise you! Mama, I'll be sure to make lots of friends in the academy, so you don't have to worry about ..."
He began sobbing loudly as he placed his forehead on the ground. "Goodbye, Papa! Goodbye, Mama! I promise I'll visit you in the future! Thank you... thank you for everything!"
Anna smiled emotionally seeing this. She crouched beside the youth and gently patted his back. "Don't cry now. The next ti you visit them, you will have beco a splendid Magus just like your Father wanted."
"Mhm!" Adam nodded, wiping away his tears.
"Okay, let us go now." Anna smiled warmly. She held the youth's hand and they finally bid farewell to the place they called ho.
After walking a few steps, Anna felt a strange sensation in her heart. A gentle gust of wind blew by and she heard a distant voice inside her head.
'Thank you.'
She instinctively turned her head around towards the source of the voice, her gaze drawn to the wind spiraling above Adam's parents' graves.
Leaves swirled upwards in a graceful dance as if carried by unseen hands, before scattering into the air and vanishing into the breeze.
User Comments
0 comments from readers