It had been two years since I first learned magic, and in that ti, I had managed to master three beginner-level water spells: Water Ball, Water Shield, and Water Arrow. These were the only spells I could use so far, but I was proud of the progress I had made, especially since it had taken two years to learn them. My father, who was my instructor, had been away on the battlefield for a year and had only just returned this year. With him back, our training had resud in earnest.
"Will, breakfast is ready! Co down!" my mother called out from the kitchen, her voice echoing through the house.
I was five years old now, and I had my own room on the second floor of our house, right next to my father's study. It was a small, cozy space with a single bed, a wooden desk, and a small bookshelf filled with the few books I owned. The morning sunlight stread in through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. I hurried down the creaky wooden stairs, eager to join my parents at the dining table.
As I entered the dining room, the sll of freshly baked bread and roasted boar filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. My father was already seated at the table, his grizzled face softened by a warm smile as he looked up from his plate.
"Good morning, Will," he greeted , his deep voice carrying the weight of experience and authority.
"Good morning, Father," I replied, taking my seat across from him.
My mother, a kind and gentle woman with soft blonde hair and warm eyes, set a plate of food in front of before taking her own seat. We shared a simple yet hearty breakfast of bread and boar at, the latter having been hunted just the day before. The villagers often gathered for communal hunts, especially those n who were forr soldiers or currently on leave, like my father. The nearby Corone Forest, a half-day's walk from the village, was rich with wildlife, and boars were a common target during these hunts.
As we ate, there was a knock at the door. My mother began to rise to answer it, but I quickly offered to go instead.
"I'll get it, Mother," I said, already halfway to the door.
When I opened the door, I was t with the sight of a beautiful red-haired woman in her late twenties. Her na was Lyshia, our neighbor and a close friend of my mother's. Her hair cascaded down her back in fiery waves, and her erald green eyes sparkled with warmth as she smiled at .
"Oh, Will, good morning," she greeted warmly, her voice as sweet as honey.
"Good morning, Aunt Lyshia. Please, co in," I said, stepping aside to allow her entry.
"You're as respectful as always, Will. I can't imagine where you get it from," she teased with a gentle laugh, a twinkle of amusent in her eyes. "I brought Chris with . Could you play with her for a while?"
"Of course," I replied, my face lighting up at the thought.
No sooner had I agreed than a little blonde-haired girl ca bounding toward . Her brown eyes sparkled with excitent, and her cheeks were flushed with the rosy glow of youthful energy.
"Will! Let's play!" she exclaid, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
"Yeah!" I replied, smiling back at her.
Chris was the daughter of Aunt Lyshia and Uncle Philip, a tall, kind-hearted man who often joined us for als when they visited. Chris had inherited her father's blonde hair and brown eyes, which contrasted beautifully with her mother's fiery red locks. Aunt Lyshia visited once a week, always bringing Chris along, and it had beco sothing of a routine for to entertain her during their visits.
After inviting Aunt Lyshia inside, Chris and I headed to the backyard. It was a modest space, with a small garden that my mother tended to and a few trees that provided shade on hot days. The grass was soft underfoot, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
"Will, will you show your magic again?" Chris asked eagerly, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Of course. Here it cos," I said, preparing to cast a spell.
I stood in the center of the yard and closed my eyes, focusing on the flow of mana within . I could feel the energy coursing through my veins, like a river of power waiting to be unleashed. I raised my hands and began to chant the incantation.
"I call a wall of water here and now. Let the trendous protection of water be upon the location thou seekest. Water Shield!" I intoned, my voice steady and confident.
As I spoke the final words of the spell, a shimring wall of water rose from the ground, towering over both of us. It was nearly as tall as my father, and the sunlight reflected off the surface, creating a dazzling display of colors.
"Wow! You're really amazing, Will!" Chris exclaid, her eyes wide with awe as she clapped her hands in delight.
She always seed amazed by my magic, no matter how many tis I showed her. I couldn't understand why she never grew bored of it, but her enthusiasm always brought a smile to my face.
"Will, will I be able to use magic too?" she asked, her voice filled with hope and a hint of longing.
"Maybe," I replied thoughtfully. "I don't know yet, but we'll find out when we go to the cathedral when we turn seven."
Chris sighed, a pout forming on her lips. "That's such a long ti. Why didn't you have to wait?"
Her question caught off guard, and for a mont, I wasn't sure how to answer. The truth was that my father had unlocked my magical affinity early, but for so reason, I didn't feel like sharing that with her.
"Even if you asked that, I wouldn't know either," I said, shrugging.
"That's unfair!" Chris pouted more, crossing her arms over her chest and turning her head away from in frustration.
I chuckled at her sulking, finding it endearing rather than annoying. "I know you can wait two more years, Chris. And in exchange, I'll play with you every ti you co here."
"Really?" she asked, her eyes brightening as she looked back at .
"Yeah, really," I assured her, giving her a reassuring smile.
"If it's just two years, I can wait," she said, nodding resolutely, her pout slowly transforming into a determined expression.
"Yeah, I know you can," I said, smiling at her determination.
After that, we spent the rest of the morning playing tag and hide-and-seek, gas we hadn't played in a while. Ti seed to fly by as we ran around the yard, laughing and shouting. Chris was surprisingly fast, and I found myself having to work hard to keep up with her. But no matter how tired we got, the smiles never left our faces.
As we played, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentnt. These monts with Chris were precious, and I cherished every second of them. Despite our young age, there was a bond between us that felt unbreakable, a bond forged through countless hours of play and shared secrets.
Just as we were starting to tire out, my mother's voice rang out from the doorway, calling us back to reality.
"Will! Chris! It's ti to eat!" she called, her voice carrying across the yard.
"Okay!" I shouted back, waving to let her know we had heard.
Chris and I exchanged a glance, both of us reluctant to end our fun but knowing we couldn't ignore a summons to the table. We began to make our way back to the house, but before we could reach the door, a familiar voice called out to us from behind.
"Chris, Will," the voice said, deep and kind.
We turned to see Uncle Philip, Chris's father, standing at the edge of the yard. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, his blonde hair slightly tousled from the wind. His brown eyes were warm and gentle, and his smile was the kind that made you feel instantly at ease.
"Papa!" Chris shouted, her face lighting up as she ran towards him.
Uncle Philip crouched down to catch her in a warm embrace, lifting her off the ground as she giggled with delight. It was clear that she adored her father, and the affection between them was heartwarming to see.
"We were just about to have lunch, Uncle Philip," I said, walking over to join them. "Why don't you join us?"
"Thank you, Will. I think I will," Uncle Philip replied, his smile growing warr as he looked down at his daughter.
With that, we all made our way back to the house. My father was waiting at the door, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched us approach with a faint smile on his lips. He and Uncle Philip exchanged a nod of greeting, a silent acknowledgnt of their friendship and shared experiences.
Inside, the table was already set, and the sll of food filled the air, making my mouth water. We all gathered around the table, with Chris and her parents joining us for the al. The house was filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation, and for a mont, it felt like ti had stopped, allowing us to savor this simple yet precious mont together.
As we ate, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the people in my life. My family, Chris, and her parents—they were all important to , and I knew that these were the monts I would cherish forever. There was sothing special about these gatherings, sothing that made feel like I was part of sothing greater than myself.
After the al, we all sat together in the living room, talking and sharing stories. Uncle Philip told us about his latest hunting trip, regaling us with tales of the wild boars and the challenges of the hunt. My father listened intently, occasionally offering his own insights and experiences from his ti on the battlefield.
Chris sat beside , her head resting on my shoulder as she listened to the adults talk. She was quiet now, her earlier energy spent from our morning of play. But even in her tired state, she was still full of curiosity, her eyes wide as she took in every word.
As the afternoon wore on, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room. Aunt Lyshia and Uncle Philip eventually decided it was ti to head ho, and Chris reluctantly got to her feet, giving a shy smile as she said her goodbyes.
"Will, thank you for playing with today," she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness at the thought of leaving.
"Anyti, Chris. I had fun too," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile.
With that, they left, and the house grew quiet once more. I watched them go, a sense of contentnt settling over as I thought about the day we had shared. It was a simple day, filled with simple pleasures, but it was one that I knew I would rember for a long ti to co.
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