Waking up was now exciting! She actually had somewhere to be and something to do. It wasn’t just staying out of people’s way or trying not to make others mad, she actually had a friend to hang out with, to talk to, and even better she could talk about magic!

It had only been a week, but now every day felt like an adventure, and she was in a rush to start today’s. Breakfast was always a simple affair in the Arpures household. Today wasn’t much different, some kind of potato like root with a sweet jam that she practically inhaled. A slight cough afterwards implying that she really did inhale at least some of it.

“Emilie slow down or you’ll choke!” Her father berated her with a shake of his head. “Why are you in such a rush recently?”

How much should she tell her parents? Too much, and they might tell her to stay away from the boy, too little and they might not believe her. Just enough to assuage their fears and concerns, “I meet a boy who likes to talk to me, I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

“A boy?” Her mother raised an eyebrow and slight a smile. “How old is he?” She probed.

“About my age, six I think. He said he’s starting school in a few months so, yeah, six… I think.” She was quite unsure of his age, it didn’t seem important. Just that he was close to hers.

Her mother considered the age, there weren’t that many children in the village at that age as she tried to narrow it down. It would also have been someone in the center part of the village too since that’s where they were. Well, regardless, it seemed innocent enough not like her daughter was being bullied. In fact, Basilara hadn’t seen Emilie this happy or excited in years.

It was hard to show sometimes, Emilie’s powers made it difficult to parent her, but her mother did deeply care for and loved her. Basilara and Venesar both knew they didn’t show it enough, but it was challenging for them too.

“Can I take your book with me?” Emilie was prepared to take it anyway, but asking was usually a good idea.

“You mean one of my magic books, why?” Now her mother had concerns, given past events.

“He was trying to learn magic. I just thought... I could help him.” The words became a whisper and her true thoughts ‘and maybe he’d stay my friend’ remained silent to her.

The words like invisible daggers to the heart and soul, how could a mother say no? “Just, be careful honey.”

With a beaming smile, she grabbed the book and bolted for the door. Out she ran, holding a book that slightly too big for her, and made her way to Reese’s hill. Only to realize they never made plans for a particular time as she sat around and waited. An hour passed, and the morning bell could be heard.

In the distance, the shops all opened, and people went about their day. It was something to watch while she waited, but quickly became boring.

More waiting, she would quickly move between people watching to book reading, passing the time. A particular thought occurred to her, ‘what if he didn’t show up today?’ For that matter, ‘what if he didn’t show up ever again?’ He could learn magic on his own, even without a gate, whatever that actually was. That book he carried with him; his notebook already had all the answers she could give. Truly, what more did he need from her?

The fear compounded by the wait, her whole body jumped at the sound of another bell, a warning bell could be heard in the distance. A dragon again, it flew overhead. A common occurrence this time of year, still it was better to be safe. At least, that’s what her parents would say, particularly her father. Dragons were dangerous, even the tame land dragons could kill you if you didn’t respect them. Her parents always made sure she stayed away from them in the rare times they brought supplies, even the nice ones that liked to be petted, she wasn’t supposed to actually pet. To be fair they treated horses the same.

“Both ends are dangerous and center is tricky!” Her father would joke.

Wyverns and Fire Dragons though, they were in a completely different league. A land dragon might hurt you if you hurt it first or startled it. But the larger dragons, those would actively hunt you. At least, that’s what her father told her.

Watching the beast fly up so high, its true size was hidden. Still, even from down here she could tell it was massive. For a moment, it felt like it was staring at her, studying her, trying to determine how to attack. Of course, that was childish nonsense, just fear building in her ideal mind. Having given the town a showing of its presence, it turned and flew back to the nest it was no doubt building. Humans, so long as they were far away, were of no concern to it yet.

Again, a bell sounded, and life in the village returned to normal. Emilie started to consider if she shouldn’t head home. It seemed like the boy wouldn’t show up today.

Being isolated on the hill just let her fears run wild with speculation after speculation. Most of them, like this one, were wrong.

“Emilie!” Proving her fears unfounded, his voice carried over the field as he jogged out towards her.

“Hey! Sorry, you weren’t waiting for me I hope? I had to digest everything you told me.”

“No, not that long.” Smiling she shook her head, he didn’t need to know how long she waited.

“So, I’ve got some new spell ideas sketched out. I don’t think I can do spell spoke like you and, everyone else. I think I could invoke something though, I just had to change things.”

“Invoke?” She had never heard that word before, it was new.

“Yeah, it’s one of the three types of casting. The books I’ve read say it’s a way to call upon your body to aid your casting. In theory, it’s used for more advanced spells, but since I don’t have a gate at all I thought maybe I could try it.”

“Oh, neat!” She had no idea what he was saying.

“I think it’s actually what you do, when you silently cast. That’s what invoking is for, well, commonly anyway.”

Her eyes went wide, she had never considered how she cast spells, it was just something she did. “So I invoke?”

“I mean I think so? Regardless, your casting gave me the insights I needed. So, just need to try it.”

He stood up and moved around in an almost silly fashion, like a very bad dance. For a moment it looked like he was mocking her, but it was hard not to laugh.

Nothing happened. Was something supposed to happen?

Reese looked around “Ok, let’s try again.”

He did the same dance one more time, but still nothing happened. Though she could almost feel it, like when the mana left her body when she cast a spell. It felt like that was happening, each time he tried. It was subtle, far weaker than when she did it. But it was still there, except not when he made that one movement.

“When you pull your arm back, I think that pulls in more mana. You should pull it back more rather than sticking it out, at this part.”

He watched her, studying her sympathetic moments as she showed him what she meant. At the end, small drops of water coated her hand, even though she never meant to actually cast. It was surprising and kind of excited her, casting without speaking!

“Got it!” He exclaimed and went back to trying.

She kept watching his movements, how he would make quick gestures with his hands before moving to another, small subtle twists of his arms and hands like he was chasing something very fast and small. She could feel his attempted spell casting, all be it subtly, but it was certainly stronger than before.

With one final forward movement a small ball of water, not much bigger than a small stone, left his hand and coasted quickly to the ground, with an equally small slash.

He did it! With her help he actually did it! She had no idea what gateless meant but watching that small ball of water was proof he had conquered it, with her help. For a moment she actually felt useful, she felt happy.

All she could was bounce up and clap “Reese! You did it!”

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“I did, didn’t I?” Neither of their smiles could be denied. “I really do need to thank you Emilie, I wouldn’t have figured it out if you didn’t explain things to me.”

A feeling of warmth over took her, acknowledgment not just of her skills but her desire to do something good. It was like everything she wanted in one moment: magic, appreciation, friendship. Of course, she shook her head at his words. This was his accomplishment, even with her help.

Excitedly the boy proclaimed “Oh, wait I’ve got two more I want to try.”

Reese did another dance, different, but similar somehow. Of course, it failed the first time but he did what no one else would, he listened to her.

With some minor changes, he cast again, and she could fell the mana moving around them. This was a fire spell, she could feel that heat as he cast a firebolt. It was small, barely a twinkle of light that puffed out a few feet away, but again with her help he did it!

More clapping, but it wasn’t over. He said there were 3 spells.

With this last one though, she couldn’t feel anything. There weren’t even any pointers she could offer him. It just wasn’t there. A few attempts, it was all the same. Worry started to overtake her, she couldn’t help with this one she didn’t even know where to start. Would he be mad at her?

Instead, his face beamed. “Emeilie, I have to show my parents, come on!”

Grabbing her arm, he literally pulled her along with her heavy book in tow. Trying not to laugh, it was just so much fun, a perfect day of adventure and learning.

A day that suddenly felt like it was about to be ruined. Where was he taking her?

They approached a rather large house just southwest of the Old Keep and the barracks. Her heart began to race, that man that live here, she knew him. He was the one that could throw her in the dungeon. Why was her friend, her only friend taking her here? Did she do something wrong? Was he mad his spells weren’t as large as hers? Maybe it was the wind spell, he was angry she couldn’t help him. So many questions, all of them spilling into her mind from her subconscious. Each step, a new question, and each question a new layer of darkness and fear.

The front door of the house opened almost silently, and Emilie’s hand grasped Reese with an ever-growing strength. She was afraid, why were they here?

“Mom, Dad! Where are you, I have something amazing to show you!” Reese’s yell caused the poor girl’s heart to race even faster than before.

Mom? Dad? The words, she knew them but why would he say them. Then, like the first ray of light from sun rise, it hit her waking her from her nightmare. He was his child, the child of Fortus who would throw her in the dungeon if she misbehaved again. Most of her fears were burned away by the light of realization, most, but not all.

“Reese, what’s the matter?” Forus was he first to appear still wearing his armor from earlier in the day, his eyes quickly locking on her. She could feel the heat of his gaze as his dagger-like focus tore into her.

“Honey what’s wrong.” His mother turned around the corner next. She wasn’t scary like Fortus was, but Emilie still didn’t trust her.

Reese boasted at what he had done, perhaps overselling his spell casting just a bit. His mother couldn’t contain her surprise, but his father, Fortus just continued to glared at her. This wasn’t where she belonged, it’s what he was trying to tell her. She wanted to go home, but she also wanted to see Reese’s parents praise him for his work. And if she was being honest, her assistance.

The three of them sat around the kitchen table while Reese stood and prepared his magic show. Perhaps Reese was not aware of her distress as he smiled towards her and proceeded to cast the first spell, the Water Bolt. His mother was focused intently on him. But Fortus, seemed more interested in her, as she felt her blood continue to chill. It was her choice to stay, she wanted to come into the kitchen space with them, to stand next to her friend and see him succeed. But thoughts of the dungeon began to flood her head, creating a cell of her own mind’s making.

A small ball of water fell to the floor as his anemic cast succeed. Fortus was of course more interested in what she was doing. But his mother could only a single word in disbelief, “That’s…”

It caught Emilie off guard a bit, it was full of wonder, shock, and not a small amount of pride. For a moment, she forgot Fortus was glaring at her and she smiled back at Reese.

Another spell, the Fire Bolt that drifted along, and puffed out.

Finishing his spell casting, Fortus turned his attention towards his son, and away from her. “That’s impressive Reese.” His voice flat, as the words were almost automatic. What a father had to say to his son. Emilie could almost feel that subtle bit of dejection from Reese. It was a feeling she knew well.

But his mother and her excitement were infectious “Reese, that’s amazing! You’re silent casting, and without a gate. Also, we need to talk about casting spells in the house.” Turning her attention to her husband, she berated his lack of enthusiasm “Fortus, ignoring he’s casting without a gate, he silent casting. There are mages out there that never learn how to do that. It is impressive.”

She chided her husband and caused Emilie to smile more. Knowing that at least someone else was defending Reese made what she did feel right.

Fortus perked up a bit at the light scolding. “I’m sorry Reese, I don’t know magic well. But it sounds really impressive. You should be proud son, and I just don’t understand. I’m sorry.”

With the small note of acknowledgement, even if forced, Reese picked himself up, just a bit. It was clear he was still wounded, slightly. As his father and him began to discuss using magic in sword fighting, something Emilie had zero interest in, she began to plot her escape.

The conversation with his father didn’t last long though and quickly Reese became engrossed in spell casting with his mother, leaving Fortus to watch her. Emilie slowly made her way for the front door hoping to avoid what happened next.

Before leaving she was stopped by Fortus, right at the threshold of the door “Emilie. I want to talk to you for a minute.”, his voice wasn’t angry, but it was forceful and stern. In truth, it probably scared her more than if he was yelling. The big man, with the big beard that seemed like he was half bear.

Her mind played back memories of the same man who scared years ago still played in her head. He wasn’t going to hurt her, she knew that. But he could still lock her in a dungeon far away. With a meek whisper the word “Ok” came out of her mouth as she focused on the ground in front of her; she just wanted to go home now.

“I’m not mad, but I want you to stay away from Reese.”

Emilie just continued to stare at the ground, not wanting to hear the words. She hadn’t done anything wrong had she? Certainly his mother was happy, he was happy, so why was his father doing this?

“Do you understand?” Again, Fortus was stern, his voice though of normal pitch and volume sounded like an explosion to her.

But she didn’t understand. What did she do this time? Nothing was on fire, nobody was in danger. Her friend succeeded in doing something he had failed to do for years. Why wasn’t his own father happy for him, and why was he mad at her.

Meekly should could only respond “No… I didn’t do anything wrong.” Just barely loud enough for Fortus to hear.

“Maybe not yet, but I still want you to stay away from him. My boy has enough issues without having to deal with yours.”

It occurred to Emilie that the ground at her feet was getting wet with tiny drops of water, but she hadn’t cast any water spells. That’s right, it wasn’t a water spell.

She didn’t do anything wrong. Why did she have to give up the one person who wanted to talk to her? Was she just a bad girl for existing? Unable to stand the verbal beating, she hurried out the front door, not acknowledging the last things Fortus had said.

The tears wouldn’t stop as she hurried home, away from this place of pain. Maybe she should never have helped him. No, that wasn’t the right answer, then they wouldn’t have been friends in the first place. She shouldn’t be sad that their short friendship was over, but happy that it happened at all. At least that’s what the grown-ups would tell her.

It wasn’t fair.

The sound of light hurried footsteps caused her to instinctively crouch since it usually came with a hand to the back of the head. Instead, it came with words. “Emilie wait up! I wanted to thank you… Why are you crying?”

What was she supposed to tell him?

“Reese. You need to leave me alone. I’m dangerous. Please, I can’t talk to you anymore.”

“Says who?”

“Fortus.” She turned away and began to walk home once more.

"Wait. I don't understand, who cares what he says. We can still be friends."

But, she didn't stop. This hurt and she didn't want to prolong it.

“Emilie, just wait a minute... I need to talk to him.” His footsteps turned into a run as he headed back to his house. For a moment she had considered waiting for him, but it seemed like a lost cause. Fortus was big and powerful, even with as strong as Reese seemed he wasn’t enough to challenge him.

She began walking back to her home, all be it much slower. Perhaps hoping he would come back?

Each step made that feel less likely, as she walked away from one of the few people who tried to understand her.

More steps, more time. He wasn't coming back. Fortus was too strong. She began to cross the Mountain Pass road, when more foot steps and again, another voice.

“Emilie, wait please!” Reese was quite literally running after her. Why? She told him to leave her alone, and he couldn't have convinced Fortus. Her mind was a mess, to many different thoughts in a head that was still a bit too small for all them.

“I told you to leave me alone.” She snaped.

“No, I won’t. I talked to my father and he is an asshole, ignore him.”

“…But I’m dangerous.”

“Yeah, because you’re so strong. You don’t need to be afraid or alone, you just need to learn how to use your magic better.”

“But your father said to leave me alone, he could throw me in the dungeon.”

“The dungeon?" Reese face scrunched in confusion before shaking his head. "Emile, this town doesn't even have a dungeon, just a jail. And he's wouldn't throw you in the dungeon or jail for hanging around me. My father is trying to protect me, but he’s a fool. Look, you’re my friend. Probably the only friend I have. I’m not going to stop hanging out with you just because of my father.”

He called her his friend. Suddenly, the last few minutes didn’t seem to matter as much. The arms wrapping around her felt good, not quite the same as her parents but soothing. Her tears stopped, but worry still filled her.

"If you want to stop being my friend, because you don't want to, fine. But, I'm not going to accept it just because my father said so."

It was a lot to take in. What was she supposed to do or say? Obviously she didn't want to lose her friend, but the childlike fear of her own imagination was consuming.

As she walked away he said one last thing to her, "I hope I'll see you tomorrow. At the hill."

Her legs stopped moving, her brain locked in a battle of its own making.

"Yeah." The words left her mouth, like it knew more than her head did. It was a promise she wasn't sure she could make, that she wasn't sure she should make. But it was done.

Worry continued to cloud her mind for that night, and the nights after. Laying awake at night she kept asking herself "What would Fortus do to both of them?"

The answer, of course, was nothing.

Days would go by, soaked in clouds of fear threatening a downpour of sadness that never came. Eventually, Emile would wake up in her bed and see those thoughts finally clear up. It resulted in a short laugh at just how absurd she was being. Reese was right, Fortus wasn't going to do anything.

However, the euphoria of seeing Reese be right, would not last, becoming itself a small storm inside of her mind.