There was a forgotten fairy tale that they told children, a tale of two people from two different kind. A tale of a girl that hail from the fire clan and a boy that hail from the smoke clan. It was a story of a growing love, a forbidden love bloom from the two people that live in the opposite side. Their Clans have been in Century-old war with each other and with no peaceful way to stop the repeated Cycle of hate between them, But they believe their love could be the ultimate way to end the Cycle once and for all. Sadly, it wasn't easy to convince the leader of both Clans and instead the two is banish away from both lands.

With only small supply, they begin to travel together. Learning stuff together, trying new things, fascinated by something and most importantly always smile to her. The Boy know that the war is useless, always happening without any reason. He remember how he tries to stay neutral at every decision the leader made, trying to evade every occasional recruitment for boy of his age, it was a tough life living in the smoke clan. Until he meet her, the girl from the Fire clan who have the same ideal as him, it was the first time he ever felt so much happiness since growing up. It was his fondest memory.

He love the girl, so much. But the girl... She doesn't think it that way. The girl quickly realizes that something is off about him, how easy he is to jealousy and how controling he is. She thought after a small confrontation, he would be fine, he would changes, but it seems to only make the boy troubled more and more in the head to the point of him starting a rebellion againts not just the two Clans but the whole world. The girl is shattered by his action, but... what the use of heartbreak when she already know he is beyond saving now? She should've seen this. Should've stop him before he became the danger itself.

At last, a female praying Mantis will always eat the male praying Mantis head, isn't it? Is it already her duty to stop him. To kill him. To not let him cause more chaos. The girl would stood in the mountain, observing the people as they cheer the victory of the death of the boy. But she never smile. For her feelings have returned to nothingness.

The sound of the singing bird, the dancing wind and the flip of a book have pull her back and waking her up to reality once again. The woman notice the first thing she seen, a concrete ceiling with a lamp. She breath heavily at the dream she just had again, the same dream again.

"Ah, you're finally awake." A soft sounding female voice appear fron the side and she turn her head to notice a beautiful Elf lady with such soft feature to her face, her gray hair falls at her back while tangle in a loose single braid, her eyes is as enchanting as the blue sea. Her outfit is a simple long black dress with white turtleneck collar and connected to a mermaid skirt and a flounce sleeves, there's white diamond pattern on the end of her skirt and wearing a black Chelsea boots. The elf close the book in her thigh and proceed to smile at her. A smile that she doesn't trust all too well, "Where...?" She ask, her voice a bit strained from the sleep.

"You're in Cloverloft Orphanage, Miss." The elf answer with confidence, "Two of my boy found you sleeping in the forest, wrapped up on some weird looking black tendrils that seems to trap you inside, nevertheless I’m glad you are safe from any kind of bruises or infection." The elf woman brought the chair she is sitting in closer to the bed, hand clasping together on the book. She could sense the other woman wariness of her, the caution in those Indian red eyes. "How are you feeling now?" She ask softly.

"Uh, Good, thanks... And who are you?" The woman ask her again, this time her voice tense a bit.

"I'm Hatsumi, Hatsumi Miki." An innocent name indeed, "No need to be so tense, Miss. I mean no harm at all. Beside this place is filled with children that only want to know more about you." Hatsumi tries to be gentle and cautious at her own word. She know every word she let out could be suspicious to a person that seems quite cautious.

The sound of whisper break the tense atmosphere and Hatsumi turn around to find the children all standing in the door with curiousity in their eyes. They are always so curious that it's a bit frustating... But they are just children and children are still growing, still wanting to know more about the world and careless of the danger around them.

"Ah... Don't mind them." Hatsumi turn back to the woman and ask once again, "So, what's your name? It's best to get familiar with one another right?" The woman still stare at Hatsumi with caution, but the sight of the children standing there with bright eyes make her soften for a moment.

"It's... Freya." From the way Freya spoke her own name, it feels foreign to herself, as if it's something she haven't said in a long time.

"Freya huh? That's a nice name." Hatsumi notice that Freya seems to be looking at the outfit she's currently wearing, a short-sleeve blue sweater. Her hand moving around the fabric, palm pressing into every corner just to feel it. "This... outfit…"

"That's... a sweater, a comfortable little outfit right?" Hatsumi answer with a bit of shock, did she not know what a sweater is? Best to ask her. "Have you ever wear a sweater before?"

"uh, yes I did, though I always wore the same kind of attire everyday. It’s just…" she look back to the sweater, “…Feel nostalgic.”

Silence fill the room as Hatsumi tries to process every bits of Freya words, nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. Hatsumi herself have experience nostalgia in her life as century-old elf, she felt grief, love and mostly a sense of longing over the past. But for Freya… it seems to be different in her side, the way she speak as if she is speaking to the wind, to the ghost of her past, a feel of longing so great that she cannot move from it. Hatsumi notice a small tear streaming down from Freya eyes into her cheek.

“Freya…” Hatsumi whisper her name, Freya face remain the same aloof as it is. Eventually she wipe the tear away and look back to Hatsumi. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it all awkward.”

“It’s alright, Freya.” Hatsumi put her hand on her shoulder and pat It gently, “I know how it feel, the need to be back in the past and relive the moment before any tragedy happened.” At the mention of the word tragedy, Freya shoulder tense and her lips pressed together. But she won’t let it shown, having been used to hide her own weakness.

Hatsumi stand up, holding the book by her side and looking down at Freya. “Now, have you eaten anything yet?” Freya shake her head, “Oh, then you wake up on the right time, I still have the leftover of a cauliflower soup I made.” The mention of food make the star shine in Freya eyes, her head raise instantly as if the thought of food excited her.

“There’s food?”

“Of course there will be food, I wouldn’t leave a person alone with starvation.”

“That’s kind of you…” Freya rub the back of her head and smile at her, “Thanks, Hatsumi.”

Hatsumi smile back and watch as Freya stand up from the bed, the last time she even taste food so good was during the camp where she made a salmon fish into roasted salmon. No spices, no other seasoning, just a plain roasted salmon and it’s already so delicious to her. Her stomach immediately grumble at the thought of food again, eager to savor the greatest thing mankind has created. Freya follow her to the kitchen and to explore more of this place. While the children also following them to the kitchen, like a small little herd of chick. “Now, now kids. Don’t interrupt the guest.” Hatsumi warn them and they immediately run away.

Freya observe the whole area of the orphanage, it have concrete wall that seems to crack at each corner and wooden floor that creak on every step they made. She could hear every chatter and the running noise of the children just from the floor alone, the place is mostly empty except from the multiple painting lining up on the wall that depict a lot of badly drawn sketch. Without realizing, they already reach the kitchen, that was near the room she’s in.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The fragrant smell filled her nostril and it is truly the greatest aroma she ever sense, until the voice of a loud young boy ring in the kitchen. “She’s the woman we found!” Freya turn toward the voice and see two young boy with black and blonde hair sitting together, the black hair boy point his finger at her and then wave his hand. “Hey, miss! I’m Roy and this is Bryan!” Roy ruffles the blonde boy hair. “We’re the one that found you in the forest, you know? you should compensate us!”

“Roy, stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Embarrass for what? I speak the truth!”

Freya only hum and walk over to them, asserting dominance by being more taller than they are. “Oh really? You want me to compensate you?”

“Of course, not just me but Bryan too. He did help after all.” Roy wrap his arm around Bryan shoulder and bring him closer, “This kid is smart but he is also a coward, so I deserve a much higher compensation than him!”

“What? Not fair!” Bryan retort back, looking at his friend with anger and Roy only stick his tongue out to mock him. “It’s only fair because I’m braver than you.”

“No, you’re not!”

Freya stare at them with disinterest in her eyes, letting them squabble right infront of her. But then an idea appear on her head and spoke, “You guys only wanted the money, right?” they both stop and look at her, Roy nod enthustiatically, already a money-hungry kid. “I have no money… so… have this.” Freya lift both of her palm up, letting them stare into her palm. There’s nothing at first… but then something red glow from her palm which amazed both of them… sparkle appear from her palm and two candies materializes from her palm. “here, candies.”

“That was… magic?” Bryan murmured with astonishment, meanwhile Roy grab the Candy immediately and eat it with excitement. Bryan grab his own piece but just stare at it for a long time and back to her, She stare back to him and nod. “Yep. Magic.”

Hatsumi smile at their antic, she quickly grab the bowl of cauliflower soup and walk toward the table to put the bowl down. She could sees the excitement in Bryan eyes when he sees the magic Freya just did, the young boy have always been wanting to be a mage for so long, practicing basic magic by himself even if he have trouble with it.

“I didn’t know you could perform magic.” Hatsumi said, watching as Freya walk to the table and took a seat in the chair, her red eyes staring into the bowl of cauliflower soup with interest. She lift a spoonful and seems satisfied at the taste. “It was just a simple summoning magic after all, everyone could learn how to do it within three days.” Freya sip another spoonful of soup into her mouth again.

“I see… but I think someone is really fascinated by it.” Hatsumi point to Bryan who keep staring into her with awe, Freya stare back at him and look back down to the soup, she remember the time where a young boy would always be fascinated by every magic she does. A magic that so basic to her yet it is something new to the boy… it was a good memory she prefer to not remember again. “I know you just wake up, but Bryan always wanted to be a mage, if you have time… could you—"

“Nah, I don’t want to.” Freya say so suddenly which made Hatsumi look a little surprise that she doesn’t think he is deserving of her being his teacher. After all… Bryan really want to learn magic so bad, but he have been incapable of succeeding the easiest magic an early mage would spell. “The last time I teach someone, everything ended up badly.”

One hour later, Freya is staring into the window from the kitchen while drinking a cup of water in peace. Hatsumi told her that she have been asleep for maybe… almost three thousand years? That was a lot to comprehend for the elf to understand. Nevertheless, she miss a lot of centuries where Eradoria is now completely modern and few months ago there was a peace treaty sign by each country following the aftermath of the 100 years war. The world really didn’t change after the war against the demon king three thousand years ago…

Her peaceful time is interrupted by the sound of Bryan voice appearing beside her, “Um… Miss Freya uh… can you be my teacher?” He ask so meekly, beside Bryan is Roy who’s been standing there with his arms crossed. “I have been learning magic a lot, though… I’m not that talented at it. But I still want to learn! And I heard from Miss Hatsumi that you’re an ancient mage from three thousand years ago!”

Freya remain her neutral expression as she address his need. “Did you overhear our conversation, kid?”

“Well… yeah, sorry I did, I just really want to talk with you but I’m too shy to do so..”

Freya remain quiet, she stare into the window again and sigh, putting her cup down and stare at him. “Sorry, Bryan. But I can’t, the last time I took a student it was troubling and I have to put an end to his chaos.”

Bryan seems surprise by her sudden rejection, he stuttered immediately. “W-What? But…”

“Sorry, I’m not interest in taking student again.”

Freya is clear on her resolve that she won’t take him as her student, not after what happen to a certain student in the past that been using his power as a mage to brought dangers to the world. Bryan smile fell immediately and he look down with dejected expression, Silence fill the area again, this time with a much more tension than ever. Bryan look down to the floor and seems to give up in the moment, meanwhile Roy notice the tension in the kitchen and look to his friend. Gloomy again. Roy turn to look at Freya and his fist clench at the thought of someone making his friend sad, but Roy calm himself down and know that he need to be careful when talking to adults about this stuff. From experience, Adults are stubborn and hopefully he can convince him.

Roy step forward, “Miss, I know we just met, but you can’t do this to my friend. He is smart and hard worker! From the very moment we met he always tell me how much he wanted to be a mage! From tireless learning how to control the water, then summoning stuff like you do…” Roy turn to look at Bryan and point his finger at him, “…Just look at how wimpy he is!”

“Huh?” Bryan look back to Roy.

“He’s too naïve, too much of a coward, nobody think he could achieve anything other than being smart. He—” Before Roy continue his speech, Freya immediately cut him off and said. “What motivation does he have?”

“Huh? Motivation?”

“Every mage have motivation to be who they are, without motivation you couldn’t move forward and be one.” Freya turn to Bryan and spoke with a more softer tone, “Learning spell—even the easiest one—is still dangerous, you did something wrong could cause your mana to instantly depleted.”

Mana is a powerful energy that reside in every living beings soul, is considered to be the manifestation of soul that could be used as an energy charge for magic. Although the usage of Mana is famously tied to Mages, Mana could also be used as a force of attack by knights and other non-mage combatant to utilizes it in every combat they done. Mana are priceless and it could be a sign of power if one could master such Mana and reach the Pinnacle of Mana.

Freya look down to her cup and then show it to Bryan, “If you want to prove yourself so much… then changes this water into coffee.”

“Changing it? But… I don’t know that spell.” Bryan said, a bit surprise by her sudden request.

“It’s an easy spell, you just need to concentrate and imagine the taste and looks of the coffee to change it.” Bryan hold the cup and stare at it with nervous expression, “If you’re nervous, you will change only the looks but not the taste. Which is an immediate fail.”

Bryan look up at her and nod, alright… this is what he supposed to do right? Bryan close his eyes and begin to follow the instruction Freya told him. The color and the taste of the coffee… he have to remember it, he did tries coffee once, but it was a long time ago, hopefully he can do it. The cup soon begin to glow, the sound of mana flowing into the cup is like a majestic sound Roy ever heard, then smoke came from the cup and Freya nod.

The water have change into coffee and Roy is amazed by the sight of it, “Woah!”

“Not bad.” Freya said, she pat his shoulder to stop the magic process and then grab the cup, she notice that the color have change into coffee, but the taste? She lift it to her mouth and taste it. After a few second of quietness, and put the cup down. “It’s still taste like water… but you did well. I guess you did have the potential to become a great mage, Bryan.”

Bryan smile appear again and Roy hug him, a celebratory hug, “Great job, Bryan! Now you can change every water into coffee!” Bryan laugh and nod, he could do it! Even if it a failure… he could still do it!

“Does it mean I’m your student now, Miss Freya!?” Bryan said excitedly.

“Hm… I don’t know what to do anyway... so I’ll take that as a yes. You impressed me for someone of your age.” Freya word made Bryan smile even more and she know the boy is happier than ever, just like the face of the student she took three thousand years ago. “Tomorrow, we train and have a lot of talking.”

“Yes, ma’am!”