CHAPTER 22

Will couldn’t speak for the next few moments. He stood there open mouthed staring at Anna like some sort of idiot. What was she saying? Will was a mage now?. No, this can’t be true. If he was a mage, then he should’ve felt some awesome powers or something right?. No, this must’ve been a mistake.

Will was shaking his head as he said “This has to be some sort of mistake Anna. I’m not a mage”.

“I’m afraid not Will. Remember what I said before the test, that this was a test to confirm something that I was already sure of. I was almost certain that you were a mage Will. This test was just the final confirmation”.

“Why did you think I was a mage?” Will asked.

“Will, remember you asked me a few days ago about the reason why your bracelet stone changed color”.

Will had asked Anna about the reason for his bracelet changing color and at the time she’d said that she would tell him later.

Anna pointed at the bracelet on his left arm. “Will, do you remember the sensation when I made you my familiar?”.

Will nodded in reply.

“Do you feel the same now?”Anna asked.

Will hadn’t really considered this till now. As he concentrated on the bracelet, he could still feel the connection to Anna through the bracelet. But he could no longer feel the bracelet connected to his heart. The connection felt a lot weaker and different in nature. While the earlier connection had felt like the one between a master and slave, this one felt much less so.

Will shook his head “It feels different now”.

“That’s because you’re no longer my familiar Will. One mage cannot be another’s familiar”.

Will was still confused “But I can still feel a connection with you Anna. It is much weaker than before, but it’s still there”.

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“When that raven changed you into a mage, the connection between us didn’t get severed. Instead it changed into something else. You’re connected to me now not as a familiar but as an apprentice Will. I felt it the moment you transformed. But I still wanted to be completely  sure before I told you. That’s why I was out collecting the nature spheres” Anna said pointing to the spheres on the table.

Will still couldn’t believe that he was a mage, but he was interested in knowing the exact nature of the connection between a mage and an apprentice and asked Anna to explain it to him.

Anna carefully considered him before answering “In the case of a connection between a mage and her familiar, initially, the familiar has to agree to form the bond. Beyond that point, the familiar cannot break that connection, only the mage may do so. For a mage and an apprentice, either of the party can break the bond if they wished”.

Will couldn’t believe his ears “You mean I’m free to leave?”.

Anna looked a bit crestfallen, but recovered quickly. 

“Yes you can Will. But I wouldn’t recommend it. Do you really think you can go back to the village the way you are now? Not to mention that you can’t even defend yourself. Do you really wanna go back to that village where you were given up for sacrifice?”

Will considered this for a moment. No one would recognize him in this form. And even if he could convince people that the pretty girl was really Will, he’d have to go back being under the power of Lady Mildred. Will felt anger rise in his body as the thought of Milderd crossed his mind.

No, he couldn’t go back. Not yet anyway. Will had been powerless all his life. He remembered how lady Mildred didn’t dare oppose Anna. Now, if Anna was right, Will had the opportunity to attain the same kind of power. Will decided that the next time he went back he would be strong enough to defend himself and all those he loved.

Will was horrified at the changes that had happened to him over the last few days, both physically and mentally. But, if all this meant that he would no longer have to be afraid of Mildred, he’d gladly make the trade.

Will looked at Anna, she was carefully watching him for his reaction 

“No, Anna, I don’t want to go back. At least not yet. I would like to learn magic, if you would teach me”.

Anna’s face split into a wide grin as she came over and hugged him tightly.

“I’m so glad I get to be your first magic teacher Will” Anna had tears in her eyes as she pulled away from him. 

The way she looked at him was different too. It was almost reminding Will of how he’d felt with Rowan and Mary.

Will still couldn’t figure out Anna’s reaction. Looking at this objectively, Anna had lost a priceless ancient artifact, a familiar who was bound to her for life and all she’d gained in return was an apprentice who could walk away whenever he wanted.

‘What on earth was she so happy about?’ Will wondered.