After that day, when I finally managed to slice through the tree trunk, I began training relentlessly to hone that ability.
Every day and night, I struck the tree with wind magic. As time passed, my magic grew stronger. Once I felt confident and refined it to near perfection, I finally allowed myself to stop. I was proud of what I had achieved.
But now… I wanted more.
Now that I knew I could use magic, I wondered, was there more out there I could learn? I rushed home and asked Castti if she had any more books on magic.
To my disappointment, she shook her head.
She knelt down and gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry… I wish I could do more for you. Even placing you in the academy...I believe you're strong, and you could match up to those students."
I looked at her, then stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"You're like… a mom to me. You're doing more than I could have ever hoped for, especially when I was just a soulless puppet."
Her eyes widened. She hugged me back, holding me tighter than ever. Tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm glad you think of me that way… But you know I'm not really your mother. I'm not even your biological one…"
I closed my eyes, letting myself rest in her warmth.
"Then… why not adopt me?"
She pulled away slightly, then gently patted my head.
"Even if I did… I think I'd be a terrible mother for someone like you. You deserve more than a simple commoner. You can use magic, Akira…"
I shook my head.
"Doesn't matter to me, as long as I have someone to cling onto. That's more than enough for me."
Castti chuckled and poked my nose.
"You've grown so much..."
After a while, she made dinner, and we both sat down at the table across from each other. I started thinking about why she took me in in the first place, and I finally mustered up the courage to ask.
She looked at me, a bit surprised by the question.
"Well, I simply saw a boy struggling to live on his own," she said softly. "And I saw a bright child in front of me that day, someone who didn't want to die. I took you in and raised you. I guess I've grown quite attached to you. Feels like I really have a son."
I smiled at her, thankful she'd taken me in that day. But curiosity still tugged at me, so I asked one more question.
"I want to know... do you have a husband? I-I noticed pictures of someone with you, and I was just wondering..."
Castti smiled. She stood up and walked over to a photo frame on the shelf.
"I do. He's currently away, but you might actually get to meet him tomorrow. He even knows about you, I wrote to him."
She placed the frame in front of me.
"His name is Gareth. Big and strong."
I looked at Gareth in the photo. He did look strong, his muscles were huge. I felt a bit nervous about meeting him, but deep down, I knew I'd be fine. Still... he looked intimidating.
"I wonder... if I had a mom or dad..." I whispered.
Castti reached out and petted my head, smiling gently.
"Don't think like that. I don't want you to constantly wonder about the past and feel like you were missing something. Just know... I will always be here for you. Maybe... as your biological mother soon."
My eyes widened. Was Castti trying to officially adopt me? I was overwhelmed, but at the same time... happy. Happy that I could finally have someone to call family.
Later, after we finished eating, I asked Castti if I could go to the kingdom. I wanted to visit the bookstore and see if I could read any of the books there.
Castti looked a little surprised. She knelt down in front of me.
"Alright, but promise me you won't leave my sight. Nobles aren't kind people. Heck, there are probably thugs in that city. So promise me, okay?"
I nodded. She stood up and went to her room to change into more casual clothes. I waited, and a few minutes later, she came out.
She almost looked like a noble herself in that outfit.
She took my hand, and we began our walk toward the kingdom.
I would have said it was my first time ever entering a kingdom, but then I glanced down at my shoes...And I remembered, I had already been inside once.
But I was on the brink of death.
A sharp pain pulsed in my head as the memory came back. I placed my hand on the left side of my face, feeling the rough texture of the cast Castti had put on me.
It struck me. Why is this cast on my eye? Did I lose my sight? I don't remember losing it...
Castti noticed me acting strange. She looked over at me as we walked.
"You okay? Is your head hurting?"
I shook my head.
"No... it's just, I remember being in the kingdom. But it was when I was lost... and nearly dead..."
Castti frowned, her hand tightening around mine.
"Don't worry. That won't happen again. I promise."
Her reassurance comforted me, and I smiled, looking ahead again with a brighter expression.
After a few minutes, we entered the kingdom. It was bright and cheerful. Vendors lined the streets, selling fish, fruits, and more. I looked around in awe. There were so many things I'd never seen before, even kids running around.
Castti stopped at a food vendor and turned to me.
"I'll be shopping around for food. Don't run off, we'll go to the bookstore soon, alright?"
I nodded, and she turned her focus to a variety of fruits.
But while she wasn't looking... I spotted the bookstore down an alleyway. Just a short walk away.
I hesitated...But my excitement got the better of me.
I walked off toward the store.
Castti didn't even notice I'd left her side, she was still busy choosing supplies.
As I walked down the alley, I noticed a few thugs lurking nearby, but I paid them no mind. I knew that even glancing at them would invite trouble. A few minutes later, I found myself standing in front of the bookstore. My heart fluttered with excitement as I stepped inside.
The air shifted immediately, cooler, calmer. The scent of old parchment and ink wrapped around me like a warm blanket. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, glinting off the book spines that lined the towering shelves. I wandered in slowly, looking at the book titles. Each one felt like a secret waiting to be discovered.
Behind me, I heard a voice. Turning around, I saw a group of children, all dressed in matching uniforms, accompanied by an elderly man who radiated wisdom. He had the aura of someone important probably a teacher of some kind.
The old man didn't notice me at first and nearly bumped into me.
"Oh, pardon me, young one," he said kindly.
I shook my head. "It's alright, sir. No need to apologize."
But then, a sharp voice rang out.
"Ew! He's a commoner! If anything, he should be apologizing to you! Headmaster Thaddeus!"
The rest of the children followed suit, sneering and taunting me.
The harsh words pierced deeper than I expected. Even children... they could be so cruel. But I wasn't even a commoner...
I clenched my fists.
"So what if I'm a commoner!" I shouted, my voice cracking with frustration. "There's nothing wrong with being one! We're all the same in this world!"
The room fell into stunned silence.
Headmaster Thaddeus looked at me, eyes glinting with something unreadable, surprise, maybe even respect.
"Now now, children," he said firmly. "Let the commoner be. We shall be on our way."
He led the students out, but one of them lingered at the door, staring at me with an odd mix of curiosity and awe before vanishing into the street.
I let out a shaky breath. I didn't know why I'd spoken out like that, but it felt… right. Maybe I'd overreacted, but I hadn't caused any real trouble.
I turned back toward the shelves. The warmth of the bookstore seemed to welcome me again. I noticed a black book tucked near the bottom of a dusty shelf, "The Magic Light." Something about it called to me, like it had been waiting. I sat down, flipped through its pages, and before I knew it, an hour had passed. I hadn't moved once.
"You like reading, don't you?" a gentle voice asked.
I jumped, startled. The kind old man behind the counter approached, raising his left hand slowly.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna kick you out just because you're a commoner."
I relaxed and smiled nervously.
He looked down at the book in my hands. "Magic, huh?"
I nodded. "Back home, I read every book I could about magic. I can even use it… but I want to learn more. There's so much I don't know yet."
The old man's eyes crinkled as he smiled.
"I see. You like that one?"
My eyes widened. I nodded eagerly.
"Well then, go ahead and take it. It's on the house."
I stared at him in disbelief. "But… why? I'm just—"
"Commoner or noble, doesn't matter to me," he said with a shrug. "That book's been gathering dust for years. It's about time it found someone who'd actually care for it."
I hugged the book tightly to my chest, as if it were a rare treasure. "Thank you… sir."
I headed for the door. Castti was probably be mad I wandered off. I just hoped she hadn't noticed I slipped away.
But as I stepped outside, the streets seemed unfamiliar. My confidence wavered. I wandered aimlessly, eventually ducking into a dark alleyway. The cheerful noise of the town was gone now, replaced by silence and the drip of distant water.
My heart began to race.
I clutched the book closer, drawing strength from it. Whatever happened next… at least I had this. And somehow, it made me feel a little less alone.
As I walked past a group of four thugs gathered around a small fire, I kept my head down, hoping not to draw any attention. But one of them noticed me.
"Hey, kid! Where do ya think you're going?" he barked, and all four of them rose to their feet.
Panic surged in my chest. I could feel my hands shaking as I gripped my book tightly. "I-I got lost," I stammered, voice trembling. "I was just trying to find my guardian…"
They laughed, loud, mocking.
Before I could bolt, one of them grabbed me by the arm and slammed me down hard against the alley floor. My book flew from my hands, landing just out of reach.
"A book, huh?" one of them sneered, picking it up and holding it like it was trash. "The hell is this supposed to be?"
A flare of anger lit up inside me. "Give it back!" I shouted, trying to stand, but two of the thugs stepped forward and kicked me hard in the stomach.
Pain exploded through me. I coughed, blood dripping from my mouth as I hunched over, groaning but trying to hold it in.
"Look at this pathetic little runt," said the muscular one, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me off the ground with ease. "Where's your mommy and daddy now?"
I writhed in his grip, trying to break free.
"Not talking, huh? Then maybe this'll loosen your tongue!"
He hurled me against the wall. My body slammed into it, and before I could collapse, he tossed me across the alleyway toward the thug still holding my book.
That one stomped on my back as I landed, pinning me to the ground. He dangled the book in front of my face.
"Want your precious book back?" he taunted, pushing harder into my spine when I tried to move.
I grit my teeth. It was hopeless. I couldn't fight back, and if they decided to kill me, there was nothing I could do. Castti… I prayed she'd find me, but I ran too far.
My vision blurred. I started to close my eyes.
But then, a voice, sharp and clear.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
My eyes snapped open. Castti?!
No… it wasn't her.
It was a girl, red hair that shimmered like fire in the low light, crimson eyes that practically glowed with intensity. She wore the same uniform as the kids I'd seen in the bookstore. Her presence was commanding, elegant and fierce at once.
"Aye, girlie, look what we've got here! A commoner!" the thug chuckled, still pressing his boot into my back.
I didn't understand why he sounded so casual… until I saw the girl approach.
She walked over slowly, her crimson eyes flickering with amusement. Then she crouched beside me.
Was she… not going to help?
"Oh, I see," she said with a sly grin. "Since he's a commoner, I doubt he has much worth taking."
My heart sank. My eyes widened. She really wasn't planning to save me?
When she first appeared, I thought she'd stop them. I was sure of it. But now… I realized how wrong I was.
One of the thugs laughed and suggested they strip me down to make sure I wasn't hiding anything. The girl covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh.
"I-I didn't want them to do that, but—"
That was it.
Anger boiled over in my chest. My vision blurred with fury. They were mocking me, humiliating me.
Suddenly, my right eye pulsed with light.
Something surged from deep within.
"I SAID…"
A whirlwind roared through the alley. Wind howled around me, kicking up debris and howling like a storm breaking free.
"GIVE ME MY BOOK BACK!"
The blast erupted outward.
The thugs screamed as they were flung backwards, smashing into the alley walls before slumping unconscious.
The girl was lifted off her feet, but unlike the others, she twisted midair and landed, floating above the ground. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and fury.
"H-How?! How do you know magic!?" she demanded. But then she turned her head and noticed guards rushing toward the alley.
She launched herself into the air, bouncing off invisible platforms that shimmered beneath her feet before vanishing into the skyline.
I coughed and scrambled to my feet, snatching my book from one of the thugs. Then I ran.
I pushed through the crowded streets, weaving between nobles, trying not to draw attention. I didn't stop until I was far away.
Finally, I found a quiet corner.
I held the book tight to my chest, panting hard.
I was safe. For now.
I sighed, and tried to seek out Castti.
As I wandered the streets, aimlessly blending into the crowd, I suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out.
"Akira! Where are you?!"
My eyes widened. That voice, it was her!
I turned and followed the sound, quickening my pace until I saw her pushing through the crowd, searching frantically. A wave of relief washed over me. I ran straight toward her and threw my arms around her, my book slipping from my hands and hitting the ground.
She caught me in her embrace, kneeling down to my level.
"Where did you go!? Do you have any idea how worried I was?" she said, her voice trembling with both relief and frustration.
I looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry…"
She spotted the book I dropped, picked it up, and gently brushed the dust off the cover.
"You went to the bookstore?" she asked, her voice softening.
I nodded, then quietly explained everything I had seen, how amazing it was, how the kids inside were laughing and smiling, how I just wanted to take a quick peek.
Her expression shifted as she examined me more closely. Her eyes narrowed.
"Wait, what happened? Why are you covered in dirt… and is that blood?"
I froze.
I didn't want her to know. I didn't want to worry her more.
So I lied.
"I… I tripped trying to find you."
She raised an eyebrow, skeptical, but after a pause, she let out a tired sigh. "I see."
"I'm not mad," she said at last, "but I am disappointed. When we get home… I'm going to have to punish you."
I flinched, turning my head away in guilt. I had broken my promise to her. I deserved it.
But then she placed a warm hand on my head and smiled gently.
"It'll be a small one, since you don't seem too hurt."
She took my hand in hers, firm but gentle, and we began walking back home together.
Yet even as we walked, my mind wandered back to the alley.
That storm… that blast of wind…
Did I really do that?
I shook the thought away.
What mattered most was that I was safe, and I even had a book to take home. It was heavy, probably packed with hundreds of pages, but I didn't mind.
This was my first treasure.
As Akira and Castti disappeared into the crowd, hand in hand, the noise of the city slowly swallowed their footsteps.
From the shadow of a nearby rooftop, a figure stood watching.
"…Hmm. That boy," they murmured, their voice barely audible over the wind.
Then, just as quietly as they came, they vanished.