The path I want to follow

“Hey Ms.Eileen, is it possible for you to teach me how to use magic?”

I didn’t think I’d have the courage to ask that, soon enough the gleeful eyes of villagers in the room turned to stone. My mother immediately grabbed hold of me and turned me to face her.

“Nina, do you understand what you’re asking!?!”

“Mom, I know you’re worried but look at what Ms. Eileen just showed us. Magic isn’t so scary so-”

“It’s not scary in the hands of a trained professional, but you could still be hurt!”

My mother is usually a reserved person, it’s rare to see her acting like this. It goes to show how much she worried about this, even after what she just saw. I don’t understand make doesn’t seem so-

Pierce

I froze, I remembered that the same magic I was just mesmerized by could be used to tear apart flesh and bone. Is it really okay for me to use something so dangerous? What if I hurt someone? Just like that, I began to start regretting my words. That’s when I heard footsteps getting closer to me. It was Ms. Eileen, she had a strange ball in her hand. It looked like it was made of glass and it was as big as my head.

“I understand your worries Miss, before anything else let’s find out if your daughter is capable.”

“What?”

“This orb is called a measuring sphere, it’s used to measure the mana compatibility of whomever touches it.”

Mana? What’s “Mana”, does it have anything to do with using magic? I wanted to keep thinking, but Ms. Eileen tapped me on the shoulder and motioned me to place my hand on the orb. I was hesitant at first, but after steeling myself I placed my hand on the orb. For the first few seconds nothing happened, no way do I lack the talent. Suddenly, a small firefly-like light appeared in the sphere. That light was followed by another and another, soon there was a ball of light the size of my hand in the sphere. I looked at Ms. Eileen who looked back with a satisfied expression.

“Child, I believe your name was Nina?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Nina, it appears your compatibility is a bit above average. Congratulations, you have the potential to be a great mage.”

Hearing those words from Ms. Eileen made me feel warm inside. Why is that? This isn’t the first time I’ve been complimented, so what made this time different? Maybe because it came from my hero, the person who saved my life. The person who taught me there was an open world outside this village. This woman, Ms. Eileen, I need to follow the path of this woman. I want to ride the winds of freedom and adventure just like her!

“Mom-”

“Nina, I know what you’re about to ask and the answer is still-”

“Mom Please Listen To Me!”

My mother looked shocked at my voice, I never used such volume with her before. The eyes of everyone in the room were on me, I hope they don’t think I’m a spoiled brat. Regardless of that I looked at her and told my mother how I felt.

“Mom, I know the idea of using magic could be scary but it can be used to help people too. Just like how Ms. Eileen saved me today, if I learned magic I could save people just like her. I know magic can be used as a weapon, but if it can be used to help others then why not have faith in that.”

“Even if you say that, Nina I can’t just-”

“Miss, if I may-”

My mother turned and before her was Ms. Eileen, she was kneeling in front of my mother.

“Please allow me to teach this child the way of the mage, I swear I will not allow any harm come to her.”

“W-What are you doing!?!”

“Matilda…”

Soon the village chief walked to my mother and began to kneel, and so did Ein.

“I ask you as both the chief of this village, and as the grandfather of this child next to me. Please allow Nina to study under Eileen, think of the benefits it’ll bring to the village. I also promise the same as the master, I will allow no harm to come to her.”

“Nina is my friend, it would be wonderful to learn how to use magic with her. Please Ms. Matilda! Please allow Nina to learn with me!”

My mother began to cover her face, even my face started to flush. I never had someone beg on my behalf before, I found myself on the verge of tears. I looked over at Marcus and his family, they looked back with pleasant expressions. Marcus himself looked annoyed and turned his head with a huff. It was around this time where my mother finally composed herself enough to respond.

“P-Please stand, the only person who kneeled like this in front of me was my husband!”

“O-Oh, my apologies!”

With an embarrassed expression, everyone stood up. As for my mother she had more to say.

“Your gesture terrified me, but it makes me feel at ease seeing that so many people are willing to care for my daughter. Very well, I will allow her to learn magic!”

“Mom! Thank You So Much!”

I pounced onto my mother with a tight hug, she then chided me for being unladylike. It was then that Marcus had enough.

“Hey, if she’s learning magic then I wanna learn to. If I learn magic, I can become a knight faster! And maybe then the grown-ups will-”

“Absolutely not.”

The rebuttal came not from his mother, but from Ms. Eileen.

“Don’t you remember the rudeness you showed me, much less the condition you’re in. Before I teach you anything, focus on your recovery. Your punishment for your rudeness will be learning some patience.”

Marcus looked defeated, even more so upon realizing his parents weren’t backing him. We decided to depart from the chief’s house after that. My mother told me to stay calm, but I couldn’t help it. I’m too excited to start my journey to learn magic, I can’t wait!