bye

 We went down to the dungeon in preparation for this day. The room was padded and empty. My mom brought in the cleric with a grim look on her face. “ Alright, give us some space. She’ll be awakened in a few days. “ That was the last thing I heard before I passed out. 

I was in so much pain, it was like my stomach was being shot through constantly. I woke up to the feeling subsiding, not that I felt much better physically. “ I’m glad you're fit. This helps me control your power, given your will is that of control, so hold on tight; you’ll be in pain for another day.” The Cleric closed her eyes again, focusing on controlling my energy. 

I didn’t know what I could do to help her, so I just let my body go limp, letting her magical power surge throughout my body.After days of this pain, it slowly started to dissipate until it was gone entirely. “ Airis-sama, your ability is now activated; you should try using it.” The cleric said, sliding back against a wall. 

“ I don’t know how to use it, though- any tips?” I asked. 

 “ No Clerical abilities are a special type of magic only 300 people in the world can use proficiently. We're also outside of the four power structures. You should instinctively know how to use it, though.” The Cleric fell asleep or faked it; either way, she was done with the conversation. 

What did she mean I should know how to use it instinctively?I looked inward. I don't know what I was looking for. I tried to find a rising energy source… I finally felt it at my feet. I tried expelling the energy, and it spread, allowing me to move super fast. I ran around the room. My feet didn’t feel hot, so I looked down, and there was nothing.

 “ Right, my job isn’t done. I guess no fire, tough luck for your family. You have the wind walk ability. It raises your movement speed to inhumane levels; at its max level, you could be faster than light.” the cleric explained with no emotion in her voice. To me, this was the worst news I could’ve gotten when I first activated it. I had the inkling of something wrong, but the cleric's words only confirmed it. I could no longer be a part of this family. 

I wonder how my parents will take the news. I took a deep breath and decided it’s my job, not the clerics', to break the news to my parents. My hands shook as I placed my hand on the doorknob. I started to panic, my knees feeling weak. I hyperventilated for a second. I knew what it’d mean to tell my parents, but it’s either me or the Cleric. I flung the door open as hard as I could.

 “ Mom. Dad, um, I awakened my ability, and um, well, it’s not exactly an um F-fire ability…” I stumbled over my words, at points I was quiet as a mouse.

“ It is quite a shame. We have no choice but to send you on your way. Pack your things and meet us in the weapons hall.” My dad sighed, staring down at the floor.

 “ Sir, pardon me, but this is quite insane. How could you abandon your own daughter just because she doesn’t use fire!?” Heska barked at my parents. 

“Shut the Fuck up. What would a beast be able to tell me about human politics? You take that other beast girl and leave with Airis!” My dad lashed out at Heska. Without another word, we split up. I went to my room and packed up a few clothes, my weights, and the few thousand Dess I had saved up. While Heska went to deliver the news to Fraize.

“ Anna, I um… I’m being kicked out of the family. Will you come in here so I can say goodbye?” Anna slammed the door open which startled me a little bit. 

 “ No, Airis, tell me you're joking!” Anna called me by my name for the first time; it’s a shame it had to come in her time of despair. I activated my ability and lifted my foot up for her to see, and suddenly she broke down, fully understanding. “ I promise, I’ll always care about you. Stay right there for a minute.” Anna ran back into her room, where she took out a run-down black dress. “ It was supposed to be a surprise to you when you went off to the academy… It’s my old uniform. You can always think of me when you see it, or if it fits, wear it.” Anna hugged me tightly, folding her old uniform into a box and putting it into my bag. I hugged her again before leaving the room. 

 I wasn’t sad to be leaving the mansion; I was sad to leave the people who helped me grow. I took my bag and a few world maps with me and headed down to the weapons hall.“ Airis, while you are being banished, we aren’t going to be cruel to our own daughter; take any weapon you want with you.” My mom looked down at the ground as if she were trying not to cry as my dad spoke. 

 I sighed and took a brief look around the area, which I really didn’t want to because that’d truly be the end of my life as a Vilanova. I knew I would need one though, so I scanned through the rows of weapons. My eyes locked onto a rapier. I took it out of its sheath and scanned the blade. I tried swinging it around a little, even though I had no clue what I was doing.

 “ I guess I’ll take this one.” I looked back at my parents sadly. I hugged my mom before my dad escorted me to the gates where Heska and Fraize were waiting. “ I’ve put 400 thousand Dess in the sack in the carriage. You three are no longer tied to the Vilanova name. Airis, goodbye, take care of yourself.” It’s at least clear to me that my parents don’t want to do this.

We all sat in stunned silence the carriage ride was akward. Thoughts flew around my mind. Why did this happen?

 'How is Ao?'

 What is life going to be like now? Heska was the first one to break the silence in the carriage. “ So, where are we going exactly?”

“ I have no idea. Apparently, the driver has a destination he was ordered to go to that he can’t tell us. Which to me seems suspicious.” Fraize looked down at the floor.

 “ Now that you mention it. There is a part of the map in the general direction we seem to be heading in where bandits run almost everything. The only village left is at war with the bandits. Currently, if I’m correct, we're heading to Blydesdale.”