Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

Students of Gilead Academy began applauding for the newly-called guest speaker for today-- which happens to be my mother, the head of the village healers of Ziv.

"Lancaster?" Ariella asked. She was standing next to me along with my other two friends. Cailin and Maggie looked at us with curious expressions plastered on their faces.

Then they all looked at me with confusion.

"By any chance, are you related to the guest speaker Krisella?" she added.

And now they know about it too, which I kinda try to hide in fear that it might cause pressure towards my stay here in school. I don't like the feeling of people expecting so much from you, like the way I felt back in our home village.

"Yes," I lifted one hand and rubbed the back of my head. "She's my mother."

They all gasped. 

"So you also happen to be the daughter of a master wizard? Am I right?" Cailin asked. I almost scold her for being too loud.

"Y-yes," I reluctantly replied.

"Oh wow! You didn't mention a thing to us!" Maggie almost bellowed. "We've got ourselves a prominent friend from a powerful family."

"No, it's not like that," I shrugged. "I'm just a nobody who came here to study magic and try to be like my father."

"Still, you haven't said a single thing about it to us," Ariella said, feigning hurt.

"It's because you never asked."

We remained silent for a few minutes in fear of getting everyone's attention if we kept on mumbling nonsense here.

I watched as my mother spoke in front of this whole crowd. Never in my life have I imagined my family to be this powerful and prominent, as what my friends claimed earlier. For me, we are just like any other families in our village… simple, peaceful, and happy.

Maybe it is because I have never seen my parents outside the house doing their jobs. They will always strictly prohibit us from going outside if it is not necessary. And when both of them are away on business, I am always left with my big brother.

I've always imagined what it would look like seeing them in action. And today, I know that I will finally have the chance to see it with my own eyes.

At the end of the speech, the healers of the village demonstrated the basics of healing. This particular subject, as we speak, will be one of our major subjects by the time we reach the third year here at Gilead Academy. 

Then, randomly selected students were instructed to perform the skills that the healers had just taught us. It was usually the top students in each class, year and section that were selected.

I wasn't selected, thank goodness, because it was Jil that our class adviser had selected. But I decided that I won't let this event pass by without having a brief discussion with my mother, and without saying my apologies to her for what I have done.

I am just not sure yet how to face her when that time has finally come.

Without realizing it, I was staring intently at how they performed healing skills for those who had suffered burns caused by fire magic, or brought back a broken bone to its proper alignment for those who had a serious accident.

Like I was slowly contemplating to myself the life that I might be currently in today if I had chosen to stay in our village.

I was craning my neck once more, watching for a chance to speak with my mother when the time comes that the healers will be returning to Ziv. I was surprised, however, when I saw my mother talking with the dean of our school.

Oh no, if your mother is talking to the head of the school, that would always be bad luck for you, the child. Either you will be scolded for it, or worse, you will have to move schools.

I tried to relax myself. Knowing my performance in school has gone quite well in the past few months, I think I will have nothing to worry about.

As I glanced in their direction, I saw that my mother was now on her way to rejoin the rest of the healers. I immediately excused myself from my friends and joined my mother.

"Mother!" I called out, loud, when they almost reached out the school gates.

My mother, on the other hand, stopped in her tracks. Everyone else in the village stopped in their tracks too. They all looked at me, with shocked expressions plastered on their faces, and began discussing one another.

"Is that Krisella?"

"She was Eleanor's child who just ran away without saying any other word. Such an ungrateful child."

"Indeed, she is."

"I wonder how Eleanor should react now after seeing her child after a few months of not seeing her since then."

Eleanor, my mother, looked at them and raised one eyebrow at them. The beige-colored waist-length hair of hers shine under the rays of the sun, her gray eyes sparkled.

"Shush, all of you," she says. "I can hear you, you know."

They all bent their heads, and from them, my mother's gaze shifted on my direction.

"You may go now. Leave us alone for a while and I will catch up to you later."

Everyone complied with her orders and started walking towards the bus that is currently awaiting outside the school. While that was happening, my mom and I looked for a spot away from other students which was on the back portion of the student building.

"Long time no see."

"Yes, it has been almost four months since…" I was the first one who looked away from her, unsure what to say next. "Since I chased for my dreams."

"You mean since the time you stole my money from me and ran away from home."

I smiled, a guilty one. "Yes, that too."

When I thought my mother might have something to say after that, silence filled the air. The afternoon breeze can now be heard gently blowing on my ears, its coolness being felt on my skin. My auburn hair swayed along with it.

"I'm sorry, mother. I know you must have been so disappointed with me for not following your footsteps, and also for the stealing I have done. I am so sorry for stealing your savings, and for running away from home."

I was also the one who broke this awkward silence between us, for I can't stand it anymore.

"Even if you find it ridiculous for me to learn the offensive ways of magic, but believe me, this is where my heart belongs. I prefer to walk in my father's footsteps instead of being a mere healer. I wanted to fight, protect our village from the enemies, and at the same time heal too. I hope… I hope you won't force me to go back to the village, or get disappointed for the life I have chosen for myself."

I tilted my head down and turned my attention to the ground to avoid having any eye contact with my mother, who must be so mad right now. I can't face her angry face.

I think I can't bear it seeing her like that.

However, in my peripheral vision, I saw my mother's right hand lifted, and I really thought that once she reached out to touch my cheek, she would strike me hard.

But instead, my mother gently placed her right hand on my cheek that caused me to raise my head to meet her gaze with a bewildered look on my face.

I asked in disbelief, "You're not mad at me?"

"I will never resent you for choosing to follow your dreams," she smiled. I sniffed, and before I knew it... tears threatened to flow from the corners of my eyes.

"The money I kept for you in case you want to choose your own path is the money you stole," she continued. "It isn't much, but I hope it helps you survive here for a short time."

A few seconds after, she started hugging me and tears now began rolling down my cheeks as I hugged her back.

"The dean has told me of your performance… and your accident the other day as well…" she said in a somewhat scolding manner.

"But nonetheless, I am so proud of what you achieved so far. I am so proud of you,"

My mother lightly gave me a kiss on the cheek before continuing.

"Just make sure to be careful all the time, alright?"

I gave a brief nod at my mother.

"Yes, mother. You too. Be careful always."

After that brief talk with her, she pulled away from the hug and caught up to her friends, leaving me here standing alone.

"Your mother seems so kind," A voice suddenly spoke that made me flinched all of a sudden.

Alex!

"You never fail to give me a heart attack, do you?" I said, not knowing where to look since he is currently in invisible mode.

"Just following orders from Lancelot to come and pick you up," he replied. "So I think it is best if we'll now return then?"

"Fine!"

I started taking steps towards the gate and back to the castle...