Weeks have passed, and winter has begun. The snow came down heavily, coating everything in a thick layer. The semester of the Academy ended, but I continued to work at the Tower.
One night, a letter arrived, instructing me to go to the night market in the Capital, and I quickly left to meet my dear friend. Francis has been gone for months on some mission. Every so often, he would send postcards, and we would update each other on our lives, but now I'm seeing him again. I made sure to walk through the gardens, over the gate, and into the woods where the Solon territory ended before teleporting into the city. I made sure to dye my white hair a light brown before I teleported into Francis's office and scared him.
"Giselle! You can't scare me like that," he yelps as he clutches his chest with his fist in fright.
"I'm just happy you're back!" I smile and walk towards him. He embraces me, and I smell his usual scent. Through the hug, I can tell he's gotten bigger since he's left, more muscular than lean now. "You've changed a lot."
"I've been working out," He lets go of me to flex his biceps comically, even though it is hard to see through his winter layers. "The new physique helps me with the ladies."
I slap his arm with scoff, but I'm grinning as I look at my dear friend. He puts his arm around me, telling me that there's a special surprise he has for me. I nod and ask him more about his trip as he leads me out to the street.
The firework festival was underway, and many vendors had called out to us. During this time, fireworks are typically purchased and displayed in spectacular shows. The fireworks are sent from the Academy to showcase their control of magic, piquing the interest of people in applying for the aptitude test to enter the Tower for the upcoming year. Many programs also do different displays. My program had a small booth showcasing transfiguration spells.
I stopped by my booth to see my students, and they didn't seem to recognize me. I was glad to know that they weren't showing off that they were students studying Ancient Magic. While I am proud of my program, there are still many citizens who are upset with me because they still believe I stole their illegal magic weapons away from them.
Francis and I continued walking along the market. We bought street food, explored booths featuring new items from around the world, and saw what the other programs in the Tower were selling. We sampled a variety of foods, trying different cuisines and ranking them with glee.
We settled on a park bench, an intoxicatingly good hard cider warmed us from within from the bitter cold. We huddled close to each other, and our conversation had stopped. We sat there, people watching and content with the quiet, cold air.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Francis broke the silence, his arm wrapped around me, which shielded me from the wind that hit us.
"I was given my first mission as a student," I nod. "You gave me a curse to break."
"I remembered you looked so young," he sighs, pinching together his forefinger and his thumb to emphasize my youth. "You were so tiny and nervous and-"
"I wasn't that nervous," I cut him off with a laugh. "I was 15, and it was my first mission- ever. No one wanted to work with me, so I did it all by myself."
"And you were great at breaking the curse." Francis hums. "Then I took you out for a drink on a night like this. I think the firework festival was happening back then."
"Yes, it was," I chuckle, remembering that night. I wasn't allowed to drink, but it was the first time I got drunk and had a great time. I was tripping over my feet when I walked back, not knowing how I got back to my dorm.
YOU ARE READING
Not Giving Into Fate
FantasyI was the daughter of Duke Solon, I thought I was the last child. My elder brother is following in my father's stead. We were never really close. We both share my father's personality, a wedge that makes it hard for the three of us to talk to one an...
