Mystal: School of Magic~ Aiya's Story

Chapter 4: Is It Okay to Be Selfish?

"Aiya?"

Aiya looked up from pushing her corn all around the plate to her mother.

"Hmm?" 

"Is something wrong sweetie? You look down." Aiya shrugged, not looking her mother straight in the eye. Though she was only in her early 40's, Dayna had the appearence of someone much older and worse for wear. Her face was tired, an effect from the sickness, and her eyes were dull and lacked color and energy. She was incredibly thin, with bones easily seen and veins were able to be traced from their start to their finish. Her mother constantly was constantly shaking, and she had to be dressed in winter clothes despite the hot climate to keep warm. Still, she never lacked spirit and still had a sense of beauty that couldn't been seen by the eye. 

"No. Nothing.." She added, chancing a glance towards Charlie. He rose an eyebrow at her. She replied with a sharp look before biting into some chicken. 

Her mother didn't seem all too convince, but decided not to press for it. "Pass me the butter, would you?" Aiya nodded, grabbing the spray and carefully handing it into her mothers shaking hands. "Thank you!" She brought it over her food, squirting it onto what remaind of her potatoes. She set the bottle back down with a cough.

"So, how was your day?" She refered to both her children. Aiya didn't answer, so Charlie spoke instead.

"Well.... I finished reading one of my lawyer books.." he gestured the size with his hands. "Its like, 1000 pages, and completely boring. Probably the only one who read it." He took a bite, still talking. " Thats probably including the professor too." Aiya smiled a little.

"Your such a nerd." She told him, sticking out her tounge. "Should've just read the summary." 

"Be quiet, monkey!" He pointed his fork at her. The nickname monkey came from her being increidbly flexible, light, and nimble. 

"Oh, you two.." Their mother laughed. "How about you, Aiys? Do anything fun today?" 

"Not really. went to the beach.. read a book..." she trailed off, deciding not to mention the bullies, using her powers, or the letter. Charlie's kick under the seat, however, made her jump, getting her mother's undivided attention. "Um.. a letter came in the mail, too.. i think." she muttered. 

"You think?"

"Well.. okay... it did." She admited. "Its nothing important though.."

"She got a letter from Mystal!" Interrupted Charlie, getting straight to the point.

"YOU DID!?" Her mother exclaimed, excited. The reaction causede her to cough a few times before clearing her throat. "I'm so proud of you! Oh.. we'll have to pack and get you some supplies and-"

"I'm not going." She stated numbly. Silence overcame the room as they both stared at her.

"What?"

"Aiya you cant be serious.."

"You wanted this since you were little..."

"After all this time...." 

"Don't you want to go?" Her mom finished, looking at her with sudden sad eyes. 

"Of course i do.." she whispered, tears pricking at her eyes . It was hard for her to say this. "More then anything. But i'm needed here... I need to help!" 

"Aiya." her mother looked at her seriously. "Don't let my sickness pull you down.. You belong there. You belong at Mystal." 

"But-"

"Aiys." Charlie gave her a small smile. "I'm going to be here. Mom will be in my care. "

"Thats what i'm worried about." She smiled slightly.

"Haha, very funny." he grew serious again. "If you don't go, you'll miss out on everything you dreamed of."

"I don't want to take that away from you, sweetheart. So go. Tell them your going. I won't let you waste another breath of refusal." Her mother gave her a wink. 

"..Right.." Aiya bit her lip. "mom?"

"hmm?"

"I love you." 

"I love you too, Aiya."