Our Failures

Chapter 3: Decisions

 I was watching the news, yes I know unusual but I like it, when a knock sounded from my door. I was afraid it might be the police to question us again but when I opened it Sarapeth was there with an envelope. I thought it was a little weird that she came here but I saw that her magic was still constricted.

"Are your parents home?" She asked politely. I nodded before yelling into the house for my mom. The moment my mom walked into view and saw who it was her smile dropped and her walk turned into a stride. She was so solely focused she almost shoved me out of the way on her way to Sarapeth.

"What do you want?" She hissed. Sarapeth flinched back slightly, her demeanour going from anticipatory to nervous. Instead of replying she handed my mom the envelope, which got my mom's interest off of her for at least a moment. Inside the envelope was a note and a check with quite a large sum on it.

"That is the first of my payments," Sarapeth said, then she pulled out one more envelope. It had the sorcerer insignia on it, which was a single star with a ribbon wrapped around it. It was meant to represent how each sorcerer was different yet united still surrounded by magic. "I would also ask for a discussion, I truly would like to tutor your son. I have no intention of changing his main curriculum but would like to build off what he learns in school."

My mom stopped frowning only to form a growl, her teeth grinding together. I noticed her eyes were starting to shine brighter. I was afraid she was going to burst when I felt something scratch at the edge of my senses, almost like a warning. Then my dad's hand landed on my mom's shoulder, startling her enough for the glowing to die down.

"Let's hear her out honey," He said. He was more level-headed about this but I knew he was still furious with Sarapeth, he was just trained in deception. He turned to me before saying anything else: "Can you make us tea?"

As they went to the living room I started the fire for the tea, it took a minute as I was trying to use my magic to do it but I did get it thanks to my dad's help a few days ago. Magic was a lot easier now that I could see what I needed to do but I still had a lot of trouble controlling it now. As the tea was heating I started watching the Tv again, only to turn it off when they started talking about the protests a week ago.

A loud whistle broke me out of my brooding. I placed the strainer full of leaves in the kettle and let it sit before pulling them out and placing it on a tray. We weren't the richest but thanks to dad we had quite the lump sum, easily enough to afford proper silverware. I carried the tray to the living room and poured four cups, purposely letting them know I was going to be part of the conversation. I noticed my dad gave me a subtle nod as mom and Sarapeth talked, well more like mom yelled at Sarapeth.

"You will not teach my son, you called him a retard for divine sake," My mom argued when Sarapeth told her the benefits. My dad shook his head before interjecting himself.

"Now let's calm down, I thought you were a mage? Doesn't that mean you can only take on sorcerer's as apprentices?" My dad asked with his finger rubbing circles in my mom's hands. I remembered Mr. Sanalez talking about that. An Archmage can only take Mage apprentices, Mages can only have Sorcerer apprentices and a Sorcerer can only have Merushian apprentices. Sadly I haven't taken a Sorcerer test and so I'm technically a Merushian, even if that title now sickened me.

"Ah, that is where you are wrong sir. I WAS a Mage but I've been demoted for an undetermined time, and so I can take on a Merushian apprentice. It also means that when he takes his sorcerer test I can still be his teacher after I regain my title." She explained. I thought it sounded like a good idea but the look on my mom's face made it more a good dream than an idea.

"I like it. What's the catch? Do you want to be paid or something?" My dad asks. My mom looked at my dad horrified that he was actually thinking about this and I couldn't help but chuckle at her expression, which was admittedly a bad idea as she stared me down. There goes my desserts for the month.

"The only drawback is that he would have to join the military, although with the state of things it's likely he will regardless. He would still get to school and such but I'm only allowed to take these off at my command post and it's the only way I'll be able to tutor him," She said. Now I was skeptical about going, I loved being here where I had food and my own room. "He would have a day off each week to spend here and everything he'll need will be provided to him from my own pocket."

I could see the indecision written on my dad's face as he weighed the options. If I was going to go with her it would be decided by him, not my mom and Sarapeth seemed to recognize that fact as she was staring at him, waiting for his approval. My mom had at least stopped glaring at Sarapeth and was also waiting for my dad's answer, then he turned to me: "What do you think?"

I didn't know what to think in all honesty. It was an amazing opportunity to be picked by a mage even if she was technically a sorcerer right now, but it was still a golden opportunity. On one hand, I would have to leave, and join the military, something I had hoped against but as she said a draft was likely to happen anyways, and on the other, I would have more chances to improve my magic abilities. I look at my dad and mom, her expression nearly breaking my heart and with a sigh, I made my decision.

"I wanna go," I said, pointedly looking away from my distraught mother. Her glowing red eyes had turned into a dull maroon.

"I have to go this approved by the councils but in about a week I should be able to bring the good news here," Sarapeth said as she excused herself from our house. A few moments after she had left my mom finally broke down and started sobbing, it was gut-wrenching. I tried to block it out but it stayed there even as she was taken to their bedroom by my dad. It was only then that I looked up and saw what they had paused the tv on earlier, there on the news channel was a woman holding a framed picture of her husband and daughter laughing happily. I felt loathing grow as one of the Merushian protest leaders were brought on the show only for him to refuse to apologize on behalf of his protester's actions, it was a sort of symbolism I think.

That man was now my reason for joining the military, for getting an apprenticeship under Sarapeth. I would never allow filth like them to cause harm like that again, I would never fail to save someone's father again.

Those thoughts consuming my mind as I went to bed but sleep would elude me again as I saw nothing but blood.