Parted Ways

"Wahh! It's the sea."

The sun already starting to set by the time we arrived at the Achbale. I was spark fly by the serene scene in front of me where the intense assortment of orange, pink, yellow colors all over the sky. The red sun is cut in half by the gentle sea while the ocean water is mirroring the colors in the sky. It's so amazing, enough to make me forget about my back pain from the awful rocking carriage. After we came out from the forest, we manage to hitch a ride from a carriage carrying goods to be exported to the neighboring country.

"First time saw the sea?"

"Not really. But I have never been here before. It's beautiful."

Well, I'm not lying. it's true that the last time I saw the sea was in my previous life. and it's true that the scenery back in my previous world cannot be compared to the beauty of the scenery in front of me now.

"Thanks to the peace agreement, we can still enjoy this beautiful scenery. Five years ago, this port was full of army and dangerous for common citizens like us."

I remember the lesson from history class for queen training. Prior to the peace agreement five years ago, this town was an army base. Afterward, it acts as the main port connecting the empire and Richfield kingdom. Even though this port town only operated for 5 years, it has already been the second-largest port town in the kingdom since a lot of merchants from the empire come flowing to the kingdom after the long-awaited peace treaty.

The carriage stops right at the station where it was situated in the middle of the town. The town is smaller but it was as busy as Geoxgina. Since it was a port town, most of the people seem so different. I can see a lot of foreigners from either empire or the other countries.

"So, What is your plan after this?"

"I think I will search for an inn first to spend the night tonight."

"There's an inn opposite to the open sea. The inn is quite convenient since there's also a tavern beside it. You can easily get your meal there. And it's cheap too."

"That's a big help. I think I will go there."

"Though, make sure to order a delivery to your room at night time since the tavern will be roaming with crazy drunkers."

I giggle at Hannelle's forewarning as I said I will keep that in mind.

"You sure you don't want to stay at my relative's house?"

I look at Hannelle. Her face saying she's serious. Maybe she still worried about me since I'm just a kid alone in a stranger's place. If I am her, I would have also been worried. Still, if I keep on depends on her when will I learn to be independent?

"Yes. I don't want to cause you trouble any further."

Hannelle seems like she wanted to rebuke but she held her self. Instead, she let out a sigh.

"Then, I think this is where we part ways."

She came close to me and hug me tightly. I can feel the warmth of her body on me. Suddenly I wish we could stay together longer. Shortly, she releases her embrace from me.

"Take care, Eden."

"I will. Thank you so much…"

I stop talking abruptly and fidgeting a bit before continues to talk in low voice.

"… Big sister Hannelle."

Though I averted my eyes away, I can feel that Hannelle's eyes open wide. Speechless. I can feel my cheeks become hotter. I want to dig a hole and dive my head inside already. It's hard to let it out. But since I'm not sure whether I'll be able to meet her again, I swallow my pride and say it. Just take it as a fan service.

"Now, I even think I can die peacefully. Eden, why don't you just come and stay with my relative for a while? I'm worried after all."

Can't believe of her exaggeration, I send her a sullen gaze. I decided to ignore her and be on my way.

"I'm going to the inn now. Bye, Hannelle."

Leaving Hannelle behind, I started to walk to the inn direction that she had showed me earlier.

"Eden!"

Hannelle screams my name.

"If we come across each other one day, don't forget to say hi."

I wave the last goodbye to Hannelle. Even though it's only been 2 days it feels like we have known each other for so long. Even so, I'll make sure to never forget you, Hannelle.

****

After I check in the inn, I went on a sightseeing. It's been a while since I saw the sea. The last time I went to the sea was in my previous life with my little sister I think. Naturally, the sea here is much more beautiful than my previous world. The water was crystal clear, you can see more fish here and there's less trash you can find. It's natural since this world is not sullied by plastic bags yet and I hope it will never know the existence of plastic. It could sustain the natural environment in this world.

Though I'm acting as if I'm carefree, I still not forget my purpose of coming to this town.

I need to find someone. His name is Lloyd Marx. A commander of the royal mage also a master in magic or I should say, former commander. He retired from his position after losing his arm during the war with the Empire five years ago.

Four years ago he used to stay at our house as a guest for a month. That was how I knew about him. I'm not sure the exact reason why he stayed at our house for so long but I know that he was working with my father in the office most of the time.

There's one day when I was practicing my magic at the backyard by myself. That time, I was struggling to practice how to control my magic power.

I was told by my tutor that I have a high magic power. He said it's only natural since tremendous magic power runs in our family. For common people, they start with low or basic magic power. Then, their magic powers will slowly increase until a certain limit after years of training.

In our case, the initial amount was already high since the day we were born. So, it's hard to control the power.

Therefore, to control my magic power from getting out of control, I always being made to wear a chocker which acts as a magic resistor. As a matter of fact, I hate that chocker. I want to quickly be able to control my power so that I can get rid of it. Thus, when I was little, I trained very hard to control my magic power but it always seems to end with failure.

One day, it was basically the same training routine for me every day. I was about to test my magic control after finish the basic practice to control magic. So I intentionally remove my chocker. For the safety factors, I choose to cast ice magic because if anything happens, it will be less hurt than thunder or so I thought.

With such confident eyes, I cast out the ice magic. In my head, I imagine it to be like some cute little flowers on the ground. However, it does not turns out like what I wanted it to be. Massive torn ice appeared in front of me. And it keeps expanding rapidly until it reached me. I want to run away but my feet were stuck on the ground. I thought I already been done for.

Until a protective shield was cast over me. Because of that, the ice does not reach me and it went pass by me.

"Wear your chocker, now!"

I was startled by a man's voice yell out to me from behind. Without looking at the owner of the voice, I quickly take out my chocker from my pocket. As soon as I wear it, the ice stops expanding.

While I was still in the magic shield, a wave of flame came into sight melting all the ice away. Just in a second, all the ice and flame vanish from sight. Afterward, the magic shield that has been protecting me also dematerialized.

I fell on my knees feeling dismayed. My whole body was trembling fear by my own magic. All of a sudden, a warm big hand touched my shoulder. I was afraid. I was afraid if he would be my father. But knowing father, he would not be touching my shoulder as if trying to calm me down like that.

When I slowly turn around, I saw him, Lloyd Marx anxiously looking at me.

"Are you ok? You not hurt anywhere?"

I nodded. I was too shocked to utter some words. I don't know what's wrong with my head that day. Maybe it's because I was still so young. However, during that time, I really wish he was my father.

Lloyd Marx, he was a hero for me. After he saved me, the next day I ask him to teach me the right way to control my magic. Without a doubt, he plainly refused me. Well of course with my natural hard-headed behavior, I continuously pestered him. At a certain point, he finally resigned and told me that he will not teach me anything but only can point out my wrongs.

Despite what he said, he really did teach me the right and easiest way to control magic. In the end, I could finally get rid of my chocker by the day he left our home.

And now, I'm going to search for him. I don't exactly know where his house is but before he left four years ago, he did say that he will live quietly in this domain near the town by the sea. The only town by the sea in this domain was Achbale. I am sure he is somewhere in or near this town.

If I found him, I will ask him to accept me to be his student once again.