Amelia Comforts Aster

Aster felt a bit dizzy hearing his sister's words. The headmaster wanted to meet him. Why? Of course, there were a thousand reasons. All the events of the past two days were enough to give him a suspension. Or, even an expulsion. He thought over the matter again and again. Whatever, he was to get, he would face it. No matter what! But, what did he actually do? He was confused. He should be given a medal for bravery, for what he did yesterday. But, maybe they may force an expulsion upon him saying that he disrupted the social order. He felt that he was going to faint. He stared at his sister's face unknowingly. Amelia started to feel awkward. She didn't understand the meaning of her brother's glare. She didn't even know where he was the previous night. All she know is that, he went to attend the New Year Party and some armoured mages attacked the place and her brother came home after she slept.

Amelia was concerned for her brother. She touched her brother's shoulder's comforting him. She could see that he was worried."Where were you yesterday night? When did you come back? Is something worrying you?"

Aster came out of his trance. He wanted to tell her everything. Everything, right from the beginning. He had always done that whenever he was worried. Amelia was more like a soul keeper than a big sister. Amelia was about 20 years old. Three years older than Aster. She was always there for him Whenever he needed her. But, how could he tell her all this and worry her.

He looked at Amelia, sulking. His eyes suddenly turned red. He could feel a sudden soreness in his throat. He couldn't speak. Nothing came out. He thought of Sienna and Eren. He wanted to meet them. He wanted to tell them that he was sorry for what he did to them. For everything that happened to them because of him. He could feel his eyes blurring. He was 16. Or almost seventeen. That doesn't mean he had no emotions. That doesn't mean he never felt like crying. He tried to blink away the tears that filled his eyes. It was more than what he could take. He couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He let it flow. The hotness of the liquid slowly barned his skin. He felt that he was burning himself in the flames that he created the previous night.

Amelia saw Aster's sudden change and was shocked. She had never seen him cry. Not in the recent years atleast. Even if he was bullied everyday at school, pushed to his limits every second, he never let out a tear. But now, she saw her brother shedding tears in front of her. Something must have happened. Otherwise he wouldn't cry.

She put hand on her brother's head now. His blonde hair was unkempt but soft. She gently stroked her brother's hair. She let out a slight whisper, only for Aster to hear.

"Aster, what happened?"

Aster looked at her one more time. He saw her concerned look. Amelia sat down beside Aster on the bed. Now, he couldn't control it. He hugged his sister and cried into her. He could barely utter a word. He sobbed like a girl. Amelia held her brother tight and let him cry. She tried to ask him something but he sobbed harder. She could only watch him sob. When Aster calmed down a bit, she lifted his head and asked him what happened. His eyes were sore from crying. His speech wasn't clear but he told her everything. Everything right from the beginning. He told her the things that he hadn't told Sienna and Eren. He cursed himself in front of his sister. He told her about the bullies too. Tears flowed from his eyes whenever he spoke of Sienna and Eren. They were his best friends and he pushed them to the verge of death.

Amelia did not speak a word. She listened everything that Aster told. It was too much for her too. She knew that her brother was going through something he wasn't ready for. All she could do was hug him tight and pat slowly on his shoulder and say that it wasn't his fault. That's exactly what she did. That comforted him to so e extent. But that was not what he wanted. He wanted answers to the several thousand questions that arose in his mind. He felt that he was fell into a deep pit unknowingly and to climb out there were a thousand steps. The thousand steps were not visible in the dim light.

"I will come with you to meet the headmaster. "Amelia told Aster.

Aster tried to protest. He had alredy dragged more than enough people into this. He couldn't risk his sister's life. Amelia made it clear that she would go. Taking Amelia along, would be an advantage for Aster if at all he was to be punished. Amelia was the strongest mage of her class when she was in high school. She was also one of the headmaster's favourite students. She had helped the school several times during crisis. At last Aster had to agree. He could never win a fight with his sister. His heart was still heavy.

Aster had no apetite, hence did not bother to eat. Amelia had a cup of cornflakes and milk. She had to store energy to fight with so many people. They let out of the house together. They didn't talk a word in between. They kept on walking, without uttering a word. Both of them were burning from inside. Amelia was worried for her brother. Aster had more than one reason to worry about. Amelia wanted to smash that doctor's face for dragging Aster into this mess. She kept her rage aside as she knew that it was not the right time.

Aster wanted to meet Sienna and Eren. He wanted to see if they were fine. But he had orders to follow. He had to go and meet the headmaster first. He thought that he will have to wait outside the headmaster's office for a long time. But the moment he and Amelia reached the office, they were let in. The headmaster was surprised to see his favourite student with Aster. If it was any better situation, he would have happily served her tea and biscuits. But this was not just the right time.

"Long time since we met Amelia. I see, you have accompanied your brother. I didn't expect that you would come."

She loved her headmaster a lot but now heart heart was burning. She moved forward and clamped her fists down on the desk and asked What did my brother do?"

Aster was shocked to see his sister's behavior. The headmaster looked as if he had expected it.

"You haven't changed a bit Amelia. You're exactly as you were three years ago."

Her face tuned red. It was not the answer for what she asked.

"Tell me. What did he do? What are you gonna do to him?"

"Amelia, your brother will be expelled from the school"

"But why?"

"Please try to understand. He is a...." He was interrupted. There was a loud bang on the door.

************

SOME HOURS AGO, IN THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WELFARE

It was a tense atmosphere.

"We will have to kill that boy before those mages attack again."

"But, he did nothing wrong. How can we kill him?"

"Are you voting for the boy, Hogman? He is a public threat. Those mages came here only for him. Everyone here know that."

"So you are going to kill an innocent boy of 17 saying that he is a public threat? "

"This is the decision of the ministry. If you have any objections, Mr.Hogman, you can leave the ministry forever."

Hogman didn't say anything afterwards. He knew that it was wrong. What they were doing was wrong.

The officials from the ministry, including Hogman set out to Aster's school. They came to know that Aster was in the headmaster's office.