Goodbyes

Annika's POV

"But that's absurd." Uncle Mike stood up, anger evident in his voice.

Aunt Lucy tugged Uncle's arm for him to sit down, but I can see that she is also holding down whatever she has in mind.

"Mr. Anderson, it is just for the first three months. We will also be providing weekly reports on how Annie is doing here. This way she will be able to cope with her new lifestyle and leave whatever marks she had in the human world." The headmaster explains calmly as if not being threatened with my uncle's demeanor at all.

"After the three months of total isolation from her usual environment, we will be arranging a weekly visit and an hour of phone calls too. My apologies if I did not disclose this in our previous meeting, I prefer handling this matter in person." He added.

Well, if anyone should be threatened, it would definitely not be them. We are in their lair, after all. Besides, who knows what kind of magic this headmaster has?

Thankfully, Uncle Mike sits and tries to calm himself down.

Three months is more than enough.

I smirked, liking the idea of being alone for three months.

"But we don't want to erase whatever human experience she had. It is her whole life, you have to understand. And besides, isn't three months too long? Annie needs support while she is here." Aunt Lucy explained.

I just listened quietly.

Honestly, I don't care at all. But then, what the headmaster is pointing at will be to my best advantage.

"And that is exactly what we will be doing here. Trust me, there is no one who can support Annie better than her kind." There is a sudden pause; everyone went quiet as if weighing the words from the headmaster.

I too was intrigued.

My kind. What am I exactly? Not human, that I'm sure.

"This is not an isolated case, Mrs. Anderson. Annie is not the only one here who was born with humans. And seventeen years is already too long for her to be in your hands. She is already running way behind her age group."

"Running behind what exactly?" Uncle Mike chimes in.

The headmaster leaned forward, hands clasped above the table, looking serious.

"Let's just put it this way. In humans, you have simple stages of human development, right? From infancy to toddler stage, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and old age. These stages were incorporated with expected behaviors and skills that come out normally. Language and locomotion skills are developing during the toddler stage, being self-conscious and establishing independence during adolescence. You know what I mean." He smiled as my aunt and uncle nodded. I just stared blankly at him, not knowing where he was going.

"Despite experiencing that too, we, as arcanists, have this other special stage too. An additional ability we have depends on our age. It starts during the toddler years. By then, one must discover which element they are. If both parents had the same element, it would be obvious even before the child is born. But some whose parents are different element users, one must wait until the child's toddler stage to know."

The headmaster took a deep breath and rested his back on his chair before continuing.

"Given that Annie is already seventeen, then she must have mastered her ability already. But of course, that was hindered by a number of factors in her human life. In my assessment, she has the age of an adolescent but with the ability of a toddler."

I can't help but roll my eyes.

What an idiotic way to say that.

"Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, what do you think will happen if a toddler is left with something so dangerous, a knife for example?"

They both exchanged glances, realizing what the headmaster was trying to say.

"A disaster, right? She could hurt herself or, worse, hurt anyone by mistake."

This time, he looked at me.

Memories flooded again. The smell of smoke, their taunting laughter, screams, and then blood.

I looked away and focused my eyes on the window on my left.

"I am not trying to eradicate whatever memory you have with Annie. I am just realigning her life to what it is supposed to be. And believe me or not, we prioritize whatever is good for our students here."

A look of satisfaction is registered on both Uncle Mike and Aunt Lucy's faces. This headmaster really deserved his title. A smooth talker with a sense. With that speech he just said, he totally got their approval. The very thing I tried working to have for weeks so they would allow me to be here.

I chose not to listen to whatever they were discussing after that.

I buried myself with my creative plan and how I must execute it properly.

"Annie." I heard my aunt call.

"We are just discussing their uniform policy, dear." Aunt Lucy gave me a sweet smile.

I furrowed my brows. I saw their uniform while walking in the hallway earlier. There is no freaking way I will be wearing a skirt all around the campus.

I was about to open my mouth when Aunt Lucy pressed my hand in a reassuring way.

"Don't worry, I asked Mr. Blackwood to give you time until you are well adjusted to the environment before you wear the uniform."

"I am aware of your case, Miss Annie. With that I will allow you to dress as you like until you feel comfortable with our uniform." He smiled, but I still noticed him looking at me from head to foot, as if not sure if me dressing as I want is a good idea.

With my oversized shirt and long, baggy pants, I am more like a beggar than a student here.

Don't worry, headmaster; I am not planning to be here for a long time.

I smiled inwardly. "Thank you for the consideration, Mr. Blackwood."

Minutes passed, and we were already saying our final goodbye.

Well, for me, this is my final goodbye. Too bad my cousins are not here; I should have hugged them tight before heading here.

"See you in three months, kiddo." Uncle Mike patted my head while Aunt Lucy hugged me.

"Say my goodbyes to Dylan and Dimitri." I smiled, and they nodded.

And with that, they are gone. I was left in the headmaster's office with only the headmaster in front.

Suddenly it was heavy. My heart felt weird. It was as if I was already dead inside.

"Are you ready for some arcane magic, Miss Annie?" Mr. Blackwood asks, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.

"Ready as I can be." I answered.