Apprentices: Full Moon

Heart To Heart

I enjoy a late breakfast the next day, not really caring about the crowded cafeteria for the first time in a long while. My friends are all there before me, which is probably a first one. They’ve all eaten already, but they keep me company until I finish my breakfast.

Afterwards, I head to Kir’s office, having a strange feeling inside my chest. You know, when it feels like you’re excited and scared at the same time. That’s what I’m feeling right now. I hope whatever he has in store for me won’t be that bad.

But wait, if he said we’re meeting someone … What if he’s taking me to the Strigon Residence? What if he made some sort of deal with my father, that he’ll bring me there and let us resolve things? No, hell no. Kir would never do that to me, I’m sure of it.

As I knock on his door, it takes him quite a while to answer. I already think something’s wrong, when I finally hear some shuffling from inside. Okay, that’s a good sign, I suppose? I wait patiently, until my mentor suddenly peeks out.

“Hello, you’re here already. Wonderful. Let’s go,” he speaks up, not even inviting me inside. I mean, I’m fine with that, I suppose this meeting is quite urgent. But still. He’s acting a little weird.

“Hi … Okay,” I simply say in response, but he completely ignores the suspicion inside my voice. As reach the end of the hallway, I can’t take it anymore. “Is everything alright with you?” I want to know. I’m referring to his sudden yesterday’s sickness and to … whatever this delay was just a few moments ago.

He looks at me with a perfectly bright smile. “Yes, sure. Why wouldn’t it be?” he responds, leaving me confused. Maybe I am just imagining things. But it sure didn’t seem that way, when he asked me to provide him with blood yesterday. Anyway. I guess it’s all good, really.

We walk mostly in silence, sharing some small talk during the time it takes us to reach our goal, wherever that might be. Kir asks about the dance, and I happily provide him with answers. He doesn’t even mention my call or the way he helped me take back control. It seems like he’s trying his best to distract me somehow.

As we pass the main entrance, which happens to be the closest path to the Strigon Residence, I breathe out a sigh of relief. Great. He’s not taking me to see my father. I knew he wouldn’t do that to me. But as we walk further, I realize we’re heading in another familiar direction.

The moment we get closer to the cafeteria, I know that I’m right. Because there’s no way anyone would be waiting for us in the cafeteria. Right? Yes. A few moments later, I already see the familiar door, my heart beating in my chest rapidly. “Why didn’t you simply instruct me to wait for you in front of the cafeteria?” I have to ask my mentor, who chuckles in response.

“Because then you’d know exactly where we’re headed. Would you not?” he replies in response, making me pout. Of course, I’d know. I’m not stupid. But there’s no way I’m admitting he’s right. “I thought so,” he then adds, my silence speaking louder than words.

As he knocks, we wait patiently for someone to open the door. Once a woman does, she lets us in when she takes a single glance at Kir’s face. Wonderful. Hanging out with a member of the Elite truly does have its own privileges.

But … I still don’t know who we’re meeting here. I mean, obviously, a warrior witch or wizard. Maybe the whole Elite? Oh, damn, if that’s the case, I wish I would’ve worn something else than a skin-tight dress. Even if it’s knitted. It’s not the most serious attire.

“Well, who are we here for? Are you going to tell me or not?” I pressure my mentor on, making a hint of amusement play around his face. As he ignores me, he silently instructs something to the woman that let us in.

I stare at him stubbornly, but he doesn’t even glance at me anymore. He simply stares forward with a blank expression on his face, while I’m trying hard to make him look my way. No such luck. I have no idea why he’s ignoring me, but I’m also curious about what’s so interesting that he can’t remove his gaze from it.

I’m too stubborn to look myself, but as I realize he’s not going to pay attention to me, I turn my head as well, just in time to see someone walking towards us. In fact, they’re really close now. And seeing their face makes me take a step back, before freezing in shock.

With every step, he gets closer and closer, while I can do nothing but just blink in horror as I stare into the eyes of the man I almost killed. I try to say something, or even open my mouth, but no such luck. I feel like I’m frozen in the moment, unable to think, unable to breathe, unable to f*****g exist.

The worst part is, I’m waiting for the horror that’s going to follow. I’m waiting for the man to scream at me, hit me or try to erase me off the surface of Earth. However, no such thing happens. He stops right in front of me and offers me a small smile in greeting.

“Hello. You must be Evelyn,” he says, while I just open and close my mouth like a fish, unable to get anything out. Damn it! I’m sorry! Just say it girl, you’re very sorry, why are you quiet?! s**t!

Kir notices my distress, and quickly jumps in to save the situation. “My apologies, I didn’t give her a heads up. She didn’t know we’d meet you here,” he explains, while I still stand there like a statue, staring at the wizard with wide eyes.

He nods at Kir in understanding before returning his gaze to me. He offers me a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay. I’m not angry with you at all. It was your mother, who made me jump in front of her in the first place. She … She abused my mind in the worst way possible,” he starts to tell me, suddenly growing quiet as he looks at my mentor again.

“Don’t worry, she’s hearing you. Just let her come back to her senses, she’s still a little shocked,” Kir encourages him. Damn, if I were able to move right now, he’d earn himself a punch in the shoulder. I can speak well enough for myself! Except in this moment, I actually can’t.

I try to shake it off, but it’s like my brain’s frozen. “Oh, that’s okay. I get it. It was a lot for you as well, not just me … Well, you have to know that I don’t blame you. I know you’d never try to hurt me if I wasn’t standing near your mother, and I just couldn’t fight her. Her grip on my mind was so strong, that I didn’t even realize what’s going on, until I was already lying on the floor, bleeding out …” he trails off, watching me carefully, like he isn’t sure how much he can say to me. “I … I remember you leaning over me … You were so horrified … I knew that I had to survive, so I wouldn’t be the reason behind your guilt.”

As he says that, it’s like something inside me awakens and I’m finally able to move. I let out a long breath, holding a hand over my chest as I stare up at the man. “I’m so sorry. I’m so deeply, sincerely sorry for hurting you so badly. You … You’re so kind. I hope you’ll ever be able to forgive me for what I did to you,” I’m finally able to say, feeling the pressure inside me building up. I know I’m about to cry like a baby, but I can’t cry in front of this man. I don’t have the right to do that.

He shakes his head, a hint of sadness crossing his eyes. “There’s nothing to forgive. Didn’t you … Didn’t you hear what I said before? Your mother is the only person who should be blamed in this situation. What you did to me was nothing but a terrible accident. I’m here. I’m alive and well and I forgive you completely. Don’t ruin your life with guilt,” he assures me, suddenly extending his hand towards me.

I stare at it in surprise for a few moments, before looking back up at him and taking his hand, shaking it firmly. His words … His words make me feel like flying. Even if a tiny part inside of me still insists that I should feel horrible about my actions … I don’t feel like the worst person anymore.

“Thank you, sir. I hope that you’re doing well now, and I wish you all the best in the future,” I tell him, finally managing to put a smile on my face. His expression is soon a copy of mine as his smile widens, and he pats our joined hands.

“The same to you. From what I heard about you, you’re a wonderful young woman. You’ll do well,” he responds, making me beam with pride. To have a warrior wizard tell you that! Wow. I’m beyond honored.

As Kir and I are leaving the Headquarters, I feel like I’ve grown a foot. My mentor seems pretty happy with himself, while I’m practically floating through the hallways now. We don’t speak for a while, but I have to tell him. I have to let him know that he just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

“You are the best mentor ever. Did I ever tell you that?” I ask, glancing at him with a wide smile on my face. He chuckles, shaking his head in response.

“I don’t believe I heard you. Why don’t you repeat it a little louder this time?” he suggests in a teasing way. Usually, I’d send a glare at whoever would state something like this. But Kir is definitely not ready for the embarrassment I’m about to provide him with.

“Best! Mentor! Ever!” I practically howl, making quite a few heads turn towards us. Well, all the heads that are currently present at the hallway. He flinches like he was just slapped, but soon lets out a short laughter.

“You are unbelievable,” he murmurs. “Soon enough, I’ll have to go walking around the school, telling everyone that you’re not insane, that you’re just a little excited after a long black period in your life,” he then continues, making me laugh.

“Kir! I had no idea you know how to roast people!” I remark, shaking my head at my mentor. He puts a self-contented smile on his face, casting a proud sideways glance at me.

“An old man can have his secrets, can’t he?” he simply responds. In the next moment, my laughter can probably be heard outside of the building.