West Ora Academy: Raising Elara

Chapter 7: Andy

Andy’s P.O.V.

“Okay, El, we’ve decided to take you to school with us. With Gabriel’s help we were able to enroll you under the name Elara Moon. Be careful to not share your age or who your parents are with anyone that doesn’t already know you. It’s very important that no one knows your real identity. You will take the potion so that you look older. You will also attend an independent study with Stella in the witch’s building,” I began to explain to Elara, hoping she could understand.

We were taking an enormous risk by enrolling her and having her go to classes on her own. She needed to learn these things while she was still young. Seeing her excitement while Petra taught her showed me just how much she desired to learn. It also made Ares and me realize how much she needed it. Her magic hasn’t bursted out of her as easily since Petra’s lesson. I can only imagine what a lesson with an actual witch would do to help her.

“Okay, Mommy. I will stay quiet.” Elara nodded. She wanted this just as bad.

“Are you sure you can handle being by yourself for your classes?” Ares asked. We’d all been wondering. Can she be apart from us and still be okay? She’s about 6 now, a little more independent than before, but still needing us to be in sight of her.

“I can do it. I’ll be okay.” She was determined, and hungry to learn.

I guess this is what it’s like to send your kid off to school for the first time. You trust that they will be okay. This is different, though. She’s a child, but everyone in class will treat her like a teenager in her freshman year. At least by her senior year she’ll be turning 18.

“Okay, El. We’re trusting you, but remember, if you need us, just send us a message the way I taught you.” Ares reminded her of how to use the shadows.

We were uncertain if her learning to use the shadows was a good idea or not. Being a shadow weaver doesn’t inherently make you evil, even if they are part of the darker creature category. Still, it brings her closer to darkness, and as such, we try not to have her rely on the use of her shadow. The ceremony to get her shadow was deadly, but thankfully we kept the evil ones away. A lot of us got severely hurt doing so, but she ended up with an ancient shadow much like Augustus’.

“Okay, Daddy.”

I could tell she was excited to start. Tomorrow is our first day back, and I was glad that we could at least take Elara with us this time. Last semester of junior year was hard, leaving her behind to go to school. I am glad that I will be able to sneak her to my dorm to sleep, and that we’d be together on campus. We could all eat together, every meal.

I think we were all excited now, but there was still that nagging worry inside me. I guess that’s part of being a mom, constantly being worried about your child. It made me understand my own mother better. Funny how that works.

We spent the day packing, playing, and enjoying ourselves. Jesse joined, surprisingly without Petra. It seemed she was called on by the Gods for something. Eventually Augustus, Nova, and Manny came along. Liam joined last, having more alpha training before school started.

“Have I mentioned how much I hate my dad?” Liam asked, plopping back on our bed, because somehow our room became the hangout spot.

“Hate is not a good thing to have,” Elara told him sternly, only making me proud. I am glad she remembered me telling her that.

It’s important that she doesn’t harbor any dark emotions like hate, envy, anger, or jealousy. We’ve spoken at length about these feelings and how she should handle them.

Liam looked at Ares and me, a bit concerned. Probably wondering if he’d messed up in some way. I shook my head with a small smile to tell him he was fine. We can’t censor everything around Elara, especially not now that she is going to start school.

“You’re right, but it’s hard not to. He’s not nice like your dad, El. He’s driven by power, and if he thinks you’re too weak, he won’t accept you.”

I felt bad for Liam. I know he’s been working hard all summer. He may not want to admit it, but he wants his father’s approval. He wants to become a powerful alpha, but one that is also kind. I guess he wants to be more like Everett.

“You’re very strong, Uncle Liam. I can see it in you. There’s a power that you will unlock soon.” Elara surprised us all with her words.

“Elara, have you been having visions?” Ares asked. He had taught her how to look into the future and told her it may start happening randomly. He figured with her being so powerful that it would happen often, but she never mentioned having many visions.

“I can have them whenever I want, Daddy. I saw Petra's yesterday,” Elara answered like it was no big deal, but Gods was it.

“Holy s**t,” Jesse murmured under her breath.

“How far can you see?” Augustus was the next to say something. Ares and I were still reeling from the fact that Elara hadn’t told us any of this yet.

“As far as I want.” She shrugged like she didn’t understand the question.

“So you can see 100s of years into the future.”

“Yes, but it gets kinda harder to see the longer away it is.” Elara seemed bored with this conversation now, grabbing her doll and brushing its hair.

“Elara, can you see what happens to you in the future?” Nova asked next, asking a question I would have never thought to ask myself. Nova's question scared me, mainly because the answer scared me. What if El saw herself being evil?

“No, I can see everyone else’s future, but mine is blank. It’s hidden from me.” Elara pouted, pinching her eyebrows together like she was mad at the fact.

We all spoke about lighter things after that. We talked about what we thought our classes would be like, and what kind of crazy professors we would have this year.

I was sad to see we all didn’t have the same lunch. Jesse and Liam’s schedules were different, with them being a year below us. Sadly, they wouldn’t be able to join us for lunch this year. After a while, we called it a night, kicking everyone out when Elara began to yawn.

“Ready for bed? We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow,” I said, tucking her into the small bed we had for her in our room. She still enjoys sleeping in the same room as us.

“Yes, I’m very excited. I don’t know if I will be able to sleep tonight,” she said with a yawn.

I know she was excited, but it was obvious to me that she would be falling asleep within 5 minutes. She was worn out, nuzzling cozily with her teddy. Her eyes began to flutter shut as she started to succumb to her exhaustion. Her face slowly relaxed, making her look even younger. I brushed her curly hair back, watching her sleep for a moment. She was growing so fast—too fast.

“You’re such a wonderful mother, Andy. I don’t know that I could have ever done this without you,” my Air spoke to me in such an admiring tone.

“You’re such a brilliant father. She loves you so much, My Air. Do you think we’re doing the right thing sending her to school?” I still felt so unsure.

“I can’t be certain, but I really think we are. Parenting is hard, but we have to trust that Elara knows enough to be okay in class by herself.”

“I hope you’re right.”

We’ll find out tomorrow.