My father closed the door behind him and my mother turned back to Myriam as his footsteps slowly faded into the distance, followed by the yard door opening and closing once more.

“What was it that you wanted to talk to us about?” my mother asked her.

“Priestess Cheandra, seeing that it is almost time for the liturgy… I mean, I know that priests change every so often and many times this change comes shortly after the liturgy…” Myriam was looking at the ground in a humble manner. “I am sorry for asking you this, but I would like to know if you are planning to stay in Nara after the ceremony.”

I hadn’t really thought about what would happen directly after the liturgy. For me, it had been all about that day and how I would receive my mana and finally be able to do all the things I had been studying all these years.

But she was right to ask. I did have long-term plans, but never bothered to ask what comes the day after.

Are we staying here? Are we moving back to Elysia?

I really liked it in Nara but there would be so many more things to do in Elysia once I had my mana.

Or could it be that we’re going to move somewhere else? My mother’s response interrupted my rapidly spiraling thoughts.

“Don’t worry about that, Myriam. We aren’t planning to leave the village yet. We like it here. You have all been so welcoming we’d like to spend some more months, if not years in your village.”

Well, there’s that. I suppose we are staying here after all. It wasn’t bad really.

After all, I had my friends in the village and I could travel whenever I wanted. I would continue my studies and go to the university when I felt ready, just like my sister had. And I would train to become a warmage, just like my brother did.

“Thank you,” Myriam replied, and looked up at my mother’s eyes again. “I have been thinking lately, Priestess Cheandra. Divine’s will first, I would love to study under magical crafters. I have already asked Ched to let me learn under him but he said that he has given me all I needed to start with.”

“Well, that is true. Spells and techniques are essential for crafting but are not everything. You have to see the world. See what is needed and what is used. What is missing and what could be improved.” My mother spoke gently and earnestly, and Myriam tilted her head downward again.

“That is what Ched said as well. For this reason, I wanted to make sure that the village will be safe.”

There was a short pause, and then my mother nodded as if Myriam had said something that required her approval or understanding.

“I am planning to leave after the liturgy.” Myriam broke the silence. “Perhaps cross the Endless Sea, and go as far as the nation of Fjalhun.”

I felt myself standing up from the sofa so rapidly that I thought I would launch myself through the ceiling.

“What?” The words kept flowing out of my mouth. “Leave? Leave and do what exactly?”

My mother snapped her head toward me and her irritated expression told me that I was louder than I had thought.

“Adel!” she scolded me. “What right do you have to question Myriam’s decision?”

“I… I did not mean to—” I started saying but it was as if the previously rushing river of words were now dammed and I could not find anything to defend myself.

I felt as though I were a child again, listening to adults talk.

“Ched has mentioned so many master crafters,” Myriam continued, her eyes still on the floor. “People who would gladly take me under their wing and teach me. The urban markets of Leka An and the great smiths of Fjalhun, where my skills would be appreciated and honed.”

“That is wonderful, Myriam.” My mother reached out and put her hand over Myriam’s.

I moved to protest against my mother encouraging Myriam’s leaving the village, but she turned her head to face me once more and it was clear from her expression that I should not speak so I just stared.

Myriam raised her head and faced my mother, her eyes glistening, but she was smiling. It was not easy for her, but she wanted it. It would make her happy.

“Thank you, Priestess,” she said, and sniffed back a tear.

“But of course, dear,” my mother began again as she wiped the tear off Myriam’s cheek with the back of her hand. “You are destined for great things. What about little Kai? Will he join you?”

I started moving toward them, now sympathetic to the difficult decision that Myriam had taken.

“At first, both his parents and I had our reservations that he is still too young to travel, but he insisted that he wanted to join me. In the end, we agreed that we should decide after we find out his mana capacity and whether he will have enough to care of himself.”

I crouched down beside them and looked Myriam in the eyes.

“I am happy for you. And proud. I‘m sure you are going to become a master crafter in no time.”

I barely managed to get the words out before she sprang to me and enveloped me in a tight hug.

I was not expecting such a swift reaction, but it made it all the more clear to me. She really wanted this, but had been afraid that we would think she was abandoning us.

How wrong would this have gone if my mother wasn’t here to keep me from saying something extremely stupid?

“Thank you,” she said. “You will always be my best friend, Adel.”

I felt a little awkward hearing those words. They reminded me so much of that awkward moment the first time I had met her. The small window of time I had to utter a response passed as I thought about that day and the hug ended. I pulled back and noticed my mother’s smiling face behind her.

“You have nothing to worry about, Myriam,” my mother continued as I stood up and Myriam went back to her seat. “The village will be safe while you’re away, and you will probably be able to establish an efficient method of long-range communication pretty soon after you receive your mana, given your crafting skills.”

“Yes, that’s going to be one of my first creations. I have the spell and the material components ready and waiting!”

“I’m happy to hear that,” my mother replied. “Will you be staying with us a little longer? Might I fix you something to drink?”

“No, thank you, Priestess. I still have some things to take care of with Nessa.” She stood up. “I should leave now. Thank you. Both of you.”

“Don’t mention it, sweetheart,” said my mother, standing up along with Myriam while I could only nod, as if in agreement to what mother had just said.

“Well then, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the temple. Goodbye, Adel,” said Myriam, nodding in my direction.

“Goodbye darling,” said my mother.

“Goodbye, Myriam. See you tomorrow,” I said.

We watched her leave through the yard gate and then went back in. I took a seat at the dining table while my mother sat opposite of me.

“What you started doing back there was very inconsiderate, Adel,” she began. She didn’t sound as annoyed anymore, her anger slightly diffused by my later change of attitude toward Myriam’s decision. “You are seventeen. You have to dip your tongue in your brain before hurting someone’s feelings.”

“I understand, mother. I overreacted. She’s my friend and I felt as if she was abandoning me.” I tried to excuse myself, realizing exactly how selfish my words sounded as soon as they came out of my mouth.

“That was what she was feeling as well,” she replied more gently now. “You are right to be proud of her. Myriam is a bird destined to fly very high, Adel.” She smiled at me.

“I can understand why she wouldn’t want to stay here. Nara is just one small village in Elysia. I guess I would also like to see the countries on the other side of the Endless Sea. Leka An, Guldan, Fenira and Fjalhun… Perhaps even leave our world and see more realms of the Apocosmos. But do you mean that you know she’ll receive a great amount of mana?” I asked.

I didn’t know whether powerful priests were able to determine the amount of mana one would receive during the liturgy, but I never heard that it was impossible.

“No,” she chuckled. “Even The Divine cannot know until It looks into someone’s soul. That is not what I mean and mana has nothing to do with it. She is destined to fly high because of who she is. Even if she remains manaless. People do not need mana to leave a mark on this world and it’s evident by all the individuals in other realms that do not get any Divine mana but need to rely on their levels and class skills. People like Myriam should not be held back though. They should be accommodated and encouraged so that they can reach the limit of their potential—or even surpass it.”

“I see. So you’re saying that I should not hold Myriam to the ground but rather push her to fly even higher.”

My mother locked her eyes on mine, and I could swear I saw them glisten in the light of the setting sun that streamed through our windows.

“Or fly high with her,” she said, her voice getting softer with every word. “Mana is only a means to an end. You may think that it’s what defines you, but really it’s the other way round. You define what mana makes you. And I am sure that you will one day fly high and proud as well.”

I was at a loss of words. All these years, I was living for the day of the liturgy. What would come beyond that was shrouded in dream-like mists of hopeful expectations for me.

Myriam’s announcement had made the future feel very real. I wanted to become a warmage because I was fascinated by the stories of heroes past, protecting our lands from the manaless heathen armies of our neighboring nations trying to invade us.

However, I never had to think about exactly how I would manage to do that. Up until an hour ago, this had still been part of some distant future, but reality had hit me hard. The time to figure out what I was going to do was upon me. It was exciting and scary at the same time. What was I to do? Go to the university or stay here and continue my studies alone?

So lost was I in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice my mother standing up and moving behind me until she squeezed my shoulders with both hands.

“I’ll go rest for a while,” she said. “Try not to make too much fuss, will you?”

“Yes,” I managed to say, perhaps too late for her to hear me, as she retreated to her bedroom.