The Sage's Reign
Page 43
Someone very ungracefully shoved their way onto the bench before laying on his lap, stretching her arms across his body. “Hi there, Aurem! Writing letters to dear old daddy again?”
Aurem slowly closed his journal, his short black hair standing up on all ends from the brush of overwhelming distraction. He pushed his frames over his green eyes, frowning at the new arrival. Her own wavy black hair was tickling his legs and leaving him somewhat fidgety, but she didn’t seem to get the hint that she was interfering with his personal bubble.
“Hi there, Rydela,” he decided to acknowledge.
Rydela reached up a single finger to poke his nose, giggling. “You’re blushing, it’s so cute.”
“Please stop, I’m not blushing,” he retorted softly, pushing her hand away with his own. “And yes, I was writing a letter back home. Father says that Sumina likes to hear stories about my adventures in school, so I try to send one every day, and he can read them to her.” As if on cue, a black carrier pigeon came fluttering down in front of him, cooing. Aurem waited for Rydela to roll off him before he kneeled, carefully attaching the letter to its talons, patting the bird’s head and sending it on its way. Rydela and Aurem watched it take off for the skies.
“Well, I was just here to pick you up,” Rydela began, folding her arms behind her back. “Auntie Leilana says that we have to prepare for tonight and meet up just outside of here. It’s officially graduation day! Are you excited to finally get your chance to explore Adrylis?”
Aurem playfully smirked. “Of course I am, what kind of question is that?”
“How about a little graduation kiss to get you set for the long road ahead?” Rydela joked, wrapping her arms around his neck. Aurem quickly dodged the gesture and escaped her grasp, taking a few steps back from her and holding up his hands in a rather pointless defense.
“No-no,” he said quickly. “That will not happen again.” Rydela was completely ecstatic by the game of chase at this point. Aurem tried to play keep-away for a little longer, dodging every attempt at a hug or kiss before Rydela finally decided to call it quits.
“Someday you’ll fall for my curse, Aurem Brenner!” Rydela whined, stomping her foot on the ground. “Someday I’ll have you forever and ever!”
Aurem let out a defeated sigh. “Good gracious, you’re as flirtatious as your father is…”
“The apple never falls far from the tree, you know!”
Aurem took the girl by the hand, smiling at her. Rydela quickly returned the grin, glad that he was able to put up with her crazy affections. “Come on. We should get going. We’re gonna be late for the roundup, and you know how mother gets about tardiness.”
Leilana tucked a strand of her curled bang behind her ear as she read over a new letter from Solus, grateful that things seemed to be going well in the kingdom. She was used to being away from home for weeks at a time, making sure that their oldest son was taking care amongst his peers while he kept Linmus and their rambunctious six-year-old daughter under control.
She watched her group of fourteen students crowd around the campfire and hid her letter. Rydela was the first to wave to her, and Leilana marveled at the girl’s precious charm. More and more, she was becoming as beautiful as Sien. Her son stood valiantly at his childhood friend’s side, patiently waiting to see how things would progress on this night of their final test into becoming better people looking to find their place in society. She met the excited and nervous gazes of each of her students, holding her grimoire to her chest. She had done this process several times before, and each one had more meaning than the last.
The future was ever-changing, and she couldn’t wait to see what they would bring to it.
“I have summoned you here today for your final examination.”
“We are not bound to fate. Instead, we shape it
and bend it to our own will.”
After nearly two years since this story’s start, at long last it has come to a fruitful end. Countless hours went into creating the second half of this mystical duology, and somehow, it’s hard to believe that Leilana’s story is over. This young Sage found her own path alongside many brilliant characters, and now she’ll be able to stand on her own two feet, born anew and able to bring others like her towards a brighter future.
I hope that she has helped to guide you towards one as well.
There shall always be gratitude towards my parents for giving me this gift of creation and guiding me forward. I give my thanks to my friends, my family, my fans, and everyone out there that is destined for greatness. There is magic within you, burning brightly. All that you have to do is reach for the flame and claim it for yourself.
Seek your own inspiration, and fly high.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shakyra Dunn can't stray away from the impression that there is always an adventure around every corner! When she isn’t playing the role of the Creator, she is marching through the worlds of her favorite video game characters or taking drives around her city to see the sights. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she currently resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, striving to experience more than the little town.
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Other Books by Shakyra Dunn:
The One Left Behind: Magic (Book One)
First Words:
The Final Lesson