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Chapter 19: Departing

"Another aspect to consider is thinking about the things you\'re envisioning while drawing energy," Warden said. "Try imagining something far more devastating. Instead of a slow stream, picture a great waterfall, for example."

Warden was pretty sure he was missing a crucial part, perhaps more than just one part, but he didn\'t have a clue what they could be. He would need some hints on that memory lane for sure.

"But I have never seen a waterfall," Onia said.

Warden almost facepalmed but controlled himself in time. "I guess you have to leave it to your imagination."

Of course, there was another way. Onia could envision her experience of drawing to have a stronger feel of water, but he couldn\'t be merciless to the little girl.

Warden directed her in casting for a few minutes as Onia manipulated the water into a different shape. The condensation didn\'t come easily, as the theory went. It needed months of training and perseverance, and the girl was already exhausted.

They were just about to call it a day when Xiv came along. From the way he dressed up, it didn\'t seem like he had been sleeping but on the watch for a potential attack on the village. He seemed even aware that the two girls were practising out in the open in the middle of the night.

"You guys done for the night?" Xiv asked, easily finding signs of exhaustion from the girl.

"It\'s well over midnight," Warden said. "Were you on watch the whole time?"

Xiv shook his head. "My shift started at midnight. I slept for a few hours before that."

"You should all rest now," Warden said. "Kiara has a long journey ahead of herself back to the academy, and Xiv needs to wake up early for training. As for you, little girl, you can come as well to practise. Although I won\'t be much of a help, it\'s better to practise together than being alone."

"But the night watch?"

"I\'ll take care of it," Warden said. "I don\'t need to catch sleep like you all."

***

Only an hour had passed since sunrise, and most of the villagers had already woken up. Kiara and Liam were in a hurry after waking up, as they needed to reach the nearest town before dark. With their two stallions in prime form, they would probably make it before nightfall if no obstructions came into their path, though Liam doubted it. Still, most of the bandits wouldn\'t try to do anything funny, seeing the crest of the Arcane Academy, but the same didn\'t go for mindless beasts.

Kiara took more time than Liam to prepare, benefitting from being a woman. After acquiring a couple of lunch boxes and water from Onia, she sneaked around as if looking for something.

"If you\'re looking for Sir Warden, he\'s out in the wild again," Liam called to her from behind, ready with his black stallion, a clear contrast to Kiara\'s pristine white one standing next to him. "He\'s out with Xiv after their morning drills."

Kiara skidded up as if someone caught her red-handed stealing a cookie. "I don\'t..." she tried, and then her eyes found her bunny. "Little Cupcake wants to say goodbye to him."

Liam gave her an odd look and shook his head. "I don\'t think they\'ll be coming back soon," he said. "Little Cupcake will have to wait for our next meeting. But for now, Sir Warden left half a dozen beast cores for the bunny."

With that, Liam handed her a small pouch with the beast cores. "He said this will keep her fed for the journey. He hunted them on the watch."

Kiara frowned but took the pouch as many thoughts came to her mind. Liam climbed up on his horse and urged her to come along.

"Give me a couple of minutes," she said and went to Onia, one of the dozen who came to watch them leave. She caught the young girl\'s hand. "Have you thought about what I told you last night?"

What Kiara had told her last night was mostly related to spellcasting and adventurers, but she also mentioned the Arcane Academies and how Onia could admit to one. Even though Water didn\'t have much prospect as a battle mage, she could easily join the academy for the auxiliary classes with one of the main apertures unlocked.

"I..." Onia clearly didn\'t have words for what to say. "I was fast asleep last night and forgot to think about it."

Kiara\'s lips parted into a smile. "Well, even if you said yes, it would have been tough to bring you along this time," she said, patting the girl\'s shoulder. "Perhaps we\'ll be back in some time, or you have to wait for any recruiters from the academy to come along. I\'ll leave a word to the Ninth Academy of your talent. Perhaps they\'d be interested."

Like before, Onia had no idea what to say to that. In the end, she offered a "Thank you."

"I should be the one to say thank you," Kiara said with a sigh. They had been here for about a week, and Onia was the only one she talked to for almost everything. If not for the young girl, her livelihood in the village would have been horrendous.

"Miss Kiara," Liam yelled after her, getting impatient.

"Perhaps we meet again, perhaps never." Kiara hugged her lightly. "Whatever you decide, I hope you live well."

With that, Kiara left the village, riding on horseback towards the nearest town eastwards.