A few days have passed since Yoko moved out of the village. The pain of missing his best friend still lingered.
However, despite the pain, this didn't discourage Tsukishiro. Every morning, up until night, he would relentlessly train, enduring the harsh pain and the toll on his body.
For him, keeping up with Yoko is the most important thing, and ultimately, he needs to go to the city to fulfill his oath.
However, the path to magic isn't easy. No matter how inspired and motivated you are, talent is still superior. His progress was immensely slow. It took him weeks to master a single technique.
It is unfair that it seems like magic really isn't for him. However, the flame never flickered, nor was it extinguished. A goal is what he must attain, and he isn't giving up.
...
The night has fallen. Ultimately, it has been a month since Yoko left. For hours and hours, Tsukishiro trained, even at his bedtime, which caused Elder Ami to scold him.
And tonight is no different. When everyone is already asleep, he'll go right behind their house and train.
He raised his small arms up and began summoning all of his strength. Soon, a small energy of magic wove through his fingertips, slowly forming into a vortex. However, before it could fully take shape, it dispersed, sending a shocking pain to his hand and arm.
His arm jolted backward. He held his arm with his other hand tightly, gritting his teeth and shutting his face tightly in pain.
"I told you it's bedtime."
A sudden voice spoke, making him flinch in surprise. Elder Ami, a figure with tied-up white hair and a white cloak, stood a few feet away from him, arms crossed and a frown on her face.
"Elder Ami..."
"What did I tell you? I told you to go to rest, young lass, didn't I?" She said, her voice loud and commanding. However, Tsukishiro wasn't willing to stop anytime soon.
"I will just try a few more times, Elder Ami, then—"
"No, now means now." She cut off, her voice holding a much commanding authority.
Tsukishiro only lowered his head as he looked at his injured palms.
"I need you to go back to sleep—"
"But if I stop, I can't reach Yoko! She's already there, and I don't want to be left behind! I need to be as strong as her as soon as possible!" He snapped, driven by his emotions of disappointment.
Elder Ami looked at him for a bit, studying the frowning boy in front of her. "I see. I understand that. You believe that you'll be left behind. But, who told who that this is a race?"
"Huh?"
"Even if you did become strong and manage to be a scholar in the Academy, do you even see what you are racing on towards? "
"..."
"Life is not a race, Tsukishiro. Things happen according to their own timeline, and things aren't meant to be rushed. The road of magic is a harsh path. Look at your palms; aren't they full of small bruises that hurt?"
Tsukishiro looked at his palms. Indeed, it's full of small bruises that hurt tremendously.
"If you push yourself too hard, you'll die."
"D-Die?!" Tsukishiro blurted out in shock.
"Ah, yes. Magic is dangerous. As you can see, just from failed trainings alone, you'll get wounded. What more do you think will happen if you continue pushing yourself too hard?"
"O-Oh, Uhm..." The realization hits him as the fear of dying crawls inside him.
"You have a chance at magic, Tsukishiro. Time will heal you and help you. Maybe you are too young to understand yet, but rushing towards your goal blindly will only bring you back to where you are. Is it clear?"
"Yes, Elder Ami." Although his heart was still heavy, he accepted what her Elder said. He knows that she was right. Feeling a little calmer, he returned to their house and followed what the Elder said.
The elder looked at him as he opened the door and went inside. She let out a sigh as her lips curled into a small smile. "How nice it is to be a child again, full of dreams and energy." She mumbled, gazing up into the stars.
...
Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. Tsukishiro, under the care of the elders, trained and trained until, eventually, he was able to grasp magic.
Despite the frustration never leaving his heart, he never gave up. Eventually, years passed.
At fourteen, he is now able to harness his magic with ease and is able to reach the feats that Yoko did when they were still together.
At this age, he was able to beat all the elders simultaneously without struggling.
Every morning, he would run around the snowy mountain, training his physical aptitude. Every afternoon, he would hunt wild animals and even extend to the farthest reaches of the forest. And at night, he would meditate and read books about magic.
Unlike Yoko, who has a natural sense for magic, Tsukishiro had to start from the very beginning, learning how magic flows, how to control it, and many more.
He learned to control his impulse and eventually come to a level where he can now smile after training as he knows that he is improving.
The goal remains the same. Go to the city and become a magician. It's not about chasing after Yoko, after all.
A realization as he trained emerged that he did not need to stand by Youko's stand. He could dream of something bigger than just that.
However, the faint feeling of not wanting to be left behind still lingers in his heart.
At the age of fifteen, he was able to defeat many magic-embedded animals, much stronger than the wolf that bit him years ago.
He was able to embed dark magic onto a piece of rugged knife, transforming it into a deadly weapon that easily killed all magic-embedded animals.
At seventeen, he was finally ready and prepared, not just physically and mentally, but also in terms of his magical skill. He was ready to venture to the City of Grand Magic, Saintellia City.
But it does not come without a cost. Although his body was strengthened, his muscles became refined, scars were left. His hand became rough and thick, a sign that he always trained.
Nevertheless, even as he grows, he knows one thing—he's not a genius. Had Yoko been there by his side, Yoko would have surpassed him tenfold. But it doesn't mean that he can't do it. He can, and he will do it.
And it seems like luck was on his side, as this year, the Annual Entrance Exam for the Prestigious Academy was a chance for him to enter.
Based on the letters that her parents have been sending here, Yoko was a Scholar in that Academy.
...
Elder Ami paved the way for him, supplying him with gold coins, the currency accepted in the city, and several ornaments believed to bring good luck.
Unlike in the Shimizu family's case, the elder wasn't able to find someone who could Tsukishiro in. So, in his case, he is the one who will look for a job.
He stepped out of his house and looked behind him, taking one last good look at the village that helped him.
His parents are by the door, waving him off with proud tears in their eyes.
The elders and several villagers all stood right by the village gates, waving him off.
It is such a rare occurrence that a village without a history of magic talents produces a magician.
Tsukishiro smiled before turning around, carrying a big bag on his back. He walked through the forest, and now his journey officially started.