The next week, Asyra and Uncle Will returned to the train station. Asyra kept her magic contained this time, except for a small breeze no one would notice amongst the wind.
As soon as Asyra spotted Syllan, she ran to her and hugged her.
“Asyra! I’ve missed you,” Syllan said.
“You didn’t pack very much. How long are you staying?” Asyra asked, eyeing Syllan’s single suitcase.
“I’m staying here a week, but we can talk about that once we get to Uncle Will’s house, okay?”
“Only a week? Why? You’re a mage now, can’t mages just do what they want?”
Syllan laughed. “I just graduated and I’m not very powerful. I can't do anything I want. But like I said, I’ll talk about it later. You tell me how school has been going while we walk back.”
Asyra insisted on carrying Syllan’s suitcase, and she told about how she had won the school’s art competition, and what they were learning in their classes.
When Asyra got home, she ran to put Syllan’s suitcase in their room, and then rushed back down the stairs, avoiding the step she had broken a few months ago with her magic.
In the entryway, as Syllan was taking her shoes off, Asyra confronted her.
“Alright. We’re at Uncle Will’s house. Now tell me why you’re only staying a week.”
“You won’t even wait until we’re sitting down to dinner? Conversations tend to be better with some food.”
“Fine. We made stew, and pie for dessert. I’ll go and set the table,” Asyra said, and ran off to dish up the stew.
Soon they were all seated and eating.
“So, Syllan, what business calls you back to Thyrel so soon? You know how much Asyra enjoys your visits.” Uncle Will said. “Did you get a job already?”
“I did get a job, but that’s not the main reason for the short visit. The Royal Magic Academy starts the week after, and I figured it would be better for Asyra to have some time to explore Thyrel first.”
“I’m going to a magic academy? You’re taking me with you?” Asyra exclaimed. Her magic shot off a few sparkles, but Uncle Will didn’t notice and Syllan didn’t comment.
“Yup, that’s right. I’ve got it all worked out. You just need to figure out what you’re going to pack and say your goodbyes.” Syllan said.
“Why the Royal Magic Academy? Why not the Thyrell Association Academy like you?” Asyra asked.
“The Royal Magic Academy is much more prestigious. It’ll fit you a lot better, too. Only people with weak magic go to the Association Academy.”
“I don’t want to go somewhere prestigious. I want to go where you went.”
“Well, you don’t need to come with me, I suppose. I thought it would be fun to live together and all, and even went through the effort of securing you a spot at the famed Royal Magic Academy, but if you don’t want to go, it can’t be helped I suppose.”
“No, no, no. I do want to go. I’ll become a genius mage like you.”
Syllan smiled. Uncle Will brought out the apple pie he and Asyra had baked earlier, and while they ate Syllan told Asyra about her last year of school, Thyrel, and the Royal Magic Academy.
The next day, Syllan went to Asyra’s school to give a talk about mages and Thyrel. On the way there, Asyra’s magic went wild and froze the mud she had just stepped on. Asyra kicked some leaves over to try and hide it.
“Did you just lose control of your magic?” Syllan asked.
“Yeah. I did,” Asyra stared at the tree nearby. “But I’ve been doing the control exercises twice a day, at least twice a day” .
“Do you mind if I look at it?” Syllan knelt down, and brushed the leaves aside and inspected the frozen footprint. Frost spiraled out onto the surrounding ground. She then whispered a spell and melted it, although the spot was still colder than the surrounding area.
“I don’t do it on purpose, you know.”
“I know. How about you show me the magic control sequence? I want to see how it looks.”
Asyra nodded, and slowly went through the practiced sequence.
Syllan watched silently.
Once Asyra finished, she asked, “How do I do it better?”
Syllan smiled and patted her head. “It’s very well done. It’s clear you’ve been practicing. I don’t think you have any issues in your technique.”
“Yeah, but it’s not working.”
“Well, you’ll be going to a mage academy soon, right? They’ll teach you how to control your magic there,” Syllan said.
“But what if I’m behind and everyone else has control over their magic already?”
“Everyone starts at different points, Asyra. I’ve told you that my magic’s weak, right? That made things a lot harder, but I just had to put some more time into my studies and sometimes ask for more help. My practical scores were still barely above passing.”
“Really? But you’re so good at magic.”
“Asyra, you’re judging me by Pigseye Station standards. Compared to other mages, I’m not that good. Don’t you remember how much more magic there is in Thyrel?”
“Not really. I know dad did a lot of magic, I remember that,” Asrya says. “But you’re really smart, right? You’re researching magic.”
Syllan nodded. The school was in sight now. “I’ll race you. I have to see how much your new height adds to your speed.”
Asyra smiled, and started running. Syllan ran after and then passed her.
Asyra managed to narrow down what she would pack to two large bags, which Uncle Will and Syllan carried, while Asyra carried Syllan’s bag to the station.
“I can go buy the tickets, I’ve been saving up,” Asyra said and went over to the window to Raina’s office, and handed over the money, a mess of small coins. “Two tickets to Thyrel, please.”
“Two? Would that mean you’re also going?” Raina asked, counting the coins.
Asyra nodded, her braids bobbing behind her. “Yup! I’m going to a mage academy.”
Raina handed over the tickets. “That’s exciting! You’ll be the first mage who grew up in Pigseye. pretty sure. Make us all proud.”
Asyra took the tickets and called out her thanks, as she ran back to her family.
“You didn’t have to buy the tickets using money you saved up Asyra, I can pay you back so you have something to spend once you get to Thyrel,” Uncle Will said.
“I save up for things I want, right? And I want to go to Thyrel,” Asyra said.
The train arrived early, and Asyra and Syllan picked up their bags. Uncle Will hugged them both.
“Good luck in Thyrel, Asyra. Don’t forget about your uncle, come back and visit occasionaly okay?”
Asyra nodded, and then took both her bags, and rushed over to the train. Syllan followed with her small suitcase and the basket Uncle Will had packed with meals for the train ride.