Chapter 204 Sierra's Trial (3/6),Apprentice,Separation
Cold!
"This… Did Sierra awaken her affinity? Is it ice?" Arkhen muttered as he felt coldness oozing out from Sierra.
The room\'s temperature started decreasing. Shortly after, Elora clapped her hands, her eyes showing surprise and happiness.
"Very good! You awakened an advanced affinity. Ice affinity!"
"Advanced affinity?" Arkhen asked.
"Yep. Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind are basic affinities. On the other hand, Ice, Lightning, Mud, Nature, and other such are Advanced Affinities."
Sierra opened her eyes while the stone in her hand turned to dust. She could indeed feel some kind of power in her and could also sense mana in the atmosphere that she was unable to sense before.
"T-This… I-I really awakened?" Sierra asked, disbelief evident in her eyes.
"Yes, you did!" Arkhen said with a loud laugh as he rushed towards Sierra and held her up from her waist before circling around. "Hahaha, my wife is going to become a wizard!"
"Congratulations," Elora said with a smile. "So, Sierra. Should I apply to you to become my apprentice? Although you awakened affinity, you still don\'t have knowledge on how to get powerful and become a proper wizard."
"Of course," Arkhen said with a grin.
"But… If I become your apprentice, will I need to stay here?" Sierra asked with hesitation.
Hearing that, Arkhen was also startled as he realized that.
"Yes. You will have to stay here until your apprenticeship is over," Elora said with a nod. "After it is over, you can slowly take on some wizarding task of warding evil to slowly earn wealth and status."
"But I heard that people usually need to pay if they want to learn aside from academy…" Sierra said.
"Indeed. If you awakened at fifteen years of age, which is the normal age when everyone awakens their affinity, the kingdom can give them admission into the Royal Magic Academy for free. But you are a late bloomer, so the academy won\'t accept you.
"As such, I will have to teach you personally," Elora said with a smile as she continued, "Don\'t worry about the money. I will teach you and nurture you for free now, but when you become a proper wizard, you can repay me when you get wealth, hahaha. Or you can help this old lady when the time comes."
"How long is the apprenticeship?" Arkhen asked.
"Four years," Elora answered.
"Four years?!" Arkhen flinched. He couldn\'t imagine separating from Sierra for four years.
"Don\'t worry. Sierra can come to visit you once a month," Elora said with a smile.
"B-But… That\'s still long," Sierra muttered.
"What are you saying?" Arkhen said he turned to Sierra and held her hands. "You\'ve always wanted to become a powerful wizard, no? This is your chance, honey."
"Yes, but… You will be alone, I-I don\'t like that," Sierra said, her eyes becoming slightly tearful.
"It\'s fine," Arkhen said with a laugh. "I can handle the farm alone. Also, once you become a proper wizard, you can take me to fly in the sky, hahaha. We can also go to various places and enjoy ourselves. Imagine how our child will be with a powerful Wizard as his or her mother?"
Sierra smiled as she indeed liked such a future. She also wanted to become Wizard and roam with Arkhen as they go to various places together they could never usually go.
"But can\'t I visit him once every week instead?" Sierra asked as she looked at Elora.
"Once a week is not possible," Elora said with a wry smile as she shook her head. "We will be out of this town most of the time and also at various places where wizards usually gather with their disciples and teach them. There are many late bloomers like you, after all."
"It\'s fine. Once a month is fine," Arkhen said with a smile as he held Sierra\'s hand. "I will hoard lots of money, and we will go enjoy ourselves whenever you come to visit me."
"How about two days every month?" Sierra tried to negotiate, causing Elora to wryly smile.
"One day will be like two days anyway, don\'t worry."
…
In the end, Sierra and Arkhen returned home after accepting Elora\'s apprenticeship. They had one day and night together before Elora would come tomorrow to pick up Sierra and officially start teaching her the path of magic.
Arkhen and Sierra spent the wildest of their night tonight and didn\'t sleep at all.
In the morning, Sierra\'s head lay on Arkhen\'s broad chest as she muttered, "Arkhen…"
Arkhen smiled and wiped tears from Sierra\'s face. "It\'s just four years. They will go by quickly."
"So you will not miss me?" Sierra said with a pout, tears again leaving her eyes.
Arkhen hugged her tightly as he also felt a bit suffocated. They had stayed together since they were kids, it was indeed hard when they suddenly needed to separate for four years.
"Y-You silly," Arkhen said as he felt a lump in his throat. "How can I not miss you? Humph, be sure to come to me every month."
*sniff…*
"Mhmm… I will. If possible, I will try my best and work hard to finish this apprenticeship as soon as possible."
…
Both of them could sleep for several hours after that since Elora came at noon to pick up Sierra.
With a big bag of clothes, Sierra boarded the carriage after kissing Arkhen.
"Have fun, wifey. I will wait for your visit," Arkhen said with a grin as he waved his hand.
"Teacher, when can I come here this month?" Sierra quickly asked.
Elora couldn\'t help but wryly smile. "You lovebirds. You haven\'t even left and already thinking about visiting him?"
Sierra\'s face turned red.
…
"Oi, oi, brother Arkhen! I heard your wife got accepted as an apprentice and is going to become a wizard. Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Arkhen said with a grin as the people of the village congratulated him.
There was a central village where everyone usually lived aside from their farm and farmhouse. Arkhen\'s and Sierra\'s parents also lived in the village.
The real Arkhen watched everything and soon, another fast-forward of six months happened.
In these six months, Sierra and Elora roamed the wilds and small towns as Elora taught Sierra many things along with magic. Every month, Sierra also came to visit Arkhen as they spent their romantic one day and night every month.
Sierra had now become a 1st-order Apprentice wizard, and her apprenticeship would end at becoming 1st-order Adept Wizard, which came after 9th-order Apprentice Wizard.
"Sierra, we are going to a gathering of Wizards. You will learn many valuable things there and also participate against other Wizards in battles for the first time," Elora said with a smile as she continued,
"I must say, you progress very fast. Usually, becoming a 1st order Apprentice Wizard takes a year or more. After that, it becomes fast. Haha, you might be able to reach 1st order Adept Wizard in three years instead."
"Thank you," Sierra said with a sweet smile. "When will we return to town this month? Only ten days left before this month ends."
"Haha, your Arkhen must be waiting for you, right? Don\'t worry, we will return after five days."
"Teacher, can I give this bracelet to him for his protection? I promise I will repay for this."
"Fine. Consider it a gift from me. I will give you another one."
"Yey. Thank you so much!"