I remembered that there were no films in this world. Hell, Ceday may have read only a few books. How would she know how to handle this situation? 

This was reality, not a silly isekai light novel with OP powers and a harem of girls with big boobies and sexy personalities.

We’re falling off topic here-

I wanted to sigh, but I couldn’t. I felt very tense, and Otis was still glaring at Ceday. 

“Oti-” 

Otis’ fist slamming into the table, ultimately breaking it, interjected Ceday’s call to him.

We both jumped, and even Otis jumped a little bit.

He stood up, collected his things as Ceday watched in awe.

“Dad…”

“Alaric, move.” 

I blocked the doorway from him leaving.

“Please don’t leave me…” 

Otis kneeled down and patted me on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” 

Otis kissed me on the forehead, stood back up, and left. I watched him plod down the road until he turned the corner.

I wanted to chase him and try to convince him to stay, but I couldn’t. 

I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I felt weak.

I turned to Ceday who was mewling behind her hands that were covering her face. 

My days of peace are at an end… 

I looked into the empty night sky.

I could only see the stars if I were trying to find them.

I wasn’t.

I was just looking for something to calm me down.

Maybe they’ve already ended since I found out about Ceday cheating. Maybe they’ve ended when everyone manifested their own magic, and I couldn’t do anything. 

 

__

‘I’m sorry’ were the last words I heard from Otis. It’s been 6 months and I haven’t heard a single word about Otis.

Ceday stopped bringing back books, and I’d only hope so.

However unfortunate it may be, I wouldn’t be able to do the very thing that separated me from someone I loved dearly.

I haven’t been hanging out with Thomas and the others as much as I used to. Zane kind’ve faded into another, larger group of kids. 

Thomas and I still talk about our problems usually 3-4 times a week.

It’s become a hobbit that I’ve enjoyed. 

Thomas understood why I wanted more time to myself though.

I was in awe at how a kid could be so cultivated at such a young age.

Thomas is only 6, now. I’m older than him by a few months.

Thomas seemed to grow at a faster rate the more he aged, because he kept getting bigger and taller every year. 

As for me, I was still small. I was only 7, and I thought that I had plenty of time to grow.

I still haven’t been able to manifest any magic yet, but I can feel my mana growing stronger as it pulses ever more violently. 

Is there a chance that I don’t have mana capability?

I read in a book a few years ago that everyone has a mana and mana capability, but a lot of people don’t have enough intensity to even use it.

My curiosity subsided when Ceday approached me, and laid next to me.

“Alaric, I haven’t sung to you in a very long while.”

“Hm?” I haven’t heard her sing since I was a baby. 

Why now?

“When you were a little pup, I used to sing you songs. I even made your own song, but I forgot to sing it to you.”

Please don’t call me that…

“Would you like me to sing it to you? The rain outside is very disturbing.” Indeed, the rain furiously poured down, but I wasn’t afraid of it. 

If it weren’t so easy to die of illness in this world, I’d probably dance in the rain. 

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” Ceday was insistent. 

Every day since the confession, she’s been having mixed emotions throughout the day. 

To put it in three words it would be…

Aggression…

Depression…

And obsession… 

“Hm… well- so be it…” 

Ceday cleared her throat and began humming. Then, starting with a low pitch voice, she sung

“On the shores that I lay… familiar waves wash away… the shattered shells of our remains…” Ceday then started humming. After, she followed up with

“O’ blessed child whom we craved… The Child of Savior bequeaths his rage… Among familiar frauds unworthy to be called men- O’ great child the heavens sent…” In a higher pitched voice. Then, she lowered her voice down to a low pitched voice. I was astonished at her talent.

If she lived in my previous world, she could be a renowned opera singer… And she made this for me…

Her voice overshadowed my curiosity in what she was trying to convey.

“I stand by you… the great child of truth… to fight for your truth that had been slewn…”

Truth? She said she wrote this for me, but I don’t understand what she’s trying to say about me. 

I chuckled. Ceday didn’t notice though.

Savior… yeah right. I can’t even use magic.

Ceday then sang in a high pitch.

“O’ blessed child, true from one, decide our right from our wrongs…” Her voice rang in my ears, and it felt amazing. Towards the end, her voice died down back to a lower pitch.

“On the shores that I lay… familiar waves wash away… the shattered shells of our remains… O’ blessed child whom we craved… The Child of Savior bequeaths his rage… Among familiar frauds unworthy to be called men- O’ great child the heavens sent…” Ceday paused for a moment, and then looked at me. “I stand by you… the great child of truth… to fight for your truth that had been slewn…” She finished the song off with a hum. 

That was the most intricate singing I’ve ever heard in person. 

Though I had questions on how she made this song about me, I praised her instead. 

The rest of the night was just praising and boasting about her excellent voice and how she used to sing at a church. 

Then… everything happened. 

Where do I begin?

*woosh*

I woke up in the middle of the night to something that sounded like fireworks being fired.

*woosh*

*woosh*

I stood up and walked towards the doorway to investigate.

Then, I heard screaming, shouting, and shrieking in the distance.

Our neighbors stuck their heads out too.

“What the hell is happening?” said my neighbor to the left of me.

The only response he received was a tremble on the ground and the sound of horses galloping in the distance. 

Horses… and I smell- fire?