- I still remember the first day I met Joy.
- Ever since I could remember, I was alone. When an apple fell out of a carriage heading towards the market, I swiftly picked it up and started digging into it. A stranger watched me in my actions, staring me down.
- Joy: ... Does it taste good?
- Instead of eying me and passing away like the others, the woman walked up to me and talked to me in a warm way. I couldn't help but nodded and showed her the apple I took a bite out of.
- The woman took a bite out of the apple I was eating. Maybe she didn't think of me as a dirty thief. Crunch, a refreshing sound could be heard.
- Joy: Mmm, it's a bit drier than I thought!
- The unexpected words with a booming laugh caused me to smile along.
- ... From that day, Joy took my hands to the Beryl mansion, my newfound home.
- ... ... ... ...
- The Beryl mansion is located atop the hill, a bit off to the side through a small forest from the village. It was a grand mansion with a workshop.
- Joy was a jewel appraiser and crafter, but above all, Joy was a magician. However, not many visitors came to her for magic. I was told that the magics of Beryl are very special and rarely used nowadays.
- And so Joy was mostly known as the owner of the jewel workshop on top of the hill.
- Although not many sought her out for her magic, Joy continued her magical research. She would polish her gems during the day and she would research countless ores and minerals during the night.
- When I would seek her out in curiosity, Joy would always send me to bed, telling me 'Sleeping late won't help you grow taller'. She'd always sit by my side until I would fall asleep.
- Every time, I would attempt to feign sleep and watch Joy's research. However, every time Joy pulled the blankets over me, I'd quickly fall into deep sleep.
- When I came out to the living room furious next morning, Joy would greet me with a smile and breakfast. Such was our everyday routine.
- .......
- One day, I sneaked into the workshop while she was out to go to the village. There were many ores that Joy had been studying.
- I stepped on the chair to lift myself to study the ores. I then proceeded to pick one up and did some incantations like the ones Joy did.
- For a moment, I enjoyed doing what Joy was doing. Then the ore trembled a little and started to light up.
- Lithia: Ah...!
- Surprised, I accidentally dropped the ore and it exploded into fragments and flew everywhere. It fore away at my legs on the chair and I was soon engulfed by pain.
- Scared out of my mind, I closed my eyes and started to cry.
- Joy: Lithia?! Are you okay?
- Joy, who had just returned home, rushed to my help.
- Lithia: Ahhh, Joy...
- Joy: Were you startled? It's okay. Will you show me where you are hurt?
- With tears still rolling down my face, I showed her my legs. Joy disinfected my wounds and healed them with magic.
- Joy: Lithia, how did you do it?
- Joy's voices weren't reproachful, which made me feel even more guilty. I never saw Joy get angry. After a small hesitation, I told her the truth.
- Lithia: I wanted to do something you did... So I followed the incantations that you did...
- Joy: I see.
- Joy: Lithia, I'm happy that you're showing interest in magic. But, in order to become a magician, you must be very careful.
- Joy: You can't climb up all the stairs at once. We need to go step by step.
- After that, Joy started to teach me magics. I quickly became immersed with it.
- ... ... ... ...
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