5 Kicking Kids

I can count on one hand the number of times I have been truly angry at something. That number has risen by one. As soon as I saw what was happening it felt like there was ice rushing through my veins.

I silently casted earth magic which trapped the three kids' feet in a mound of stone. I slowly walked towards them while Sylphy scrambled away from them. As I walked toward them they started to curse at me. I found it funny even in my angered state, how stupid do you have to be to curse at someone who has your life in their hands.

As they continued to curse at me I picked up a couple of rocks and started to throw them. I limited my strength so that the rocks wouldn't blast through them, but just enough so that it would hurt. Their cries of pain did little to soothe my anger, but it did take some steam off.

I look towards Sylphy seeing that she is slowly making her way towards me, at the same time watching what I was doing. When she got to me I silently healed her wounds and handed her a rock. I could tell from her eyes that she didn't want to throw it, but she needs to learn to fight back.

When she doesn't throw it I ask her, "Do you like to be beaten up?" It may seem insensitive but I believe she needs this.

She replies quietly, her eyes not meeting my gaze, "No, I don't."

I respond, "Then why don't you throw it. If you don't retaliate they will keep coming back, do you want that? To be beaten up everyday? I could try to stop them, but I can't be with you 24 hours hours everyday."

She shakes her head and tears start to form in her eyes. Still looking down she whispers, "Of course I don't want that. It hurts. It hurts so much I can't stand it."

After she says that I pull her into my arms, surprised she look up and into my eyes. A couple moments pass before I say, "Then fight back, Sylphy. Might makes right in this world and you cannot survive simply by laying down and taking abuse the world might set upon you."

I grabbed the rock she dropped when I pulled her in for a hug and placed it back into her hand, closing her hand with my own so she firmly has the rock in her grasp. She looks up into my eyes again, this time with tears dripping down her face. She nods, understanding my silent message.

She slowly turns toward the kids, now silent and scared, and throws the rock at one of them. She proceeds to throw a few more before turning back to me. I hug her again and she breaks down crying.

While she cries I knock the three kids out, release them from their binds, and heal them of their wounds. Now if they tell anyone they won't have proof of what happened.

After finishing up with the kids I carried Sylphy in my arms to a small hill, picking up a picnic basket with food I had brought for our play-date. I laid Sylphy down on the grass of the hill seeing that she had fallen asleep and started to eat a sandwich.

I'm not going to lie, I might have went a little overboard with her today. But if she doesn't hate me when she wakes up then today's events should give her a little more backbone.

With my ambitions, I can't have weak lovers. Not because I hate weak people but in the future if I'm not there to protect my family then I could be coming back to all of them dead.

I'm not one to get emotional over many things, but if there is one thing I care about, it's my family. As I eat my sandwich and think about life I see Sylphy start to sit up.

I reach over into the picnic basket and hand her another sandwich that Lilia had made. We eat in silence for a couple of minutes, when we finish eating Sylphy turns to me and grabs my hand.

She looks up at me shyly and says, "I understand now Arty, why you did that. That's why I want to ask, can you please teach me magic? I-I promise I won't be a burden a-and I will stand up to those bullies! I just don't want to be weak..."

I smile at her and say, "Good, that's what I wanted to hear. Of course I will teach you." After I say that I reach up and pat her head. She leans into it and we continue to eat the rest of the food while making small talk.

Once we finish with our little picnic I walk with her back to her house, looking at the scenery on our way back. I don't know why but I've always loved the smell of nature, and it's even better with no machinery polluting the air. The bright sun and the cool breeze just complement it.

Eventually we arrived at her house with Sylphy giving me a quick peck on the cheek before running inside with red cheeks. Thankfully her dad wasn't home to see, but her mom in the window who saw adopted a scheming look on her face.

Turning around, I head back to Paul's house. I had a bit of fun by jumping up high, boosting myself with air magic and gliding my way over being supported by air magic again. One of these days I will have to learn how to actually fly.

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Sorry for the super late chapter! I had work and a bunch of other stuff going on yesterday, as an apology I'll try to bust another one out today.