Chapter 8 - Worries and Fears

"I understand mom." Maxmillan said with a smile in his face that made his mom develop a bleak feeling in her heart.

He then said further, "Mom, I am going to my room to rest. We'll talk later."

As soon as he said that, he left his mom's presence and headed for his room to ponder more about the next line of action that he planned to take.

But not quite long, while seated on his bed and lost in deep thought, he suddenly heard gentle knocks rap against his door.

Immediately understanding that this person could be anyone of his sisters, he produced a smile in his face and said, "Come in."

The door creaked open to reveal Maxmillan's younger sister, Lylla. Then accompanying her into the room was Nailah with a mean look in her face, which caused Maxmillan to be befuddled.

'Hope my older sister hasn't come to make trouble with me?' He asked himself internally.

"Sisters, what brings you to my room? Are you both here to grace this dashing majesty?" Maxmillan asked and softly cackled.

However, his joke to ease the tension that had suddenly surfaced in his room, was totally ineffective.

"Maxie, mom told me something that I want to confirm from you." Nailah said with a certain kind of emotion concealed in her calm voice.

Understanding what she meant and trying to avoid beating round the bush, Maxmillan said with a radiant smile in his face, which also exuded confidence, "I know why you are here. To confirm if mom's thought of me going to the Floating Lotus Academy to take their admissive magical exams is true."

"Well, it's true. I plan to go there to take their exams and pass with flying colors and become an eminent Astra Spellcraft Commander, one that will make mom, dad, you guys, and our entire neighborhood immensely proud."

"Quit dreaming, you fool!" Nailah suddenly barked with her previously concealed emotion of anger revealing itself in her raised voice, which the feeling of worry and fear could also be perceived from.

Maxmillan who wasn't surprised at her instant change of mood, as he was expecting that, spoke with a smile emerging from his curved lips, "Big sister, don't worry. I will be fine. I know that you are worried that many bad things will happen to me once I can't pass the entrance exams, but I will. I believe that on that particular day, my awareness will increase and I would be able to enter into harmony with Astra Mystralis. I believe in that kind of miracle."

Nailah shook her head and asked, "Do you really think that that is how it works? If you can't perceive such now, how would you do so over there where hundreds to thousands of eyes are gazing at you? Ugh! Anyway, I won't try to stop you from going for the entrance exam. I just hope that as you said, a miracle will take place right there and you will suddenly be able to perceive Astra Mystralis and enter into harmony with it. I really hope so, or the many terrible events that will occur immediately after that, won't be bearable by you."

Once Nailah said that, she immediately turned around and left in anger. While Lylla who was still in the room with Maxmillan, said with a concerned look in her face, "Maxie, whenever you are ready to leave home for the entrance exams that will be conducted at the Floating Lotus Magical Academy, I really hope that the miracle that you mentioned would occur, will really happen. Or you won't be able to bear the aftermath of what would happen immediately after that."

"The hundred to thousands of eyes that would gaze at you on that day, will brand your face to their memory and make sure to avoid you like a plague that's extremely contagious and would cause immediate chronic illness that will be immediately followed by instant death."

"You won't be able to interact with anyone on the way. Little kids will throw things at you and mock you. Including the adults themselves. They will all cast you aside and treat you as nothing, as an empty-shelled human that has no value to give to the society, since you can't develop sensitivity to Astra Mystralis. Something that hasn't happened to anyone since hundreds of years ago. You will be reproached, hated and condemned by all. But the things I mentioned, are just the least things of what could happen if you fail on that day, because no one is expecting a failure there."

"However, if you possibly fail on that day which I strongly hope you don't, since I want you to get admitted into the Floating Lotus Academy and be filled with overflowing pride that I have a little brother who's is an Astra Spellcraft Commander, you are always welcome here. This is your home, your family, and no matter what would happen, we would still love you, more than ever before and care exceptionally well for you."

Once Lylla finished saying that, Maxmillan was filled with both delight and gladness.

'What a responsible family with loving, compassionate and tremendously caring members!' Maxmillan said within himself.

'I just hope I don't put you lovely people to shame.' Maxmillan said further internally.

Then he stood to his feet from his bed and hugged Lylla tightly who also hugged him back.

"I don't know what might really happen, but I have a feeling that due to the pressure that will be directed at me on that day, and my conviction to become someone that will make you guys proud, I believe that I would be able to become perceptibly aware of Astra Mystralis and enter into harmony with it."

"But if such doesn't take place in the end, I am fully ready to leave with whatever disastrous consequences will ensue from the decision that I made. However, if I don't try at all, how would I know if I would be successful in attuning my senses and whole being to the fluctuating pulses of Astra Mystralis around us?" Maxmillan asked and produced a smile in his face.

He then detached from his embrace with Lylla and said further, "No one should worry themself too much about this. Whether I would be fine in the end or not, it's up to the universe and fate to decide. But at least, I have to try, then probably fate will do the rest for me. And if it doesn't, well I have a beautiful home to which I can return to and peacefully live out my life. However, I won't be someone that will shy away from doing certain things simply because of the many ruinous events or devastating incidences that will occur because it didn't go right."

"I understand." Lylla said with the worry in her face slowly dispersing.

She then turned around to leave his room.

While Nailah who stood fixedly behind his door and listened to their entire conversation, shook her head with an inexplicable look in her face.

But from the gaze in her eyes, one could tell that she was really impressed with the things her brother said.

"Maxie, I hope it truly works for you. I hope so, for your sake, and so that you can make our family proud. But if it doesn't ever happen, you will always have a home that you can return to, where no one will castigate you for your failure. We would always love you as we have always done, and even love you more." Nailah muttered slowly, exhaled deeply, and then walked off to her room.

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