Chapter 102 - Sharing power (1/2)

It was almost time for the first match of the third-year students against the second-year students. Everyone said goodbye to their family members and friends and soon, only the contestants were left in the room.

Everyone made sure their gear and equipment were put on properly before waiting for the call to head out. Ray noticed that Slyvia was slightly shaking. It was a strange sight for Ray and the others to see. Usually, Slyvia was always calm and composed especially when leading the group.

Ray decided to sit down next to Slyvia. As Ray took a seat, Sylvia looked up at Ray and tried her best to force a smile.

”I'm a mess right, now aren't I?” Slyvia admitted. ”It's just…this match means so much for me. My brothers, you met earlier. They have all done amazing things. When my parents found out I couldn't perform magic, all their expectations of me kind of disappeared. Every day I would see my brothers get praised while I remained invisible in the background. This is finally my chance to prove to them I'm not useless.”

There was a slight silence between the two of them before Ray decided to reply.

”Did they even bother to show up?” Ray inquired. ”I saw your brothers here but not your mother and father. Stop thinking about people who aren't even here and start thinking about the people around you. If you start ignoring the people who are around you and chase the people who aren't, that's how you end up with no one.”

Tears started to flow out of Slyvia eyes. Her whole life she had been trying to impress her parents and finally she had the opportunity. Truthfully, she was upset that they didn't arrive yet she still wanted their acceptance. At home, she never felt like she had a family as her brothers were always away and her mother and father were too busy.

When she arrived at the academy and formed her team and friends, she started treating them as a family. That's why she always tried so hard to stop arguments from happening and tried to help fix things she wasn't even a part of.

She understood what Ray was saying.

As Slyvia was thinking about what to do she suddenly felt a hand on her back, but it wasn't just one hand. When she turned around, she could see that everyone was there looking out for her. Monk, Martha, Dan, Ian, Gary, Kyle and even the two twins Badger and Sloth.

Slyvia wiped away her tears and looked Ray in the eyes. The others could see that Ray and Slyvia would be best left alone and decided to get ready somewhere else.

”I want to win Ray, and not for my family. I want us all to go to the All Kingdom Tournament together.”

Ray liked Slyvia a lot. She never discriminated against him and saw him just like everyone else. Ray wanted her to be part of his team in the future but right now her loyalty was still with her family. Everything she had done so far was for her family. If she continued down the path of pleasing her parents, Ray could see this causing serious problems. However, Ray could see though that she was slowly changing.

Slyvia's hand was still shaking a little.

”I met a man today. He told me that Jack was strong, too strong. Originally, I was confident but for some reason those words the man said kept repeating in my head. What if he's right Ray? What if he is too strong for me?”

Ray realised that the man she was talking about was himself when he was disguised as Nes. At the time, Ray thought there was nothing he could do, so he told her to the truth in hopes that Slyvia would find a way to overcome Jack's inherent strength. Sadly, it looked like she hadn't and was looking to him for answers.

”Slyvia, do you really want to win?”