Chapter 9 Wendy's Journey: Uncovering Magic and Adventure

She shook her head, holding back a sigh before delving into her oft-repeated tale. "I've always had magic within me, although it wasn't discovered until a sorcerer visited my family's home and attempted to perform some magic as a dinner entertainment. It was quite embarrassing when it didn't work, but he soon realized what was happening after several attempts, and my abilities were revealed. From there, I secured a scholarship and entered the Collegium." "You secured the scholarship yourself?" he frowned.

"Wouldn't that be something your parents would arrange for you if they weren't willing to pay?" "Eventually, yes. But I was only twelve at the time, which is two years later than the Collegium typically admits women. I didn't want to fall behind, and my parents were taking their time." "Must have been challenging to catch up," he remarked. "Yes, but I managed it," Wendy replied. Although Grey hadn't asked, she was accustomed to people wanting to know all the details and quickly continued her story. "My older brother blamed me for the declining harvests on our land, even though I showed him records proving that our family had been struggling for nearly half a century. His accusations were baseless, but my father felt the need to investigate, and it was easier for me to obtain my own scholarship than to wait for him to finish." Grey furrowed his brow. "So you don't have any magic of your own to use?" "Energy flows through me effortlessly, and I typically have enough power within me to perform most magic. However, it's in a constant state of flux, and you likely won't feel the energy moving through me unless you're concentrating. I won't stop you from using magic unless I consciously draw on the world's energy. Usually, releasing the magic is as easy as drawing it in, but..." Wendy trailed off, knowing she had panicked, and her fear and confusion had made it difficult for her to release the magic as quickly and easily as she usually did. "Don't worry about it," Grey reassured her, pulling his hat lower over his eyes. "I can only imagine how frustrating it would be for a mage to duel you. It'd be worse than fighting Selena... Regardless, we should remain alert for bandits. Just because we encountered some yesterday doesn't mean the road will be clear today." 'You know, what factors do you consider when you choose your romantic partners?' Wendy clarified. Selena chuckled softly, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "Oh, there are no hard and fast rules for that, Wendy. It's more of a feeling, you know? A connection that just clicks. Sometimes it's physical attraction, other times it's a shared interest or a similar sense of humor." Wendy nodded slowly, still unsure of how she felt about Selena's behavior with the men at the inn earlier. "I see. And what about those men at the inn? Are you interested in any of them?" Selena shook her head with a smile. "No, not really. They were just a bit of fun to pass the time. Besides, I don't mix business with pleasure." Wendy couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at Selena's response. She had been worried that Selena's flirtatious behavior could potentially jeopardize their mission. "That's good to hear. I was just a bit taken aback by how quickly you drew them in." Selena shrugged. "It's just a little harmless fun, Wendy. Life's too short to take everything so seriously." Wendy nodded, understanding Selena's perspective. She couldn't deny that there was something alluring about Selena's carefree attitude. Perhaps it was something she could learn from. As they settled into their beds, Wendy couldn't help but think about the dynamics of their team. Grey seemed to have a protective streak towards Selena, while Bo was always quick with a joke. As for herself, she wasn't quite sure where she fit in. She was still new to this life of adventure and uncertainty, but she was determined to prove herself. With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Wendy closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready for whatever the next day may bring. As Wendy watched Selena undress and flop onto her bed, she couldn't help but feel intrigued and a little perplexed by her friend's behavior. "Why do you want to know?" she sighed, wondering why Wendy was so curious about her love life. "Where's your notebook?" Wendy hesitated for a moment, realizing that this was not appropriate material for her notes. Moreover, she doubted that it had anything to do with Selena's shadow magic, which was the reason she had come to visit her friend in the first place. As she pondered the situation, she couldn't help but notice that this was not the sort of behavior that she had read about in the manuscripts on shadow magic. "Oh, I don't know," Selena continued, ignoring Wendy's hesitation. "If there's a... a spark. If I feel something for them." Wendy frowned in the darkness, trying to make sense of Selena's words. "I thought you just chose them at random," she said, her confusion mounting. "No! It's because I like them!" Selena replied, her voice rising with excitement. Despite Grey's advice to stay away, Wendy couldn't help but watch her friend closely. Selena was shameless, and it was impossible to look away. "How come they're all ugly?" Wendy blurted out, unable to hold back any longer. "Are they?" Selena seemed surprised by the question. "Well, I'm trying to fall in love!" With that, Selena finished undressing and flopped down onto her bed, pulling the covers up over her. "Surely it would be easier just to use your shadow magic," Wendy suggested, still trying to understand Selena's methods. "No, not at all," Selena replied, shaking her head. "Ems was very lucky, that usually doesn't happen..." It took Wendy a moment to realize that Selena must be talking about Emerré Albier. Did Selena know her? "Mostly, once you lose your hold on your body you just... float away. Do you know how many people there are in the world? If you don't know who you're looking for, it's really hard to find someone... Besides, it wouldn't make sense for me to use my shadow magic to find an anchor. Every time I use it, it gets harder to resist... No, it's better for me to do it the way normal people do-" "Normal people don't do it like that!" Wendy interjected, trying to keep her frustration at bay. "I'll be more quiet next time. Goodnight, Etta," Selena said, cutting off the conversation abruptly. As Wendy made her way out of Selena's room, she couldn't help but feel a little confused and concerned for her friend. Selena's methods were unorthodox, and Wendy couldn't help but wonder what would happen if her friend continued on this path. Nevertheless, she knew that she had to trust Selena to make the right choices for herself. After all, love was a mysterious and often unpredictable force, and it was not for anyone else to judge or dictate.