Page 39 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate? (Dealing With Fate #1)

“Not yet, but I didn’t want to sit here and eat,” I admitted. “I wanted to visit. How are you?”

He waved me off. “Busy as always. You, on the other hand,” Alec chuckled, elbows on his knees, “I’ve heard some interesting rumors lately. Caregiver of the Champions, huh?”

“Oh, stars. Not you too?” While it was true that Winston declared me a “Caregiver”, I had yet to do anything with that unofficial title. All I got were countless speculations and gossip that I was their plaything. I hoped that part didn’t reach Alec’s ears, but the way he studied me gave me doubt.

He stood up to prepare us tea, dismissing Mia’s attempts to do it for him, before settling a cup on the table in between us. “How did that happen?” he asked, sipping his own tea.

And thus, I had no choice but to tell. He was prepared for a long story.

I skipped all the unnecessary and irrelevant details and the kidnapping, but I basically recounted my past two weeks of schooling so far.

Including the fact I had a block on my magic because that was impossible to ignore; the school administration was already aware of it.

Alec listened with great effort, nodding and adding comments or questions whenever he had them. His hands shook whenever he picked up his cup to sip; he was probably tired from all the research he was doing. When was the last time he’d actually slept?

A memory came to me — for a brief while before attending the academy, he had been miserable because our elder physician, Master Jeremus, had passed away.

They had a mentor and student sort of relationship, like Mia reminded me.

He would hole up in his bedroom for days sometimes, only getting out when our mother pleaded. The process repeated for a few months.

Then, one day, it was like a switch flipped; he was happy again. Before he left for the academy, he was in good spirits, and he’d stayed that way since.

I remembered asking him about it; maybe he was in his second or third year of schooling. “I found a life purpose. Thanks to Master Jeremus’s teachings,” he had said then.

“You trailed off,” Alec broke me from my musings. “What are you thinking about?”

Right, I was about to finish retelling my story. “Your life purpose,” I answered.

His eyes widened. “What?”

“You told me a few years ago that you found your purpose,” I mumbled, glancing at Mia who had tried to hide her surprise at my sudden memory recollection. “I remembered it while thinking of how busy you are with research. Are they connected? Maybe the one and the same?”

It made sense. Since he poured all this time and effort into this project, it might have a bigger purpose. He was so dedicated to his goal.

Unlike me, who maybe put in half of my effort into my research, and the other half dealing with all these men. It sounded sad in comparison, but I would be lying if I thought it was pitiful. I actually liked dealing with said men. Tedious, sure. Frustrating even. But I liked it.

While Alec looked shocked at my words, he quickly got over it and laughed. “You’ve always been the smart one between the two of us,” he teased. “I’d like to talk to my sister in private. Mia, if you please.”

Mia stiffened, her eyes darting to me for confirmation. At my nod, she returned the gesture, then bowed and left for the door. My knights, who had stayed behind with Milo and formed a conversation with him, bowed as well. “We’ll be right outside,” they informed us before all four of them left.

Now it was just me and my brother.

“I became very interested in support magic thanks to Master Jeremus,” Alec began, getting a lot more comfortable on his sofa. “It’s not necessary to have Recovery affinity to become a physician, but it’s helpful. Unfortunately, I have an Earth affinity instead.”

“Same as me,” I grinned, and he smiled back.

“Well, we are siblings. It’s more common to have similar affinities than not.

” He grasped his hands together on his stomach.

“And I wondered if it was possible to excel in Recovery. Throughout history, most great physicians have the affinity. And I don’t doubt our own Derrick Altha will be for the books too, in the near future.

“Did you know Master Jeremus trained Derrick, too?”

“He did?” My surprise was genuine, because I did a quick math in my head and the timelines didn’t seem to align.

Alec laughed. “Casually, I mean. Not formally. Derrick is a resident of our barony. Our father employed Master Jeremus when he retired as a professor of this academy. It was he who discovered Derrick and proposed to our parents to vouch for Derrick’s schooling here.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met Derrick before,” I mused, unsure. “I only remember him as our physician.”

“There was no reason for you to see him,” Alec pointed out.

“But as soon as he graduated and fulfilled the two-year conscription, he immediately returned to us and became our new family physician.” He waved a hand.

“But I digress. I only want to emphasize how Master Jeremus had a knack for discovering talent. And he told me I’d do something significant someday. He just didn’t say what.”

Alec shook his head, a somber smile on his lips. “He didn’t tell me even until the day he passed.”

I felt for my brother, truly. Not only had a beloved mentor died, a promise of a glorious future was also left in the void. He could still pursue it, of course, but the certainty and direction were lost along with Master Jeremus’s life.

“It had to be support magic, because why else would he be teaching it to me?” He grinned, gesturing to his piles of books and papers. “Something like using Elemental magic for Recovery or Support work?”

“I read something about that,” I shared, recalling some of the other books I’ve read both as previous Bea and current Bea. “Like using Water magic to wash wounds, Fire magic to cauterize. Air magic to lift injured soldiers. Earth magic to make molds for broken bones.”

“You’re quite right. More practical uses for this sort of magic,” Alec mused.

“But I was thinking of something more … internal. You know that one pillar of advanced magic is combining Elements, right? One of the more recent discoveries in the past fifty years is Lightning magic; a mix of Fire and Air, with a little Earth.”

He lifted a hand, and floating on his palm, a ball of lightning formed, glowing erratically with its jolts of electricity.

I had also read something about that. It was surprising that Lightning was a recent discovery. If humankind had more time to research it, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more advanced technology in a few decades, like how it was in my world.

Alas, in the current state of things, Lightning remained a mystery to most, and only a relatively few mages could consistently cast it. It was even rarer than Teleport magic, and that was saying something.

“You’re specializing in Lightning magic,” I concluded, shocked. If Alec could specialize in it, he’d be a pioneer in this branch of magic.

“Yes, something like that,” he admitted, dispersing the lightning ball. “Lightning is only known to cause destruction, like creating fires or cutting through hard materials, so it’s not a very popular form of magic. However, I believe this magic will have more practical uses aside from combat.”

Like creating modern technology.

I bit my lip to stop myself from talking. If I started blathering about what level of electrical technology I knew in my head, he would definitely know something was wrong with me. I couldn’t take that risk. Not even hint a little bit of all the potential things he could do with Lightning.

Alec beamed, sitting up straighter. “One of the first things I discovered was that a small jolt of Lightning could trigger involuntary muscle spasms. Relatively harmless and completely hilarious when used on extremities. And I thought, what would happen if the same magic were used on other muscles of the body? Perhaps the brain, or the heart?”

I sat there stunned. So, my brother, while oblivious to it, was in the process of discovering and inventing modern medical technology. But through magic, so that might even speed up the process. He could accomplish these things in this lifetime given enough resources and support.

Master Jeremus was right; Alec would achieve great, insurmountable success.

But I couldn’t comment on it, since I would jeopardize a lot of things. This was way beyond me.

“That’s basically the crux of my research,” Alec finished his answer to my question about his life purpose. “You understand why it takes a lot of my time. I’m documenting and experimenting with a new branch of magic. I have little to no references.”

“And you are amazing for it,” I grinned. “I believe in this project, too. I’m sure you’ll pioneer it for the good of the Kingdom and the rest of humankind.”

Alec laughed so hard he formed tears in his eyes.

“Oh, baby sister, you think too highly of me.” He wiped away the tears as he calmed down.

“I’m rushing to document as many as I can before I graduate.

I don’t know if I’ll have time for more research while on the battlefield. I don’t even know if I’ll survive it.”

And just like that, the reality of the situation came crashing down on me and had my heart in a chokehold.

All this time, I thought I had five years to get myself out of this world, until I could graduate and head for conscription myself. In truth, I had less than a year, because I knew, deep, deep within me, that I wouldn’t be able to take it if anything happened to him .

My brother.

Was I being a coward for wanting to run away from that heartache? Of course, definitely. Did it change my mind? Not in the slightest.

“Don’t give me that face, Bea,” Alec frowned, standing up from his sofa and sitting next to me.

“While I’m saying the worst probable outcome for me, I really don’t believe it, especially if I become the leader for Lightning magic research.

I’ll be too invaluable to get killed on a battlefield.

Truthfully, that’s part of the reason I’m striving hard for this. ”

“You want to be irreplaceable,” I mumbled, putting two and two together.

“And I need to make a sufficiently monumental discovery that will bolster my value to the Kingdom.”

I could see that. A reason to be kept safe by the Kingdom itself. It was a genius move, really.

I still wouldn’t risk it.

“Bea, do you think you’ll get the same privilege?” Alec asked, looking down at my hands. I moved them to his, and he gripped my hands tight.

Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“Becoming the Caregiver,” he answered, still focused on our hands now holding each other. “Befriending the Champions. Do you think they’ll be able to save you from a likely death in battle?”

Now that he asked, I had never considered that before. Of course, I didn’t expect to still be around when I’d be required to be a soldier, but I should try to consider all possibilities, even just for vigilance.

About getting saved — “Yes.” I didn’t have to think about it. I knew they’d try their damnest. The fact they were already going out of their way to take care of my kidnapper made me believe and trust they’d continue to do so, no matter how big or small the situation was.

Alec smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “Good enough for me.”

Then why did he look so sad?

By the time we had finished dinner, except my brother and Milo since they wanted to have a late meal, the Champions had just returned from the Priestesses’ call. Or at least it seemed like it as they strolled inside the dining hall like they owned the place.

Well, Prince Winston technically did.

It always amazed me how everyone would gape at their presence as if we didn’t see them every day everywhere. Unless when it felt like they were deliberately hiding from me. Delusional, I know.

The Prince and Lord Samuel headed for the buffet line while Claude went straight for my table, ignoring stares directed at him. “Good evening, Bea. Sorry it took a while.”

“I wasn’t waiting, so it’s fine.” I was totally waiting.

“I blame the Priestesses,” he huffed, leaning against the table with his hip. There were no available seats since this table was a four-seater. “Their prayers take too long.”

I frowned. “I thought you were there for the Vision.”

He shrugged. “We were. The Vision comes in segments through their prayers. It takes a while to form … and it requires a lot of energy and stamina. Aside from Divine magic.”

“Speaking of Divine magic, remember when the Prince said their magic works through you? What does that mean?” They never did clarify that one.

“I will tell you during our next Champions meeting,” the Prince answered me instead, arriving with Lord Grimwald.

“Assuming I’ll be there,” I quipped, dabbing a napkin over my lips.

“You will be,” Samuel smirked. “Aren’t you curious about the fourth Champion envisioned by the Oracles?”

“You’re going to keep it a secret?”

Samuel smirked wider, folding his arms over his chest. “Oh, we’ll make the announcement on Monday. But if you attend the meeting, you’ll know it first.”

Wow.

Wow.

The audacity to bait me with information that would be available to me eventually. Like, a one-day difference.

Just. Wow.

“Fuck! Fine,” I huffed, earning a victory laugh from that man. Ass. Was it pathetic they already knew how to manipulate me? Transparent as glass.

“I love how your lady curses, especially when it’s because of me,” Samuel goaded my twin knights, who only looked unbothered by him. “Very unladylike. Frankly, unbecoming for a noble daughter.”

I glared at him. “Bet you’d like that anyway. Feisty and bold, was it?”

He froze like I’d caught him in a lie. Or in a truth. Either way, the startled look on his face was comical.

Winston grabbed his shoulder and squeezed before letting go a second later. “That’s enough. Claude, let’s have dinner first before we proceed as planned. As for you, Bea … do you want to talk about the bastard?”

Ugh. My kidnapper’s boss.

I glanced at Mia and my knights, taking in their solemn faces. Honestly, they seemed to want to know about the guy more than I did. I wanted him punished, though, for causing great pain to the people who cared for me.

When I agreed, the Prince offered me a sweet smile.

“See you at the house.”