The first day at Guild School ended with Gerald’s lecture on mana, Aether, and resonance. It left my head spinning with theories, and the moment he said, “You can go home now,” I was already out the door. I couldn’t wait to get home, eager to put his words into practice and see how they held up in actual training.But luck wasn’t with me today. Daniel was late.I found myself waiting near the entrance of the training facility while parents arrived one by one to pick up their children.I watched the adults talk with their children, expressions of blinding pride on their faces, while the kids practically glowed beneath the attention as they talked about their day.One boy in particular caught my eye, a hulking kid who looked far older than ten despite only being ten himself. He was grinning like he’d just won a gold medal while talking to his older sister.I couldn’t wrap my head around it.Maybe I was simply too old, too far removed from the simplicity of childhood, to understand that kind of effortless joy.I was beginning to feel conspicuous when a voice called out from behind me.“It looks like Daniel has been held up.”I turned and straightened immediately at the sight of Gerald. “Yes, sir. My father is late.”“Ha. A shame,” he said, gesturing back toward the hallway. “Why don’t you come in and wait in my office?”Waiting in an office was a considerable improvement over standing on the curb like a homeless stray. But part of me worried he might use Daniel’s late arrival as an excuse to start poking needles into me.This was a dilemma. Should I say yes or no? Refusing Gerald outright didn’t seem like a good idea.Thankfully, I never had to make the decision.Just as I was about to answer, a voice called out from behind me."Cid."Had I ever been this happy to see him before?I honestly didn’t know. But right then, I could’ve kissed the man. He’d (...)