"Bliss, I thought you’re getting your grandpa....” Pam stopped, noticing the slightly tense and awkward atmosphere. She shifted her gaze back and forth between Bliss and her husband.

                                                             ~♧~

Upstairs at their home, the Brooklyn family sat in front of the dining table, on the flowery tablecloth is the crumpled admission paper. Bliss’s head slightly lowered, her eyes glued on the piece of paper in front of her. Her grandpa and grandma exchange a glance, then both of them smile.

Hearing a jingling sound, Bliss saw a small bag sitting just in front of her. Eyes widen, Bliss look at her grandpa and grandma.

“This…” She muttered in disbelief.

“You’ll need this if you want to travel to the capital.” Smith said.

Bliss untie the string of the bag and inside the cloth bag is filled with bronze and silver coins. Judging by the amount, it is enough for her to stay in the capital for several months. But…

Tears welled up in her sky blue eyes, “Grandpa..grandma...I cannot accept this…” She pushed the bag of coins towards the couple.

Pam held her hands, “Bliss, your grandpa and I know how much you wanted to attend that academy and how much you want to be a Magix Knight. We want to support you.”

Smith pushed the coins back to Bliss.

“But...I cannot just leave you two… and the money….”

Smith interrupted, “Silly girl, you know your grandpa is strong. We can take care of ourselves.”

He take a look at his wife, with a loving smile, he looks back at his granddaughter.

“We want our granddaughter to do what she loves. Go chase your dream without any worries. We will always be here to support you.”

Unable to hold back anymore, tears stream down Bliss’s face, but a smile is on her face. With one hand holding tightly to the coin bag, she use the other to wipe away her tears. She look straight into the eyes of her grandparents, determination shining for her blue eyes.

“I won’t let both of you down.”

                                                                    ~♧~

After deciding to travel to the capital for the admission, everyday Bliss imagined about her days at the capital; about the tests, at the academy..well..if she manage to get in that is. And of course, she is nervous but her body also trembles in excitement.

Bliss took the framed picture of her and her grandparents in front of their store/home and carefully put it into her luggage.

“That’s everything.” She smiled.

She went over to the window and looks up into the sky, the moon is exceptionally bright. All of a sudden, worries and uneasiness boils in the pit of her stomach. 

Bliss bites her lower lip, and took out Walfore academy admission flyer, she carries it with her everyday. Staring at the paper, she couldn’t help but thought whether she had make the right choice. Many ‘what-if’ starts to pop out in her mind.

What if she couldn’t pass the tests?

What if she fail to get into the academy?

What if she travel all the way to the capital for nothing?

All her life, Bliss live in the peaceful Daisyfield town; her life have been carefree, everyday she help her grandparents at the store, during their day off they would have picnic at the park with beautiful daisies surrounding them.

But now, she is going to the capital, Bliss had never travel far before, the farthest she had been is when she traveled to the nearby town to attend Uncle Gilbert’s daughter wedding and that is with her grandparents.

What scares her the most is the unpredictable and the unknown, Bliss is afraid. She doesn’t know what will happen and most of all, she doesn’t want to let Smith and Pam down. Bliss shakes her head, slapping her cheeks, trying to wave away the worry.

A knock at the door stops Bliss train of thoughts, Smith steps into the room.

“Done packing?” He asked after seeing Bliss’s luggage near her bed.

Bliss nods, Smith sat on her bed and signals Bliss to sit beside him. Smith took the locket he always keep near his heart and hands it to Bliss.

Bliss glances at the locket in her hands and blinks at Smith.

“I want you to have this.”

She opens the locket, inside is a photo of a man and woman with their backs facing the camera. She couldn’t see their face but she had a feeling that they’re her…

“Your parents.” Smith said.

Bliss closed the locket, brows furrowed.

Smith shakes his head, “Promise me you will find them. I had a feeling they’re at the capital.”

“They left us, grandpa.” Bliss said, a hint of anger in her voice.

Smith sigh, “Bliss, promise me.”

Bliss took in a deep breath and gives a little nod. “Okay.”

Smith smiled, patting Bliss on the shoulder and left the room.

Bliss stares at the locket on her palm, letting out a sigh, she open the clasps and wear it. 

Even if she is mad at her parents for leaving them and never came back after all these years but a promise is a promise and some more, her grandpa treasure this locket, he always kept it near his heart. She knew he misses them and deep down in her heart, Bliss knew she miss them too.

                                                              ~♧~

The next morning, Bliss wakes up to the delicious smell of pancakes.

Bliss opens the window, the sky is clear, the sun is shining; perfect to travel. She took in the fresh air and starts her morning routine.

Today is the day Bliss starts her journey to the capital of Headonia-Hilmoria. 

After breakfast, Bliss grabs her luggage and head for the door. Smith and Pam stands outside their store and watch Bliss leaves. 

Bliss stops after several steps, she look over her shoulder and saw her grandparents standing there, loving smile on their faces but Bliss could see their eyes are glassy, obviously holding back tears just like her. She drops her luggage and ran towards them, hugging them tightly.

“Grandpa, grandma, I’ll miss you both.” She said through her sobs, “I promise I will write back often, I promise I will be admitted into Walfore academy, I promise I will graduate with honors.”

Then, she look into Smith’s eyes, “I will fulfill my promises.” She knew her grandpa knew what she meant.

Smith nods, Pam wipe away her tears with the edge of her apron, “Bliss, off you go, you don’t want to miss the ship.”

Bliss held Pam’s hands tightly and nod. “Please take good care of yourself and grandpa.”

After a long moment of Bliss’s hugging, sobbing and many of her ‘take care of this and that’; the Brooklyn couple practically have to chase Bliss away before she misses her ship. Even with that Bliss still stop after several steps and look back at them; with Bliss’s stopping, looking back and continue walking, the usual path take longer than normal to reach the next street.

Bliss finally took a turn into the next street. Smith and Pam still stood outside their store even though they couldn’t see Bliss’s retreated figure anymore.

Looking at the bright sky, Bliss walk down the path towards the dock. Bliss step onto the big ship as the breeze picks up, her silvery blonde hair dances with the wind. Looking back at Daisyfield town, Bliss takes in every part of the beautiful town she grew up in.

She took off the locket her grandfather gave her and held it high up in the air, making yet another promises to her grandparents and to her home. Bliss Brooklyn will bring honor to her family and to her hometown. The sun rays hit the silver pendant making it shine, just like the determination shining in Bliss’s clear blue eyes.