Edward Smith 

I had been in this new world for just over three years now and it was safe to say, things were about to change for two big reasons. 

The first reason was because I was pretty sure that I was about to awaken as a mage at the mere age of three. For the past few weeks, I had felt a fuzzy, bubbling feeling in my chest. Right where my heart was. It wasn’t painful or uncomfortable, in fact, it was the exact opposite. It felt exciting and amazing, it filled my body with unforeseen energy and adrenaline that made me feel, despite my small and fragile stature, that I could do anything.  

I knew this feeling meant that I would awaken soon because the book “Mana and Magic for beginners” had described this exact feeling in the book, which signified the verge of awakening. This was both a joyous yet concerning occasion.  

The reason to be concerned was, well, awakenings could be rather... explosive. Normally when a child reached the awakening stage, people around them would be expecting it and waiting for it to happen. And so, they would be brought to a safe place to awaken to prevent any damage. However, I was seven to eight years too young for my parents to even begin to suspect that I was about to awaken. 

So, I had two options. Don't tell Mary and Jon what was going on and risk blowing up a hole in the house, potentially harming one of them or both of them... which was a big no for a whole other reason that I’ll get into later. Or tell them, have me brought to a facility to be monitored... but then I’d risk having to explain how I did this, risk being tested and experimented on... and risk them finding out the truth about me. 

It was a whole dilemma really. It had caused many sleepless nights of contemplation and reading to keep my mind off of it. Which was easier to get away with, since I had graduated from sleeping in my parent's room, to having Jon’s old study turned into a room for me, his shelf of books still in there. 

Why had I been given a new room all to myself, despite living in a relatively small house? Well, that was because soon, I was about to become a big brother to twins. And so, needing more space and being at the age where I could be trusted to at least sleep by myself, I had been gratefully granted my own room. 

Which led to the reason why awakening in this house could cause a serious issue. I didn’t want to risk the chance of hurting both Mary and the two unborn children. And so, with that carrying the decision. I decided to come clean to my parents... well, not come clean exactly. 

“Mom... dad... m-my chest... it feels funny.” 

I said, placing a hand over my heart as I waddled over to my Mary, who was sat in the family living room watching TV, her feet up on the coffee table, her hands placed on her swollen lump of a belly. The effect was immediate. As if struck by lightning, her eyes widened, and she practically jumped at me and scooped me up into her arms. 

“Jon! Jon come quickly, hurry! E-Ed says there’s something w-wrong with his heart!” 

She bellowed at the top of her lungs, as she put her head against mine and began to sway me gently. 

“Ed dear what’s wrong? Can you describe the feeling to me? Does it hurt? Are you struggling to breathe? Do you feel tired o?” 

She questioned, as she whispered in my ear in a soothing motherly way that was meant to instil calm into me, yet I could sense the panic and fear in her. Meanwhile, the stumbling and thumping of Jon frantically running around upstairs and then down the stairs towards the living room echoed throughout the house.  Sorry Mary, Jon... it was the only method I could think of. Trust me, it’s better this way.  

“What’s the matter? What’s wrong? Here let me take a look.” 

Jon panted as he bolted into the room, his hands engulfed in a green, warm light as he held it over my form. My body becoming instantly warmer and cosier by the second. 

I had learnt over the years that both my parents were mages themselves, which made sense since I was one. Mary was a regular water mage without an advanced form... that I knew of. However, Jon, he was a little more special. He was born with an irregular form of magic called healing magic. I was currently unsure of how it worked since I hadn’t yet read “Irregular Magic, Advanced Magic and Mana Rings for mages.” but what I did know was that it was a rare and sort after skill, which landed him a rather cozy job in a hospital. 

He wasn’t the best healer in the world, so we weren’t filthy rich, but he made enough that he could support me and Mary comfortably, without her having to work, and whilst also treating us to luxurious things... though of course that may change soon on the account of the twins being born in a few months from now. 

“Hmmm... there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him... tell me Edward. Can you describe the feeling to me?” 

Jon asked calmly, as he began to relax more now that he was positive there was in fact nothing wrong with me. Perfect, everything was going just as according to plan. Now, time for the grand finale. 

“It feels weird. Its’s all fuzzy and bubbly. But not in a bad way. In a good way.” 

I said with a smile. I knew that my plan had worked, when both Jon and Mary’s eye’s widened in shock as they looked at me, then at each other, then back at me. Their jaws wide open. 

Guess the cat was out of the bag now. Fingers crossed things don’t become too complicated from this point moving forwards. I'm still shooting for that slow, peaceful and easy life.