I sat on the windowsill, feet dangling as I looked at the floating island of Trea. The weeping willows hid the rest of the islands from view, along with any glimpse of the land below. Despite the obvious beauty of the island, I couldn't stand it. Being locked up on your own island felt incredibly wrong. Magic was supposed to be fun, and exciting, and adventurous and... fun. This was exactly the opposite. 

"Yuka! Come down here before you hurt yourself." 

I rolled my eyes, but got up and preformed a small lightweight spell before sliding down the roof to peer over it and down at the garden. Master Aliki scowled up at me, her hip length dreads swaying slightly. The bells on her witches hat jingled and she walked off. I scaled my way down the glowing vines that hung on the roof. "Master Aliki, if you don't recall, this is my island. You have no right to be ordering me around in my own property." I said, brushing myself off and jogging to catch up with the woman. 

"And you, have no right to be speaking to me like that, little brat." Aliki scoffed, whacking me in the shins. I winced, rubbing my leg. 

"Ow, shit.." I hissed, resulting in yet another blow. 

"Watch your language, young man. You can handle a little boo boo." She huffed, then walked faster.

I despised her. Hated her with a burning passion. Respected her fully. Loved her like a mother.

--------

"Show me another one." Aliki said, leaning forward. I flipped to another page in my sketchbook. 

It was almost midnight, and we were fully awake, sitting in the dining room. "Well, Yuka. It seems your little scribbles are a bit bigger. And bolder. Don't think I didn't catch that drawing of Olivandrius in there. A bit detailed don't you thin--" Aliki started. I shut the book loudly, my face flushing a bright red. Master Aliki chuckled, putting her hands up in surrender. "You're an asshole..." I muttered, standing up and putting my plate in the sink. "Watch it brat. I can't heal broken limbs." she said, grinning. I rolled my eyes despite knowing that she could crack my spine in half without saying a word.

"Any new spells you want to teach me?" I asked hopefully, tossing the sketchbook on the couch, far away from Aliki. "None that I want to. Many that I need to." she said, yawning. Fake as hell. 

"Well then, can you teach me the ones you need to?"

"I don't know, can I?"

"Teach me the ones I need to learn."

"Watch your tone."

I scowled at Aliki, who stood up and headed towards the stairs. "What the hell! You're so stubborn! I became your apprentice to learn magic, not have it kept from me!"

"You'll know soon enough." she responded, and I heard the door to her room shut closed.

I kicked a chair in annoyance.