You are Awesome, Joseph

Chapter 3: You Are Awesome, Joseph

Three years had crawled by since the fire. The memory of that terrifying day remained a searing brand on my soul, a constant reminder of the power I couldn't control. Mother rarely let me out of her sight, her worry a suffocating cloak around me. Even Father, usually stoic, couldn't hide his concern. My silence deepened, a chasm widening between me and my siblings.

Maira and Beath, my second and third eldest sisters, tried in vain to coax a smile from me. They'd twirl and pirouette, their laughter tinkling like wind chimes as they conjured vibrant flowers from thin air. But their magic, a source of joy for them, only amplified the emptiness within me.

I longed to connect, to reach out, but the words wouldn't come. My past life, a jumble of fragmented memories, felt like a lifetime ago. Yet, it colored my present, a barrier between me and this world of royalty and magic.

At three years old, I was a paradox – a child with the mind of an eighteen-year-old, burdened by a past he barely understood.

Among my many siblings, there was one I rarely saw – Joseph, the third prince. Twelve years my senior, he was an enigma, a fleeting presence in the vast tapestry of the palace.

From whispers exchanged between the maids, I gathered he was studious, perhaps even introverted. Intrigued, I yearned to know him better.

One starlit night, fueled by a sudden surge of defiance, I decided to act. With a stealth I hadn't known I possessed, I slipped out of my room, dodging Mother's watchful gaze.

My bare feet padded down the hallway, the silence broken only by the frantic thumping of my heart.

Joseph's room was bathed in a soft, golden glow emanating from a stack of books piled high on his desk. He sat hunched over them, his brow furrowed in concentration. The sight of him, so unlike my playful siblings, filled me with a strange sense of kinship.

But my curiosity proved disastrous. As I reached for the doorknob, my foot caught on a loose rug, and I went sprawling face-first onto the plush carpet.

A startled gasp escaped my lips.

Joseph's head snapped up, his brow furrowing further. For a moment, he simply stared, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he set his book aside and approached me.

"Daniel? What are you doing here at this hour?"

His voice was gentle, laced with a hint of amusement.

Panic choked my throat. I scrambled to my feet, but the words wouldn't come. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

Seeing my distress, Joseph knelt before me, his concern evident. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand and brushed a stray tear from my cheek. A warmth spread through me, a spark of connection I hadn't felt in a long time.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. In a choked voice, I blurted out, "You…you are awesome, Joseph!"

The words hung heavy in the air.

To my surprise, Joseph's stoic facade crumbled. His eyes welled up, and a choked sob escaped his lips. He pulled me into a hug, the gesture unexpected yet comforting.

"I-I'm not awesome, Daniel," he stammered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm just…weak. A healer, nothing more."

His words sent a jolt through me. Weak? The man who could heal with a touch was weak? It felt like a revelation.

Here, in the vast hierarchy of magic, with fire wielders and earth shapers at the top, Joseph, the healer, saw himself as powerless.

In that moment, I knew what I had to do. Hugging him tighter, I whispered, "No, Joseph. You are strong. The strongest of us all."

It wasn't just words of comfort; it was a promise. A promise to show him his own strength, and perhaps, in the process, find the courage to face my own.

From that night onwards, a new chapter began. Joseph became my confidante, my teacher.

He patiently guided me through the intricacies of magic, not to awaken my fire, but to understand it. He shared his vast knowledge of healing spells, his passion for a kind of magic often overlooked.

And as I learned, I grew bolder.

With Joseph by my side, I ventured out of my self-imposed exile, tentatively reconnecting with my siblings. The journey wouldn't be easy.

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