Another year has passed marking the third year since Alexander has been reincarnated.
His time has been filled with lessons from Ava, who despite her young age proved to be an excellent teacher.
And time with Elise who would care for his more private and personal needs.
Alexander and Ava would spend almost every day together, discussing random topics or playing dress up.
While at other times they enjoy each other's company in silence.
If it wasn't for Ava Alexander, his life would have been so monotonous that he seriously considered ending it.
His life wasn't bad, but when his only entertainment was other people it got boring relatively quickly.
And to make matters worse Alexander rarely saw any of his other family members.
His father spent most of his time away on missions.
When he returned home he was often drained of energy and slept the entire time.
His birth mother's name is Erica. She spent most of her time in her study, rarely coming out of it.
His other mother, Olivia was home often but, spent most of her days outside in the city.
As for her sons, they attended a Pathfinder academy.
So Alexander truly only had Ava, but even she's been acting strange lately.
She hasn't been sleeping with him, or letting him go into her room.
And when they did play with each other she always had a distant look in her eyes.
And she was currently, as they were sitting on the bench facing the oak tree in the courtyard,
had that exact expression on her face.
Alexander shifted his gaze to look up at her.
Ava remained silent, continuing to look at the oak tree, whose leaves had turned from white to gold.
Why won't she just talk to me?
Suddenly a tear began to roll down Ava's cheek as she tightened her fists.
She then leaned back on the bench and sighed heavily.
"Alex…" she spoke, her voice was soft and full of pain.
Alexander immediately reached for her hand, but he realized that his hands were too small.
Ava shifted her gaze towards Alexander with a small smile.
"It's ok Alex, I'm not hurt physically."
"What's the matter?" Alexander asked.
"I'm starting school soon." She said weakly.
Oh, that doesn't sound too bad.
"Why are you crying if it's just school?"
Ava shook her head slowly, "Alex, I'll be away from you for the next ten years. I'll be in a place full of people I don't know and I'm scared..."
Ava paused as she pulled Alexander closer to her.
"…I'm scared to leave home, to leave you, to stay in a dorm room with strangers, it's all too much, but I have to go because I'm starting school next week."
Ava's voice was full of sorrow, her eyes becoming puffy as her hands trembled.
Ten is too young to be staying in a dorm by herself.
Hell, when I was 10 I was still doing crazy ass shit and I had adult supervision.
"Why can't you just stay here?" Alexander asked as he grew closer to her.
Ava sighed as she squeezed Alexander.
"Because everyone has to go to an academy, it's so you can become a functioning member of society."
She continued. "But I don't need school, I'm smart and I'm sure I'd surpass everyone at that academy."
Ava had a growing anger in her voice.
Alexander couldn't blame her, school was never something he enjoyed either.
Alexander looked towards the oak tree and its falling golden leaves.
"Well, you still have a week before you have to go. We can spend it together."
Ava nodded slowly, "Alex, I want more than just a week, but I guess it'll do."
She sighed as she leaned her head down against Alexander's.
"I'm going to miss you, little brother."
"I'll miss you too Ava, I'll miss you a lot."
And that's how they sat for the next hour.
Holding each other, wishing that they could stay like that forever.
— — —
The following week was full of mixed emotions.
They spent most of their time discussing various topics, even showing Alexander how to draw.
She taught him the basics of sketching and ensured he knew how to write his name as well as the alphabet in its entirety.
The language wasn't like the Latin lettering system.
Instead of twenty-plus symbols, there were forty and they all had their unique meaning and shape.
Alexander's grasp of the language was firm, but he found writing difficult.
The symbols were simple enough, just a few lines and dots posed in various ways.
The problems arose when Alex learned that some symbols look different but are used to mean the same thing, and symbols that look almost identical mean something completely different.
There were also three forms that each word can take, feminine, masculine, and objective.
Alexander could write in a completely objective tone, as long as the person he's writing to doesn't mind being addressed properly.
Of course, with writing you always have to have reading as a company.
Alexander could read to a certain degree if the words were simple enough.
— — —
The last day had arrived as fast as Alexander had blinked.
Ava had all of her bags and books sitting at the front door, and his mother and Olivia were outside preparing for their departure.
Ava was standing at the door looking at Alexander with a weak smile and an envelope in her hand.
"Are you just going to stand there, Alex?"
Her tone was joyful, but there was a tinge of sadness as she spoke.
Alexander quickly ran towards her as fast as his legs would carry him.
The sounds of his small feet smacking against the hardwood floors echoed throughout the house.
When he finally reached Ava he hugged her tightly.
Ava quickly lowered herself to one knee and embraced him.
"I love you so much, Alex." She said, her voice shaking more by the second,
"Do you have to go?" Alexander asked as he closed his eyes to stop the tears from rolling down his face.
Ava slowly nodded.
"Yeah, but there's a reason I've been forcing you to practice your reading and writing, Alex. I want you to write to me."
"Write me letters whenever you can. I want you to draw me pictures. I want you to..."
Ava sobbed softly as her grip tightened around Alexander. "…I want it to feel like I'm there with you."
As she spoke, Alexander realized how long ten years truly was.
Now that she's leaving who would I spend my time with?
Alexander's emotions began to run rampant as the realization sank deeper.
"You can't go, Ava!" Alexander cried as he tried to pull her back into the house.
Ava remained silent hugging Alexander for what seemed like hours.
"Ava, please, you can find a way to stay, can't you? We can figure something out right?"
Alexander's mind began racing with questions and ideas for ways to get her to stay.
But no matter what he offered, Ava remained silent.
Her warm tears were trickling down his back.
"Ava no..." Alexander whispered.
Ava pulled away from the embrace as the footsteps of a servant began approaching the front door from outside.
"We are prepared for our departure Lady Ava, whenever you're ready."
The servant remained as professional as ever, but she had a sympathetic look in her eyes.
Ava nodded as she began to wipe her tears, "ok, just give me a little more time with Alex."
The servant nodded as she returned outside.
Ava looked down at the letter in her hand, then back up to Alexander. A weak smile appeared on her lips as she handed the envelope to him.
"What's this?" Alexander asked weakly as he wiped his tears.
"It's the first letter, I had it prepared for a while, and now, it's time to give it to you."
Alexander accepted the letter with a weak smile.
"I guess you got a head start, huh?" Alexander said softly as he looked down at the letter.
Ava let out a weak chuckle, "Yep, so you better get started, otherwise you'll make your big sister mad."
She reached down to run her fingers through his hair, her touch was soft and gentle.
Elise soon came downstairs to retrieve Alexander for his bath.
Ava looked up at Elise and nodded, "Alex, I guess it's time for me to go."
Ava turned towards the door and grabbed her few remaining bags, then turned around one last time and smiled.
"I love you, Alex, with all my heart."
And with that, she turned to leave out the door, her figure disappearing under the rays of sunlight that were beaming down.
Alexander dropped to his knees as he held the letter in his hand tightly.
Why….
Elise grew closer to Alex's side.
"Would you like for me to hold you, my lord?"
Alex looked up at Elise with tears in his eyes, his vision blurred and all he saw was her vague shape.
"Yes."
He wiped his tears and reached out his hands.
Elise wrapped her arms around him and lifted him from the floor. Her embrace was a warm welcome from the cold reality Alexander was beginning to face.
— — —
A few days had passed.
Alexander continued to spend more time with Elise after Ava's departure.
His time with Elise wasn't the same as with Ava, but Elise tried her best to cheer him up.
He appreciated her efforts, eventually growing to accept his new reality.
With help from Elise, he began to send letters to Ava regularly.
Ava would often respond a week or two later, always sending long letters.
She told Alex about the fun she was having and the friendships she formed.
He felt happy for her, in a sense, and he was glad she didn't let their situation dictate her school life too much.
But, that doesn't help him out much.
He needed to go out and make connections.
— — —
A few days later.
Elise and Alex were bathing together.
He decided that it was time to ask her about the city.
Alexander lifted his head and looked towards her with a determined look in his eyes. "Elise, when will I be able to see the city?"
Elise dipped her sponge into the water, and the sound of water rippling filled the air.
She then smiled as she lifted the wet dripping sponge, placed it on his chest, and gently began to scrub.
"Whenever you wish." She replied gently, "You have only to ask."
She then began to wash Alexander's neck, her touch ever gentle.
You mean all this time, I could have just asked?
Alexander chuckled softly, "Is it really that easy?" He asked, his voice full of curiosity.
Elise laughed as she dipped the sponge again.
She then brought the sponge to her arm and scrubbed.
"Yes, my lord."