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Chapter 2

Autor: cream
My sister noticed me heading out.

"Elena, where are you going in this cold?" she asked.

I glanced back at my family by the fireplace. None of them looked my way. "I've got a part-time job," I said flatly.

"What kind of job?" She perked up right away. "Can I come?"

As I hesitated, my brother chimed in.

"It's not something shady, is it? Elena, don't embarrass the Bennett family."

Since turning 16, my brother had sounded more and more like our father, forever lecturing me about the family's honor as if he were already the heir.

I hated that about him, so I talked to him as little as possible.

My sister grew even more curious and insisted on coming with me. I couldn't talk her out of it, so I let her tag along.

I took small tarot reading gigs to earn my tuition. This one was at a café.

My sister sat next to me and watched intently as I did a reading for the client.

I was about to read the finished spread when the cup beside Freya tipped over, spilling coffee across my cards.

Freya cried out. She moved the cup away quickly, but the coffee had already seeped into every card.

The cards were ruined. The client took it as a bad omen and left without paying.

I frantically wiped the cards with napkins, but I knew it was useless.

Freya grabbed my hand. "I really didn't mean to, Elena. I'll buy you a new deck!"

My eyes stung, but I said nothing.

Miles, my mentor, had given me this deck for my 16th birthday.

He was the only person who supported my tarot studies and believed I had the talent to become an archmage someday.

It was my first tarot deck, and the first time anyone had celebrated my birthday.

No one at home remembered my birthday. They threw parties for my brother and took my sister on trips, but no one cared about me.

I put the soaked cards away, feeling nothing but hurt.

Freya saw my face and seemed to search for something comforting to say.

"Don't be upset. It's just a deck of cards. I'll buy you another one.

"I'll ask Mom," she added, her eyes darting around. "She can give you the money."

I looked at her. She knew how our parents treated me. Asking Mom to pay meant she had no intention of doing it herself.

As soon as we got home, Freya ran to our mother, linked arms with her, and whispered in a sweet, coaxing voice.

"Mom, what do I do? I accidentally made Elena mad."

My mother's smile vanished. Her face tightened with disgust, but I knew it wasn't directed at Freya.

"What happened? What's she mad about?"

Freya said pitifully, "I got her cards dirty, and she's upset. Mom, can you get her a new deck to make up for it?"

My mother frowned and looked at me. "She's the one who didn't take care of them. How is that your fault? And now she wants money from me? We don't have any to spare for you right now.

"Deal with it yourself," she said coldly.

Freya hid behind our mother, looking at me with sympathy.

I knew Freya could afford to replace my deck. She'd gone to our mother anyway, as if she wanted to watch me get scolded.

I was about to say something when my phone buzzed. I checked it and saw a message from Miles.

"Elena, the payment deadline is today. Why haven't you paid? You only have half an hour left."
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  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 8

    "As far as I know, Elena didn't even have enough money for the trip..." she mumbled, clearly grasping for something to back up her theory.Miles said, "Because of her excellent grades, we've waived her tuition and covered her travel and living expenses."That made everyone go silent again.It was a long time before my father, who hadn't said a word until then, finally spoke."I always knew my daughter would be exceptional!"I heard the hurt in my sister's voice. "Dad, what do you mean by that?"So just because I didn't pass the healer's assessment, I'm not exceptional anymore?" She sounded close to tears.My father hurried to explain. "That's not what I meant..."My mother leaned toward the phone. "I understand now, Elena. You really are exceptional... So come home for a visit when you can. We haven't even held a dinner to celebrate your admission yet."Let the other families see my eldest daughter is just as impressive! You're the first in our family to get into the Academy of Prophec

  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 7

    Miles, who'd taught me for years, was sitting in the office with a white-bearded stranger. This had to be Archmage Vale."I didn't expect you to be so young. Your teacher tells me you taught yourself divination?" The Archmage smiled kindly at me.I answered carefully. "Not really. My mentor helped me a lot."Archmage Vale nodded, looking pleased."Show me your cards. What deck do you use for your readings?" he asked.I didn't know what to say. When I hesitated, Miles gave me an encouraging look.After a few seconds, I said, "I don't have any cards."That surprised Archmage Vale, and even Miles.I hurried to explain. "Right before the test, my cards... got damaged. I couldn't use them, so...""So how did you pass the test?" Miles leaned forward, curious."I did it all in my head..." I said, a little embarrassed.Archmage Vale stared at me in shock. "Readings without a deck?"I nodded, my heart pounding.After a long silence, Archmage Vale finally sighed."You remind me of myself when I

  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 6

    Her scream brought everyone running. They rushed to comfort her, and the lights of my magic circle faded. They wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway.My mother held Freya close, wiping her tears and asking again and again, "What's wrong, Freya? What happened?"My father looked at his younger daughter too, his face full of concern."It was so scary... The lights suddenly came on. I'm scared..." Freya whimpered, red-eyed and pitiful.Back then, I didn't understand what was so scary about a ring of lights coming on.I had a darker suspicion, but it seemed impossible. Freya was only a child. Could she really be that calculating...?But the moment my father heard that, he turned and glared at me."Put away your useless little tricks! Stop scaring Freya!"I shrank into the corner, hurt and confused, unable to say a word.I didn't understand what I'd done wrong. I'd just wanted to make them happy.After that, my father had even less patience for my readings and magic. He threw away my only

  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 5

    As the train rolled on, my mother sent me a message.At first, she seemed concerned."Is your wound better?"I didn't reply. Then a second message came."If it is, go clean all your brother's boots. They got dirty a while ago."Remember to use the soft brush. The leather on those boots is delicate."I stared at my phone for a long time.I'd thought she was worried about my arm. She only wanted me to clean his boots.I simply deleted the message and acted like I'd never seen it.Out of sight, out of mind.Outside the window, withered brown plants slowly gave way to pale green. The train was taking me south, to a place I'd never been.After a sleepless night, I was so exhausted that I drifted off.And I had a dream.I was eight years old again, visiting a café where I happened to see tarot cards spread across a table for the first time.Miles wasn't my mentor yet. He noticed my curiosity and asked, "Do you like these cards?"I nodded, but I couldn't help looking back over my shoulder.On

  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 4

    Everyone else turned to me too, waiting for a show.I'd never been the favorite, so my parents never stood up for me in public, not even when someone picked on me.That's how my brother and sister learned they could humiliate me.But I didn't react the way they wanted. I didn't snap back, turn red, or burst into tears.I just glanced at them calmly, then turned and left.That night, after everyone left, I cleaned up the mess downstairs by myself.My mother was on the phone, bragging. "Tomorrow we're taking Freya on a trip to meet a master healer."She's famous. If she sees Freya's talent and takes her on as an apprentice, wouldn't that be wonderful?"For Freya, I'd pay any price!"As I listened to her dote on Freya, I thought of the admission I'd lost because I couldn't pay $150. The pain cut deep.After she hung up, Freya trailed after her, looking as though she wanted to say something but didn't dare.My mother stroked her hair. "What is it? It's okay, Freya. Just tell me.""I'm nerv

  • Forgotten by My Family, I Left the Pack   Chapter 3

    My hands shook. If the client had paid, I would have had enough.But now all I could do was watch my chance slip away.I ran upstairs, my chest aching. I was close to tears when another message from Miles came in."Archmage Julian Vale has a special admissions test. Pass it, and you'll be admitted with full tuition and living expenses covered."I managed to get you a chance to take it."I thanked Miles and opened Archmage Vale's test.But without my cards, I couldn't lay out the spreads his instructions called for.I closed my eyes and pictured each card, building every layout in my mind.By the time I finished the test, I was completely drained.My brother's voice came from outside the door."Elena, there are lots of guests downstairs. Come down and help."I dragged myself downstairs and found several prominent werewolf families gathered in our home.Everyone was crowded around Freya and Rowan, praising them nonstop.At some point, Freya had changed into another outfit, a little dress

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