Love and War: Shackles of the Heart

love, and they weren't wrong. Even after a decade had p

y time we held hands, it felt like I was so sure of what I wanted in life. To me, being

izing. And each time she called out my name was music

othered to pay attention to anyone, for all I focused on was m

ng academics. My peers respected me, and I made ma

k. Nobody ever dared to provoke me, and somehow, it made me feel like all the friend

d spells, difficult academic subjects, and even bold fighting skills. For t

stance and on my own, a wide-eyed lass named Claire appro

symbolize?" she asked me,

so I looked away and answered, “I don't.

y signify joy,” she said, still maintaining eye contact. “I don't kno

ecause we don't know each other that well yet. This is why this flower is all I can give you for now. I hope that this f

And there, I saw the brightest smile I’d ever seen in my fifteen years of existence. Her

g feelings for someone, so I turned to the only logi

she was above average at best. In terms of combat, she was quite lacking in comparison t

h, I became more beholden to her after I came to that realization. I sta

plex spells. There was one time, we were partners in an activity. We were s

colors using only the mana she weaved from the water in the air and the mana she

he saw just how captivated I was b

e was a tiny mole near her left eye, but it didn't diminish

I was staring so intently at her, I looked awa

eat picture,

e. “You were staring at me, no

and excused myself, saying that I

to wash my face and shake t

orward, and straitlaced. I put my duty to my family and my d

henever I was around her, I felt warm inside. At times, I would catch myself starin

arching for her across the dimly lit halls. Sometime later, I found her enjo

someone had gripped my heart and ripped it apart, piece by piece. I n

a lot to see her with some other guy. To make matters worse, we weren't even tog

and her friend, I didn't notice that she had noticed me as well.

sing by, but I couldn't see any of them. Time slowed down. Red leaves fe

hear, nor feel a thing aside from

calling out to me. She touched my shoulde

time and said, “Why'd

into her eyes. “Nothing,” I sai

sound so upset?” Claire asked

sively. Then, I stood u

r some reason, she was blushing. “

n't know what jealousy felt like. “I don't k

o until you tell me something! You can't just say ‘nothi

you with him made my heart ache for some reason. I don’t understand how feelings work y

one time without necessity, but I

l my life. But… seeing you smile the same way at someone else made me feel like my heart is about to explode.” I clutche

own tears. “Before I met you, I was so sure of what I wanted to become, and I could l

and a tear rolled down her c

ou. And each moment I wake up, I counted down the minutes until you arrive at school and sit ne

iss on my lips. And just as I was about to recover from

gether, and I dropped her off at home ever

fore… those days