As Ben and Zim sailed up the Onie river Ben could feel the wind pushing them north toward the tower he could also feel the magic Zim was using to keep the wind at their back. Ben had so many emotions he hadn’t really Dealt with from the days that had led up to this moment. He allowed himself to be sad for the loss of his wife he tried to keep his excitement at knowing he was to be a wizard in check and he also kept a tight rain on his Uncertainty at knowing he was to be the savior of the world. Ben thought about the old saying his father used to say “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Ben decided he should deal with his emotions and bite at a time and allowed himself to grieve for his wife. He thought about all the good times he had spent with her and how beautiful she was. He allowed himself to hate that flying creature that had taken her from him. The sadness and anger were just getting to him when he herd Zim call his name. Ben left his sulking and went over to the big ships wheel that Zim had been standing at for hours since they started their journey north. Zim began to speak as Ben stood next to him “ I know it is a lot to process and you will have to deal with all your emotions in your own way but you have time and dwelling on what you lost isn’t going to bring her back.”
Ben wondered if Zim was reading his mind using magic of if he was just that transparent and figured the best way to find out was to just ask “how did you know that was what I was thinking about.”
Zim stifled a slight chuckle and explained “ I could see the sadness on your face from across the deck and I thought I had told you when I became a wizard that terrible flying creature killed my whole family. Believe me I know what you are going through.”
Ben felt some degree of solace at hearing that but also felt sadness for Zim and anger at the fact that in order to become a wizard you had to lose the people you loved the most. “ why is it we have to lose the ones we love to become wizards?”
Zim started to explain “ not everyone who becomes a wizard loses the ones they love just the ones who have a great destiny and wouldn’t be able to fulfill it if they were held back by their love.”
Ben wanted to know who made that decision and blurted it out almost accusingly “ who makes that decision!”
Zim answered quickly to quell the tension “the creator I guess. If it were up to me it would never happen again.”
Ben let Zim’s words calm him and continued “I didn’t mean to say or come across as so accusing. I’m sorry. I just hate that it has to be this way.”
Zim sounded almost grandfatherly as he continued “believe me I know how you feel but even at a thousand years old I don’t understand why it has to be this way.”
Ben wanted to know more but thought a change of subject might be a good idea and asked how much longer till they were at the tower. Zim told him by early morning tomorrow if everything went according to plan.
Their conversation cooled and they discussed the magic Zim used to make the wind stay at their back. Zim told Ben what to expect when he got to the tower. The trip was smooth and easy the rest of the way
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest chapter and as always have a great day