Crimson Rebirth ( GL)

The study was warm, with the light from the tall windows streaming in and casting a golden hue over the rich wooden bookshelves that lined the walls.

I was seated at a large oak desk in the center of the room, waiting for Amara to arrive for what I assumed would be a normal reading class.

The familiar smell of old books and parchment filled the air, and I absentmindedly drummed my fingers against the desk, my thoughts wandering.

After four months of relentless training with Elira, my mind was almost always thinking about the next physical challenge, so it took a bit of mental effort to shift back into the realm of academics.

The door creaked open, and in walked Amara. Her hair was pulled into its usual neat bun, and she wore her typical long robes.

Today, however, there was something different about her she seemed more… glowing. I couldn't quite place it, but there was definitely something unusual about her. 

"Good afternoon, Ren," she greeted me warmly as she set a stack of papers on the desk. 

"Afternoon," I replied, noticing her slight wince as she lowered herself into the chair across from me. "Are you alright?"

Amara waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, it's nothing. Just the usual aches and pains."

I narrowed my eyes at her, not entirely convinced. "You don't look like it's nothing. Is something going on?"

She hesitated for a moment, then gave me a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you. This will be our last lesson together."

My mouth fell open. "Last lesson? What? Why?" Panic flickered through me. I had only just gotten the hang of reading and writing properly. 

"I've enjoyed our lessons, truly," Amara continued, ignoring my alarm. "But I won't be able to come by for the next few months because, well…" She glanced around the room, as if making sure no one else was listening, before she leaned in slightly and whispered, "I'm pregnant."

For a moment, I just stared at her, processing the words. 

"You're what?" I blurted out, completely taken off guard. I had always thought of Amara as this strict, no-nonsense tutor. The thought of her being pregnant was… well, weird. Mostly because I had assumed she was single and perpetually focused on work. "But… you're not married, are you?"

Amara blinked at me, then burst out laughing, a genuine, hearty laugh that shook her entire body. "Oh, Ren, dear," she said between giggles. "Is that what you thought? That I'm some lonely old spinster with no life outside of tutoring?"

I felt my face flush with embarrassment. "Well… kind of."

She wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. "No, no, I'm very much married. I just don't wear my ring during lessons because it gets in the way when I'm writing."

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Oh. That… makes sense."

Amara grinned at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I must say, your reaction is priceless. You're not the first to assume I'm married to my work, though. It comes with the territory of being a tutor, I suppose."

"I just thought you were, you know, so focused on teaching that you didn't have time for anything else," I mumbled, still trying to wrap my head around the revelation.

"Well, now you know," she said with a wink. "And as for the pregnancy, it's been a bit of a surprise for my husband and me, but we're thrilled. However, it means I'll need to take some time off, so this will be our last lesson together."

I slumped back in my chair, feeling a little lost. "But… what about my studies?"

"Don't worry," Amara reassured me. "You've made excellent progress over the last few months. You're a quick learner, Ren. I'm confident you'll do just fine on your own for a while. Besides, I've left you plenty of material to work through."

She gestured to the stack of papers she had brought with her. "These should keep you busy until I return."

I glanced at the pile, feeling a bit overwhelmed. There were enough lessons here to last me months. "You really think I'll be okay with this?"

Amara smiled warmly. "I do. And if you need help, I'm sure your parents or even Elira could assist you."

"Elira? Help me with reading?" I snorted. "I don't think so. She's more likely to throw a sword at my head."

Amara chuckled. "Well, maybe not Elira, but you'll manage."

I sighed, leaning over the table to pick up one of the papers. "I guess I don't have much choice, do I?"

She patted my hand. "You'll be fine, Ren. You're smarter than you give yourself credit for."

We spent the next hour going over the new material, Amara guiding me through the more complex texts with her usual patience. Despite the surprising news, it felt like any other lesson except for the fact that it was the last one.

As the session came to a close, Amara stood, gathering her things with a satisfied sigh. "Well, Ren, it's been a pleasure teaching you. I'm going to miss our lessons."

"Yeah," I said, standing as well. "I'm going to miss them too. Good luck with the baby, though."

"Thank you," she said, her face lighting up at the mention of the baby. "I'll be back before you know it, and by then, I expect you to have mastered everything we've covered."

I smiled weakly. "No pressure, right?"

Amara gave me one last amused look before she waved goodbye and left the room, leaving me standing there, a little unsure of what to do next.

The room suddenly felt much quieter, and the reality that I would be on my own for the next few months began to sink in.

Great. More self-study. Just what I needed.

---

When dinnertime rolled around, I made my way to the dining room, still thinking about the lesson. The smell of roasted meats and vegetables greeted me as I entered, my parents already seated at the long table, chatting away.

"Ren!" my mother called, waving me over. "Come, sit down. How was your lesson?"

"Last one," I said, taking my seat. "Amara's pregnant."

Both my parents paused mid-conversation, their eyes wide.

"Pregnant?" my father repeated. "Amara? The tutor?"

I nodded, shoveling a piece of bread into my mouth. "Yup. Guess she's married too."

My mother chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, I suppose it's good she's taking some time off. But what will you do without her?"

I shrugged. "She gave me a bunch of stuff to work through. I'll manage."

"I'm sure you will," my father said with a nod. "You've made excellent progress so far."

Dinner went on as usual, my parents discussing the day's events while I quietly ate. I couldn't help but think about how much had changed over the past four months.

From the intense training with Elira to mastering reading and writing, everything felt like it was moving so fast. And now, with Amara gone, I'd be on my own for a while. 

I was still processing all of this when I finished my meal and excused myself to head to bed.

As I climbed under the covers, I felt a strange sense of anticipation. Despite the challenges and the uncertainty, there was a part of me that was excited about what lay ahead.

Whether it was the expedition with Elira or mastering the new lessons on my own, I knew that I was growing stronger every day.

I pulled the blanket up to my chin, letting out a tired sigh. 

Tomorrow was another day. 

And who knew what it would bring?