The next morning Kendra came down from her room to the smell of breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Her mother and grandfather were fixing up some fried potatoes and eggs, her father came down the stairs right behind her still in his tartan pajamas. "Morning, Sweetie." He said, ruffling his daughter's hair a little,
"Morning, Dad." She said back, smiling. Tucking the yellow folder given to her the day before by the wizard Agad under her arm, she made her way through the kitchen and sat down at the table.
"Ahh, man." Kendra's dad sighed, stretching his arms out, "Seth hasn't bothered to give us a call yet… You think he might be using the Singing Sisters as an excuse to get away from us elders?" He joked lightly.
Grandpa Sorenson frowned and waved a threatening spatula at his son, "The Singing Sisters are not to be taken lightly; Seth is not doing this for pleasure."
Kendra's mother took steaming plates of potatoes and eggs over to the table and set them down, kissing Kendra's forehead as she did so. "Good morning, Kendra."Kendra smiled at her mom and grabbed a fork, taking a bite of her eggs of the fork and chewing.
All the while Kendra's father grumbled, "I know, I know… Our kids, constantly saving the world without their parents, taking all the fun parts for themselves…"
"Dear!" His wife snapped around, looking accusingly at her husband, who ducked his head meekly and stole a shared look with Kendra. He mouthed, you guys are no fun! Then he went off by himself with a plate of breakfast and his alchemy kit that Tanu had given him, to go experiment in a corner.
Kendra's mother noticed the folder next to Kendra's plate and asked, "Did you make up your mind whether you want to participate in the test?"
Grandma Sorenson came into the kitchen and heard what was last spoken, "Did you think it over carefully, Kendra?"
Grandpa Sorenson huffed and walked stiffly over to the table and sat down, "You know you have a choice in this, unlike Zzyx. And you also have people who care about you who are alive. Remember that."
Kendra nodded and thought about the night before. She had spent the time she had before she fell asleep thinking about her decision. In the end it was Vanessa's words that helped her make up her mind. "So learn to be strong on your own,"
"Yeah. I'm going to do it." She said calmly, flipping open the folder. Grandpa Sorenson's eyes bugged out and Kendra's mother choked on her coffee.
"Surely you aren't…" Grandma Sorenson started, and then saw the look in Kendra's eyes. Determination glittered there, albeit faintly, but there. "She's serious."
Kendra's mother put her hand on her daughter's arm and said softly, "Honey, I know that this might be because of a boy…"
"Mom!" Kendra whined, looking at her mom with exasperation, "No, it's not!"
"Alright, alright." Her mother conceded, "But if it's about Bracken, then-"
"Mom." Kendra growled, clenching her fork, "It has nothing to do with him."
"Just so you know, becoming immortal for a man… It might not be worth it." Her mother tried.
"Hey! I heard that!" Kendra's dad exclaimed from the corner, pouting and dumping the mushrooms he was growing in his test tube on the floor and poking them, mocking hurt.
"It isn't that… It's just… I want to prove myself worthy." Kendra pleaded.
"But honey, you are worthy! Of course you are!" Her mother said,
"I know but… I just don't feel very worthy right now."
"She might be jealous of her brother! Might just want a quest to busy herself or outshine him…" Her dad mumbled from the corner, where the mushrooms were growing rapidly and stirring slightly.
"Or might just be going through one of those emotional teenage stages, don't worry Kendra, you can talk to any of us." Kendra's mother said soothingly.
"You said I had a choice, and I've made my choice." Kendra stated.
"But Kendra, these are your parents and-" Grandpa Sorenson protested,
"I said I've made my choice!" Kendra snapped and stormed up to her room, slamming the door to the attic playroom behind her and buried her head in her arms. Why don't they listen to me anymore?