Ambrose

'If you managed to open this book, then you must be one of the rare people who has a potential to use magic.'

I was about to flip to the next page when I heard a shuffling of the books near me. I stood up and held the book tight as I surveyed my surroundings.

"Who's there?" I asked, but it was all silent. I walked around, trying to see if there's someone out here, but there was no one. I sat on the floor as I tried to think of the reason of the noise.

It can't be because of the wind, since the windows were closed.

It can't be a cat or a small animal, because there was no hole or space for them to enter.

If it was a person from the outside, I should have heard the door opening.

I can't think of any reason! Was it just a hallucination?

I tried to recall the things that Ira told me and the circumstances right now.

"It can't be a person from the outside, but it's a different story if..." I looked at the book I was holding and my eyes widened. Oh shoot! That might be it! I'm not sure but I think...

There's a person inside the library right now.

I tried to look around and search for clues. I looked around the direction of the noise that I heard a while ago and my right eyebrow raised when I noticed something.

This scent... It's not a scent of paper or ink. It's a scent of mint.

I looked around but I didn't see anyone. The scent was faint, so I tried to wander around, looking for the same scent. I smirked when I noticed that the scent was strong near the long tables and seats. I tried to ascertain where the scent is the strongest, but also trying not to be obvious that I'm finding someone.

If that person is observing me, then I need to be natural.

I smiled when I noticed a faint presence on the farthest table and seat. I headed there and without hesitation, I smiled on the blank space.

"Hello there. May I ask why you're here?" I asked in a kind voice. It was all silent, clearly depicting that the person has no plans of answering me. I sighed and just sat on the the seat provided and placed the book on the table. I can still smell the scent of mint here, so I'm sure that the person is still here.

"You see, I just discovered about this book. I never thought that magic existed, but I guess I will, because of this weird book and you." It was still silent so I continued speaking. "If there really is magic in this world, I could guess that you used it to be invisible and stay in this library to read books regarding magic, right?" There was no answer, but I knew that this person could hear me.

"You often mess up with the books every time the servants clean this place so they won't think of going here every night, which I suppose is your time to wander around the library freely. You tried to scare me right now, either because you don't want me here or you want to have the book I have, am I right?" I asked, yet I still heard no answer. I sighed and stood up, holding the book.

"I think you won't answer me, but I don't think you're a bad person. I hope you'll give me an answer soon. Please don't conceal you scent so I can still find you." I was about to transfer to another seat when I felt a hand gripping my left wrist. I immediately turned back and I was stunned to see a boy sitting on the seat, I guess he's near my age, and he's smirking at me.

"You're the first one to locate me because of my scent." He said with a wide grin on his face, clearly amused. I was left in awe, not because of the shock of seeing another person, but because of this kid's handsome features.

Though he looked young, one can easily notice that he's a good-looking person. Blonde hair that glowed like gold. Sharp, blue eyes like the ocean, calm on the surface but clearly hiding lots of secrets in its depths. For some reason, his beautiful eyes looked dull. I also noticed a beauty mark near his thin lips. He was around my age, but he looked mature. His strong presence tells me so.

"Hmm... Quite an interesting description about me, young lady." My eyes widened with his comment. What the? He can read minds?

'If you can, then let go of my wrist, we're not close.'

I guess I was right because this kid started laughing, but he didn't release my wrist. I tried to struggle away but his grip went tighter and he wasn't laughing anymore. His laugh quickly turned into a glare, showing me a dark expression. I stopped resisting and looked at this kid keenly. He was wearing dark clothes, like those typical magician clothes in fantasy novels. I guess he's a magician? Or someone aspiring to be one?

"So, who are you?" I got the courage to ask even though he already has a blank expression. For some reason, I didn't feel afraid, instead, I was curious. He looked at me with his serious, blue eyes. I guess he's trying to assess if I could be trusted or not.

"Well, you're correct about that, young miss." He told me. Ugh, he read my mind again. I pouted when I realized that I can't do anything about it.

"Aren't you going to answer my question?" I asked him again. He just gave me a stare and the whole library was filled with silence. I sighed annoyingly with this kind of treatment.

'If you're not going to answer my question, then let me leave! I just want to read this book in peace!'

"I can't let you go if you already knew about my existence." This boy said, clearly giving me a warning. I looked at him and sighed.

"Then, what do you want me to do? You won't let me go, but you also won't answer my question. Will you kill me?" I shuddered as I asked him the last question. Would I die here? If that's the case, then I guess it's really my fate to die with books.

"What are you talking about, young lady?" I rolled my eyes with his question. I wonder what you're asking me about, boy? I knew he could read my mind, so I thought he would be angry, but he did the opposite. He laughed and released my wrist. Placing his hands on his stomach, he laughed like I told him a funny joke.

I turned my back on him, trying to find another spot where I could read this book about magic. I just took a few steps forward when I heard his laugh subsided and the atmosphere in the library changed. It was once light and calm, but now it felt dark and I felt a strong pressure from someone. What's this?

I looked back and I gasped when I saw the boy's blue eyes glowed. It actually didn't looked ocean-blue anymore, but more like a blue night sky. It had a tint of purple swirling around his eyes and his orbs were staring at me directly.

I held the book tightly as my legs started to go weak and heavy with the pressure. For an unknown reason, I didn't feel any fear. This was more dangerous than the first time I met the duke, but I felt braver to meet this kid's gaze. I glared at this boy as I held my ground. Do you really want to kill me? His demeanor turned darker as his presence became heavier. I can't help but kneel on the ground in one knee but I didn't escape his gaze. Staring at his glowing eyes, I changed my glare and gave him a soft smile.

"Kill me faster, please. I'm tired of suffering." I told him in the softest voice I could muster and he gave me a glare. Ah, I guess I'll really die. A few seconds passed until his heavy aura was lifted and I immediately fell to the ground, gasping for my breath. What was that?

I heard his footsteps closing in, and now he's looking down on me with a smirk plastered on his face. I closed my eyes as I waited for him to take my life.

I guess this would be the end, huh? Just when things were about to change for me and for this whole story.

"Do you really think I'm that heartless?" I opened my eyes and I was stunned to see him offering his hand to me. With my remaining strength, I grabbed his hand as he pulled me up. It took me a while to balance myself and I took a deep breath before looking at this boy. He still has a smirk in his face, clearly looking amused. What the... Did he treat me like a toy?

"Who knows, young lady? Anyways, do you want to learn magic?" Huh? What is he talking about? He'll teach me magic? Did I hear it right?

"If you're not deaf, then yes, I'm willing to teach you magic, young lady." I sighed when he read my mind again.

"How can I trust you? You almost killed me a few moments ago." I told him, trying to be calm. I heard him laughed a little before giving me a small smile. I was stunned for a while because his smile looked sincere, not like the usual teasing ones that he showed me.

"That was a test, young lady." It took me a while before I processed what he said. What the hell? I immediately walked towards him and before he could even react, I raised my left hand to slap him. It was a few inches from his face when I realizes what I was about to do so I immediately stopped myself.

"Shoot. Self restraint... Self restraint, Yllaria." I closed my eyes to take deep breaths and retracted my hand. Damn, I really can't hurt someone physically. I heard this boy chuckled and I immediately looked at him.

"I was right. You're really interesting." He said and grinned. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"So you'll just laugh at me?" I asked him and he immediately shook his head.

"What's your name, you lady?" I looked at him weirdly with his question.

"You're really asking me that? Can't you use magic to know my identity?" I asked him but he just shrugged. He didn't answer me so I sighed in defeat.

"Yllaria Madeleine Sedillon, that's my name." I told him and he nodded. "How about you? I've been asking this since we met but you never told me your name." I complained and he chuckled. A few minutes passed and I was about to complain again, but I was shocked when he bowed to me like a prince.

"Ambrose. Ambrose Dashiell Vandestine. It's nice meeting you, lady Yllaria." He said in a formal tone. I stared at him because of his change in demeanor, then his next actions left me in awe.

This boy who was the reason for my near-death experience today was now giving me a genuine smile. His ocean-blue eyes were radiating joy, like he finally found a light in his dull life. I wasn't sure of what he was really feeling at that time, but I felt relaxed when I saw the sincerity in his actions.

I finally smiled back and uttered his name.

"Ambrose."

The wheels of fate are changing. By changing the past, one can turn the future into something different. The once tragic ending found a ray of hope and now history will be written once again.