Magic

'Magic is the flow of life. For every living being, magic is present. From the trees and animals, no matter how tiny or huge, there is magic. Humans possess magic, it flows on their veins, but only a selected few can wield it.'

"Only a selected few, huh..." I muttered to myself as I read the first page.

A day has passed when I first went in the library and met Ambrose. Right after I uttered his name that day, the guards entered the library and he immediately vanished. When I inquired the guards for the reason of their entry, they said it was because they felt a strong presence from the library. Thinking it was an enemy and I was in danger, they went in without permission to check me. I was about to continue asking when Daddy arrived with a cold expression, yet I noticed the worry in his eyes. He carried me as he walked towards his office and by the time we entered...

- Flashback -

"Daddy?" I called him as we entered his office. He placed me on the floor and before I could even balance myself, I was greeted by his strong arms. He embraced me tight, but I just let him because I felt that he's troubled.

"Dad?" I called him again after a few minutes. He broke the hug and gave me a small smile. He wasn't crying but his eyes looked tired and anxious. I touched his face with my right hand while patting his hair using my left hand. He looked a little shock, but he just allowed me to do it.

"Are you feeling well, Yllaria?" He asked me. I gave him a bright smile and nodded.

"Of course I am, Dad. Is there a problem?" His expression turned serious and carried me again. I was about to ask where we were going but he placed me on the couch in his office then sat beside me. I stared at him curiously but he reverted his gaze to the floor.

"Did you feel that presence in the library?" He asked me and I realized something. Oh shoot, don't tell me it was about Ambrose!

"Presence? What do you mean, Daddy?" I tried to feign innocence and ask for more information. Maybe he wasn't referring to Ambrose's aura. He looked at me, clearly looking disturbed. It took us a moment of silence before he talked.

"Ah, it's nothing. Don't mind it." I pouted with his answer and held his big hand. He looked at me and I gave him a cute smile.

"Eehh? What is it? Yllaria wants to know~" I tried asking him in a cute tone. I almost rolled my eyes with my actions. What in the world am I doing? Though, it looked like it it worked because I noticed him getting uneasy. I smirked in my head and tried to persuade him by clinging to his arm. He tilted his head to avoid my gaze but I held his face and turned it towards my direction.

"Daddy? What is it?" I asked again and unleashed my secret weapon: Puppy eyes! He sighed and at that time, I knew I won. I mentally danced for my victory and looked at Daddy with curious eyes. He stared at me for a while before heaving another sigh.

"Well, it's something like an aura and I sensed it from the library. It was strong and heavy, so I thought it was targeting you." He hugged me again and buried his face in my hair. "Luckily, I didn't lose you, my dear daughter." Tears formed in my eyes after hearing his troubled voice. I don't want to worry the people I love, so it melts my heart whenever I hear someone telling me this. I tried to hug him back and we stayed in that position for a while.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I'm brave and I know that you would be there for me if something happens." I told him and he embraced me tighter.

"Don't say that something will happen to you. I'll make sure you're safe." He said and nodded. I smiled as I felt his warmth and after a while, we broke from the hug.

"By the way, Daddy..." He looked at me curiously. " You said that you felt a presence or aura something. Is it related to magic?" I asked him and he seem shocked with my question. A moment of silence passed and I sighed when I noticed he has no plans of telling me.

"Ah, nevermind that, Daddy. Anyways, aren't you going to do many paperworks?" I pointed at his paper works and his green eyes went wide. I laughed at his reaction and he immediately gave me a forehead kiss before heading to his table. I went down from the couch and was about to head out when I heard Dad's voice.

"Where are you going?" He asked me. I stared back at him and nervously smiled. I bit my lips before answering his question.

"Uhm... I want to go back to the library. Can... I?" My voice went smaller when his gaze turned more serious. I gulped and looked down as I played with my fingers.

"You want to go back?" I lifted my gaze and nodded at him. He stared at me for a while and sighed.

"I'll allow you to go to the library, only if you'll be accompanied by a maid or a knight." My eyes widened and I immediately pouted. I can't do that! I won't see Ambrose if that happens!

"But..." His gaze went sharper and I looked down. I don't want to meet his eyes because he looked scary. We stayed silent for a while, and I didn't dare to break it because I'm felt like he would shout at me.

"Do you want to go alone?" He asked in a calm voice. I raised my head and took a glance at him before nodding.

"Why?" I played with the frills on my dress as I tried to think of an acceptable reason. A minute passed and I still didn't answer him. He was about to speak when I talked.

"I... Just want to read alone. In peace. Other people would be distracting for me." I closed my eyes with my dumb reasoning. Though, that's really the truth. I prefer to read when no one's watching, and I can only meet Ambrose if I'm alone. Silence filled the office again.

"Okay." I looked at him and he was giving me a small smile. I was stunned for a while, but I immediately smiled when I realized what Daddy said.

"You'll allow me to go alone?" I asked him and he nodded at me. I ran to him and immediately gave him a hug. He softly caressed my hair as I thanked him.

"In one condition." He said and I immediately looked up at him. "What is it Daddy?" His face turned serious.

"You can only go there after a day. If you went there today, you can go there again the day after tomorrow." I thought about his deal for a while and in the end, I agreed. Well, that's better than not being able to go alone.

"Then we've got a deal. For now, go back to your room since it's near evening. Prepare for our dinner later, okay?" He asked me and I nodded. Even though I want to go back, I'll just listen to him for now because I know that he's still troubled.

- End of Flashback -

And that's it. I went back today and it's still one in the afternoon. I finished my lunch early so I can go here fast. Now, I'm reading the book, 'Magic', since I left it in the table last time.

'Luckily, no one moved it back.'

"I actually hid it, then placed it back there." My eyes scanned the place and I smiled when I noticed Ambrose's presence beside me.

"Hi, Ambrose." He appeared in front of my eyes, still wearing his famous smirk. He looked at the book I was reading and nodded at me.

"So that's what happened." I was no longer shocked with what he said. He probably read my mind while I was thinking about the flashback a while ago.

"Yeah, that's right. What are you going to do now?" He asked me and I gave him a smile before showing him the book.

"I'll read this first, of course." I told him and he nodded. I was about to resume reading when I noticed that he wasn't holding anything.

"You won't read a book?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"I'll be meditating, so don't disturb me." He said and I just nodded. I thought he'll be reading a book or we'll read this book together. He's still learning magic, right?

"Why would an... read... book?" He muttered something but I didn't hear it well. I looked at him, but he was already in a meditating position so I decided not to disturb him.

I turned my attention to the book and continued reading.

'Only a selected few can wield magic. It could only be used by a few bloodlines and in rare cases, one out of a billion people would have a natural aptitude for magic.'

"Woah... That's amazing." I whispered to myself. My eyes widened when I remembered something.

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

"Oh shoot, I'm one in a billion person? Hah!" I proudly said and flipped my hair. I immediately regretted it because it grazed Ambrose arm. Luckily, it looked like he didn't mind it so I continued reading.

'The bloodlines that can wield magic are:

Vistronde, Ashdown, Walter, Araceli, Menthe, Amaranth families.'

"Vistronde?" I muttered. If the Vistronde bloodline can wield magic, why wasn't Cain or any of his brothers able to wield it?

'Not every person in the bloodlines could wield the magic. It might skip a generation or two. The people who can't use it have their magic remain stagnant, but it is undeniably bigger than of the usual human beings.'

"I see." I flipped the next page to continue reading, but it was blank. I blinked my eyes when I noticed that my vision was starting to blur. I tried to stand up but my body felt weak and light. My consciousness was starting to fade and I was slowly sliding down my seat when I felt an arm supporting my falling body.

"Shit, I forgot to tell you that..." I heard a voice saying something but I can't make the words out of it. My senses were getting dull as I continued to lose my consciousness.

Then the world went black.