Three Years Later

It had been three years since Mira was taken in by Ignis. She was now eight years old. The little girl was growing up wonderfully. What was once just flesh and bones, had grown to be a smart and sweet little girl.

While at the Tower of Magic, Mira learned many things about it and the city she was in, thanks to Ignis and the kind scholars. During her first week, Ignis had told her the story of how the Tower of Magic was established.

The Tower of Magic was built hundreds of years ago by the first mage, Kristof Vassilis. Kristof was raised by a dragon, called Vassilis, and learned how to use mana and the basic elements. When Kristof became an adult, Vassilis disappeared from the mountain they lived on, leaving him one last task, teaching humans about magic and mana.

So, Kristof took Vassilis as his surname and travelled around the continent, helping nobles and commoners every city and village he passed. He took in and taught many followers about magic for many years.

And when he grew older and couldn't travel as much anymore, he settled down in a small, but lively village abundant in mana. Here, he called for his strongest followers to help him build and supervise the newly formed Tower of Magic and Vassilis Academy. After he died, his followers carried on his goal of spreading the knowledge of magic and learning more about it, leading the Tower of Magic and the Academy to become what they were today.

Mira thought the story was interesting and loved hearing and reading many books about magic to pass the time in the Tower. The only places she was allowed to go during these three years was the first floor library, and the first floor lab.

Speaking of the first floor lab, when Mira was seven, she started showing signs of awakening her power. The people around her would feel a slight chill, her skin became cold to touch, and a month after her birthday she stopped feeling cold all together.

It didn't take long for Ignis and the other scholars to figure out her element in ice. As ice was a particularly rare element in the South, many mages asked for permission to study and teach her more about magic in the labs.

Mira was very excited about it when Ignis had first told her about it, and Ignis's friend, Andreas Jindal, to be her teacher.

The first time she went to the lab, Mira was amazed. The room was airy and full of warm sunlight. There were new books and journals to read, magic tools that she had never known existed.

So, every thursday, Mira would go to the first floor lab to read, practice, and answer any questions about how her element was feeling or if she was feeling stronger. It was something to look forward to every week, and Andreas would give her a small bag of candies after every session was done.

~~~

Mira walked briskly down the hallway, sucking on candies, humming a small lullaby. Today she had finally gotten a breakthrough in her magic manipulation. After almost a year of mana training with Andreas, she was finally able to manifest her power and accidentally freeze half the room in a shallow layer of ice.

Mira smiled internally, she couldn't wait to break the news to Ignis and Ignis's niece, Annette Powell.

She had met Annette not long after coming to the tower. Annette was not only Ignis's niece, but also one of Ignis's students. Annette was kind to her and treated her like a little sister.

In her daze, Mira bumped into someone in front of Ignis's room, she stumbled a bit, falling on her rear, and dropping her bag of sweets in surprise.

"Umf!" Mira gasped, rubbing her head.

She flinched for a moment, looking at her candies scattered on the dirty floor. She frowned, her mood slightly ruined, but knowing it was her fault for not looking in the right direction, Mira looked up to apologise.

"I-"

"Ack! Mira, are you okay? I just opened the door to leave... I didn't see you in time, sorry!" A familiar voice frantically rambled.

Annette quickly helped Mira back onto her feet, and cleaned up the fallen snacks with a simple spell. She fixed her glasses and looked at Mira with an apologetic smile.

"Don't worry Mira! I was actually on my way to find you, Aunt Iggy is finally letting me take you to see the Tower of Magic's lobby. I can get you more snacks there" Annette explained quickly.

The small news ignited fireworks inside Mira. Mira hadn't been able to go outside or around the tower very often, as Ignis was busy dealing with her work and raising Mira. Annette was able to take her out to see the city instead. Mira's mood flipped, her pale blue eyes glowing with excitement.

"R-really? Can we go see your vegetable garden after?" She blinked, barely able to stop herself from jumping in joy.

"En, of course." Annette chuckled, patting Mira's dark silky hair.

Annette lead Mira to a big double door. The markings on the outer rim were in a language Mira couldn't read, but they seemed familiar and old. In the middle on the door, there was an empty rectangle with more letters circling it.

"You see that?" Annette smiled, happy to see Mira so interested in something so small. "This is where you put your ID card. ID cards made by the Tower, more specifically. You'll get one when you turn ten." She explained.

"Now this, Little Mira, is the Tower of Magic's pride and joy, the main lobby!" Annette grinned, pressing the card into the rectangle in the circle.

The letters on the door lit up for a bit, and the doors opened.