Lotus Festival

"Amelia! Where is that kid?!" Grandma Ami shouted as she looked around the backyard. Amelia, who was hiding at the top of the tree, snickered before jumping and shocking Grandma Ami. 

"You kid! I told you not to climb trees! What Arni keeps on teaching you?!" 

Amelia didn't answer and just ran towards the house while laughing. 

"Did you pull a prank on your Grandma again?" Grandpa Arni asked helplessly 

"I didn't!" She answer and run inside 

"That kid keeps getting reckless and disobedient as time passes by!" Ami said with a wide smile once she saw Amelia running inside. 

"I'm glad she was acting like a kid" Arni agreed with a light laugh. 

Inside her room Amelia lay on her bed. It's been 3 years. For her it was peace, every day she helped Grandma Ami picking herbs, as she learned different herbs and concoction ingredients. She first couldnt concoct anything without the help of Green affinity, but after a few months she was able to concoct a potion with high purity, the two became confused as they knew she was a Black bearer, so they end up buying a one time use affinity testing. It only shows someone's affinity color, not the percentage. Three colors are lit up, Green, Black and Silver. Green was the affinity of his mother, Silver was his father and Black, Amelia didn't know. 

It's not shocking to see three colors light up, some people even have five affinity. The more affinity color the lesser you are viewed because that means you don't have a prime color that has a high affinity. That's why they immediately comforted her and trained her using Green affinity. Grandma Ami is dual affinity, Light and Green, with 30% each, while Grandpa Arni is also Light Bearer focused on wind with 40% affinity. They shared that they use affinity stones to reach that threshold. 

For 3 years she learned a lot about the Majica from Grandma and Grandpa. First, before accepting tasks and bounty they needed to register at Majica Association and if she wanted to increase her level as Majica, she needed to take a Level Test. Grandma and Grandpa are both Silver Majica. Grimoire are spell books that can be used by the Majica, once you learn the essence of the spell you can use the spell without the Grimoire. There are also Grimoire that are self function and one time use like the Corna Grimoire used to change his gender before. As for the affinity percentage, the higher the affinity, the faster the cultivation and faster the enchantment of spells. 

"Amelia, are you ready?!" Grandma Ami shouted, stopping Amelia from her train of thoughts. She forgot that they will go down to town today to buy some decorations and foods for the upcoming Lotus Festival. Amelia just had a random plain dress and went outside. 

"Lets go" Grandma Ami said helplessly with Grandpa Arni on her side. Amelia laughed and giddily went with them. She just wanted to spend her time with them happily, their remaining time. 

•

While Grandma and Grandpa were buying some decorations Amelia got permission to go to a different shop that was selling Grimoire. 

"Hello, Ms. Anla!" Amelia greeted the moment she entered the shop, she was a frequent visitor.

"Amelia, you're here, the Grimoire you wanted just arrived, here" Ms. Anla said and conjured a black grimoire.

"What makes you interested in Black affinity grimoire?" Ms. Anla asked curiously knowing that she was a Green Bearer 

"They said that Green Bearer's greatest enemy is Black Bearer, so know your enemies" She joked and opened the book, she smiled seeing the content about Taming Contract. She gave the money and was about to leave when the door opened. Her eyes met light green eyes. Amelia looked away, she still despised human male not unless she knew them fully like Grandpa Arni. Every human was a potential monster in making, and she hated being always on guard. She wanted to be strong, strong enough that she didn't need to be anxious in new environment.

"Thank you Ms. Anla, I'll leave first" She stated before leaving the store. She then went back to Grandma and Grandpa as they walked again towards their home. 

•

"How is it, did you find any interesting Grimoire?" a soft voice asked, he had light green eyes and deep green hair that was braided to his side. He was drinking some tea elegantly. 

"No" a young boy answered, he also has light green eyes but his hair is painted black. 

"Well, you still have a week, we'll leave after the Lotus Festival" 

"Yes, brother" 

•

"Amelia" Grandma Ami utter after they ate

"Hmm?" She asked softly 

"Have you decided? In studying at Agria Academy in a year? Your Grandpa and I once dreamt of entering the Academy but we didn't have enough money for the tuition fee. Once you enter the Academy you might get a chance to enter the High Land of Knowledge, there, no one can touch you, and being strong means absolute power." Grandma Ami said 

"B-but" She answer hesitantly 

"We told you before, we are growing older and older. We don't have much time, we wanted to see you in a safe place before we depart. Can you do that for us?" She added 

"But I wanted to be with you, you told me you're dying! So, how can I leave? If you're leaving me someday, I want to spend the remaining time with the two of you, can I do that? After that, I'll leave this place and be strong to be safe. Please grandma, grandpa, I don't want to leave now." She uttered with a hint of grievance 

"Yo-you child" Grandma Ami said helplessly, Amelia looked at their face. It was the hard truth. That human life is just this long, why didn't she meet them sooner? 

"Alright! But this following year I'll hire a trainee for your swordsmanship!" Grandpa Arni said 

"Okay, I'll teach you more about potion and plants" She added 

•

When the Lotus Festival came the whole town was filled with festivity, Amelia was allowed to go down in town with a certain curfew like always. She happily leaves the house. 

"Are you that happy that you're allowed to stay?"

"Amelia"

"I highly suggest that you don't enter the Argia Academy, I saw some things inside through the shadow. The nobility have a fix slot to enter the High Land of Knowledge"

"Based on the information around, I think it's best to enter the High Land of Knowledge being an independent Majica. You just needed to fight several idiots in a contest" 

"Those nobel children that was recommended by the school also needed to fight in that contest before entering the High Land"

"Amelia, you needed to go there! There are many handsome fine men"

"Amelia hates men"

"I think Amelia will like the master of Silver Mountain" 

"Red Mountain Master is stronger"

"Shut up!"

"Have you have enter the High Land?" Amelia asked to the countless voices 

"We only perceive little things through the shadow of anything but without a Black Bearer like you we wouldn't have an ability to even exist in the Land. Usually Black Bearer became Taming Majica instead of Shadow Majica, so it's also the first time were being heard" 

"Just say that those idiots have weak affinity so we couldn't be conjured!" 

"You know Amelia, shadows are formless, we can be anything, as we said a few years ago if you control us through several human shadows, we'll be like a spy. Amazing right?!"

"Amazing" she uttered lightly. Being with these creatures for a few years, Amelia can't help but to find several similarities between them. They are just like abandon waiting to be seen and heard. It was pitiful, maybe Grandma and Grandpa felt that way to him before, that's why she was loved this way right now. 

"Amazing" Amelia once again utter seeing the blinding lights from the town and lantern lotus shape along the river. 

"Amazing"

"Amazing"

"Amazing" 

The shadows utter in unison. Amelia immediately runs towards the festive town , she keeps on buying some crafts and foods. Along the way she ended up in a small alley because of the crowd. She couldn't help but to sigh, but smile remembering those fun experiences, when suddenly she bumped into a tall man. Amelia's body immediately fell to the ground as she raised her head. She immediately stiffen seeing that familiar look, those are the eyes of the monsters. As if something grabbed her neck she couldn't utter nor breathe, she felt like she came back to the time in the forest. As she expected, even leaving that town, the world is still full of monsters. She also hated herself for still being scared, she despised herself of being a coward, of not having the ability to forget the past.

"Amelia"

"Amelia!"

"Just kill him!"

Amelia knew she couldn't use the shadows, she remembered their words and her promise. 

Right!

She can control plants but is there even a plant? 

"Are you okay?" The monster asked, Amelia felt something was crawling on her skin making her tremble. Monsters are scary, she wanted them to all die. 

"What happened?" A soft voice asked amidst the noisy place. Amelia felt like hearing a bell, she raised her eyes and saw a man with light green eyes and dark green hair. She wanted to say something but she ended up coughing. 

"Oh nothing, my child just stumbled" The monster said with a deep laugh.

"Really?" 

No!

Amelia looked at the man's light green eyes with a hint of plea, she didn't know if that man understood her. 

"She seems not your child" The man said as Amelia felt floating, finding herself sitting on branches of a plant, the monster was about to say something when his mouth was covered with a thick branch as he got dragged away.

"Are you okay?" The man ask 

"Hmm" Amelia said as she looked back, that monster should die! 

"Where is your home?" He asked, Amelia pointed to the mountain as she bowed down. Her throat feels itchy. 

"Can you stand? Do you want to go back?" He ask 

Amelia nodded and shook, she couldn't come back with herself right now. They will get worried, luckily she still has 2 hours before her curfew. She lightly stands up as the branches disappear. She was curious where it came from. 

"Let's go, my brother was in a nearby shop" He said and held Amelia's thin arm.

For Amelia, every human is 50% human and 50% monsters, depending on their action, they can be categorized as human and monsters. Earlier that was a pure monster, her Grandma and Grandpa are human, this man is 70% human because he saved her. If Amelia never met Grandma and Grandpa, she will probably always think that all humans are just pretending, and they are just monsters. The kindness they showed him was the one that caused her to believe in distinction, that in this world even if it was filled with monsters there are also humans.

Amelia saw herself getting inside of one of the most famous shops in town, it was a usual place for those wealthy people. 

"Where is Anthus?" 

Amelia heard the green-eyed man ask another guy who looked like a servant.

"He wanted to buy some book and leave" The servant replied politely, the man just nodded and opened the door of the private salon and let her sit. He then gives water. Amelia immediately drank it as she felt her throat itchiness lessen.

"Can you now talk? I think youre too shock earlier" He said 

"Ye-yes, thank you" Amelia answered softly while her fingers were fidgeting with each other.

Then the place was filled with silence. 

"Ah what's your name?" Amelia asked as she look up 

"Zionlir" He answered as he sipped tea "Yours?"

"Amelia" She answer happily 

"Amelia?"

"Yes, why?" She asked 

"Nothing, it's just, it's good. Amelia." He answer softly with a soft smile

"Earlier, where did you get the plants? I couldn't see any plants earlier" 

"You're a Green Bearer? What level?" 

"Yes, for level, I don't know." She answer 

"How old are you?"

"14, where did it come from? the plants?" She asked curiously 

"It was a spell, as a controlling type, we needed a medium to control but there is a possibility that we couldn't locate one. This Grimoire enables the Bearer to conjure any types of plants based on their understanding of the plant's essence. However, this spell requires a lot of mana and higher affinity with the plant to conjure and control them" Zionlir explained as he conjured the green grimoire and offered it to her.

"Can I?" 

"Yeah" 

Amelia immediately gets and opens it. Zionlir on the side just observed her lightly until the door opened showing his brother. Amelia also realized that she needed to go home, but she still didn't finish the grimoire.

"I'll leave, thank you Mr. Zionlir" She said and offered back the Grimoire quite hesitant.

"You can borrow it." Zionlir said 

"Really?!" Amelia asked excitedly "I'll give it tomorrow" She added 

"We'll leave tomorrow morning, do you know how to use a messenger?" Zionlir asked 

"My Grandma knows" She answer 

"This is my personal coordinate, ask also your Grandma what yours and write it to the first letter. You can ask me questions about the Grimoire." He said

"Really?! Thank you!" She answered happily as she received the Grimoire and a note with his coordinate. After bidding goodbye, Amelia just nodded to the young boy who also had light green eyes.

"Are you not bored of it?" Anthus asks coldly to his brother.

"What?" Zionlir asked with a light laugh 

"Saving people, giving them everything as if they are loved and throwing them away. How many people kill themselves because you deemed them unworthy?" Anthus ask 

"What are you talking about, Anthus? They die because they are weak." Zionlir answers seriously before drinking the remaining tea.

"Let's go, we're going back and don't speak ill-intended towards your brother." He mumbled with a sad smile, Anthus didn't answer and just left.