《The New and the Forgotten》 The Awakening Flashes of light burst proudly into a dark room before rapidly fading away. Rain thunderously slams itself against the windows, unceasing in vigor or rage. The cobblestone streets below the windows were empty as denizens hid themselves away from the storm¡¯s onslaught. Only the brief natural lights could guide any soul daring to traverse under nature¡¯s fury¡ªthe streetlamps silent. Within the dark room, above the flooded streets, in a humble abode whose age showed, a single chair furnished it. Sitting upon the poor chair, devoid of any comfort, was a motionless young woman. If it wasn¡¯t for the occasional gentle rise and fall of her chest, her eyes occasionally blinking, and the faint motions of her hands, she would¡¯ve been mistaken for a doll. Just like a priceless doll, she sat quietly listening to the downpour. Her thoughts contrasted her silence as her mind raced. Within the chaotic mixture of thoughts and feelings, a common theme was apparent: where was she? Not too long ago, she was reclining on her soft comfy chair while glancing at a digital screen. Her fingers were just tapping rhythmically away. Yet, now, she¡¯s in an unfamiliar dark room void of any furniture or item. There was no light nor switch she could see. The clothing she wore were definitely different¡ªminutes ago she was wearing pajamas and certainly not Victorian-like. Grasping the rickety arms of the chair firmly, the woman got up on uneasy feet. The chair groaned and squeaked, protesting against the sudden action. Ignoring the protest, the woman cautiously took several steps towards the sole window of the room. She took a quick glance behind her, making sure the door was still closed. Her eyes focused onto the streets below and the buildings after confirming her safety. As far as she could see and determine, the buildings were primarily made out of wood and stone¡ªthey were certainly nothing like the style she was used to. The woman bit her lips, increasingly nervous. Quickly, the woman spun around and faced the still closed door. As much as she wanted to open the window and escape, the height deterred her. There was no way she could guarantee her safety from dropping down at such a height nor navigating an unknown neighborhood in a ferocious storm. As much as she hated it, the only option she had was to investigate the rest of the building. The door creaked as the woman opened the door. She could just barely look into the dark hallway. She could feel her heartbeat and the twitching of her hands. There was a pause as the woman steeled herself, attempting to find confidence. Her ears were alert for any sudden movement or sound not related to the storm. Then, she stepped into the hallway with her boots making distinct sounds upon the flooring. Her hand reached out towards the opposing door facing her. There was another room. The dark staircase didn¡¯t look particularly welcoming. With a weak grasp on the cool metal handle, the woman opened the door. The lighting in the new room was far worse than the previous one. Yet, something quickly caught her eyes¡ªa lantern resting upon a desk. Quickly, the woman snatched the lantern and felt along its casing. A knob. A click. Soon, soft warm light filled her surrounding, banishing the darkness. Closing the door behind her, the woman observed the new room in its glory. Towering bookcases, higher than her, surrounded her from all sides. There was a cracked window above the well-made desk. Taking a quick glance at her clothing and hands, the woman paused before she stepped fully in front of the mirror. If it wasn¡¯t for her anxious state, the constant shaking of her hands, the rapid breathing, the woman would¡¯ve spent a moment admiring herself. However, there was only shock and confusion. A rush of cold flowed through her body. The woman in the mirror was certainly not who she was. Soft gray hair, a youthful fair face, and bright blue eyes. There was a stranger in the mirror, yet she knew that the stranger was herself. Deep breathes. The woman slowly took measured breathes trying to calm herself. As much as she wanted to act out, she managed to hold herself back. It would not do her any good to act like a beast at this moment. Minutes passed as the woman weighed her actions, her eyes closed. Her heartbeat began to slowly return to a steady normal rate, yet there was still uneasiness. Carefully, the woman glanced at the parchment that laid upon the desk. Perhaps she could figure something out regarding her situation. Thankfully the words printed on the paper were familiar to her, rather than some unknown language. At least that hinted wherever she was still spoke the same language or at least had a similar writing system. Yet, where the parchment was supposed to enlighten her, they only confused her. It was like reading about fantasy with the constant reference to magic and summoning. Whatever it was, it was for sure not the writings of a kidnapper. The parchment fell down on the desk as the woman glanced around the room, hoping for some clues. She ran through the various books, trying to find some relevant information¡ªthere was none. The private small library concentrated itself, weirdly, solely on the idea of summoning. Perhaps she was in a building that belonged to a deranged lunatic, she pondered briefly. Returning back to the desk, the woman began to open the various drawers, hoping for some idea. Any idea.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A small pouch of coins from some unknown currency was one of her rewards. A knife was another, which she kept close to her graciously. There were several more parchments, all of them filled with random symbols and references. Finally, a wooden stick finished off her investigations. Holding it, the woman glanced at the parchment on the desk and focused on the word ¡°magic.¡± Just perhaps? The stick was very plain and could had easily served as part of a pair of chopsticks. There was nothing remarkable about it, yet something within her told her the importance of it. Perhaps fear was winning and this is just an initial sign of a mental breakdown. Time seemed to freeze for a brief moment as the woman continued to observe the plain stick. Something from the depths of her mind called out to her, yet it was vague and uncoordinated. Her muscles tensed as her mind began to race. Biting her lips, the woman both understood the calling from the void, but at the same time did not. What magical words was she suppose to mutter? What ritual was she suppose to perform? Then something struck her. Summoning. The word was so prevalent in everything within this room. She focused on the empty space before her. Summoning. The word began to corrupt her thoughts, dominating them. Magic and summoning. The vast gate of uncertainty groaned within the depths of her mind. It was like a sudden flood¡ªa torrent of light. Despite having a lack of experience regarding magic, she knew what had to be done within an instant. An unfamiliar memory rushed through her mind akin to an unrelenting tidal wave. Just like the creation of the universe, there was a sudden rush of energy. Sweat trickled down the woman¡¯s forehead as she concentrated. The light within her dissipated as quickly as it appeared. It was like eternity whereas it was only for a matter of seconds. The air in front of the woman distorted, seemingly to ripple with energy. It was like a hungry maw. A shape, a humanoid shape, began to take form. Displaced air rushed past her. Shielding her eyes with her right arm instinctively, the woman took a quick peak. Then she gasped as she took several steps backwards, bumping into the desk. Her right arm struck out, frantically grasping at the hilt of the knife. Her breathing was audible with her legs shaking. Without much consideration, she just went and summoned something. She didn¡¯t even consider if what she was summoning was benevolent or malevolent. A deafening silence reigned supreme within the room as the woman watched nervously. The summoned being, a man in plain clothing, stood despondently. There was something wrong with the man that the woman couldn¡¯t help but feel, yet she could feel some sense of connection. Were they perhaps blood-related? At this point, she knew very little about the woman that she currently possesses. Then there was a rush of energy that pulsed throughout her body, lighting up her nervous system. Pain. Two words. Still holding the handle of the knife with her right hand, the woman held her forehead with her left. For a brief moment, she lapsed from consciousness, panting heavily. Cecelia Inedita. Her name¡ªthe woman¡¯s name. Weekly, Cecelia glanced up at the man. There was still no movement, not even a single inch. The only indication of the man still being alive was the rise and fall of his chest. Not even when she was barely able to maintain her awareness, the man didn¡¯t even bother to react. There was nothing normal regarding the man. Blankness resided within the man¡¯s unfocused eyes. Shuffling against the walls, Cecelia reached for the door. Grasping the handle, she quickly glanced at the man standing in the middle of the room. He was tracking her, his head moving with unnatural smoothness. It wasn¡¯t graceful. It wasn¡¯t measured. Cecelia paused, focusing on his eyes. The brown eyes were still unfocused, as if he wasn¡¯t looking at her, but she knew they were. Regardless of the man¡¯s intent, Cecelia had to get out¡ªto escape. There was nothing right about the man. Danger. Yet another shock that forced Cecelia away from the door, hugging against the edges of the desk. The man, unworried, continued to watch. The door was still close. Yet there was something that was screaming at her to stop herself. Something was out there waiting. A hunter, a predator, was waiting in the dark in the hallway. The handle didn¡¯t move, even if the door was unlocked. Thump. Cecelia slumped downwards, her back pressed against the desk. The knife still with her. Even if she could stand at that moment, she couldn¡¯t will it. The man, unworried and unfeeling, continued to watch. Danger. Yet another shock before Cecelia moved away from the door, hugging the edges of the desk. The man continued to watch her. The door neutral like it should be. Something screamed at ¡°Who¡­¡± Cecelia began, but quickly trailed away, the gears within her mind turning slowly. A strange concoction of emotions dominated her being. ¡°Help me.¡± It was a whisper, yet the emotions could be felt within those two simple words. She was an untrained inexperienced mortal trapped in a room. There was an unknown vacant man in the middle and an unknown predator outside. The knife she held instilled nothing. Then, to her surprise and horror, the man moved. His rough hands grasped hers. The knife. The man took it easily and Cecelia closed her eyes. The handle turned. The door opened. The measured steps thumped against the wooden flooring. The First Floor A thump. Cecelia breathed deeply as her heart pounded. Hands clenched fiercely. Tremors ravaged her body as she waited. Yet, nothing happened¡ªas if the universe stood still waiting for her. Feeling a surge of courage, Cecelia opened her eyes and turned towards the door. The man stood still, facing away from her, towering above a still form. The man still held the knife in his right hand, a strange liquid trailing down the edge. The hunter that waited for both of them was dead. It wasn¡¯t human by any measurements and was hideous in Cecelia¡¯s eyes. Dark brown fur covered its entire body with bone-like protrusions. It was bipedal in nature with bulging arms. Without a doubt, if given a chance, it could easily tear a man in half. Cecelia alternated her attention between the dead creature and the man, still unsure of the situation. Trying to calm her nerves, Cecelia reasoned with herself. Given that the man neutralized the creature and had yet to make any negative motions against her, he could at least be considered a neutral entity. The man acted to protect both of them. Slowly, but surely, Cecelia felt the heavy feeling of dread lift off from her shoulders. Without a doubt, however, she was still nervous and fearful. She should, despite that, try to act in a rational manner. ¡°It¡¯s dead,¡± the man stated emotionlessly, his eyes still focused on the monster laying below him. His head turned towards Cecelia, still void of any emotions or facial language. It wasn¡¯t a disinterest at the monster or the situation, but that unique vacant look he carried. Yet, if Cecelia focused on his eyes, she could sense a small spark of life in them. The killing of the monster had awakened something in him, but Cecelia lacked any idea of what it was. Slowly standing up, Cecelia glanced at the monster from above. Leaning against the desk for support, Cecelia took in the form of the dead creature with disgust and revulsion. There was no way for nature to have come up with such a creature naturally. For some reason, Cecelia knew she had seen such a creature before in her life. It was uncomfortable to her as she pondered silently, trying to fetch the particular memory. She could almost grasp the creature¡¯s name, yet she couldn¡¯t utter the words. Moments passed quietly before Cecelia gave up. There was no point to continue to ponder when her memories continue to elude her. ¡°Who are you?¡± With her nerves calmed sufficiently, Cecelia reached out towards the man with an age-old question. As still confused and nervous as she was, Cecelia couldn¡¯t wait any longer. It was either she reached out to the man or they could just stand here. She needed answers, even if they will be unpleasant. There was no movement from the man. For a brief second, Cecelia worried that she accidently wronged the man with such an innocent question. Then the man turned, facing Cecelia directly. Effortlessly, the man replied, ¡°Your servant, master. I answered your call.¡± Confusion compounded upon itself in Cecelia¡¯s mind. There was no doubt what she did earlier summoned him, given what she read from the parchment. It was like some fiction she read in her spare time of mages summoning familiars or heroes. There was a small spark of excitement within her. Perhaps the realization she performed magic finally caught up to her. Yet, she pondered the implications. Summoning implied nothing, especially loyalty. Yet, again for some reason, she knew that loyalty wasn¡¯t an issue. She knew, from somewhere unknown to her, that the man would kill himself at her command. It was sudden and unfounded, yet Cecelia felt herself relax even more. Feeling more confident than when she first woken up in this strange building, Cecelia pressed the man for some answers. She wasn¡¯t confident if the vacant man had anything profound, but anything was better than staying in the dark. The parchments only focused on magic and summoning and searching through the books would be too time-consuming. Thunder continued to roar outside as the storm continued on, as ferociously as when Cecelia first woke up. The man¡¯s answers to each of her questions could best be described as sparse and vague. The man didn¡¯t even know his own name and Cecelia was forced to bestow upon him a temporary name¡ªBrian. The man, Brian, didn¡¯t even have the faintest idea of the creature he murdered. The best Brian could provide was that Cecelia was on some world called Agoi in the Kingdom of Persi in the city of Mord. It would certainly been profound and earth shattering to Cecelia in the beginning, but at this point her mind was tired and accepting. Her old world certainly didn¡¯t have any magic nor monsters, Cecelia was certain of that. Cecelia also knew for sure she didn¡¯t look anywhere close to what she does currently. Cecelia stroked her chin as she pondered, digesting her current situation. With the immediate threat and fear gone, her mind was able to work optimally. Her current knowledge was too incomplete and, under the watch of Brian, she skimmed through some of the books from the bookshelves more thoroughly than before. None of the books provided any valuable information from her second search. The only notable thing she could gather was all of them related to summoning in some form.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Carefully stepping over the creature¡¯s corpse, Cecelia bit her lips again as she stared down into the abyss. It was perfectly dark down the stairs and given that was likely where the creature came from, she didn¡¯t have much confidence going down. Given the bleak state of information in the study room, she hoped there was something down in the lower floor that could enlighten her. ¡°Master,¡± Brain suddenly spoke up, breaking Cecelia from her train of thought. The man had been vigilantly guarding the door while she had been focused on steeling herself in adventuring downstairs. Brian¡¯s eyes were clearly focused on the creature¡¯s corpse. ¡°With your permission, can I absorb it?¡± ¡°A-absorb it?¡± Cecelia glanced at the corpse, surprised at the request. If it was just moving the body to the empty room across the hallway, she could understand that. Considering it, she gave a soft nod. The creature began to lightly dissipate, slowly turning into vapor. Watching in morbid fascination, Cecelia watched as the vapor slowly flowed into Brian¡¯s open palm. Ever expressionless, Brian absorbed the creature. It was supernatural and defied any laws of reality. Just not too long ago, a corpse laid on the wooden flooring. Now, there wasn¡¯t a single hint of it. When the absorption was done, Brian clenched his fist, his eyes clearly focused on his hand. ¡°Absorption allows me to gain strength,¡± Brian explained calmly with a tint of naturalness in his tone, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it or know why, but it can help us master.¡± Concealing the knife in a back pocket, Brian glanced down into the abyss. Glancing at Cecelia, Brian nodded his head as he retrieved the lantern sitting on top of the wooden desk. The intent was clear as Brian took the first step down. ¡°Master, let me lead the way.¡± The wooden steps creaked and groaned as the pair went down the stairs. The soft light from the lantern illuminated their surroundings, revealing slightly of the floor below them. Stopping by the corner on the stairway, Cecelia turned on a lantern hanging off from the wooden walls. It didn¡¯t reveal anything new, but it would be a good marker. Stepping down onto the stone flooring, the pair cautiously explored around the room. The furnishing was spartan and one couldn¡¯t call it luxurious. A simple wooden table matched with four chairs. What appeared to be a kitchen not too far off. A single bookshelf with just four books. An old map was pressed against a wall to the right of the staircase, showcasing what Cecelia believed to be the map of the kingdom. Finally, there was a hallway leading to four more rooms, three of which were bedrooms and a bathroom. The last one was oddly modern for what Cecelia was expecting, but it addressed one of her more minor worries. Click. Soft lights soon illuminated the living room and the hallway. Managing to find a switch near the entranceway, Cecelia flipped it. While the overall standard of the house was antique by her standards, a light switch was unmistakable. It was puzzling that the upper floor lacked any lights, but at least the lower floor had some. They weren¡¯t strong enough to fully illuminate the living room and kitchen, but it lifted the burden of carrying around a lantern. ¡°It¡¯s kind of impoverish,¡± Cecelia spoke out her thoughts as she uncomfortably sat down on the wooden chair, listening to the rain outside. ¡°The books don¡¯t really have anything interesting. There¡¯s no clues either.¡± Flipping through one of the books she found in the living room, she sighed. Based on the old clock nearby, they¡¯ve wasted at least two hours exploring the first floor. Nothing hinted at anything strange or weird and there was no basement. Based on their exploration, the house they were in was just that, a house. Yet, Cecelia was left puzzled at where the creature came from. Brian stood still nearby, offering no response nor comments. The rain had lost of most of its strength and was feeble compared to when Cecelia first woke up. The current time should be around 11:00 PM sharp. Cecelia¡¯s eyes trailed towards the staircase. What worried her was if the inhabitants of wherever they are were the same as the creature. That wouldn¡¯t be the case given Brian¡¯s existence as a human, Cecelia thought to herself. There was no way that thing could utilize any of the items either. The human clothing in some of the dressers wouldn¡¯t make sense either. Nothing right now made any sorts of sense to Cecelia. Randomly waking up in a room. Summoning a human using magic. Fighting a monster that came from darkness. Exploring and finding nothing in the house they were in. It was as if they just randomly appeared out of thin air. The only thing left, Cecelia pondered, was to explore the city they were in. It was late however and no establishment that would be worth their time should be open. The only option left for either of them at this point was to simply retire for the night and hope for the best tomorrow. ¡°The door¡¯s locked and barricaded,¡± Brian stated, motioning towards wooden table pressed against the door. Cecelia had ordered him to secure the entrance as a just-in-case measure. While she didn¡¯t expect him to move the entire table, it was better than nothing. Weighing various options, she decided to hunker down in the house for the night. Hopefully, if this house has an owner, they wouldn¡¯t be too peeved at two strangers staying for a night. The lights flickered off as Cecelia turned them off. The only illumination provided now were the lanterns Brian and herself were holding. Moving to the furthest bedroom from the entranceway, Cecelia turned towards Brian. The current plan was for Brian to use the bedroom closest to the entranceway so he can respond quickly to any possible threats. Then, if they survive the night, they would explore the city tomorrow morning. Considering the plan she devised, given Brian had none, she gave a small nod, ¡°Good night.¡± A City. A Revelation. A Spark The bright sky. The warm soft breeze. The noises of a driven city. It was familiar to Cecelia, despite being in a foreign land. There was familiarity mixed with unfamiliarity. It had been three hours since Brian and herself have ventured out into the city of Mord. It was a rather interesting city to Cecelia. The buildings were familiar, but clearly had foreign twists. If Cecelia was forced to compare the style to something from her home world, the closest would¡¯ve been European. Street-wise, they were far smaller than what she was used to. There was barely enough for foot traffic, carriages, or carts. Thankfully, despite what seemed to be chaos, the overall street system was easy enough to understand and follow. Clearly marked signs and local guides quickly expediated the initial exploring of the city. Several times Brian and herself were approached by taxi-equivalents, but Cecelia never took up those offers. While she didn¡¯t know exactly how much each coin was worth, some of the offered prices were clearly above their budget. Mord was divided up and structured not unlike her old world. There were commercial, residential, industrial, and business zones. Though there were differences in what was exactly in each zone. Magic-based businesses were rather prevalent, hinting to Cecelia that it was widely available to the general public. In her initial scouting, she wasn¡¯t able to find some fantasy-stable organizations. While it was childish, she wanted to see if there was something like an adventurer¡¯s guild. Central Market, the city¡¯s main hub for food-related activities, was incredibly large. It wasn¡¯t something that Cecelia expected. While she wasn¡¯t able to gauge exactly large it was, it was certainly far larger than any supermarket by several times. Based on information given by the locals, market-related buildings or zones had either red roofs or at least a red flag¡ªit appeared that if it was red, it was either market-related or food-related. The market was an important part of the exploration. There, Cecelia was able to get a feel on how much the currency was worth. Based upon her information gathering, she had enough to feed both herself and Brian for at least one month. That was able to relieve some stress that she felt. A quick detour from exploring the city for lunch was had at the market, given the strange lack of anything edible back at the abode. With the initial exploration of the city done, there was only one thing left for Cecelia. While exploring the city was fun and important in figuring out her exact situation, she needed information. The city¡¯s only public library was the key to that. The grand five-story building, lavishly embellished with sculptures, etchings, precious metal plating, and painted windows gave it an upper-class feel. The average person that visited the library wore clothing that was at least one level higher than the common folk, based on their attire. Cecelia herself should be adequately dressed, though Brian might stand out just a tad bit. Regardless of how intimidating the library was, the information in there was crucial.
¡°Just write down your name here and¡­¡± the clerk handling Cecelia droned on regarding the registration process. Surprisingly, the library wasn¡¯t actually as terrifying or hostile as it seemed on appearance. The registration itself didn¡¯t seem too hard so far. At first, Cecelia feared that Brian, being the unnatural human, he was, would raise suspicions. Thankfully, but strangely, he was able to handle his registration process fine enough. ¡°Alright ma¡¯am, we just need your magic signature here and that would be it,¡± the clerk smiled and presented the bottom of the library card to Cecelia. Panic immediately flushed through Cecelia¡¯s body. Magic signature. Magic signature. The bottom of the metallic plate had nothing, and there wasn¡¯t really any indication of what to do. Was she suppose to press it with a thumb? Cursing herself, Cecelia pressed her thumb down on the plate. Hopefully, just hopefully, this is what the clerk meant. A soft light outlined Cecelia¡¯s thumb the moment she touched the card. It wasn¡¯t a long process before the clerk took back the card and inserted it into a device. That wasn¡¯t a long process either as the clerk pulled out the card and gave it to Cecelia soon after. Strange symbols now etched themselves where her thumb once pressed against. ¡°The library card,¡± the clerk began, while filling in the last pieces of information on the registration form, ¡°is vital for any transaction done with the library. Transactions referring to visiting or leaving the library, and checking out any books or tomes. Tampering with the card itself magic-wise is prohibited. Physical modifications are allowed as long as it doesn¡¯t interfere with the magic process itself. Though, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t tamper with it, but it is library policy to inform new members.¡± One last professional smile and a wave. Cecelia, taking several steps away to join Brian, who sat down at a bench, took a deep breath. The magic signature requirement shook her up, thankfully it appeared that the clerk didn¡¯t notice. ¡°Now,¡± Cecelia began after resting a bit, watching people pass by. There were all sorts of magic displays in the library, far more than outside. There were various elemental creatures, made up of either earth, wind, water, or even fire, flew and walked around. Given that some acted like pets to certain people, Cecelia chalked them up to be familiars. ¡°We need to gather information, specifically about where we are and how things work. Plus, we also need to gather some books on magic in general. The ones back at the house just focused on summoning. If it¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll be the one reading and you¡¯ll be the one finding the books. That¡¯s, uh, fine with you right?¡± Brian simply nodded his head.
The books just kept stacking themselves higher. Isolating herself from others, Cecelia occupied a table for four for herself. Occasionally Brian would come back with one or two new books. The man was awfully efficient at locating exactly what she wanted, which helped in expediating the information-gathering session. At times, she had Brian take pauses, allowing herself to catch up and for Brian to gain some knowledge as well. Judging the clock nearby, it was around 5:00 PM. Many hours by now have passed. There was no way for Cecelia to digest the dozens of books that laid on the table and retain crucial detail within the timeframe. A good deal of the books was skimmed. Few were read thoroughly. No doubt important details were lost, but that didn¡¯t really matter too much. What Cecelia wanted was a general idea of how things were or worked. In the future, she would be making several visits to the library to build upon that foundation. One area that Cecelia did focus most of her attention on was magic. Perhaps it was her own excitement getting the better of her, but it intrigued her the most. There was no way for her to adsorb what would normally take natives years of training to learn, but she pressed on. The magical sights that she saw so far ignited a small flame within her. Yet, even in this frenzy of excitement, something caught her eye.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Magic was split into two: natural and unnatural. At first, Cecelia expected this to refer to environment-based magic and human magic. However, that was quickly proven wrong. Natural, according to the books she read, were inclusive of both nature and human-based magic. Everything she saw so far was natural, except for one thing: Brian¡¯s summoning. If her understanding was correct, natural magic follows the principles of the world. Which then means unnatural didn¡¯t. Cecelia glanced at Brian, who was reading through book regarding Persi¡¯s history. Summoning, in this world¡¯s conventional sense, refers to shaping elemental magic into some form. They were typically either a dog, a cat, or some kind of bird. Summons made of flesh or bones didn¡¯t exist¡ªexcluding necromancy, which was a totally different subject. Summons are strictly made, never really actually summon from somewhere else. Furthermore, any summon required continued magic to sustain themselves. Magic signatures, which are akin to DNA or a finger print, are the same between a summon and its master. If the strange symbols on the bottom of the library card represented a magic signature, then Brian¡¯s and herself were totally different. Cecelia furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°When I summoned you,¡± Cecelia checked their surroundings, her voice low, ¡°I didn¡¯t summon you from somewhere else did I? You were created?¡± Something bugged her. If Brian was created from nothing, then how did he know basic information about the world? Brian flipped a single page, before looking directly at Cecelia. His eyes glanced down at the book Cecelia still had open. A human smile, something that Cecelia saw for the first time. The created man replied, monotonously, ¡°That is correct master. Your magic formed me.¡± Any unnatural magic ability was tightly regulated, something that every book touching the subject made abundantly clear. Regardless of how innocent an unnatural ability was, it was always met with hostility in the beginning. From being able to heal wounds beyond what natural magic can accomplish to even mind-control. Reality-bending was even seriously mentioned. In Agoi¡¯s past and even present, people with such abilities tended to find themselves hanged, tortured, sacrificed, or exploited.
The sun was setting as night approaches. The light posts illuminated the streets softly. The city continued onwards still, even with little sunlight left. Shops were still open, but the atmosphere had a change to it. Day time was focused on work, whilst night focused on fun. The streets were dominated by adults enjoying themselves. Bars were far more packed now than they were in the noon. City guards were seen patrolling the streets far more frequently than before. Their caps, similar to a kepi, and tunic frock coats made them stand out against everyday clothing. They were far more modern than Cecelia expected. There were no hints of metal armor, just either plain fabric or leather. Mord guards¡¯ color theme were dominantly black with purple as a secondary color. The emblems of an eagle clutching a scroll was proudly presented on their uniforms. Cecelia and Brian had stayed at the library for an hour longer, before they had decided to leave. The revelation damped Cecelia¡¯s mood, but the thirst for knowledge drove her. When they did decide to leave, the city had transformed itself. Moving through the streets cautiously, without trying to alarm anyone, the pair stopped at a small restaurant before continuing. If it was before the revelation of her unnatural ability, Cecelia may had been less cautious. However, now, she was on edge. There was no denying what she had. Not even being able to summon a small ball of fire was able to reverse her mood. If any of the guards, or anyone, were able to detect her ability, it would without a doubt bring her trouble. Of course, the books themselves mentioned that detecting unnatural magic was hard, but it was not impossible. Chances are no one on the streets could detect it¡ªbut Cecelia was certainly not going to bet her life on chances at this point. A hand suddenly pulled Cecelia backed, while she was lost in thought. At first Cecelia panicked, before noting it was Brian. She was breathing rapidly. Brian¡¯s eyes were barely visible, but she could see him shaking his head. Confusion ran through her, but her questions were answered soon. Not too far away from them, at an intersection, a carriage pulled into view. City guards positioned themselves along the carriage. The streets were silent, aside from the footsteps of the guards and the rocking of the carriage. The carriage had a particular appearance to it. No windows. Reinforced structure. Most importantly, magic circles lazily rotating themselves. Most people only watched, pausing their actions. The guards moved purposefully. The guards were tensed. Their eyes constantly switching from the carriage to the streets. It was like they were more afraid of what was inside the carriage than any potential disrupters. The driver of the carriage was another guard, but there was no weapon present. However, Cecelia could note a metal wand. Wands weren¡¯t strictly needed for magic, but they help the user significantly enhance their capabilities. From a small spark to a firestorm. The driver¡¯s eyes momentarily met Cecelia¡¯s. A sudden chill. Cecelia¡¯s hands tensed. The guard gave a curt nod before returning his attention back to driving the carriage. None of the other guards bothered to spare a glance at her. As the carriage turned onto another street, people around Cecelia began to stir. There was caution at first, but people began to converse and joke. Soon, it was like the carriage was never there. Cecelia took another deep breath, something that she¡¯s been doing far more regularly than before. It was best to return home at that moment, Cecelia decided. Paranoia and fear were eating away at her.
In the beginning, the house felt like a prison to Cecelia. Waking up in a strange room, in a strange house, in a strange world. It was rife with mystery with no solutions. The outside world seemed tempting, especially after the appearance of the monster. Now, it felt welcoming and safe compared the outside world. No one at present, aside from Brian, knew of her abilities. She was still, technically safe. If, however, the secret was spilled out, then she was finished. Cecelia locked the door. At this point, it was evident that the owners of this house either were dead, didn¡¯t exist, or were on a trip. Or, Cecelia glanced at the key, she owned the house. Whoever she was possessing likely owned the house. It was something she considered before, but erred on the side of caution. It would also explain why all the books on the second floor focused on summoning. Brian sat on one of the dining chairs, observing the map that hanged off of the wall. The man spent most of the day silent, aside from responding to questions. No comments. No remarks. No jokes. He acted human to the library clerk during registration. He only smiled once when his secret was revealed. He was, also, loyal to Cecelia. The only proof of that was the strong feeling in the back of Cecelia¡¯s mind. ¡°Thoughts?¡± Cecelia queried, breaking the silence, sitting down on the chair opposing Brian¡¯s. The man didn¡¯t immediately respond, still glancing at the map. Then, he turned, his face still blank. Brian cocked his head, appearing to be in his thoughts. Then, he spoke, ¡°Persi¡¯s foundation was built upon the backs of many. Compared to its peers, it lacked in quality. Nearby nations had better soldiers or mages. The only thing Persi had were numbers.¡± Brian reached into his pocket and pulled out a wand. It was the same wand that Cecelia used to summon him. She had forgotten to bring it with them when they left. Yet, Brian carried it throughout the day. He didn¡¯t mention it to her. ¡°I do not know much, nor do I have much inside me,¡± Brian began, ¡°but I know one thing: to protect you. The books taught me there is strength in numbers master.¡± The man pushed the wand towards Cecelia¡¯s hand. ¡°A single Mord guard can kill me, but a single Mord guard can¡¯t win against two or three of me.¡± Cecelia looked down at the wand, before glancing back up at Brian. It was in the back of her mind, but she wasn¡¯t sure. However, Brian was right in a sense. The whispers in her mind also urged her on. Safety in numbers. Strength in numbers. Her hand grasped the cool wooden wand.