Elizabeth burst through the doors, exclaiming, "I've been looking for you everywhere! Why didn't you answer when I called?"
I barely registered her words. Still reeling from what had just occurred, I took deep breaths, trying to convince myself it was all just a hallucination. But the pounding pain in my head made that hard to believe; it felt far too real.
I noticed Elizabeth's expression change from frustration to concern as she approached me cautiously.
"Viktor, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I knew I had to respond quickly before she sensed something was wrong. Involving her would only complicate matters. I turned to face her and forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Elizabeth. Sorry for not responding sooner. I was just lost in thought," I replied.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Lost in thought? About what, exactly? What could be so important that you'd zone out like that?"
Damn, she's suspicious. Think, Viktor, think! I scrambled for an excuse. "I just realized something about Dad," I said quickly.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Go on, then."
"Well… when Dad told us how long it would take them to get to the festival, he only mentioned the three days of travel. He didn't account for the day of the festival itself or how long it would take them to return. So, altogether, it'll be at least a full week before they're back."
She thought for a moment before nodding. "You're right. But I had already figured that out."
"Really? Heh, looks like it wasn't new information after all," I said, trying to sound casual. "So, what did you need from me?"
Elizabeth's expression softened. "Actually, I wanted to talk about what happened earlier."
"Earlier? You mean when we went out?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Do you remember anything before you blacked out?"
I paused to recall only flashes of the incident. "I remember shouting the words 'Wind Gale,' but after that… everything goes blank."
Elizabeth sighed. "Looks like I have a lot to explain. But we should discuss this in my room."
I agreed and told her to go ahead. I needed to take the book I found back to my room before it caused any trouble for someone else; besides, I still had some unfinished business with it.
I hid it under my desk and made my way to Elizabeth's room, where she was waiting for me on her bed. I sat down, ensuring there was a reasonable distance between us before letting her speak.
"So, about that spell… you actually pulled it off," she said in a serious tone.
I didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.
"And if not for Davis, I probably wouldn't be here right now," she added, her voice cracking slightly as her expression turned solemn.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"Look, that's not important right now. The main issue is how powerful your magic was… It basically destroyed the Dintle tree!" she exclaimed.
"And what's the problem with that? Hell yeah… I'm going to try casting that spell again as soon as this conversation is over," I thought to myself, filled with excitement.
"I know you're planning to try it again right after we finish talking," she said in an annoyed tone.
"No, I'm not!" I protested, but it was clear she could read me like a book.
"And that's the real issue. I don't want you to get into trouble… You know we're from the prestigious Kernes family—a noble line of fire mages. Who knows what Dad will do when he finds out about your magic? It's best for your safety that nobody sees you use it," she warned.
She was somewhat right. It wasn't normal for Vamps to use magic before the age of seven, whether noble or plebeian. Those few who did were often taken to labs for experimentation and were never heard from again. I thought to myself, I guess you're right… but what about Alice and the others?
"Don't worry about them… they won't say anything," she smiled in response. "But honestly, letting your talent go to waste would be a huge mistake. I'll arrange a meeting with Alice to teach you everything she knows about wind magic."
Hearing that filled me with joy. I had read extensively about magic in the library, but experiencing it and being able to use it was a real thrill. I had to admit, reading could sometimes be quite boring, and the thought of doing it repeatedly until I turned seven was a drag. Having something else to keep me occupied for the next few years sounded fantastic.
I moved in and hugged Elizabeth tightly, saying, "You're the best, Sis!"
She was surprised by my sudden hug but eventually hugged me back.
After we finished embracing, I left her room, feeling cheerful and more content than I had since arriving in this world. However, my moment of happiness was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang in the distance. Tracing the sound back to the library, I felt a surge of worry and ran in that direction. Is it the book, or something else? Who could have possibly found it? I pondered as I hurried to the library.
When I arrived, I pushed the doors wide open and was shocked to see Sophia's body lying motionless on the floor, with the book beside her. I heard the sound of multiple footsteps approaching, sending me into a panic. Quickly, I scooped up Sophia and the book and rushed back to my room.
I entered my room and locked the door, dropping Sophia onto my bed. Unsure of what to do, I quickly opened the book, greeted by a sight of blank pages. Every single one was empty. I flipped through the pages to confirm and then closed it, questioning what could have happened while I was gone. I turned back to check on Sophia, only to find she was gone. Suddenly, I felt a familiar presence in the room. It felt too recognizable, and then I realized. It was her… I turned back around and was met with two glowing crimson eyes.