Night had fallen. And Mother began using her magic to make the house bright, so it wouldn't be dark.
"Mother, what kind of magic is that actually?" I asked Mother.
Since I was little, Mother had always used that magic every night and I was also confused about how that magic worked.
Father said I had quite a large magic capacity and it could keep growing bigger as I grew up.
Mother also just taught me the basic elf magic, Heal.
Mother said, if an elf couldn't use heal then they couldn't be considered an elf.
Looks like "heal" really is the most basic magic but also the most important.
I always practiced the "heal" magic every time Mother had free time. Since Father was never at home, it was always Mother who taught me.
One day I once asked Mother, "Why do I only practice this magic over and over? If it's like this, it'll just get boring."
Getting bored easily at something done repeatedly was one of my traits.
But Mother didn't answer and only smiled while patting my head.
I decided not to complain anymore, and to improve my "heal" magic ability so that later Mother could be surprised seeing me.
——
"Mother, is the magic for lighting this room important?" I asked Mother curiously.
During practice, Mother had never once mentioned anything about using this magic.
From my point of view, this magic should belong to the light element magic.
In this world there were 6 elements of magic: earth, water, wind, fire, light and one more darkness.
And "heal" was included in one of the light elements.
"Are you curious about this magic?" Mother asked me.
I nodded my head quickly, as if impatient to hear what Mother would say next.
"Maybe it's not the right time—" Mother said.
But because she saw my eyes sparkling brightly, it made her give in.
"I'll only say this once, so listen, okay?" Mother said while sitting in her chair.
I immediately climbed onto Mother's lap and began listening to her words.
"This magic is used by elves to make light in a room or dark place," Mother said.
"The elders say, this magic is the very first magic created by the elf race—"
I immediately rose from Mother's lap, then stood facing her.
"This is elf-made magic!?" I said in disbelief.
"Yes," she replied.
——
"Do you think I can also make magic like this?" I asked with full enthusiasm.
"That's why study magic diligently and don't be lazy, okay?" Mother asked.
I raised my thumb.
"Okay!" I answered energetically.
——
In the following days, finally I could learn to use this magic. And not just practice "heal" magic.
When learning magic, it felt like my world was expanding. When learning and being able to use new magic, it felt like a world was opening wide its doors to me.
As if inviting me to continue studying magic even deeper.
And finally, I managed to master the magic taught by Mother.
"Try it now, Cyve," Mother said.
I closed my eyes and focused my thoughts and began imagining the room that was dark turning into light. And when I opened my eyes—
The room that was dark, shone and looked very bright.
"Cyveeee!!!" (Mother)
Mother immediately hugged my body from behind, and began rubbing her face into my hair.
"Just a few days and you can already do it~ You learn quickly just like Mother!"
Mother's words just now made me feel very happy.
I started thinking about learning even more magic and showing it in front of Mother— Later, I would show it in front of Father too!
——
In the following week, our elf territory was facing a big problem.
The houses began closing their doors and windows so that "they" wouldn't enter the house.
The same went for my house, Mother and Father reminded me, "Cyve, never even try to go out of the house, okay?" Father said.
Since all the houses were closed, Father also began to always stay at home. So my house felt lively and warm.
At night while having dinner together, I asked Father.
"Father, what's going on outside?" I asked.
Instead of looking at me, Father looked at Mother. Then, Mother nodded her head to Father.
Father let out a long sigh.
"There's a dangerous virus outside," Father said.
"Virus?" I asked.
Father took a sip of plain water from his glass, before speaking again.
"That virus was spread by the dwarf race aiming to take over this elf territory and make the elves perish."
"This virus spreads through dust into the eyes, and if it touches the eyes then we will immediately die," Father continued.
I swallowed hard. I really felt terrified hearing Father's story just now.
"How long can't I go outside?" I asked Father.
If I couldn't go outside, that meant I couldn't play with my friend. And I could only sit quietly at home… I hated this virus.
"The elders are looking for a solution to resolve this problem… but don't worry, Father will also find a way," Father said while trying to calm me down.
——
You remained in the same position for almost 7 months, every time you wanted to go outside you had to use a transparent cloth tied in front of your eyes.
This method could be said to be effective, because only a small number of elves were infected when using this cloth outside the house.
The only ones allowed outside were elves over the age of 80, and that was very far from my current age…
I only kept reading the books on the shelf, and I didn't know how many times I had read all these books. I really felt bored.
"Cyve, maybe starting in 2 days you can go outside," Father said.
I immediately rose from my book, and looked at Father with my eyes sparkling again.
I had always waited for these words for the past 7 months!
"This afternoon, the elders will cast a spell that they say can eliminate this virus," Father explained.
"HURRAY!!" I shouted.
And that afternoon, the virus was successfully eliminated.
To avoid remnants of the virus, today and tomorrow only the adults, and the day after tomorrow then the children.
If it was just waiting for 2 more days, that was no problem for me!
——
This elf village had returned to normal. The elves began to be able to do activities as usual. And so did I—
I always played with my friend because it had been so long since I last met them.
But without realizing it, 20 years passed.
——
Now I was already 38 years old, my body had also grown a lot since the last 2 decades.
I was now already a teenage elf who had grown up! (My personal opinion)
"Mother, I'm going to look for plants first, okay?" I asked Mother.
"Don't be late coming home!" Mother shouted.
I immediately left the house and entered the forest.
Since 10 years ago, Mother and Father allowed me to enter the deeper forest.
The one who searched for medicinal plants now was also me, I searched for the plants and Mother made the medicine… complete, right?
I also discovered many new things in this forest.
While passing by the riverside, I found a small house I had never seen before.
Because of my very strong curiosity, I immediately stood in front of that house's door and began knocking.
CKLEK (The door opened)
An old elf woman using a cane to walk.
Her face was covered by a cloth she wore, and her height didn't even reach my shoulder.
"What do you want to read?" the old woman asked.
"I-I was just passing by here and a little curious…" I answered.
I was also confused about the "read" she meant. Why did she suddenly ask "what do you want to read?"
"This is my little library, do you want to look inside?" the old woman said.
I immediately became excited because I had always loved reading books.
The old woman removed the cloth that covered her face and as I had guessed, she was indeed an old woman.
I was afraid that suddenly she might turn out to be a man!
In the past few years, many guys in the village had started teasing me.
Some said they wanted to provide for me, some wanted to be my boyfriend, even though they already had a girlfriend… they were seriously annoying.
Of the many male elves I had met, only Father and the elders (the male ones) behaved kindly to me.
——
That woman's house was really filled with books, shelves lined up everywhere… it was amazing.
"Please read whatever you like," the woman said.
I immediately entered this library and began looking for interesting books.
20 ancient magics… How to get a boyfriend… How to find children… 50 tips in bed—
Elf hero… Elf hero likes fishing… WHAT THE HECK IS WITH ALL THESE BOOKS!?
The titles were all weird, not like the usual book titles I read.
When I looked at the shelf again, my eyes fell on a book titled "Humans."
Humans?
I took that book from its place and began turning its pages.
I read that book very quickly and only then learned that there was a human race.
All this time I thought there were only elves and dwarves… could it be that there were still many other races I didn't know about!?
This library wasn't bad at all… and if all the books had titles as interesting as the one I was holding… I would take this library for myself!