Eight years later,
Brazam Gaelith and Alexa Jocelyn Heart were in the library. There, it had been arranged by the High Priest to be used as a study place for the hazel-eyed girl. Now, the teacher stood, holding a book in her right hand, which the virgin goddess did not know what kind of book it was.
“Alexa. I’ve been looking at your results for the past eight years, especially in the field.” The man in the black robe started the conversation, and the student just listened.
“As a beginner, your progress is impressive, even exceptional. The weaknesses are in some parts, namely divination using cards and runes, then the position of the planets, and transfiguration. The last is difficult to master, requiring diligence, precision, and the right composition. Yet, you have come up with a useful innovation: creating a body-removal potion that lasts for three days and three nights. That was really amazing.”
The chestnut-haired girl was still silent as she paid attention to the words of the one-hundred-and-eighty-three-year-old man. She was even curious about what the High Priest was going to teach her.
I wanted to know what teaching I would receive today. It turns out that the world of magick is so rich with wisdom and many hidden sciences that it is often considered a fairy tale. It turns out that it all exists, Alexa thought.
“Today, I will give you a history lesson, especially about the founding of Zlatav. You will not find this story in your country’s history books, as it has been manipulated by the cunning Droitzon. Before I begin, have you ever heard of ancient prophecies and legendary curses?” asked the High Priest to his talented female student.
Alexa was stunned for a moment, then tried to recall what she once knew. The virgin recalled her conversation with Aiden when she was still living in the orphanage.
“As for ancient prophecies, I have heard of them. As for the legendary curse, I have never read it in a general history book. Still, a friend at the orphanage once got another history book in the forbidden section at the library. The pages were torn out, so the information was incomplete.”
“I am not surprised that it happened. Droitzon has asked for the real history to be erased and replaced by his own. I am willing to bet that the remaining history books were deliberately put in the forbidden section because they did not want the younger generation to know what really happened.”
The first daughter of the couple, Tristian Varden Writh and Lavena Isolda Keira, was still quietly listening to the teacher’s words. Alexa did not dare to interrupt Brazam’s words because she wanted to get complete information about how Zlatav could exist. The High Priest looked annoyed for a moment as if he wanted to cast a spell on the person in question, but the older adult could only sigh heavily as if all the burden was out of there.
“Before that, I will briefly tell you the founding of this country.” Brazam sighed heavily, and Alexa noticed the moment. The virgin was still watching her teacher intently.
“Zlatav is the home of many creatures, such as witches, werewolves, fairies, and mermaids. We lived in harmony, as we had our own living areas. But, the arrival of Audroitzh Droitzon changed everything, causing chaos.” Brazam began the story.
“That man disguised himself as a dispossessed person. When he first came, Droitzon brought a party of a hundred people who were wounded. Out of pity, they were all well received and healed by the healer, who was part of the witch community.”
“That cunning man asked our king at the time, Lord Utzkah, to help him. He dared to make up a story that there was a great war in their home country, and they had to flee because they were outnumbered.”
Alexa began to imagine scene after scene that the teacher had told her. That young lady’s heart ached, having experienced what happened in the past.
I do not like people who betray their promises because that is cowardly. The twenty-year-old woman thought.
“During his stay in Zlatav, Droitzon and everyone with him were welcomed, even given proper food, drink, and clothing. But all our kindness was abused, so when they were helped, they attacked everyone here by bringing more foreign troops. Of course, that made us all angry, and a big battle was inevitable.”
“As a result of the war, many people died, including mermaids, and there were only a few left. The werewolves all perished, and the fairy retreated to the deepest part of this forest and made a new separate kingdom. Before leaving, they promised to keep helping as long as needed. The king was unfortunate because the kingdom that was once prosperous was destroyed.”‘
“Before Lord Utzkah died, he had cursed the damn man and the filthy blood human population he brought. He said, ‘You and all your people will die when the messenger of Goddess Magia is born and raised in this country. The blood debt you owe us will be paid in full!’ Then, adding characteristics according to the legendary prophecy that must be familiar.” Brazam held back his anger as he explained all that. Alexa was stunned by the teacher’s explanations. However, the slender girl was still silent, as she still wanted to get more clues.
“If I am not mistaken, from the sentence spoken by Lord Utzkah, the legendary curse’s initial sentence was removed, and only the last one was retained. After that, that damn Droitzon issued an order to hunt us down. Pressured, all the witches stayed in the forbidden forest, along with the remaining fairies. Mermaids remained in the ocean north of Snatz City. The traditional healers you call Healers and Seers were not destroyed as long as they were willing to work for the government. Of course, it was all made to divide us.”
“Excuse me, teacher. May I ask you something?” the tall teenage girl asked.
“Yes, you may ask me,” Brazam replied. She allowed the other person to ask questions.
“Can Healers and Seers be like us, casting spells and doing magick?” Alexa remembered the Madame Ethnia and Madame Menka she had met when she lived in the orphanage.
“Seers can only tell fortunes and can’t do many spells. Healers can’t do both. They can only heal the sick. They must have other powers but cannot harm our people.”
“Did Lord Utzkah ever ask Goddess Magia for help before going to war with Droitzon? I am sorry if I am asking something impolite like this,” Alexa asked reluctantly.
***