The estate was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Elowen's lessons in etiquette had dragged on far longer than usual, the strict instructions about posture, speaking properly, and curtsies leaving her fidgety and restless. She had already been glancing toward the library several times, wondering what it would be like to just… escape.
And, as always, curiosity got the better of her.
With a glance at the closed doors of the classroom and a careful tiptoe past her tutor, she slipped away, her small feet padding softly along the marble corridors.
The library was vast, a room filled from floor to ceiling with shelves of books, the scent of old parchment and polished wood welcoming her like a secret friend. She had never seen so many books in one place. Some had colorful covers, some were bound in leather so dark it almost swallowed the light.
Elowen wandered between the rows, her fingers brushing over the spines, marveling at the titles. She didn't notice the faint sound of footsteps behind her until a calm voice spoke.
"…Aren't you supposed to be in etiquette class?"
Elowen froze, spinning around. There, leaning casually against a tall shelf, was Elias. His deep red eyes met hers, calm and unreadable, as if nothing could startle him.
Elowen's fingers tightened around a book. "…I… I just—"
"You're curious," he finished for her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Elowen blinked. "…I—maybe," she admitted, shrugging. "Classes are… boring."
He chuckled softly, the sound low and restrained, not mocking but warm in a strange, quiet way. "I see."
A moment of silence passed. Then, he moved gracefully to a small desk in the center of the library. Elias pulled a chair toward him and gestured for her to sit.
Elowen hesitated, then cautiously lowered herself onto the chair, eyes wide as she took in the books spread out in front of him.
"Do you… know about alchemy?" he asked, picking up a few leather-bound tomes and flipping through them slowly.
"…Alchemy?" she echoed.
He nodded. "The study of matter. Transformation. In our family, alchemy is not just science—it is intertwined with magic. Every generation, we learn the principles, though not everyone is equally skilled."
Elowen's hazel eyes sparkled. "…Magic?"
"Yes," he said softly, leaning back slightly. "Our family has certain… abilities. Passed down through bloodlines. Some are stronger in one area, others in another."
"…Like what?" Her voice was small, but filled with excitement.
Elias picked a book, carefully opening it to show diagrams of symbols, potions, and strange glowing patterns. "…Alchemy. The ability to manipulate matter. To enhance it. Transform it. Combine it with magic. It requires skill, patience… and understanding."
Elowen leaned closer, fascinated. "…Can anyone do it?"
He shook his head slightly, a gentle smile forming. "…Not everyone. It depends on your blood, your aptitude… and your curiosity."
Her small hands hovered over the open book, tracing the diagrams as if she could absorb them through touch alone. "…Do I have powers?"
Elias's smile softened. He looked at her carefully, studying her as if measuring something invisible. "…Time shall tell," he said finally, letting the words hang in the quiet library.
Elowen blinked. "…Time… shall tell?"
"Yes," he replied calmly. "You have potential. But it must grow. Patience is required—especially with magic and alchemy."
She tilted her head, her curiosity unbroken. "…Can I try?"
Elias shook his head, still smiling softly. "Not yet. But you will learn. When the time comes, you will know what you can do."
For a moment, the library was silent again, filled only with the rustle of turning pages and the faint tapping of her small fingers on the desk.
Elowen's mind raced. Magic. Alchemy. Powers.
Her childhood curiosity had led her here, but now… it sparked something deeper. Something exciting. Something dangerous, perhaps, but thrilling nonetheless.
"…Do you… really think I can do it?" she asked quietly.
Elias's deep red eyes softened just enough. "…I believe everyone has their own path. Yours… is just beginning."
Elowen smiled, feeling a thrill she had never known before.
The library, once quiet and still, suddenly seemed full of possibilities.
And for the first time, she felt as if she had stepped into a world larger than her own small worries—a world where magic, family, and destiny intertwined.