Magistery was like this. You feel Magic in the air, gather an amount required, and push it in stuff like stone, glass, chair, ribbon, tree, apple, anything you can think of to change the nature of that thing. Scientifically said, to rearrange the molecular structure.
A cobble could become a piece of jewelry.
A wooden chair could turn into a rocking horse.
An apple could have made a nice perfume.
Prince Jared even turned one of the pillows on the sofa into a dress. It was pretty awesome and I was really excited to learn such things. The Prince was really pleased with my enthusiasm so the class was supposed to be very fun and joyful.
Supposedly.
Apparently, Magistery differed greatly from Sorcery. It was a rarity. Only the Cimon's royal family, a handful of people in the Cimon Kingdom, and a hand-countable number scattering in other countries possessed the ability. In saying that, it did not mean everyone, including the royal family members, who owned the power are good at them. Some was able to convert only small objects and could not have altered much of the nature. For example, Prince Jared's cousins whose magic-infested stones were only polished but no real jewelries or precious rocks were created; and Sharon's talent to change hair-eye color which was not popular at all in this world, since there were already all ranges of hair and eye colors. And if the colors were too light or too exotic, it would indicate the Magician or Sorcerer status. Nobody wanted to be like them or mess with them, the Sorcerers particularly. Hence the lesser Magicians could not use the skill to make a living or even showing off. It was, to be honest, quite useless.
Prince Jared was the best Magician this world could ever have. He was a genius and could not only refine molecules, he could also force magic to increase its quantity. I learnt from Shaph later that only point five percent of the world population could do such thing.
I was in the ninety-five point five.
"It is not out of expectation." Prince Jared said.
Not being able to use magic was fine with me, having one less class, one less prince to be involved was quite a consolation. "So that means I don't have to study anymore?" I asked hopefully.
The Prince raised one corner of his lips. "You sound sad. Do you really want to be with me that bad?"
Where in the voice did I sound sad?!
Prince Jared plucked out two flowers from a vase and, with multicolored light flowing about his wave and murmuring of an incantation, a pretty necklace was there.
He put the necklace in my hand. "It's alright even if you can't use Magic. You're still you."
I realized he was trying to comfort me. He thought I was sad because I could not use Magic. I found it hard to respond to this kind of situation. I couldn't say—actually, I don't really care—so I just smiled. "Thank you Prince Jared."
"We should start calling each other without formality." The Prince said and softened his voice. "By the way, I apologize about this morning. It won't happen again." I was still smiling while trying to keep up with his pace when he changed his mood again. "I think it's great. No more class. We can use this time to go out together. We'll have a date everyday!"
I let the smile stayed on my face while my heart fell away and sank into the ground.
This is the worst!
Magic lessons—Sorcery lessons—with Prince Valentine were, likewise, becoming worse. Despite my improvement in the skill, I was more frightened of the guy day by day.
"Good. Now thrust your hand out like this. No, let me show you." Prince Valentine stretched out his arm and wrapped it around my waist from the back. He caught my hand that was holding a clot of glittering magic with his other hand and rested his chin on my shoulder breathing into my neck. "Like this, see?"
I nervously glanced at the red hair brushing against my cheek. "C—could you be so kind not to do this?"
"Do what?" said Prince Valentine and spun me around to face him. I tried to push him back but obviously did not have enough power to resist as the Prince lessened the distance between our faces trying to kiss me. I wheeled my head to the right in haste and his lips landed on my cheek. I gathered up Magic alarmingly and shoved it at him.
Prince Valentine jumped back with a grin on his face. "Oh no, you don't throw Magic at me."
At least, I was free. I really needed Shaph. He had been very busy looking for a sorcerer (I guessed) and I had to come to this lesson alone. I hated it to the core. Prince Valentine had been taking too much advantage on me. This basically was sexual harassment. The worst part was I could do nothing much about it for fear of discord of relations between two Kingdoms.
The Prince grabbed my wrist and pushed me against the wall. His face was looming only a few inches apart. My breath was already lost inside my lung. "I am the one bringing you back here." he said. "Don't you think you should return the favor? A kiss wouldn't kill."
A kiss?! My first kiss?! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cheek was more than I could give!
"P—Pri—Prince Valentine!"
"Told you to call me Val."
"N—no, Prince—" I stuttered in fright to buy time when a brilliant idea hit me, pulverizing away the fear. "I—I hope Magic in your Kingdom has quieted down. I'm glad my existence could help you."
My guess was right and it seemed to work as Prince Valentine backed off. He was keeping his stare on me while I balanced on my feet, panting my breath away with relief.
The Prince strode to the gold-rimmed sofa at the other end of the room sinking himself among the velvety cushions. His face was very bland, it was as if what I said had offended him exceedingly.
"However," I started, could not afford being offensive to a prince from another Kingdom and induced problem to Princess Carla. "If it was not for your initial help, I wouldn't be here, that much is true." I swallowed a knot down. "So if there's anything other than...a kiss, or you know, that sort of things, or anything about Coronale, I will definitely do for you."
Prince Valentine raised his left brow and a vicious smile stole over his face. "Hmm? What sort of things?"
"Umm," My temper started to become unsteady, "That sort of things! Kissing! Hugging!—"
The Prince chuckled and stood up striding toward me. "Does a Romantic Dinner include in 'That sort of things'?"
My brows took turn. "Dinner?" I said omitting the 'R' word.
"Romantic dinner." Prince Valentine said.
"Done!" I almost screamed with relief. "A dinner, no problem!"
"I shall arrange a Romanticdinner." He said stressing the word I tried to avoid. "Let's do it the next three days."
In the end, how did I end up here?
That night when I pulled the big window beside my bed leaving it open for cold wind and sound to travel through. Prince Ciel's daily activity of weaving low and high notes into strings of harmonious melodies did not take place. I wondered what had happened to my only source of solace as Shaph, sensing my longing, told me that that self-centered Prince Valentine sent a complaint about tumultuous music at nighttime to Prince of Mithril. I did not know what to make of that and just lived with it. I had the Dinner to be worried about.