***Five years later
"My lady, it's time to wake. You're father, his Grace, is calling you to dine with him and her Grace for breakfast."
Eyes still closed, I stir in my bed. Flipping onto my back I stretch out my arms over my head. Slowly I sit up and rub my eyes to greet the new day.
"Good morning, Shasta!" I bounce off the bed as I go to hug her. Laughing, she bends down to catch me incase I fall. She picks me up and gives us a little twirl.
"My dear little lady, please be careful," she says even as she smiles. "Good morning. Would you like a bath before heading down?"
I shake my head.
"After. I want to see papa and mama first!" I slightly cringe inside at how I sound so much like a child. In the past five years since coming to this world, I have tried to act like a child. At least in front of people. My parents deserve to have a normal child.
Shasta puts me back down and goes to my closet. Taking out a casual dress, she helps me dress for breakfast. Quickly, she gives my strawberry blond hair a brush and then off we went.
I grab her hand as we walk out my room and down the corridor towards the dinning hall. I remember the day Shasta was appointed as my nanny. It was unreal to me at first. Compared to my previous life where I had no one, I now have my parents and Shasta, who've given me their love since the day I was born. I love them all very dearly. They've become irreplaceable to me.
"Shasta, thank you," I said as I glance up to her with a smile. Thank you for caring. Thank you for having always been there for me. Thank you for the kindness you have shown me and my family. I will never forget it, no matter how many lives I live. There is so much more I want to say, but couldn't without raising questions. Things that no child that has been as sheltered and protected such I as I should know or say. I hope my sincerity rings through with each word, short as they are.
She looks down with a questioning glance, but smiles nonetheless. We stop in front of two grand doors. I smooth my dress out a bit and walk into the dinning hall as Shasta holds the door open.
"My lady, Bellflower, enters your Grace."
My father looks up from my mother to glance where I am and gives me a warm smile. Every time I see them I feel so warm inside. They have been wonderful parents. Ever since I was born they have tried with much success to bring happiness into my life and I adore them for it.
"Well, come here my little Wildflower," his rough voice calls out with affection. He stretches out his arms, waiting for me to come give him a hug.
Mother's light ringing laugh echos in the hall. "Yes, darling. Don't leave me here all by myself with this ruffian," she says playfully.
Father quirks up a single eyebrow and though I probably shouldn't, I hear him say to my mother, "I can show you how much a ruffian I can be later." In response I hear her giggle like a woman in love.
Blushing, I run towards my parents and into my fathers arms. It's the feeling of him wrapping his arms around me and giving me a tender kiss on the forehead that I missed so much when I was Nora. My father gets up and places me in the chair next to him. Across from me is my mother, now holding fathers hand.
I start eating after I see father take the first bite. The one thing I had to get use to was the etiquette in this world. As Nora, I would grab something on my way. Very rarely did I sit down at a table to eat, especially when I was at nursing school. I was always on the go, not worrying about those around me. Now as Bellflower, I had to learn the customs here and learn to watch those around me. There is a hierarchy that needs to be followed. Luckily I am a quick learner.
After a few bites in my father clears his throat. "Bellflower, you're fifth birthday just passed. As I promised before, now that you turned five I'll let you start studying majik. I've arranged for you to get evaluated tomorrow. After, we will find an appropriate teacher for you."
Worry creases form between my father eyebrows mirroring my mother's. As soon as I was able to talk I've let my parents know that I want to learn and study majik. At first my father was adamant that I didn't need to learn it, saying that I wouldn't have the need to use it. I know he thought me studying majik would bring dangers. Aster warned me about this world, about the never ending war. Majik was common, however those who seemed useful get drafted, some never to see their families again. It was a worry I could understand. But there's a big part of me that knew I needed to learn it. Because Aster said I needed to.
Smiling brightly, I thank my father, promising that I will be careful and follow my instructors lessons as a proper student should. Nevertheless, the crease between my mother's eyes doesn't disappear. I know my mother's worries were not without reason.
Majik could be a dangerous and unpredictable thing. If not nurtured and trained properly it could result in catastrophic results. After coming to this world, I learned that most people, though having the capacity and capability of majik, they didn't learn to harness it. Instead most used just the basic form of it. Anything further would be impossible without the proper training. Most commoners didn't even have a chance to learn more, at least that was before the war broke out. After the war, the knights that were enlisted whether from noble status or common born were required to train in majik.
Noble and commoners alike were require to take the Majiks Elemental Evaluation by the age of ten, most noble children took it earlier though. The evaluation tells what types of majik a person specializes in. The elements consist of earth, water, wind, fire, light, dark, and spirit. In each of those categories there were subcategories. Most specialize in one or two elements however, unless they trained their majik, they would only be able to use the most basic form of the element.
What I read of the evaluation was actually simpler than what I initially thought. According to the book in my fathers study, the evaluation would be conducted at the church, for majik was the gift of the goddess Pleroma. Goddess Pleroma was the essence of everything good and natural. It is said that when she created this world, Lilium, her power enveloped the earth and thus humans and creatures alike were born. As the lore went, the goddess loved her creations so much that she would walk the earth often and in her path unforeseen beauty would bloom. One day she came down and met a little girl. The girl made such a strong impression on the goddess that the goddess gave her and mankind the gift of majik. Once again the goddess enveloped the earth and it's residents with her power and thus her power was absorbed into earths beings.
I honestly don't know if I believe in Pleroma, but I know gods exist. Aster exists. I haven't forgotten my conversation with the golden eyed god, just like it was yesterday.
Once inside the church the evaluator would call you back inside a room. There you would stand in front of the goddess statue. A crystallized glass ball was held by the stone goddess' hand. Again, according to the book, the crystal would change colors to what element you possessed. The stronger the majik, the brighter the crystals glowed.
I walk towards my mother and place my hands on top of hers. She looks down at me, her emerald eyes filled with worry. Tightening her hands around mine, she takes a deep breath as if reminding herself that I am here and safe.
"Darling, I just want you to be careful. You know how destructive majik can be. I just want you to be safe. But I know you are determined. I'll be fine darling, just please come to us if you need help or are in trouble." She pats my hand.
"I promise, Mother. I want to study majik to be able to protect you, Father, Shasta, and everyone I love. I promise not to add to your worries, so thank you Mother," I say honestly, throwing off the child facade I usually have in place. I need her to know this is important to me. Aster told me that I need to grow strong and I promised myself when I was first reborn in this world that I will grow strong enough to protect everyone important to me. She stares into my eyes, seeing my determination and finally nods her head in approval.
"We'll that's that," my father says. "Bell in addition to majik, it's about time to get you instructors for your normal studies as well. I would ask if that's ok, but I already know the answer." My fathers deep laugh echos in the dinning hall.
As soon as I was able to crawl, I started finding books. I wanted to learn as much about the new world I came into as possible. By the time I was one I was able to walk and my mother and fathers worries increased. My mother and father searched high and low for me when I was younger, until they realized I was always in the library, my nose in a book. Surprising and thankfully, this world's language was not difficult to learn. Or maybe it was a gift from being reborn.
It was in my parents library that I first found that this world was Lilium and my father was the sole Archduke of the kingdom Aiyana. His Grace Sir Elias Amaranth Ilan Bryon Aurelius, my father, was said to be the great descendant of the small child the goddess favored from long ago. Whether that's true or not, I will never know. As great as the books describe the dukedom and the duke, my father is always just my father. We are a regular loving family. I know now that he must be extremely busy, but he always makes time for Mother and I, never once complaining.
It was because I was honest and made them aware of my studious nature from early on that Father knew I would be extremely happy with starting up my studies.
"Thank you Father! I promise to study and make you proud," I say beaming with excitement.
"Oh darling Bellflower, we are already proud of you my dear," my mother gently says. "Now off you go, I'll see you at tea time shortly."
"Yes mother!" I give her a quick hug and turn to do that same with Father.
My father scoops me up into his arms, leans in and whilst hugging me says, "Don't grow up too fast my little wildflower. There's no need to be an adult just yet."
He puts me down and I star into his eyes. It is times like these when I believe that my childish act was seen through. I know I act more mature than a regular five year old child, but still I want to believe I am playing the role of a five year old child successfully. Smiling I nod at my father as a reply and then turn to skip off towards the hall, stopping only to grab Shasta on my way out.