"What?" I try to maintain a strong voice but it cracks, "I can't go back?"
"Yes. You came from another possible dimension or world. We have to investigate and report about the possibilities to the royal cou-"
I cut her off, "You are acting like this never happened before!"
"It didn't" Mr.Luveille confirms, "This is the first solid proof of another existence."
"I-I thought you guys know magic," I laugh. This is ridiculous.
"Even the practiced magics have limitations. We are discovering new things ever now and then." he explains calmly.
I slouch down. What will I do now? They are stronger than me. I can't break free. Who knows if the mirror is still there or not. Think think think.
"Oh, look. It is past lunchtime. Care to join, ms.Kite?" Rosemary offers. I should not deny it. What betterment would it bring if I do anyway?
"Sure."
"Good!" she claps her hand and I look at them, they were the one who lifted me up with just one command, "I will ask Brianna to help you." She touches the wall again and says something to it.
Both the siblings leave. I don't know how to feel. A new magical life excites me. But the I have to leave everything behind. I don't even know whether I can perform magic at all.
My daze brakes when a girl comes in the room.
"Excuse me, I am Brianna. I will be assisting you."
I get up. Perhaps after I eat, I will be able to think more effectively?
***
Clothes here are not much different from my world. Or dimension, whatever they are. But one thing I noticed while choosing a fitting dress was that, all the clothes are pretty heavy yet not too suffocating, as if they were made for the weather. Perhaps, it is magic? I am still unsure of how magics work.
Rosemary had to chant. Pinky didn't. The other man when I first came was visibly different for his pointy ears and pale features.
The extra clothing rack mostly hand pants and tops. Only a few dresses. When I wanted to pick them, Brianna told me that those dresses are only when the pants and tops wouldn't fit or for other issues. Clearly she wanted me to pick from the two piece collection.
"What if I want to wear the dress." I asked. They looked rather comfortable.
"Well, you can. But it would be safer to avoid them due to wind issues." she replied respectfully.
I asked again with wonder, "Wind issues?" Can't they just use magic to solve that?
"Well," she looked unsure a little and scratched her head, "It is to be a confidential information that you are originally not from here but since they trusted me with the details then... I guess it wouldn't be a problem to reveal a little more."
I didn't know if she said it to me or to herself. But I listened to her eagerly.
"Umm... if possible, please start from the start." I requested.
She nodded, "This, is the land of Falska, one of the six lands of the kingdom Croran."
"Land?"
"Yes, the six selected lords are given the six lands of Croran to govern. The position changes every twenty-five years so they don't actually inherit this position. The lords are incredibly powerful positions. They hold the authority as strong as the crown prince."
Crown prince? "So they also have kings and queens?"
"The whole kingdom is ruled by the royal family of Croran. But not all the royal members hold the same value. Kings are the top, then the Crown prince or princess and the lords. They also have the capital under their direct rule. The rest of the six lands are indirectly Governed by them while being under the selected lords."
I silently listened to her. So lands are like provinces here.
"So where exactly am I now?"
"You are in the Azalea mansion, the residence of the Lord of Falska. The current residents are the Luveille family."
"I met them." I met a Lord already? wow. Wait, doesn't that mean-
"Yes, current Lord of the Falska is Silvaris Luveille."
Oh shit. The pinky was not just any ordinary mage, he was the whole Lord of a province?
I know. I shouldn't have come. Later I asked things about magic and stuff. But she bombed me saying that these things better be told by the Lord and miss Luveille.
I am now sitting on the long dining table. Lord Silvaris Luveille is sitting on the end seat, Rosemary on the side and me on her opposite. I should contain my thoughts. I read somewhere that witches can read minds, though I don't know if I should compare these two versions. Now that I notice, Rosemary is also wearing covered clothes.
The room is filled with the cluttering noise of the dishes. Girls and boys whom I assume are maids and servants, are occasionally helping in serving the dishes and pouring drinks.
I don't recognise any dishes, but they taste divine. I have to hold myself from gobbling up everything like an animal. They also don't seem to follow dining etiquette too much.
"I don't think I introduced myself," Lord Luveille breaks the ice, "I am Silvaris Luveille, the current head of the Luveille family." he points to his sister, "and she is my first elder sister, Rosemary Luveille."
"I actually introduced myself earlier," Rosemary says in between her bites.
"Oh," is all he say.
I should introduce myself too?
"I am Juniper Kite. I am from inside the mirror?"
"Kite?" he looks at her.
She shakes her head, "I didn't find any family by that name."
That's a polite way to say I am a commoner.
Lord Luveille nods and continues him lunch. I couldn't hold it any longer. Ever since I joined them here, I was waiting when they will bring the topic up. But if they keep avoiding it then I will take the liberty myself.
"I wish to go back." I say firmly. Their hand stops midway.
"You can't-"
"Can't you just forget the fact that it existed? Let's go back to how things were before I came!" I suddenly stand up and the chair falls behind. I look at them. But none of them replies back.
"We would have if it weren't for the fact that your mana varient perfectly matches to the one's this world have." Lord Luveille calmly says while Rosemary says something that doesn't quite reach my ears. I am too focused on the unusual pink eyes that stare at me with a blank expression.
"What... are you trying to say?"
"We are still not sure, but there is a possibility that you are originally from here."
That was what grandma wrote too. But I am not saying it. I don't want to stay here. I am already missing the independence and self-realiance I gained back there. I don't like being dependent. I only want to go back.
I don't care anymore. I am sorry grandma. But I can't.
"I can't stay here!" I shout.
He tsks, "What is wrong with this house? Even I can live here."
"That's not the point. I already have a life there."
"Yes, but you are not one of those people. How are you, a mana-holder, gonna survive in a world without magic?"
"Just like how I survived till now."
"Well, you can't" he takes a bite from his dish, "Your seal is breaking. Since you are not yet able to control it, you will possibly cast wrong spells and bring a havoc."
"I will what?"
"Anyways, you can't leave. Instead enjoy an early free trial on the magic world."
I hiss. They are really determined to keep me locked in here.
"How about this... I will come back whenever you call?" I strike the deal I was preparing as my last resort while bathing. They look at each other. At least they are thinking.
"We have to keep quiet about it." Rosemary comments.
"I will. My lips are sealed." I animate it to them.
"Do you think it is a good idea?" The Lord asks his sister but I answer, "Absolutely!"
I can see the rejection on its way. They are not gonna approve. But am I going to give up?
"I promise to come back occasionally. While you conduct your investigation, I get to do my job too. Productive, right?"
"It 'is' a fine idea. But I am not too sure about your loyalty." he says and squints his eyes at me.
"Welp, you can cast you 'spell' on me," I say with a shrug. One of the servants picked up the chair earlier. I sit on it.
"You say like you yourself can't use magic." the Lord laughs. My eye widens at his sudden gesture. He looks very handsome when he smiles. The mole on the left side of his face, right above his lips, strangely suits him.
I brace myself. My billboard toothpaste boy is way more handsome than him.
"Well, I can't."
"You can. You just don't know how. You have mana."
"What is it anyway. I have been hearing it awfully a lot."
"It is an essence that lets you perform magic. Your body automatically creates it since your birth."
Really? That's incredible. So my body have been creating it for 24 years already? That means I do have potentials. But I am not gonna take the risk.
"So how about my deal?"
"You are still holding onto that?"
"Yeah. I don't think I am suited yet."
"I still haven't informed the crown prince. So if you come back when summoned then I guess we can let you off the hook momentarily."
I cheer, "Thank you so much! Now if you will excuse me. I must return to my humble home." I try to get up. But my body is strangely pressed to the chair.
"You can't yet," from his hand gesture, it is surely his doing, "We have to sign a contract to conclude our negotiation."
I roll my eyes. I am never coming back. "Sure."
Out of no where Rosemary summons a paper and a pen like stick.
"Let's go over the terms and agreements, shall we?" she says.
1. I can't disconnect the portal.
2. I should be there as soon as I will be summoned.
3. I can't go too far away from the portal.
4. I have to al least come once every day for a check-in.
5. I can't reveal or say anything about it anywhere in this world or the other world.
Lastly, my signature. But they take signatures in a different way. I have to press by whole hand to the paper until it collects my confirmation.
There, all done.
Lord Luveille checks the contract one last time and it vanishes.
"You may go, but finish you lunch first," Now he is like a strict father.
"Yes!" well who cares. I can return now, can't I?
I chew on my food happily while thinking about my disastrous situation.