So the search for magic's origins begins. Zia and I meet every time at the library to talk about our individual finds, I still practice my swords skills, and I've gotten good at it. Lupel promised that I could hunt our own meals when I improved a bit more.
I told Zia what the cooking pot at our home was made of while we were seated at the corner of the dark room in the library.
"hmm.. that's a lead." she said.
"Yeah, I think so too." I stared at her while she was thinking.
"Hey Zeal, any conclusion from this?"
"To tell you the truth, yes." I replied.
"Then-" I cut her off and said. "But before I tell you my conclusion I need to clear something between us."
"What is it?" she asked with worries in her eyes.
"It's about the secrecy about whatever we find in this search for magic that we are doing. it could turn over everything considering that most of the books I find are about magic theory although its considered theory. Don't you think that it's kind of suspicious that there are that many books? it's like they want to know if somebody would look for an argument with the theory."
"That's true. But don't worry I wasn't even planning on telling this to anyone." she replied.
I went silent to think about if I should tell her what I know fully or just tell her my opinion about it. The next thing that happened was she took my hand and said the words.
"I promise I won't tell anyone so please tell me." as she scoots over near to me.
She put her face near mine, hands on top of my legs with a look that could charm any man to submission. However, I shouldn't fall prey to her charms. I mean, I just got to know her a few days ago. I'm not so sure.
"Sure." I replied.
She was overjoyed, and I just face slapped myself to my pure stubbornness. I decided what I should tell her.
"Zia one more thing."
"Yeah? you can ask me anything." she says with a smile on her face.
"Can you bring one of the antlers I saw at your room?"
"Yeah sure, if they are necessary for what we're doing I can bring it to you tomorrow." she replied.
"Then let's meet here tomorrow, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah see you!" she replied.
We both went home.
At the house.
"I'm home."
"Ah~ welcome home sweetie. go wash up and prepare for dinner." Lilia.
"Yeah alright. will do." I replied while going towards my room.
Lupel asked me. "Hey son, how did your date go?"
"Father I told you many times, me and Zia are just talking about things." I directly said to him.
"Ok ok, just asking gee."
"Sweetie, what have you been talking with Zia lately?" "You seem both interested on it."
"Nothing, just stuff." I replied.
I then went to my room to wash up and prepare. It's the typical day... Waking up for breakfast, sword training, working out, helping with cutting firewood, in addition to meeting Zia at the library, going home, washing up for dinner, and staring outside my room window at the shed I've never been in. When I got my own room, I saw the shed through the window; I thought that it was just a small shed for Lupel's dirty old stuff but upon meeting Zia and discovering the glow. The shed gives off the same glow as the cooking pot and Zia's mementos. It wasn't the shed itself, but what's inside, and for the glow to be leaking out of the small shed, I must know what it is. I went to the dining table for dinner and built the courage to ask.
While my parents were talking with each other, my heart was pounding. It might be something that isn't by any means normal. So I took caution before I asked and thought about it for a lot of time. Lupel might have seen me not eating, so he asks.
"Son, why aren't you eating? Is it the food your mother made? do you want mush to cook instead for you? UCcCkKK!"
It seems like Lilia stepped on Lupel's foot.
"Why would you ask that to Zeal! my cooking isn't that bad from what mush cooks. HMPH!" Lilia pouted and turned her face away from Lupel.
"Come on, I was just joking haha. O-O-Oh yeah, Zeal so what's up?" He tries to change the topic to avoid Lilia's anger.
Lilia was throwing glares at Lupel as she was eating.
"Ahem. Uhh. Father, can I come in the shed at the back?"
They looked at each other, and Lupel replied.
"Hm? Yeah sure why not?"
"I know there must be something I shouldn't see there so I'-"
"....." "Yeah??? I can?"
"Yeah? sure you can, why? Did you think you're not allowed to?" he asked.
"Well... yeah."
"Why would you think that you aren't allowed in there?"
"Uhhhh ( I can't tell him that it's my inner otaku pretending there's gore stuff inside that shed ) I don't know it feels kind of eerie?" I replied.
He looked at me then proceeded to say. "Well you can, but what do you need in there?"
I answered. "Just gonna check what's inside."
"Eat up and you can see what's there tomorrow after your practice."
"Thanks, father."
I finished eating and went to bed.
I couldn't sleep. Seeing the shed tomorrow got me all tense. Since I couldn't sleep, I just read my books, and eventually, I fell asleep.
Tomorrow comes; I ate up and practiced.
I then go to the shed. At the front is the door to the shed.
"Well, here goes nothing.."
I opened the door, and the glow started becoming stronger as I went in. The thing that gave the intense glow was.
"This is..."
At the library.
"Hey, Zeal!"
"Hey, Zia."
"Hm? What's wrong? why are you that gloomy early in the morning?" she asks me.
"Nothing just thinking about stuff. so did you bring it?" I changed the topic and asked her.
"Yeah, here it is."
She hands over the antler; I examined it from top to bottom and every nook and cranny. I noticed that the root of the antler isn't detached from its pedicle. To my surprise, it hasn't deteriorated yet.
"Can I ask you something, Zia?"
She replies. "Yeah sure."
"Can I break this?"