"Put that sword down prince", Cyphel slowly lowered his sword but before he can even release it from his grip, the sword shone and they soon heard mutterings during the time they were all blinded by the light.
Eli opened her eyes after the blinding light disappeared, and saw that Cyphel is now holding a wand instead of his sword. His sword turned into a wand! The men wearing black suits are now on the ground, unconscious.
"Miss, let's get out of here first and wait for the knights to show up", he said and started walking out of the store. Eli, who's still shaking, can't help but follow him first in order to be safe. She was behind him and they were almost out of the store when they heard a grunt.
It was like in a slow motion. They look back and saw one of the men inside, though he is heavily wounded, he still took all of his strength left on him and started whispering something and in a flash a wand came out of his side and was pointed on the both of them, on Eli who was behind Cyphel to be precise.
The wand let out a beam. Eli's life flashed in front of her…
"No!!!!!", with a scream, the townspeople, who just noticed the commotion now for some reason, witnessed a loud explosion destroying the whole store. After the explosion, they saw the crown prince holding a girl like protecting her and a blue dome-like shield surrounding and protecting them while rubbles fall over their heads.
Cyphel opened his eyes and it instantly widen after seeing the barrier around them. Eleanor chose that timing to open her eyes and look at the man hugging her. She instantly back away. And as she did, the barrier surrounding them instantly vanished. Cyphel look at Eleanor. He's sure that he never cast out a spell because everything happened in just a blink of an eye.
'Is she a wizard? But it's too fast to even be able to cast a spell even for me who is an SS class wizard. She doesn't even have a wand! Then, an alchemist? But I haven't seen her carrying or using any potions. Besides that, alchemists still haven't created any potions that can create barriers like that. Priest? But priests need staffs, besides that, they can't create THAT kind of protection or any barriers, only bless you to PROTECT you from curses and stuffs but not like THAT'
While Cyphel was busy figuring out what Eli just did, the girl in question looked at the crowd surrounding them. Her ability just came out instantly, she can't stay here anymore.
She looked around and saw an alley not far away from the destroyed shop. "Your highness!", after hearing some knights together with some wizards coming to their direction, Cyphel got distracted by them and Eli took that as an opportunity to run away towards the alley.
"Your highness! Are you okay sir?!", when the knights and wizards made a fuss on the crown prince, Cyphel immediately stopped them. "I'll report everything to my father later, but first", as he look back to where the girl is earlier, he saw that she's not there anymore. He tried finding her but she's not in the crowd either.
"Prepare a search party; bring wizards who are good at tracking. We need to find someone"
Eli huffed as she panted like crazy. She looked everywhere before entering the door to a toy store. A man with glasses, hazel brown hair and eyes, looked at her and when he recognized her he then smiled. "Welcome back miss Eleanor. Master is in her office", he smiled as he closed the curtains of the store's window and door, he then came close to a wall displaying stuff toys. He pulled a stuff toy's hand and in an instant the wall slide and a door was found.
He opened the door and Eli smiled as people inside the room all looked at her and smiled.
"Oh! Little Eli is here!", one man shouted as they all greeted her. "You here to see master? Good timing, she has good news for you! Oh! Was that supposed to be a surprise? Sorry sir Raul!", a man said as Eli laughed at the man who scratched his head as the man who greeted Eli from the toy shop earlier glared at him.
"Okay, see you guys later!", Eli was led into a staircase by Raul. When they reached the highest floor, Raul knocked on the door. "Master, Miss Eleanor is here", then he opened the door. There, Eli was greeted by a woman in her early 30s. She has straight short black hair and forest green eyes.
"Oh, good timing! I have an urgent news for you little lady. Come in", the woman smiled at her before glancing at the man who escorted Eli at her office. "Raul, please prepare snacks for our guest", the man who is in his mid-20s bow down and closed the door.
"Come here and let this lady hug you", Eli smiled and came closer to the lady and was soon enveloped in a warm hug.
"I missed you so much"
"Me too Lady Recensus"
"Eleanor, what did I told you?"
Eli look at the lady's face and sigh. Then she came back and hugged her again. "Sorry. I did miss you though, Aunt Historia", Historia smiled.
"Anyways, let's discuss something important. Have a sit", the both of them sat down. Historia sat on her chair and Eli on the chair in front of her desk. The young girl sat quietly and waits for the older one as she brought out a document and placed it in the desk.
"I still haven't found any information about your friend's parents, Daniel is it?", Eli nodded though still can't help but feel disappointed. "And I still haven't found out any clues about your parents either. I'm sorry little lady", but Eli just nodded at her understandingly.
"It's okay, besides, I also didn't come here for information. Umm, I want to inform you about something", and with that Eli stated everything that happened to her involving the crown prince. Historia listened to her with a serious look.
It's been 3 years since Eleanor met Historia Recensus. The two met after Eli found a job and settled down at the bakery. She immediately tried to find an information guild that can help her search for a lot of information.
And that's when fate directed her to Historia, whom she helped when she found her almost dead in an alley after being ambushed. She can't help but heal her with her ability that time because of how urgent the wounds are.
As repayment for saving her life, Historia promised to keep Eleanor's ability a secret even from her guild members, though they chose to tell it to the person she trusted the most in the guild, Raul, who is also in charge of helping search for the truth about Eli's ability.
Throughout the years, the two older ones grew fond of Eli, and soon, Eli in return started treating Historia like her aunt and Raul as her uncle, which is also insisted by the two.
"Hmmm, that really is disturbing. But, my good news can also help", Historia then pushed the documents she took out towards Eli.
"Here, in the city of Poculum, in the Orien Region (East), you can go and work as an assistant for my friend who's a SS class Alchemist, maybe she can help you find out about your ability as well. Don't worry, she's not someone who can slip when it comes to secrets. This is the good news I have for you, this can be your first step in knowing things about your ability"
Eleanor read the document and started to think it through. "And you don't have to find an accommodation, she's working with the Alchimia Academia, the academy for alchemists, in doing her researches about potions so she's staying in there and is being accommodated in a facility. As her apprentice/ assistant, you can also live with her, so you won't have any problems with accommodation. She will also pay you well", Historia tried to convince Eli more.
Eli look at Historia and was about to speak when she was cut off with a knock. The door opened immediately. "Master, there's trouble", Raul who looks fidgety was soon cut off by someone. The man who greeted Eli earlier and told her about the good news first.
"Master, there's a problem. We are notified that the crown prince is currently finding a person all over Primor. And base on the descriptions that were given, it looks like", he then looked at Eli as her face paled. She looked at Historia as the older lady stood up. "Raul, prepare some spare stuffs for Eleanor, she'll be travelling towards Poculum so prepare a horse as well. Eli, change your clothes",
"Aunt Historia can I also ask a lot of envelops and papers?"
"I'll usher you to the secret passageway, you can get out of here safer that way", Historia said as she tie up Eli's cloak.
"Why do I need to wear a cloak and clothes like this?", Eli questioned Historia as they walked through the secret passageway but then, her question was answered when she walked out of the passageway. It's snowing.
"The first snow", she murmured. Raul helped her ride on the horse. "Are you sure you won't need any escorts?", Historia asked her in worry but Eli just shook her head. "You and Uncle Raul already trained me in horse riding, I'll be fine. Besides, I'll get caught more if I have more people with me, I'm all grown up now, so don't worry", she reassured them.
"Stop with the grown up nonsense, you're just 15 years old. But I guess bringing more people can also be suspicious for the crown prince. Okay then, I'll stop convincing you to take escorts, but here, take this", the older lady handed a bag to Eli. She opened it and her eyes widen when she saw that it's a bag full of gold coins"
"You're kidding!"
"No I'm not. I know you'll use it well. Just take it please, at least take it as a present or an allowance given to you by your aunt and uncle", they two adults looked at her pleadingly. Eli sighed and secured the bag before putting her hood on.
"Please send those letters to Daniel every month. Those letters will last for at least a year", the papers and envelops she asked for earlier was to write a letter that can be sent to Daniel so that he won't suspect that Eli moved from Centralis region to Orien region.
Historia nodded. "I'll send you some letters to check on you from time to time so be sure to reply to those okay?", Eli nodded. "And please, another favour, umm about the bakery.."
"I'll take care of that. I've also sent a letter to inform my friend that you're already coming to her. Be careful little lady", Eli smiled at Historia and Raul. "Then, I'll be going. See you as soon as I can, Aunt…Uncle", and with that, she went straight towards the gate and road connecting the Central to the East region.
"It's so hard to see things", Eli stopped the horse for a little, she moved her hand in a gesture and floating blue ball of light appeared. It floated ahead of her as the horse started to run again, lighting her way.
For days, Eli either rode her horse, stop by a village to buy supplies, eat, or sleep.
She was exhausted but she can't stop. They're still searching for her in Centralis, but once they found out that she's not there anymore, they'll start searching in other regions, so she needs to hide in the East as much as she can.
Days passed by and finally, she's in Poculum, the main city in the eastern region, Orien. She took off her hood and decided to ask for directions. She got down from her horse and came to a vendor selling fruits. "Umm, excuse me sir, may I ask how to get to Alchimia Academia?"
The vendor looked at her, and then he showed her some directions. As thanks, she purchased some fruits from him as well and got onto her horse before going to the direction that was given to her.
A few twist and turns and finally, "Alchimia Academia", Eli smiled and got off her horse, she looked at the knight guarding the gate, "Umm, excuse me, I'm Eleanor, I'm Ms. Meridia Oscas' new assistant", the guard looked at her up and down. "You can inform her if you want to make sure", Eli added when she noticed his stare.
"Let that girl in", a voice suddenly interrupted them. They both look at a lady in her early 30s. She has mid-length auburn hair and hazel green eyes and is wearing glasses.
"She's my new assistant", she confirmed to the guard. He opened the gate and let her in after that. "This way", she said as she guided Eli inside the school. "As you may have known I'm Meridia Oscas, I'm a SS class Alchemist who's working with Alchimia Academia to create new kinds of potions that can benefit out kingdom", she introduced herself as they got inside a building on the far side of the school.
"This is the building where we'll be working and staying", the two of them started to climb up the stairs and soon reached the 4th floor. "This is where you'll be staying, right beside my room", Eli opened the door and a simple bedroom greeted her. It has a single bed, drawers for her stuffs, a table and a chair beside a window, and a closet for her clothes prepared and given to her by Raul.
"Leave your stuffs there and come with me", she put her bags on the top of the bed then came out of her room before closing the door. "Here's the key to your room", Meridia gave her a simple key that she put on the pocket of her clothes as she walked after Meridia going to the 5th floor.
"And this is the lab", Meridia opened the door and Eli's eyes were filled with amazement after seeing a lab full of liquids, books, and potions. "Now, I'll give you the whole day to take a rest and settle your things, Historia already told me the details, don't worry, I'll also help you find out about that unique ability of yours", Eli thanked her and got back to her room.
She put all of her stuffs to their rightful places, and at sunset, she finally sat down at her bed and stared at the window. Golden light coming from the sunset filled her little room. She lay down to her bed and closed her eyes for a while before opening them again and staring at the ceiling. "I hope things will work out for me here"
"Eleanor!"
"Yes?!"
"Can you please deliver this one?"
Eli put the papers that she's carrying down on the table and immediately came to where Meridia is calling her. She peeked into a corner and saw Meridia holding 3 books.
"Give it back to the main library in the center of the city. Also don't forget to thank them by lending these to us", Eli nodded at her superior's instructions and immediately lifted the 3 books.
"I'll be back ma'am!"
"Be careful!"
It's been 2 years since Eleanor stayed with Meridia in the Eastern region of Sirthyna. The issue about the person the crown prince is finding was buried by another issue, which is one of Historia's doing. That's why she was able to live a peaceful life in those years.
She still has no news about Daniel in the academy and it's been a year since her letter probably stopped coming to Daniel. She's still reluctant in cutting it off but she tried to be as resolute as she can, thinking that it was for the best. So far, she'd been living a simple and peaceful life for now.
Eleanor walked out of the room…building…and got her horse, the one she rode to come to Poculum from Primor, from the school's stables and rode it to go to the market, in the center of the city of Poculum.
After arriving in the market, she tied her horse near the main library in Poculum City. She then went inside the library carrying 3 books with her.
"Oh! Hello Eleanor, you here to return books?", the lively library keeper greeted her as soon as she went inside the library. "Yes. Oh, and my master also want to say thank you again for lending us these new books", the keeper smiled at her as she went her way inside the library.
She first put one book in one isle, then went to put the other one back on its proper isle, then finally going to the isle where she'll put the last one. When she was about to put the last book on the bookshelf, a hand held her right shoulder.
She looked back and saw a man smirking. "I've been seeing you going here in a while now. Why not have some fun with me instead of reading these boring books?", the man, who looks like in his early 20s, smirk at her holding her right arm firmly now.
"Excuse me, I don't know you and I'm quite busy, so can you please let go of my arm?", she said as she sent him a glare. "Oh come on cutie. Do you know who I am?", the persistent man tried to pull her more to him.
She looked around her but looks like no one can help her, there's no one near the isle where they both are. "I said let go", she clenched her free hands, now clearly irritated. She tried shaking him off but his grip started to tighten that it started to hurt.
"Let go"
"Oh come on sweetheart. I can give you wealth if you go with me"
"I said let…."
"Tsk! She said….let her go"