Chapter 1

Love is like a wild adventure, especially when it's forbidden.

 Two decades ago, an irresistible demon and a powerful mage fell in love, but… it was forbidden, if anyone had found out, the mage would be executed and the demon would be trapped in a realm forever.

 Some people had fallen regardless of these punishments because not only were the demons handsome as hell but they were also very powerful and intelligent - not to forget, very cunning, extremely deceptive.

 The irresistible demon and his mage lover however, was a special case. The demon was the most handsome and powerful of all of its kind and the mage was exceptional, as well. They found a way to meet in secret and she eventually conceived for him. 

 They planned to run away, far away where no one could ever find them, where they could live in peace and raise their child.

"I love you, Reginald, I do not care about what others would say, all I know is that my heart belongs to you and I will always love you" the mage said to her lover, with a sharp blue-blade sword, stuck to her abdomen.

"I love you Atheria, no matter how the world changes, I will love you forever. I do not want us to ever be apart, do not leave me" he said, as he held her, her blood spluttered on the floor.

"I will never…"

***

 And now, two decades later:

 In Arcanador, which comprises of four smaller kingdoms namely Brycelloria, Crystalia, Dreamoria and Enchantara. The mighty Emperor who ruled, was situated at the center of these kingdoms which was regarded as the Center of Arcanador.

 All these kingdoms had one thing in common- the ability to cast spells, by both male and female.

 However, in the kingdom of Crytalia, in the household of Castro- Lucas Castro, the second affluent man in the country, he had three beautiful daughters but the second daughter was the prettiest of all, her beauty was unrivaled in the country, it could even be heard far and wide, which prompted eligible suitors to come seek for her hand in marriage but her father briskly turned them down, saying she had not come of age, which was simply a lie, because he was waiting for the best bid.

 Everyday, her beauty grew with her, it was unimaginable. People often wondered how her father got the prettiest daughter because he was nothing to write home about, same wonders with his other daughters but then, they all concluded it came from the mother and it was true.

 One fall about her father however, was the fact that he was a ravenous, he could do anything for money, not just money though but he loved it, as long as his pocket was filled with money, his thirst for money never fell, no matter how rich he was and that is how he found out about the magic tourmaline stone, that had been hid for thousands of years.

 This information had only reached the ears of the rich and powerful and it was passed by a powerful sorcerer, he had paid a huge sum of money to see her and eventually got to know that the heirloom is with a mage's family, kept hidden for years.

 He had privately done his research and that is why he summoned his beautiful daughters today, their beauty has finally come in handy, thank goodness he did not marry them off, just yet.

 Two of them walked in the court, wearing green dresses and bowed their heads, as he sat on the black high-backed chair, dressed in a luxuriant deep burgundy robe adorned with intricate embroidery, it was made from exquisite silk and velvet. 

"Where is Mia?" He asked them, impatiently. She was the reason he had called for this meeting in the first place.

"Father, I'm sure she is…" His eldest daughter, Carina, was saying but got interrupted.

"I'm here!" Mia said, running in, holding her short-sleeved yellow dress, which was stained with mud, her long brown wavy hair looked disheveled like she had been cured from being insane, she also got her face full of mud.

"Father, I'm here" she said again, bowing, trying to clean the dirt of her face.

 Her two sisters giggled, embarrassed on her behalf.

"What happened to you?" Daisy, her younger sister asked.

 Her father looked at her, so done of everything, she was disorganized as usual, most beautiful but hardly a day goes by of her not wanting to act ladylike or perfect, she was just not cut out for it.

"Yes, I can clearly see you" he said to Mia, sarcastically, holding his head.

"Let's get to the matter at hand, I called you all to give a very special announcement" he started off, with Carina and Daisy listening attentively and Mia being far off.

"Mia!" He called, as she jolted back to life.

"Yes father!" She replied and he sighed. 

"I'm finally sending one of you to Arcanador centre of magic" he dropped.

"Oh my! Father has finally seen my potential" Carina said, very excited as she clapped hands with daisy, in happiness.

"Do you know, if it is me, instead?" Daisy asked her back, as Carina calmed down to think.

"It cannot be, you are still too young for the selection process" she said.

"What about Mia?" Daisy asked, as the smiles on Carina's face vanished into thin air, as they both looked at Mia who shot back an innocent look.

"What? Have you forgotten I have no cultivation?" Mia asked, the obvious.

"Oh yes, how did I forget? She is not eligible either. So, it is definitely me, all my hard work has finally paid off, my months of training, father is finally sending me to the centre of my dreams!" Carina said, not being able to contain her joy.

"I am happy for you" Mia said to her.

 She indeed, had worked hard for everything.

"It is good that you are all supportive of each other" their father interrupted their conversation.

"Yes father, I promise to work hard in the centre of magic. So I will be able to get a free pass for my sisters" Carina gushed, happily.

"That's good then, Mia will work hard to attain that" her father dropped.

"What?!" Carina asked, shocked.

 Mia whose heart was thumping, and Daisy, looked at their father, confused too.

"Oh, you mean, Mia should go with me?, then I totally understand, they might have some special preparations for her" Carina said, smiling uneasily.

"Mia is the one I have chosen to go to the centre of magic" her father, cleared the air, with each word stabbing through Carina who was immediately downcasted.

"Father, me? But I don't…" Mia was trying to say something but words failed her.

"Your mission is not to learn magic but to look into someone's family" her father, interrupted.

"Excuse me, father," Carina said, as she left the court, looking so sad, with tears threatening to fall. Mia immediately felt pity for her.

"I will go after her, you can do this, sister" Daisy told her, as she ran after Carina.

 Of course, she is now alone to face her father, who never goes back on his decision.

"Father, please reconsider, Carina has prepared for this, almost all her life" Mia begged, desperately, she did not want to be cut off from her life because of Arcanador whatever, or some family, she didn't even know.

"You don't make me speak twice, Mia. You leave at dawn and that is final" her father said, as he left the court, he had given his judgement like a king.

 Mia walked dejectedly to her room, as she heard her sister's sob, she knocked on her door but it was opened by Daisy.

"She doesn't want to see you" Daisy said and Mia nodded as the door was closed back.

 Mia ran to her room and sat inside, crying. She felt all alone, already. 

 How could she leave her sisters? Her perfect life? She was never interested in magic and happened to have no cultivation, whatsoever.

 So, what's the use sending her to a magic centre? and, since when has she become a person who look into families?

"My lady" her maid called, as Mia raised her head to look at her.

"You don't have to cry" her maid, Zoe said, embracing her, despite her muddy dress and she burst out crying the more, the realization that tomorrow will come and she won't see her only and best friend again was so disheartening.

"You want me to dress and act ladylike, right?" Mia asked, disengaging from her.

"Yes… of course, it's what your father ever wanted" the maid answered, uneasily, wondering what she was planning because Mia Castro was known to plan funny things at times.

"That is good, I am ready now, tell the modiste to make a fine dress overnight, I have to wear it tomorrow" 

"Eh…" the maid was startled by her request.

 By dawn, Mia held her dressed as she walked into the court to see her father, looking out the window.

"Good morning, father" she greeted, bowing, holding her pink perfect dress and he turned to look at her. Her father was stunned, to see her well dressed and poised.

"You look…"

"Beautiful" she completed, smiling at her victory and her father smiled too.

"Father, I'm going to be like this from now on, you do not have to worry any more, I will even take embroidery lessons from lady Alice" Mia said, smiling but her father's smile faded.

"That is a good thing, you should take that behavior to the centre of magic, do not humiliate me when you get there" her father said to her and everything went downhill from that morning.

 'Why wouldn't he just forget about it?' She thought.

 At the same time, a guard came to announce that the carriage was ready. Her world fell apart.

 Her father came down and offered to excort her to the carriage. More like, making sure she does not escape. 

 Some of her belongings, had been placed. It made her wonder if her father had planned this for a long time.

"What about my sisters?" She asked, dejectedly.

"At least, let me say goodbye" 

"They are still asleep, they are already aware that you are leaving today and Carina must still be angry with you, with that said, just get in the carriage"

"Okay father" Mia said, accepting her fate. If her father had allowed her to see her sisters, she would have eloped, maybe to another country.

"Open this, when you are, almost there" her father, told her, giving her a letter as she nodded, taking it with her.

"Make sure you don't disgrace me" he said again, as the carriage started. That's his final words? Is he even going to miss her?

 Inasmuch, as she hated this settings that looked like she was sold to a wealthy master or husband, she loved her father very much, she could not help but wave at him but was met with a stoic face as usual, she adjusted on her sit as she sighed.

"Mia! Mia!!" She heard her sisters voices, as she looked from the carriage to see her sisters and her best friend waving at her, smiling. Carina did not look like she was still angry with her at all. Instead, she and Daisy were all emotional, teary and smiling at the same time.

"Get back inside, Dalcops!" Her father yelled and her sisters shared a laughter. 

 She was going to miss them, she remembered when she first clocked ten but showed no signs of being able to cast a spell, others laughed at her but her sisters always told her she was special, especially Carina, she became their mother, after their biological mother passed away.

"You are special, there is no other you in the world" her sister, Carina would tell her. 

 She understood why she had freaked out when she wasn't offered what was supposed to be her's, all along.

 She worked hard for this, endless trainings and sleepless nights. just so, her father could sponsor her to the centre but it ended up in the hands of a person who had never had, to thirst suffering, who didn't need to lift a finger for anything.

 She was going to miss her family, her best friend, her own garden where she liked talking to flowers.

 As the carriage continued on it's journey, Mia suddenly remembered the odd letter her father had given her.

 She pulled it up from under her clothing, as she straightened the scrunched up paper, opening the letter.

"To my most beautiful daughter, Mia. I know you might be shocked that I sent you of all people on this mission but you must know that it's a serious and delicate matter and only you can get this done, since it requires a very beautiful maiden. 

 You are to make a mage fall in love with you, his name is 'Tavon knight', get close to him and his family and find information on a certain 'magic tourmaline heirloom' and it's resting place, once you have information on that, you can send a message and I will send a carriage to pick you up, it's as simple as that.

 Meanwhile, while you are out there tempting him, do not In any way make the mistake of falling in love with him, don't!

 I trust you wouldn't, since you don't like romance books at all, come back in one piece. 

 Your father"

 Mia's eyes widened from the contents of the letter. What made her father ever think that she could do this?

 So, she's to seduce a mage?!