Sixty-eight years ago, in a distant village deep within the Serot nation, near the ocean, a little girl was born.
The village, small and unremarkable in size, reflected the demons' decision to forgo building larger towns and settlements after their war with the Ero nation. This war, though devastating, was halted thanks to the intervention of the legendary Reaper of Serot, who ended the conflict before the demon race faced complete extermination.
The girl, named Leni, grew up surrounded by her family. She had three older siblings: two brothers, Aron and Saron, and a much older sister, Itej. The brothers, though often teasing her, cared deeply for her, fostering warm and loving relationships. Itej, on the other hand, was like a second mother to Leni—always nurturing, supportive, and ready to help in any situation. Their mother Roya a diligent and caring woman, managed the household with Itej's assistance. In fact, Itej had even helped deliver Leni. Meanwhile, the family's father, Wiku, was a distinguished warrior.
In the demon world, every child was born with an innate affinity for the element of fire, which made them natural warriors. However, Wiku stood out even among his peers. He was not only swift and agile but also courageous and highly skilled. His talents ensured his family's livelihood, as he protected the village from the many monsters inhabiting the Serot region.
Leni's early life seemed peaceful and filled with the simple joys of childhood. She played with her siblings, caused mischief, and filled the house with laughter, as children often do. Everything seemed normal until her family began to notice something peculiar. While Leni was sweet, well-behaved, and obedient, she was noticeably different from her peers in one significant way: she struggled in combat—a crucial skill among demons.
Demon children often spent their days training in combat, as their instincts and natural abilities made it second nature. However, Leni lacked these aptitudes. She didn't show the skills that were so common among other village children. Her parents grew concerned, unsure of what was happening but knowing something was amiss.
When Leni turned five, her father decided to introduce her to the demon tradition of combat training, as was customary for children her age. This was an essential part of life in Serot, where every child was prepared to defend themselves and their community. Yet, from the very start, it became clear that Leni was different. Exercises that came easily to her peers were a significant challenge for her. She tired quickly, and attempts to teach her the basics often ended in exhaustion and frustration.
Her father, an experienced warrior, soon realized that his daughter did not possess the typical fire-element abilities inherent to demons. Remembering events from the war with Ero, he considered the possibility that Leni might be one of the rare demons born with a different element. It became evident that her abilities were tied to the element of wind. Leni was incredibly fast and agile, and her leaps impressed even the most seasoned warriors.
Though Wiku loved his daughter unconditionally, her newly discovered affinity for wind brought with it a sense of unease. In demon society, magic had been strictly forbidden since the war, and wind, being an uncommon element among demons, was often associated with the magical practices of their adversaries.
Despite her struggles with combat training, Leni found joy in other activities. She often played with Aron and Saron, who paid little mind to her differences. To them, she was simply their beloved little sister. Other children in the village also welcomed her warmly, enjoying her company. Leni especially cherished the time she spent with Itej, her older sister, whom she admired and emulated. Itej's wisdom and kindness inspired Leni to seek her own path, one that focused on learning and intellectual pursuits.
Leni dedicated herself to gaining knowledge, finding solace and inspiration in books. The village library became her favorite place. She would spend hours poring over books, learning about her race's history and the world beyond Serot's borders. In education, Leni discovered a way to stand out and prove her worth. Those countless hours in the library laid the foundation for the plans she began to build for her future.
As time passed, Leni grew up in her close-knit village. By the age of fifteen, she had blossomed into a young woman whose beauty drew attention. She had long, black hair, striking light blue eyes full of gentleness and intelligence, and a smooth, symmetrical face that radiated youthful vitality.
That morning, like many others, she donned her favorite black blouse and white skirt before heading out of her home, eager to visit the library.
"Off to the library again, Leni?" – came a gentle, feminine voice from the living room. It was her sister, Itej, resting after her morning chores.
"Yes! A shipment of new books arrived today, and some of them are said to be from the Ero nation! I'm so excited! Okay, I've got to go!" – Leni replied enthusiastically, barely finishing her sentence before darting out of the house. Itej shook her head, amused, with a warm smile.
Outside, in the morning sun, her father, Wiku, was training. He noticed his daughter rushing by and called out:
"Where are you off to in such a hurry, Leni?" His voice was deep but kind. Wiku, drenched in sweat after intense exercises, looked mildly surprised by her haste.
"To the library, Dad! I'll probably be gone all day, so... bye!!!" – Leni shouted, waving as her voice faded into the sound of the wind propelling her forward. Her father smiled faintly, watching her disappear down the road.
"I can't wait! It's been over a year since we got new books. I'm so tired of reading the same ones over and over!" – she said to herself as she sprinted at incredible speed. Her beauty and agility drew the attention of those she passed, her movements seemingly guided by the wind itself. This was the gift of her air element, granting her unmatched swiftness and grace.
When Leni arrived at the library, she practically burst through the doors, calling out:
"Good morning!!!"
The library, though small, was meticulously organized. Every book had its place, but on delivery days, the shelves gave way to stacks of crates filled with new tomes. The narrow aisles between the shelves were nearly blocked by the piles of books awaiting sorting.
"Oh my! Look at all these books!" Leni exclaimed in delight, jumping with joy. But one of her jumps was so high that she hit her head on the ceiling. When she landed, she clutched her head, a tear slipping out from the pain.
"Be careful, young lady. One day you'll actually hurt yourself," came a warm but firm voice from an elderly man standing behind the counter. It was the librarian, an aged demon with black hair streaked with gray. He wore a brown sweater and regarded Leni with clear amusement.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine! If you'd like, I can even help organize the books on the shelves. It's no trouble, and I can spot titles I'm interested in at the same time!" Leni replied, beaming, though she still held her head.
The librarian shook his head in disbelief, but his eyes betrayed his fondness for the girl.
"All right, Leni. Thank you. Always the first one here on delivery day..."
"Of course!" Leni said cheerfully, diving straight into the task. She skillfully sorted books, glancing at the titles as she worked.
"The Greatest Conquests of Setop, *Fairy Tales of Ero*, *Culinary Recipes of Erotaki Island*, *A Hundred Ways to arouse Your Wo--*"
"No, that one's not for you, kid!" the librarian, Dorde, interrupted, snatching the book from her hands and walking off to place it on a shelf meant for older readers.
"Hey! That's not fair! Why'd you take it from me?" Leni protested, narrowing her eyes and putting her hands on her hips.
"Don't ask silly questions; you know why!" Dorde replied without even turning his head.
Leni smiled faintly, though her voice held mock indignation.
"You know I'll find a way to get my hands on that book eventually..."
The librarian shot her a warning look.
"One day, you're going to get banned from coming here, mark my words!"
Leni sighed theatrically, shrugging before returning to sorting through the stacks of books with care. However, she hadn't been at it long when another visitor entered the library. It was the village chief, Sera, dressed in a black leather tunic and green pants. His short stature and dark hair were characteristic of demons.
"Good day, Dorde," the village chief greeted the librarian, glancing his way.
"Good day, Sera," Dorde replied without pausing in his work.
Sera looked around the room, his gaze settling on Leni, who was engrossed in sorting through books.
"I see you're not short on customers, huh?" he joked with a faint smile.
Dorde rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched upwards almost imperceptibly.
"Don't even start. What are you looking for, Sera?" he asked with a hint of impatience, though it was more playful than genuine.
"What? Can't I come by to chat with an old friend? Remember when we used to fight together?" the village chief replied, reminiscing about the past.
Dorde scratched his chin, and before long, both men were laughing, recalling events from years ago. For Leni, their conversation held little significance—she'd heard these stories many times before.
"Ugh... same old stories again," she muttered, turning her attention back to the books in one of the crates.
Suddenly, her hand brushed against something that caught her attention. The cover felt different from the others—rough, like leather, and marked by the passage of time. She looked closer, her eyes widening in surprise.
"*Foundations of Magic*?!" she thought in amazement, her heart filling with a mix of excitement and unease.
"This can't be... Dad always said to stay far away from magic. In Serot, magic has been forbidden for demons since the war. I've never seen books about magic in the library—it's the one subject I know almost nothing about, apart from fairy tales and legends. How could such a tome end up here, in our village? It must be a mistake!"
A flood of thoughts raced through her mind. Should she report this to the librarian? Or her father? But something held her back—an overpowering curiosity that outweighed her fears.
"No! This might be my only chance to learn something about magic. Using it is forbidden, but no one said I can't study it!" she resolved with determination.
Leni quickly slipped the book under her shirt, feeling her heart pounding like crazy.
"So, as usual, you've come to check up on things, haven't you, Sero?" said the librarian Dorde, breaking her train of thought.
"Yes. I need to ensure no magical books have made their way here," Sero replied in a cold voice, scanning the piles of books with his eyes.
At those words, a cold shiver ran down Leni's spine. She pressed her lips together, trying to remain calm, though inside, she felt on the verge of panic.
The village chief approached the boxes full of books and then turned toward the girl.
"Girl, have you seen any book here with a title containing the word 'magic'?"
"No..." Leni replied, trying to sound natural, though each word felt as heavy as stone.
"Good. But just to be sure, I'll go through these books with you to ensure nothing suspicious slipped through."
Hearing this, fear gripped Leni's throat. Her thoughts raced wildly: *"What now? If he finds the book, I'll face terrible punishment. Why can't he just sort the books himself properly?!"*
Terrified but determined not to show her nerves, she began sorting the books alongside Sera. For the next half hour, they silently sifted through the volumes, and Leni did everything she could to hide the trembling of her hands.
Finally, Sero stood and dusted off his hands.
"Well done. I didn't find anything suspicious. Goodbye, and have a good day, Dorde."
"Goodbye," the librarian replied, and Sera left the library.
Leni exhaled in relief as the door closed softly behind him. Her heart was still racing, but she was thrilled to have avoided detection. Although the book hidden under her shirt made her silhouette look oddly like her chest had suddenly grown, Sero apparently noticed nothing.
"So, Leni? Did you find anything that interests you?" Dorde asked, looking at her over his glasses.
"Yes... Uh... I mean... I don't feel so well right now. I'll come back tomorrow and definitely read something!" Leni replied, trying to sound casual.
The librarian sighed heavily, concern evident in his voice.
"I told you, you'd hurt yourself. It must be from hitting the ceiling earlier. Go home and rest."
"I will! Goodbye!" Leni replied quickly and dashed out of the library before Dorde could say anything more.
Once outside, she quickened her pace. Excited about her discovery, she ran through the village and soon left its borders, heading toward a distant hill that had always been her favorite place. The hill was about ten kilometers from the village, but for Leni, with her air element affinity, that distance was nothing.
Finally, she reached the top—a solitary apple tree stood there, under which she loved to spend her time.
"I'm here!" she called out cheerfully to herself, dropping her bag to the ground. She pulled the book out from under her shirt and gazed at it in awe.
"This is going to be amazing! I can't wait to learn something about magic!" she said aloud, jumping with joy.
However, a sudden headache interrupted her moment of euphoria. She sat down beneath the apple tree, holding her temple.
"Maybe I overdid it... I'll start tomorrow," she sighed, slightly disappointed but still excited.
Leni glanced at the lone tree on the hilltop. It was a place she had always treated as her little oasis of peace, far from the village's troubles. She knew that no one ever came here, making it the perfect hiding spot for her secrets.
A few steps away from the tree trunk, in the shade of its sprawling branches, there was a small depression in the ground. Leni knelt down, brushing away the leaves, and began gently digging with her hands. After a moment, she pulled out a wooden box she had buried years ago.
Inside the small box were all the things that were important to her but that she didn't want anyone in the village to see. There were old, beloved plush toys she couldn't part with despite having outgrown them long ago. There was a beautiful, smooth stone she had once found by the river and considered her talisman, as well as a few dolls she used to play with as a child. Each item in the box had its own story, its own meaning.
Leni opened the lid and looked at her treasures. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel nostalgic, running her fingers over the soft fur of one of the plush toys. Then, she reached for the book she had hidden under her shirt.
"This will be a safe place for you," she whispered softly, as if speaking to the book itself.
She carefully placed the tome at the very bottom of the box, beneath the dolls and plush toys, ensuring that no one would accidentally notice it. After making sure everything was well-hidden, she closed the lid and began meticulously covering the box with soil.
With each movement of her hands, she felt her heart race—a mix of fear and excitement. She knew what she was doing was dangerous. If anyone discovered the book, it could spell disaster not just for her but for her entire family. Yet she couldn't help herself. Her curiosity and desire to learn about magic were stronger than her fear.
When she finished covering the box, she spread leaves and twigs over the soil, trying to make the spot look as natural as possible. She stood up, dusted off her hands, and looked at the tree.
She took a step back, double-checking that the buried box was well-concealed. She felt proud of herself. Now that the book was safe, she could return to the village in peace.
As she walked back, only one thought filled her mind: "Tomorrow, I'll finally uncover the secrets of magic!"