Luzia sat stiffly in Ramiro's embrace, her sharp eyes darting to the side as her thoughts churned. 'I shouldn't have asked. I'm being too impatient. But I don't have much time. I have to expose Ivan… but this Ignis… why does it make Ramiro so uneasy?'
Her thoughts trailed off as she noticed something odd. Ramiro's shoulders were trembling slightly, and then—sniff. Another sniff. Her eyes widened in alarm. 'Don't tell me he's crying!'
She froze for a moment, disbelief plastered across her face. 'This is becoming really annoying!'
Without hesitation, she shoved him back just enough to escape his arms, gripping his shoulders with surprising force. "Are you out of your mind?" she snapped, her sharp tongue slicing through the emotional tension like a blade. "Pull yourself together, Dad! Why are you suddenly crying again? Seriously, if you don't want to talk about it, then it's fine! No one's twisting your arm here."
Ramiro blinked, looking utterly bewildered as tears glistened in his golden eyes. He opened his mouth, likely to defend himself, but Luzia didn't give him the chance.
"You're a grown man!" she continued, jabbing a finger at his chest for emphasis. "I thought you were supposed to be the intimidating one around here, but no, you're over here sniffling like a kid who just dropped their ice cream cone!"
"Luzia, I—"
"Nope, don't even start," she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "You're lucky I'm nice enough to tolerate this nonsense. Just say 'I'm fine, Luzia,' and let's move on like civilized people."
Ramiro cleared his throat, as a sheepish smile tugged at his lips. "Fine, Luzia," he echoed, though his tone carried a hint of amused defeat.
"Good," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Honestly, Dad, you're impossible." She paused, squinting at him. "Were you crying or guilt-tripping me? Because I swear—"
Ramiro held up his hands in surrender, a chuckle escaping him despite himself. "I wasn't guilt-tripping you, I promise. I just… got caught up in the moment."
"Well, get uncaught next time," she shot back, her tone sharp but tinged with reluctant humor. She sighed, her expression softening just a fraction. "So clean up those tears already."
But instead of waiting, Luzia leaned in, muttering, "You're hopeless," as she used her small thumbs to wipe the streaks from his face.
Ramiro blinked in surprise as Luzia grabbed his face with both hands, her thumbs moving in quick, almost impatient strokes across his cheeks to wipe away the lingering tears. Her hands were small, and the effort felt more like an act of sheer willpower than anything else.
"There," she muttered, her voice sharp but her actions oddly gentle. "You've officially used up your tear quota for the month. Congratulations."
"Luzia—"
"Nope!" Luzia interrupted sharply, pulling her hands away and jabbing a finger at him for emphasis. "You can explain later—if you feel like it. Right now, stop acting like someone who just got rejected from a soap opera audition."
'Soap opera audition? She says the weirdest things.' Ramiro tilted his head slightly, his lips twitching in amusement.
A faint laugh escaped him despite himself, though he quickly tried to stifle it. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
"I'm sorry," she replied flatly, though her tone suggested she wasn't sorry in the slightest. "Were you expecting warm hugs and soft reassurances? Wrong daughter."
Ramiro's lips twitched into a faint smile as he shook his head. "Point taken."
"Good," Luzia said, stepping back and crossing her arms. "Now, if you're done sniffling, we have important things to discuss. Like the Ignis."
Ramiro suddenly became serious, his expression darkening as he began, "Might as well tell you everything. You deserve to know since you are my daughter."
Luzia raised an eyebrow, watching him closely as she braced herself for whatever revelation was about to come. "The Ignis," Ramiro continued, "is the insignia of the Magic Tower. The Magic Tower is where all kinds of mages coexist, learn, and become powerful mages... It was given to me because I was once a Magic Tower master."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her reaction. So that explains it… but why did he leave?
"Why did you—"
Ramiro cut her off with a strained look. Tears welled up in his eyes again, but he quickly turned away, struggling to maintain his composure. His hands clenched tightly at his sides. How can I tell her the truth?
Luzia observed her father carefully, her sharp gaze softening slightly. 'Seems he's having a difficult time answering,' she thought, tilting her head.
"Hey, Dad," she said gently, her tone unusually tender. "Can I see the Ignis?"
Ramiro hesitated, his golden eyes studying her intently, as if searching for something. He looked torn—caught between revealing the truth and keeping it buried. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Alright, Luzia," he said quietly. "You are my daughter, you deserve to see it."
Standing up, he gently placed Luzia on the sofa. Then, he turned toward his desk.
At the far corner, tucked beneath the edge of the desk, was a small, unassuming chest. Though plain to the untrained eye, Luzia's sharp instincts told her that whatever lay within was important. Ramiro knelt down, carefully opening the chest, revealing a dark wooden box with intricate silver inlays carved into its surface.
He lifted the box gently, his hand hovering over the lid for a moment. A faint, glowing combination magic circle appeared, its ethereal patterns swirling in the air.
"The Ignis is not just any symbol," he said, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of emotion. "This… was my life."
Luzia's eyes flicked to the swirling runes, noting how effortlessly he input the combination. 'A magical lock? How did Ivan bypass it in my vision? He's no mage… unless someone helped him. Magical locks require magic to unlock—unless the mage knows the combination. But I didn't see anyone else in that vision...'
Ramiro performed the combination deftly, and the glowing circle dissipated with a soft hum. He hesitated again, his hand resting on the box for a heartbeat longer, before he finally opened it.
Inside, nestled on a velvet cushion, was a dazzling, glowing crystal. The light it emitted filled the room, casting long shadows that danced on the walls.
Luzia's eyes widened, her breath hitching. 'It's exactly like in my vision!'
"This," Ramiro said, his voice thick with unspoken emotions, "is the sign of my position as a master in the Magic Tower. It was and still is my responsibility to guard and protect it..."
Luzia studied her father as he spoke, noting the pain etched into his features. She waited for him to say more, but he fell silent.
'Seems he won't say anything beyond that,' she thought, her sharp mind already piecing together what she could. 'At least now I know where the Ignis is… but I wonder who was it that helped Ivan.'
Her eyes narrowed slightly. 'I need to focus on the task at hand... The only clue about the helper is that they're a mage. But it can't be Arturo…'
For now, she kept her thoughts to herself, her lips pressed into a thin line as she leaned back on the sofa. 'It's okay,' she decided. 'I have enough information now.'
Ramiro closed the box, the magical lock relocking itself with a faint hum. He carefully returned the box to the chest and closed it.
"That being said, I will be going to the Magic Tower soon," he said, turning back toward Luzia as he approached the sofa.
"I see... but when exactly are you going?" Luzia asked, her tone casual, though her mind was already racing with calculations.
Ramiro sat down beside her on the sofa, the weight of his decision evident in his posture. "In two days' time..." he said, his voice steady.
Luzia's expression remained calm, but inside, her thoughts were anything but. 'If that's the case, then I have to act fast... It is on the day Ramiro is absent that Ivan—and whoever is helping him—will try to steal the Ignis.'
Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly before she turned to him with a measured smile. "I see. Then, Father, can you do me a favor?"
Ramiro raised an eyebrow, his golden eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "A favor? What kind of favor?"
"Actually, I have two favors!" Luzia declared, sitting cross-legged on the sofa with all the confidence of someone much older than ten.
Ramiro leaned forward, his golden eyes softening. "Alright, my brilliant daughter, ask away. What is it?"
"First, give me the Ignis," she said flatly, her sharp gaze locked onto his.