The blades were silver with magic inscriptions written from the hilt all the way to the tip on each. I couldn't ignore the tugging feeling that thrummed from them; my hand reached out to slide slowly along the magic symbols of my sword.
I watched as the symbols glowed the moment my fingers stroked them; lighting up first in red, then transitioning through each color of the rainbow, finally ending in pink. It took me a moment to pull my hand away, ignoring the swords’ call to be held and used. I noticed the goosebumps down my arm, a result of the swords’ magical pull.
"Master..." I trailed off, giving him a questioning look.
He smiled. "Those are a gift from your father. He heard you got accepted into Aslan from the Head of the Council himself. He sent those to express his congratulations.”
Magnor pulled out another box from his desk drawer, walking over and presenting it to me. I blinked, analyzing the box that was a bit bigger than the size of his palm. He gestured for me to take it.
"This one is part of the gift. Your Mother made it and sent it to your father to bless and input some of his magic into it. This will not only help you become stronger, but should also be beneficial to you and Sia," he explained.
I took the box, ignoring the slight tremble in my hands and set it down on the table.What could help me with Sia?
I removed the lid, smiling at the jewelry that lay inside the pink velvet interior.
Two bracelets with rune markings; one was white and pink with black rune symbols on the white beads while the other was black and pink, the runes on the black beads were in white. They were both stunningly beautiful, but my hand automatically reached out for the white and pink set. I picked it up, assessing the weight while taking a closer look at the detailing, enjoying the little shimmer that came from the pink beads.
"How many enhancements are on these?" I questioned, my hushed voice revealing my astonishment. I let my fingers run over the beads, understanding how exhausting it was to make this type of jewelry. Not only did it take a lot of energy and time, the magic infused in each rune bead could take some spell crafters days to finalize and cost a fortune.
"Quite a few. Your mother gathered the beads from her dimension, stating they were from a well-known spell crafter. They already had magic in them and your mother added a small dose of her own before sending them to your father. I had informed your father about your imbalance with Sia when it first happened. He must have decided this would be the best solution to help you. He finally finished three days ago and once he heard about your acceptance thought it would be the perfect time to present it to you," he explained.
I smiled, my eyes watering as I stroked the pink bead with my thumb. I knew my parents loved me and had to do what they needed to make ends meet. The constant rumors regarding my birth and shifter race would have torn them apart if they remained, thanks to village people, but it was hard to grow up without either of them.
I didn't want to seem ungrateful for the little gifts he would send over when my birthday approached, but deep down, I wished to see him. Material things were nice, but the greatest gift I could ask for would be a visit from him and Mother. It wouldn't matter if it was for five minutes. Just to be able to show them that after all the torture I'd been through, I had survived and was not giving up on my goals and dreams. And I'd tell them that I loved them, regardless of my childhood.
It was even harder to get a hold of Mother. The dimension she was in had the highest levels of security. There were many important individuals there from across the dimensions, so it was ideal and safer to make outside communication a lengthy process. I was surprised she was able to get these sent out.
The simple gesture of gathering and sending over these gifts in time for my departure for Aslan and for my birthday made my heart clench with happiness.
"Father...Mother...thank you," I whispered, wishing they could hear my words of gratitude.
Magnor walked over to me, giving me a head pat. He always did that when I was getting emotional, showing his support and reassurance.
"Now, are you ready for my gift?" he asked.
My eyes widened, lifting my gaze to meet his. "You didn't get me anything. Please tell me you didn't. The privilege to train under you is more than worth it. I don't need anything."
There was no way I could accept anything else from him. He'd taken me in as his own, trained me for years and cared for me like I was family. I couldn't ask for more.
He shook his head, moved behind me and grabbed two items. He walked back around the table, sitting opposite of me and presenting the gifts.
"Here you go. I hope they're beneficial on this new path and you enjoy them."
I grinned at the presentation of two thick books; the black one read ADVANCED MAGIC FOR SPELLCASTERS and the maroon book looked like it explained how to intertwine your magic to fight alongside your familiar.
They looked brand new and from their sleek appearance, I knew they were not from our dimension; my grin widened as excitement bubbled within me.
"Thank you!" I'd been wanting to learn more about both topics, especially when it came to using Arielle for more than just a magic booster.
"Now, off you go. Make sure you have everything packed. I won't send anything to you if you forget," Magnor instructed, moving back to sit at his desk.
I stood up, ready to gather my things when I noticed Magnor's stare; those silver orbs filled with kindness and a hint of pride.
"I'm proud of you, Celestia," he whispered.
I blinked back tears, sucking in a deep breath. I stood straight, turning to face him. "Thank you for everything, Master Magnor," I whispered, bowing deeply in thanks.
I rose up and saw him give me a nod of approval. I gathered my things, making my way out of his office. The sounds of Arielle’s chirps and fluttering wings followed as I made my way back to my room.