Lucius pressed both hands against the library's huge doors before pushing them open. Both doors split apart, revealing a wondrous view behind.

A space filled with so many books and parchments that Lucius was completely amazed, his mouth slightly agape.

' Father owns his own study and I don't recall mother nor Lily, Leo or lavender ever coming here to read.'

' If I recall correctly, father only built this place because of... My step mother.' Lucius stood in place as he recalled a memory of a kind woman who once played with him always.

Her radiant smile and caring features always had him longing to be with her, unlike his own mother who seemed busy with working, just like his father, she was the one he'd been so fond of.

******

Several years back.

A cheerful young boy ran through the mansions corridors, giggling along the way

" Rachael. Rachael. Rachael. You won't believe what I found." He called out as he ran until he reached a door. Back then he was so familiar with her chamber that one could even call it muscle memory.

The boy giggled mischievously as he pried the door open before popping his head inside, his eyes glancing around.

" Racheal?" His excited expression turned puzzled when he saw the one person he had been looking for, laying on the bed.

" Lucy... It's nice to see you up so early in the morning." Racheal smiled at him before slowly sitting up straight. She then patted the edge of her bed, signaling for him to come over.

" Racheal?" Lucius entered the room yet his eyes continued to stare at her belly. " Did you eat a lot last night. You're belly looks a lot bigger than before."

" Silly little boy." Racheal gently pinched his cheeks, the boy neither shied from her touch but giggled instead.

" Remember what I told you last week."

" That you'd get me a new friend to play with." Lucius replied.

" Oh so you do remember." She said before gently grabbing his wrist before placing his hand on her abdomen.

" Well this is your new friend."

" Racheal that's silly, that's just your belly." Lucius pouted.

" I'm not talking about my belly you little munchkin. You're new friend is inside my belly."

" Huh?" Lucius's eyes widened.

Lucius leaned in closer, staring at her stomach with a confused gaze. " But how did they get in there?"

" That's a secret." Racheal said, and though Lucius kept begging her to tell him, she ended up changing the subject to something else to distract him.

" Lucius. Can you promise me something." Racheal asked, feigning a serious face.

" Huh? What is it." The little boy blinked.

" I want you to promise me that when you're new friend arrives, I need you to look after him for me." She said, clasping his hands in-between hers.

" Can you promise me that Lucius."

" Of course. I promise to take care of her for you." Lucius revealed his pearly whites. Looking every bit confident.

" It's a boy silly, but..." She said, her voice trailing off as she stroked her abdomen. " Thank you Lucius." She said with a smile.

*****

Back to the present.

' Racheal was able to give birth to Leo but... After that.'

' She suddenly fell Ill afterwards and although father tried his best to save her, we were... all too late.'

' All because those wicked Hunters were trying to earn a profit by extorting father. ' Lucius smiled bitterly.

' After that... Everything fell apart. I grew so estranged that I began hating everything, after all, I'd just lost my only best friend.' At this point, Lucius's eyes began to moisten, his body trembling ever so slightly.

' To make matters worse, I blamed little Lucius for Rachael's death. With each passing moment, I grew to hate him more and more but.'

' I still didn't forget the promise I made to Racheal... Though I hated him for what had happened, I still didn't try to hurt him, instead I focused my pain on everyone else around me, while avoiding Leo...'

" Racheal... I really threw everything apart didn't I..." Lucius muttered beneath his breath before entering the library.

Su stood at the door, watching his sad back view, a look of confliction in her eyes.

******

' If I want to make sure nothing like that happens again, I not only need to learn swordsmanship but also magic...'

' I NEED TO BECOME STRONGER.'

Lucius walked up to one of the book shelves and picked a book but he frowned and dropped it back down. He picked up another but after reading it's cover, he dropped it as well.

He went on like this, going from shelve to shelve but still failed to find what he was looking for.

" There isn't a single magical text in this entire library." Lucius massaged his temple while placing a book back in it's shelf.

" I need to find some magical text, but where can I find one." Time was of the essence, it wouldn't be long before Leo and the others arrived at the capital. Before then, he needed to possess as much tricks beneath his sleeves as he could.

" If you're looking for magical texts, I think I might know someone who could help us, young master." Lucius turned around to see that the one who had spoken up was non other than Su.

" You know someone who has magical texts?" Lucius raised a brow, clearly skeptical.

" I don't exactly know someone but I know someone who might know someone."

" What?" Her explanation left him confused.

" It's.. well, Could young master please follow me." Su said, looking a bit nervous.

" Alright..." Lucius muttered and gestured for her to lead the way.

Su nodded before doing so. Lucius followed after her. They both left the library, then ventured through the mansion, before entering the estates garden.

They then went in deeper till they arrived at a little house near the farther reaches of the estate.

Su saw a figure tending to potted plants near the house and waved at him as they approached.

" Su, it's been awhile, what brings you all the way out..." The figure in question was the estates groundskeeper.

" Young master Lucius. I didn't know you were coming." The Old man panicked and dropped to his knees.

" No... Please don't. I insist." Lucius was quick enough to stop the old man, before helping him straighten up.

" I didn't come here for that... Neither do I plan on ever again." He muttered the last part beneath his breath.

" I'm here because, Su, mentioned there being someone here who could help me get a hold of some magical texts." Lucius came out and explained the reason for their visit.

" Are you the one in question?"

" Magical texts? Forgive me young master but I'm not." Said the old man. Lucius raised a brow before turning towards Su as if seeking an explanation.

" Mr. Freeman, is Emily around by any chance." Su looked a tad anxious.

' So this Emily is the one with the magical texts?' Lucius thought to himself.

" Emily? Well she's been inside all morning."

" Could you please let her know of our arrival." Lucius spoke up.

" Of course Young master, as you wish. I'll go get her now." Mr. Freeman said before heading into the house.

Mr. Freeman soon returned with someone.

' This is the one who's supposed to get me the magical texts?' Lucius gave the figure Infront of him a one over. He had been expecting to see a woman around Su's age or older and yet.

The person standing Infront of him, looked like a little girl. The large mouse ears and thin tail behind her told him that she was a supernatural.

' A human and supernatural sharing the same abode?' Lucius couldn't help but have a higher evaluation of Mr. Freeman, he had believed that most humans would detest supernaturals but the way he was acting told him that the relationship between the two sure wasn't sour, but far from it.

" Mr... Why'd you wake me up. I told you to let me sleep for five more minutes."

" Emily, it's been awhile."

" Su!" Emily's annoyed look, vanished, replaced with excitement as she rushed towards Su and hugged her legs.

" You finally came to visit. But it's not lunch time yet."

" Well Emily, I came because I needed to ask you a favour."

" A favour, from me? What is it." The little girl asked curiously.

" So you must be Emily?" Emily turned towards the young man who'd called out her name. She was surprised to realize that someone so handsome was staring down at her with a smile.

" And who are you." She took a closer look at him and stiffened, before a look of terror emerged on her face.

Emily quickly hid behind Mr. Freeman, stealing brief glances at Lucius.

" Su! Why's the monster man her

e... You told me, he never came all the way out here." Su shivered involuntary when she recalled a seen, that was the first time and the last time she had seen Lucius.

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