Light from the Shadow

Chapter 9

"You are here." The librarian let his guest in. "Sit wherever you like." He said and disappeared into a small kitchen at the back.

It was later in the evening when Ayna visited Rishi. After her emotional break down in front of him earlier that day, she decided to come down to the Grand Library to tell her story. She did not know if it was a right decision to talk to the librarian but at the moment, he was the only person that knew her condition.

The princess sat herself comfortably in his office. She looked around. The place smelled like ink. There were only books and scrolls and paper. She casually picked up a book on the sofa beside her.

"Don't touch that. I'm reading it." Rishi came back with a tray on his hands. A tea pot and two cups.

"Will the text disappear if I touch it?!" Ayna clicked her tongue.

Rishi took the book from her and put it away. He took the seat beside her.

"Why are you sitting so close?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just in case you need my shoulder – if you cry again."

Ayna glared at him.

He took her right hand and studied the mark at the back of her hand. "You said you killed your mother? The queen consort? How?"

She frowned. Can this guy get any blunter than this?

"I was 7 at that time. I can't remember what triggered it but... one day... the magi just went out of control." Her chest still hurt every time she remembered how her mother died. "The wound was fatal even father couldn't save her..."

She leaned back to the sofa, tilting her head upwards, trying to hold back her tears.

"Only a few know about this truth. Father is protecting me. But I can't..." Her voice was choked with emotion. "I can't forgive myself."

It was an accident, Ayna. Don't blame yourself. She remembered how her father told her countless times.

"Is this why you deliberately fail all your exams? Because you don't want to succeed the throne?"

She turned to face Rishi. The wound of his cheek had faded, she noticed. "Seeing what I did last time, can you say I am fit to rule this country?" She smiled sadly. "My magi is hurting people, I even killed my own mother!! What if my magi goes out of control again..."

Rishi watched her silently. Ayna felt embarrassed by his intense gaze. She looked away. "Well, say something!"

"I want to help you." The librarian said plainly.

Ayna looked at him dumbfounded. "What? What do you think you can do? My father doesn't even know how to..."

Rishi pondered for a while. "Try using your magi now?"

Ayna's eyes widened. "What... are you crazy??? Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"No, it's different. I want you to consciously use it now." His eyes twinkled.

"No!" She shook her head. Who knows what will happen if something goes wrong?

"Look, trust me. I can just knock you out like last time if things get dangerous." He said calmly.

"Knock me out... what... Just what do you think I am???" Ayna could not believe what she just heard. The librarian had the audacity to suggest this idea.

"Here. Try using this formula. This is one of the basic arts." He opened a page from a book and shoved it to her face. She had not gone through magi training but she knew a few magi arts, by theory.

Rishi pushed a small dying plant to Ayna. She observed it. It looked like someone forgot to water it for a few days. She turned to the owner with doubtful eyes.

"Try reviving it." He crossed his arms as if waiting for a miracle to happen.

"I told you..."

He took her right hand into his. "I'll help you." Holding her hand, he started to draw the formula in the air. Ayna watched the mark on her hand glowed. She panicked but the glow went dimmer and dimmer until it was completely gone. He tried again. Another formula. And another. Same thing happened. The mark glowed for a while and then gone.

"What... was that?" She had to admit she was fascinated by what had just happened.

Rishi studied the plant. "The plant was still dying." He murmured. "Well, at least, nothing happened to you."

Did she just feel a hint of disappointment in his tone?

"I think you just need more training to use it well." He mumbled.

"But what if..."

Rishi leaned back and looked up to the ceiling. "From what I read... magi doesn't just provide divine power to its wielders but it also protects them. I think what happened before was your magi trying to protect you."

"Protect me?" Ayna repeated.

"It seemed to appear when you were scared, feeling threatened and cornered." Rishi explained.

What about the time with her mother? What actually happened that day? If only she could remember...

"It's just a hypothesis though. I still need to test a few more things." He added.

"Test?" Ayna asked.

Rishi straightened his back and turned to her. "We can do it now."

"The test? Now?"

"Yes." He bent his head and kissed her on the lips.

Ayna's head turned white. She could feel something warm inside her mouth.

Rishi pulled away and waited. He nodded for a few times and smiled behind his glasses. "Looks like I am not a threat to you."