42 - Small Magic

After she finished eating, her mother started her lecture again about lessons with magic. The queen chimed sometimes in the conversation. Anemone could see they were really good friends. It was the first to see her mother so flustered. When she spoke to father, it was always playful.

"Do you understand, Anemone?" her mother asked. Anemone realized she hadn't listened and swallowed her mouthful of sweet cake down.

"Can you repeat it again?"

The queen smiled and took her hand in hers. "Magic can only be used in small quantities. Magical beasts are what enables us to have a huge flow to create miracles and excessive displays. The magic I gave you can only be used for daily use. It won't be good to use for fighting or healing an injury."

Anemone nodded, growing nervous around the queen. The queen had kept trying to be close to her when she was eating and piled more food on her plate. Her mother would grow jealous and came to bother her other side. While the queen held her left hand, her mother took her right.

"Some deem magic useless in this aspect due to wanting to do greater things. As royals, we have to deem how much magic to give to one and what they can use. As nobles, your magic will be restricted to what normal ladies do. Helping with garden life, tweaking foods, and cleaning small items are some that many noble ladies do."

Her mother nodded in agreement. "It comes in handy with clothes. For example, your dress tears a little at the hem. You can stitch up right away. A stain appears on your handkerchief. It can be removed. The catch is that it can't be too big."

"Big as in?" Anemone asked curiously.

"If your dress gets shredded into pieces, you can't remake it back. If the stain is too resistant or big, it won't be able to remove properly. As I said before, it's only useful magic, not magic to a big degree," her mother explained.

Anemone frowned at her words. The magic did seem useless to her. "This is how our royal family controls the lesser nobles," the queen smiled.

"Peony!" her mother protested.

"It's true, Rose. We limit the magic so it won't be out of control or fall into evil hands. Many nobles have complained about this so it's not like she won't hear it later. Her role as the crown princess will be exposing her to all this and more. Many will try to win her favor."

"The small magic is only for young children to be able to get used to it as they grow. There are some lower nobles that want to take advantage of the children for their own. This being restricted, we won't have to worry of such. After they turn of age, which is fifteen to sixteen, they get sent off to school to be brainwashed," the queen continued and started laughing loudly.

"Pe-peony!" her mother reprimanded her in shock. "Anemone, the school teaches advance magic and leads you into a better role as a noble."

"Yes, I said it correctly. Brainwashing!" The queen laughed again loudly, holding her stomach. "The classes are really good though. Magic for children is only for them to be used to it before they get more when they grow older."

Anemone pondered over their words. She would need to be sixteen to advance her magic. That was too long. Six years? She then remembered about magic beasts. "What about magic beasts?" she asked eagerly.

Both women stared at Anemone in shock. Her mother was about to say something but the queen stopped her. "I'll explain this, Rose. Anemone, magical beasts are wonderful and great to have. They do make you stronger. They also are great companions."

Anemone was excited. "How do I get one?"

"You have to be dying to have one. And there is a chance... they won't pick you."