17 Chapter 17: The Book

She blushed harder at her remark.

"I am still terribly sorry!"

"Oh, darling. Think nothing of it. I was just worried you might burn the library because you were really into the spell you were casting. And I had my past experiences in magic, growing up with him." She said as she gave Terlan a pointed look.

"What? It was an accident and I was just starting out in magic!"

"Exactly why I was worried. Though as Terlan and I have mentioned, that was pretty amazing! You were born with such untapped potential Naera to be able to do what you just did. But, of course something as raw as your potential will need some time to control."

Terlan looked at her in pure excitement and pride that it made her blush at his gaze.

"It's true. It is very rare for spell casters to do what you just did! Most spell casters when they use that spell for the first time, they simply observe and take it all in, but it takes a special kind of caster to have the courage and curiosity to reach out to the magical waves that you just saw. You see, the true measure of a great sorcerer is not how well they can perform and memorize spells, but how they can create new spells. And with what I just saw, you have the potential to create spells of your own."

She knew she couldn't stop blushing from their compliments as she was not used to them and she wished she knew a spell to make her face return to a normal color.

"Alright, I'm all set Terlan. I might be gone for a few days at the most, but I will try my best for it not to come to that. I might only be gone for a day at the earliest. I'm terribly sorry that I will be leaving you here all alone, but I will try to hurry back as much as I can."

"It's alright, Miss Ilara. I'll be fine and I will make sure to take good care of the library as much as I can."

Ilara smiled at her and gave her a quick hug.

"Darling, please call me Ilara. You'll make me feel older if you keep calling me Miss. Anyways, I have left various notes on handling the new arrivals. The notes are left just above the boxes labeled 'New Arrivals'. Be careful with them, I just received limited edition books like 'The Fiery Battles of Mortzaltium' and the 'Snapping Arcauem'. I have heard that the Mortzaltium book creates flames spontaneously and the other one bites if not properly handled."

She knew that Ilara was saying all these instructions not only because she was worried about leaving her, but because she would miss her dearly.

She giggled as she knew she was buying a little more time with her by discussing these instructions. Ilara was a thorough person and she would have already written these information already but still took the time to tell her.

"Alright Ilara, we better go. But before we go, I would like to give you something Naera."

Terlan took something out of one of his bags and gave her several books.

"This could help you a lot in the road to studying magic."

She blushed again and waved her hands, refusing his gifts persistently.

"W-what!? No! I am terribly sorry but I cannot accept that!"

"Please, I insist. As you can see, these are very old books of mine. I have no use for them anymore, as these were the books I read when I was starting out in magic. I was going to either throw them away or donate them here, but it seems I've found the perfect recipient of my old books."

"Please Terlan, I simply cannot accept these!"he simply smiled at her even at her persistent refusal.

"Alright then, if you cannot accept it, then I'll place it right here on this table until you accept them. It will be your choice whether to just leave them there, throw it out or take them. Their fate is in your hands. Now, let's be going then." he said as he placed the books on the table and headed toward the door, both of them waving goodbye as they stepped into a large carriage that awaited them outside.

She waved farewell to them as well and sighed when the carriage was too small to see on the horizon, as people harried by the streets with other carriages driving by as well.

An odd silence fell on the small bookstore owned by Ilara as Naera stood near the entrance all by herself. She never knew it could this quiet in here.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the books left by Terlan. Her fingers lightly touched the cover of the book and softly traced the title engraved on the cover.

"The History Stelera"