17 Mom

Sera looked back at the orphanage feeling both happy and sad. Happy that she could start a new life. Sad that she would be leaving behind the people she had grew up with.

"Are you sad?" Rhael asked in a motherly tone, immediately picking up Sera's expression.

"Oh, I'm fine Mrs. Stedore." Sera answered gently not wanting to worry her foster mother.

"Mom." Rhael said, looking at Sera pretending to be angry.

Sera found it cute, it actually made her smile. She was reminded of how her 'old sis'.

"Mom." she said bashfully.

Rhael saw her smile and she gave out a smile as well. She quickly held Sera's shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug.

"My daughter is such a silly kid."

Agaven, while driving the car, sees the mother and daughter duo hugging each other fondly at the rear view mirror felt sentimental and there was yearning in his eyes as well. He missed being a father. He missed doting on his own child.

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After an hour chatting in the backseat about when they should go shopping and telling all stories where they had traveled, the Stedores with their new daughter, Sera Stedore, arrived in City 21, the busiest City in Stormfall. It was the first time Sera came into a city. Back in the orphanage she was allowed to go and help buy some goods but it was definitely far behind from where she is now. There were a lot of cars, and tall, beautifully crafted buildings reaching for the heavens. It was indeed a bustling city that it was almost overwhelming. Yet Sera didn't show any annoyance, rather she felt extremely excited about the new things she was experiencing at the moment.

Sera was attentively looking at everything her eyes caught. Rhael and Agaven looked at each other and gave out a loving smile as they witness their daughter's curiosity. For Magicians like them, what they want most from their child is to be curious in everything. They are very happy with their decision to adopt Sera. She was fitting to be their daughter.

Not a while longer, they arrived at the Magistrate Sanctum. It was a place where all the powerful magicians reside. It was a vast land but it only has less than a hundred houses built in it. The houses were constructed in a way that the magicians residing would be able to practice their magic and skills. Each house owned almost five hectares of land from hills, to forest areas, and grassy plains. Boundaries were marked with wards so as to prevent unwanted trespassing. Security within the Magistrate Sanctum was tight, but as soon as the Magicians residing inside proved to be the disciplined people they were, the patrols came only when called.

Just a small distance from the Magistrate Sanctum, the Arc Emporium was located. It is a famous place in Stormfall where anyone could literally buy anything related to magic, depending of course on their level of knowledge about magic. It is a five level structure and as you go up the building you will find goods suited to your own level. In Stormfall, Magicians were ranked according to their status and their mastery of the arcane arts. The ranks went as such:

No rank - Acolytes - Students currently enrolled in the Arcane arts

Rank 5 - Apprentices - These were the students who graduated from being an acolyte and currently under the tutelage of a mentor-magician, as he is being readied to become a full-fledged magician

Rank 4 - Practitioners - they are magicians but they only practice magic in moderation

Rank 3 - Arcanists - they are considered to be the average-level magicians, most of their spells revolve around the world elements, most of them have areas of specializiation

Rank 2 - Magi - they are the high-level magicians, can cast elemental magic, in addition to innovative spells involving time, space, and matter such as teleportation, levitation, etc.

Rank 1 - Magistrates - the supreme-level magicians, only a few have yet to reach this level. Their mastery of magic is higher than those in the lower ranks, and their minds are already see the magic leylines flowing through the world. Having enhanced awareness, some of them even have abilities like clairvoyance, predictions, visions of the future, etc. These abilities help them sense disturbances even at far distances.

The Stedores, Rhael and Agaven, are currently under Rank 2.

In a few minutes from entering the Magistrate Sanctum, they finally arrive at their home.

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The Stedore's had been treating Sera very well and once in a while she would contact the orphanage to update them on what has been going on her life. Sister Liz was relieved every time Sera called with so much energy and happiness in her voice. This went on for a days, weeks, and months until she was fully adjusted on being the daughter of one of the powerful families in Stormfall.

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Today, Rhael and Agaven were on their daily exercise, as they continue to practice on their magic. Sera was in her room studying all the books her foster parents had given her. She wanted them to be pleased with her so she did her best to fulfill everything they ask of her. It's been almost 6 months since her departure from the orphanage. Her life was actually a lot better than before.

She felt thirsty so she went down to the kitchen, got a glass of water and walked back to her room. Just as she was about to walk up the stairs she heard a blubbering. She rarely heard similar sounds during her stay with the Stedores, and they would always told her to ignore it. But now, hearing the sound, Sera knew someone was obviously in pain. She then walked around the house to look where it came from. She was about to turn back when she remember about a forbidden door. When she first came here, Rhael and Agaven had repeatedly told her never come near the door. She was curious, but out of respect of her parents she did as she was told. However, the blubbering became wailing as the person obviously is suffering so much pain right now. It was definitely coming inside the door. Sera, a little scared, held the knob and slowly tried to twisted it. 'Locked'. Suddenly the wailing turned into howling and it made Sera jump in panic. She dashed to the key storage, heart poundingm and took all the keys. Her mind was already spinning thinking who could be inside as she scrambled trying all the keys, at the same time calling for her 'Mom' and 'Dad'.

"Tick." just then one of the keys fitted and she opened the door in a rush.