A NUDGE FROM THE PAST

ACE POV:

We were back from the Council. Mom, who was asleep on the couch got up suddenly as if stung by a bee.

"Oh, it's you guys" she yawned.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"It went surprisingly well" I said.

"But, the Council said something about my gift being given, not chosen" I complained.

"Son, I wish I could give you an answer, but I don't know how these things work" she said.

"Willis, you promised" I turned to him.

He looked at Mom intently and sighed.

"Ace, let me explain the situation to you".

"Your father was the pure-blood descendant, chosen by the ophital. One night after an intense face-off with Hela's men, he was severely injured by them. He fought to keep you and your mum safe. That day..., was...., the...," he trailed off, trying hard to fight the tears welling up in his eyes.

*FLASHBACK*

WILLIS POV:

We captured one of Hela's men.We squeezed out the location of Hela from him. Your father thought we shouldn't trust him, but I thought that was our best chance to nail her.

We we went to the location. I went high to secure the area. Little did we know that it was a booby-trap. Hela's men were lying in wait for us. It was her plan to allow us nab her man.

It all began to make sense. Someone bound by a secrecy oath leaked out information about Hela. But it was too late for us to buoy from my error. He was captured and tortured.

I just lay at the rooftop looking at them torture him. He wouldn't give up the ophital to her. She then sent her men to kidnap you and your mum.

Then, it happened!

Your father's rage and fears overtook his senses. His powers went out of control. He ripped Hela's men apart like they were just paper.

Hela narrowly escaped his arson that day. I opened a portal to your home there in Liverpool. He was severely injured by Hela's men.

We were all packing when Hela's men arrived. Your father sealed the doors with a spell. He knew he was growing weak and the spell wouldn't hold much longer.

I too was drained. We were trapped. He then looked at you intently. I advised him not to, but I also knew that the ophital couldn't fall into Hela's hand.

He then transferred the ophital to you. You fell unconscious. Just then, I could feel my powers recharged enough to open another portal.

Just then, the spell gave way. Hela's men filled the room. Your father fought bravely even without powers. I called on him to come with us but he refused.

"Come on" I yelled.

"The portal wouldn't hold for much longer" I added.

He smiled at me. He smiled at me.

"Take care of my son" he said.

"Come on, you can still care for him yourself" I yelled, getting impatient at his refusal.

He flashed the last blood-stained smile I ever saw from him. One of Hela's men threw a spell at us. Your father jumped at it and received the impact.

I yelled" Jooonnnnn". Just then, the portal closed.

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

ACE POV:

Mom was already crying in the room.

"He died to save you, Ace. The ophital didn't reject you either. So, you were also chosen, like him, like the rest. So the best you can do is to finish what he started..., make him proud" Willis said.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Ace" Jane said.

"Me too" Shola said.

"It's fine" I said, fighting the tears in my eyes.

"Where do we start?".

"First, knowledge. About every thing and person in the magical world" Willis said.

"To my library, then".

AT THE LIBRARY

ACE POV:

"Here, it says 'Muggle'. What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means a human, an ordinary like your mum" Willis answered.

"Here it says 'Full-bloods'. What does it mean?". It was Jane.

"A wizard who comes from an un-mixed generation of a god, like the council-members".

"Who's a 'Half-blood'?".

"One who shares both characteristics of a Muggle and full-blood".

"What's a familiar?".

"A magical creature that serves and protects you, no matter what. It's like your pet-guardian, but it is chosen once in a lifetime".

"What's 'Slithering'?".

"A special language used by creatures, mostly snakes, to speak to magicians. It is a rare and precious gift to any wizard".

On and on, we kept at it.

I stopped reading. I was feeling something, a somewhat strange presence.

"Guys, we've got company".

Suddenly, there was a rumbling above us. We stopped short what we were doing. It happened again, even more violent than the first. This time, it came with a large roar.

"Guys, say after me. 'Philliqui sequaris', now". It was Willis.

We obeyed.

We changed into the colours we were wearing on the other side of the portal, but this time with some armour plates.

"This is advanced battle strategy, but I think you'll need it now" Willis said.

The roar came again, with some glass-smashing sound.

We went through the elevator upstairs.

As we entered the living-room, everywhere laid in ruins.

*ROAR*

There it stood, in the midst of the ruins!