Chapter 7: Finding the Book is the Beginning of Discovering Magic

Having breakfast with my grandfather was quite refreshing. The sweet taste of the flatbread compliments the serene atmosphere of the dining room.

But once I was done eating, I knew it was time to leave and head to the library. The weight of the dream still stuck with me, and the thought of discovering magic had now become my top priority.

I cautiously slipped off my chair and gave the old timer a quick wave before heading toward the front door. However, as I stepped outside, I heard his voice calling after me again.

"Shall I accompany you, little one?"

Halting, I looked back to see my grandfather standing behind me. For a moment, I thought of going alone, but something about the way he offered it made me reconsider. Besides, having him with me wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I nodded in agreement, and with a warm smile, he took my hand and led me outside. We then walked down the stairs, and a wave of anxiety washed over me with each step. Yet, with the bravery my parents had instilled in me, I found the courage to keep moving forward.

We soon reached the bottom of the staircase and made our way to the library. But when we arrived at our destination, Grandfather suddenly stopped, pulling my hand.

Looking at him, I noticed his anxious expression as he stared into the hallways ahead.

He stood there for a bit, his eyes fixed on the entrance as though he remembered something that made him uncomfortable.

I gently tugged at his sleeve, trying to reach out.

Grandfather snapped out of his reverie, shaking his head before glancing at me. He let out a small chuckle, though the unease lingered in his eyes.

"Don't worry, little one," he reassured me softly. "I was just lost in thought for a moment."

His words made me worry, but I shrugged off the feeling and moved on.

As we entered the library, the familiar scent of ancient papers welcomed me once again, and my eyes scanned the shelves for books involving magic. However, that would be impossible since my reading comprehension is still lacking.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Seems like someone brought their old geezer to play."

A familiar female voice echoed from a distance, tinged with sarcasm. We turned to see Serie, the elven archivist, emerging from the shelves.

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With the arrival of the library's archivist, I thought locating the book about magic would be a breeze. However, that wasn't the case because an uncomfortable tension filled the room as my grandfather and Serie exchanged intense glances.

"....."

Neither of them said a word, but the atmosphere grew heavy with whatever strange energy they were sending toward each other. It felt like a silent battle was playing out right in front of me, and I was caught in the middle.

"Hmm..."

Suddenly, they grunted at each other, narrowing their eyes as if they had some unresolved past I wasn't aware of. I glanced between these two, unsure of what was going on.

"So, you've got the nerve to come back here after all these decades," Serie finally broke the silence, her tone sharp, rebuking my grandfather. "Did you come here to admonish me, Kalt?"

"No," he replied calmly, "I came here to accompany my granddaughter."

Serie raised an eyebrow, her gaze darted to me briefly before locking onto him again. "Is that so? Or are you using her as an excuse to show your face around here?"

Grandfather remained stoic, but I could sense an undercurrent of tension between them that seemed far more personal than just an old workplace squabble.

"Enough of this," he retorted, waving his hand dismissively before looking directly at me. "So, little one, what exactly are you searching for in this place exactly?"

I swallowed deeply, feeling the weight of both their gazes on me. Though I knew what I was supposed to answer, talking to them would raise suspicion. What should I do?

Before I could figure out how to respond, something unexpected happened—a blue butterfly fluttered in front of me, its delicate wings shimmering in the soft light.

Without thinking, I reached out toward it, mesmerized by its graceful movements. It hovered just out of reach, almost as if it was guiding me. I instinctively followed it, watching as it flew deeper into the library.

"Little one, where are you going?"

"Just shut up and follow her, you old fool."

"What did you just say, you arrogant prick?"

Their bickering echoed behind me, but I was too focused on the butterfly to care. It ushered me straight to a particular shelf, where it landed gently on a book resting on the lower level.

Without hesitation, I reached for the book, pulling it from the shelf. It was old and worn, and the cover adorned with unfamiliar symbols.

When I looked for the butterfly, it was already gone.

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After obtaining a book from an anonymous intervention, I figured it had something to do with magic. While I wasn't entirely certain, I decided to embrace this idea for my peace of mind.

"There you are, little one," Grandfather called out from behind, looking weary from walking.

Beside him was Serie, her arms crossed and an annoyed expression evident on her face. "I'll give you both a warning for meandering around the library," she huffed, clearly disappointed with the detour.

"Come on now, is this how you run this place?" my grandfather criticized, shaking his head in disapproval. "It's no wonder the library feels empty these days."

Serie shot him a glare but said nothing, clearly biting her tongue. I stood frozen, clutching the strange book in my tiny hands, uncertain of what to make of their bickering. The tension was enough to make me want to disappear, but the pull of curiosity overcame that feeling.

"Anyway," my grandfather sighed, turning back to me with a more peaceful expression, "what did you find, little one?"

I held the book for him and Serie to see, though I had no idea how to tell them what it was all about. Grandfather leaned in slightly, inspecting the worn cover with a discerning eye. Serie, on the other hand, furrowed her eyes as if she immediately knew what the book was about.

"Hey, do you have any idea what you are holding there?" she reprimanded hardly. "That's the very first magic manual—written by Aurelius himself."

Upon hearing her response, I was deeply taken aback. The book suddenly became heavier in my small hands, as if I accidentally stumbled upon an old relic never meant to be disturbed.

My grandfather raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what he had just heard. "Isn't it amusing? To think my granddaughter stumbled upon such a significant record tucked away on the bottom shelf. Whoever placed it there was quite careless."

"Why you," Serie muttered frustratedly, her face turning red.

Just as the tension was about to rise again, my grandfather smoothly intercepted her. "Now, now, before you throw a hissy fit, may I remind you that these records belong to our clan, not yours. You're here to manage them as a representative of the Solaris Clan."

The Solaris clan, huh? So, there were other clans besides ours. That also explains why she is the only one in the village with blonde hair.

Serie clicked her tongue, irritated by the reminder. "You don't understand the significance of that book, Kalt. It contains every magic your ancestor ever created, and now it's in the hands of your granddaughter. If she reads it, she could bring disaster upon us all."

"What a bold assumption," my grandfather retorted with a calm demeanor. "Even if she could read the book, I trust Frieren that she wouldn't use it for the wrong reason."

"You don't get it, Kalt," Serie snapped back, clenching her fist in annoyance. "This isn't about trust—it is about responsibility with power. Your granddaughter wouldn't be able to grasp the kind of spells Aurelius invented, let alone its consequences."

Grandfather raised an eyebrow, unbothered by her rising temper. "I'm aware of that. But I still trust her that if she is meant to learn from it, she'll do so wisely. Just like our ancestors."

"..."

Disappointed by the stubbornness, Serie finally reached her breaking point and stormed out, her robes trailing behind her. Meanwhile, Grandfather observed her departure with a relaxed expression before turning back to me.

"Well, little one, looks like you have quite the treasure in your hands. Shall we head back?"

I nodded, following him while cradling the magic manual with great care. Though the conflict with Serie was intense, it's a good thing I'd brought Grandfather with me. If it wasn't for him, I would have struggled to stand my ground against the archivist.

In the end, I successfully achieved the first step of discovering magic, which is acquiring the book. Now, the next step was to head home and read its contents.