3

The way to Aunt Zaira's study was

very awkward. The silence was also

deafening that I just started humming

a tune that came to my mind. From

what I remembered, the tune was one

of the nursery rhyme songs my sister

taught me when I was just a small fox.

Only the two of us knew about those

and she would usually sing it to me

whenever we were together. One of the

sungs was about the stars, and it had

a very catchy tune. I used to ask her if

she was the one that made the song but

she would deny it and say that she just

heard it as well. Later on, I asked other

people if they knew about it but they all

replied a negative. Even earth deities

that usually stayed in the mortal realm

also didn't know anything about it. Since

asking around was unproductive, I just

stopped. There was another one about

rain and I usually sing it whenever

there 'is' a rain, I was humming the one

about stars. "Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are? Up above

the world so high Like a diamond in

the sky." There were only four lines so I

would just sing it repeatedly. I stopped

humming when I reached the study.

Zach never said anything so I bumped

on his back since I was behind him.

"Will you be able to find your way back

to your room? The west wing has a

spell to confuse someone who doesn't

know how to interpret the signs. So

it's kind of like a maze in a sense."

Zach said. I was surprised. It was the

longest statement I had heard from him

ever since coming to the manor. The

west wing of the Celestine Manor was

exclusively used by Aunt Zaira. She was

a woman with many secrets so putting

a complicated spell on her side of the

house was normal. I shook my head

in response to his question. "Ask Aunt

Zaira to give you a temporary guide then

until you finally know your way around

the manor." "Okay." I just watched as

he slowly disappeared from my sight. I

turned to the door of Aunt Zaira's study

and knocked. "Come in," she said. After

entering the room, I saw her drinking

tea and she offered the seat across hers

so I sat there. "How were you able to find

your way?" she asked. "Ah, Zach led the

way," "I see. I forgot to give you a guide."

she gave me a thin book. "These are all

the signs you will need to interpret to

not get lost in the spellbound hallways."

I nodded my head and received the

book. I noticed she kept looking out the

window so I glanced at well. Not that

far from the manor's boundary was

inaudible explosions. "What's going

on, Aunt Zaira?" I asked. "Some fifth

year students from the Military Arts

Department of the Imperial Academy are

taking their exams. Whether they'll be

trainees for the Hunters, the Knights, the

Army or the Royal Knights for the next

two years will depend on the results of

this." she answered. "I see." "Next month

should be the fifth year students of the

Magic Arts Department." "Uhm... Is there

any other reason you called me?" "Oh,

right. I meant to give you a familiar

after finishing your adoption process.

"A familiar? Adoption process?" I was

really confused at her words. "Yes." she

gave me a piece of paper and asked me

to read it. It was adoption documents

and it said that I had legally become

an adopted daughter of the Celestine

Family. And my new identity was.....

"Luna Hysi von Celestine?" "The family

name von Celestine, is more like just an

additional name. For whatever reason.

whether good or bad, anyone adopted

into the Celestine Household, will

hear their original family names," she

explained. "For example, my full name

is Zaira Chrishni von Celestine. Eliza's is

Eliza Castea von Celestine and Edmund's

is Edmund Castea von Celestine." "What

about Sebastian and Zach?" "Those two

are in quite a different situation and

you don't have to dwell on it." I wasn't

sure that time if Aunt Zaira was aware

that I only looked like an eight-year-old

girl but she had already given me a

complicated explanation. When I asked

her about it one time she said I seem

to be smarter than kids my age. "As of

this moment, you are officially one of

the members of the Celestine Family."

At the thought of being part of such a

fun and warm family, my chest welled

up in happiness and before I knew it

I was already hugging Aunt Zaira with

tears of joy in my eyes. She didn't seem

to mind it and just caressed my head.

"Thank you very much." I said. After

crying, which I became embarrassed

afterwards, she gave me her other gift.

"I found this one in a dungeon up in the

northern ridges. It's still an egg but if

you care for it really well it will be very

loyal to you." she said and handed me

a scaled egg that was bigger than my

head. "What kind of creature is it?" "I'm

not sure myself. The dungeons are filled

with many things so it's no use guessing,"

"Is it really mine?" "Yes" My eyes

were sparkling when she gave me the

confirmation. But my happiness turned

to uneasiness when she placed three

thick books in front of me. "Uhm..." "The

Celestine Family had always produced

exceptional mages and knights. And you

should have a contribution as well." I

looked at the titles of the book and they

were all basic manuals for combat and

magic. "Aunt Zaira, I'm not suitable for

magic though." she only gave me a raised

eyebrow as if asking what I meant. "I

mean, it's magic in a sense but it's not

fully magic?" "What does that mean? Do

you remember something?" "No, but I

have a feeling." I paused and cautiously

looked at her. "Aunt Zaira, have you ever

heard of Mystic Arts?" For a second, I

thought I saw her getting surprised but

she was able to immediately mask it

into a neutral one. "That's a lost form of

martial arts." she answered. "How did

you know about that?" "I'm not sure

myself. It just popped up in my head."

Ilied. "Mystic arts huh. A long time

ago it is said to be an ability available

only to non-human species. Nature

spirits to be exact." she said. "Instead of

converting the natural energy around

us to magic energy and perform our

spells, mystic arts directly manipulate

the natural energy by injecting a bit of

the user's own energy or inner energy

on the surroundings." "Yes." "It's very

dangerous though. Sure the techniques

based on it are powerful, but it also has

huge drawbacks." she warned. "I'll just

have to be careful." "Are you sure you're

eight?" I nodded with a cheeky smile.

"Fine." She took the two books about

the foundations of magic and instead

replaced it with a book titled "The Body

Tempering Manual", "Mystic arts and

combat arts are a perfect pair. And if

you're really set on learning mystic arts,

you must first strengthen your body. Do

you understand?" "Aunt Zaira, do you

perhaps know how to-" "I don't practice

it myself, but I can teach you. Once I

run out of things to teach you then you'll

have to figure things out yourself. You

should be able to do that. Right now, you

have to build your foundations first." I

smiled and gave her an enthusiastic nod.

"Training starts tomorrow. Give those

books a read and try to sleep early." "Yes

Aunt Zaira!" I happily exited the room

despite my hands being full. Aunt Zaira

formed a magical light orb that would

lead me out of the west wing. I happily

started reading The Body Tempering

Manual. With my knowledge of the

divine mystic arts which I learned from

my sister while I was still a young fox.

and the method Aunt Zaira was trying

to use, I decided to become strong. No,

one of the strongest, if not 'the' strongest.

Luna's family was murdered and she

died as well before I took over her body.

I needed to find some answers about

their death. It was the least I could do for

letting me use her body. I also aimed to

be strong enough to confront those who

executed my sister, Elthesia, thru unjust

reasons, as well as those who drove me

to my death. Even if they were divinities

of Afasia, as a previous fox deity. I know

determination preceded the thought

of giving up. After all, with all that

happened, I had no intentions of giving

up.

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