4

Days passed for Aurora secretly learning about magic. She read the old spellbook in the library at every opportunity, trying to understand the complex symbols and strange words that resembled Latin. However, Lord Vancroft's warning lingered in a corner of her mind. Magic could be dangerous, and trying to use it ignorantly was risky.

One thing frequently mentioned in the book had caught her attention: Mana stones. It was written that these special stones were necessary to cast spells. These stones, in different colors and sizes, were described as concentrating the magical energy in nature and being used by wizards as a power source. Aurora wanted to find and examine these mana stones. Perhaps these stones could be a way to unlock the potential magic within her.

She asked Martha if there were any shops in town that sold interesting and antique items. After thinking for a moment, the old woman mentioned a small place just off the main street called "Curiosities and Rarities Shop." The owner was an old and eccentric man, and his shop was full of all sorts of strange and mysterious objects.

The next morning, Aurora set off with Martha towards the Curiosities and Rarities Shop. Even the front of the shop was quite intriguing. Dusty display windows showcased a wide variety of items, from antique clocks to strange statues, from old maps to dried plants.

When they entered, a bell rang, and the dim and mysterious atmosphere of the shop greeted them. Shelves were crammed with books, bottles, chests, and all sorts of bizarre objects. A faint smell of mildew and old paper filled the air. Behind the counter, an old man with a long beard and messy hair was examining a stone with a magnifying glass.

"Welcome," said the man, his curious eyes scanning Aurora and Martha. His voice was raspy but kind. "Is there something that interests you?"

Aurora looked around. Her gaze fell upon colorful stones shimmering in a glass jar. These stones, radiating light in shades of green, blue, purple, and red, looked just like the mana stones she had read about in her book.

"What are those stones over there?" Aurora asked, pointing to the jar.

The old man smiled. "Ah, those? Those are mana stones, young lady. They are valuable resources for those who wish to practice magic."

Aurora's heart quickened. "For doing magic? How do they use them?"

The man began to explain the basic principles of magic and what different mana stones were used for. Aurora listened to him, spellbound. Perhaps she would find the answers she was looking for in this shop.

Just then, the shop door opened again, and a familiar silhouette entered. Tall, charismatic, and wearing those elegant clothes peculiar to distant lands once more. It was the young man she had seen in the alley. A knight in armor with a serious face was also with him.

As the young man looked around curiously, his eyes met Aurora's. A slight surprise appeared on his face, followed by a smile.

"It's good to see you again," the young man said politely. Then, he leaned towards the knight beside him and whispered something in his ear. The young man nodded and turned back to Aurora. "So you are Lady Aurora Vancroft. I would like to congratulate you on your... courageous intervention the other day."

Aurora frowned. "You... how do you know my name?"

"One of my knights who was with me that day told me that you were Lord Vancroft's daughter," the young man explained. "I am Prince Rohan, by the way. I come from the distant lands of the South."

"Pleased to meet you, Prince Rohan," Aurora replied, her heart fluttering slightly.

Prince Rohan stayed in the shop for a while longer, chatting with the old man about exotic items. Aurora, meanwhile, admired him while trying to hide her curiosity about the mana stones.

As they left the shop, Prince Rohan politely bid farewell to Aurora and Martha. As Aurora watched the prince mount his horse and ride away, she felt a strange excitement within her. This unexpected encounter showed her that this new world held not only danger and evil, but also interesting people and perhaps opportunities for a new beginning.

From that day on, Aurora's interest in mana stones grew even more. She read her book in the library more carefully, often chatted with the old shopkeeper, and slowly tried to learn the secrets of magic. Perhaps one day, she would discover the potential power within herself and chart her own destiny in this new world...

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