“Mother, you're not being fair!” The young girl pouted.
“I am being more than fair, you are just far too impatient, young lady.” The girl's mother scolded. “I will not allow you to do just anything you ask.”
“Why not?” the girl asked again.
“For one thing, Magiya, you're far too young and entirely too inexperienced for such things!” Shanora answered sternly.
“I’m not a little kid anymore, mother!” Magiya pleaded. “I’m sure if I asked father he would be willing to teach me!”
“Absolutely not!” Snapped Magiya’s mother. “It is far too inappropriate for a father to be teaching his daughter things like that!”
“But mother, daddy have already been giving my sisters private lessons!”
“Enough Magiya!” Her mother growled. “What your father teaches your sisters is not your concern. By your father’s order I am the one in charge of all you girls' magical studies and not a single one of them has been granted special treatment or extra lessons. You will learn magic at the pace I give you, is that understood? I will not debate with you on this, child.”
“Yes mother.” Magiya reluctantly accepted.
Magiya was becoming frustrated. Her mother, Shanora, was a beautiful civet with a natural talent for magic and witchcraft. Shanora had been appointed by her mate and Magiya’s father as instructor of magical arts. Along with all her other sisters, Magiya was to take lessons and learn magic from Shanora. But in the mind of Magiya the little half dragon, her mother wasn’t teaching them fast enough.
Magic was in the hybrid’s blood, her want of it, the desire to learn more was as strong as her need of food. She was only half civet herself, her other half was one of the greatest magical creatures to have ever existed, a dragon. Inheriting a great deal of her abilities from her father's side, Magiya was a natural when it came to magic. While each of her sisters also had some amount of natural talent, also inherited from their father, Magiya could feel the magic calling to her specifically. She would strive to learn as much as she could, having become the equal of her eldest sister in raw talent, she was already proving to have more ability to manipulate the forces of magic than any of her other sisters. Her ability to mold and shape the very essence of magic surpasses them all. Shanora, her mother, had limited her to only water magic, the older civet being an experienced elemental evoker herself was quite powerful in her own right. But the cubs frustrations stemmed from her mother’s refusal to allow her to try more, to do more, to reach and strive for her truest potential.
Magiya hoped to surpass her mother one day when it came to magical knowledge and ability. While she loved her mother deeply, she couldn’t help but feel that her mother was holding her back at times. Magiya was certain she was capable of learning more, and found her current lessons did little or nothing to challenge her. The more rudimentary spells her mother had the girls practicing came so easily, so naturally to her that they seemed childish. The hours spent casting the same spell over and over again were tedious and boring in the young civets mind.
It was her dream that someday she might be as skilled as her father when it came to magic. As a pure dragon, Magiya’s father possessed both the raw talent and decades of knowledge of magic. Her father was the embodiment of perfection in Magiya’s eyes.
Her father was the great black dragon.
Master of space and dimensions.
Lord Sventar.
Tired of her daughter's pestering, Shanora told her it was time for her to join her sisters for dinner. Magiya conceded she was unlikely to change her mothers opinion on the matter regardless of its importance to the little half-breed. She left her mothers classroom, heading off to the dining hall, grumbling to herself as she walked the castle corridors. She couldn’t understand why her mother would be so set against her advancing the understanding of magic the young cub craved at her own measure. Forcing her to keep pace with her sisters. After all, she only wanted to borrow one book. But Magiya wasn’t fooling anyone, not her mother and least of all herself, she knew she would never be satisfied with just the one book, she would continue to push herself until she could find her limits, and even then she would try to break those limits.
A grumbling tummy, told Magiya that she had a more immediate hunger that she had to sate first. The aroma coming from the dining hall, discernible through nearly half the castle, informed her that she hadn’t missed today's meal as she sometimes would when she had been more interested in the lessons her mother taught. Magiya pushed back the double doors, seeing her sisters already gathered around the large, dark wooden dining table enjoying a small feast, seemingly the only way that Lady Zamia knew to prepare meals, thought the young civet hybrid had to admit she could scarcely recall a meal that the girls hadn’t devoured to the last morsel..
Other than the few servants that always attended to the girls' needs and desires at meal times and the always present slaves of the dining hall, there were no other adults around. While occasionally one or two of their mothers would be present, lately the girls had been eating meals together by themselves. Magiya surmised that this was to give the siblings a chance to socialize and bond, as much of the rest of their days were spent in lessons and training. While Magiya didn’t mind the company of her sisters, she much prefered the quiet solitude of the study rooms and a good book, preferably one dealing with magic in one way or another..
“Yay! Little big sister is here!” Magiya’s youngest sister, Beatrix, came rushing over to hug her, almost knocking the air out of her.
“Shesh, Bea, you don't need to suffocate me. “ Magiya managed to pull her little sister off.
“Sorry, Magy!” Beatrix giggled. “I’m just so happy we're all here together!”
Magiya couldn’t help but smile at her younger sibling as she spoke, “I know lil sister, I’m glad to see you too,” she said, returning her sister's embrace. Beatrix, the youngest, seemed to love all her sisters equally and unconditionally. She certainly was at times the most energetic of the group. Daughter of Lady Zamia, Beatrix was already learning how to cook and had already shown an impressive amount of knowledge of animals and herbs.
All sitting along one side of the table were her other sisters. On the far left was her two year older sister, Nai’lati. Magiya could see Nai’lati sneaking scraps of food under the table to feed her pet fairy dragon, when the half tiger thought none of the servants were looking. Next was the eldest of the girls, Terca, whom all the younger sisters respected and were slightly in awe of. Terca in return did her best to be a respectable role model for them, but her temper and appetite for excitement sometimes got the best of her. Nonetheless she guided and cared for her sisters as much as she could. Sitting next to Terca, was the second oldest, Aldrasya. Dras, as they often all called her, was kindest of them all, often serving as the girl's self appointed protector. That often meant she had to look after Alyssa the most. While Alyssa was older than Magiya, she found it hard to find any respect for the girl. Aylssa’s mother was just a lowly slave, and as far as Magiya could tell the girl had no particular talent that she excelled at either.
So rather than sit next to Aylssa, Magiya found it preferable to sit next to her sister Nai’lati. She grabbed a clean plate from a small stack at the end of the table filling it with portions from more than a few of the succulent dishes . Magiya hoped to have her meal eaten quickly and without interruption. A goal that would soon prove futile. Beatrix had decided that she should sit next to her and begun to sing her a song she had just learned from some feathered thing she encountered earlier in the day. While on her other side Nai started inquiring about their lessons from today.
“Seriously Nai, can’t you pay attention in class?” Magiya frustratedly asked.
“But they're so borrrrinnngg!” Nai’lati exclaimed. “I would much rather be learning how to go hunt or fight!”
“I know what you mean, little sis,“ Terca laughed. “I find it hard to stay awake in Shanora's lessons myself sometimes.”
Magiya couldn’t really blame her sisters, truth be told she actually had to agree with them, there had been times she found herself nodding off in her own mother’s class as well. “It would be much better if we could have individual studies and be able to go at our own pace.”
Her two siblings nodded in agreement.
“That reminds me!” Terca said quickly changing subjects. “Nai’lati I’ve heard you started your private lessons with father.”
A gleeful smile spread across Nai’s face. “I just had my sixth time not too long ago” She said proudly.
Magiya was confused. Nai’lati was taking lessons from father now? What were these lessons? Aldrasya and Alyssa both blushed red as Terca and Nai brought up the subject. By the look on Beatrix's face, Magiya could only conclude she too didn’t have any idea what their sisters were talking about.
As her sisters continued to make vague references to the private lessons that they shared with their father, Magiya started to get frustrated and upset. Abruptly standing up and turning to face her sisters.
“I’ve had it! What are these lessons you keep talking about?” Magiya demanded “Is father teaching magic or something?
“Or something I’d say,” Nai snickered.
“Think we should tell her, Terca?” Dras asked with a look of concern on her face.
“But that would ruin the surprise!” Nai countered.
“I want a private lesson too!” Beatrix announced excitedly. "Mommy says you have to be ready for the private lessons! She says I might be ready soon, but can only have my time after all my sisters have had their turns!"
“That’s right, squirt, you're going to have to wait your turn.” Teased Nai.
“Magiya please sit down” Terca tried to calm her “Tell us what’s really bothering you.”
Magiya blushed with embarrassment, leaving it to her elder sister to see her real problem. “I . . I just want . .” Magiya stammered a little, “Its mother! She won’t teach me any more magic. She knows I’m capable of a lot more!”
“Ah, Magiya, we all understand.” Terca comforted her, smiling. “I think it’s safe to say we’ve all had issues with our mothers from time to time.” The rest of the girls nodded in agreement, some more eagerly than others. Even Beatrix nodded with them, but possibly not to be left out rather than from experience.
“I even asked if she could have father teach me,” Magiya continued. “But my mother forbade it.”
Her sister's smiles widened. “Then the answer to your dilemma is quite simple, sis.” Terca responded. “You ask father anyway.”
Magiya blinked. It had never occurred to try to defy her mother’s authority. “Wouldn’t father get upset?”
“Oh! If daddy thinks you're ready, then you would be! He always knows what's best!” Beatrix piped in.
“Unlikely,” Nai’lati added, “besides father likes it very much when we take initiative. I promise you father will be very pleased that you asked him. Who knows, maybe he’ll start giving you private lessons as well” Terca nodded in agreement and Nai’s smile was one that said she knew something that Magiya did not.
Her sisters continued to chatter on and jest, but Magiya was too preoccupied contemplating her siblings’ advice to recall what was said after.
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Night soon fell onto the darkened halls of the castle keep. While Magiya’s sisters had already presumably gone to bed, the little half civet was still awake, their words of encouragement to defy her mother and go to their father to make her request directly still tumbling and turning in her mind. Leaving her small chambers, she decided to bravely search out her father. Creeping along the few corridors that were lit, Magiya tried to be as silent as possible, She was nowhere near as effective as her sister Nia and regretted turning down her sisters’ offers to join her on a midnight kitchen raid.
Fearful that she might run into someone, Magiya continued to creep along. If possible she would prefer to not run into one of their mothers, especially her own. Too many inquiries she would rather not answer. Encountering one of the servants would be just as undesirable. Even one of the blind crows would be able to recognize her, and unless father himself forbade it, there would be nothing stopping the serfs from informing the lady Shanora.
Without incident, Magiya arrived at the doors of father’s study. According to Terca, no one except Lord Sventar ever entered the room. It was one of the few places of solitude for Magiya’s father. A place that servants or the women of the castle were unwilling to enter, not even the Lady Droch.
Magiya gulped down the lump in her throat and entered the room through the slightly ajar doors with a mixture of anticipation and fear. To her surprise, the chamber presented in front of her proved to be far more than just a simple study. Half laboratory and half library, Magiya’s jaw dropped at the sheer awe of everything. Magical knowledge and research hidden away within these walls was more than the young girl had ever seen before. In the center of the room she saw magic circles, cauldrons, an altar, and a variety of other apparatuses. Lining shelves along the walls were samples of species and magical ingredients she had never known. Several bookcases stored hundreds of books, tomes, and scrolls, each she was certain contained many secrets of the magical arts. While fewer in number than the library she and her siblings had access to, she could easily imagine that the knowledge that was contained in these was vastly superior
. Hesitantly Magiya walked deeper into the room trembling as she reached out one of her slender hands to a nearby leather bound book sitting on a stool. Its title read ‘Bestiary of magical creatures volume three’. Magiya managed to just touch it, when she heard a voice that startled her.
“Hello there little one,” the voice said, startling the half dragon as the silence of the room was shattered.
“Eep!” Magiya squeaked, her attention suddenly brought to the source of the voice.
Sitting behind a large desk in a darkened portion of the room was her father. Lord Sventar.
Even sitting down he towered over Magiya’s meager height. His muscled body was covered with black armored scales and dangerous looking spines and horns. His presence was fearsome yet brought a warm feeling of comfort to the little cub. Her father was nude, a fact that Magiya was used to. Lord Sventar rarely saw the need for clothes in his own home, only bothering with garments for the fickle masses of the outside world.
“What brings you here my child?” Her father asked
Magiya almost lost her nerve and backed out of the room, but the young girl realized that frivolous interruption would most likely anger her father more.
“I wanted to make a request, if you don’t mind, father.” She asked.
“Go on.”
“I would like to learn more about magic, father.”
“As I recall, it was your mother’s task to educate you all in matters of magic.” Sventar stated.
“Yes, father. She does.” Magiya tried explaining herself. “Its just that she keeps us all at the same level, and I know I’m ready for much more. I feel like I’m being held back from my true potential.”
Magiya tried not to fidget as her father silently gazed back at her, considering her words. It was almost unbearably agonizing as she eagerly waited for his response.
“Seems to me, my child, that you lack patience.” Magiya’s heart sank as she heard her father speak. “However, I would not have it said that a child of mine was denied their true potential. How about a compromise?”
Magiya’s smile returned and her heart throbbed. “Yes father, anything!”
“My but you are an eager spirit” Sventar chuckled. “I am afraid I am much too busy to teach you myself, but I can perhaps grant you access to my personal library to study. You would have to read them in here, as many of the tomes are bound to this room to prevent them going missing. But I promise there will be no unwelcome distractions. Occasionally I should be able answer a question or two if you find that the path you seek is difficult to follow.”
“Thank you father!” Magiya rushed over to father’s side and hugged him as tightly as she could. Sventar smiled down at his daughter and gently patted her head.
“Then we are in agreement, I take it?” Sventar said. “You can start tomorrow if you like, but for now it's time for you to go to bed.”
“Yes father!” the young civet halfbreed answered enthusiastically.
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The day seemed to drag on into eternity as the young civet muddled through her classes and other responsibilities, the time when she could retire to the promised solitude of her father’s study seeming so near, yet so far from her short reach. As the twin suns hung low in the evening sky, the last of the additional chores her mother had given her completed at last the young civet grew excited as she contemplated what she was about to do. She strode through the halls of the castle, the activity slowly dying away as she neared the win her father frequented in near solitude. As she drew near the archway of the stairs that led up the tower to her father’s private study her paws began to shake slightly, the sheer excitement of being given her father’s permission to enter what to her seemed a storehouse of magical knowledge. After a time she arrived in the short hall that led to the immense doorway behind which lay the very thing she craved most, her slender legs trembling slightly with anticipation. As she drew near to the door she suddenly froze as she noticed now that the doors had no visible handles or knobs. There didn’t seem to be any way to open them from this side at all. Scrunching her face in thought she looked more closely at the dark, intricately carved wooden monoliths before her, as she focused more intently she gasped softly. The hallway around her seemed to become dark, nearly a pitch black inkinesss around her as runes and strange letters seemed to form on the surface of the door, glowing in a soft, shimmering red as if written in flames. At first the letters seemed strange and unfamiliar to her as she attempted to ascertain their meaning. As she stared at the words they suddenly became clear in her mind as if they had been known to her her entire life.
*Evnek doutan vur dout goawy, renthisj dout tuor vur sjek coi qe dout lords huven wux nishka dolruth*
“Reveal yourself and your place, speak your desire, and if it be your lords wish you shall pass”, she said softly, her voice nearly reverent as she spoke the words as she translated them into the common tongue as easily as if they had been written that way. The young civet stepped back a pace and raised her paws towards the twin doors as she spoke.
“I am Magiya, daughter of Lord Sventar. By my Lords wish I seek knowledge.”
She spoke the words in the common tongue forcefully, more so than she thought possible for her stature, waiting anxiously for the doors to swing open. As the moments passed nothing happened, she stared at the doors as if they betrayed her. The inscription flared slightly, becoming brighter for a brief moment as she dropped her arms to her sides again. The sudden though slight brightness punctuated in her mind that the words were in an odd and seemingly old language, one that she had been able to understand nearly instantly. As the thought rolled in her mind an answer came to her in a flash of understanding. “Draconic, they’re written in draconic. I can read them because I am a dragon’s daughter,” she whispered to the walls. “I wonder if…” she trailed off letting the words form again in her head before speaking them again in the language of her father,
Si mi magiya, hianag di ith sventar. ini sia lords huven si sweekmon irthir!!!
As she spoke the words in the ancient tongue of her father the doors began to glow softly, the enchantment seeming to accept her command as they slowly sung open to reveal the dimly lit room beyond, her father’s private study, and now her sanctuary of magical learning and wisdom. Magiya froze as a huge form suddenly appeared from the shadows, stepping into the thin light that filled the cavernous room. Without thought, and nothing more than a twitch of her paws a fireball formed before her, growing to roughly three feet in diameter as it flew in the direction of the supposed intruder. The shadowy form moved imperceptibly, the slightest gesture of a single claw causing the fireball to halt it’s movement, shrinking in size until it winked out of existence in a matter of a few short moments. She had heard no words of command or conjuration. The strength and control of magical forces of the one she faced was evidently quite strong. She nearly turned to flee from the figure before the deep, rumbling voice of her father halted her movements.
“Norktalii sia moxt ir, zi norktalii abhlek,” the large dragon said as he remained motionless. “Coi ui ergriff si, vur wux re persvek thric korth”.
Looking at the large dragon sheepishly as she spoke she began, “I’m s sorry father. I should have, should have known that it could only be… be you inside when the doors opened. Since they were sealed by your own nuade.” Blushing slightly at his praises she thanked her father for his kind words. “Thank you father, I am happy that you are pleased.”
“I was not aware that Shanora, your mother, had been instructing you in fire magic little one,” the lord of the castle said softly as he reclined against the huge black granite desk that he had been sitting behind the night before.
“She has not, father, mother has kept me limited to only water magic,” the young half dragon cub admitted, a look of shock on her features. “I… I don’t know how… how I was able to do that.”
“I see, one of several abilities that you possess that were unknown to you until now. It seems that this is a day of discovery for you Magiya, even before you begin any study of the volumes in this room,” Lord Sventar said, his daughter entering the private space shyly.
“I must leave for a time to attend to other matters, if you are still here when I return I will answer any questions you may have.
