The royal library was really not much to see. It was just three shelves of books, standing all alone in a big empty room, and in the entrance, a big old desk. Behind that desk sat a young woman, with glasses, her nose stuck in one of the said books.

“Excuse me”, Ivy said.

The girl looked up from her book, a big smile on her face.

“Oh, you want something to read?”

“Yes, or well, actually, we are looking for something specific.”

“Wonderful. No one is ever visiting here”, the girl said. She rose from her chair and came around to the other side. “I am usually all by myself. Do you like books?”

“I love them”, Ivy said. “Had been reading everything I could get my hold on since I was six.”

“Me too!” the girl exclaimed. “Finally someone that understands.”

“I don’t want to be impolite, but it looks like this part of the castle has been parsimoniously treated”, Ivy noted.

“Yeah”, the librarian agreed with a heavy sigh. “Now, what did you want?”

Ivy was letting her fingers touch the books, looking at all the titles, taking something out that she had not seen before.

“Really we were looking for the books about magic”, Sasha interrupted. Well aware that her sister would be looking through all the books before asking.

“Magic, oh”, the girl said. “The queen has all books of magic locked inside the central tower, well-guarded. I have never been allowed to enter.”

“Who enters?” Sasha asked.

“Only her.”

“So she does read, huh”, Ivy said, opening a book and scanning through the first page.

Sasha sighed.

“I guess you will stay here?” she asked.

Her sister made some noise, which could have been translated into a yes, but Sasha knows she hadn’t heard her. She was already stuck in the book.

“Will you tell her I went to study the tower?” Sasha said to the librarian and left. Her sister wouldn’t be seen until dinner, at the earliest.

Sasha was looking at the door. The girl had said it was well protected, and she had anticipated guards. There were none. Instead, the building was standing there, in the middle of the court. Dark red roses were growing at its side, and some imprints in the mud showed that the queen was a regular visitor.

“To the dragons?” she read the inscription at the doorknob.

Her fingers touched the cold stones, looking for somewhere to get a hold. Maybe if she could climb the wall.

“I wouldn’t try that if I were you”, she heard a familiar voice, and someone put a firm grip on her hand. “A qualified guess, you got your magic back, Rebel?”

“Elias”, Sasha smiled. “What makes you think I got my magic back?”

“Well, let’s see, your fingerprints are glowing like a moon fire, my face has had a nicer colour I must say, and yes, you are trying to break into my mother’s tower, which will not work, by the way.”

“Why, have you tried?” she asked taunting him. “And failed?”

She spun around, getting free from Elias's grip, and getting a good look at his face. The eyes were shining in a real bright yellow now, and she proudly studied her work. For a potion work, she had nailed it.

“I will help you break-in, the day you are strong enough”, he said. “Which couldn’t be soon enough.”

He put his fingers on her shoulders, and Sasha felt a warm feeling pouring over her. He pushed magic back into her body, and he wasn’t restraining herself. It felt like a flow of magma.

“Elias”, she said as she inside was boiling. “Restrain yourself.”

He was giving her too much, too fast. As much as she loved the feeling of her magic, it frightened her. He was not thinking straight.

“Can’t handle it, princess?” Elias commented. His yellow eyes were just slits. “Then don’t play with fire.”

Sasha tried to break free, she kicked at him, but her body was weak, and she had not the force she usually had. Every ounce of her energy was taken just to survive, to cool down, and heal.

“Elias!” she yelled.

His eyes were still uncontrolled, and she felt his magic tearing inside her, searching for his orb. She wanted to use the magic she had gained, fight him back, but she had no fair chance. The magic she was given was still sealed in black, still unusable.

“Sleep”, he commanded and he pushed some further a wicked smile on his face.