---Silves's POV---
The next morning the sun streamed in through the windows, my magic was restored so I felt much better. Slipping out of Echos grasp and taking a brush to my hair, I had only gotten a few strokes done before I felt hands grab the brush from me. Before feeling Echo start brushing my hair.
“You have a lot of hair,” he said sitting behind me while he worked.
“Don’t you like it?” I asked smiling, but not turning my head.
“I do, are you just growing it out to cover the scar on your back?” He asked softly.
“No, not entirely, I do like my hair long. It covering the scar is just a bonus.” I said.
“I’m sorry that happened to you.” He said.
Shivering at the memory, Echo kept brushing my hair. It took him about an hour before he was either satisfied or he felt like stopping. Having someone brush your hair can be incredibly relaxing. He wrapped his arms around me pulling me back into him.
“So what do you want to do today?” He asked.
“Aren’t you going to have me brush your hair?” I asked.
“My hair is good, it's shorter and doesn't get messy often, running my fingers through it is usually enough,” he said.
Looking at him, I smiled slightly. He was more or less right. Turning to face him properly, I ran my hands through his hair for a couple moments, trying to fix it. Letting out a laugh as he pouted while looking at me.
“You shouldn’t pout, it ruins your tough guy image.”
“I pout like a man,” Echo said.
How he kept a straight face while he said it still confused me. Seeing as how it was the funniest thing I’d heard in a long time. Laughing we swam outside. I wished to go to the library and look up spells that used Ice magic, or maybe even a more specialized healing spell that wasn’t so draining. This was the third day of the tournament. Both of our matches have been victories, but it was clear that the others thought I was the strong one and were trying to take me out first. Even though taking out Echo would be enough for them to win.
Finishing eating and heading into the library, it was easy to find healing spells, though most of the ones available to first years like myself were not worth the trade off of changing from the one my mother taught me. Ice magic was really hard to find, there were some about creating a shield. That was something I already knew how to do though. There were more to my powers I knew it, the question was what was my secondary affinity. Could Ice be my secondary affinity, was there something strong I haven't awoken to yet.
I’d read the legends, ancient Sirens could control storms. Above and below the sea. Ancient Triton's were so strong they could make waves form with a wave of their hand. Though actual wave making was done by Sirenes. Internal versus external magic. Many believed especially in an item times that Sirens were much more powerful that Triton's. Establishing ourselves as a Matriarchy society.
Digging through the stacks of books looking for any title that seemed like it would be helpful. Echo was looking too, but we didn’t seem to be able to find anything. Almost giving up I looked through one last stack. Finding a book that was darkened with age.
Tales of the origins of the Sirens and Triton's. It looked ancient and was probably not supposed to be here, looking at it though it wasn’t cataloged like any of the other books here. There wasn’t a card to fill out to borrow it. Shrugging my shoulders and following Echo out of the library, wondering where this book could have come from and why it was in the library if it wasn’t a library book
Also, everyone knew of the origins of the Sirens and Triton's. Or I thought we did. Going back to our room Echo sat next to me as I opened the book. Light sprang from the pages, Echo quickly closed the shutters on the window and bolted the door. Come back to sit next to me.
An orb appeared in the air about six inches above the book. It was bigger than an average head, but not by much. It pulsed with a faint golden light before images started to fill it. Showing a great battle. A melodious voice called out in the room.
‘In the beginning, magic was strong with the world. Each race was filled with it. Arrogant and foolhardy they fought trying to establish one as the most powerful. Seafolk, Skyfolk, and Landfolk all fighting to prove who was the best. Foolishly they rushed into danger and killed each other. The Skyfolk and Landfolk were the hardest hit. The Seafolk were able to hide in the oceans when needed, but the other two shared much.
In their arrogance, they tried to kill each other off, upsetting the balance of the world. Cracking the world’s heart. Magic began to bleed from each race because the world was no longer strong enough to support that power. Seeing the dilemma, the Seafolk split their powers among themselves, the ability to control the world around them, was given to the female half of the population. While the control over oneself was given to the male population.
This was not a foolproof plan as many of the following generations had weak magic, and some knowledge was lost, but soon a stream of sirens and Triton's were formed, allowing the continuation of magical power. Anomalies formed in the third generation. A Male Siren and a Female Triton. One each born on the same day at the same time. 20,000 leagues apart.
They were stronger, the old magic buried deep in their bones. A key to the future, something to be molded. For they didn’t have the magic of half their bloodline they had both, like the Seafolk of old. Yet their powers with the second were diminished, not allowing them complete control of both halves of themselves. Someday though there would be a child and with their understand, they would find a way to restore the world stone. Bringing magic back into the world.
The Skyfolk attempted to separate their powers as well, yet were unsuccessful and their magic dissipated. Leaving them a shadow of their former self. While a few would keep their true forms, most would be stuck living as their animal forms forever, until they forgot who they were. Becoming basic animals.
The Landfolk were even worse off. Fearing the loss of power so much, they started killing the strong users and trying to trap their power in crystals. Their method led to the complete loss of magic for them, violence cracking the world’s heart even further.
Magical creatures fled from the humans who having lost their own magic, tried to steal others. The Seafolk fled deeper into the ocean hiding until memories of the humans became a myth, then a legend.
I record this book before I enter hiding, hoping that it is able to find someone who can change the fate of the world.’
The page flipped and a beautiful woman appeared in the globe.
‘I am the oracle of Delphi the first generation, there will be others, yet I fear the weakening of our line as well. Eons will pass and even I am unable to see how this will all end. May one of my successors have better luck, not only must they guard this book, they must alms to make sure to get it into the hands of the one who will restore the stone. My fear though is magic will be too dim to reignite. Even if the races are able to get their magic, back it will be generations before it is at full strength. Untold creatures will undoubtedly be lost to time, their races fading to memory or being lost altogether.
I beseech thee, let not the divide exist, all beings must live on this planet. If an understanding cannot be made, I am afraid that magic will cease to exist altogether. If that were to happen, the existence of the Seafolk would be threatened.
My magic is tied to the coming generations. Guiding this book to them when they are not only ready but when they need it. Some may never see this book, others will be able to see it, and reveal it to their guardians. For each must find a guardian, learn to work together and fight to protect each other. Male Sirens will be in the most need of a guardian for they are the ones who will learn their craft slower than the female Tritons.
As you are seeing this message, you have found a guardian. Treasure each other and keep each other safe. This book contains knowledge about magic, that will assist you in growing. The priestess of Delphi would have left once the book was in your possession.’
The image faded and the page flipped again. It looked like a glossary of magic. Basic understanding of the nature of magic, elemental control 101, understanding other races 101, just to name a few. Hundreds of pages with different things listed on them, but even flipping to the end of the book not one explanation. Echo flipped back to the first page and the narration started again, he flipped a couple pages getting us to the start of the selection. Poking basic understanding of the nature of magic, a golden bubble appeared over the book again.
‘Magic is the fundamental force of life, the ability to manipulate not only one's self but the world around them is a gift given to them by the world’s heart.’ The book droned on for a bit and I had to close the book.
Echo looked at me. “That is nothing like what we learned.” He said quietly. “Do you think we should show this to others? I mean something from the first oracle of Delphi, that has to be rare”
“I have a feeling it wouldn’t activate in front of or for anyone else. I think the only reason it activated was that it was just us two.”
“So you think I’m your guardian?”
“Apparently, it does make sense, and if you were meant to be my guardian it would explain why I feel so safe with you. When with everyone else…” I said quietly.
“Yeah, I guess. That's amazing to think that so much has changed. I knew the ancients were strong, but I never imagined that the reason was that they had more power than we do now. So much history has been lost over time.” Echo said.
“Or changed to fit what it needs,” I said softly. “If this was widely know, I doubt people would be against a male Siren or Female Triton. Someone had to work at changing history to keep this knowledge hidden. My only guess is that they are trying to keep our race away from the land or sky folk.”
“Maybe, there is too much not known, for now, we should keep that book hidden. Learning what we can when we are alone.”
“After the tournament, we can hide it in our cave. No one else knows about it. We could even hide it on the beach somewhere.”
“No, there were humans there, and if they found the island once they could find it again. The cave might work, but we would want to find someplace deep underwater to hide it.”
Nodding my head in agreement looking at the book. Sliding it under my bed, and going to open the shutters looking outside realizing that most of the day had passed. Soon it would be time for dinner. It had not seemed like so much time had passed, but all of the images must have taken so much longer than it seemed. I wondered how much we actually saw.
Going down to dinner we ate in silence as we thought about the upcoming days. Learning to master magic would be easier if I had a teacher, and it seemed like I would be able to learn a lot from the first Oracle of Delphi. Learning from an ancient mermaid would be incredible. Yet I worried, knowing that sometimes what seemed like moments when listening could be hours. Who knows how long a whole lesson would be, would I be sucked in for the whole time?
As much as I wanted to learn, I understood the need for the guardian, guessing that I would be unaware of my surroundings while absorbed in the learning. It scared me as much as excited me, we would have to wait until there was a lot of time in case we couldn’t stop a lesson part way. Waiting to go to the cave on a Friday night when the school wouldn’t miss us until Monday morning would be the best time to test the book.
Laying down holding onto Echo as we went to sleep. Thinking I could get used to this.
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