I couldn’t shake the feeling that the book wasn’t enough—that I needed more than just written words to truly understand what was happening to me. My mind kept going back to that moment in the library, the power that had surged through me, wild and untamed. If I was going to make sense of it, I had to learn more about witches, but I couldn't do it alone. I needed to talk to someone who might know more, someone I could trust.

That’s when Lila came to mind. She had been nothing but kind to me since I arrived, always patient and willing to help with anything I needed. But would she have answers to the questions swirling in my head? And more importantly, could I ask her without revealing too much?

I decided to find her, hoping that she would be able to shed some light on the matter, even if just a little. My heart raced as I walked through the castle’s corridors, the weight of my secret pressing down on me with every step. I found Lila in the laundry room, carefully folding linens with the same gentle precision she applied to everything she did.

“Lila,” I began, my voice sounding more uncertain than I intended. “Can I ask you something?”

She looked up, her expression warm as she set aside the linen she was folding. “Of course, Miss Elara. What’s on your mind?”

I hesitated, searching for the right words. How could I ask without revealing too much? “I was reading a book, and… well, it mentioned people with… unnatural powers. It got me curious, so I thought I’d ask if you knew anything about that?”

Lila’s hands froze mid-motion, her eyes widening slightly. The change in her demeanor was immediate, and a flicker of fear passed through her eyes before she quickly masked it. “Unnatural powers?” she echoed, her voice a touch too calm. “What sort of powers are you talking about?”

My stomach twisted at her reaction, but I pressed on, trying to keep my tone casual. “It was something about… people who can do things that others can’t. Like, um, magic?”

Lila’s face paled, and she glanced around the room, as if to make sure no one else could hear us. “Where did you read about that?” she asked, her voice low and cautious.

Panic flared in my chest. Had I made a mistake by bringing this up? I scrambled to come up with a believable explanation. “In a book I found… in the library. It just mentioned it briefly, and I was curious.”

Lila’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but the tension in her eyes remained. “Well, those people you read about… they’re called witches,” she said softly, almost as if the word itself was dangerous to utter. “They look like us, but they can be identified by their ruby eyes. Magic is… it’s forbidden here in the kingdom.”

Forbidden. The word sent a shiver down my spine. If magic was forbidden, then what did that mean for me? I didn’t have ruby eyes, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t different. Did that make me a different kind of witch, one not recorded in the books? Or was I something else entirely?

Lila’s gaze was fixed on me, her expression unreadable. “Why do you ask, Miss Elara? Is there something else you want to know?”

I quickly shook my head, forcing a smile. “No, no… I was just curious. It seemed… interesting.”

Lila’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I wondered if she suspected more than I was letting on. But then she smiled—a small, reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s best not to dwell on such things. The kingdom… it doesn’t take kindly to those who practice magic.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I absorbed her words. If magic was forbidden, then what would happen if someone found out about me? The thought was terrifying, but it also made me more determined than ever to understand what was going on. If there were more books like the one I had found, perhaps they held the answers I needed.

“Thank you, Lila,” I said, hoping she couldn’t hear the tremor in my voice. “I appreciate you telling me.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “Of course, Miss Elara. If you ever need anything… you know where to find me.”

I smiled at her, trying to hide the turmoil inside me, and then made my way back to the library. As I walked through the halls, my mind raced with a mixture of excitement and fear. I had gotten more information, but it had only raised more questions. If magic was forbidden, I had to be even more careful. No one could know what I was capable of—not until I fully understood it myself.

Once I reached the library, I felt a surge of determination. I began scanning the shelves, my fingers trailing over the spines of ancient tomes, searching for anything that might give me more insight into witches and their powers. But after what felt like hours, all I found were books on history, geography, and mundane topics. There was nothing else about witches, no other book that could offer me the answers I desperately needed.

Frustration bubbled up inside me. How could the one book I had found be the only source of information? There had to be more, but it seemed as though the knowledge I sought was hidden, just out of reach. I could feel the weight of Lila’s words pressing down on me. If magic was forbidden, it made sense that information about it would be scarce.

I let out a sigh of defeat, closing the last book I had pulled from the shelf. My search had yielded nothing. I would have to make do with the little I had learned from Lila and the one book I had found.

As I left the library, my thoughts were heavy. I was no closer to understanding what I was or what I could do, but at least I knew now that I had to be careful. The kingdom did not tolerate those who practiced magic, and until I understood my own abilities, I had to keep them hidden. 

With a sense of resignation, I made my way back to my room. The path ahead was still uncertain, and I had more questions than ever before. But one thing was clear—I had to be cautious, and I had to keep searching for the truth. Because if I didn’t, the consequences could be dire.