“So what do you think it means?” Cierra asks Aron, tilting her head curiously. Aron looks back at her, clearly pondering on what he just read from the new book.

“I don’t know… but I think I know what this is about. I need more information.” Aron gets up and locks the door, breathing a bit heavily. “We need to talk. Okay Ci Ci?” He sits back down on the bed and breathes deeply.

“O-okay. About what?” Cierra looks up at Aron and gets on the bed as well. Aron takes a deep breath.

“I’ve been reincarnated. I’m not ‘from’ this world and I have already lived a life back on another world.”

Cierra sits in silence as she processes this information, clearly going back and forth in her mind about what to believe.

“I don’t know if you believe me, but I trust you enough to tell you this,” Aron smiles at her. “I also trust you enough to keep this a secret.” Cierra sighs and chuckles.

“You’re insane… but I believe you. Gods, Aron. You can’t just spring that onto a girl like that. So… how old were you when you died?”

“I was forty-three… I was killed when I was about to be a great country’s ruler.” Aron admits softly. “Do you believe me?”

“Yeah, I do. What does this have to do with what that book said though?”

“Oh, right. So, when I died I was visited by the one who I think reincarnated me. Super creepy dude, always calls me ‘boo boo’ in a condescending tone for some reason.” Aron shrugs.

“So what’s this creepy dude got anything to do with the book?”

“I think he’s the ‘Lord’ that the author is talking about. Also something seems super familiar about the story in the book and something else… I just can’t remember what it was.” Aron ponders.

“The might is clearly talking about magic, right?” Cierra says quietly, also trying to think.

“That’s what I would assume.” Aron continues to think. “We don’t have much time before Auntie Trish comes knocking for our lessons… we’ll continue this later, okay?” He smiles at Ci Ci.

“Okay, have fun with your lessons.” She smiles back.

“You must not have heard me. You’re doing the lessons with me.” Aron smiles and grabs her hand.

“Okay…” Cierra smiles and blushes slightly.

Trish knocks on the door right on cue and Aron opens the door for her.

“Hey Auntie Trish. Cierra’s gonna be joining us today.” Aron smiles at the Headmaster while she grits her teeth and pretends to smile.

“Oh, just wonderful… I have to teach her the history of magic too.” She chuckles behind her teeth. Aron’s eyes widen slightly.

“Yep, it’ll be great!” Aron smiles and goes to the classroom. He sees a guard  next to every classroom door.

“What’s all this Ms.?” Aron asks the Headmaster, curiously. Cierra and Trish catch up to Aron.

“Remember Mr. Traytor being a traitor? That’s why I hired guards. Each trained specifically in magic. No one, not even a king is gonna get through this defense.” She smiles proudly.

“What if someone more powerful than a king shows up?” Aron asks, concerned.

“There’s no one more powerful than a king, Aron. Aldir gave most of the mana to the kings and their families, remember?” She smiles at him, slightly annoyed that he forgot that detail of her history lesson. Aron and Cierra look at each other with wide eyes. 

“Oh, right,” He pauses for a moment. “I forgot about that. Hahaha.” He laughs awkwardly and goes into the classroom. Trish looks at Cierra and they both shrug and go into the classroom.

“So, as I’ve already told Aron. To use magic, you should understand the history behind it. Now, there was this elven man, Aldir. He noticed that there were particles in the air and he took them into his body, yada yada. He noticed there was another dimension that he could access, which we now call the Fourth Dimension. No one else has seen it. From the Fourth Dimension, he poured out some particles, which we now call mana, to the people. He wanted us to have magic, but first he passed it on to kings who got it and passed down their powers. The four people who made incantations of magic are called the Wise Men. Olvia, Dessideus, Molber, and Aldir. Olvia for Water and Healing magic, Dessideus for Earth and Barrier magic, Molber for Air magic and Gravity magic, and Aldir for Fire and Explosive magic. Yes! I did it, I got through another day of that history lecture!” The Headmaster sighs in relief and sits down. 

“So what exactly is the Fourth Dimension?” Aron asks, curious.

“We don’t know for sure, only Aldir has seen it. Some people think it’s a place where gods meet. Others think it doesn’t exist, which I’m in that camp personally.”
“Why do you teach something you don’t believe?” Cierra speaks up.

“The kingdom makes everyone teach it. If we don’t comply, we don’t get funding to continue magical education.” Trish sits up. “Let’s go do some magic, alright?” She looks at Cierra. “Wait, Cierra. Do you know your magic affinity or if you even have one?”

“No, ma’am. How do we test it?” Cierra smiles excitedly.

The Headmaster pulls out a needle, a leaf, and a cup of water. Cierra and Aron look at the needle in horror.

“This.” Trish smiles. “Come to think of it, how old are you?”

“Eight. Why?” Cierra asks curiously.

“Usually you’d have to be ten to awaken, so I’m gonna go by the book and not draw blood from you ‘til then. Okay?” Trish smiles as if that was a normal sentence.

“Th-thanks? So kind of you.” Cierra smiles in fear.

“Can we do it with me?” Aron says excitedly.

“We already know that your affinity is water magic.” Trish explains and pats his head.

“Can we just try it anyway?” Aron asks, excited.

“I guess. Kid, give me your arm.” Trish says, prepping the needle. Aron gives her his arm, bracing for the needle.

‘I’ve never liked needles, not even in my old life. Maybe that’s a fear that I can get rid of in this life.’ Aron thinks, smiling to himself.

“Oops.” Trish drops the needle onto Aron’s arm, poking him.

‘Oops? What does she mean oops?’ Aron pulls back his now bleeding arm.

“Trying to kill me or something, lady?” He breathes heavily while Trish collects the blood.

“Relax, it worked, didn’t it?” Trish says nonchalantly. Cierra goes over to hug Aron and checks his wound.

“You okay?” She says, looking worried.

“Yeah, don’t worry. She just dropped the needle on my arm.” He smiles at her. Cierra hovers her hand over the grievous wound and it automatically heals. They look at each other in surprise.
“Did you just…” Aron asks and Cierra nods slowly. They both blink.

“I have magic now?” Cierra whispers. Trish finishes setting everything up and puts Aron’s blood into the cup of water with the leaf in it.

“Now, if the leaf points to the right, you have an affinity for water. If it points left, you have the affinity for Earth. If up, you have air. If it points down, you have fire magic. If it shrivels up, you have no magic. Now, let’s see.” The leaf points to the right.

“See Aron, I told you.” Trish smiles proudly.

“And what if it does that?” Cierra asks.

“Does what?” Trish looks back and the leaf is spinning rapidly. Trish’s eyes widen and she blinks repeatedly. “Uhh… then Aron has… the affinity for… all four elements.” She pauses and sits down on the floor. “I need a drink.” She says quietly, but still loud enough for the kids to hear. “It’s getting late kids, right?” She laughs awkwardly.

“It’s only eleven in the morning.” Cierra raises an eyebrow.

“Exactly! Getting late. Why don’t you kids just… ruminate on everything I’ve taught you today and go sleep or something. I really don’t care, just… I need a minute, okay?” Trish lets go of the happy facade.

“O-okay. Come on, Aron.” Cierra looks at Aron and waves him to her. Aron follows Cierra to their room. Aron locks the door and lays down on the bed, Cierra laying down with him.

“So… you can do magic.” Aron smiles. Cierra smiles softly.

“Yeah… and you can do any magic.” She chuckles lightly.

“Yeah, true. I think we found our ‘Lord’ today.” He smiles excitedly, but then remembers something. “He killed me. When I was in front of everyone, women, children, everyone in my country. He killed me in front of my family who was just behind me.” Aron looks down and fidgets with his hand.

Cierra’s eyes fill with tears. She hugs him softly.

“It’s okay. You’ll… we… will make him pay. Okay?” She smiles softly. 

“Okay. Together?” Aron smiles and holds her hand.

“Together.” Cierra smiles.