Mother led them to a seldom used wing of the family mansion. The servants were not allowed there, so the accumulated dust assaulted their nostrils. Rhea stiffled a cough, but Mother just continued walking.
“Is what you want us worth the dust, Mother? said Rei, and then smiled “I could clear if with wind, if you want me to”
“We’d become pillars of dust, Rei, we’re on the way” said Rhea, hiding a smile “let’s at least keep ourselves sort of clean”
Mother didn’t answer and kept walking. Both girls had no option but to follow. Soon, they entered a dark room with covered windows. It was a kind of library room, full of dusty bookcases and a single small table at the center.
Rei’s eyes shone. Was this secret knowledge? Maybe Mother wanted to teach her some new runes! Yet, when she eyed the titles she discovered they were harem romance novels. Bah! Such bad taste!
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Rhea was more interested in how out of place this room was. It was way too dark to truly be a reading room, and had no torches or magic stones to light it up. It was also too far off the wing, at the end of a hallway.
Mother ignored them and moved forward to the center bookcase, against the wall. There, she moved a book and a weird rumbling struck their ears. The bookcase moved to the side, revealing a hidden door.
Mother took a simple black key from her satchel, and used it to open the door. Inside, two glass displays and an ornate armor in the center, bearing no insignia.
“These three things are the most valuable relics we possess” Mother said, her tone serious “And I want you to take them with you if you need to escape”
Rei snorted
“Escape? Why would we even do that? I’d rather push them away!”
“My daughter, you should know I love your ambition” Mother said, a slight smile forming on her lips “but not even you would win in a war against a whole kingdom.”
Rei stayed silent, but thought “I won’t know until I try it”
“Now, the most important one is the staff in the right case. It was given to your father as a gift for forgiving the life of a certain Zimarin soldier. You know this isn’t the only time we’ve been at war with them.” Mother said “It’s supposed to unlock any latent potential of any magic users. I wasn’t born with magic, so it’s useless for me… and it didn’t work on your father. I’m hoping it does on your two.”