“You must accept that responsibility, since you are now regarded as a first-generation who will start from scratch with a family grimoire memoir or whatever because no one in your family appears to have any knowledge of any book.” Loki kept his focus glued on the road, gradually becoming ignorant of what he was babbling on about. “The book should have been the witch's first year of training's accomplishment. You also have the Lord's strongest witch mentoring you in his house and his personal library. If it's taken you this long, you could wind up with an imp who is disobedient.”

“I'm equally surprised that Rouma has any endurance with you. She is typically napping or yelling and belittling everyone who bothers her for whatever little reason. You're barely getting by with one of Roumas Familiars. I just can’t believe her pink sheep hates you, she is the softest, and she treats everyone with kindness. At your current rate, you'll definitely obtain the Lord's demon mark by the age of sixty. Even though you're utilizing my blood in practically all of your experiments.”

Loki winked at Irma and took another bite of his food. He noted her disappointed expression as he realized what he had told her. She said nothing in response to him. Even though Loki had a foul mouth with no filter, he never understood how to communicate to others without first upsetting them before comprehending what he had just said. He never intended to upset or disappoint Irma, but he has always known how to make her happy.

“Unless. I help you in your search for your family's forgotten grimoire. If they ever had one, to begin with, or even better, I'll take you to a location where lost grimoires have been abandoned and forgotten, waiting for a new master to adopt them.”

Irma moved her gaze off the scenery and towards Loki. “Adopt a book? This isn’t a puppy we find at a dog pound. We’re talking about books, right? You know, the ones with old ink and paper sewed into the spine, with the written language we can’t understand.”

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“Rouma was going to tell you to adopt if you couldn't track down your own in the end. Mostly because I don't want to spend another weekend cleaning your aunt's filthy basement for 'gratis' for a book that isn't even there. I mean, we've been there all day and the cleaning hasn't even moved an inch. I suspect your aunt is putting more things down there while we aren't looking, and she can't even give us pastries, since the scent from her pastry shop is torturing me.”

“Like always, Loki, you pronounced the word wrong. There's no need to roll the R for that long in this one.”

Irma was irritated, seeing as she knew his comment was realistic. She might as well throw in the towel at this point. Her offspring may outrank her before she can even earn the title of Certified basic level witch, at the pace she's going.

She stared intently at her palm, remembering the energy she felt for a moment, how powerful that tiny drop of magic was. She knew she was strong, but having so much untapped potential hoarded inside her since birth and just using a small amount stresses her body, forcing her to be bedridden for three days to totally recover.

Irma no longer felt compelled to finish her meal. She wrapped the remaining food and placed it into the basket. Irma placed her arm on the door and returned her gaze to Loki. “There was no book from the start, was there? She did use us to clean her grimy basement, and she didn't even bother to offer us a treat.”

Loki remains focused on the road, nodded, and drove silently. Irma, on the other hand, rested her head on her forearm, well aware that she would no longer be able to enjoy the forest's iconic pine aroma every day.

She lowered her window, soaking in the warmth of the mountain trees, the falling rapid rivers, and the breathtaking landscape warmth, while covering half her face with her arm she inhaled the damp terrain as they drove past. As a tear tumbles down her cheek, she recounted her childhood up in the mountains. Until the day she returns to the wilderness, to her family and friends. She had no idea how homesick she felt as of now. She passes out practically the entire ride to the city, completely unaware.