Chapter 2 – Toddler years

By age one Yue could understand almost everything her family said and had said her first words which were of course mama and papa. But besides the rare fake stuttering single syllable words to her family Yue did her best to be a quiet but normal baby. Having been in an orphanage most of her past life Yue was left with a slight trauma of being labeled an unwanted child. Because of this Yue was determined to make sure her new loving family had no reason to dislike or fear her.  However when alone in her crib, Yue would practice speaking and lightly exercise her body since she believed it was best if she took advantage of her non-baby like mind.

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Yue peaked over her crib’s prison bars listening carefully for any footsteps but hearing none. It had been nice to feel loved and cared for but Yue was at her limits of being trapped in her cage. When no one was with her she was limited to exercising in the crib, and there was only so much work outs you can do before being tired and bored.  But most importantly, It has been a year and a half since she had last read a book! Sure her family sometimes read a baby book to her, in fact it was how she learned a very small bit of the written language, but Yue was a librarian and an avid reader how could that be interesting!

Lifting her body up with a practiced pull up, Yue pulled with all her baby strength and made it to sitting on the top rim. Yue could see the next obstacle and it was fierce.  The prison was the top of a cliff and she needed to make it below to the wooden landing. But it would not stop an avid reader! Yue had already used her wisdom to overcome it. Yes the sheet tied rope from her baby blankets were already tied to the bars and hung down to the landing. Rapunzel (Yue) slid down her long brown hair (tied sheets) and escaped her tower (crib).

Treading on her tip toes Yue silently made it do the next challenge the gate (door)! But fear not, Yue chose this moment because not only were her brother and mother out shopping but they forgot to fully close the gate.  Sliding through the crack Yue quickly dropped down on all fours, she couldn’t risk an unexpected return and being seen walking before they had seen her first steps! Yue made her way through the hallways; she had been through the house in her family’s arms and knew her mission objective.

Turning right at the end of the hallway avoiding the front door Yue spotted it, the lounge room. Crawling Yue’s gaze was captured by the treasure of the room, yes goal! thought Yue as she raced like a dog on a hunt all stealth forgotten toward the Bookshelf! Grabbing the first book from the lowest point a grand smug smile appeared on Yue’s baby face. Mission accomplished thought Yue as she plopped down to read.

MISSION FAILED! Yue had tears streaking down her face as she held open the last of the reachable books. Yue had been so focused on getting to the books she had forgotten the most important ability needed. The ability to read! And know more than a few words found in baby books! With a sigh Yue looked back at the bookshelf. Judging from length and color the baby books were at the top shelf, an impossible height for Yue’s size. With the thick book in her lap Yue started to slowly go over each sentence, using the few simple words and letters she did know to try and work out possible meaning of others. In her past life Yue had learned five different written languages in order to read different books, so she was no stranger to using sentence structure in order to translate unknown words. The problem was that with so few known words it would take a long hard time just to figure out one new word.

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 Yue stared at the bars of her crib and sighed. She had made a mistake all readers seem to make. She got too caught up into the book and her mission that she forgot about everything else. Her mother came home and found Yue siting in the lounge room with the encyclopedia of plants book open on the floor. Luckily for Yue, her mother using common sense that a baby wouldn’t read such a thing blamed it on Brian believing he had read a bit to his daughter, and then forgot to return Yue to her crib. Grace laughed at her husband’s folly and asked Kevin to return Yue to her crib.

When Yue and Kevin got to her prison, He had been shocked to find the sheet rope and looked at Yue with a suspicious gaze.

“You couldn’t have done that right?” Kevin asked doubtfully.

Yue knew it was time to use her ace up her sleeve, she looked at her brother and did the baby giggle smile.

Kevin laughed at his cute sister, “Yeah of course not, dad must have been fooling around with you while we were gone.” Smiling he tickled his sister’s belly then returned her to the crib. He untied the blankets and covered her up before leaving the room.

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Yue was now three years old and was extremely happy about it. She was released from her crib when she turned two, which was also when she showed her “first steps.” She used small bad grammar sentences to her family in order to express her needs such as a cute, “Can you read book?” Because of this she was able to read with ease while her family believed she liked the letters and descriptive pictures. Although she had tried to figure out what her dad did for a living she was always caught when following or looking for him by Grace or Kevin. The biggest thing that happened though was a month before her third birthday her mother had gotten her brother a book on magic! With the three year old charm, Yue had gotten Kevin to read it for her. Although it stated that everyone has the possibility to awake to magic at ten years old, what modern bookworm would Yue be if she didn’t try anyways at night in secret? And using modern theories on magic/meditation, and the book from this world Yue was able to create a nail size orb of light. Since then she continued to practice magic at night with the eagerness any Earthling would have with magic.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

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KNOCK KNOCK

Yue set down ‘Adventures of Mard Black’ and headed to the door. It was common for them to get visitors for her father so Yue had no hesitation as she stood on the tips of her toes to open the door. A young human was there, Yue would best describe him as a college student playing mage. He had red hair and youthful appearance and wore a robe however the bored eyes ruined the look and reminded Yue of the college students who went to the library on homework assignments.

“Hello.” Yue quietly said to the young man and gave him a curious gaze.

He looked down at the brown haired purple eyed toddler and said in an impatient voice, “Brat get your parents, it’s listed that they have a 10 year old kid I am here for magic testing.”

Yue shrugged then headed to the back yard where her mother and Kevin were working on the garden. Spotting them in the dirt planting seeds Yue shouted, “Mommy a scary man wants you.”

Grace laughed at Yue’s remark since she had never seen Yue scared or cry after that one time when she was a few months old. Not to mention her daughter had said that with a sing song voice not a frightened one. Standing up Kevin, Grace, and Yue made their way to the man at the door.

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Yue looked at the people around her in the lounge room. The mage was holding a crystal ball and stood in front of Kevin, Kevin looked excited; Grace had a loving smile as she watched Kevin, and Brian had a worried look.

Kevin took a deep breath then placed his hand on the crystal. The mage man yawned then when he spoke Yue could feel a flash of magic release from his body and into the crystal, “Activate the power within.”

With the spell said the crystal started to glow, it started at a pale yellow before increasing in brightness. After reaching a bright but still fine to stare at brightness it started changing color. By the end the mage held a purple okay brightness crystal.

Four gasps resounded though the room, the mage had a stunned look, Kevin looked conflicted, but Brian and Grace showed sadness. Yue not understanding what was long quickly asked for an explanation, “Mommy what’s wrong?”

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Grace looked to her youngest child to explain but the magic academy mage interrupted her and his words almost caused her to let her tears out.

“It means your brother gets to come with me to the academy when I leave this village today, little girl. Your brother has above a 7 magic score so the law states that he has to go to the capital’s school now instead of going to a school at age 15 or not at all. ” The mage spoke with excitement, then he mumbled under his breath, “and as his finder I might get rewarded hehe”.

Grace watched as both her children seemed to show some sadness. Even if Kevin wanted to be a mage leaving home at 10 years old was far too young. And Yue, Grace had never seen such a look of detestation before.

The mage grabbed Kevin’s hand and pulled him out the door, “Time to go my reward *cough* I mean young mage!”

Grace picked up her daughter when she saw that Yue was about to run after her beloved brother, then looked at her husband. Brian had his head in his hands not noticing anything around him. Grace knew that he had hoped Kevin had a small amount of magic but not enough to go to school so that he could follow the family trade. With a sad sigh Grace held her crying daughter carrying her back to her room.

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Yue lay on her bed in her mother’s arms, her tears had long dried up but her heart still hurt. When she had first calmed down Yue had asked when Kevin would be able to visit, Only to learn that mage students get few days off and not enough for Kevin to travel home and back in time. When I asked how long he would be at school, Grace told her that for the safety of others mage students of the capital school graduate when they reach saint rank which could take 10-40 years depending on the person. From the book Kevin had read her Yue knew the ranks.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Master

Saint (lifespan increases from 50-100 years)

Emperor (lifespan increases another 50-100 years)

Elemental (lifespan increases 100 years)

Angel/Devil (lifespan increases 100 years and depending on mindset and morals tattoos of wings(anywhere) or horns(forehead) appear on the body. Also if a devil, an arrow tail will form)

Minor God/Minor Satan (Never die from age)

God/Satan

Staring up at the ceiling Yue made a decision, when the mage testers came for her she would be ready. She would create a spell that hides her magic capabilities. She will not be forced to be separated from her parents again. With the decision made, Yue let herself fall asleep alongside her loving mother.