Days passed in the tranquil rhythm of the village, and with each sunrise, Emma's thoughts swirled more fervently around the concept of magic. The word itself carried a weight of mystery and possibility that she couldn’t ignore. Crawling aimlessly around the house, her infant mind raced with questions: What was magic? How did it work? Could I wield it someday?

Her questions found an unexpected answer one quiet afternoon. The sun dipped lazily in the sky, casting long, golden beams through the windows. As Emma ventured into the corridor, a faint hum of energy drew her to Ellie’s room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, she saw her sister sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Ellie’s eyes were closed, her face serene, as though she were listening to a melody only she could hear. The sunlight caught her hair, turning it into a halo of soft amber, and the room itself seemed to pulse with an unspoken power. Intrigued, Emma crept closer, careful not to make a sound.

Her curiosity deepened when she noticed a faint glow emanating from Ellie’s midsection. It started as a dim flicker, like the first light of dawn, before solidifying into a radiant orb. The small sphere shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors—fiery reds, brilliant golds, and streaks of pale white that danced within its core.

Emma’s breath caught, her small hands gripping the edge of the doorframe. She leaned forward, her eyes wide as the energy within the orb swirled like a living thing. The red hues pulsed with a heartbeat-like rhythm, vibrant and alive, and the golden light bathed the room in a warm, ethereal glow.

“Wow,” Emma whispered, her tiny voice barely audible over the faint hum of energy.

Suddenly, the air shifted. A gentle breeze stirred within the room, ruffling Ellie’s hair and lifting the edges of her tunic. Her expression changed, her brows furrowing in concentration as she lifted a hand and spoke in a calm, commanding tone.

“Wind Technique—Levitate.”

The words seemed to hang in the air, resonating with an unseen force. In response, the breeze intensified, swirling around Ellie in playful currents. Slowly, as though cradled by invisible hands, Ellie’s body began to rise. The orb of light at her core flickered, and the winds carried her a few inches above the ground.

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Emma watched, captivated by the sight of her sister defying gravity. Ellie’s expression was one of fierce determination, her lips pressed into a firm line. But the winds faltered. The glow dimmed, and with a sudden rush of air, Ellie dropped to the floor, landing on her bottom with a soft thud.

“Ow! Not again,” Ellie muttered, rubbing the sore spot with a sheepish smile. Despite the mishap, there was no frustration in her voice—only a quiet resolve. She took a deep breath and returned to her meditative pose, her hands resting lightly on her knees.

“I have to keep trying,” Ellie murmured, her voice firm but soft, as though she were speaking to herself. “I must grow stronger. Strong enough to protect Ethan and Emma.”

Her words struck a chord in Emma’s chest. Watching Ellie’s earnest efforts to master the mysterious power left her both awestruck and inspired. A spark of determination flared within her—small but steady, like the first flicker of a flame.

“I want to learn too,” Emma thought, her tiny fists clenching with resolve. She turned away from the room, her heart racing as she crawled toward the stairs. The library beckoned her like a lighthouse in the dark, its shelves promising answers to questions she didn’t yet know how to ask.

Descending carefully, she reached the familiar heavy door and pushed it open with a soft grunt. The scent of old parchment and leather bindings enveloped her, filling her lungs with the essence of knowledge and secrets.

Emma crawled to the shelf where she had last seen the book titled Magic. Her hands brushed against the spines of other tomes as she searched, their textures rough and cool under her fingers. Finally, she found it, its golden title glinting faintly in the dim light.

Settling onto the floor, she opened the book, her eyes scanning the intricate diagrams and looping script. The pages spoke of energy flows, focus techniques, and the ancient art of drawing power from the very air around oneself.

“This is it,” Emma whispered, her voice filled with quiet awe. “This is the key.”

The library seemed to hum in agreement, the silence wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Each turn of the page deepened her resolve, the words and illustrations painting a world of endless possibilities.

“I’ll learn,” Emma murmured, her tiny fingers tracing the image of a glowing orb. “I’ll grow stronger, just like Ellie. I’ll protect them... all of them.”

The room, silent and watchful, seemed to acknowledge her promise. The soft creak of the shelves and the whisper of pages felt almost alive, as if the library itself was rooting for her.

With a resolute smile, Emma closed the book and carefully returned it to its place. She glanced back at the towering shelves, her eyes alight with purpose.

“I’ll come back,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustle of a passing breeze. “I’ll unlock my potential. I will protect my family.”

As she made her way back to the nursery, Emma felt a shift within herself—a stirring of something greater, something that would one day grow into a force strong enough to shape the world. For now, she was small, her journey just beginning, but a spark of fire burned bright in her heart.

The library held the promise of answers, and Emma was ready to uncover them, one page at a time.