Isolde's POV

Dali-dali akong tumungo sa opisina na kinalalagyan ng tatay ko para talakayin sa kanya ang nilalaman ng aking isip.

Nang makita naman ako ng nag babantay ay agad kumatok ito sa pinto, mukhang napapadalas ang pag dalaw ko dito at nasanay na ang taga bantay.

Pinapasok na ako at nakita kong nasa loob ang nanay ko pati narin si Conlaed. Bakit nandito silang lahat?

Mukhang halata ang pagtataka sa mukha ko at sinenyasan ako ng nanay ko na maupo muna.

"What were you guys discussing?" I asked.

"I was saying my goodbyes to Father and Mother, and I heard from them that your engagement with that boy Yophiel, your planning on canceling it?" He asked. Kaya pala, sabagay isa itong knight at kailangan nang bumalik sa serbisyo. Tumango ako ng dalawang beses bilang sagot.

"So, what is the reason of your visit dear daughter? I notice that you've been visiting quite a lot lately." My father asked with a fatherly smile.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "This days I've been learning things that I wasn't very keen of in the past, and there's this thing that piqued my interest," tiningnan ko sila isa-isa "magic, mother, father I want to learn magic." Shock was evident from their faces then there was their worried eyes.

Nagsi-sinungaling ako kapag hindi ko sinabing kinakabahan ako sa desisyon kong ito, since this is a big leap from Isolde's personality at alam kong nadagdagan nito ang suspisyon nila sa akin.

"B-but Isolde dear, you shouldn't involve yourself with those kind of things." Nakita ko namang sumang-ayon ang nanay at kapatid.

"Magic is a dangerous act to perform, more or less you'll get harmed by it and your life can be in grave danger." Naga-alalang saad ng kapatid ko.

Bakit parang tutol na tutol sila, masyado bang sagrado 'tong larangan na ito? I mean, batay naman sa mga nababasa kong libro noon ay parang madali lang 'to.

"You see, magic is like your life itself since it sucks your energy up, that's why mana exist and if the wielder doesn't have enough mana then..." Hindi na kailangan pang tapusin ng nanay ko ang sasabihin nito dahil alam ko ang gustong iparating nito. But I'm determined, if this is the only way to survive I'll do it.
"I'm sorry to disappoint but I already made my decision for this and I'm determined to do it, that's why all I need is your permission father and mother." I said with full of determination.

Nagkatinginan naman silang tatlo at parang naga-alinlangan.

"The problem is--" Ngunit bago pa man matapos ang sasabibin ng tatay ko ay may kumatok sa pinto.

"Marquess, Duke Agas is requesting for your presence." Saad ng guwardiya.

What's the duke doing here all of a sudden?

Pinatuloy ng Marquess ang Duke.

"Well, well, seems like I'm intruding a family meeting, did I come on the wrong time?" Saad nito. Alam kong ramdam din nito ang tensiyon na nabubuo.

"Don't be duke, your presence is always welcomed." Pinaupo naman ito ng tatay ko.

"I'll cut the chase since it seems like you're having some family quality time, I'm here to discuss about Isolde's and Yophiel's engagement." Nabaling ang tingin nito sa akin. I flinched.

"You know It's rude to decline an engagement from a higher rank and to the point that you were also the one who requested it Isolde." Damn, this is the consequence of your attitude Isolde. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay galit ang Duke.

"But I am not in any means angry just to clarify, maybe it is due to the recent accident that you had a sudden change of heart." I have to speak up.

"D-duk--"

"Hold up, I'm not yet done speaking, I understand your concerns Isolde." Nagtaka ako sa sinabi nito, hindi ba siya magagalit?

"I am here to say that I am allowing you to cancel the engagement and isn't it also not very healthy for both parties to have a political marriage? Yes it's common in our generation but let's spice things up." The Duke smiled, pero hindi lang ito basta-basta isanh simpleng ngiti, parang may itinatago itong kalokohan.

"I'm giving you a chance to clarify your feelings dear, I don't know the real reason why the sudden change of heart but I hope you'll fix it until Yophiel's debut to society since he's probably gonna have tons of marriage proposals from different houses." Well, this wasn't the answer I was expecting.

"Now that's done, why was the air full of tension a while ago?" Parang nabalik naman sa ulirat ang tatlong kasama ko, mukhang hindi lang pala ako ang nagtaka sa sinabi ng duke.

I decided to answer his question dahil mukhang wala namang balak sagutin ng tatlo kong kasama.

"I was asking about their permission since I want to learn how to wield magic." I said, nabaling ang tingin nito sa magulang ko na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

Bakit ganun na lamang sila maka-react, may mali ba sa sinasabi ko?

I look at them, confused.

Napahawak sa sentido ang ama ko at tinggal nito ang reading glasses niya.

"Isolde, dear, If you've forgotten me, your mother together with your brother, we wield the element of fire." Napalaki ang mata ko at nahampas ko naman ang lamesa kasabay ng pagtayo.

"Does that mean I also wield the element of fire?" Pero ang ekspresiyon nila ay katulad na naman kanina, para bang may bagay sila na gustong sabihin sakin na hindi nila masabi.

Hinawakan ng nanay ko ang kamay ko at binalik ako sa pagkakaupo. "Isolde among us, you are the only one who can't wield magic."

I froze from my seat. "W-what?"

"You mana energy is not enough to be able to wield it."