The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 23

I left the hall in a hurry, but once I got outside into the rest of the castle, I just meandered.

The staff avoided me as I walked around and I didn't see Barvoscha.

First, I found the Library.

It was slightly smaller than my library back at the Imperial Palace, but it still had plenty of books.

Then, I found the tea room.

It was a small room with couches and tea sets on the shelves.

The resting room, the sitting room, and a bunch of guest rooms accompanied my voyage.

Eventually, I went up a tower and opened a large wooden door.

It mustve been the mages room.

Magic was in the air and plenty of odd things were about.

Caninets looked jammed with things in jars, and book shelves were overflowing resulting to piles on the floor.

"Hello."

I jumped, startled as a middle aged woman poked her head above a pile of books.

She had orange curly hair that was tied in a black bandanna amd green eyes that sparkled with mischief.

"Im the royal mage." She said, thrusting her hand out.

I shook her hand and then continued to gaze at her.

This woman had an aura of confidence around her. She strode from place to place with a mission and she seemed to know ehat she was doing.

"Have you ever tried magic?" She asked me as I watched her read a book.

I simply shook my head. I had grown up learning how to be an Empress, and now that I wasnt...

"Can you teach me?"

The woman laughed. "Sure can! Whats your name, lass?"

"Renata." I replied, not knowing if she knew my name.

The woman raised her eyebrows. "Ah, Barvoschas new queen. Well, Im Illioya. Call me Illie."

I laughed. Illie? It was such a normal name.

Illie brought me a book and pointed to the cover.

"This is a beginners book. Try soms of it out and come back when your done, lass."

I nodded again and took the book. But I wasn't magic, so how could I learn any if this?

"I dont have a magic bone in my body." I told Illie as she riffled through her cabinet

She shrugged. "Thats alright. I didnt have one either, but here I am."

She stood up and turned to me and held out her palm. A wisp of flame flickered and danced around and she closed her hand to extinguish it.

"You can be any element you want. Or anything else." She shrugged then walked off.

I left the tower and found a quiet place in the library and settled down to read my book.

There were 12 types of magic- Specialists who trained in combat, Air Benders who controlled air, Temperists who controlled weather, Florists who controlled the earth, Dashers who controlled fire, Conniusists who read minds, Illusioners who could make illusions, Barcherists who could control water, Regulists who were in charge of shadows, and a ton of others.

My mind was boggled as I finished reading quickly and I peered out a window to see that the sun was setting, shedding its last light over the snow making it sparkle.