Hold Me Tight, For I Am Unlovely

Chapter 31 : I Have a 15% Idea Of What's Going To Happen Next

Chapter 31 :

*Accidentally learns something odd*

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Vittoria raised a brow at her daughter's expression, curiosity flickering in her sharp eyes. "Oh?" she prompted, her voice lilting with intrigue. The single word carried an unspoken tune for Leticia to continue, her tone making it clear that she expected at least an explanation.

Leticia gave a small nod, her expression a mix of pride and uncertainty. "Yes. I've managed to conjure a single magic string," she said carefully, raising her hand to demonstrate. Faint mumbling left Leticia's lips. It was apparent to Vitorria that it was Medicci's common language incantation.

"By thine ancient light and embrace, through the endless void, I shall carve thy place. Threads of power, weave and bind, By thine will and by thine word, I let thee fate unwind.—" Leticia began to speak, her voice steady but devoid of conviction.

The words were common, textbook phrases—rote memorization brought to life. There was little else to be said about her incantation; it was functional but uninspired, a recitation rather than a true act of magic.

But it did its part.

A faint shimmer of energy flickered to life between her fingers, delicate yet unmistakable. Vitorria watched carefully with keen eyes.

"From roots of earth to heavens nigh, Shalt I awaken forces none may spy. O spirits so fleet, Grant thy strength, mine call entreat. Through spoken tongue and solemn vow, Lend thine essence here and now." The air shifted, and a clear, golden string shimmered into existence at the tip of Leticia's finger.

It glowed like liquid gold ichor , its surface shifting and flickering as if it were alive. It seemed both tangible and ethereal, as though it existed in the space between reality and illusion, there yet not fully there.

Simply put, it was a manifestation of Leticia's will.

Slowly, Leticia breathed out a sound of relief. She had spent a few hours memorising the chant. Wanting to memorize and do at least the first step of magic before anything. At the very least, she could prove her practice had not been in vain.

Leticia leveled the singular string at the eyes of her mother. And watched as her mother nodded. Seemingly proud at the state of her string.

She glanced at her mother before continuing, her voice steady but soft. "I read that most people can achieve this without a tutor or master, as long as they know the common language incantation. It’s... straightforward to produce one string if you follow the basics."

The string pulsed faintly in the air, and Leticia’s gaze dropped to it, as if she were measuring her own worth in its fragile glow. Just as she finished speaking, the string flickered, and just like that, it disappeared.

"It seems you’ve at least cleared the first hurdle," Vittoria remarked, her tone measured, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She hadn’t expected this—hadn't expected this much progress. For a moment, she seemed unsure of what else to say, her gaze lingering on the memory of the faint golden string. "How many days did you say you studied for this?" she finally asked.

"Umm, about three or four days? Roughly around that," Leticia replied, there was a  mix of sheepishness in her tone. "It wasn’t easy... I had to scour everything from scratch," she admitted.  If she didn't want her ass leaving her seat with every bump, she would've scratched the back of her head.

"Leticia dear," Vitorria started, unsure of where to start. "Are you aware that manifesting your first string without the help of an experienced magical practitioner guiding you is neigh impossible right?" Vitorria furrowed her brows, her hands going up to her chin.

Leticia tilted her head at this, she opened her mouth to reply, only for her mother to raise a hand up to silence her for a moment.

"Dear, listen." Her mother sighed. "I don't know where you got the idea that most people can achieve this without a guide as long as they know the common language incantation. But I can assure you that it's not true." Vitorria patted Leticia's head, and the girl looked up to her mother's touch curiously.

Leticia digested the words slowly.

"I don't get it? I've clearly read about it before."

"Is it a book from the Pandemonium?"

"Yes," Leticia nodded. "All of my reference came from the library. Since I don't know where else you can get books about magic." Leticia bit her lips Unconsciously. "Is it something bad?" She asked.

Vitorria sighed, her hands reaching to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Well, the Pandemonium is no ordinary library; it’s ancient, vast, and eccentric. It holds countless books—more than one could ever imagine." She started.

"What makes it unique is how it works. If you request a book, it doesn’t simply hand over a specific one. Instead, it gives you a random book that fits the type or subject you’re seeking. And here's the twist—even if another person asks for the exact same topic, they might receive an entirely different book."

Hearing this, Leticia furrowed her brows. She didn't know this random fact at all. She had used the library's function like it was a Google Search bar, because that was what worked best for her.

"It’s almost as if the library has a mind of its own, choosing what you need, not necessarily what you want. Your father and I have spent years studying there, but even we haven’t come close to reading everything it holds. Honestly, I doubt anyone ever could."

"Should I show you the books that I have then?" Leticia offered.

"No, no. Such information is useless to me. Your father might be interested though." Vitorria waved her hand. "On the other note, tell me what you have learned about magic."

Leticia nodded, it was obvious that Vitorria wanted her to ask questions if she ever had some.

Which she had. Mind you.

"I'll start from the very beginning, then," Leticia said, straightening her posture instinctively.  The situation vastly reminded her of the countless times she had reported to the CEO in her role as a secretary. The need to present every detail clearly—it was all so similar.

It almost felt like she was back in the boardroom, standing before a towering desk, armed with nothing but her notes and her wits. Only this time, she was in front of her mother, inside a carriage, going to a boutique.

"First up, the string," Leticia began, her voice steady as she sorted through her thoughts. "I know that the 'string' is the foundation of all magic—or, at least, human-manifested magic." She tilted her head slightly, as if pulling the memory into sharper focus. "The string is essentially a manifestation of one's willpower. To create one, your frontal lobe—err, the part of the brain that controls voluntary movement—needs to mature enough to manage the magic drawn from the core."

She paused, realizing she had slipped into terminology from her previous world. The term "frontal lobe" was entirely foreign here, yet when she glanced at her mother, there was no reaction of confusion or recognition. It seemed the slip had gone unnoticed. Leticia exhaled softly.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: On the other hand, happy 200 likes guis]