Inheritor of Strength (Book one of Alfireán age)

Hidden Past

***A few minutes ago***

The world shook and flames raced out to engulf Olivia.

With heartrending terror, reality crashed back in around her, and she threw her arms up as the wall of crimson fire charged towards her, blotting out the horizon. Mere inches before it devoured her, the flames slammed into a glistening blue barrier of energy and flowed off to the left and right.

Olivia took several halting steps backwards, her heart thudding in her chest, and lowered her hands.

Enough is enough, she thought, mentally slapping herself as she watched Alf's fire rage about her.

Olivia, remember who you are.

You're not a simpleton who panted after a boy all her life.

You are an orphan who grabbed herself by the bootstraps and pulled herself up to become one of the Empire's top healers.

You're a girl who fought through every obstacle, pushed through every hindrance, and rose to the top to become a teacher, a healer, and...

The explosion billowed skyward and Alf's shield shattered.

As blue pieces of magic rained down about her, Olivia jutted out her chin, and with defiance in her eyes, she met the raging heat as it washed over her.

No! I am not a weak, insipid woman who will let myself be intimidated by a mere boy. Nor am I one to sit back idly on the sidelines and let a prince change my friend into a tool for revenge.

Alf may be different, but he's still Alfonso, and I will see to it that he remains so.

And with her own words ringing in her mind, Olivia came to a decision. Gritting her teeth, she ignored the heat and soot swirling around her and brought all of her energy to bear against the seal within her—a seal placed on her at eight years old by sixteen of the world's best healers shortly after Alfonso's father had opened her magic.

The special seal hovered in her mind, glowing gold and covered with ancient script. As Olivia pushed against it, the seal withstood her efforts, refusing to budge. But Olivia would not be stopped. Reaching deep within, she gathered more energy and directed it towards the seal. Little by little, a hairline crack appeared along its golden length. Then, taking a deep breath, she pushed again with everything she had. The seal snapped. And with an explosion of light, it broke cleanly in half and then faded away, forever dispelled.

All at once, the knowledge and spells of holy magic roared to life as holy energy flooded through her brain, activating dormant neural pathways and connecting her understanding of healing magic to the inactive holy spell patterns.

She had done it.

She had broken the seal.

***

At Olivia's statement, Harold's blood ran cold.

Twelve years ago, Alfonso's father had opened Olivia's magic. It was a day of great rejoicing, and at the same time, a day of great turmoil, for it was discovered she possessed holy magic.

Of all the magic, holy magic was the rarest and could only be obtained through blood line. For that reason, and others, anyone found to posses holy magic was 'pressed' into service, oftentimes by the most powerful noble, or the Emperor, whichever had the most political clout at the time.

And worst of all, if they were girls, such as Olivia, they were often coerced into bearing their master's children.

Harold clenched his jaw as this particular thought evoked painful memories.