Ludo watched the rabbit closely as he maneuvered his sister's chair around the library.
Fluffy occasionally stopped and would hop off as if it were leading them on. Sylvana was probably right. But what did he wish to show them? As they twisted and turned through the labyrinth of shelves, Ludo's mind buzzed with possibilities.
Skyla's chair squeaked softly as he maneuvered it around the narrow gaps. "Keep an eye on Fluffy, everyone," he said, his voice steady and focused. "We don't want to lose him."
"Got it!" Liliana chirped, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
They rounded a corner, and Fluffy suddenly disappeared behind a tall shelf. Ludo's heart raced as he leaned down to peer through a small gap between the shelves. There, nestled in the shadows, was an old, dusty book that had clearly been forgotten over time.
"Over here," Ludo whispered, reaching in to grab the book. The cover was worn and faded, but the title was still legible: "The Wandering Mage."
"What's that?" Kite asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ludo carefully pulled the book out and placed it on the table. "Based on the title, it's about a traveling mage," he said, opening the book to reveal beautifully illustrated pages. They all depicted a woman with hair as red as cherries.
Liliana turned to look at Kite's red bangs, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "It's as red as your front hair."
Kite chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Let's see what it says."
As they delved into the book, Ludo felt a sense of wonder. The language was impossible to read. It must've been super ancient as their language hadn't changed too much in the past thousands of years.
"Look at this," Cassia said, pointing to an illustration of the woman clad in red gathered with many people by a bay. They were building something.
Kite took the book. "Could this be the Sanctuary?"
"Possibly," I said, smiling. "The language is old, but it doesn't appear to be the one we found at the ruins either."
"Why is the cover legible?" Elian asked, pointing at it.
Ludo hummed. "It might not be the original cover."
The four eyed boy's fingers traced the edges of the book's cover, feeling for any seams or discrepancies that might indicate a replacement.
"Not the original?" Kite asked.
Ludo nodded. "Sometimes books get rebound, especially if the original cover is damaged. That must mean this book was deemed important over time. It certainly had had magic similar to that of the scrolls applied to it."
"I got an idea. What if we have Kite shine his sword over its pages, it might make something appear like the scroll," Liliana said, grinning.
Her cousin sighed. "Lilia, you dummy. He can't draw his sword in the library. And this book is basically a relic, I doubt we'll be allowed to take it out of here."
Kite kept staring at the pictures and flipped over to them. The landscape was much different than the current bay.
"Maybe we can find out more if we visit the place like we were talking about earlier," Cassia spoke up.
Skyla, who had been quietly observing, smiled at Fluffy. "Thank you, Fluffy. You led us to something potentially important."
The bunny wiggled its nose as if acknowledging her gratitude.
"Let's go ask Dad if he'll take us to the bay tomorrow," Ludo said before turning around. His dad once again stood behind him, this time accompanied by his mom.
Ludo's dad chuckled as he crossed his arms. "What am I going to do with you kids and your adventures?"
Ludo's mom stepped forward. "You know, it's not a bad idea, dear. A trip to the bay could be educational and fun. Plus, they seem really invested in this."
His dad sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, alright. We'll plan a trip to the bay tomorrow. But you kids have to promise to be careful and follow our lead."
Liliana bounced on her toes, her excitement barely contained. "Thank you, Uncle Mako! We promise!"
Skyla clapped her hands softly, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Thank you, Dad."
Ludo felt a wave of relief and excitement wash over him. "Thanks, Dad. We really appreciate it."
Mako nodded, ruffling Ludo's hair. "Just make sure you're prepared. The bay can be unpredictable, and we need to be cautious."
He nodded.
---
After leaving the library, Ludo's parents took Skyla and Fluffy home. While Ludo went with Kite, Elian, Sylvana, Cassia, and his cousins to the meadow. Elian was still eager to play forts and knights, and the others were more than happy to indulge him.
The meadow was a sprawling expanse of green, dotted with wildflowers and framed by tall, swaying trees. It was the perfect place for their imaginative games. The group quickly fell into their roles, constructing makeshift forts out of branches and leaves.
Elian, ever the leader, picked up a sturdy stick and brandished it like a sword. "Alright, knights! Our mission today is to protect the kingdom from any invaders!"
Liliana giggled, grabbing a smaller stick and mimicking his stance. "I've got your back, Sir Elian!"
Tomas, not wanting to be left out, found a branch and joined in. "Me too!"
Sylvana found herself caught up in the excitement and giggled. She picked up a stick and stood beside Liliana. "Let's defend our fortress!"
"But we need a villain," Liliana muttered
Cassia put her hands on her hips and laughed. "You puny knights can't stop me!"
Kite chuckled. "Seems we got a volunteer!"
The group got to work on building a makeshift fortree while Cassia looked it up and down, probably already plotting her next move.
The kids' fort in the meadow was a masterpiece of youthful ingenuity and creativity, but it was also a testament to the unique magical abilities of its builders. Constructed from the natural resources around them, it had an air of both whimsy and practicality.
Liliana, with her affinity for plants, wove long, sturdy branches together to create the framework around the sturdy oak tree. She used her magic to encourage vines and grass to intertwine with the branches, forming walls that were surprisingly stable. Large leaves and strips of bark, manipulated by her magic, provided extra reinforcement, making the walls look like a patchwork quilt of natural materials.
Elian, with his earth magic, shaped the ground to create a solid foundation for the fort. He moved stones and packed earth tightly to form a stable base, and he even sculpted flat stones into makeshift seating and tables inside the fort. His magic had also created the small, flat rock that served as a symbolic drawbridge at the entrance.
At the entrance of the fort, they placed a "gate" made of two intertwined branches, which could be swung open and closed. Elian, with his stick sword, stood guard at the entrance, ready to ward off any invaders.
Inside the fort, the kids had arranged the flat stones and smaller branches that Elian had shaped. They even found a hollow log that they turned into a "treasure chest," filling it with interesting rocks, acorns, and other small treasures they had found in the meadow.
Sylvana and Liliana had fashioned a "flag" from a piece of cloth they found in one of their bags, tying it to the highest branch they could reach. The flag fluttered in the gentle breeze, proudly marking their fort as a place of adventure and imagination.
Kite and Ludo worked together to create defensive positions around the fort. They set up small piles of stones that could be used as "ammunition" and constructed lookout points by placing flat rocks on the branches, providing elevated positions to keep an eye out for Cassia's inevitable attack.
Cassia, playing the villain, watched the construction with keen interest. She paced around the perimeter, occasionally muttering to herself as she planned her strategy. Her role as the "invader" required her to be cunning and resourceful, and she was more than up to the challenge.
"This is looking great," Kite said, admiring their handiwork. "Our fort is ready for anything."
Liliana nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. "Cassia doesn't stand a chance!"
Elian grinned. "Let's see what she's got."
Cassia grinned mischievously, stepping forward. "Prepare yourselves, knights! The evil sorceress is coming to take over your fort!"
Elian raised his stick sword high. "We won't let you! Defend the fort, everyone!"
As Cassia began her "attack," Kite and Ludo peered out from one of the lookout points. Their eyes widened, and they gasped in unison.
Outside the fort, a red "castle" had appeared, constructed from what looked like shimmering red stone. Cassia stood proudly in front of it, a confident grin on her face as she donned a flowing red cape.
"Her construct magic really is impressive," Kite said, awe evident in his voice.
Ludo nodded, equally impressed. "I didn't know she could create something so detailed and... imposing."
Cassia's castle was a marvel, with towers and battlements that seemed almost real. The shimmering red stone gave it an otherworldly appearance, and the cape added to her commanding presence.
"Let's see if you can defend against this!" Cassia called out, her voice filled with playful challenge. Suddenly, crimsoned knights formed in front of her from flames and marched toward them.
Tomas gulped. "Is she really an evil witch?"
"Don't worry, we'll stop her," Liliana said, grinning.
Ludo nodded. "I'll wash them all away if I have to."
Elian grinned and rushed at Cassia's armored constructs.
The meadow echoed with laughter and the sounds of their playful battle. Cassia's construct magic made her "attacks" even more exciting, as her red castle seemed to move and change shape, adding to the challenge for the defenders.
Ludo and Kite, inspired by Cassia's display, redoubled their efforts to protect their fort. Elian and Liliana used their magic to reinforce their defenses while also aiding in the counterattack, while Sylvana and Tomas kept watch from the lookout points. Sylvana used her wind and her summons to intercept.
"Hey! Don't summon a griffin against me!" Cassia protested, pointing at the golden majestic creature flying toward her.
Sylvana laughed nervously. "Sorry, got a little carried away."
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the meadow, they called a truce. The "war" ended with laughter and playful banter, their fort battle worn but standing after a hard-fought "battle".
"That was so much fun," Liliana said, her face flushed with excitement.
Cassia smiled, dropping her "villain" persona. "You guys did an amazing job with the fort. It's really impressive."
Elian, ever the leader, raised his stick sword once more. "For the kingdom!" he shouted, and the others joined in, echoing his cry.
As they made their way back home, they talked excitedly about their plans for the next day and the adventures that awaited them at the bay.
Sylvana kept talking about how she wanted to make some marine friends. Tomas hoped his parents would let him join too.
Liliana suggested they make it a family vacation. Ludo agreed. It had been a long time since they all hung out. He hoped his big brother could come too. But he was always cooped up, making his potions. The guy needed some sunlight.