Chapter 2

  Arnik was five years old when he first witnessed magic. At that tender age, he had not even known what it was he was witnessing, only that it fascinated him greatly and ignited something in him that he had never known was there.

  He only had to close his eyes now and have the events of that morning rush to his mind like sea waves crashing upon a beach. He could nearly smell the bread the cook had been baking that morning and the general buzz of activity as he threaded his way down the corridor between the servant's room.

  Everyone had looked after him then, so even if his father wasn't with him, any of the available servants would not let him get into danger. The cook had sighted him as he neared the kitchen area and had called out to him.

  "Little Arnik! Up and about already this beautiful morning I see."

  Arnik had beamed one of his brightest smiles at her and the cook found herself inviting him to come have some bread. She broke off a large chunk and held it out to him.

  "Come, boy. Come, have some."

  "Thank you", says Arnik sweetly, further melting the cook's heart.

  He bit into the largest part of the chunk of bread as he continued forward to the central living quarters of the estate. It was called the central living quarters because that was the area where the main members Frost family resided. On the east side, where he had come out from had been reserved for the servants.

  You could call it the side living quarters then, his grown self thinks drily before delving back into his memories again to continue his recollection.

  "Eissa, move to Frost lake immediately. You've kept your tutor waiting too long and that's not a good first-time impression to make", Gale Frost spoke mildly to his daughter.

  He was a slightly burly man with an intimidating yet gentle aura around him. His red velvet cloak had emphasized the broadness of his shoulders that morning and little Arnik thought he was one the biggest men alive in the city of Lidurnia. They had not seen him, probably because he was well hidden behind the bronze horse sculpture on the landing of the stairs while they remained at the top of it just outside Eissa’s room.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Arnik had been intrigued. A private tutor for Mr. Frost's only daughter and they were meeting at Frost lake. Maybe he should hurry up to Frost lake and check out this tutor before Mr. Frost and his daughter did.

  But before he could take a step out from where he was hidden, he heard light, bounding steps that traveled from the top of the stairs and approached the landing. He sneaked a peek; Eissa was coming down! He quickly aligned himself behind the bronze horse once again. Maybe he'd leave after they were gone.

  When Eissa got to the landing she turned with her skirts billowing around her ankles due to her movements and cast her eyes upwards.

  "What is the new tutor going to teach me, father?" She asked in an excited tone.

  "You'll see", her father had responded with a gentle smile.

  Arnik had held his breath as she walked directly past him, leaving him with lavender and jasmine after scent as she let the doors swing shut. She wasn't much older than him though, he had heard his father say that Mr. Frost's daughter was about a year old when he was born. He waited some more as he heard the heavier footsteps of Mr. Frost get farther away from its origin. When he heard another door being shut upstairs, he knew it was his signal to leave. He had always been a precocious child.

  He took a deep breath and inched away from behind the bronze horse and towards the door. He knew that any pressure the door felt would cause it to open. It wasn't built to have the pressure to be felt only at the door handle for it to swing open. So he had put his little back against the door and did not let up until he heard the door start to give.

  Frost lake, he knew the way to that place, everyone did, after all, it was at the center of the estate. Luckily for him, he knew a shortcut he could take to get there ahead of Eissa. He carried on happily, knowing he would rarely run into any servant heading towards the same place; they would have picked him up and carried him back to the servant quarters and he did not want that. His little feet made no echoes as he walked which would have been highly unlikely if he was built like Mr. Frost.

  Frost lake was well known for its beauty and its serene environment. It was especially beautiful during the winter time and usually attracted a lot of visitors during that time including the members of the Frost family who either came to ice skate or just stroll along the lake which would be frozen during the winter time. It was currently summer time and the lake was just as beautiful although less crowded as the only visitors that could be seen were butterflies, bees and birds chirping loudly.

  As Arnik perched on a ledge overlooking the lake, he finally noticed a man dressed in all black. Even the top hat he wore was black too. He was talking to Eissa who just arrived in tones that Arnik found slightly mesmerizing. He was not tall and his skin seemed a bit paler than his and Eissa’s.

  "What is your favorite flower, miss?" He asked as he tiptoed around Eissa who craned her neck around to not lose sight of the man as he talked.

  "Daisies", she breathed out.

  "Daisies", the man repeated after her.

  "Yes", replied Eissa, still a bit breathless. She had only asked the man what he was going to teach her and he had asked her the flower question.

  The man smoothly picked out a single stalk of withering flowers from the ground, he slowly walked towards the lake as he pronounced a string of sounds silently. He turned to face Eissa and she looked down at his hands. The dry stalk had suddenly grown transparent icy petals which looked like a daisy flower! Arnik's mouth had instantly gone dry.

  "Magic, miss. That's what I teach."