Point of View: Noelle
..........
There isn't anyone I meet who doesn't wish to be royalty. The Fancy Names, the prestige, the vast amount of resources at your disposal for your pleasure or vice, everything about this life screams of an inflated sense of importance but Everything has a dark side.
In this world Magic is everything, from a way of life, as an integral part of our economy, a proof of status and a way of ensuring your safety and well being. Those who posses it can exist in this world, those who have it in abundance can stand on top on it and those who do not will never achieve any form of greatness.
I was born into the royal house of Silva, one of the most powerful mage houses in the Clover kingdom. Prided for giving rise to some of the most formidable mage knights that have served as protectors, Heroes and warriors of the Clover Kingdom. My Father has always been a mystery to me But My mother was the pinnacle of what it meant to be a true Silva.
During her life, she fought against threats Man-made or Natural that arose against the Clover Kingdom. Earning a multitude of honours, titles and respect from friend and foe, she was nothing short of her epithet, the silver goddess. And everything about her spoke to this, she was born with a magic which gave her the ability to create, control and reshape Metal constructs however she pleased either as weapons, armour or handy everyday tools that was the power of
"Metal Creation Magic"
One which she wielded with Godlike skill. But alas no one, however strong you are can escape death. She perished in her line of duty, as I heard protecting I and my brother Nozel. As expected, long after her demise, her great deeds was the guiding light for every member of our family to follow, in honour of our mother all my siblings strived for, attained and donned the title of Mage Knight so as to follow her footsteps.
My Elder Brother, Nozel being the most outstanding as he attained the title of Mage Knight Captain becoming the head of his own squad of Mage Knights,
"the Silver Eagles"
You would expect that such a fate would follow me too but Fate had other plans for the youngest child and daughter of the Acier Silva. As the youngest, most children would expect to be given much more care and affection from their siblings but that wasn't so. I was surprised when I found out that information because the only thing I ever received was mockery, abuse and Negligence from my only family.
One which was fairly given to me, I would always think to myself as no compassion should be given to anyone who could not control their own magic. In this world, Magic was everything and anyone who didn't have it does not deserve to exist but anyone who has in abundance without any control was a joke.
There was another tree in our backyard that was sparred during my training sessions, toiling away for hours on end trying my possible best to perfect my innate magical abilities only for every spell I cast to turn back against me to my utter dismay. The Bruises, the injuries, the pain, the sorrow, the sense of defeat and loss of worth gotten not at the hands of adversaries but at the hands of my own Magic.
The Humiliation I felt just sitting there in a puddle of water mixed with the blood from my injuries was far more than any of the harsh treatments dished out against me from my siblings through their vile insults, harsh remarks and constant humiliation to the amusement of my fellow royals. Nothing could honestly compare, to the agony I felt every single day feeling as though my existence wasn't enough to be worthy of true affection.
The Guiding light left by my beloved mother now became an inescapable shadow that was cast on me by the giants who reached out above me towards it as I struggled to stand tall alongside them.
"I can't give up!!"
these was my mantra, my personal promise to myself, my desperate prayer to fate that for all my hard work, for all my passion, for all my woes, for all my suffering. In the end, I would eventually be welcomed home with open arms filled with all the love, validation and fulfillment that I would ever need.
But true fulfillment doesn't come by trying to live up to the expectations of the ones who cannot give you comfort and security without some string attached to it. Yes, I didn't make it, I didn't achieve my goals but nothing has ever made me more happier.
The time for me to receive my grimoire had finally arrived and I was elated. Everyday for fifteen years I have been counting down to this day with bated breath hoping that finally having a true grimoire with help me control my Magic much better.
The Beautiful Blue book in my hands was the embodiment of all my hopes, dreams and ambition. Adorned with beautiful decorations and bearing the crest in resemblance of a , everything about it was perfect in my eyes and I promised to take care of this little entity that choose to follow me despite all the countless others much more competent that it could have.
It was soul-bound to me and I was soul-bound to it, it was a part of me and I, a part of it. We were one and that would never change until death do is part but my ecstasy was broken when despite it's presence my Magic hadn't improved in the slightest.
"Maybe it's defective"
"I am sorry lady Noelle but no grimoire is defective perhaps only it's holder"
this was the subtle but cruel response given to me by the Mages association when I tried to check on the state of my grimoire. That was it if the grimoire didn't work then it was hopeless nothing ever would.
"I can't give up!!"
"I Have to..."
"Don't, your mother wouldn't"
I stood before my mother's portrait hanging before the main hall having this inner conversation with myself while also wondering if my mother would see me as her child if she was here to witness my depressing state.
Caught within this inner malstrom, I didn't notice when my Elder Brother Nozel came to my side.
"Don't stare too long"
"..Huh?"
"Mother would never support failures"
(Clenching my fists)"..No one is a failure"
"I am sure you would think so"
"Nozel, I...."
(Interrupts)"...I already know, Don't bother the silver eagles has no need for such in our midst"
"But I will...."
"Don't you get it, if you can't improve with a grimoire then you can't improve in the battlefield"
"I will still try to join, I know I can"
(Walking away)"...Very well but if you humiliate us then don't return to this house"
This was my life, the life of Noelle Silva.