The other four sectors needed multiple supes for security, where we were more than capable alone. Add our spitfire of a witch to that, and this unknown threat wouldn't be stepping an inch into our Library.

I place myself in the center of the room. I close my eyes and open my senses to the magic in the Library surrounding me. Feeling it lightly surge toward me, threading in and out of the bookshelves and around the rosewood tables, slowly getting closer to me.

It pivots, dancing around me in light wisps as if affirming my identity before gently accepting my call. It flows softly around me in waves, a connection building between my magic and its own, with a small feeling trickling into me from the link, words pouring into my head; threat, coming, protect.

I nod, understanding the feelings filtering in through me. The Autarium wants to protect the Library, somehow knowing a threat is coming. An overwhelming sense of anger flooding me through the connection.

I take a deep breath, turning toward the more frantic-looking wisps, “We’ll protect it together.”

And I meant it. I wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt my home.

The alarm cuts off instantly. The loud noise no longer assaulting my ears as I sigh with relief.

Well, at least that's one thing done.

My ability in magic itself wasn’t the strongest. Spells, potions, and casting weren’t my forte. They were the basics, but I always struggled, my power never connecting properly, and I always thought there was something wrong with me. That maybe the elders and other supes were right. Maybe I was weak, not pure of power. It took a long time and some hard training from Isaiah, my mentor, to realize that my abilities were different from other witches and Mages but that it didn't make me weak or any lesser than them.

My power was something only for me. A magic that would solely fortify and protect me. An attack of any kind would be either absorbed or deflected by my body. Runes on my body since birth would glow almost pearlescent while I was under attack and react to disperse any incoming magical attacks.

With one quick thought to activate my runes, my body would fortify, my skin becoming impenetrable. Blades would become mangled on impact, bullets would ricochet, and a fist flying toward me would instantly shatter the bone within it, even a shifter's. My body literally becomes an impenetrable shield. It would sometimes react before even I knew I was being attacked. A handy perk.

Over the years under Isaiah, I've learned to use and manifest that power, adding to it by learning hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Being able to defend myself is a powerful thing, but not knowing how to help and protect the ones around me would be something I couldn’t live with.

We learned through years of training that I had a higher energy level than most, being able to run thirty laps without getting tired and training for hours without a problem.