Past Histories

Three years have passed since then, and I am now seven. The progress I have made in learning to read has been extraordinary. I've learned how to read from various books that Vash has brought back since the first books he got. However, he's still not willing to read the history book. Vash goes on guard duty for weeks at a time; it's probably why the other guard brought those books and gave them to Vash. This gives me an opportunity to read whatever is in the history book that he brought back. The problem was getting to the book. It was placed at the top of a shelf where dust collected. This seemingly simple task is a herculean feat for somebody my size. Mira was out gardening, so I decided to take a chance and push a chair up against the shelf.

"Ugrhhh," I groaned, reaching up and stretching to my absolute maximum.

"Almost there ..." I was standing on the back of the chair when it began to wobble.

"W-Woah!" It tipped over, and I fell straight onto my back, knocking the wind out of me.

"Uugghh," I lay there for a few seconds before rolling onto my belly and getting up. This is the hardest thing I've had to do so far. I started to rack my brain on different ways to get the book down when my eyes wandered to the small wand Mira left by the fire. I remember reading about the different kinds of magic in the book: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Lightning. I'm sure there are more kinds, but the one I need right now is there.
I bet I could use that magic.

"Let the mana converge and flow through the conduit to become—Wind!"

I could feel a warm sensation flowing towards my hand and into the wand, and out came a gust of wind.

"Gah!" I fell backwards off the chair, landing with a thud. I looked up from my hands and saw the book lying there on the ground in front of me.
I did it! I actually did it!

Mira rushed into the house. "What happened?" Dust was spiraling around in the air as I stared back at her in the doorway. She quickly realized what had happened.

"How did you learn that?" she muttered, puzzled.

"I just copied what you did!" I said proudly. I felt that it was quite the achievement. I don't know how many other children are using magic at this age, but there couldn't be many.

"That's amazing! ... But why did you do it?" She asked in a kind but probing way.
Hhmm

I was expecting a different reaction than that, but at least it's not a negative reaction.

"I wanted to get that book down from the shelf but couldn't reach it." I was pointing at the book now lying on the floor.

"... Are you curious?" she said while picking the book off the ground.

I nodded quickly in response.

Mira let out a quiet sigh.

"We probably should have taught you this a while ago," she said as she picked me up and brought me to a chair.

"These histories talk about things that are related to us, ok? Things that are not very good," she opened the book and then looked at me.

"None of these things are your fault, understand?" She was making me nervous.

I nodded.

It was revealed to me that my family and I are not just humans. We are descendants of a demon race called "Ulars," who originate from the Eastern Continent, where many other demon races come from. The book reveals how the Ulars have a distinct trait in which some Ulars are born with a "Ular Eye." This eye can vary in color between individuals, but every Ular Eye glows in response to mana. These eyes heighten one's perception, allowing these individuals to pick up subtle actions and make lightning-fast reactions. The book talks about rumors of how the eyes have the ability to peer into the future, but there's no record of it.

I wonder if I have that special eye?

I've never really thought about it, but I haven't been able to get a good look at myself with there being no mirrors in this house. The best look at myself I can get is a rippling reflection in the water. Mira doesn't have the eye, I don't think so, at least.

I then learn why the book goes into so much detail for a single race of demons. Around 600 years ago, the Ulars migrated to the Orte Continent from the Eastern Continent, looking for new lands to settle. When the Ulars made landfall on this new continent, they began to ravage the nations of Orte, carving out land for themselves. Battles between the humans and other races against the Ulars were becoming one-sided as the Ular Eyes gave the conquering demons a massive advantage in combat. The raids and attacks by Ulars became so severe that the most affected nations created a coalition to defend against raids. The Ular Eye started to become known as an Evil Eye, and the Ulars became widely feared throughout the continent. This wasn't to last, though.

A major battle, 20 years after the establishment of Ulars in Orta, dealt a massive blow to them. Many factors led to the decline of the Ulars, such as the rising power of the coalition, the human nations' ability to replenish soldiers and populations, and the slowly shrinking population of Ulars who couldn't multiply as fast as the humans. After the third subsequent major battle and defeat, the Nation of Ulars scattered, just 87 years after they first landed. Some Ulars returned to the Eastern continent, while others attempted to assimilate into the population. This led to mixing between humans and demons.

This made everything so clear.

This is why we lived on the outskirts of the city, why I have only seen my parents this whole time, and why they have been so damn hesitant to bring this up. Damn, we really are the descendants of the most despicable race on the continent.

Okay, so we are part of the Ulars, but Vash and Mira look human enough. I couldn't tell up to this point that they were even different from humans, so what happened?

"You and Father don't look like demons ...," I muttered to myself.

Mira pulled me closer. "Well, I have human blood in me, and your father lacks the distinct traits you would see in an Ular, even though he is full-blooded."

"Well, what about me?" I said, looking up from her lap.

"..."