After a few years,
Teenager Alora was in the Mage Academy, not as a student to learn but to help her father and be a teacher.
She was going back to her room when she heard a master boosting a young boy. "It's alright, we will try tomorrow. We will find your power soon."
That picked up Alora's interest. She had read about the boy who wasn't able to use his powers. She ran up to Zander's room and asked her father eagerly, "Father, I heard that it is possible to find one's power that has hidden in us. Father, I would like to give it a try."
Zander looked a bit shocked before he shook his head, "Alora, that young boy has a rare power. Hence it is hidden. He is different from you."
Alora's face fell but she forced a smile at her father and went to take care of work.
——— Present ————
Alora realized her parents always told her that she had no powers. Hence she believed them and eventually she accepted it.
Alora snapped out when Edur's voice reached her ears, "Little Phoenix, have you heard of curse magic?"
The witches' curse is different from curse magic. The curse magic isn't magic but negative energy to destroy something or demotivate someone.
Alora nodded, "I have." And it sat in her mind what Edur was trying to say.
Her powers were buried inside her purposefully by repeatedly telling her that she wasn't a mage, thus she holds no power.
Edur added, "That's the reason I said find yourself, Little Phoenix." He concluded the reason behind his words.
Alora tried to fathom his words of riddles. She doesn't have any power and Edur was saying her powers are buried in her and he was asking her to find herself.
Does that mean she is not being herself?
Then What does finding herself mean?
Does he mean she has powers?
Alora looked at her hands. She closed her eyes and tried to search within if she could feel anything new, a surge of power. Well, that's how she heard mages being trained.
Feeling no special or different, she opened her eyes and looked back at Edur in confusion.
Didn't she understand his words?
Suddenly a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. Her parents told her she doesn't have the powers, then why was she checking it by listening to a stranger?
She wanted to ask if he was playing with her. She didn't feel so. Although there was a smile on his face, it was just to make her comfortable. He was serious about every word he was uttering.
Being powerless is better than shaming the mages who couldn't use their power. Thus she wasn't angry but disappointed in herself for getting a false hope, "Are you also making fun of me?"
Edur's gaze hardened on her. Then he sighed, shaking his head in resignation. He should have expected it from her as she grew up very closely with her parents.
"Little Phoenix, you should believe in yourself first." Finding herself with doubts wouldn't help her.
Believing as she has power is equal to distrusting her parents. Alora questioned his intention as she would never be able to distrust her parents, "Should I distrust my parents?"
Edur smiled hearing her. Alora who always questions were being smart with him. Well, he had no reason to sow discord between her and her parents. "They might have had a reason to hide."
Alora was stunned for a moment. Her parents always stopped her from being alone because she didn't have any powers to protect herself. They would be the first ones to be happy if she could protect herself.
"They don't lie to me." Alora didn't realize she was discussing her life with a stranger.
Unexpectedly Edur had more patience than her father. So he calmly responded to her. "Sometimes a lie could save a life."
"…" Alora disliked that she started to believe his words despite having her trust in her parents.
If there is somebody who wishes for nothing but wellness in her life without expecting anything in return, that's her parents. So to respect her parents, she chose to ignore the man's words.
She got off the rock to leave. "My sincere gratitude for sparing your time with me." She gave a gentle bow of her head.
Edur clearly knew she didn't trust him. He wasn't annoyed, rather he was glad despite being innocent, she has her priorities straight.
"Keep your chin up, Princess." His fruity tone sounded firm, causing her to lift her head and look at him, "Don't let your crown fall to other's hands."
'Crown!?' For a moment Alora thought it was her coronet before realizing it was another riddle.
Alora shook her head, "The crown isn't mine." She had no magical powers so the throne belonged to Freya who was a powerful mage and also smart.
Edur wasn't angry although she contradicted his words again and again. He extended his hand as he said, "I will wait for the day you will find me, Little Phoenix."
Alora: "…"
'Find him?' Looking at his confidence, her belief wavered.
Edur looked at her hands without retracting his hand, "Little Phoenix, I don't leave my things with anybody."
Alora realized it was the napkin. She had used it so she didn't feel it right to hand it to him. "A moment please."
She sprinted to the river and sat on the rock closest to the riverbed. Dipping her hands in the cool water, she gently washed the napkin and removed her hands. Squeezing the excess water, she looked around for a clean rock where she could dry under the sun quickly.
"Ahhh…" The napkin suddenly slipped her fingers and floated away in the air as if it was light as air.
Alora, who instinctively tried to catch it, felt a tug on her other arm. A worried voice sounded behind her, "Princess Alora… What are you doing?"
Alora turned to the known voice of Helena. "The nap…" Her eyes looked for Edur but he wasn't in sight, just like the napkin that disappeared.
Alora: "…"
'How did he disappear?... Who is Edur?'
Helena, who assumed Alora was falling into the river, breathed in relief. Seeing her zoned out, she called out, "Princess Alora!!?"
Alora snapped out and looked at Helena who had used a honeyed voice to make her play the music. She instinctively drew her hand away and created distance between them.
Helena realized Alora wasn't comfortable with her. Who will be comfortable after what she did?
Helena sighed as she took a step back. She curtsied and sincerely apologized, "Princess Alora, forgive me for my impudence in the banquet hall."
Alora: "…"
Her lips pressed to a thin line looking at Helena who didn't rise. After whatever happened in the banquet hall, it wasn't easy for her to trust anybody.
However, it's her duty to forgive, "It's alright. Please rise."
Helena held the wooden box forward, "I have a small request, Princess Alora, could you play it for me? A small melody." She earnestly requested.
However, Alora who identified the box recalled the fire and the maid running into the fire. No, she didn't want to play it. She was afraid that something might happen again. After all, it wasn't proven how the fire started in the banquet hall.
Helena seemed to read her worry and assured her, "Princess Alora, I know you didn't start the fire and you don't have to fear me."
Alora: "..."