Lenna was living in the mansion for a few months now. Well, living might not be the right word—she was more like a live-in experimental subject. Merle, or the mage prodigy as she was sometimes called, was a peculiar woman. She reminded Lenna of her late brother, though more intense in her demeanor. The day Merle discovered Lenna's ability to perform different types of spirit magic was a day Lenna preferred not to dwell on.
Recently, Jace had joined a knightly order that was supposedly a branch of the royal guards. To Lenna, though, it seemed more like a group of people obsessed with Princess Rae, a woman clearly beloved by her people. Cara and Nova, on the other hand, were both attending the academy to practice their magic. Although they lived there and Lenna resided in the mansion, the two always made time to visit her. They would chat about their progress in their respective programs. Cara and Nova had excellent mentors, and the village itself boasted a well-structured support system.
Lenna couldn't say the same for herself. It wasn't as though she lacked guidance, but her situation was different. While others had mentors, she had a fanatic observer. Merle wasn't a bad person, though. In fact, she was kind. But her level of enthusiasm often bordered on overwhelming. Still, her advice was undeniably useful.
Lenna had been training her water magic, focusing on its solid and liquid states. She couldn't create water out of thin air—of course not, she thought. That would violate the law of conservation of mass. However, her magic allowed her to manipulate water as though it were an extension of her body. This required movement; Lenna had discovered this while experimenting at a river.
Her first attempt had been to freeze the water with sheer willpower. It worked, but the layer of ice she created was so fragile that the river's current easily broke it. Determined to improve, she made direct contact with the water and tried again. This time, the ice was far stronger—strong enough to walk on. When she moved her hand away from the ice structure, she accidentally created a needle of ice in the direction of her hand's motion. Merle, watching from nearby, congratulated her and encouraged her to manipulate the ice further by moving her hands. Lenna obliged and discovered she could shape the ice into various forms.
Excited by her progress, Merle then suggested she try manipulating liquid water without freezing it first. Lenna melted the ice and attempted to control the flowing river water. It proved much more difficult—unlike stationary ice, the moving water resisted her efforts. Merle advised her to stop fighting the current and, instead, flow with it. Taking this advice, Lenna managed to lift a small amount of water from the river and hold it mid-air. It resembled a crystal snake, its fluid motion mesmerizing. Over time, Lenna improved, though complex manipulations still posed a challenge.
After weeks of practice, she was proficient in switching between the solid and liquid states of water. That's when Merle proposed a duel. Lenna was hesitant; she had never used her magic for combat before. But Merle insisted, arguing that Lenna needed to learn how to protect herself.
The duel took place deep in a forest, far from any rivers.
"Why are we going so far away from the river?" Lenna asked.
"You've become too dependent on river water," Merle replied. "Remember, while you can't create water from thin air, it's all around us. Be creative. Find water in your surroundings. Ah, here we are. Now, let's begin."
They took their positions, standing several paces apart. The moment the duel began, a gust of wind struck Lenna, throwing her off balance. Disoriented, she tried to gather herself but was immediately hit by a clump of earth flying straight at her face. She fell hard, pain shooting through her body.
How is she doing this? Lenna thought. She had assumed most people needed chants to use magic. Is she like me? Has she been hiding this the whole time?
Her thoughts were interrupted as another attack came her way, leaving her no room to act. Desperate, she tried to manipulate the water in the nearby plants, but Merle gave her no opportunity to concentrate. Frustration and anger bubbled within her, and suddenly, a surge of fire erupted from her hands, striking Merle and injuring her badly.
Lenna froze, horrified by what she had done. She rushed toward Merle, but before she could reach her, a massive creature emerged from the forest. It had the head of a bull and the body of a hulking man. Lenna had heard of monsters but had never seen one in person. Fear paralyzed her as the beast dragged a large axe, approaching her with menacing intent.
Frantic, she tried to manipulate the water in the air's moisture, but all she could manage was a thin layer of ice that barely fazed the monster. It raised its axe, preparing to strike.
Then, it stopped.
For a moment, the beast stood still, and then its head fell clean off its shoulders. Blood poured from its neck as its body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Standing behind the fallen creature was a young girl with long crimson hair and striking ruby eyes. Her fair skin and elegant figure made her appear almost otherworldly. Lenna stared, stunned. Who is this girl? And how did she defeat the monster so effortlessly?
The mysterious girl rushed to Merle's side, immediately tending to her wounds. Lenna followed, eager to help. As their eyes met, Lenna felt an odd sense of familiarity.
"Can you help her?" Lenna asked.
"I think I can. Let me try," the girl replied.
She performed a kind of magic Lenna had never seen before. Golden circles surrounded Merle, emitting a blinding light. When the glow faded, Merle's injuries were completely healed.
"Thank you for saving her. I didn't know what to do," Lenna said. "My name is Violet, by the way."
Before the girl could introduce herself, Merle stirred.
"Ahh… what happened?" Merle muttered, then her eyes widened. "Rae! What are you doing here?"