The Prince stormed off the estate after Ainaira told him that it was all an act.
Her only problem now is her killer-
Her twin, Aeron.
For some reason, he did not leave and decided to accompany Ainaira and Ainsley.
The two were uncomfortable at his attendance but he looked like he didn't care and continued sipping on the cold lychee juice.
"Umm...sister, so about..."
He kept glancing at Aeron awkwardly
It was the day Ainaira decided to teach Ainsley magic and mana configuration.
However, she planned to keep her magic a secret until she prepared that.
She especially doesn't want the person who killed her to know she can use magic.
It made her frustrated, she knew she was gonna die, she knew she could defend herself at the moment of her death but those voices last command...
{Let them kill you.}
Her whole body shuddered. She can still clearly recall the voices in her memories.
"You're learning magic?"
Putting down his cup, Aeron finally decided to speak.
"Umm...yes..."
It's been a while since she saw Ainsley become socially anxious.
"I know someone who can help you. She's a Saintess and..."
"Saintess" was all Ainaira had to hear to know who he was referring to: Josephine.
Ainaira had a bored expression on her face
(Oh right, it was during this time…)
(The Crown Prince, Aeron and Jamil are best friends, so Aeron and Jamil would frequently visit the palace. They're the only 3 boytoys that had talked with Josephine well before the Academy.
After finding out that Ainsley was interested in magic. Even though he's friends with the future Supreme Sorcerer, he introduced him to Josephine instead.
Eventually Josephine and the Duke realized the neglect the marquess and Marchioness did towards Ainsley and adopted him.
"Umm, Lord Aeron...thank you for the offer but, I only want sister to teach me magic"
(why would you say that?! now I have no choice but to show him I can do magic!!)
Though she was touched at his loyalty, she was not a bit happy revealing her cards so early at her potential enemy.
Just as she expected the outcome would be he asked her
"You can do magic?"
"Yes, I'm a Witch"
she's trying to smile and bottle up the bitter taste in her tongue.
Unexpectedly, the expressionless knight had a surprised look painted on his face. "I see..."
(Why is he looking at me like that?)
Aeron was patiently anticipating for her to do magic. He was curious about what she could do.
Seemingly, she knew what he wanted. Defeated, she performed the same ghostly raven from earlier.
He did not say anything but he was, needless to say, impressed. His brows pulled upwards, staring at her with eyes wide open. He realized that he was staring for way too long, so he turned his head to the other direction.
"It looks like you were telling the truth."
"What makes you think I would be lying?"
"..."
He stood up from his seat and rubbed his nape
"I'll get going..."
(Good, nobody wants you here!!)
Looking back and seeing his two siblings happily conversing together made him feel both warm and bitter.
There was a wall between them. He couldn't describe the discomfort he felt on his throat when he saw how they acted without him. As much as he wants to know them more, it was clear that they're uncomfortable with his presence.
—
"Looks like we can continue, Ainsley, can you tell me what makes Witches different?"
"They use a different type of mana gathering called internal mana core! and it seems like females are only blessed with this, so only they can be Witches."
"Yes and no."
She motioned her hands up, left and then in circles. A holographic, bright, azure-blue of unknown symbols and letters surrounds them.
"These unknown language that you are seeing right now are called mana configurations. Basically, a set of commands that makes magic possible. Witches create mana configuration on their own by using imagination, while Sorcerers use a ready to use mana configuration in the form of chants and familiars.
"Anyone can do mana configuration out of their imagination, it's just really difficult to do so. Only people with a natural talent can do them. Coincidentally, and for an unknown reason, only select females have these talents.
"I don't think I've read these in a book before..."
Ainsley's body was slightly shivering and his voice quivering.
The temperature of the maze dropped down sharply and made it feel like it was winter. He tried his best to not let the cold bother him but he was reaching his limit.
Ainaira dispelled her magic and the temperature slowly returned back to normal.
Ainsley breathed in relief.
"Anyways...this is my own discovery, that's why it's not in any books."
One of the few good things that the voices gave her was knowledge and secrets behind spells, magic and reality.
"For now...would you like to become the first male Witch?"
"Male Witch...?"
Ainsley felt thrilled and exhilarated. His bright red eyes showed interest and curiosity.
The thought of being the first person to have limitless mana without being a traditional Witch excites him.
"Oh, but calling you a Witch doesn't feel correct...I'll think of a word...A wizard? Yeah, that, I'll call you that once you can do mana configuration"
Poof—
Ainsley fell on the ground out of exhaustion.
It's been 1 hour since Ainaira taught him a simple and basic mana configuration.
"This is harder than it looks"
Although he failed 25 times already, not once did he show signs of wavering. After catching his breath, he stood up and continued again.
Ainaira was sitting on the corner while sipping on her cup. Her red eyes veiled the color of azure-blue.
[Keeper eyes: The ability to see mana configuration in details; may be able to predict the future or see the past]
Ainaira can see the unknown language surrounding Ainsley. Each moment getting closer and closer to success but he would always fail at the last moment.
(Why though?)
She kept pondering on the question of why he kept failing despite having the right arrangement.
"Ah...there must be problem at transmitting the code to reality"
If this is the case, Ainsley will have no choice but to do a much more tedious and harder method.
"Ainsley."
He stopped and turned to see the voice that called him
"Do you have any problem imagining a leaf?"
"Uhm...no..." Ainsley's cheeks slightly turned pink.
(He does! No wonder he was failing!)
She gave him a look that says she knows he's lying.
"I...find it hard to imagine anything on my mind..." He felt ashamed that he couldn't even do something so simple as imagining a leaf.
"it's fine, this was my error... wait a moment"
She tore down a piece of paper with a series of written codes on it.
"Instead of visualizing, memorize and recite these mana configuration in your head"
He nodded. He took one look at the paper and then went into position.
He closed his eyes and a faint trail of azure light circled around him.
The trail slowly formed into a blue light sphere and then transformed into a leaf.
"Ah-! Sister, I did it!" His smile was as big as humanly possible. He was happy that it was successful.
Compared to the lack of mental visualization, his speed in memorization is terrifyingly fast.
Even if it's much harder to memorize each mana configuration out there, with Ainsley's talent in memorizing, it wouldn't pose any difference in development.
Ainaira couldn't help but smile for him.
It was the first time in a very long time that she genuinely smiled again.