Seraphine's smile widened as she saw the uncertainty in Anna's eyes. She was not trying to demand anything from the young girl; rather, she wanted to give her an opportunity—a chance to fulfill her potential and change her life.
"Anna, what if I told you that there's a way for you to repay me and, at the same time, achieve something great for yourself and your family?" Seraphine's voice was gentle, but there was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.
Anna looked at her, intrigued but still unsure. "What do you mean, Miss Seraphine?"
"I have noticed something special in you," Seraphine explained. "You have a natural affinity for mana, and with proper training, you could become a formidable mage—one of the most powerful in the land."
Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "Me? A mage? But I'm just a commoner..."
"That's true, you are a commoner, but that doesn't define what you can become," Seraphine replied. "With your potential, you could rise above your current circumstances and bring great honor to your family and your town."
Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Becoming a mage was a dream she never even dared to consider. It seemed so far-fetched and out of reach for someone like her.
"But... how could I possibly become a mage? I have no training or knowledge," Anna said, her voice tinged with doubt.
"That's where I come in," Seraphine said with a reassuring smile. "I will personally train you in the ways of magic. I see great potential in you, and I believe that with my guidance, you can become a powerful mage."
Anna's heart raced with excitement and nervousness. The idea of becoming a mage was both thrilling and overwhelming. But she knew deep down that this was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
"Miss Seraphine, I... I don't know what to say," Anna stammered. "This is so much to take in."
Seraphine placed a hand on Anna's shoulder, offering her support. "Take your time to think about it. I know it's a big decision, but I believe in you, Anna. You have the potential to change your destiny."
As the sun set behind them, casting a warm golden glow over the small village, Anna felt a newfound sense of hope and purpose. The path ahead was uncertain, but with Seraphine's guidance and belief in her, she knew that anything was possible.
At that moment, Anna made a decision that would change her life forever. She would embrace this opportunity with all her heart and work tirelessly to become the mage Seraphine saw in her.
"Good work, Seraphine. Now people are indebted to you, and you also have Anna on your side," Alice added, admiring Seraphine's successful execution of the plan from the beginning.
"By the way, Alice, I can't recall Anna appearing in the original story. I don't remember her name at all," Seraphine raised the issue and asked Alice for clarification, struggling to recall any mention of Anna in the story.
"I believe Anna's opportunity to work in the mansion arose due to the huge layoff resulting from the scandal incident, Seraphine. You are the one who caused this butterfly effect," Alice responded, shedding light on the circumstances that led to Anna's presence.
"Whatever happened, happened. At least now we have a powerful ally on our side," Seraphine said, feeling relieved that their actions had brought a formidable person into their circle, making them stronger to face any challenges.
"Seraphine, be careful not to get arrogant. The butterfly effect we caused is truly unpredictable, and we have yet to consider the potential impact on the coven," Alice warned, drawing attention to the witches and their possible reactions. While they appear in the middle of the original novel, witches are dangerous and unpredictable due to their nature.
"Oh, I completely forgot about that. Do you think she might come looking for us even before the main story starts?" Seraphine asked, expressing concern about the potential consequences of their actions.
"The Chaos Order is already taking action, and it's only a matter of time before the witches, especially Iris Mauve, the witch of darkness, become interested in your actions," Alice warned. The potential involvement of powerful witches made their situation even more precarious and uncertain.
Iris Mauve appeared in the original story as one of the villains the main protagonist, Cedric Ashbourne, had to confront. She possessed immense power and wreaked havoc in the imperial capital.
Her ability to manipulate boundaries and darkness made her a formidable adversary for everyone, and even Damian had to join forces with Cedric to try and halt the calamity she caused during the event. It would be ideal to encounter her before the disaster unfolds, but her true nature and personality remain a mystery.
The only known fact from the original story is that she went insane due to some unknown reason and unleashed a purge on everyone in the capital. Unfortunately, the author of the novel left many plot holes concerning her character and the events leading to her descent into madness.
With all the problems in Oakdale settled, Seraphine and Anna departed back to the mansion, receiving praise and gratitude from the villagers. They expressed their loyalty to the Marquis family, grateful for the help they received.
Upon her return to the mansion, Marcus informed Seraphine to meet him after she finished her personal business. This piqued Seraphine's curiosity, leaving her wondering about the reason for the meeting.
After attending to all her duties and dismissing her followers, Seraphine immediately visited Damian's personal room. As she opened the door, she found Damian already waiting near the window with a smile on his face. He teased her for taking longer than he expected, as her one-week absence had stretched to almost a month due to the time needed to properly treat and settle the issues in Oakdale.
Seraphine playfully responded to Damian, knowing that he didn't harbor any ill feelings towards her for taking longer than anticipated.
As Damian walked towards her and stopped in front of her, Seraphine couldn't help but wonder what surprise he had prepared for her. Would he want a hug like last time?
"Seraphine, when you departed from the mansion, I prepared a surprise for you," Damian said, gently touching Seraphine's hair with warmth in his gesture.
" A surprise for me?" Seraphine wondered what Damian would prepare for her. From his gesture and emotion, it must be something good for her, but what is it?