Hours before Rose's unexpected entry inside Riley's room in the imperial Palace.
.....
Rose opened her eyes, the golden light that had enveloped her began to settle, dissolving into faint glimmers before fading entirely.
Rising gracefully from her meditative position, she took a moment to focus on the energy coursing through her body.
She could feel it—the presence of a newly-formed mana circle deep within her heart.
One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight.
She counted each circle, the foundations of her power now solidifying with each beat of her heart.
Rose knew that once every mana circle was fully stabilized, she would reach the threshold of what the world considered an Archmage—at least in terms of mana capacity.
But that was only part of the equation.
By skill and mastery alone, she had already surpassed what most would call an Archmage.
