"Ugh.." The light stung my eyes, blurring my vision and instinctually I took shelter under my hand. I was on a comfy couch, purple mixed with gold embroidery, unlike the ones I saw in the living room or any room for that matter.
"Good Morning Miss Ophelia." Layla was sat on a chair, though I couldn't see her entirely because of the backrest.
"How long was I out for?"
"Just a couple hours, I momentarily stopped the bleeding with some bandages before I got Hanise to heal your wound up. Don't worry, as much as I hate to admit, Hanise's ability when it comes to his control in life is the best of the best. Rest assured, no scar is there either." She reassured, the sound of her writing down something as she got out of her seat, she got closer to me.
"Do I.. Have to like rest a little more, stay in bed and relax?" I gave a smile, I honestly didn't want to train anymore and do nothing for the rest of the month.
"As far as I know, no, you're~ all~ good~ to~ go~" She patted my hair lightly, teasing as she giggled. "Though, if you'd like, you can stay here for as long as you'd like."
"Kid!!" Hanise's voice roared from outside. The door repetitively banged, getting louder each time. "Are you up?!" The door powerfully swung open and he fell flat on his face. He brushed himself off, clearing his throat, his face slowly reddened.
"There you are kid! It's time for training, let's go!"
Being dragged the whole way there wasn't the worst thing, though getting dust, grass and excess matter on my long-sleeved night gown was somewhat irritating I blew it off with a bit of wind magic.
Overtime, I was taught the same technique Hanise had previously taught when he was being 'mind-controlled'. He was confused but I reexplained it and he merely nodded. Even so, during the start of training again with Hanise, I was horrible at the techniques he taught, and only after many weeks did I perform them at a 'beginner' level quoted by Hanise.
My training overall went smoothly with Layla and Lione, not being given much but the same routine was basically the same as breathing for me now, and I naturally only got better. Not long after, it was the day of Layla's departure.
She gave me a big hug, telling me to perfect the secret spell, and to continue with the routine for another year or so and to look at her desk once that was completed. She apparently left something there for me to do, and only advised me to look at after the year was done.
There were no more assassins, and no more Night Stalkers that tried to creep up on me. The maids did as they were told, and only sometimes did I hear some secret talk about the project Agnerona, how my family had some type of information that was needed, and through some sneaking around during late nights, I was able to find more information about 'everything'.
Project Agnerona, although the real goal was to execute specific noble families, it was also to create a new rule for the kingdom. This execution was because of their illegal activity in the 'underworld' or what was called 'Saint Hades', and so the rule that was going to be implemented was..
Well, It was scribbled out, Lione probably did that for precaution. 'The Rhin Family', more specifically my mother, Arlette Rhin was the 'key' to unveiling information regarding the secrets to the 'Tomb Of Lucian', Saint Hades, and 'Notena'? Arlette was an unfamiliar name to me, I didn't recall ever having any uncles, aunties and my grandparents had long since passed.
Something else I had discovered was the 'The Peace Treaty Of Kings', it was something related to the kingdoms' renewal of alliance. Within a years time all races were welcome in each kingdom, it was hard to imagine, because of such a long diversification, I doubted that it'd end well, short-term wise.
It didn't go into detail about such places, and so I dug through the library, not just the one in Lione's estate, but also the ones in the public square.
The Tomb Of Lucian, described to be buried at the graveyard, Lucian's grave marker is stated to stand out much more than any other. Denoted by its pristine white material, that has not broken, rusted, or decayed since its creation.
Lucian was the king of Myura, and had united the other kingdoms together to fight off against many 'threatening monsters' that invaded their land, but this alliance was destroyed when the king after King Lucian had been betrayed by the other 3 kingdoms.
'Notena', not much is said on this place and is vaguely described as the coldest place in the world. Because of its freezing temperatures, the moment you set foot within a miles' radius of this island, you begin to freeze, and not even the hottest fire could save you from freezing.
The Soul Realm, throughout my training, Lione would sometimes explain such a thing as the Soul's actual Soul. It's a place that showcases a person's truest 'self', though no one else can see such a thing. If one were to be able to go into others' Soul Realm, it was theorised that they could shatter, break and even kill someone without touching them physically.
Even though some don't communicate with this realm, they innately do, those who aren't Aetherians also do have this, but cannot converse with this realm.
It was confusing, because if the realm's size was dependent on the amount of Aether one had, wouldn't that mean their Soul realm was non-existent?
Lione said that it didn't have to have a size for it to be a 'realm', whatever that meant. However the realm was constructed, was not from choice, it was from the individual's subconscious personality, this realm can change overtime if the individual has changed.
And so, I continued training, and studying the world.
I had many goals, to kill Lauv Godwin, to get the scholarship for the academy, to satiate my own curiosity, and to explore the world.