As Luzia walked down the hallway, she spotted Esteban strolling down the hallway toward her, his usual composed demeanor intact. She crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Oh, Sir Esteban, you're back," she said, arching a brow. "And in one piece, I see."
Esteban gave a polite nod, lips quirking slightly. "Indeed, my lady."
Luzia's eyes narrowed. "Is Father with you?"
"Yes, but he is currently engaged in a discussion with your tutor," Esteban replied smoothly.
Luzia sighed, rolling her eyes. "Of course he is." She tapped her chin in mock thought. "Well, I suppose I'll wait... as patiently as I can manage."
Esteban's expression remained neutral, though a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Sir Gregorio is a fine tutor. I trust your lesson with him went well?"
Luzia snorted, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "Oh, absolutely. If by 'well,' you mean I spent hours trying to convince him that my handwriting isn't a crime against humanity."
Esteban's lips twitched, but he wisely kept his amusement to himself.
"He has high standards, my lady."
"He has unrealistic expectations, Esteban," Luzia shot back, throwing up her ink-stained hands. "I swear, the man acts like the fate of the empire hinges on my ability to write a perfect 'R.'"
Esteban inclined his head, a small smile breaking through his composed exterior. "Precision is a virtue."
Luzia huffed. "Tell that to my wrist. It's plotting rebellion as we speak." She shook her hand dramatically, then jabbed a finger toward the corridor. "Come on, let's find Father before Gregorio decides my handwriting needs another round of divine intervention."
Esteban fell in step beside her, murmuring, "I'm sure your progress is... commendable."
Luzia shot him a look. "I'll have you know, Esteban, that if I survive Gregorio's lessons, I'll be unstoppable."
"And the empire will be grateful, my lady."
Luzia rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smirk tugging at her lips as they walked on.
Meanwhile, in Ramiro's study…
Ramiro sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled as he regarded the older man standing before him. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the study's dark wooden shelves, filled with tomes of ancient magic and forgotten knowledge.
"Sir Gregorio, how is Luzia performing so far?" Ramiro asked, his voice calm, though there was a subtle edge of concern in his tone.
Gregorio adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable as he placed a neatly bound report on the desk. "She is... peculiar," he said after a brief pause.
Ramiro arched an eyebrow. "Peculiar?"
Gregorio sighed, crossing his arms. "Her memory is impressive—far beyond what I expected. She absorbs information quickly, almost unnaturally so. However, her handwriting..." He grimaced. "It's an abomination. If I didn't know better, I'd think she learned to write with her feet instead of her hands."
Ramiro couldn't help but chuckle, though his expression quickly sobered. "She didn't receive much formal education before coming here."
"Yes, so I assumed," Gregorio said, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the desk. "But there's something else. The way she processes information, the way she speaks... It doesn't align with what one would expect from a child of her background."
Ramiro's gaze darkened slightly. "Are you suggesting she's hiding something?"
Gregorio shook his head. "Not necessarily. But she carries knowledge beyond her years, and it doesn't seem purely academic. It's... instinctual." He paused, lowering his voice. "You should keep a close watch on her, my lord."
Ramiro leaned back in his chair, his expression pensive. "I see. So, my Luzia is unique, then?" He clasped his hands together and smiled slightly.
That is not what I'm saying, my lord, but think whatever you want, Gregorio thought, biting back a sigh.
"Thank you, Gregorio. Keep pushing her, but don't overdo it," Ramiro said, his voice firm.
Gregorio gave a curt nod. "Of course, my lord. But if I may offer advice—she is stubborn. If you truly wish for her to flourish, you'll need more than just discipline."
Ramiro's lips curled into a faint smile. "She gets that from me, I suppose."
Gregorio snorted softly. "Undoubtedly."
Ramiro leaned forward slightly. "And what about magic? Is she ready for it?"
"About that, my lord," Gregorio said, his brow furrowed in deep thought as he adjusted his glasses. He had seen many students pass through his halls, each with varying levels of magical potential, but this... this was different.
"Luzia's mana," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Ramiro. "It's… it's coming from her soul."
Ramiro raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that normal?"
Gregorio paused, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Yes... but let me finish, my lord. Mana is supposed to gather in the heart. The heart is where it stabilizes, where it forms the first circle. But…" He trailed off, beginning to pace the room, struggling to articulate what he had observed.
When he examined Luzia's mana, it did not follow the usual pattern. Instead of settling in the heart, it rushed through her veins—too quickly, too recklessly. The energy coursed through her like a raging storm, unpredictable and wild. It was as if the very essence of her soul was struggling to break free, manifesting in ways that could easily spiral beyond her control.
His voice dropped, a note of unease creeping in. "It… wasn't normal. If she's not careful—if her emotions get the better of her—the mana will become unstable. Magic is controlled by emotions, my lord. That's why the heart is so important—it's where mana is meant to settle, to be contained."
He stopped pacing and turned to face Ramiro directly, his eyes sharp with concern. "If the mana continues to flow like this—if she loses control—her body will be torn apart. It's dangerous. She might seem fine now, but the moment her emotions overwhelm her, it could consume her entirely."
Ramiro stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. His voice was sharp. "Sir Gregorio, get to the point. What exactly is wrong with my daughter?"
Gregorio exhaled slowly, meeting Ramiro's gaze. "I don't know what to make of this. Her potential... it's immense, but it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. If she can't learn to control it—if she doesn't direct it to the heart—this will be her undoing."
Ramiro leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he digested Gregorio's words. He exhaled slowly, his voice measured but laced with underlying concern.
"So... what you're saying is that Luzia's mana isn't settling where it should be," he summarized, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight. "Instead of stabilizing in the heart, it's coming straight from her soul—making it unpredictable, volatile."
Gregorio nodded solemnly. "Exactly, my lord. The heart serves as an anchor for mana, ensuring it flows in harmony with the body and emotions. But Luzia's mana bypasses that entirely, which is why it moves so erratically through her veins. It's not inherently bad, but without proper control, it could overwhelm her."
Ramiro sighed, clasping his hands together. "And the solution?"
Gregorio straightened, his tone more confident. "There is hope for her," he began, his voice calmer now. "But it will take immense discipline. The first step is stabilizing the flow of her mana. She needs to learn how to redirect it—how to guide it from the soul and let it settle in the heart where it belongs."
He gestured lightly to his chest. "Through meditation and deep focus, we can teach her to anchor her mana properly. It will be a slow process, but it's the only way to prevent the danger she currently faces."
Ramiro remained silent for a moment, his face shadowed with worry. Gregorio noticed the troubled look in his eyes—the unmistakable expression of a father burdened by fear for his child.
Gregorio sighed, his voice softening. "How inconsiderate of me," he murmured. "I will personally teach her techniques to focus her emotions and calm her mind. It will take time, but... I will make it work somehow."
Ramiro's shoulders sagged slightly in relief, but his eyes were still clouded with doubt. "So, for the time being," he said slowly, "she won't be able to use magic until the mana is properly redirected to her heart?"
Gregorio nodded firmly. "Yes, my lord. Any attempt to wield magic now would be dangerous. Until the mana is anchored, it could tear through her body uncontrolled."
Ramiro leaned forward, his expression grave. "Then do whatever it takes. I don't care how long it takes—just make sure she's safe."
Gregorio gave a respectful bow. "I understand, my lord. I'll begin at once."
As Gregorio turned to leave, Ramiro's voice stopped him. "One more thing," he said quietly. "Be patient with her. She's... stubborn."
Gregorio smirked faintly. "Yes, my lord. That much is already clear."
With that, he turned and left the study, leaving Ramiro to his thoughts.