Liana's awakening was anything but peaceful.
I was in the middle of organizing Seraphine's schedule when a deafening explosion rocked the academy. The ground trembled, and the sound of shattering glass echoed through the halls. I dropped the stack of papers I was holding and sprinted toward the source of the commotion—the infirmary.
When I arrived, the scene was chaos. The infirmary door hung off its hinges, and a swirling vortex of light and shadow filled the room. Liana stood at the center, her rose-gold hair floating as if caught in an invisible wind. Her hands glowed with an otherworldly radiance, and her eyes—once soft and doe-like—were now pools of shimmering silver.
"Liana!" I shouted, shielding my face from the magical energy radiating from her.
She turned to me, her expression a mix of fear and confusion. "I… I don't know what's happening! I can't control it!"
Game Knowledge Activated:
Arcane Resonance Overload: A rare phenomenon where a mage's power spirals out of control, often triggered by emotional distress or external manipulation.
I stepped closer, my mind racing. "Liana, listen to me. You need to focus. Breathe."
"I'm trying!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "But it's too much!"
The vortex expanded, shattering windows and sending furniture flying. I ducked as a chair sailed past my head, narrowly missing me.
"Lockhart!" Seraphine's voice cut through the chaos. She stood in the doorway, her violet eyes blazing with fury. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" I snapped. "She's overloading. We need to calm her down before she destroys the entire academy!"
Seraphine's lips curled into a sneer. "Or we could let her burn herself out. Problem solved."
I glared at her. "She's a person, not a problem."
For a moment, Seraphine looked taken aback. Then she sighed, stepping into the room. "Fine. But if this backfires, it's on you."
Together, we approached Liana, the magical energy growing more intense with every step.
"Liana," I said, my voice steady. "You're stronger than this. You can control it."
She shook her head, her hands trembling. "I can't… It's too much…"
"Yes, you can," Seraphine said, her tone surprisingly gentle. "You're not weak, girl. You're a Valois now. And Valois don't falter."
Liana's eyes widened, and for a moment, the vortex wavered. "A… Valois?"
Seraphine smirked. "Consider it a promotion. Now, prove you're worthy of the name."
With a deep breath, Liana closed her eyes. The vortex began to shrink, the light and shadow coalescing into a single point before vanishing entirely. She collapsed to her knees, her breathing ragged but steady.
I knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did it."
She looked up at me, her silver eyes fading back to their usual soft brown. "I… I did?"
Seraphine crossed her arms, her smirk returning. "Don't get used to it. You're still a liability."
But I didn't miss the flicker of approval in her eyes.
Seraphine's Favor: -47 → -45
Later that evening, I found myself in the academy gardens, the cool night air a welcome reprieve from the day's chaos. Liana sat on a stone bench, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, sitting beside her.
She sighed, her gaze fixed on the moonlit fountain. "Confused. Scared. Grateful. I don't even know where to start."
"Start with the truth," I said gently. "What happened back there?"
She hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her sleeve. "I… had a dream. About my parents. They were telling me to embrace my power, to use it to protect the people I care about. But when I woke up, it was like… something inside me snapped."
I frowned. "Do you think it was just a dream? Or something more?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. But it felt so real."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.
"A touching scene."
Lord Lucien Blackthorn emerged from the shadows, his emerald eyes gleaming with amusement. "The commoner and the rising star. How quaint."
I stood, placing myself between him and Liana. "What do you want, Blackthorn?"
He chuckled, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Peace, Lockhart. I'm merely here to offer my assistance."
"We don't need your help," I said coldly.
"Don't you?" He stepped closer, his gaze shifting to Liana. "The girl's power is unstable. Without proper guidance, she'll be a danger to herself and everyone around her."
Liana shrank back, her eyes wide with fear.
"Stay away from her," I warned, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword.
Lucien smirked. "Such loyalty. But tell me, Lockhart—how long can you protect her from the wolves circling this academy?"
Before I could respond, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a chilling silence.
End of Chapter 7