The days following Liana's awakening were tense. The academy buzzed with rumors—some whispered about her miraculous power, while others speculated about the shadowy figure who had attacked the ball. Seraphine, ever the opportunist, decided to take matters into her own hands.
"You're training her," she declared one morning, tossing a stack of books onto my desk.
I blinked, looking up from the schedule I'd been drafting. "Excuse me?"
"The girl," she said, her tone impatient. "Liana. You've taken an interest in her, so you'll be responsible for turning her into something useful. Consider it your new assignment."
I stared at her, trying to gauge whether this was a test or a genuine order. "My lady, I'm not exactly qualified to train a mage of her caliber."
Seraphine smirked, leaning against the edge of the desk. "You've managed to survive this long, haven't you? Besides, I'll be overseeing her progress. You're just the… intermediary."
Quest Updated: [The Villainess' Heart]
Objective: Train Liana Hart to control her Arcane Resonance.
Reward: Seraphine's Favor +10, ???
I sighed, realizing there was no point in arguing. "Understood, my lady."
The training began that afternoon in a secluded courtyard behind the academy. Liana stood nervously in the center, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Seraphine observed from a stone bench, her expression unreadable.
"Alright," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Let's start with the basics. Focus on your breathing. Feel the flow of magic within you."
Liana nodded, closing her eyes. Her hands began to glow faintly, but the light flickered and faded almost immediately.
"I… I can't," she said, her voice trembling. "What if I lose control again?"
"You won't," I assured her. "You're stronger than you think."
Seraphine scoffed. "Flattery won't help her, Lockhart. She needs discipline, not coddling."
I shot her a glare but kept my tone even. "Liana, try again. This time, imagine your magic as a river. You're not fighting it—you're guiding it."
She took a deep breath and tried again. This time, the glow around her hands steadied, growing brighter with each passing second.
"Good," I said, nodding encouragingly. "Now, try to shape it. Create a small orb of light."
Her brow furrowed in concentration, and a tiny sphere of light formed in her palm. It wavered slightly but held its shape.
Seraphine raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Is that the best you can do?"
Liana flinched, and the orb flickered out.
"My lady," I said, struggling to keep the irritation out of my voice, "progress takes time."
"Time is a luxury we don't have," Seraphine snapped. "The Crown Prince is already making moves to control her. If we don't act quickly, she'll be nothing more than a pawn in his game."
Liana's eyes widened. "The Crown Prince? What does he want with me?"
"Your power," Seraphine said bluntly. "Arcane Resonance is rare—practically unheard of in commoners. He'll either use you to strengthen his position or eliminate you as a threat."
Liana paled, her hands trembling. "I… I don't want to be used."
"Then prove you're worth more than that," Seraphine said, standing and walking over to her. "Show me you're not just some helpless girl."
Liana swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll try."
The training continued for hours, with Seraphine alternating between harsh critiques and cryptic advice. By the end of the session, Liana was exhausted but had managed to create a stable orb of light and even levitate a small object.
"Not terrible," Seraphine conceded as we wrapped up. "But you'll need to do better if you want to survive in this world."
Liana nodded, her determination outweighing her fatigue. "I understand. Thank you, Lady Seraphine."
Seraphine waved her off. "Don't thank me yet. This is only the beginning."
As Seraphine left, I stayed behind with Liana, handing her a waterskin. "You did well today."
She smiled faintly, taking a sip. "Thanks to you. I don't know what I'd do without your help."
I shrugged, trying to downplay my role. "You're the one doing the hard work. I'm just here to guide you."
Her smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Lockhart… do you really think the Crown Prince will try to use me?"
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Cedric is ambitious. He sees people as tools to further his goals. But as long as you're under Seraphine's protection, he won't be able to touch you."
"And what about Lady Seraphine?" Liana asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is she any different?"
I didn't have an answer for that.
That night, I found myself in the academy's library, poring over ancient texts on Arcane Resonance. The more I learned, the more I realized how dangerous Liana's power could be—not just to others, but to herself.
"Researching again, I see."
I looked up to see Lord Lucien Blackthorn leaning against a bookshelf, his emerald eyes glinting in the candlelight.
"What do you want, Blackthorn?" I asked, my tone wary.
He smirked, stepping closer. "Can't a man check on his investments?"
"I'm not your investment," I said coldly.
"Perhaps not," he conceded. "But the girl is. Her power is a rare commodity, Lockhart. One that could tip the scales in the right hands."
I stood, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. "If you so much as touch her—"
He laughed, the sound echoing through the empty library. "Relax. I'm not here to harm her. Quite the opposite, in fact."
I narrowed my eyes. "Explain."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, intricately carved box. "This contains a relic—a focus crystal. It will help her control her power without risking another… incident."
I stared at the box, my instincts screaming that this was a trap. "And what do you get out of this?"
His smirk widened. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in her success. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Before I could respond, he placed the box on the table and vanished into the shadows.
The next morning, I presented the focus crystal to Liana during our training session. She stared at it in awe, her fingers tracing the delicate carvings.
"It's beautiful," she said softly. "But… where did it come from?"
"A gift," I said evasively. "Try using it."
She nodded, holding the crystal in her palm. As she focused, the glow around her hands grew brighter and more controlled than ever before.
"It's working!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.
I couldn't help but smile. "Good. Now, let's see what else you can do."
End of Chapter 8