The focus crystal worked better than I'd dared to hope. Under its stabilizing influence, Liana's control over her magic improved exponentially. Within days, she could conjure shields of light, heal minor wounds, and even manipulate elemental forces—feats that would take most mages years to master. But power, as Seraphine often reminded me, came with a price.
"Faster, girl!" Seraphine barked, her voice cutting through the crisp morning air. "Your enemies won't wait for you to gather your bearings!"
Liana gritted her teeth, her hands glowing as she deflected a barrage of magical projectiles. We'd moved training to an abandoned courtyard on the academy's outskirts, far from prying eyes. Seraphine had insisted on a more… hands-on approach, hurling spells to simulate real combat.
"Focus on the crystal!" I called out, watching as Liana's shield wavered under the onslaught. "Don't let her rattle you!"
Seraphine shot me a glare. "Your coddling undermines her progress."
"Your encouragement nearly set the gardens on fire yesterday," I shot back.
Liana's shield shattered, and she stumbled back, panting. "I'm sorry—I'll try again—"
"Enough," Seraphine said, lowering her hand. "You're improving, but you're still predictable. A child could anticipate your moves."
Liana flushed but nodded. "I'll do better."
Quest Updated: [The Villainess' Heart]
Progress: Liana's Control +25%
Reward: Seraphine's Favor +5 (Total: -45 → -40)
Seraphine turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Keep pushing her. The Crown Prince's lackeys have been sniffing around the eastern wing. It's only a matter of time before he makes his move."
Before I could respond, the ground beneath us trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the courtyard, and the air grew thick with the stench of decay.
"What now?" Seraphine hissed, her hands crackling with dark energy.
From the shadows emerged a hulking creature—a Corrupted Golem, its stone body oozing black sludge. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Liana, and it let out a roar that shook the trees.
New Threat Unlocked:
Corrupted Golem: A guardian construct infected with dark magic. Weakness: Light-based attacks to the core.
"Liana, shield!" I shouted, drawing my sword.
She threw up a barrier just as the golem slammed its fist into the ground. The force of the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the courtyard. Seraphine retaliated with a bolt of violet energy, blasting off one of the creature's arms.
"Aim for the core!" I yelled, dodging a swipe of its remaining limb.
Liana nodded, her hands glowing brighter. A beam of pure light shot from her palms, striking the golem's chest. The creature staggered, its core flickering.
"Finish it!" Seraphine commanded.
With a scream of effort, Liana intensified the beam. The golem exploded in a shower of stone and sludge, leaving the courtyard in ruins.
Silence fell, broken only by Liana's ragged breathing. She collapsed to her knees, the focus crystal in her hand dimming.
"What… was that?" she whispered.
Seraphine knelt beside the debris, examining a shard of the golem's core. "A message. Someone doesn't want us training her."
"The Crown Prince?" I asked.
"Possibly. Or someone with a grudge against House Valois." She stood, brushing dirt from her robes. "Either way, this changes nothing. The girl needs to be ready."
The Crown Prince's move came sooner than expected.
That evening, as I escorted Seraphine to a council meeting, we were intercepted by Cedric's personal guards. Their captain, a hulking man with a scar across his face, bowed stiffly.
"Lady Seraphine. The Crown Prince requests your presence in the throne room."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Requests or demands?"
The captain's expression didn't change. "He awaits you immediately."
The throne room was packed with nobles, their murmurs dying as we entered. Cedric sat on the dais, his crown glinting in the torchlight. Beside him stood Lord Lucien Blackthorn, his emerald eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Lady Seraphine," Cedric said, his voice carrying across the room. "Thank you for joining us. I've called this assembly to address a matter of… security."
Seraphine's smile was icy. "How tedious. Get to the point, Your Highness."
Cedric's jaw tightened, but he continued. "Recent events have proven that the academy is vulnerable to external threats. To ensure the safety of our students, I propose a new decree: all individuals with rare magical abilities, particularly those of common birth, shall be placed under the direct supervision of the crown."
The room erupted in whispers. Liana, standing near the back with Duke Roland, paled.
"Supervision?" Seraphine scoffed. "You mean imprisonment."
Cedric's gaze hardened. "I mean protection. Arcane Resonance is too dangerous to leave unchecked."
"And House Valois is more than capable of handling it," Seraphine retorted.
"Are you?" Cedric leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Given your family's… history with dark magic, one might question your motives."
The room fell silent. Seraphine's hands twitched, but her smile never wavered. "Careful, Your Highness. Accusations without proof are beneath you."
Lord Lucien stepped forward, breaking the tension. "If I may, Your Highness—perhaps a compromise? Let the girl demonstrate her control publicly. If she proves capable, the matter is settled. If not…" He shrugged. "Well, the crown's protection would be in everyone's best interest."
Cedric nodded. "A reasonable suggestion. What say you, Lady Seraphine?"
Seraphine's eyes narrowed, but she had no choice. "Very well. The girl will perform at the Equinox Gala."
Quest Updated: [The Villainess' Heart]
New Objective: Prepare Liana for the Equinox Gala demonstration.
Failure Condition: Liana's power spirals out of control.
That night, in the depths of the Valois estate, Seraphine and I argued.
"This is a trap," I said, pacing the length of her study. "Cedric wants her to fail. If she loses control in front of the entire court—"
"Then she'll become his pawn," Seraphine finished, swirling wine in her glass. "Which is why you'll ensure she doesn't fail."
I stopped, glaring at her. "You're risking her life for your pride."
She set the glass down with a sharp clink. "I'm securing House Valois's future. If the girl succeeds, Cedric loses face. If she fails…" She shrugged. "Well, I'll have a new weapon to wield against him."
The coldness in her voice sent a chill down my spine. "She's not a weapon."
Seraphine stood, her violet eyes blazing. "Wake up, Lockhart. In this world, everyone is a weapon or a target. The sooner you accept that, the longer you'll survive."
I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me.
"And Lockhart? If you care for the girl, you'll train her harder than you've ever trained anyone. Mercy will get her killed."
End of Chapter 9