Her face fell, the others looked worried. Evelyn remained impassive.
Evelyn: "I told you, if you don't trust yourself, then no one will. First, you need to trust yourself. Only then will those powers acknowledge you, choose to entrust themselves to you. You must have the mindset that you can do it. You are capable of doing it. These powers are yours. They must listen to you. You are their master."
Evelyn's voice was calm but firm.
Lily lowered her gaze. Actually while trying to bring out that energy she had doubted herself. Her thoughts had been clouded with fear: What if I can't do it? What if it's all an illusion? What if I disappoint the princess?
Those thoughts plagued her before—but no more
The princess is right. If she doesn't trust herself, how can she expect others to trust her?
No. She can do it, she absolutely will not disappoint the princess.
She straightened her shoulders, closed her eyes, and whispered to herself: I can do it. I'm the master. They must listen to me. I'm the master. I'm the master... They must listen to me.
She closed her eyes again, and this time, her heart beat steady and strong. Her right hand slowly began to glow with an orange light—the very same hue of the orb she'd touched.
The light expanded, flickering like flame but gentle, warm.
Lily's voice trembled, filled with wonder. "Your Highness... Look, I'm..."
"Yes," Evelyn said, a rare smile gracing her lips.
Evelyn: "You're doing magic. Congratulations, Lily. You are now officially a mage."
Lily burst into tears, rushing forward and embracing Evelyn tightly. Her emotions overcame her.
Lily: "I never thought I'd be able to become a mage in this lifetime. Thank you... Thank you so much."
Evelyn hugged her back briefly and then patted her shoulder. "I told you, you all have untapped potential. You just have to reach for it."
Lily stepped back, wiping her eyes, her face still glowing with joy.
Melinda, Cassy, Claire, and Ella stared with awe and hope.
Hope flickered in each heart like a newly lit flame—fragile, yet ready to burn brighter.
The thick summer air of the palace garden shimmered with heat and purpose. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a molten-gold veil across the now-kneeling figures before Evelyn. Their vow hung in the air, echoing in each heart.
Evelyn studied them—each face marked by a different emotion: awe, determination, disbelief, and hope.
She broke the silence with calm authority.
Evelyn: "Melinda. Claire. Your turn. How has your progress been?"
Melinda stepped forward first, a slight smile on her lips. Her short dark hair was tied up in a practical bun, and her apron peeked out slightly beneath her coat.
Melinda: "I've been reading the book on poison cuisine you gave me, Your Highness. I've tried making several samples using small doses—safe, non-lethal ones. I kept the antidotes ready, just in case."
Cassy's eyes widened. "You... fed poison to someone?"
Melinda gave a slight chuckle. "To myself. I wouldn't risk others."
Lily blinked. "Wait. You poisoned yourself?"
Melinda: "I've tested some of the milder recipes, adjusting the dosages and ingredients to better understand how they interact. The effects were precise and efficient."
She lifted her sleeve and tapped the skin of her arm.
Melinda: "Actually i was born different, Your Highness. My body doesn't react to most toxins. Even before this, no matter how potent the substance, it has no effect on my body. My family even forbade me from telling anyone."
A hush fell over the group. Even the quiet rustling of leaves in the wind seemed to pause.
Evelyn said nothing. Her expression remained calm—measured. But her eyes lingered on Melinda a moment longer than usual.
Evelyn (Thoughts): Of course, I already knew about it.
Melinda: "My body doesn't reject poison. It absorbs it… almost like it recognizes it as part of me. That's why I'm able to experiment without fear. I can taste, feel, and analyze everything firsthand."
Evelyn nodded.
Evelyn: "Perfect. Control and understanding are everything in your path. And you're brave. But don't overstep. Keep antidotes and counteragents always within reach."
Melinda bowed slightly. "Yes, Your Highness."
Then Evelyn turned her gaze to the youngest among them—Claire.
Claire looked up with wide eyes, a little startled. She stepped forward hesitantly, twisting the hem of her sleeve. Her voice, as always, was soft and slightly halting.
Claire: "I... I read the book you gave me..."
Her cheeks flushed with effort as she spoke.
Claire: "I memorized some... And I'm trying to. Understand more. Hard. But I'm not. Giving up. I'll get better. I promise."
Evelyn gave her a long look—measuring not her ability, but her resolve.
Evelyn: "You've taken the first step. Understanding those is no small feat. Just keep going. Learn one a day if you have to. Your pace isn't the issue—your heart is."
Claire blinked, then nodded vigorously. "Yes, Your Highness. I'll do my best."
Evelyn turned, and her eyes landed on Ella last. The fire that danced in Ella's soul was visible even in her posture—straight, solid, unwavering.
Evelyn: "Ella. You've been progressing faster than I expected. But be warned. Even steel breaks if over-forged. Don't burn yourself out. This is a siege, not a charge."
Ella stepped forward, head bowed.
Ella: "Understood, Your Highness. I won't disappoint you."
Evelyn looked over them all—no longer mere girls from the servant quarters. They stood straighter now. Something in them had changed. Something had awakened.
Evelyn: "Starting tomorrow, the next phase begins. Weapons training. Magic control. Strategy. And above all—bonding. From now on, you are not separate individuals. You are a team. Comrades. If one falls, the rest must be ready to carry them."
Their expressions shifted—some afraid, others excited—but all solemn.
Evelyn: "You are no longer merely servants of this palace. You are all now my guardians—my shadows."
A breathless silence fell.
Then, as one, they dropped to a knee.
All: "We vow to follow you, Your Highness. With everything we have."
Evelyn's lips curved into a rare, quiet smile. Not of joy—but of resolve. She saw before her not just trainees. They were seeds—fragile, yes, but fierce. And if nurtured right, they would become an unstoppable storm.