I collapsed like a dramatic fainting noblewoman onto the training field—and immediately rolled onto Mariette's lap like it was my designated crash zone.
I did it. I finally did it. One hundred laps. My lungs were screaming, my legs had checked out somewhere around lap ninety, and my kneecaps were in open rebellion. I'm never running again. If I see a track, I'll cross the street and file a restraining order. That was a hundred laps of pain. I immediately collapsed onto Mariette's lap like a sack of regrets and stale nobility. I want a nap, some soup, and a very long break from being alive.
Mariette knelt beside me, offering a fresh towel like a cleric performing a dramatic final blessing. She didn't sigh, but I could feel the silent judgment radiating from her like sunlight. I clutched it to my chest, wheezing, twitching, and very possibly hallucinating. My lungs were screaming for air, and my legs couldn't even decide if they wanted to stand or give up entirely. I also had a bad feeling in my gut, like I'd just triggered a cutscene boss fight by mistake.
"I see you survived," came Valeria Duskvale's voice—calm, cool, merciless.
I didn't even open my eyes. "You say 'survived' like I haven't spiritually passed on."
She ignored that. "Took you long enough."
I flipped over dramatically and pointed a shaky finger at her. "I hope one day you fall in love and they break your heart by making you drain your stamina in bed at dawn—with paperwork after." Valeria blinked, clearly baffled, then gave a slow nod like someone pretending to understand a complicated dinner menu in a foreign language. She had absolutely no idea what I was saying, but accepted it anyway—probably under the category of 'eccentric noble threats.'
Then, without warning: "Now let's begin our first lesson for today."
I froze. My soul attempted to flee my body.
"Lesson? What lesson?! I already learned about suffering! Isn't that enough for one morning?!"
Valeria turned and gestured toward the center of the lawn, where Seraphina Noir stood calmly, arms folded, not a bead of sweat on her porcelain skin.
How. Was. She. Not. Sweating. "Mariette"
Because she is only watching you lady Celia.
I squinted at her. "How long has she been standing there?"
"Since lap eighty-seven," Mariette whispered.
"I knew I felt judgment burning into the back of my neck," I groaned.
Valeria walked ahead and beckoned us to follow. "Come. It's time you both understood what it is you're actually working with."
"Muscle cramps?" I offered weakly, wincing as my thigh twitched in betrayal.
"Mana," Valeria replied flatly, as if the word alone should explain everything.
Seraphina stepped forward gracefully, saying nothing, her eyes fixed on Valeria like she was etching every word into her mind.
I dragged myself after them, crawling slightly, with Mariette pretending not to notice.
We entered a quiet room inside the Averna estate—a side chamber near the west wing that had clearly been prepared in advance. A chalkboard stood at the front, along with a wooden desk and a few empty chairs. It had the distinct, dreadful air of a classroom. My greatest enemy.
I immediately slumped into a seat and planted my head on the desk. Mariette sat beside me like a patient chaperone. Seraphina, of course, looked like she'd been born in a library.
Valeria raised her hand, conjuring a simple orb of pale blue light. She continued speaking about the concept of mana. She had the tone of someone who knew exactly what she was talking about—and the eyes of someone who absolutely did not.
"Mana is the foundation of all magic. It's the invisible energy that fuels every spell, enchantment, and magical action. It flows through all living beings—some with great rivers, others with dry wells. It has types, tendencies, affinities. But all of it must be understood before it can be mastered."
I muttered, "Invisibility sounds fake. If I can't nap on it, is it even real?"
She glanced at me. "Especially when you have... a complex situation."
"Mana can also be used to enhance your physical capabilities—like boosting strength, speed, or endurance temporarily. Think of it as magical adrenaline, but with a risk of magical burnout if you overdo it.
"Unstable," she corrected.
Seraphina blinked slowly. "I read that mixed elemental affinities can cause severe backlash if mishandled."
Valeria nodded. "Correct. And in Celia's case, her mana has a natural tendency to clash. Learning control is not optional."
I raised a hand. "Can I boost my physical ability while casting my magic affinity?
"No." it's impossible to do that, unless you're multi elemental. because multi elemental has a very large mana compared to an average mage.
I dramatically fell backward again. Mariette caught me by the collar before I hit dirt.
Valeria walked over and tapped my forehead. "Focus. This is your foundation. Until you understand the flow of your mana, you will never use it without consequence."
The orb in her hand flared into a single, vibrant flame—her fire affinity swirling with controlled intensity.
"Mana flow begins in the core, then channels through the body's pathways. The difficulty comes from maintaining stability when multiple elements try to override each other."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly. "So, would separating them manually be safer?"
Valeria looked impressed. "That would be the goal. Internal separation or harmony. Either path requires rigorous training."
I blinked. "Wait. So you're saying I have to teach my inner magical children to get along?"
"…In an aggressively simplified sense. Yes."
I looked to Mariette, who smiled faintly. "I suggest group therapy."
"Can I skip to the part where I blast things with magic and look cool doing it?"
Valeria raised an eyebrow. "Only if you enjoy spontaneous combustion."
I sighed and rolled onto my stomach. "Tell my father I'm joining the convent."
She let me whine, just a little. But I noticed Seraphina was still standing, eyes sharp and focused.
And I realized, miserably: the lesson really had just begun.