Is this the true Melody Winterborne? He thought, his gaze hardening.
Michael couldn't help but stare at her once doll-like face, now marked by a crooked smile—teasing, almost mocking. It was as though her entire personality had shifted.
But as he recalled their past interactions, he remembered a few moments where her mask had slipped, revealing something else beneath.
His original assessment of her had been that she was haughty and immature. She'd shown blatant disrespect—not only toward him, whom she'd referred to as a wild dog—but also to her father, when she'd eaten before him at dinner.
The anger she'd displayed when reprimanded, and her forced apology the next day. More recently, the knee-jerk reaction to the bitter tea he'd brewed during their piano lesson.
The signs had been there—thinly veiled, but unmistakable.
It seems she took my proposal to drop all pretenses quite literally…
"You're right," Michael said, his thoughts now composed. "We currently have a mutually beneficial relationship. As long as this remains in place, I have no qualms about continuing our arrangement."
"Good," Melody nodded, her tone cold, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in her gaze. "That being said, I won't allow my future husband to be weaker than me," she warned, her blue eyes turning frosty.
For a moment, the air around him seemed to freeze. Her gaze was dangerous—similar to her father's, though lacking the authority he commanded.
"I don't intend to remain weak, Melody," Michael countered. "So, I want you to teach me what you know about mana control."
"Sorry?" Melody's icy demeanor melted, replaced by wide-eyed surprise.
Michael felt a pang of discomfort at the awkwardness of the request, but her reaction only made it more difficult. Despite his unease, he cleared his throat and pressed on. "I don't want another… episode. It'd be good for both of us if I could learn to control my mana properly from now on."
He added, "Since I've heard that mana control is your specialty, who better to teach me outside the academy than you?"
Her surprise faded, replaced by contemplation. Melody's eyes sparkled with amusement as she let out a soft, splendid laugh—unexpectedly cute and infectious.
"Ah, how wonderful," she said, tossing her braided hair over her shoulder. "To think you'd swallow your pride and ask me—a mere child—to teach you mana control. You surprise me, Michael."
"A child? Aren't we the same age?"
"Hmmm? Aren't you two years older than me?" She raised an eyebrow, her expression teasing.
Michael's expression faltered. "I turned ten this past Autumn…"
Melody froze, her eyes scanning him again, a hint of doubt creeping into her gaze.
He shrugged. "It's fine if you don't believe me. Even if I were twelve, like you thought, I'd have no qualms asking for your guidance. Like I said, I don't intend to remain weak."
"Heh… well good," she replied, clearing her throat. "We've got time before my first lesson. Let's get to it."
"Eh? Right now?" Michael raised an eyebrow, incredulous.
"Sure, why not? Are you scared or something?" Melody replied, goading him.
This girl…
Michael swallowed his irritation, choosing to ignore her provocation. He stood up from the chair and approached her. "Alright, tell me what to do."
"Close your eyes," she prompted.
After a quick glance to ensure she wasn't trying anything funny, Michael complied, shutting his eyes.
"Ah, maybe sit down in the lotus pose first, just so you don't lose your balance…"
He shot her another look before following her instructions. He often entered this pose when absorbing and refining mana from his surroundings, so it was almost second nature by now.
"Good. Now, I want you to move your mana through your meridians, completing a cycle around your body. Oh, and start from your rings. It'll make things easier when you eventually start casting spells."
Michael was silent for a moment, then opened his eyes and turned to the young girl. "Um, how exactly do I do that?"
"HUH!? You don't even know how to move your mana around?" she almost yelped.
Embarrassment flooded his body, and his cheeks flushed. "Please think of me as a complete novice…" he muttered, trying to regain his composure.
Melody let out a dramatic sigh. "Why am I wasting my time on this…" she mumbled, just loud enough for him to hear. "Right, how is your imagination?"
My imagination? What does that have to do with anything?
However, seeing the serious expression on her face, Michael answered properly, "As good as any other ten-year-old, I guess."
Melody groaned in annoyance. "Alright, shut your eyes again," she snapped.
"I want you to imagine your meridians are a river. The current flows from your rings to your heart, then to your inner palace. Visualize the river running through your whole body, returning back to the source."
A river…
Michael shut his eyes again, his mind's eye turning inward. He saw his meridians mapped out in his body. They resembled veins, though much wider and filled with a red mist—his mana.
Following her instructions, he visualized a smooth current beginning at his ring, traveling up his arm toward his heart. To his surprise, the mist began to stir, slowly moving into action.
His heart leapt with joy at seeing an immediate result. However, his excitement caused him to lose focus. The mana that had begun to move suddenly became stagnant.
"Don't lose focus!"
Melody's voice made him flinch, almost breaking his concentration.
Michael took a deep breath and calmed himself, visualizing the river current that would carry his mana through his body. To his relief, it began moving just as easily as before, heading toward his heart.
Keeping his mind tranquil, Michael guided the mana upwards at the junction, toward his inner palace. The red mist obeyed seamlessly, flowing as easily as breathing.
After a quick trip around his inner palace, the mana returned to the junction before continuing its journey to his right arm. It looped back, traveling down his right leg, then left leg, and finally returned to his ring.