Harmonia Calendar 715, Chelon 10 - Ashspire Estate, Elandor
Evening - Adonis' Room
The room was small and almost bare. A plain desk, a chair, and a narrow bed against the wall. Everything was clean, with no dust, as if someone had tended to it every day.
Weak light slipped in through the window, cast by the lanterns outside.
I lay curled on the bed, arms wrapped around a pillow. The fabric still smelled faintly of him.
Adonis.
I pressed my face into it, clutching it as if my grip alone could drag him back.
The door opened softly.
Click.
My head twitched at the sound but stayed low. I didn't want to see anyone. I didn't want to speak.
The door closed, carefully.
Click.
A gentle voice broke the silence.
"Theodora, my dear."
Mother.
I buried my face deeper into the pillow and whispered.
"Leave me alone."
Her steps crossed the room, light but steady. She sat on the edge of the bed. Fingers brushed through my hair, untangling strands with care.
Her voice was soft.
"You know…I come to this room at night, when I can't sleep. I touch his bed, his clothes. Sometimes I clean and wipe the dust away. It keeps me busy."
My body stiffened.
She went on, her hand still stroking my hair.
"I pray every night. For his well-being. That he is alive. That he has food. That we will see him again."
I trembled. I wanted to tell her to stop, to leave, but the words caught in my throat.
Mother leaned closer, her whisper brushing my ear.
"Theodora… you can't stay like this. Anton only sees you as a tool. For marriage. For politics."
The words stabbed deep. My lips parted, trembling as I whispered.
"And what should I do? I don't want to do anything. I just want them back. Both Adonis and Lucien. That's all."
Her hand paused in my hair, then gently slipped down, lifting my chin until my eyes met hers.
Emerald green. The same as mine. Her chestnut hair was tied neatly, though strands now fell loose. Her face looked thinner, weeks of poor meals had hollowed her cheeks.
Dim light touched her pale features. A tear slid down as she spoke.
"My dear. I want them back, too. To embrace them again. To see them smile. But they are gone."
A soft sob escaped her. She pressed her lips together, steadying herself.
"Adonis is far away. And Lucien is at the Center, training. But we—"
Her hand brushed another strand of my hair aside.
"—we cannot keep living like this."
My throat felt dry. My voice cracked.
"Then what should I do?"
Her smile was faint, tired.
"There are only two ways for a noble lady to choose her own fate."
She paused, giving the words weight.
"Gain strength. Strong enough that no one can force you. Or…gain wealth enough to buy strength."
Her lips curved in a bitter chuckle.
"And we have no wealth. What we do have belongs to the house. To him. So you, my daughter, can only become strong."
Tears slid down my cheeks. My voice broke.
"I can't fight. I tried...but I can't do what Lucien does. Swords, spears…I'm not talented enough."
She brushed my tears away. Her smile softened.
"Who said strength only comes from a sword?"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"That foolish line came from him. 'A man needs a sword to be strong.'"
A broken laugh left me as memories surfaced.
"Yes. Adonis…that idiot said that."
I turned fully toward her. She shifted, sitting straighter, and guided my head to her lap. Her fingers returned to my hair, combing gently.
I whispered.
"Then tell me, Mother… how can I become strong?"
Her hand slowed. Her eyes glistened.
"Have you ever heard of magic, my dear?"
The word startled me.
"Magic?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I blinked, confused.
"I heard Lucien talk about it, and at parties, other girls sometimes mentioned it. But I thought…I thought it was only for the chosen ones."
Her finger tapped my nose, teasing.
"Who told you that nonsense?"
'Father.'
Before I could answer, her hand lifted, fingers trailing through the air.
Light shimmered.
Tiny crystals of ice flickered into existence, floating above her palm. They caught the glow of the lightstone, scattering like stars before they vanished.
My breath caught.
'Beautiful.'
Her voice pulled me back.
"This is magic. Anyone can learn it. You don't have to be chosen. You only need this."
She tapped my forehead, chuckling.
"And a smart girl like you will have no trouble."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. My voice came small.
"So…I can learn magic? I can become strong?"
Her smile warmed, more real than I'd seen in days.
"Yes. With effort, you can learn. Magic is an endless path. If you give it your all, you can become strong. Strong enough to decide your own fate."
She teased again, her eyes bright.
"And doesn't it suit a lady better to shoot beautiful spells, rather than swing swords like a barbarian?"
A chuckle slipped out, unexpected but real. We laughed together.
Then my voice steadied, clear.
"Then how can I learn magic?"
Her hand stroked my hair again.
"You will see. Magic is different from your brothers' path. Warriors strengthen their bodies with mana, but they can only use it inside themselves. Mages, however…"
She snapped her fingers. A larger ice crystal formed above us.
"…we project it outward. We shape it. We command the battle from a distance. We fight without ever staining our dresses."
Another snap. The crystal burst, scattering fine powder like falling snow.
'It's snowing?'
My eyes widened. Excitement rushed through me.
"What do I need to do to learn?"
Her smile turned calm and confident.
"You must study. The world is built on laws and rules. You must learn them before you can use them. But tomorrow, you will hear more from Master Paulus."
Confusion struck.
"Master Paulus?"
Mother nodded.
"I called him. He arrives in the morning. He will be your instructor."
The weight of it hit me. She had prepared this for me. My eyes blurred again as I wrapped my arms around her waist, clinging tight.
"Mother…thank you."
Her embrace was warm, steady.
"I will stand behind you, my princess."
She kissed my forehead, then gently eased me free.
"Sleep now. Tomorrow will be heavy with new things. You'll need your strength."
She rose. The lightstone glow traced her figure as she opened the door.
Click.
It closed softly behind her.
I clutched the pillow again, a smile spreading as I whispered into the dark.
"Magic."
The word felt alive.
I pressed the pillow tighter, whispering with new resolve.
"I will become strong. I will learn magic. And I will find him."
——————
Thud.
A knock jolted me awake.
My eyes opened slowly. Sunlight cut through the window, stinging as it hit my face.
The door opened, and a maid stepped inside with practiced steps. Another followed, pushing a small cart that rattled with dishes.
Even in my daze, I recognized her. Ina, my personal maid.
She was in her twenties, with black hair tied in a bun. Her brown eyes swept the room until they found me. The ash-grey dress of her uniform hung plain.
Ina lowered her head, hands folded neatly in front of her.
"Young Lady Theodora, Lady Rowena asks that we help you prepare. Your instructor will arrive shortly. We should dress and eat."
I sat up, clutching the pillow to my stomach. My voice came out rough.
"When does the instructor arrive?"
The second maid turned the cart so the plates faced the small table by the window. From the lower rack, she lifted folded clothes and handed them to Ina.
Ina took them. Simple black trousers, a white buttoned shirt, and black shoes. Her voice came firm, though she smiled faintly.
"In fifteen minutes."
I shot to my feet. Panic rose sharply, burning the sleep away. My voice cracked.
"What?"
Ina crossed to me, clothes in hand.
"Please dress yourself, my lady."
I nodded numbly and took them.
I pulled the nightgown off, slipped into the trousers, and shoved my feet into the shoes. I draped the shirt over my shoulders and began to button it.
Ina stopped me halfway. She stepped closer, quick fingers fastening the buttons to my throat. Then she gestured to the chair.
"Sit. I will do your hair while you eat."
The plates were already served on the desk. Warm bread. Butter. Jam. A cup of milk.
I sat and began to spread jam on the bread and ate in quiet bites while Ina brushed through my hair, tugging gently.
The only sounds were my chewing and the steady pull of the brush.
By the time I finished eating, she had tied my hair into a high ponytail.
"My lady, we must go, or we will be late."
I nodded and stood.
I turned toward the door, then paused. The mirror caught me.
A pale girl stared back. Dark circles hung like bruises under her eyes. The white shirt made her frame look thinner. The ponytail was neat, but the face beneath it was not.
I let out a breath.
'He would have scolded me already. Forced me to eat, even when I wasn't hungry. Stayed until I slept.'
My heart ached.
'I miss him.'
The maids waited in silence. I drew a long breath and moved to the door.
Ina stepped forward, leading the way.
"Follow me, my lady."
She led me through the corridors. The other maid wheeled the cart away. Our footsteps echoed on stone until we stopped before the largest door on the floor.
'The library.'
Ina pressed her palms to the handle and pushed.
Creak.
The double doors swung wide.
The estate library opened around us. Shelves rose in rows that reached for the ceiling, ladders leaning against them. The air smelled of dust and old ink. Lightstones glowed above a cluster of long tables.
It brought memories back.
'Lucien loved this place. He spent days here, reading book after book. Sometimes he even taught us here.'
Ina gestured toward the central table, then stepped back.
"Give it your best, my lady."
I nodded. My gaze fell on the central table. Books were piled high upon it, and a blackboard on wheels waited nearby.
Two figures sat there. Mother rose first. Her dress was simple, plain green, tied at the waist. Her face was pale, but her smile reached her eyes as she saw me.
The man beside her stood as well. White hair fell to his shoulders, matched by a neatly kept beard. He wore a long blue robe, lined with dark thread at the cuffs. His skin was smooth, despite his age, and his eyes were a clear blue that seemed to watch everything.
He inclined at the waist and bent a knee in a proper courtly greeting.
I answered with a slight bow.
Mother lifted her hand toward him, her smile warm.
"Theodora, this is Master Paulus, your instructor."
His mouth tilted in a delighted smile. A chuckle escaped as he straightened.
"Nice to meet you, Theodora. You may call me Teacher."
I dipped my head deeper.
"Theodora Ashspire. Thank you for your time, Teacher."
He gestured toward the chair across from him.
"How kind. Please, sit."
I sat down. Teacher Paulus to my right, Mother to my left.
He folded his hands on the table.
"Theodora, why do you want to learn magic?"
I let the question settle. I thought of Father and the matches he spoke of. I thought of wagon doors closing. I thought of Adonis.
When I spoke, my answer was simple.
"To get stronger…and to choose for myself."
His laugh was soft, warm.
"Good. Determination sits well on the young. I like it."
Mother leaned forward, voice gentle but proud.
"Theodora, Master Paulus is among the finest mages in the empire. If anyone can guide you, it is him. Listen closely."
I rolled my eyes a little at her tone, then caught myself and straightened.
"Yes, Mother."
Teacher Paulus pushed back his chair and rose, robe fluttering around his legs. He dragged the blackboard into place and took a piece of chalk from its tray.
"Let us begin with the basics. What magic is, and how it differs from the path your brothers chose."
He drew a circle, quick and clean, and tapped it.
"Warriors move mana within themselves. They can infuse it into objects, but that is all. Their art is brave, but bound to the self."
Then he drew a second, larger circle around the first.
"Mages project mana outward. We shape it into forms that obey the laws of the world. We fight from a distance. Not always spotless, mind you, but our clothes survive better than most."
He finished with a wink.
A chuckle slipped out of me before I could stop it. Mother's hand brushed my sleeve, pleased.
Tap.
He tapped the board with the chalk.
"To do this, you must understand that the world runs on laws. The more precisely you grasp them, the better you can use them. That is the mage's burden, and joy. Knowledge is our sword."
He set the chalk aside and laced his fingers.
"You will hear many phrases. I will make them simple. A warrior's internal circulation is the practice of moving mana through one's body to enhance flesh and steel. A mage's projection is the act of expressing mana beyond oneself to interact with the world."
I nodded slowly.
"So, warriors cannot project?"
He clapped his hands in delight.
"Good question. Here is the tricky part. They can. Everyone can choose either path. Mage or warrior. But the further you walk one road, the harder it is to return to the other."
He tapped the circles again.
"A warrior who has trained his body for internal circulation will never rival a mage who devoted his life to projection. The same is true in reverse. Crossing paths is possible, but mastery belongs to those who walk them fully."
His eyes met mine.
"Is that understandable?"
I nodded.
"Yes. If everyone can start on both paths, then it's possible to use both."
He smiled faintly.
"Exactly. That is the core of it. Good. Now for the next step."
He lifted the chalk again and wrote a line across the board.
"Since you know the core of what a mage is, you must hear why they can use magic. Scholars divide the world's laws in many ways, but one system has lasted across eras because it is broad enough to cover all, yet exact enough to be useful."
He tapped the board.
[Primal Affinities]
His eyes locked on mine. The playfulness faded as he spoke.
"Primal Affinities."
He paused, then wrote a number beneath.
[Sixteen]
Setting the chalk down, he turned back. His blue eyes glinted behind the glasses, his voice calm and sure.
"The sixteen roots from which every branch of magic grows. Learn them. And if you can understand them fully, you may one day stand among the greatest of mages."