Anna pressed the book she was holding tightly against her chest. A faint red spread across both sides of her face.
Seeing color bloom upon her delicate, ice-like features made her seem unmistakably human.
Standing before her, Aster sensed that something was wrong.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked, stepping closer.
Just then, the door opened and Suna entered the library.
"Aster? I didn't expect to find you here," she said, approaching the table at the center of the library.
The moment she arrived, her eyes flicked toward Anna. After taking in her condition, she turned to Aster.
"By the way, Sir Valorant is waiting for you downstairs."
Hearing Suna's words, Aster didn't hesitate and left at once. Only after she was sure he had gone did the maid hurry over to Anna.
"So? How was it—for a first time?" she whispered with a teasing grin.
The duke's granddaughter turned her face away and replied,
"What are you talking about?!"
She hugged the book tightly.
"Did Aster say something?"
Anna stayed silent.
"What could he have said to make even the ice on your face melt?" Suna asked, placing her hands on Anna's shoulders.
"Nothing!" Anna snapped, slipping free of her grasp.
A sly smile spread across Suna's face, as if she had sensed something.
"Alright, alright," she said, waving a hand.
"Go eat something. Strong girls are Aster's type."
Anna spun around, flustered and irritated.
"Stop it!"
The expression on her face only made Suna burst out laughing.
***
The sun once again rose in the east, ushering in a new day. Though morning had barely begun, Aster was already in the middle of his training.
Sword in hand, he practiced his strikes.
"Eight hundred ninety-eight, eight hundred ninety-nine, nine hundred," he muttered, bringing his blade down.
Valorant, as usual, sat off to the side, watching his disciple's movements.
"Another hundred."
"Yes!"
Aster raised his sword and continued.
The training went on—until Gustav suddenly interrupted them.
Exhausted, Aster lay sprawled on the ground. Gustav approached the old man.
"Here is the sword you requested," he said, handing over a weapon wrapped in cloth.
Without another word, the steward departed. Valorant unwrapped the cloth and examined the blade.
"Aster, catch!"
He tossed the sword—still sheathed—to his disciple.
Aster caught it and drew the blade to inspect it. The craftsmanship was exquisite, as if the sword itself drew strength from sunlight, gleaming brilliantly. It was light, perfectly balanced, and fit his hand as though it had been made just for him.
He lifted it and gave it a few test swings.
"It's light—and easy to use."
Valorant nodded.
"For fifty gold coins, it had better be."
Suddenly, Aster's hand began to tremble. The sword felt heavier and heavier. Gripping it with both hands, he slowly guided it back into its sheath and lowered it.
Only one thought filled his mind—fifty gold coins, taking the shape of a sword in his hands.
"Why did you sheath it?" the old man asked, standing up.
"I can train just fine with my old sword," Aster replied, nodding.
"Pick it up. Now!"
Valorant shouted and threw his staff at him.
Hugging the new sword to his chest, Aster dodged so the staff wouldn't hit him.
"Hey—where did you even find another staff?!"
But in the end, he had no choice but to use the sword.
"Pour mana into it."
Following his master's instructions, Aster began channeling mana into the blade. His expression changed almost immediately as he looked up.
"How?! It absorbed my mana."
"This sword is an artifact," Valorant explained.
"It consumes the user's mana and allows them to unleash the strikes you saw me use."
Aster lifted the sword and examined it closely.
"Keep feeding it mana and start using it. The more mana it absorbs, the faster it will adapt to you."
Placing a hand on his disciple's shoulder, Valorant said,
"That's enough training for today."
Aster stared at him, surprised.
"Someone seems to be waiting for you," the old man added.
Confused, Aster glanced around—but saw no one. Then, slowly, his gaze shifted toward the mansion's windows.
At one of them, he saw the duke's granddaughter looking at him. The moment Anna noticed his gaze, she quickly stepped away from the window.
Seeing this, the old man placed a hand on Aster's shoulder.
"Come closer."
Pulling him in, Valorant spoke in a lower voice.
"Do you remember what I told you on the way here?"
"What exactly do you mean?" Aster asked, thinking.
Valorant glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then continued.
"About girls."
In that instant, Aster recalled the words spoken inside the carriage.
"Yes. The day has finally come. Just as a master advises his disciple, I'll give you your first piece of advice."
Heat rose to the young Elestar's cheeks.
"If a girl is shy, you need to get closer to her. Sit near her if you can. Tell her you trust her. You understand, right?"
Aster nodded.
"Then go, my disciple. I believe in you," Valorant said, giving him a light shove.
Aster picked up his swords and headed inside. Valorant remained outside, a smile never leaving his face.
'Interesting… what will he do?'
***
After training, Aster returned once more to the duke's library. As always, the duke's granddaughter was there.
"Hello."
'Just like Master said,' he thought, walking over to the table where Anna sat.
Instead of standing across from her as before, he stood beside her and asked gently,
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
Anna's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Why do you want to sit there? There are plenty of other seats."
Caught completely off guard—having never even considered such a response—Aster froze.
'Master didn't mention this part…'
Moving awkwardly, he returned to the seat across from Anna and sat down. Still, he didn't want to stop there.
"What are you busy with today?"
Anna lifted her eyes from her book for a brief second, glanced at him, then returned to reading.
Aster had never felt this kind of awkwardness before. He didn't know what to do. Right now, if he could, he would've fled the room.
But the thought of how strange that might look to Anna stopped him.
Even if it might look odd from anyone else's perspective.
He raised his hand and clutched the pendant hanging from his neck.
Suddenly, Anna spoke. For the first time.
"Thank you."
Aster couldn't believe his ears.
"For what?"
"Just… thank you," she said with a smile.
Seeing Anna smile felt rarer than witnessing a solar eclipse. For someone who had locked herself away from others, it was truly extraordinary.
As he looked at the duke's granddaughter's smile, only one thought crossed his mind.
'She's beautiful…'
All his previous thoughts faded away. He couldn't take his eyes off her.