Velessa opened her eyes beneath a now-familiar roof, the ceiling above bathed in the soft glow of morning light.
She stared for a moment, sighed, and promptly closed her eyes again, deciding that the day could wait a little longer.
Outside her room, faint footsteps echoed through the corridor. The aroma of something sweet, possibly honey and spice, drifted through the cracks in the door.
Velessa stirred, nose twitching slightly. Her stomach grumbled in quiet betrayal.
She groaned, dragging the blanket over her head.
"...No. Not yet."
But the world, as usual, had other plans.
"Miss Velessa, please wake up.
A soft, unfamiliar voice cut through the room's silence. The door creaked open, and a young maid stepped in, her uniform crisp and clean, her blond hair tied back in a neat bun.
She held a small tray with a teacup and a plate of what looked like warm, honeyed pastries. Steam curled lazily from the cup.
"I was instructed to wake you gently," she added with a polite bow, her voice calm but firm. "Lady Caldreya insists you begin your training early today."
Her blue eyes stopped on the sleeping dragoness.
Velessa's head turned to the maid.
"Who are you?"
The maid bowed low, her posture flawless.
"My name is Elira, Miss Velessa. Normally I only tend to the manor. But I've recently been also assigned to assist you."
She lifted her head, offering a small, practiced smile.
"I'll be tending to your needs, helping you prepare for your lessons, and keeping you company."
Velessa blinked slowly, still half-curled under the blankets.
"Keeping me company?"
Elira nodded. "Lady Caldreya's orders. She thought it might be… beneficial."
Velessa groaned and rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling.
"I don't need company," she muttered. "I need more sleep."
Elira tilted her head slightly, her tone still calm.
"And yet, here I am. With breakfast, tea, and a reminder that Lady Caldreya grows more impatient the longer you remain in bed."
At that, Velessa let out a long sigh and finally sat up, her hair a mess.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
And so after breakfast she got pulled into the washing room. Her long hair was tied into a loose braid by Elira, who worked with the calm precision of someone who'd done this a thousand times.
The water steamed gently, scented with flowers and herbs. Velessa sat in the tub, arms resting on the edge, eyes half-closed with lingering sleep.
"You're strangely efficient."
Velessa mumbled as Elira rinsed her hair.
"I take pride in my duties," Elira replied smoothly, fingers weaving through the strands with ease.
"A maid's worth," she added, her tone calm but firm, "depends entirely on how brilliantly she performs her work."
Velessa sighed, leaning back as Elira finished with her hair, the quiet rustling of towels and soft hums filling the air.
After the bath, Elira led her to the dressing room, the old door opening with a soft creak. The room was spacious and decorated, a stark contrast to most of the other rooms. It was filled with luxurious fabrics and mirrors, the sunlight filtering in through the high windows.
"These will suit you well." Elira said, pulling out a dark, flowing gown with golden accents.
"Are you sure?"
Velessa didn't understand much about clothing. Even less so on how to look elegant.
"You will look outstanding in every piece of clothing, Miss Velessa."
A blush appeared on Velessa's face.
Weak to praise, huh?
Soon, Velessa stood in the sitting room, her posture stiff as she faced Caldreya. The older woman sat gracefully in an armchair, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes studying Velessa intently.
"Well, well," Caldreya murmured, eyes scanning Velessa up and down, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"You look... almost presentable."
Velessa crossed her arms, trying to ignore the wave of annoyance that rose inside her. "I'm not here for your fashion advice, Caldreya."
Caldreya chuckled softly.
"Of course not, my dear. But looking nice is often half the battle."
She stood up, walking around Velessa.
"But you're right," she said with a wink.
"Let's get to the real lesson."
She took out the tome Velessa used as a reference to build her first magic circle.
"Yesterday you created your first magic spell. A six-circle defensive one specializing in receiving a blow, absorbing it, and returning it to the attacker."
She paused for a moment, studying Velessa with a smile that was both approving and calculating.
"Congratulations. This is a spectacular achievement for any beginner mage. But it's not enough."
"We need to perfect it. You see, every mage has a limited number of spells they can create before their soul and mind give out. The more you create, the more strain you put on yourself. So, the key is precision, balance, and refinement."
She leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping lower. "And that, Velessa, is what we're going to work on today."
Caldreya gave a small nod as she looked at Velessa.
"Refining a spell isn't just about adding more power. It's about understanding the essence behind it. What you created was a method of defense, yes. But it was raw. Untamed. It relies too much on brute force."
She circled around Velessa, tapping the tome thoughtfully.
"The spell was mainly created by mana tainted by your darkness affinity. Because of this, the once transparent mana has become completely black. It's impossible to see through, leaving you blind to the outside world."
She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words settle.
"Now, you need to add another law. A law to allow you to perceive what's hidden in the blackness of the spell. You need to establish a law of vision-an element that'll let you see through your own creation, guiding your control over it."
Caldreya's eyes glinted with quiet excitement as she watched Velessa.
"Once you add this, you'll be able to both see the world and not be blind to the spell's foundations."
She stepped back, giving Velessa space to think, her tone becoming more deliberate.
"The trick is not just adding more, it's about achieving balance. If you add too much, you'll destabilize the entire spell. The goal is subtlety and harmony-making sure every law you add serves its purpose without overwhelming the spell's core."
"And once a law is unneeded, you can replace it with another. Adapting to the changes around you."
She grinned.
"Adaptability is humanity's strongest perk."
She blinked.
"Oh wait, I forgot..."