"Now listen to me carefully. You can use both your father's sacred bloodline, bestowed at birth for the use of magic, and your mother's power. You already know how powerful a mage your father is, so there is no need for me to explain him further."
Areth was standing, while Rosavelle stood opposite him at attention. They had moved to the center of the room. To prevent distractions and help Rosavelle focus, he had extinguished the candles, leaving the room in dim moonlight and shadow.
"As for your mother… for now, it is enough for you to know that she was a Mindseer."
Although her face was obscured by darkness, Areth could tell that Rosavelle was shocked. He knew she understood what Mindseers were. They were the name given to the mages of an elven tribe that had vanished years ago. These sorcerers could control an enemy's mind, read thoughts, and sense intentions.
"If you trust me, I can prove it to you," Areth added.
Although Rosavelle had countless questions she wanted to ask, she chose to remain silent for now and devote all her focus to her master. The possibility that what she had long considered a curse was actually a power inherited from her mother stirred excitement within her, yet she quickly steadied herself. She had placed her hopes in many things before, on countless occasions, and without exception, each time had ended in disappointment.
One who knows the pain of disappointment does not welcome hope.
Thus, she convinced herself that she would do this simply because she was a slave obeying her master's orders.
"Take a deep breath… and exhale."
Rosavelle drew in the air filling her chest. A moment later, she released it slowly. As the cold night air passed through her lungs, she felt some of the tension in her shoulders loosen.
"Again."
This time, Rosavelle inhaled more slowly.
Areth watched her carefully. Moonlight slipped through the window, casting a pale glow across her pink hair. The darkened room eliminated anything that might distract her.
"Try to empty your mind," Areth said in a low voice. "The voices in your head, the thoughts… silence them all."
Rosavelle frowned slightly.
"It's not easy," she murmured.
"If it were easy, Mindseers wouldn't be legends."
Areth took a few steps closer. His voice was now nearer. Rosavelle closed her eyes. At first, there was only darkness. Within that darkness were thoughts. As always. Scattered, restless, and stubborn.
The insults she had heard in the past… the sound of chains… the shouting in the slave market… the looks people had cast at her… they all drifted through her mind.
Areth seemed to notice.
"Do not fight them," he said calmly. "If you try to suppress your thoughts, they will only grow louder."
Rosavelle's brow furrowed further.
"Then what should I do?"
"Let them pass."
Rosavelle said nothing for several seconds.
At first, Areth's words had seemed absurd, but she tried nonetheless. Instead of attempting to drive away the thoughts flooding her mind, she simply observed them. One thought appeared.
Then it passed. A memory surfaced. Then it faded. Gradually, the noise inside her mind began to diminish. Areth noticed it. Rosavelle's shoulders had relaxed. Her breathing had grown steadier.
"Good," he said quietly. "Now the second step."
With her eyes still closed, Rosavelle asked,
"Is this also about breathing?"
A faint smile touched Areth's lips.
"No."
He stepped closer.
Now Rosavelle was near enough to feel his breath.
"Now try to feel."
Her brow moved slightly.
"Feel what?"
Areth slowly raised his hand, but did not touch her. It stopped a few centimeters from her face.
"Me."
Rosavelle's breath halted for a moment.The fact that her master was so close to her had embarrassed her and caused her face to flush. Rosavelle felt lucky that, at least, the room was dark, so her master couldn't see her flushed face.
What she didn't know was that Areth possessed the ability to see in the dark, a gift bestowed upon him by the moon goddess during his childhood. Areth simply smiled and watched as Rosavelle struggled to compose herself.
She gathered all her focus. Nothing happened. There was only silence and darkness. Several seconds passed. Then several more. Her brows slowly furrowed.
"I don't feel anything…" she whispered.
Areth did not answer immediately. Instead, he continued watching her. He was waiting for the common mistake most people made. Impatience. Strain. The beginning of forced thinking.
And Rosavelle truly made that mistake.
"Maybe—"
"Stop."
Areth's voice cut through the darkness like a sharp blade.
Rosavelle fell silent.
"You started thinking."
She closed her mouth.
"Mindseer power is not used by thinking," Areth said in a calm tone. "Your own thoughts are noise. What you seek are the thoughts of others."
Rosavelle did not seem to understand. Areth continued speaking, his hand still hovering near her face.
"Imagine you are sitting in a room. Outside the room, hundreds of people are speaking. You can hear the murmur beyond the door, but you cannot distinguish the words."
Rosavelle gave a very slight nod.
"Now imagine you open that door just a little."
Her breathing slowed.
"That is what Mindseers are. People who can open that door."
Rosavelle focused again. This time, she did something different. She did not try to stop thinking. She simply set her thoughts aside.
Silence.
Darkness.
And the rhythm of her breathing.
"Can you hear it?"
Rosavelle answered with disappointment. "No…"
A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Areth's lips.
Rosavelle did not see it. But at that moment, a brief glint in his eyes was sharp enough to be noticeable even in the darkness. Because what had just happened was not what she believed.
She had said "no," yet for Areth, it was a yes. Because she had not spoken at all a moment ago.
"Are you sure?" Areth asked.
Her brows immediately furrowed.
The response was almost reflexive.
"Yes."
One second passed. Then two. The expression on her face slowly began to change. Her brows tightened further. Her eyelids trembled.
"…wait a minute."
Her breathing suddenly became irregular. She opened her eyes. Areth stood directly in front of her, a faint smile on his lips. But… he had not spoken.
Rosavelle frowned, as though trying to recall something she was certain of.
"You…"
Areth tilted his head slightly.
"Me?"
She remained silent for several seconds.
"…you just said something."
His smile grew slightly.
"Did I?"
Rosavelle looked uncertain.
"Yes… I think…"
Then she stopped. Something felt wrong. Because Areth's lips had not moved at all. Her heart began beating faster.
"…but I didn't hear your voice."
Areth said nothing. He simply looked at her. Her eyes slowly widened.
"I… But you spoke..."
The memory of the moment just before returned to her mind.
"Are you sure?"
It had not been a sound. The words had seemed to form directly inside her mind. Her breath caught.
"I… this…"
Areth finally spoke.
"You heard it."
She looked at him.
"No… I—"
He shook his head slightly.
"Rosavelle. I did not speak."
The room fell into silence. Her eyes widened gradually.
"…what?"
He lowered his hand slowly.
"I only thought."
Her heart began racing instantly. Areth locked his gaze with hers.
"And you answered."
She remained completely still for several seconds. Then she slowly shook her head.
"No… that's… that's impossible…"
His smile widened slightly. He stepped back.
"But it is possible."
Her breathing was uneven.
"I… truly…" She was speechless
"You heard my thoughts."But he finished the sentence.
Her eyes locked onto him in disbelief.
"How… how can that be?"
He shrugged.
"Because you just opened the door."
Her mind was still processing it.
"So… I…"
He nodded.
"Yes."
After a brief pause, he added calmly,
"On your first attempt."
Her heart struck heavily against her chest.
"My… first attempt?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The elven Mindseers of your mother's lineage trained for years and still might not have reached another's thoughts. But you succeeded on your very first try."
Her lips parted slightly, still struggling to believe it.
"Did I… really do that?"
Areth looked at her for several seconds.
Then he thought again.
"Now listen once more." Areth spoke these words silently in her mind.
Her eyes widened immediately.
This time, she did not hesitate.
"…I heard it."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Good. For tonight, this training is enough. Remember, you are not yet a true Mindseer. If you push your powers too hard, you could harm yourself. Rest for now. We will continue training tomorrow."
Rosavelle opened her lips, wanting to ask many questions. But the words would not come. In the end, she simply lowered her head.
"Yes… master."
Areth turned and walked toward the window. Moonlight fell across his shoulders. Outside, the night was quiet. In the distance, the faint sound of waves striking the shore could be heard.
Rosavelle remained in the center of the room for a moment longer.
Then she quietly stepped back. Her footsteps were as light as possible, as though she feared that making a sound would break the magic of what she had just experienced. Afterwards, both embarrassed and half-excited, and filled with a fragile sense of hope, she lay down on the bed beside her master.
"Good night… m-master."
"Good night, Rosavelle"