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, no dust, as if someone 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 again, carefully.
Click.
A gentle voice followed, breaking the silence.
"Theodora, my dear."
Mother.
I buried my face deeper into the pillow and whispered.
"Leave me alone."
Step.
Her steps echoed as she crossed the room, light but steady.
She sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand reached for me, fingers brushing 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, wiping the dust away. It keeps me busy."
My body stiffened.
She went on, her hand still stroking through my hair.
"I pray every night. For his well-being. That he is alive. That he has food. That we will see him again."
My body shook.
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 and politics."
I already knew...
But—
The words still hurt.
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.
Dim light touched her pale features.
Her chestnut hair was tied neatly, though strands fell loose.
Her face looked thinner, the days of poor meals had left their marks on her.
A tear slid down her cheek as she spoke again.
"My dear, I want them back, too. To embrace them again. To see them smile. And hear their voice. But they are gone."
A soft sob escaped her before she pressed her lips together, steadying herself.
"Adonis is far away. And Lucien is in Toran, training. But we—"
Her hand brushed another strand of my hair aside.
"—We cannot keep living like this."
My throat felt dry.
"Then....what should I do?"
She smiled faintly at my words.
"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 to do anything. Or…gain wealth, enough to buy strength."
Her lips curved into 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 cracked.
"I can't fight. I tried...but I can't do what Lucien does. Swords, spears…I'm not talented enough."
Mother brushed my tears away.
Her smile softened.
"Who said that strength only comes from a sword?"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"That foolish line came from 'him', didn't it? '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 now.
Mother shifted, sitting straighter, and guided my head to her lap. Her fingers returned to my hair, combing it gently.
I whispered.
"Then… how can I become strong?"
Her hand slowed, eyes glistening for a moment.
"Have you ever heard of magic?"
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."
Tap.
Her finger tapped my nose, teasingly.
"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 where her palm passed.
They caught the glow of the lightstones, 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."
Tap.
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 too? 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 curved.
"And doesn't it suit a lady better to shoot beautiful spells, rather than swing swords like a barbarian?"
A chuckle slipped out of me, unexpected but real.
Then, when my voice steadied, I asked.
"How can I learn magic?"
Her hand stroked my hair again.
"You will see. Magic is different from your brothers' paths. Warriors strengthen their bodies with mana, but they can only use it inside themselves. Mages, however…"
Snap.
She snapped her fingers, and 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."
Snap.
The crystal burst, scattering fine powder around us like falling snow.
My eyes widened, excitement rushing through me.
"What do I need to do to learn?"
Her smile vanished as her voice turned firmer.
"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 magic instructor."
The weight of it all hit me at that moment.
Mother.
She had prepared all of this.
For me.
Tears blurred my eyes again as I wrapped my arms around her waist, clinging tight.
"Thank you..."
Her embrace was warm, steady.
"I will stand behind you, 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 and walked toward the door, the lightstones glow traced her figure as she opened it.
Click.
It closed softly behind her.
I clutched the pillow again, a smile spreading as I whispered into the dark.
"Magic."
I pressed the pillow tighter, whispering with new resolve.
"I will become strong. I will learn magic. And I will find him."