'At first I thought he's joking about teaching me...'
—Few hours later—
I sit in the middle of the grass while the sun still hasn't burned my skin.
Cassien said I should feel the core within my stomach and sense the element through the air.
"Again."
"..."
I inhale and exhale.
"Again."
I try concentrating only on myself.
"Again."
I start getting irritated and look toward Cassien sitting comfortably in the shade while fanning himself.
"Can you keep quiet!?"
"Oh, do not get angry. It takes time to master it."
'I'm mad because you keep yapping.'
I try breathing once again.
'I never knew trying to manifest abilities would be this difficult firsthand.'
'I know I'm not the main character, but don't villains usually have their own buffs too!?'
'Aren't I in some kind of isekai!? Shouldn't I have hidden powers or something!?'
'Why do I have to go through hardships just to get what I want!?'
I grab my head with both hands while screaming internally.
'AAAAAAAA!'
"Lady Velora."
I immediately straighten my posture again.
"Yes?"
"I did not expect you to have weaknesses as well."
'Ha?'
"You seem to be struggling to draw your element out of your body."
'Ya think?'
My smile quivery while my eyebrow twitches.
"Even though you have been letting your element run loose all this time."
"Hmm..."
Cassien tilts his head slightly in thought.
"Were you never taught properly at a young age?"
'I was?'
I scratch my cheek.
"I must've forgotten..."
"Hmm."
Cassien looks at me suspiciously for a moment before seemingly understanding my circumstances.
"Then we shall start from the basics."
Cassien suddenly stands up and walks closer.
"Get up."
As soon as he says that, I try standing up myself he suddenly reaches his hand out toward me.
"My Lady."
I slowly place my hand in his.
—Few minutes later, Living room somewhere—
"Where is this?"
'Another room?'
Cassien ponders briefly.
"Ah. Hmm."
Cassien smiles.
"The living room."
'Well no kidding, I have eyes!'
I sit down comfortably before crossing my arms in annoyance.
He reaches his hand out.
"Here."
I glance toward his hand and see absolutely nothing.
"What do you mean?"
"Hold my hand."
Reluctantly, I take his hand.
Suddenly, white sparkles begin flowing from where our hands touch.
My eyes widen
"light element."
A soft blinding glow suddenly appears beside Cassien's shoulder.
Cassien notices my reaction and smiles slightly.
I raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"For now, you must first become familiar with what an element feels like."
My hand feels warm.
"…It's warm."
"Yes."
"That is what light elements feel like. They stimulate our senses through warmth."
"Becoming familiar with how the light element feels may help you understand what kind of ability you possess."
Cassien points upward.
"Having two elements must have caused you confusion, so I decided to teach you about light first since it is the one I understand best."
I immediately grow annoyed.
'YOU SHOULD'VE DONE THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE!?'
I glare at Cassien angrily.
The moment he glances toward me, I immediately smile.
Cassien looks confused for a second but lets it go.
"Try doing what I did."
I stare intensely at my hand as though trying to force something out of it.
"Pfft."
I immediately look toward Cassien.
He is visibly holding back his laughter.
"Ah, my apologies. Your face just now looked as though your eyes were about to pop out."
"Ha!?"
'I'm being serious here, for goodness' sake.'
"You need to feel it, not stare at your hand."
He points toward his chest.
"I feel my element here."
Then he points toward my chest.
"My breast?"
Cassien freezes in disbelief.
"Ahem. Your core. Near your heart."
"I can sense your dark element reacting against your light element."
"I want you to try letting your light element flow naturally."
I begin focusing once more.
'Inhale...'
I slowly release the tension from my body.
—Few days later—
'Exhale...'
I sit in the middle of the grass field once again while Cassien quietly reads beneath the shade.
I can feel my light element more clearly day by day as the light shines throughout my body but unable to release it properly.
Cassien closes his book.
"That will be all for today."
—few minutes later, Outside the Cathedral—
I bow politely.
"I thank the High Priest."
Cassien bows back while watching me return to my carriage.
I quietly look through the carriage window while watching the sunset.
—Few days later, near Cassien's chamber—
Suddenly, light bursts from my hands.
"AH—! HIGH PRIEST!!"
Cassien startles and nearly drops the book in his hands before quickly looking toward me.
"Oh?"
"Congratulations, Lady Velora."
Cassien slowly claps softly.
"Woah... You are officially the first person I have ever met who took this long to control their ability."
'I genuinely cannot tell whether he is trying to insult me or not.'
"Heh."
I let out a scoff.
'Either way, at least I can finally control it now.'
"So, have you thought about what kind of light ability you possess?"
I tilt my head slightly.
"…Do I have to learn that too?"
Cassien suddenly looks stressed.
"Do not tell me…"
"Even after learning to control your light element, you still do not know your ability?"
I scratch my cheek, avoid eye contact, and slowly stick my tongue out.
"Ehe."
Cassien immediately starts scolding me nonstop.
'I realized learning abilities is supposed to take days…'
"ahahahaha...."
I scratch my head in disbelief.
'But somehow, it has already been weeks.'
"Lady Velora, your element is like a string."
"Follow where your element guides you, and eventually you will understand where it connects."
I close my eyes.
'Inahle...'
'Exhale...'
Suddenly, I begin seeing the light element.
White that's completely distinct from the dark element.
And without realizing it, I begin following it.
—step, step, step—
Each step echoes softly as I follow the trail of light.
Light elements really feel warm.
Suddenly, I realize everything around me is pitch black.
and I notice violet dust surrounding me.
"That's the dark element..."
I slowly look around.
'And It's everywhere.'
Violet light scatters wildly in every direction as though completely out of control.
Countless paths spread around me.
'No… I should focus on the light element.'
'The one with only a single path.'
As I continue walking closer toward the light, the single path suddenly splits into three.
My eyes widen slightly.
When I look up, a massive figure overflowing with light appears before me.
'Is that the High Priest??'
My eyebrow twitches despite my eyes remaining closed.
'I can see the High Priest's light element.'
'Is it because people with the same element can see each other?'
Suddenly, a brighter light appears beside the High Priest's shoulder as though trying to draw my attention toward it.
I immediately open my eyes.
The moment I do, I suddenly see Cassien surrounded by light elements.
Beside his shoulder, a three glowing lights gradually become clearer and more vivid.
I gasp.
"KYAAAH!"
I immediately fall backward onto the ground.
Cassien startles and quickly stands up.
"Lady Velora!?"
Small creatures resembling fluffy puffballs quietly float beside him.
Tiny wings flutter behind them.
Their bodies glow softly with light elements.
They had round little eyes and tiny upside-down triangle mouths.
"FAIRIES!!!"
I immediately point toward Cassien's shoulder.
Cassien freezes.
For the first time since meeting him, his gentle smile completely disappears.
The tiny fairies quickly hide behind his shoulder while cautiously peeking at me.
"You can see them?"
I nodded violently.
His voice comes out quieter than before as if mumbling.
Cassien stares at me as though trying to comprehend something impossible.
'Since I already know what fairies look like from the original story, I cannot exactly explain this properly.'
'But an ability that allows me to directly see fairies themselves without hiding.'
'Isn't that even more overpowered than the Female Lead's ability!?'
I clench both fists tightly in excitement.
'With this, I might even be able to form contracts with countless fairies!'
Cassien's fingers slowly tighten around the book in his hands.
He quietly mutters something under his breath, too softly for me to hear.
The excitement inside me immediately dies down once I notice how serious his expression becomes.
'What is he so serious about?'
Cassien lowers his gaze as though deep in thought.
When he finally speaks again, his voice sounds quieter.
"…Lady Velora."
"Do not tell anyone else about this."
The softness within his expression completely disappears, replaced by something unusually serious.
Even the atmosphere around him suddenly feels heavier.
"As I won't tell anyone myself."
"Abilities connected to the fairies are treated as sacred matters within the Church."
"…It may place you in danger."
'Wait… Is he telling me that not only do I have to worry about dying from poison flowers, but now I also have to hide from the Church too!?'
'I can literally get beheaded from both sides!?'
A horrifying image suddenly flashes through my mind.
A giant axe swings downward toward my neck.
—Chop—
I immediately grab my neck in fear.
"You are still a child, so I hope you can understand the seriousness of these circumstances."
"If others discover your ability…"
"You may become a target from both sides."
'Are you telling me I cannot even determine whether the High Priest himself is a friend or foe?'
"How can I be certain that I can trust you, High Priest?"
"Especially when you are the one warning me about the Church itself."
Cassien quietly lowers his gaze.
For the first time since meeting him, he remains completely silent.