The atmosphere in the room was suffocatingly still. The three of us sat in a triangle of silence, the flickering candlelight casting long, dancing shadows against the velvet curtains.
I didn't know who the third woman was—not yet—but her presence was undeniable. It was calm, yet heavy, like the stillness before a massive storm. She didn't sit like a typical noblewoman; she sat like someone who held the world in the palm of her hand.
I straightened my posture, channeling every bit of royal grace I had spent years perfecting. I spoke first, my voice clear and steady.
"My name is Aurelia Valencrest… Princess of the Valtheris Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The woman studied me, her eyes sharp and obsidian, filled with a quiet, terrifying interest. After a heartbeat of scrutiny, she finally spoke.
"I am Elaris Nocthielle… the owner of the Magic Academy."
…What?
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt. My mind went completely blank, the words echoing in my skull. Magic Academy? The owner?
Are you serious right now?
I slowly turned my head toward my mother, my eyes wide with disbelief.
(Inner thought)
Don't tell me… did she really call the owner herself? Did she summon the most powerful educator in the realm just to discuss my early admission? If that's true… then this is absolutely insane. My mother's connections are deeper than I thought.
A small, knowing smile played on Elaris's lips. She seemed to enjoy my shock. "Nice to meet you too, Princess."
I blinked once, forcing my brain to restart. I couldn't look like a stunned child in front of a woman like this. I quickly regained my composure.
"So… you're the owner of the Magic Academy? That sounds… amazing. An honor I didn't expect tonight."
She let out a soft, melodic chuckle. "I was invited here today by a very dear friend of mine," she said, casting a brief, affectionate glance at my mother. "She told me there's a certain young girl… one who is extremely eager to enter my academy years before the traditional age. She claimed this girl was just as capable as she was determined."
Her gaze returned to me, locking onto mine. "Would that girl happen to be you, Aurelia?"
I didn't hesitate. I didn't blink. I met her eyes directly, pouring all my years of suppressed ambition into my gaze.
"I don't know how capable I truly am in your eyes… but I do know one thing." I paused for emphasis. "I deserve to be admitted."
For a split second, the room went dead silent. Even the fire in the hearth seemed to stop crackling. Then—she smiled. It wasn't a polite smile; it was the smile of a predator who had found something interesting.
"Then tell me… why can't you wait two more years? What is the rush for a princess who has everything?"
I didn't back down. "Because I don't want to waste time," I said, my voice dropping to a calm, icy tone. "Time is the only resource I cannot replenish. I have the ability now. So, I want to start now."
She studied me carefully, as if she were reading the very lines of my soul. "Very well," she said after a long pause. "In our academy, raw power alone isn't everything. Many have mana, but few have the spirit to command it."
Her tone shifted, becoming more clinical, more serious. "What matters is your element… your control… your intelligence… your behavior… and your discipline." A faint, teasing smile appeared. "And those things… I assume you already possess. After all, you are a princess of Valtheris."
I nodded slightly, but one word she used caught my attention and held it. "Element…?"
She tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Don't tell me… you're going to say you only have one? Fire, perhaps? That is common in your bloodline."
I paused. This was the moment. The secret I had kept guarded for years. I slowly looked at my mother. She met my eyes, her expression unreadable to anyone else, but I saw the small, nearly invisible nod.
Permission.
So… I can tell her. This woman is the key to my future.
I turned back to Elaris, my heart thumping against my ribs. "I have more than one element," I said. Then, I added with a touch of defiance, "Would you like to know how many?"
Her eyes sharpened into needles of light. "Tell me everything."
✦ Flashback — 2 Years Ago ✦
I was ten years old. The sun was setting, casting long, orange streaks across the marble floor of the Royal Church. Mother and I had come for my private elemental evaluation. Only royals were tested with this level of secrecy.
I remember clutching her hand and asking, "What do you think my element will be, Mom?"
She had smiled lightly, her eyes full of mystery. "Some people are blessed with more than one, Auri. But in your case… fire is a certainty. The Valencrest blood burns hot."
I frowned, pouting. "I'm not always angry."
She laughed softly, ruffling my hair. But before I could argue further, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. The air grew heavy and cold.
An old man, draped in ancient robes, arrived. His eyes were milky white—he looked blind—yet somehow, it felt like he could see through my skin and into my very bones.
"Princess… step forward."
I walked toward the center of the hall. Small, glowing platforms of light lifted me upward until I stood eye-to-level with a massive, floating crystal sphere. It hummed with a low, vibrating frequency.
"Place your hand on it, child."
I reached out. The moment my skin touched the cold surface of the crystal—light burst forth. It wasn't a single flash, but a kaleidoscope. Six small, distinct orbs of light began to swirl inside the crystal, dancing like trapped stars.
The old man's voice trembled. "Tell me… what colors do you see?"
I answered without hesitation, mesmerized by the display. "Red. Brown. Grey. Purple. Navy blue… and pink."
Silence followed. A silence so deep it felt like the world had stopped breathing.
"What…?" The old man's voice shook violently. "You can see… all six?"
I blinked, confused. "Yes… is that bad?"
He exhaled slowly, a sound of pure awe. "No… child… it's not bad. It's extraordinary. It's impossible." He stepped closer, his blind eyes fixed on the sphere. "Each color represents a core element."
"Red — Fire."
"Brown — Earth."
"Grey — Shadow."
"Purple — Poison."
"Navy Blue — Fate."
"Pink — Dream."
My heart skipped a beat. "Six?"
He nodded. "Even having two elements is considered a miracle. And you…" his voice lowered to a whisper, "you possess six. You are a walking anomaly."
I couldn't believe it. I had spent years thinking I was just a fire-wielder. Mother quickly stepped forward and pulled me into a protective embrace.
"This is a blessing," she said softly, but her grip on my shoulders was tight. Then her tone changed, becoming hard as iron. "But it's also a death sentence if the wrong people find out. It is dangerous."
I looked up at her. "Why?"
"No one must know, Aurelia. Until you are strong enough to defend yourself against the entire world… you must never reveal the full extent of your power."
I nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her words. "Then… what can I show?"
The old man replied, "Fire. Earth. Shadow. Those are acceptable for a prodigy. Poison comes later, as a hidden trump card. But Fate and Dream…" his eyes darkened, "those must remain hidden forever. They are the forbidden arts."
Mother looked at me with a gaze that brooked no argument. "Promise me, Aurelia."
I raised my hand. "I promise… I won't tell anyone." Then, I added softly with a small smirk, "…unless I really have to."
She sighed, shaking her head. "You always find loopholes, even in sacred promises."
✦ Back to the Present ✦
Elaris was quiet for a long time. She sat perfectly still, processing the weight of what I had just revealed. Then, she smiled—a wide, genuine smile of pure delight.
"Six elements…" She leaned back, her eyes gleaming with predatory interest. "That is… truly remarkable. I haven't seen a chart like that in a century."
She reached into her robes and placed a thick stack of papers on the table. "In that case, I will certainly consider your admission. But power is nothing without a brain to direct it. First—we test your intellect."
She slid the papers toward me. "You'll need to pass this. It is the entrance exam for the third-year students."
I took the papers and scanned the first page.
(Inner thought)
Oh. …This? This is what they use to test third-years?
I almost laughed. I had spent my nights in the royal library studying magic theory, ancient geography, and the molecular structure of elemental mana. I had already mastered these concepts years ago.
I picked up the pen and began to write. The only sound in the room was the scratching of the nib against the parchment.
Time passed in a blur. When I finished, I set the pen down and handed the papers back without a second of hesitation. Elaris looked slightly surprised by my speed. She began to grade them, her expression shifting from curiosity to shock, and finally to a profound respect.
She looked at me. Then at my mother. Then back at me again. Finally—
"Princess Aurelia…" A small, proud smile formed on her face. "You are accepted."
My heart stopped. The world went still. "…Really?"
She nodded. "I will handle the paperwork personally. Consider the age requirement waived. You may join the academy within the month."
That was it. The goal I had been chasing for years was finally within my grasp. I didn't think about royal decorum or acting "cool." I just moved. I ran straight to my mother and hugged her as tightly as I could.
"You're the best, Mom… I love you so much. Thank you."
She laughed softly, a sound of pure relief and joy, holding me close. "My sweet Auri… did you like your surprise?"
"Like it?" I said, pulling back with bright, shimmering eyes. "I love it!"
She kissed my forehead gently.
That night, after the guests had departed and the palace fell into a peaceful slumber, I returned to my room. The second the door clicked shut, I lost my royal composure.
I jumped onto my bed, spun around, and started humming random songs from my old life—pop songs and melodies that no one in this world would ever understand. It was weird, sure, but I didn't care. For once, I just wanted to feel like a normal girl who had just won the world.
After a while, I collapsed onto my pillows, staring up at the dark ceiling. A small, competitive smile formed on my lips.
(Inner thought)
Neria… just you wait. Now I'll finally move ahead of you. I'm coming to your academy.
Then my expression softened, and a name I hadn't spoken aloud in years surfaced in my mind.
(Inner thought)
And maybe… if I get stronger… if I reach the top of that academy… I might finally find you too… Yuki.
I had tried so many times to find her in this world. I had searched through records and listened for any whisper of a girl like her, but I had found nothing. Not once.
Still… this time… everything was different. I was moving forward.
Maybe, just maybe, things were finally going to change.