The days fell into a rhythm of their own—I would wake up and have breakfast with Agnes, drain my magical energy till I blinked twice, and get tutored in Low Phareon—the natural language used across most of the continent. The month passed like that, with me learning a little more every day.
I had been in Agnes’ hold for too long when I realized we had already passed the floor the lab was on.
“No lab today?” I asked her.
“Today is your reevaluation. Then we will go to the lab after that,” she said, not stopping her strides.
She placed me in front of a similar apparatus to what had been used for my naming ceremony. I could read the basics now, which meant I would actually understand what my status was. I entered the holographic chamber promptly. I remained unafraid when it gripped me, now used to the shackle-like nature of magical devices in this universe.
There was no announcement this time. I hurried to where Agnes was looking at the document showing my status.
“Show me,” I begged, getting down on my knees and gripping her Jodhpuri breeches when she refused to budge.
“You can’t read this.”
“So can.”
“Show now. Please.”
She rolled her eyes but handed me the parchment.
“Don’t crease it. I need to file this in.”
I eagerly scanned my results:
—
OFFICIAL ARCANE EVALUATION RECORD
NAME: Mira
LINEAGE: Daughter of Elena, Daughter of Aldric
REGION OF REGISTRATION: Central Crown District
AGE: 4
CLASS DESIGNATION: Mage
?? CORE MAGICAL ATTRIBUTES
Magical Capacity: 950
Magical Control: 4
Magical Efficiency: 68%
Stability Index: 21%
Resonance Signature: ***
Channeling Type: ***
?? ENERGY AFFINITIES
Elemental Affinity: None
Holy Power: 0
Ki: 2
Spirit: 0
Void Alignment: 0
?? COGNITIVE ATTRIBUTES
Intelligence: 124
Wisdom: 92
Focus: 76
Memory Retention: 88
Perception: 64
?? PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 14
Agility: 22
Dexterity: 31
Constitution: 30
Endurance: 18
?? SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS
Threat Assessment Level: S Tier
Crown Utility Index: S Tier
Apprenticeship Recommendation: Immediate Residential Oversight
Binding Risk Assessment: High
—
My magical control had barely increased, but my magical capacity had climbed by over a hundred points. I was S-Tier threat and S-Tier utility. Which explained why they bothered sending someone like Agnes to watch over me twenty-four seven.
“We will work on your control from today… it’s unprecedented for capacity to increase by such a leap within a month,” said Agnes, taking the parchment back from me.
She put it in the satchel hanging from her and picked me up with a swift motion. It was time for draining again.
Master was sitting in his usual spot monitoring the situation. My unprecedented results gave me the courage to ask him, “Teach me magic.”
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He took the parchment Agnes handed over to him, not bothering to answer me yet. His eyebrows climbed up his face, obviously impressed.
“Child, your control is not even good enough to light a small fire. I can’t teach you anything.”
This was not what I expected, but I would not be deterred. The whole reason I was here was to learn from the best. Agnes was great, but she didn’t seem like a Mage. How was she supposed to teach me control?
“How do I improve my control, sir?”
He only stared at me. Then he stomped his feet again, and the pipes were once more visible across the room.
“Sir, please,” I begged, not touching the hollow pipes and losing my ability to speak.
He tutted but relented and gave me a tip. “Try to channel exactly 100%—now get to it.”
This didn’t tell me how to do it, but I knew I would not get more from him. I touched the hollow pipes and let myself be bound to the system again. I had been experimenting over the month—trying to change my output through blinking rapidly, through closing my eyes, through feeling something in my “core.” The output had remained unchanged.
I tried to think back to what I knew from my past life about magic. I remembered he said I couldn’t even light a small fire, so that’s what I tried. I closed my eyes and visualized a yellow-orange flame. A flame so small it could have come from a candle.
In my past life I had meditated on a candle flame before. You would look at the fire—sear its hue and shape into your mind—close your eyes and recreate the flame in your inner eye. The act of looking at the flame would leave an imprint you could rekindle by yourself.
I kept my inner eye focused on the flame. It would flare and flare. It refused to stay small and swallowed my inner vision.
I felt a tingle on my crown—like my head itself was enflamed. I focused only on the sensation, removing all other distractions from my mind.
I didn’t collapse today. My eyes were closed and I did not blink twice. It was Master who stomped his feet and ended our session. He looked at me curiously, but I paid him no mind. Despite only having thoughts of flames, my mind now felt cool, like I was in a winterland.
Agnes picked me up and took me to my room. I noticed the afternoon sun was high in the sky.
“Your output fluctuated a lot today,” she said, putting me down on the bed.
“It took us twice as long to provide the same amount of charge,” she continued, staring at the window instead of at me.
“Are you tired?” she asked.
“No… I feel amazing,” I replied honestly. This had to be the best draining session I had ever had.
She took out a sandwich wrapped in cloth from her satchel and handed it to me.
“You worked quite hard today, Mira.”
I bit into the bacon and egg sandwich. It felt heavy, and I would have rather had some fruit instead.
“Can I get parchment and ink?” I asked her. “I can write to Mumma, please.”
I had only practiced writing on a chalkboard, but I was confident I could write something legible. She must be worried sick, not having heard from me in over a month.
“I am afraid not,” she replied promptly, not having thought much about my request at all.
“Why not? Kieran promised.” I needled. I could not let this go. This was a condition in our contract.
“The second prince promised?” she asked, confused. I didn’t know if Kieran was the second prince, but if he was, then he definitely had the authority to let me send letters, so I nodded.
“I will need to confirm this. This is an important military outpost. Only essential communications are allowed.”
She took out some loose parchment and an ink pen from her satchel. Handing them to me, she said, “Use this for now. I will confirm with the authorities.”
I didn’t need to be told twice and got right down to working on my letter. It seemed all communication would be screened, so I needed to be careful.
I spent the rest of the day writing my letter. I mentioned that I was improving my magic and learning. I mentioned how Agnes was taking care of me. I did not mention whether I was happy or sad. I did not mention that I was drained of magic until I collapsed most days. I only said I missed Mumma, Rowan, and Finn very much. I made a drawing of Bessie the cow being milked at the end of my letter.
I was about to go to sleep when Kieran entered my room. He was wearing an outfit similar to Agnes’, but made of much higher quality material. He didn’t bother knocking and came straight in. He went straight to my desk. He must think I am asleep.
He put a notebook and more parchment paper and ink pens on my desk. It looked more lively now. When he started reading my letter, I got up.
“Can you send it for me?” I asked.
He nodded and sealed it in an envelope.
“I will have it delivered myself,” he replied.
His midnight-black hair and blue-grey eyes made him look less like a prince and more like an assassin.
“Are you a prince?” I asked.
“Something like that,” he replied with a shrug and waved me off.
“Will you come again?” I asked.
“I will deliver your letters every month. As promised.”
I am glad he was someone who kept his promises. I was tired of having the same routine every day. I yearned to roam around and find new things. Not get picked up and put down like a doll.
“I am bored. I want to play outside.” If he was the prince, he could make it happen.
“Sorry, but there is a war going on outside. It’s not a children’s playground.”
“I only get drained every day. I want to practice magic.” His eyes softened, and I realized I would get some concession from him.
“Master should be okay with you practicing some control outside of draining, as long as you don’t get completely depleted.” He nodded to himself.
“Ask him tomorrow,” he smiled, and I smiled.
“Thank you!” I ran and hugged his legs. He picked me up and put me back in bed.
“Good night now!”
I dreamed of open fields set on fire.
