Dawn broke cold and sharp over the crumbling estate. I met Jean Alef in the overgrown garden behind the stables —the same spot where the "Script" had broken my decoy rapier weeks ago.
Jean Alef was already there, looking every bit the Archmage. He wore no armor, only simple, embroidered blue robes, but the sheer density of his mana saturated the air, making it feel heavy.
"Good morning, Lady Silvie," he said, his voice formal. "I must confess, I have never taken on a student with no-talent. Your father was quite... insistent... that your core was tested and found dormant."
"My father is not an accurate source of information," I said quietly, hiding my power so completely I felt like a banked furnace.
"So I have gathered." A flicker of a smile touched his lips. "As I told your mother, I am here to train your mind. But first, we must confirm what we are working with. Magic is not just incantations; it is the will imposing itself upon the world. Show me your will."
