Lessons

The crystal stones have varying colors of crimson, azure, jade, grey, and black. They are unusually bright and vivid that Selene couldn't help but be mesmerized. It's almost half the size of her palm and is cleanly cut into a smooth square form. She continues examining the exquisite beauty in front of her, and she got so engrossed that Vladimir's bright and crisp voice has to snap her out of it.

"Hold each of the magic stones and imagine the mana from your body flows freely into it. Just like what you did when you tried healing someone. If the magic stones responded from your mana, that means you have the affinity for that specific kind of element attributed to the magic stone."

Selene gingerly picks up the azure-colored crystal and settles it on her palm. She closes her eyes and tried to do what Vladimir instructed. Because Selene's doing it for the second time, she quickly gathered what she thinks is an apt amount of mana and directed it towards the stone. For a moment, Selene's quite getting the hang of it, when she suddenly felt her mana slip, and she abruptly loses control. The magic stone felt hot in her palm, and when the burning sensation sears her skin, she loses her grip on it.

Selene's eyes snap open, and she stares wide-eyed at the glowing bright blue stone flying a few meters above in front of her. She looks back at Vladimir with a sheepish smile on her face, and she can see the incredulous look on his face. With a snap of his fingers, the stone fell in one swoop and perfectly landed back on the mahogany table.

"I guess that's enough proof that you have the affinity for water magic. It's not quite a surprise considering that you can do healing magic. They usually go hand in hand. As the water is also used for cleansing and sustaining life, the element of water is closely equivalent to the purpose of healing magic."

"Then, should I get to the other magic stones?" Selene asks, her voice laced with anticipation. Her heart is beating so hard because of excitement. It felt too surreal to think that she has an affinity for magic. It's like she's living inside a long dream. A dream with a fair share of good and bad, and one of those good things is definitely about her ability to use magic.

Vladimir clears his throat. "This time, try to control your mana properly," he enunciated pointedly.

Selene quietly nodded and did as she was told. However, she messed up a few times after that. When she grabbed the crimson-colored magic stone and inserted her mana into it, the crystal exploded in a blinding light before exploding into nothingness. The same happened with the jade magic stone while her mana left a visible crack on the grey and black magic stones. Nevertheless, all the magic stones responded to her mana, which only means that she has an affinity for almost all types of magic.

"You have a terrible control," Vladimir utters with an exasperated look on his face.

"That only shows that she seems to have an unlimited pool of mana. Even after putting quite an amount of mana on every stone, she doesn't look tired at all. And she succeeded in doing it in her first try," Zeno suddenly pipes in, defending her.

"I didn't ask for your opinion," Vladimir shots back, not too happy with Zeno butting in on their lesson.

Selene slightly tilts the side of her head as she looks at him. "What did you mean by that, Zeno?" she asks in confusion, not entirely understanding what's happening.

Zeno took the cracked grey magic stone on the table and placed it on his palm. "This magic stone looks quite small in size, that you think you could easily fill it with your mana. However, it's the opposite. The stone may be small, but it requires a lot of mana before showing any signs of a reaction. People have to practice for many years before they can even do something close to what you did. And that means I'm praising you for accomplishing such a feat,"

Suddenly, Zeno tenderly pats the top of her head just like what someone would do to a child after accomplishing something, and it irks her. She almost grabs his hand and twists it's when she feels an intense gaze directed at her. Zeno must have also felt the same because they both turned towards Vladimir. He smiles at them, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"It's only natural for her to be able to do that much. She's the child of the prophecy,"

Something snaps inside of her, and Selene didn't like what she heard. "I don't quite like that," she evenly announces while rewarding him with an intense glare.

Both gazes at her in puzzlement and Selene couldn't help but heave a huge sigh. "I'm not just a "child" of the prophecy. Please, get that that through your thick skull,"

Everyone in residence is already treating her like a child, and she did her best to keep her frustration in check, but these people, should at least stop treating her like one, considering that they know her circumstances. More so, they shouldn't just see her as someone stated in the prophecy.

"Why are you so concerned about being a child when you exactly look like one?" Vladimir echoes his frustration over her irrationality. And it seems that the doofus didn't quite get her point.

Selene crosses her arms against her chest and raises one of her eyebrows in question. "Why can't I? When you're also quite obsessed with me being the child of the prophecy? Isn't that why you're here now, teaching me?"

Selene is aware that she might be jumping to conclusions, but she couldn't help but feel like that. Although Zeno has been acting quite the same with her even before he knows who she is, it was different from everyone who knows her real identity, especially Kaden. It feels like the distance between them became even farther apart since they resided in the Rozeman residence. While Cessair, he's quite a different case. Not once did he act around her as an average person would respond to a friend or a family. He is awkward, shy, but too respectful and obedient towards her. It's like he sees her as some kind of her savior that should be revered.

Instantly, the room has become deathly quiet, and she can see the surprised look on their faces because of her sudden outburst. Selene pounds on her chest as she continues speaking out her mind.

"I' am me. Before I became a child in that stupid prophecy, I am Selene. It's my identity. I don't want to forget who I am, and I just don't want you to reject who I really am,"

Instead of getting annoyed as she would expect from Vladimir, a faint smile stretches on his lips before he bows his head in apology. He looks back at her with his usual unnerving gaze, but this time she can see the warmth and maybe a little bit of adoration in his eyes. It's not the same menacing and calculating gaze from before.

"I apologize for that. You made it exactly clear where my fault lies,"

"Then call me by my first name. You've never once done that."

"I'm not allow—"

"Just call me by my name. It's Selene" she immediately cuts off any sign of protest from Vladimir, and she looks at him intensely. A few minutes passes by before his shoulders slump as if giving up. He smiled at her. Although it's still a little bit stiff, it's acceptable.

"Then, I will do so, Lady Selene," Vladimir answered in a friendlier manner.

Out of the blue, she felt someone bump on her shoulder, and she looks at Zeno in surprise. He suddenly looks like a ripe tomato while staring at her anxiously. He clears his throat before speaking.

"I'm also allowed to call you, "Selene," right?" he asks almost in a whisper.

"You're already doing it. Besides, you don't have to ask permission for that," Selene automatically replied, while wondering the sudden bashfulness Zeno's exhibiting.

When he heard her answer, Zeno couldn't contain his joy and did a fist bump in the air. However, he freezes in his spot when Vladimir suddenly forced out a loud and rough cough to catch their attention. When they look back at him, this time, Vladimir wasn't smiling. He was glowering so badly, specifically towards Zeno, she can see him cower a little.

"Sir Zeno, you're not allowed to attend Lady Selene's lessons again until I allow you to do so," Vladimir announced, his voice sounding angrier. He is usually calm and reserved that Selene doesn't quite know how to react.

"I already talk to the Marchioness, and he agreed to temporarily hire you as one of the guards in exchange for food and lodging. If you want to stay in this mansion, you should earn your keep," he continued without batting an eye. Well, Vladimir does have a point, but why does it feel like the issue is more than that?

Zeno's mouth hangs open in disbelief, and for a while, he grew utterly silent. Though he still recovered, he shot up from his seat and bombarded Vladimir with questions.

"Woah, wait! What? Why not?" Zeno protests incredulously.

"I've catered to your selfishness more than enough, already. It's by allowing you to stay here despite not having the permission of His Imperial Highness," he responded while looking at him disapprovingly.

"I don't need to ask for Prince Nicolai's permission before going to see Selene," Zeno shots back indignantly.

Suddenly, the air inside the room changes, and she can almost taste Vladimir's anger scathing her tongue. However, this time Zeno didn't back down and evenly matches his energy. A palpable tension filled the air that left her speechless and frozen in her seat.

"Do not forget your duty," Vladimir enunciates scathingly. His voice rumbles inside the room, just like it did in their meeting that she can feel the ground tremble. "You agreed to work under his command. As such, you have to stay committed to His Imperial Highness. I'm giving you a warning. Do not attempt to claim what is not yours."

Zeno's hands clench into a tight fist, and he can see his jaw twitches in barely controlled anger. The playful look on Zeno's face is completely gone, replaced by a murderous glare. She needs to break them apart before fists start flying inside the room. Selene stood up from her seat and tried to stand in between them when a sharp and loud knock breaks the tension.

"I'm coming in, Lady Selene," a familiar masculine voice calls out from behind the door. When the door opens, Kaden has an aggressive look on his face as he gazes at the spectacle before him. She couldn't help but think that he's been listening in on them for quite some time.

Kaden turns to her with a gentle look on his face. "Lesson time is over. Why don't you go back to your room and prepare to go out? You're scheduled to go into town today. The Marchioness has booked you an engagement to the tailor shop to fit for new dresses. I will be escorting you there, so wait for me in your room,"

She almost forgot her schedule today because of the sudden tension between Vladimir and Zeno. Since a few weeks ago, she has plans already laid out, especially with her meeting with Carol's older brother, who works as a merchant. After she meets with the tailor, she plans to head directly to his house to discuss her business proposal. To be financially independent, she needs to start doing business just like she does back on Earth. She also plans to build an information guild to help her with her investigation. Though she still hasn't had a clue where to begin, that's why she must talk with the merchant today. Selene heaves a sigh. She decided to do as she was told and quietly left the room. She just hopes they won't get into any severe fight after she goes.

After Selene left the room, Kaden turns his attention towards his cousin's lackeys. He overheard their conversation starting from when Vladimir forbade Zeno to attend Selene's classes. Although what bothers him the most is the threatening statement of Vladimir. It irritates him that Vladimir can even casually spew comments like that.

"I just want to clarify one thing, and it would be good if you can deliver this message to your master," Kaden stated while looking at Vladimir with a stern gaze.

"Don't be mistaken. Selene doesn't belong to anyone but herself. She agreed to cooperate with your Prince but under equal terms. She doesn't owe him anything that she could just stake his claim. Selene is not an object that he could own."

"Do you also want her?" Vladimir asks him directly, and for a moment, Kaden blanks out. He doesn't know what to say. Yes, it aggravates him to think that others are lining up for her trying to steal her attention or trying to claim her, but what about him? What does he want from her? He's just her appointed guardian.

"Stop talking nonsense, Vladimir," Zeno interrupted, his nose flaring in anger.

Vladimir looks at Zeno with a knowing look. "You like her," he declares matter-of-fact. "Even a fool can easily notice that."

Zeno clamps his mouth shut in sudden embarrassment, and Vladimir continues his interrogation.

"I admit, I'm also intrigued by her. However, His Imperial Highness also adores her—though he's still quite in denial about it. And as his subordinate, I have to put his best interest at all times. That's why I'm giving you a warning, Zeno."

"Did my words didn't get through your head?" Kaden asks pointedly. For some reason, he is boiling with anger. He is still trying to play cupid despite his warning.

Vladimir smirks as he looks at him calculatingly. "I heard you loud and clear. However, your true intention is still vague to me. I don't know if those words were spoken out of kindness or selfishness."

It felt like Kaden was suddenly punched in the gut by his remark. He gritted his teeth in an attempt to control the growl that almost escapes his lips. His stomach squeezes in pain, and sweat trickles down the side of his face. Vladimir notices everything, and his smile grew even wider and even more ominous.

"It is a fact that her existence is something that will shake the very foundation of this world. When they learned of her existence, others will vie for her attention; try to gain her trust and loyalty for their benefit, of others will try to kill her because she's a potential threat."

Vladimir looks at him with pity before sweeping his gaze on Zeno with the same look.

"And what do you think is the worst thing that could happen? Some powerful noble or even royalty from neighboring kingdoms might just take her and forcefully make her their bride. Just like how she's the perfect bride for His Imperial Highness that could aid him with his plans. And because of your powerlessness, you won't be able to do anything but watch."

That did it before Kaden becomes aware of what he's doing. His tightly clenched fist connected with Vladimir's cheek that sent his body flying to the wall. Kaden exhales in satisfaction. He really needs to learn when to shut up.