Subtle Hints

February's end was approaching. It seemed that the worst of the winter season had come to pass, with the snow starting to fall less frequent as when the season started. The temperature rose from 'freezing' but the days still had a noticeable chill in the air. This month seemed to go by fast as she had found a way to occupy her time outside of the Vosswell Estate.

Duke Vosswell seemed surprised that she had donated from her own allowance to The Tower, yet even more so as she had proceeded to sign up for multiple lectures every spare moment she had. Duchess Larissa and her children were slightly off-put at this weird 'change' that Delphia was going through, and even more so when they realized that she has shown no signs of her past behavior in the slightest during this time.

Delphia barely regarded them as she found her hands full with all of this new material she was reading everyday.

Her game plan was to learn about the world and how to better herself now that she is in it. Surprisingly, with her own ability and understanding, she advanced her Magic Circle from Third to Fourth in this period of time. It felt invigorating when she was able to use her own comprehension to figure out the ascent to the next circle.

Nonetheless, during this time, being inside of 'Delphia Vosswell's' body, she realized how deeply rooted her predecessor's ethos had been branded onto others; That no one would believe that she wasn't doing any of the things she's now doing without good reason.

It was draining on her own mental stamina, but during this last month, as she got to spend more time together with Zypher, she started looking forward to days spent at the Magic Tower. Even though it made her anxious as all hell, Zypher had such a charm about him that she wanted to keep spending time with him—despite the voice in the back of her head screaming at her not too.

And, much like she has been doing every moment she can, she found herself back at the Magic Tower on her next off-day from The Academy.

The room buzzed with quiet murmurs as students filed in for their first lecture of the day. Delphia slid into her usual seat near the middle of the room, her notebook and quill at the ready. The air held the faint tang of mana residue from previous classes, a constant reminder of the Tower's dedication to the study of magic.

At the front of the room, Zypher stood with his usual poise, his maroon eyes scanning the gathering students. He held the attention of the room effortlessly, his confident presence amplified by his reputation as the Magic Tower's heir. His sable robes, embroidered with faint golden runes, caught the light as he gestured toward a chalkboard filled with arcane diagrams.

"Today's discussion," he began, his deep voice commanding yet unhurried, "will delve into the practical applications of layered synergy between elemental and arcane mana. We'll cover scenarios where combining the two can create unexpected advantages—or disasters." Delphia felt the familiar flutter in her chest as his gaze swept over the room, lingering just a moment longer on her than on the others.

Calm down, she reminded herself. It's just a lecture.

Zypher stood at the front of the room, his dominating presence making it nearly impossible for anyone to look away. He leaned casually against the desk, scanning the room with a gaze that seemed to weigh each student individually before speaking.

"Let's start simple," he began, his voice smooth and steady. "If you were to combine a mid-tier defensive ward with an elemental augmentation spell, what might happen?"

Several hands shot up, and Zypher called on a young Mage sitting toward the front. "It would amplify the ward's defensive strength," the student said eagerly.

"Correct… to a degree." Zypher replied, inclining his head. "But only if the elements are compatible. Now—" his gaze swept the room, landing briefly on Delphia before continuing on, "what happens when the elements are incompatible?" A pause followed as the room fell quiet. Finally, another student ventured an answer, "The ward collapses?"

"Not quite," Zypher said, his maroon eyes flicking to Delphia. "Lady Vosswell, perhaps you'd like to enlighten us?"

Delphia sat straighter, forcing herself to remain composed.

It seemed that Zypher had easily picked up on her habits, realizing that she would choose to answer only when no one else could. Now taking the active step and calling on her before she could volunteer. "The ward wouldn't immediately collapse," she said evenly. "It would destabilize, creating a feedback loop that could potentially harm the caster depending on the strength of the opposing elements."

A small smile tugged at Zypher's lips. "Precisely. A de-stabilized ward can be far more dangerous than no ward at all." He shifted his focus back to the group. "Keep that in mind—magic, like all power, requires precision and restraint."

He moved on seamlessly. "Next question: If you were casting a layered barrier spell while maintaining an elemental focus, what would be the primary concern?"

Several students exchanged uncertain glances, their silence stretching uncomfortably. Delphia could feel the weight of Zypher's gaze on her again. When no one spoke up, he addressed her directly when she had just moved slightly to raise her hand, though his tone was casual enough to mask the intent behind his question. "Lady Vosswell, would you care to weigh in?"

She let out a quiet breath, feeling too exposed under his meticulous eyes, steadying herself. "The primary concern would be mana distribution," she said. "If too much focus is placed on the barrier, the elemental spell would weaken, making the overall structure vulnerable."

Zypher nodded, his approval subtle but clear. "Correct. Dividing mana evenly requires a high level of skill. Neglecting either component compromises the entire spell. Now—" he turned his attention back to the rest of the class, "can anyone tell me how to ensure proper balance?"

Another brave student raised their hand, attempting an answer that Zypher dissected with patient precision, though his responses lacked the same ease he showed Delphia.

Throughout the lecture, Zypher continued his almost orchestrated questioning. He directed simpler queries to the rest of the class, reserving the more intricate ones for Delphia. Each time, she responded with calm confidence, though her mind raced beneath the surface. She knew what he was doing, testing her limits, probing for weaknesses—and it was working. With each exchange, she felt the quiet tension between them grow, unspoken but impossible to ignore.

"Lady Vosswell," he said smoothly, turning to her after a brief pause in the discussion. "Would you care to explain how the oscillating mana currents in dual-element synergy can disrupt a defensive ward?"

Delphia blinked, caught off guard only for a moment as her mind had drifted away from the lecture at hand. She recovered quickly, folding her hands neatly on her desk. "The disruption occurs when the two elements' frequencies aren't properly balanced. If one oscillates faster than the other, the mana flows collide rather than harmonize, de-stabilizing the ward's structure."

"Precisely." Zypher's lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze steady on her. "And how might one correct such an imbalance?"

She tapped her quill against her notebook thoughtfully, knowing full well he was testing her. "By adjusting the amplitude of the dominant element to synchronize with the secondary one. It requires a precise focus to avoid overcorrecting."

Textbook, she thought with a huff.

"Correct again," he said, his tone both approving and teasingly neutral. "A tricky adjustment, but not impossible for someone with your… aptitude." The compliment, subtle as it was, sent a ripple of warmth through her. She kept her expression neutral, refusing to let him see how much his attention affected her. Around her, the other students remained oblivious to the unspoken layer of their exchange.

As the lecture progressed, Zypher continued his strategic questioning, weaving her into the discussion without overtly singling her out. Each time she answered, she felt his sharp gaze appraising her, as if searching for something beneath her composed exterior.

When the lecture finally came to a close, Zypher clapped his hands once. "That will be all for today. Dismissed." The students began to gather their things, the room filling with the rustle of parchment and the soft hum of mana dissipating. Delphia tucked her notebook into her satchel, ready to leave for her next lecture of the day.

"Lady Vosswell," Zypher's voice called out, calm but firm. "A word, if you don't mind."

Delphia froze for half a second before schooling her expression into one of polite curiosity. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she stepped closer to him as the other students filtered out of the room, their chatter fading into the hallway. When they were alone, Zypher leaned casually against the desk at the front of the room, his arms crossed. "I'd like you to stop by my study after your last lecture today," he said, his tone smooth and unreadable.

Her brows lifted slightly. "Your study?"

"Yes." He didn't elaborate, his maroon eyes fixed on hers. "Before you leave the Tower, that is." She tilted her head, searching his face for any hint of what this might be about, but he gave nothing away. His expression remained composed, betraying neither urgency nor casualness. It was maddeningly ambiguous, and yet… puzzling.

"Of course," she replied, keeping her tone light. "I'll stop by."

"Good." His lips curved into a faint smile that felt both reassuring and alluring, and he handed her a paper talisman that she would use at the highest point in the stairwell. "I'll see you then." As she turned to leave, her thoughts churned. Zypher's recent behavior—his flirty undertones during conversations, the way he singled her out in subtle but deliberate ways—had her on edge.

Did he suspect her of something? Or was this simply his natural charm at work? She couldn't tell, and that uncertainty gnawed at her.

Still, a small part of her—an embarrassingly large, small part—looked forward to whatever awaited her in his office. She couldn't deny the pull he had on her, the way his presence seemed to make the air around her hum with an electric energy. It was dangerous, intoxicating, and entirely unfair.

Her next lectures couldn't pass quickly enough.