Light…
A faint, flickering light danced behind my eyelids.
I let out a slow breath.
There was still warmth pressing against my chest—
like an energy pulsing, moving, and expanding inside me.
I slowly opened my eyes.
⸻
The first thing I saw was a wide room with high ceilings and stone walls.
Soft morning light filtered through the window, brushing against dark wooden shelves and an antique desk.
Bookshelves crammed with old magic tomes.
Jars filled with strange glowing essences.
Crystals glimmering dimly in the shadows.
A velvet-covered lounge chair in the center.
Heavy curtains embroidered in silver.
A cool morning breeze slipped gently through the windows.
I was in Lucian's private room.
⸻
Right beside me, near the large desk, stood Lucian.
His usual white robe draped over his shoulders.
His platinum blond hair loosely pulled back.
But his eyes…
Those dark navy eyes held a shadow today—something deeper than usual.
He was watching me.
"You're awake."
His voice was calm, but the tension in it was hard to miss.
I sat up slowly.
My head still felt light.
"Where… am I?"
Lucian took a few steps closer.
Measured. Controlled.
"We're still in the tower.
After the summoning, I let you rest here."
His gaze briefly flicked to my chest.
Right where the familiar had bonded with me, a lingering warmth still pulsed.
"You're no longer alone.
Another presence… now breathes through your veins."
⸻
I focused on that strange sensation.
A steady stream of mana vibrating inside my body—
as if something living was flowing through my bloodstream.
But that wasn't what truly unsettled me.
Those memories…
That night…
What the familiar had shown me…
"Why… why did I see memories from my real life?"
A chill spread through me.
"This is just a game, right?
I'm only here temporarily.
But the familiar… it showed me my loneliness.
That prayer I whispered in my tiny apartment…"
Those words echoed in my mind.
That prayer…
"Just a small change…"
And in that moment—
the familiar had paused.
It had stopped its attack—when it heard that.
"The echo of a prayer…" I whispered.
"That's why it accepted me."
The vibration within me shifted slightly.
The familiar was present—quiet but real.
It didn't resist.
It merged.
"Instead of fighting me… it joined with me."
Lucian was sitting silently nearby, still watching.
I wasn't ready to share this chaos with him yet.
⸻
Lucian stepped back and returned to his usual formal tone.
"Your official registration needs to be completed."
He summoned a crystal panel.
Thin, glowing text appeared mid-air.
As he typed, he continued:
"Of course…"
"I made a few special arrangements on your behalf."
I turned to him, one eyebrow raised.
"Special arrangements?"
Lucian tilted his head, smiling slyly.
"I registered you as my assistant and apprentice directly."
The floating text sharpened:
Name: Elysia
Class: Mage
Rank: Apprentice
Assignment: Assistant to Archmage Lucian
⸻
"You… made me your apprentice?"
My voice trembled slightly.
Lucian shrugged.
"For your own protection.
You need an official identity.
And if you're not seen under my protection… the palace leeches won't leave you alone."
A brief pause.
"I may have called in a few favors."
He gave me a sideways glance.
"They owed me a little. We're even now."
Internally:
I should've guessed.
Once the process was complete, Lucian closed the panel.
He watched me for a moment longer.
Then, in a quieter voice:
"I had something prepared for you."
He turned his head slightly.
A door opened nearby.
⸻
A small table had been set.
Fresh fruit, soft slices of bread, and a steaming bowl of soup.
⸻
"You need to rest and regain your strength."
After a brief pause, he added:
"And… experience a normal morning."
⸻
I took a seat at the table.
I didn't think I had much of an appetite—
but the smell of that warm soup was already soothing me.
The pulse inside me had softened as well.
⸻
Lucian stood across the room, still watching.
I looked up at him.
"Are you just going to keep staring at me like that?"
He tilted his head slightly, a faint mischievous spark in his eyes.
"Until your next lesson…
I'd prefer you remain in sight."
⸻
As I sipped the soup, my thoughts scattered again.
How would I explain this to Kai?
I was a mage now.
Directly under Lucian.
Kai hated mages.
How could I possibly tell him?
Lucian noticed my sigh.
"Something on your mind?"
"Just… things that aren't easy to talk about yet," I replied vaguely.
⸻
⸻
After the meal, Lucian led me on a short walk through the tower.
⸻
The inner halls were filled with libraries, ancient chambers, and research labs.
Crystal shelves shimmered with floating mana essences.
Some corridors held quiet students moving in silence.
Lucian explained as we walked:
"This isn't just a training site.
It's also a center for research, stabilization, and containment.
Magic… when uncontrolled… can burn an entire city."
⸻
Eventually, we reached a balcony overlooking the courtyard.
⸻
Below, apprentices practiced summoning circles.
Floating sigils spun gently in the air.
Lucian stood beside me.
There was a brief silence.
Then, in a low voice:
"This is your new world, Elysia."
Our eyes met.
The shiver inside me still hadn't left.
Students and researchers we passed bowed slightly as we walked.
Then turned to whisper behind us.
"Is that her?"
"The new girl…"
"Walking with Lucian himself."
"Already registered as his assistant?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught their glances.
Some curious.
Some jealous.
A few… already saw me as a threat.
Lucian paid no attention to any of it.
If anything, his faint smile deepened—almost annoyingly pleased.
⸻
Then he spoke, as if mentioning something trivial:
"I had your room prepared."
I turned to him.
"Where is it?"
"Near my quarters."
My brows lifted.
"Coincidence?"
Lucian squinted, wearing that familiar sly smile:
"No.
Coincidences move too slowly."
Then, after a brief pause:
"The person who used to stay there… very kindly accepted a relocation offer.
Let's say… I was persuasive."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He shrugged, voice almost casual.
"In the end… a more suitable room became available."
Lucian slowed his pace.
His gaze returned to me.
That familiar, half-smile returned to his lips:
"Let's see," he said softly,
"how quickly you learn to control the power inside you."
I looked away.
My heart had started to beat faster again.