Poring over endless tomes of literal arcane text was not Lee Narae’s idea of a good time. Headmaster Hyeong’s study notes weren’t as horrifically dry as, say, Professor Hwang Sung’s lectures, and she appreciated the work that he’d put into compiling them for her and Haeun, but after the first hour of studying Narae was already growing restless.

“Gah, this is so boring! Haeun, how in the names of our ancestors do you like this?”

Sitting across the cozy tea table from her, Princess Seong Haeun didn’t even look up from her own copy of the text as she responded.

“When did I ever say I enjoyed studying?”

“Pfft, oh come on! You’ve always got your nose buried in a book, you nerd. You’re telling me you don’t love it?”

“Not especially, no. I’ve always preferred to just listen to the mana around me rather than read about it in a book or scroll, but I’ve had stodgy old wizards forcing their books on me since before I could even walk. I study hard because it’s expected of me. I don’t enjoy it, but I’m used to it.”

Narae slumped over the desk and sighed.

“Well I’m not. I like big sis’ hands-on teaching. She can just show me how it’s done and then I figure the rest out for myself. Why should I spend hours and hours reading about a bunch of stuff I already know?”

“Master teaches that way because it’s how she learned. Her insights are invaluable, and I’m grateful for her tutelage, but with the greatest respect I don’t think she would have been a very good teacher without the academy to fill in the gaps.”

“I guess Aunt Eui was always trying to get me to study even before we settled in Jiaguo.”

Haeun nodded.

“That’s quite the credit to her. I appreciate that she is able to recognize her own shortcomings and find ways to compensate.”

Narae snickered.

“Hehe, shortcomings.”

“Oh, grow up! You know, if you spent half as much time actually studying instead of complaining about it, you’d be finished by now.”

“Yeah? Then how come you’re still reading?”

Haeun sighed and shook her head.

“I’m reviewing. Big br—I mean, Headmaster Hyeong’s writing is quite dense. He conveys a lot of information in a small space, and it’s worth reading a second time for insights I might have missed on the first pass.”

Narae narrowed her eyes at her best friend.

“Oh yeah. I see it now. You totally hate studying.”

“Oh, shut up, you! Have you even figured out what your thesis will be, yet?”

“Ugh, no. You?”

Haeun preened smugly.

“Obviously I’ll present my divination techniques. I’ve been waiting my entire life to show those darn mages that they were wrong about me.”

“Tsk, well excuse me for not being so smart and talented that I invented a whole new kind of magic when I was still a baby! I guess I was just too busy learning how to steal food for my sick mother without the gangs finding out and punishing me.”

The princess blinked, then set aside her books to give Narae her full attention.

“Narae, are you alright? You’ve been more testy than usual lately.”

She huffed.

“Yes. No. Ugh, I don’t know! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be snapping at you like this—it’s not your fault. I guess I’m just...”

Narae trailed off, trying to compose her thoughts.

“You’re smarter than I am. I’m the top duelist in our academy, but you almost always beat me in spars. I know you’re going to ace this test because you’re literally perfect at everything you do, but I have to struggle. I don’t blame you for that, but also I kind of do?

“When I was little, I swore that I would become strong enough to protect my mother by myself, without having to rely on my big sister. Maybe that sounds silly now that she’s literally the empress, but I was serious about it, and I still am. Then you came along, and just...you make me feel like a fraud.”

Haeun furrowed her brows, and Narae hated herself for how angry the pity on her friend’s face made her.

“You’re...jealous of me?”

“Of course I’m jealous! Who the hell wouldn’t be jealous of you?! You’re everybody’s favorite! Your entire family adores you. My entire family adores you! You’re everything I’ve aspired to be, and you do it effortlessly while I just keep disappointing people because I’m not as good as you.”

To her surprise, Haeun started laughing. It started out as a little titter, but as she covered her mouth and tried to stifle it, her fits of giggling only grew more intense. Narae crossed her arms and frowned.

“I didn’t think I said anything funny.”

Haeun waved her hand, desperately trying to compose herself.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! You’re right, that wasn’t funny—I’m not laughing at you, I promise! It’s just...Narae, since the very first day we met, I’ve always been jealous of you.”

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Narae blinked.

“What?”

“You have everything I’ve ever wanted. A family who loves you just for being yourself instead of for your gifts, the freedom to be whoever you want, no burden of expectation. I present an image of perfection because I have no choice. I have to be perfect—my family won’t accept anything less, but yours will love you regardless.”

“You’re telling me you want to fail?”

Haeun chuckled and shook her head.

“Well, no, but it would be nice to have the option! I’ve been away from home for five years, but that wasn’t enough to escape the pressure of my family’s expectations. I wish I could relax for even just a moment, but I can’t. I’m expected to become queen, and that means I must constantly prove that I’m worthy of the throne.”

“Who says it has to be you? Isn’t your sister stronger, with her spooky eyes and all?”

“In theory the succession of the clan mother is determined by whoever is closest to our spiritual ancestor. In my opinion, that’s already Eunae, but the sitting Clan Mother has a lot of sway over the decision, and it turns out that the criteria for succession are vague enough to allow plenty of room for politics.”

Narae grimaced.

“I’m sorry I asked.”

“It’s fine. And I’m sorry for laughing earlier. It really was inappropriate when you were having such a vulnerable moment.”

“I mean, now that you’ve explained it, I guess it is kind of funny that we’ve both been jealous of each other this whole time.”

Haeun smiled softly.

“If it’s any consolation, I’d be happy to help you with your thesis. You may think that you’re beneath me, but I’ve always considered you a worthy friend and rival. If you put your mind to it, I’ll bet you can come up with a thesis that blows my divination out of the water.”

Narae rolled her eyes at the obvious exaggeration.

“I don’t know about that. I did have one idea, but Heian is still stuck back in Jiaguo, and I don’t think I can do it without her help.”

Haeun gave her an incredulous look.

“Narae. Where do you think our study notes came from? What did Master just say about being here and in Jiaguo at the same time?”

“Oh. Oh! Ancestors, I’m so stupid!”

A whirling vortex of black flames appeared next to her, coalescing into the form of a short, black-haired spirit girl with half-lidded eyes. Heian lay her head on the table and looked up at Narae with a wry smile.

“You sure are. But that’s why you’ve got us, isn’t it? So, what do you need me for, dummy?”

Narae ignored the insults, feeling a rush of inspiration as everything began falling into place.

“Remember that favor you owe me? I think I know what to ask for—and I think you’ll like it too.”

Heian raised a curious eyebrow.

“I’m listening...”

----------------------------------------

Eui was a little bit worried about Narae. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but between the sudden surge of emotion from her disciples and the fact that they’d decided to summon Heian for some reason, she couldn’t help but check in on them.

Thankfully, it seemed that the two had managed to resolve things on their own, but she took note of Narae’s instability for later. That kind of built-up jealousy and resentment could lead to deviations if they weren’t careful.

For the moment, however, she was content to leave them to their own devices for a while. She had her own business to attend to, and the perfect excuse to pay Seong Misun a visit. After all, she was a college alumna and prolific researcher—who better to ask about her disciples’ theses?

Like most of the royal clan, Misun had her own rooms—though it was almost more accurate to call it a mansion. The scale of Songdo’s palace was truly dizzying, but Eui tried to ignore the opulent waste of space as she made her way to Misun’s private laboratory.

It was interesting that Seong Misun, renowned and even partially defined by her laziness, spent so much time working, but for the misanthropic princess, perhaps that was just her way of keeping herself entertained. She was, after all, also notorious for never finishing her projects.

As soon as Yoshika crossed the threshold into Misun’s property, various wards flared to life and an image of the princess appeared in front of her.

“What do you want?”

Eui shrugged.

“Do I need a reason to visit?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. The girls are going to be taking their graduation tests in a couple of weeks, and I was hoping you could help me counsel them.”

Seong Misun grimaced, but with a wave of her hand the wards powered down.

“You can come in, but don’t touch anything.”

Her image disappeared, and Eui followed the lingering traces of Misun’s aura to a detached building with a spacious interior, a high ceiling, and magically reinforced structure.

Inside, almost the entire floor was taken up by an enormously complex magical formation which Eui couldn’t even begin to decipher the purpose of. It was so large that parts of it crept up the walls, and Eui could sense that it was designed to extend into the spiritual and elemental realms as well.

“Wow, what in the world is this?”

Misun herself was tucked away in a small corner of the room, poring over a small mountain of books, scrolls, and jade slips. She glanced back at Eui and shrugged.

“Nothing important. I recreated it from old notes we recovered from Do Hye’s library. It’s supposed to be a mana amplifier.”

“A what?”

She set down her notes and walked over, scowling down at the enormous formation.

“Exactly what it sounds like. You input essence, and it spits out more.”

Eui furrowed her brows.

“Isn’t that impossible?”

“Yes, which is why I said it’s ‘supposed’ to be a mana amplifier, and not that it is one. It doesn’t work.”

“That’s...a lot of effort to put into something that doesn’t work.”

Misun scoffed and turned away.

“It was what he spent his final days working on, and I refuse to believe that it was just idle entertainment. A moot point, anyway—I’ve already given up on that one.”

“Then why is it still taking up your entire floor?”

“To make you ask stupid questions. Now, are you here to ask my advice about the graduation exams, or was this just a guileless attempt to snoop around at my mother’s behest?”

Eui pursed her lips. If Misun had already caught on to that much, then there really wasn’t much point in lying about it, so she just shrugged.

“Both, I guess? I really could use your help, but I’m also worried about how cagey you’ve been. Is something going on?”

Misun just gave her a flat look.

“The world is ending, nobody seems to care, and I was forced to kill one of the few people actually bothering to do something about it. It would be stranger by far if I wasn’t behaving differently.”

She fidgeted with something on her finger and sighed.

“I’m not the one you should be worried about. Mother is right to be concerned, but she’s blind to the actual source of our troubles.”

“And what would that be, exactly?”

Misun pursed her lips, eying Eui critically as she considered her next words.

“I wasn’t going to tell you this, but since you’re here anyway and determined to meddle regardless, heed this warning—I have reason to believe that my aunt, the Queen, has been compromised.”