( Knock! Knock! ) — The door opened before he even answered, and Sana sauntered in.

The years blessed her, and the girl developed very well in all aspects. She didn’t reign in her noble attitude, and still carried herself with the dignity of a monarch’s offspring. Despite being one of the prettiest in the cove, few boys were daring enough to court this lioness, so she remained single.

Giving Fino a brief nod, she then came before Leonardo and bowed respectfully.

“I’m here, master.”

She wasn’t bowing before Prometheus, however. The mask had lost its meaning in front of her two years ago, when she finally sparked her talent and awakened magic!

Leonardo had long since detected faint hints of her talent. Just as he expected, she had an innate affinity for Animus Dharma and was surprisingly even faster than Leo in reaching Virtus 2. At the age of 16, she had a nightmare that someone in the group would betray them. In the coming weeks, she felt restless and out of sorts.

Originally, she thought it was an irrational panic attack, but after meeting Leonardo, understood that there was more to it there. Teaching her how to hone that feeling, she soon learned to distinguish emotions and clearly visualize auras. The mole was quickly identified and exiled.

It was a 12 year old boy. His friends had been refused entry and he caved under pressure, sharing some secrets about the cove’s rough location. Over time, they had hatched a plan to sell the route to the guards. Despite not being overly problematic, Manus Umbra had long since drawn the eye and ire of people like captain Garon.

Alas, before they could succeed, Sana’s enforcers got a hold of their plan and apprehended them all. Though Sana suggested the boys be killed, or as she put it ‘impaled to dry in the sun’, Leonardo showed mercy and merely had them board Chimente’s ship. Blindfolded, they were carted in and dumped off on the shore of Greece to fend for themselves.

The tangent aside, though. Merely 2 years later, at the current age of 18, Sana successfully passed her Quaestio and elevated her Virtus to step 2.

Despite making tremendous progress, she didn’t feel like she was beneath calling Leonardo her master. He taught her everything she knew and held little back. From martial training, to exposing her to the Dharmas and feeding her esoteric knowledge that graced the highest shelves of the Akasha library — Leonardo truly treated her like a prized disciple.

If there was one instance when the lioness hid her pride, it was when meeting Leo. Three years older than him, she nonetheless bowed her head and looked up to him from the bottom of her heart. Gratitude aside, she knew that she wasn’t his match in many aspects and had much to learn.

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“Mm. I found something interesting at Ras-Ir Raheb. I’ll bring you to see it when you have a few days off.”

Looking over the girl’s expectant look, he put on a gratified smile and gestured her to sit.

“By the way, master. What’s with the two girls? I passed by the hall and their chi balance seemed a bit odd.”

“That’s because they’re magi.”

“They’re both awoken!?”

“En. It’s a rather tragic awakening. Might have been better for them to remain asleep.”

Sighing sadly, Leonardo mulled over things in silence. Then, noting Fino and Sana’s expectant looks, had no choice but to debrief the story with them.

“They’re from a small tribe of the Golden Horde. Their mother passed away… supposedly committed suicide and drowned in a river. During the funerary rites when they had to sing their farewell, they were overcome by emotions. They awakened, used magic in unison and called up lightning and thunder under the purview of the tribe.

“They escaped in the same night with the father, making their way to the Crimean Khanate. Their father however was a real piece of shit. First thing he did was try to find a buyer.

“The ‘stormcallers’ were to be auctioned to the highest bidder. When the girls found out, it was already too late. Helplessly being handed over, they tried to sing to invoke magic. In a moment of fright, the father stopped them, and cut their tongues off to prevent their escape.

“Little did they know, it was impossible for an early Virtus mage to call a storm… That can only happen during one’s awakening. Mages are nearly not as powerful as people think them to be…”

Strumming the table softly with his fingers, Leonardo found himself inexplicably saddened by the thought. This regret didn’t stem from anything he experienced personally, but rather seemed like it was ingrained in his core.

He had the feeling that mages were being suffocated by the Kismet, their potential stifled by mankind’s irrational fear. This drive to wipe out magic was counter productive and harmful, but in their ignorance they continued to call out for pyres to burn.

“At any rate… without their tongues, they couldn’t sign, so they couldn’t call storms. They thought the girls were basically worthless, but surprisingly a buyer was still found… A noble and her retinue from an Inquisition family were in port, so they got the girls. I don’t know if they wanted to convert and exploit them, or execute them for clout with the church…”

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore. Their ship was boarded by pirates near Malta and most died. Except for the girl, but…”

Rasping the table with a bit more force, Leonardo briefly pondered killing that conniving whore. Perhaps feeling his palpable intent, the room succumbed to dreary silence. Although annoyed he didn’t unmask her there and then, it was ultimately not his fight. She didn’t hurt the girls directly, so he could only lament things silently.

“In any case,” Leo broke the silence, putting Marta’s deception to the back of his head.

Shifting his attention to Sana who seemed very composed in contrast to the sniffling Fino, he lectured her gently.

“Everyone has their burden to bear. While yours was overcome, perhaps it is time you helped others with theirs. Try and show a little more sympathy when you’re around them. It will do wonders for your Animus Dharma progression.”

Despite Sana’s nod of acknowledgment, he seemed slightly unsatisfied, but also a little guilty.

“I know you’re very busy with the camp, but these girls are special and require more attention. I will hand their training to you. Teach them without reservation and with even more kindness than I showed you. Only that way will they stand a chance at healing.”

“Besides… you could really use a friend or two. Even lionesses hang in a pride.”