The sun filtered through the window, falling over Aeryth's haggard form. Her back hunched over the orb held in both her hands. Her entire focus is solely on it. The spiderweb-like crack spread on the glossy surface, decrypting, almost on the verge of collapse.

It flickered. Aeryth jolted back to reality for a mere moment. She took a deep breath, not focusing on her surroundings, and began filling mana back into the orb.

Sera sat on Aeryth's bed, spinning the master key between her fingers. She blamed herself.

I am an Idiot.

Could she have lied? Yes. Should She have lied? Yes. Did She lie? No. In her moronic excitement, she told Aeryth she had done it in three days. How cruel and unfair she was. An arrogant bitch, Truman would say. And, for once, she wholeheartedly agreed.

She looked at the clock. It was half past two. She had been sitting in Aeryth's room for the past forty minutes. Aeryth hadn't even realized it.

Sera's eyes fixated on the dried blood on Aeryth's face.

I should've lied.

The same thought had occurred for the tenth time in the last forty minutes. What else could she do? Certainly not jolt Aeryth awake. In a way, Aeryth wasn't even in her body, and waking her up right now might just hurt her mind.

It was all her fault. She could've lied. Said to Aeryth that she had done it in three weeks instead. Only then it would've been fair.

When Sera awakened, her mana capacity was three hundred. Unusually high even by the standard of genius mages. High capacity meant, higher stamina, and longer time to practise, and quicker recovery. No novice could replicate what she had achieved.

According to her master, it was practically impossible unless they had as much affinity for their element, mana, and capacity as she did.

Aeryth possessed no such quality. She was not really even a mage by normal standards. Ninety mana points at awakening was what a normal warrior who would lean on magic would have. The average mage had around a hundred and fifty to two hundred. And then, they took about three weeks of rigorous training to learn mana control.

That was fair. That's how learning was supposed to be. Yet, the stupid, arrogant side of her went ahead and boasted proudly. Of course, Aeryth was the type to push herself self-destructively.

Sera should've seen this happening. She had already seen it in the library when Aeryth broke the illusion spell. Yet, she didn't think twice before putting her in this position.

The orb glowed.

Aeryth is controlling her mana sense.

It was one of the methods of training, one that no novice used. Because the mind takes time to adapt to the new sense. Months. No one this early was informed of this prospect.

But Aeryth seemed to have stumbled upon it on her own. But her mind seemed to be functioning fine as of yet.

Sera stopped spinning the master key. Sighed. She was tempted to ask someone for help. She had talked to Lady Sia after learning about Aeryth's past, but her lady said to not bother with it. Aeryth was better off on her own than them meddling in her affairs.

Is she really better off on her own?

This must be what her lady must've referred to. Aeryth's current situation was her own doing, after all, and no one else's.

Sera still couldn't believe how self-destructive Aeryth lived.

The incident was a horror. Sera had been forbidden from visiting the sage woods to see the sight, even though she had seen far too many violent sights, more than one should, yet her lady deemed her unfit.

The orb glowed again. Illuminated the room.

Sera watched Aeryth in horror. Her mage heart shivered.

As self-destructive as Aeryth was, Sera could see the potential, how great of a mage Aeryth would grow up to be if she allowed herself to grow, instead of destroying herself.

The cracks formed on the surface of the orb.

Sera bit her lip. Then it crumbled. A rune floated in the air. A triangle. With a parallel dash on each side.

Aeryth eyes snapped open. She looked up at Sera. Her mouth fell open.

As distraught as Sera was, this was a call for celebration. "You did it!" Sera beamed as she sat by Aeryth's side.

"It did it..." Aeryth replied, her voice hoarse. She let out a heavy breath. She didn't seem in the right mind to question how Sera even was in her room.

Sera was glad about the fact. "Now, this is a warding rune. Where should I etch it?" Sera asked.

"Etch?"

"I mean Mark. It is like a tattoo, but it will be invisible. Where?"

Aeryth seemed confused. "Arm should be fine?"

"It is," Sera's palm glowed; the rune spun in her hand, as she took Aeryth's hand in the other. She held her cold palms, thin, pale, black nerves clearly visible beneath.

"I will etch it at the base of your middle finger, okay?"

Aeryth nodded. Sera's worry only grew because of Aeryth's lack of emotional reaction.

Sera made the rune smaller—the size of her fingernail—and let it sink into the back of Aeryth's palm.

"I am tired," Aeryth muttered.

"I know. You can say proudly you're one of the most talented mages in this city." Sera smiled assuringly. "You will rest. We have much to learn, can't hurt yourself, right?"

Aeryth bobbed her head like a delirious drunkard.

We cannot let this go further. I need to talk to Lady Sia. It's a waste of her talent. She would destroy herself if we left her be.

Aeryth lowered her head. Sagging like a powerless doll. Sera sighed. She picked Aeryth up and lay her on the bed.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Aeryth, can you hear me?"

"Gene?" Aeryth mumbled.

Sera paused. "Rest. I'll be back."

"Really..." Aeryth tried to grab her hand.

Sera stepped back. Her throat tightened. She sniffed back her tears. "Yeah."

She didn't know who Gene was, but she could imagine why Aeryth would remember her at that moment. Someone Aeryth most likely lost. And missed dearly.

She walked out of the room and shut the door. "That was a whole load of not my expertise." She chuckled. "I guess, that's the bargain I made. Gotta drag her life back to the lands of normal."

Normal and Sera didn't get along well.

"I need to get her a proof of identity. Wait, is that even a good idea? The way she behaves, it wouldn't be a surprise if she went to hunt down a dangerous beast alone in some cursed land. That's what she would probably do," Sera massaged the bridge of her nose. "I'm gonna get old at this rate."

---

Aeryth woke up groggy. Her head was heavy.

[Intelligence +2

Mana Control Lv.1 Acquired!

Perception +1]

Aeryth sighed as she looked at the notifications. A relieved sigh, of course. One step closer to becoming the mage she had promised herself to. The only purpose that still attached her to the past.

[Rune of Ward: Basic Barrier acquired

Mastery: 0%

Cost of Rune: 20 MP.]

Aeryth looked at the second window. It was even better. But the only thing worried her. How did she even acquire it? What did the rune of ward even mean? There were so many questions.

Her nose hurt as she breathed. Noticing the blood on her face, she went to the restroom and washed her face first. Her hair was sticky with sweat as well.

"What should I do about them?" The clock in the corridor read eleven. "Did I skip today?" Almost all her memories were blank. The only thing she remembered was success, how relieved she had been.

Slowly she remembered there had been another person. "Gene..." She mumbled. She hummed the song Light had taught her. She had not been singing it as of late.

By the time she found peace, her stomach growled.

"I can go on without food for two days, though, I don't remember anything from this morning. It's probably too late to eat anything in the canteen... or even at the stores outside. Is Yura open?" She wondered. She wanted to eat that magically cooked rice.

But it was already eleven, and there was no she could sneak out of the quarters. The broken vent that they used to sneak out into the library had been fixed.

To busy herself, she started reading Light's magic book. At this point, she was sure she could write all of it without glancing at once.

What is a mage?

The question was in the middle section of the book in Light's handwriting.

"What is a mage?" She knew the answer. One who can cast spells, and change the natural world to their will. But any blessed could do something to the extent, it didn't make a mage unique. Casting a spell probably did. But it was not much different from a skill that others could use. Perhaps that was the question that Light tried to find.

Aeryth moved on, the question lingered in her mind. She mused what it truly meant to be a mage. She could say with surety Light didn't mean the spell crafter. It would be too simple for someone like Light to ask.

She flipped through some more pages before closing the book.

With a sigh, she pulled out the spell breaker codex, along with the pendant that was 'the bedroom.'

I wonder if I can use it right now.

She decided she shouldn't risk it here, on the sixth floor of a building. If it truly expanded like a room, she'd be crushed, and probably crash the building.

One more tragedy to my name.

Aeryth laughed bitterly.

The pendant had a chain. She put it around her neck. That's two magical artifacts on me. And one in House of Hearth's protection. I am filthy rich.

She wanted a bath. It should be empty right now. And it was, much to her relief. And dark. She turned on the switch.

"Aeryth."

Aeryth looked at the bathroom door. The new dorm mother, Caroline, stood there.

"Good Evening, Miss Caroline. I can take a bath, right?"

Caroline studied her for a long minute, trying to read her mind probably. "It is. There's no rule forbidding you from taking a bath in the middle of the night."

"Thank you."

"You were absent for dinner and breakfast today. And I heard you were missing from the library as well."

"That... I had a fever."

"I see." Caroline still stared at her, "I know a Doctor. I can call her in the morning if you need them."

"No! I mean, no, I am all right."

Caroline nodded. "Still, I insist you get checked up. You were in hospital for three days last week as well, after missing a day in the library."

Aeryth didn't say anything.

Caroline stepped inside. "I know it must be hard," she said, gently. "No one of your age comes to this place without a story. I won't pry in your life, but as long as you're here, I am your caretaker and your guardian. While you stay here, I want to be sure you have a good time and health."

Aeryth didn't know what to say. "Thank you, Miss Caroline."

Caroline's eyes saddened. Perhaps she expected from her. "After you're done here, come to my office. I'll prepare something for you to eat. You must be hungry right?"

Her stomach growled at that moment. Caroline smiled ear to ear. "I'll wait for you in the office."

Caroline left before Aeryth had any time to stop her.

She sighed.

What just happened?

Caroline was a meddlesome woman. Aeryth decided to keep her distance from her, after the last dorm mother, and the general type of people that lived in this city, she couldn't trust someone so outwardly kind and caring as Caroline.

With a sigh, she went into the shower.

After half an hour, she was clean and fresh, feeling as if she could fly, but not with the weight of her washed clothes. They are far from cleaned satisfactorily. She would wash them one more time in the morning.

--

Aeryth knocked on the dorm mother's office.

The door slid in. Caroline greeted her with a smiling face. "Come on in."

Aeryth hesitantly followed. Caroline didn't seem blessed, and neither was there a presence of mana in the office, so she could assume herself to be safe here.

"About the doctor. I am genuinely fine, Miss Caroline. If something happens again, I'll let you know."

Caroline nodded. "I cannot force you to do anything. If you're feeling even a slight headache again, talk to me, okay?"

Aeryth nodded.

"Now, sit here. The canteen was starved of food, and I am not much of a cook, so this is the best I managed. Don't judge."

On the palate, there were two egg sandwiches.

"Thank you..." Aeryth hesitantly sat on the chair. "Is that fine? Favoring me like this?"

"Sick chil

dren always get the special treatment," Caroline replied. "No need to be so alarmed. I've heard what happened between you and the previous dorm mother. Distrust is natural, and called for, but she's an example of what not to do, so there is no poison in your food. That's a tradition of Ashets, not this home of ours."

Aeryth nodded. "Sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine. But, people see little intention, and a lot from your actions. And your actions, despite what might think, only show me a scared child. Eat. After that, you can return to your room and rest."

"I am not scared," Aeryth muttered under her breath as she picked one up.

The sandwiches were tasty, and she didn't feel anything except for the discomfort of contendedness. "Thank you, Miss Caroline. I am grateful."

"Look after your health, if you want to repay me. Okay?"

Aeryth nodded.

"Now, back to the room, and rest. Staying up this late is bad for your fair skin, young lady."

"Why are you up this late?"

"Me? Doing my duty. Can't have guards strolling the corridors, children won't be able to sleep with ease. But I suspect someone is sneaking out of the dorms."

Aeryth nodded. She left, taking the bucket, which had her clothes, along with her. Somehow, it had been a far more pleasant encounter than she had imagined. Still, Caroline made no sense. She must be from somewhere else. Not from this city.

Grace is also from this city and she's nice. So is Priest... Stop thinking! Why does it matter if someone is nice or not? This place is ugly, and I shouldn't think too much about it.

Once she was back to her room. She hung the cloth on the hanger, and then lay down on the bed, staring outside the window.

What should I do now?

She didn't get any sleep. The sun rose, the stars faded, as the sky turned a lighter shade of blue.

Aeryth was happy to see the light.

Should I go to the library? How did they account for my absence?

"I should probably talk to someone about this. Probably Sera." She muttered. But how. She had no way of contacting her.

She went for the breakfast in the canteen. The whispers annoyed her. It made sense though.

"Aeryth," Vik said. "How's your fever?" He sounded worried. He took the seat opposite of her.

"I am doing quite fine. Thank you for worrying about me, Vik."

Vik let out an aggrandized sigh. "Why you always gotta start a conversation on an ending note." He put his chin on the table and stared at her. Showing no intention of leaving. "Well, I am used to it by now, so I'll be eating here today." And he did.

Aeryth didn't say anything. She had no right to turn him away, neither would she. He was a nice guy.

"If it's not rude to ask... five books are missing from the third floor. Do you have any idea where they might've gone?"

Aeryth's spoon stopped mid-way. Those blank spine books?

"I do not. Sorry." Aeryth replied. "Were they stolen?"

"I think so...?" Vik sighed. "I got no clue. Just that they are missing from Friday, and I am supposed to file missing reports on books if they are not found. I thought I should ask you first. If you're in the clear, I'll let them know."

"That is fine by me," Aeryth replied. Was he waiting to ask in case I had borrowed them or stolen them? To make sure I didn't get in trouble.

"Thank you for worrying about me."

"Nah, I am doing my job. Gotta cover my co-worker's back," he grinned. "So are you coming to the library today?"

Cover Co-worker's back...

"I very much want to. But, I'll have to talk to dorm mother first."

"Will be waiting for ya then." Once he was finished eating, he left.

Aeryth looked down at her plate. It was still half full. She was ashamed of how slow she ate. Even if her mother used to tell her it was fine.

With a sigh, she made her way to Caroline's office. Fortunately, she was there.

"Aeryth?" Caroline mused.

"I've been missing many of my shifts in the library, and I missed yesterday too, so I just wanted to confirm if it was alright to go."

"About that..." Caroline picked up a letter. "You'll be on a different duty today. As someone else is already been promised the shift."

"Different duty?" Aeryth mumbled.

"Sera said, you needed proof of identity. So, I put you on the job for someone whose letter of assurance will work as proof of trust. An alternate method of confidence, but it should help you with registration."

When did Sera talk to her? She could've asked me first.

"What kind of job do I need to do?" Since it would get her proof of trust, she didn't imagine it to be something simple.

"They are the ones who collect missing things for the businesses. They require an accountant who will write a testimony of those who have not returned the book and accounts of what happened during the extraction process. You're quite adept in writing so I didn't see a problem."

"I see..." Aeryth nodded. "It seems simple... too simple, actually."

"I have no deeper knowledge on this matter. I am new to all this, but I can refuse them on your behalf if you feel uncomfortable."

Aeryt contemplated. The new job is a good experience. It should allow me to take my mind off.

"I'll go. I think I can handle myself."

Caroline seemed really worried. "I am not given a say against children's wishes. But. If you feel you cannot go longer anymore, you can quit anytime. Okay," Caroline walked up to her and held out a coin. "This will allow you to leave the shift anytime on my account. Don't push yourself. I'll handle the consequence, okay."

Caroline looked at her earnestly, only motherly worry in her eyes.

Aeryth nodded mechanically. "I will be sure to. Thank you for worrying about me."

Caroline smiled. "That's the job I've taken after all," giggling she returned to her seat.