Waking up from her sleep Alicia sent mana towards the jade colored shard, her eyes lightning up and outside she saw a person with the wind of fire outside her room. Removing her ripped clothing she puts on one of the fine dresses from the wardrobe, fixing the bandages over her arms and eyes, she gently combs her hair and braids it into a single braid hanging down her collarbone. Opening the door she gets the attention from the guard.

"Excuse me, but who are you and why are you standing outside my room?" Alicia asked nervously.

"Hello miss, my name is Chara Fersun and I have been appointed your personal guard by the duke and the principal of Ave Ludum." Chara explained.

"Oh, it seems like the principal doesn't trust me alone at the academy." Alicia said out loud.

"On the contrary, I have been chosen to help the miss in her personal life and studies due to your disability." Chara explained. Looking over at the young miss in front of her she could barely see her facial features, only her lips and lower face, the rest covered up with dirty bandages.

"Miss, if you want to we can head to the infirmary if you have been injured, I assure you that the doctors there can help you." Chara proposed, wanting to help her but also get a proper look at her face.

"Well, my injury is not really of the curable kind, but these old bandages have begun tearing, please lead the way lady Chara." Alicia said as she walked fully out the door, closing it behind her. Chara begins leading Alicia towards the infirmary. On the way he helps her avoiding hindrances and steps, trying to show Alicia that she is there for her safety above all. After a few minutes of traversing the many corridors of the academy they finally arrive at the infirmary. Opening the door for Alicia she is gestured in by Chara. One of the doctors notices the many bandages on Alicia and shouts out, "What in Cyril's light has happened to you, quickly bring her over to the bed.

"That won't be necessary, does doctor Buli still work here?" Alicia asked, already knowing the commotion her appearance would cause.

"Are you a friend of doctor..." Before the doctor could answer a stack of paper was heard smashing to the ground and a loud female voice was heard farther in.

"Is that you Alicia? Oh my how are you?" The doctor freaking out before was pushed aside by Doctor Buli. Before either Alicia or Chara could react Buli had wrapped her arms around Alicia and hugging her intently. "It really is you! Why are you back at the academy, how are your injuries?" Doctor Buli fervently shook Alicia back and forth in her arms.

"Hi doctor Buli, Im alright, except I was basically kidnapped by some guards here. My injuries are good, Charla here was concerned for my well being but I assume you can give her more information then me." Alicia explained to Buli, trying to free herself from Buli's grip.

"Ahem. Im sorry for that. Hello Lady Chara, my name is doctor Buli and I was the chief doctor during Alicias case a few months ago when she got these injuries. Several charged crystal exploded during her experiment and caused severe damage to her arms and eyes. Thats why she has bandages on her arms and over her eyes. She also sadly lost her connection to the winds." Buli explained to the knight Alicias condition.

"But principal Vatler said that the miss could..." Chara wanted to question what Buli had said but Alicia interrupted her.

"Its better if I show you both." While saying that Alicia flowed her mana through the citrine shard and suddenly a gust of wind blew past the trio, amazing Chara and confusing Buli.

"Was that you Alicia? Have you reconnected with the winds?" Buli asked.

"Yes, during my stay in Port Al-Asar I theorized my condition and successfully reconnected with the winds." Alicia explained to Buli.

"How can you use the wind of air? from my report you were favored by the wind of water." Chara asked.

"It seems during my reconnection I found out I have a minor favor with the wind of air. The principal didn't ask so I didn't tell him." Alicia responded to Lady Chara with a mischievous grin.

"Miss Alicia... in the future could you please inform me if there is any developments in your magic." Chara asks while pinching the bridge of her, knowing the hassle the next report will cause.

"Never mind that, we have come to the infirmary to get new bandages for my arms and eyes, these have seen better days." Alicia turned back to Buli and explained their visit.

"Then you certainly have come to the right place, Doctor Faras, please help Alicia towards one of the beds and help her take off the old bandages." Buli asked the confused doctor from earlier.

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"Oh, of course doctor Buli. Please miss Alicia please follow me." Doctor faras said as she gently grabbed Alicias hand and guided her to one of the beds close to the windows at the far end of the room. Arriving at the bed Alicia sits down on the soft bed while Faras slowly begins unwrapping the bandages. Chara slowly following behind stare at the bandages, waiting to see the what's underneath. Noticing the knights gaze Buli walks over to her and whispers in her ear, "You might be disturbed by what's underneath, I was there the day she was carried in here by the professor and I felt weird seeing it."

Before Chara could question why she would be disturbed Faras had finished removing the bandages on Alicias arms and what Chara saw horrified her. What she saw was a pair of delicate arms covered in nasty looking shards of pure crystal embedded deeply into the skin. The familiar murky color of the shards signifying their inactivity.

"How can she be alive?" Chara asked Buli with a shocked expression in her voice.

"We don't know, when she arrived at the infirmary she already was on death's door, but somehow she manage to cling to life." Buli explained, remembering the terrifying day Alicia was carried here, bleeding and nearly dead.

"What about her eye bandage?" Chara asked, feeling sorry for Alicia.

"You will see." Buli simply responded as the two looked over at Alicia and doctor Faras began removing the bandage covering her eyes.

Faras began unwrapping the bandage, and Alicia was nervous for the reaction from Chara and Buli, as soon as the bandage fell down on the ground Alicia opened her eyes, for her the same darkness welcomed her but to Chara and Buli they for the first time saw Alicias whole face.

"Holy Cyril, your face..." Chara expressed shocked at the revelation. What she saw was a pair of icy blue eyes staring back at her with no light behind them, and all around her eyes were similar looking shards jammed into her skin, creating a beautiful but horrifying display.

"Wow, Chara. You hurt my feelings." Alicia laughed at her companion due to Chara's reaction. "What do you think?" Alicia asked teasingly.

"You have beautiful eyes, its a shame you are blind or you would probably be one of the most favorable ladies in Ruun." Chara answered absentmindedly, stuck staring into Alicias eyes.

"Well Alicia, how do you want to cover these up, the same old bandages or something new?" Buli asked more relaxed than the knight, being familiar with the wounds.

"Well, the arms should have bandages as before, I have gotten pretty used to shortsleeved clothing from my time in Al-Asar and it would feel weird to suddenly change my outfits. The eyes however could have something other than bandages, its pretty difficult to keep them attached without putting intense pressure on my head." Alicia proposed.

"The arms are simple to fix, we have also received a special material from the temple that is used by priests during pray. want to test it out?" Buli asked while ordering an assistant to find the material.

"Why not, it can't be worse than dirty bandages." Alicia scoffed to herself about her previous attire.

The assistant returns with a black shawl with intricate design of red and silver roses flowing all around the material. Giving it to doctor Faras the assistant keeps looking over to Alicia with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Thank you. Now let's try this on." Faras said. Folding the shawl into several layers she then places the middle part over Alicias eyes and help Alicia tie it in the back. "Well what do you think Alicia?" Buli asked.

"The material is a lot softer, and the texture is a lot nicer on the skin. what do you think Buli?" Alicia asked while touching the material, feeling the texture on her fingers.

"I like it, its a pretty light but strong material so you don't have to be scared of it being destroyed. The embroidery was done my me." Buli explained, a small blush on her cheeks, being embarrassed.

Thanking doctor Faras and doctor Buli for the help Alicia asks Chara to guide her to one of the training rooms. Confused by the sudden request Chara hesitantly agreed to guide her there. After several minutes of walking Chara announces to Alicia that they have arrived outside one of the larger training rooms which is empty at the current moment. Chara unlocks the door by casting a small spell on the door and let Alicia enter first and Chara follow after, closing the door behind them.

"Chara, I have a few questions." Alicia abruptly said.

"Anything miss Alicia, I'm at your service." Chara responded.

"Who's orders are you primarily following, mine or the principal." Alicia asked with a threatening tone.

"Since I was knighted by the duke of Eredin my oath is to serve my liege above all, and in this case its you miss Alicia." Chara explained, confused by the sudden question.

"I have chosen to place my trust in you, for you remind me of my only friend from Al-Asar. He was a good kid that helped me not caring about my appearance or status." Alicia explained. "I don't want to be your liege, I know the knights oath, my cousin was a knight of Eredin before his passing years ago. Your oath forces you to die for your liege above all, to keep them protected from harm and wrongdoing. I don't want that. I want you to trust me and protect me by your own choice, by your own sense of character, not an oath. Chara Fersun, knight of Eredin, do you pledge your loyalty in me not as a lord, but as a friend and companion." Alicia proclaimed as she summons a sword conjured by the wind of water from thin air and stabbing it into the ground.

Understanding Alicias word Chara is filled with a sense of honor and happiness, kneeling down on one knee placing her right hand on her chest she says, "My name is Chara Fersun, third generation knight of Eredin, I accept my role as lady Alicias sword and shield, to protect her from harm and wrongdoing, to keep her safe. Not by my loyalty to the duke but by my choice as her personal knight." As Chara finishes her speech Alicia taps Chara's shoulders with the sword, therefore finishing the ritual of knighthood.

"Rise lady Chara." Alicia ordered, a smile plastered on her lips.

"My thanks lady Alicia." Chara responded, a similar glee on her lips.

"Then as a show of trust I can show you my secret." As Alicia spoke Chara noticed that the shards underneath the bandages began shining brightly in a myriad of colors, ranging from sapphire and ruby to opal and onyx. Chara wanted to ask what is happening but she got her answer when seven waves of light of different colors exploded from Alicia and began swirling around them. Turning around hastily Chara noticed some ethereal beings flying alongside the waves.

"Lady Alicia, what is this?" Chara asked, confused but amazed at the magical display in front of the pair.

"This is my secret and the reason why the principal sent guards to return me to Ave Ludum. I have discovered a way to harness the winds of magic through crystals to efficiently harness mana. Due to the explosion my mana was refined and now I'm able to control all seven winds of magic." Alicia explained, scared that Chara would betray her still.

"That is amazing lady Alicia, we have to train you to channel and harness more power!" Chara stared amazed at the continuous display of magic.

"Doest that mean I can trust you?" Alicia asked nervously as she slowly dropped the display, leaving the two women standing alone in the room.

"You got my word lady Alicia. Your secret is safe with me, if you chose to rule the world I will follow your command." Chara explained, a hint of honor in her voice.

"Thank you. But can you please drop the lady part, it feels weird to have someone a little older to call me lady, just Alicia or Sol works fine." Alicia asked, embarrassed by the honorifics.

"Okay Alicia, you can simply call me Chara. " As she responded Alicia reached out her hand, understanding the signal Chara took her hand and shook it.

"So... what do we do now?" Chara asked.

"Well, we have a whole library to explore." Alicia answered, the mischievous grin on her lips was caught by Chara. She thought to herself, "This will indeed be a fun adventure. Alicia... you are anything but a simple girl."