Aiden woke slowly, his mind groggy and his body heavy. The first thing he noticed was the faint pressure on his arm. He glanced down and saw Charlie curled up beside him, his small body warm and comforting. As Aiden shifted, a dull ache ran through his arm, and he realized it was bandaged.

He blinked, trying to sit up, but his body resisted the movement. How long had he been out?

"Three days," a familiar voice answered.

Aiden turned his head to see Regis standing at the foot of the bed, arms crossed. His usual calm demeanor was tinged with concern, though his words carried a sharper edge than usual.

"Three days?" Aiden echoed, his voice raspy from disuse. "I’ve been out for that long?"

Regis nodded, stepping closer. "Yes. Your little experiment with combining elements was more dangerous than you anticipated."

Aiden winced, memories of the blast rushing back. He hadn’t meant to cause such chaos, but the magic had gotten away from him. "I didn’t think it would… blow up like that," he admitted sheepishly.

Regis raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp. "That’s precisely the problem. You didn’t think. Magic requires control and understanding, not impulsiveness. You could have seriously harmed yourself, or worse."

Aiden lowered his gaze, guilt settling in. "I’m sorry," he muttered. "I didn’t mean for anyone to worry."

Regis’s stern expression softened slightly, his usual calm returning. "We were worried because we care, Master Aiden. You’re capable of great things, but power without wisdom is dangerous."

Aiden nodded, feeling the weight of his mistake. "I’ll be more careful," he promised.

Regis exhaled, the tension in the room easing. "Good. Now, you need to recover fully before you attempt anything else."

At that moment, Garrick entered the room, carrying a small tray. On it was a bowl filled with a sky-blue liquid that shimmered softly, along with a fragrant vegetable soup. He set it down beside Aiden, who eyed the vibrant dish curiously.

"This should help," Garrick said. "It’s Essence of Skylight, a healing broth made from rare plants found in Astralis."

Aiden took the bowl, feeling warmth radiating from it. The soup smelled earthy and rich, with a faint sweetness that reminded him of fresh herbs. The liquid inside glowed faintly, as if imbued with the magic of the land itself.

He sipped the soup, the warmth spreading through his body instantly. The pain in his arm began to fade, replaced by a soothing calm. "This is amazing," he said, glancing at Garrick. "What’s in it?"

"Skyroot, Sunleaf, and a touch of Starflower," Garrick explained with a faint smile. "It’s a restorative blend that promotes healing and replenishes energy."

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Aiden took another sip, feeling the heaviness in his body lift as the soup worked its magic. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

As he finished the last of the soup, a loud crash echoed through the halls, followed by an exasperated shout. Aiden flinched, looking up in surprise.

"What was that?" he asked, alarmed.

Regis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That would be Lyra."

Aiden’s eyes widened. "Lyra?"

Before anyone could respond, the door burst open, and in tumbled a young woman with bright, golden hair that cascaded around her face like a wild halo. She was dressed in a simple maid’s uniform, but the chaos around her made it clear that elegance was not her strong suit. She stumbled forward, catching herself before she could fall completely, a sheepish grin plastered across her face.

"I’m so sorry!" Lyra blurted, her eyes wide with panic. "I was just trying to move a vase, and then it kind of… fell? And then the table broke, and now… well, I’m really, really sorry!"

Regis sighed heavily but didn’t seem particularly surprised. "Lyra, this is the third vase in two days."

"I know, I know!" Lyra said, her hands wringing together nervously. "But I was trying to be careful this time! Honest!"

Aiden watched the scene unfold, hiding a smile. Despite her clumsiness, there was something endearing about Lyra. Her wide-eyed sincerity and frantic gestures made it hard not to laugh, even though she clearly had a talent for chaos.

Regis noticed Aiden staring at the chaotic scene with a mix of amusement and curiosity. With a sigh, he turned to address Aiden, his expression softening slightly. "Master Aiden," Regis began, gesturing toward Lyra, "this is Lyra. She arrived two days ago, just before your… incident. She served your grandfather as one of the maids of the Castle."

Lyra, still fidgeting nervously, managed a small wave, though her hands were still stained with ink. "Hi!" she chirped. "I, uh… I’ve been trying my best not to break things, but, well…" She trailed off with a sheepish laugh, clearly embarrassed by her streak of mishaps.

Aiden, still amused, gave her a reassuring smile. "It’s alright, Lyra. I’m sure the Castle can survive a few broken vases."

Her eyes brightened immediately, and she bounced slightly on her feet. "Oh, thank you! I was so worried I’d get sent away or something. I mean, I know I can be a little… clumsy, but I really want to help!"

Regis cleared his throat, his gaze moving from Lyra to Aiden. "Master Aiden, as you are now the master of the Castle, it is your decision whether Lyra, and others like her, remain. She wishes to stay and continue her duties, but it is your choice to make."

Aiden thought for a moment, glancing between Regis, Garrick, and Lyra. Though he had only known Lyra for mere minutes, there was something genuine and heartfelt about her, even if she did have a tendency to cause minor disasters. And given everything that had happened since his arrival, it seemed he could use as much help as he could get.

"Of course she can stay," Aiden said finally, his tone warm. "You’re part of the Castle, Lyra. I’d be happy to have you here."

Lyra’s face lit up, her smile widening with relief and gratitude. "Really? Thank you, Master Aiden! I promise I’ll be more careful. I’ll try not to break anything else! I mean, I’ll do my best not to!"

Regis gave a slight nod of approval, his expression softening as he looked between them. "Very well, then. Lyra, you are officially reinstated in your duties at the Castle, with Master Aiden’s permission."

Lyra gave an excited little hop, clearly thrilled by the news. "Thank you, thank you! I won’t let you down!" She spun around quickly, almost knocking over a nearby vase before catching herself, her cheeks reddening. "Oops, uh… I’ll just… be careful!"

Aiden chuckled, watching as Lyra bounded out of the room, clearly eager to make up for her previous mishaps. Despite her clumsiness, there was a warmth in the room now—a sense of something lighter, more joyful.