The next day, Prelinsa was very well-rested. After breakfast, she made her way to a different training field that the Matriarch had advised her to go to. It was further away from White Blossom Castle, and more fortified against magic. As she walked, she took note of things that she hadn’t been able to before. The flow of mana, yes – the powerful mana stream that fueled Pyrus. From here, there was no fire to dance with it, but it was still a comfortable feeling. It was interesting to feel how different people generated different sensations in the stream, too.
However, she also noticed other things that her senses were now able to pick up. A little knot in a wooden signboard. The faint smell of garlic from someone’s breakfast yesterday. The slightest unevenness in the sound of a woman’s footsteps, hinting at a recent injury. They were all things that stood out to her, without her even having to try. If she focused, she could sense things in more detail still. But for now, she was focused on her upcoming lesson. It was finally time to pursue magic.
Upon getting there, Prelinsa saw the Matriarch and many other people practicing, but not Corynn. Some of them took note of Prelinsa and bowed respectfully.
“I greet the Matriarch,” Prelinsa said, bowing.
“At ease,” the Matriarch replied, and Prelinsa stood again.
“I don’t see Corynn. Is she, uh. Is she joining us?”
“Corynn is presently busy with an important matter. I cannot tell you more for the time being.”
“Okay.”
“Now then. Let us-”
“Matriarch!” A Silvermoon soldier raced into the training field, breathing heavily. She bowed, looking very distraught. “Matriarch! It’s… it’s terrible…”
“At ease, soldier,” The Matriarch advised her. “What has you in such a rush?”
“…It’s Princess Corynn, ma’am!” The soldier blurted out. “She has been seriously injured!”
The Matriarch stopped. Prelinsa could sense her tensing up slightly – it was easier for her to read what the Matriarch was feeling now. Corynn was the Matriarch’s daughter, so feeling both upset and worried was natural.
“…Is she safe?” The Matriarch asked, very gravely.
“She has passed the critical stage. The medics did all that they could. Right now, she is in emergency care.”
“Lead the way,” the Matriarch said. She turned to Prelinsa. “Prelinsa. I apologize, but we must postpone our lesson. Come with me. You will see one of the realities of House Silvermoon.”
Prelinsa nodded, wondering what could have harmed Corynn so badly.
----------------------------------------
The soldier led the Matriarch and Prelinsa to a medical center. Navigating through some hallways, they eventually arrived at a room where Corynn was lain on a bed. To Prelinsa’s shock, Corynn’s entire left arm was missing below the shoulder, but the wound had already healed over. Apart from that, she didn’t seem injured – the medics must have really done their job.
Corynn sensed people approaching, and tried to sit up.
“Mother,” she said, smiling wryly.
“Stay down, Corynn,” the Matriarch replied, removing her mask. She looked deeply worried.
Corynn turned her head to look at her mother. “I’m sorry. I was careless,” she said.
“Let me replace your arm,” the Matriarch said, bending down to inspect the point of injury.
“No, Mother!” Corynn insisted. “You can grow it back later, but this is a reminder that I was careless. I know you’re worried and I’m being selfish, but at least let me have this for now. I wish to reflect on my failing.”
“I understand,” the Matriarch replied. She was obviously upset, but was respecting Corynn’s wish for self-reflection.
“…What happened?” Prelinsa finally asked.
Corynn looked at her mother for approval.
“You may speak,” the Matriarch said. “Now that it has come to this, Prelinsa must know.”
“…It was the Magic Freedom Fighters,” Corynn began. “We received reports of surviving members at the border with the West Realm. I was sent along with some others to go investigate, and if possible, capture or eliminate them. But we failed.”
“I know you talked about them before. What do the Fighters actually do?” Prelinsa asked.
“They’re a militant group that claims they want to liberate magic,” Corynn explained. They want all people to be able to learn every form of magic, because they think it would lead the world to perfection. To do so, they commit acts of terrorism, and kill innocent people that support House Silvermoon and similar groups.” She grimaced. “They don’t like any of the powerful mage families. But to them, House Silvermoon is their greatest enemy of all. We have the Path of the Phoenix.”
“Would everyone learning every kind of magic really make the world better?” Prelinsa wondered aloud, frowning. It sounded like madness to her. But she did want to hear an answer from the Matriarch.
“House Silvermoon does not agree with the Magic Freedom Fighters’ view,” the Matriarch replied. “It will always remain the case that people are flawed. There will always be some who are blinded by power, and use it for evil. Therefore, we believe the Path of the Phoenix must not be in the hands of the masses. Even without mastery, an individual who wields a Phoenix Spark can destroy a village in a few days or less. An army could easily conquer nations. The scale of potential destruction would be unimaginable. Not to mention, the Path of the Phoenix is dangerous to learn, as you have experienced for yourself. There would be many unnecessary deaths even outside of war.”
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She looked at Corynn’s injury again. “However, the fact that we disagree with the Magic Freedom Fighters is incidental to our conflict. People have disagreed since the beginning of time, and many of these disagreements have led to great social and scientific progress. Because of disagreements, our world has become a better place. The root of this matter is that the Fighters use their beliefs as justification to harm, and even kill innocents who disagree with them. Such a dangerous and destructive mindset can never lead to perfection, should such a thing exist.”
“Then… why don’t you just go and stop them yourself?” Prelinsa was curious. “I’m sure with the Elders, you could find all of the Fighters and take care of them yourselves.”
“The thought has crossed my mind, especially now with my daughter injured,” the Matriarch said. Despite her serious appearance, it was clear to Prelinsa that she was holding herself back somewhat. “But if someone such as I, the leader and most powerful mage of House Silvermoon, set out to directly eliminate the Magic Freedom Fighters… what message do you believe that would send to the masses?” She asked Prelinsa.
Prelinsa thought for a moment. “…Oh!” Suddenly, it made sense. “You’d be acting like you don’t respect the Fighters for wanting to spread powerful magic. You’d just be proving their point.” If the Matriarch and the Elders went out to battle, that would mean the most powerful mages of House Silvermoon were fighting against a group that hated House Silvermoon for centralizing powerful mages. It wound send completely the wrong idea to people.
“Indeed. There is also something else preventing me from leaving so easily. Something related to the subject of war.”
“Uh…” Prelinsa thought. “Some of the other Houses used to be at war with House Silvermoon, over a hundred years ago,” she continued. “They have powerful mages of their own, and are still unhappy that House Silvermoon defeated them and gained control over the Greater Realm’s politics and military. Especially House Goldensun, the elvish family from the West Realm. So… if you and the Elders are busy with the Fighters, House Goldensun might try to attack the East Realm. You have to stay here to help prevent that from happening.”
“Very good. The presence of myself, and the Elders, acts as a deterrent for such attacks. You have learned well from your studies.”
Prelinsa reflected on this. Politics were complicated.
“…But it was okay to send Corynn, because she used to be part of the Fighters,” Prelinsa also realized.
“Indeed. However… it seems I regret allowing that to happen now,” the Matriarch said sadly.
“Don’t feel regret, Mother,” Corynn insisted. “I decided to pursue the Fighters. I was the one who wanted to fight them! We both knew what could happen if something went wrong. But I’m still here, and I’m alive in front of you. With time, even my arm will be back. I know you’re feeling sad, but there’s no need for regret anymore.”
The Matriarch smiled softly. “Thank you, Corynn. It seems I have made a poor showing in front of my daughter and disciple.”
“So, what happens now?” Prelinsa asked. If the MFF had been able to take Corynn’s arm, things were getting serious. Corynn was strong, after all. Even if she was careless, it wasn’t easy to defeat her.
The Matriarch put her mask back on. “House Silvermoon will hold a meeting to discuss, and understand, what caused the operation against the Magic Freedom Fighters to fail,” she said. “Corynn, your testimony will be invaluable. Prelinsa, our magic lessons must be put on hold until further notice. In the meantime, I will find you an alternative instructor. I already have one in mind.”
“Who is it?”
“I believe you know of him. He is my eldest, Rupeth Silvermoon. He will be more than willing to take on this role.”