Standing before the mirror, Vivianne adjusted her earrings and stopped only when she was sure they were perfect.

  ?A sudden knock at the door did not break her composure.

  ?“Come in.”

  ?The door opened and Wilkram burst in, pacing in circles.

  ?“Vivianne! Are you really going to stay silent while our daughter throws away her chance of becoming a hero?”

  ?Her only response was a cold, steady gaze.

  ?“You’re serious? After all these years, was it all for this?”

  ?“Wilkram,” she said evenly, “did you come all this way just to say that?”

  ?“What? Does this mean nothing to you?”

  ?She narrowed her eyes. “You always call me cold and selfish… but I don’t see any difference between us right now.”

  ?“It’s not the time for riddles—we have to stop it!”

  ?“Stop what?” She picked up her lipstick and slowly applied it with deliberate calm.

  ?“The duel!” He spread his arms, exasperated. “You can’t seriously let it happen. Do something!”

  ?Vivianne rose and walked toward him. With each step, Wilkram instinctively backed away until she had driven him all the way to the door.

  ?“It’s already too late to change anything. And…”

  ?For a moment, Aelira’s silver eyes flashed before her—eyes full of determination and passion, reminding her of someone she once knew.

  ?“And?” Wilkram pressed.

  ?She lowered her gaze briefly, then looked at him again. “And what is lost in a duel can also be regained in a duel. There’s no reason to make such a fuss.”

  ?With that, she closed the door firmly in his face.

  ?“…What was that?” Wilkram muttered, scratching his head. He lingered a moment longer, then shouted after the closed door, “Don’t come crying to me if she loses this duel!” With a frustrated huff, he turned and walked away. “Really… what’s gotten into her?”

  ?On the other side of the mansion, another parent had a similar problem within himself.

  ?Daylight streamed into another room where a man with ice-blue hair and silver eyes, lined by the wrinkles of age, sat at a table turning pages. His mind, however, was far from his books—it was on his son, Lysric.

  ?He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair.

  ?Did I push him too much? It was necessary… yes, still necessary.

  ?Whenever he thought of Lysric, memories of his wife Elda followed close behind.

  ?“You’ve already sent one of my sons away. I won’t let you do the same to the other.”

  ?He could still see her face from that day—beautiful as always, but her gentle green eyes were burning with fury.

  ?…Maybe I’ve already failed as a father. Maybe everything shattered on that day.

  ?His thoughts drifted to his first son, Cassian. When Cassian was born, joy filled his heart. The boy was talented, bright, and promising—until…

  ?“Your son can’t even lift a wooden sword, Celdric.”

  ?“Yes, Father.”

  ?His father stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It’s better if we send him to Ursus.”

  ?“Huh? W-what? Ursus?”

  ?“Yes. I need someone there who can handle finances and negotiations.”

  ?“If that’s the case, then I’ll go!”

  ?“I need you here. What I need there is someone more… inhuman. Your son fits perfectly.”

  ?“Inhuman?” After a moment, realization struck him. He shook his head. “Father, whatever your reason, this is too much. He’s just a child!”

  ?“It doesn’t matter. He’s useless here.”

  ?The words cut like a blade. And yet, under the crushing weight of his father’s gaze, he could not resist.

  ?“I… I understand.”

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  ?“Good. Send him tomorrow.”

  ?Celdric remembered all too well the argument he had with Elda afterward.

  ?He shook his head, forcing himself back to the present.

  ?"It’s too late to look back. I can still save this family. When my father’s plan succeeds, I’ll be the one to put everything right."

  ?His silver eyes gleamed with determination, fixed on the path ahead.

  ?At their usual training spot, Aelira took her stance opposite Zaek and began casting.

  |?Ice Wall|

  ?A wall of ice rose between them.

  ?“Well, it can defend to some extent,” Zaek remarked.

  ?Aelira leapt to the other side and quickly cast another spell.

  |?Ice Breath|

  ?A gust of freezing air struck him. Zaek flinched and rubbed his arms. “Damn, that wasn’t necessary…”

  ?Aelira chuckled at his reaction.

  ?“Damn kid,” he muttered with a laugh, rubbing his palms together for warmth. “Alright, anything else you’ve got?”

  ?Aelira tilted her head and gazed at the sky as if trying to recall. “That was the last one, I think.”

  ?“Alright. So you’ve got Fireball, Ice Breath, Ice Wall, Ice Pillar, Wind Cut… others will come with time. But Ice Breath is useless. So in practice, you’ve only got three spells worth using.”

  ?“Only three?” she repeated slowly, sulking.

  ?“Oi, don’t pout. There's a good set. With your burst casting style, you can fire them off almost instantly. And mana’s no issue for you either.” He rubbed his cheek and glanced up at the night sky. “The only problem left is your body enchantment—it’s still a mess.”

  ?Aelira leaned forward, her eyes sharp with focus. “So what should I do?”

  ?Zaek thought to himself: She can sense mana easily and move it at will, yet she fails whenever she tries to use body enchantment… Hmm… Wait. Maybe the problem isn’t how she moves it, but how she perceives it. If she imagines mana differently than what it truly is—that could explain everything.

  ?He smiled faintly. This explains enough.

  ?Aelira tilted her head, puzzled by his sudden smile.

  ?“You don’t struggle with sensing mana. The issue is the logic behind how you use it. Don’t think while casting.”

  ?“Don’t think… anything?”

  ?“Yes. Nothing. Now give it a try.”

  ?Aelira sat down on the grass and looked at him for confirmation. Zaek nodded.

  ?Don’t think anything? Is that even possible…?

  ?She closed her eyes and tried to still her mind, letting the flow guide her.

  ?Don’t think. Don’t think.

  ?When she opened her eyes again, she wasn’t certain if she had succeeded—but she felt lighter, almost like a feather.

  ?“As I thought,” Zaek said, “your problem nor sensing mana, but how you understood it. You naturally feel it, you naturally move it. But your concept of mana has been wrong all along.”

  ?Aelira glanced down at her arms and legs. “I don’t feel any different.”

  ?“That’s because you did it naturally this time. With this, you’ll be able to fight longer without worrying about your enchantments.”

  ?“So… did I learn body enchantment?”

  ?“You still need practice to master it, but it’s no longer a weakness. Now—let’s test it in practice.”

  ?“Okay!”

  ?They trained until Aelira finally collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard.

  ?“You did well,” Zaek said. “There’s still time before the duel, but you’re more than ready.”

  ?In a low voice, Aelira whispered, “Is that so…?”

  ?“You don’t sound happy about it.”

  ?“I’m not sure…” She sulked, eyes cast downward.

  ?“You’re making that face again.” He crouched in front of her, softening his tone. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  ?“I–I…” She fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together. “I know I was the one who said, ‘let’s have a duel,’ but now I don’t know…”

  ?“You’re wondering if it’s the right thing to do, aren’t you?”

  ?Aelira looked up at him.

  ?“Well, honestly,” Zaek admitted, “I don’t know either. This duel might end the chaos… or make things worse.”

  ?She frowned, clutching the fabric of her white training uniform.

  ?“But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing,” he continued. “Just do what you think is right. Whether you fight or back down, the choice should be yours alone.”

  ?For a moment, in Zaek’s eyes, the image of a young man with white hair flickered—indistinguishable, yet standing tall.

  ?Aelira’s voice trembled. “But… wouldn’t you leave if I lose?”

  ?Zaek’s eyes widened. Leave, huh? That thought never even crossed my mind… It’s true that if she loses, the expectation of her as a hero candidate will vanish. But still…

  ?Softening his gaze, he answered firmly, “No. I won’t leave—even if you lose.”

  ?Aelira’s face brightened, a small smile spreading across her lips.

  ?Zaek couldn't help but smile back.

  ***

  The evening before the duel, the garden was buried beneath a blanket of snow, pure white under the moonlight. One man stood at its center, staring at the moon as though studying it.

  ?“It reminds me of that day... ”

  ?The sound of footsteps crunching in the snow drew his gaze upward. A man in thick white clothes approached—his old friend, Zaek.

  ?He smirked and waved. “You look rather uncomfortable, Grandfather.”

  ?Sylas chuckled and turned his eyes away. “As if I cared about such a thing.”

  ?“Is that so? Then why are you awake so late at night?”

  ?Sylas gave no answer at first. He looked aside and murmured, “Who knows? This old body of mine has started betraying me.”

  ?Zaek let out a short laugh. “Took it long enough.”

  ?Sylas gave a small laugh of his own. “And you, Sensei? Why are you awake? Worried your apprentice might lose the duel?”

  ?“I trust her,” Zaek replied. “I came to hear an old friend’s opinion.” He stepped to Sylas’s side and gazed up at the moon.

  ?“My opinion?”

  ?“Yes. What do you think of this duel?”

  ?“Hmph. Don’t ask stupid questions. Don’t you have something better to do?”

  ?But Zaek’s stare lingered, sharp and unyielding. He was serious.

  ?Sylas sighed. “Fine. I don’t think much of it. It’s just something the kids came up with themselves. If anything, it might even be for the best.”

  ?“So you don’t mind your whole family being at each other’s throats?”

  ?“…”

  ?“You know that no matter who wins, the duel will only make things even more complicated.”

  ?“Don’t you dare lecture me about family, Zaek. I’m well aware of that. There are bigger problems on our shoulders right now.”

  ?“And those problems won’t be solved unless you stop fighting each other.”

  ?“What a foolish thing to say.” Sylas exhaled sharply.

  “It’s been years, and I thought you might have changed. But no—after all this time, you’re still the same idiot from back then. We’re not living in some fairy tale, Zaek. Obstacles don’t vanish just because we unite. That’s not how the world works. Not here.”

  ?“You’re telling me it’s better if they kill each other?”

  ?“Only the survivor can lead the rest. Not some random child who just happened to be born into this family.”

  ?Sylas closed the distance between them, close enough for Zaek to feel his breath. His voice dropped, low and dangerous.

  “Think what you like. But if you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, I’ll make sure you pay for it.” Without another word, he turned and walked away.

  ?Zaek stood there, watching him leave. “No wonder they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. He’ll n ever get it… never.”

  ?He looked back up at the moon and murmured, “Or maybe I’m the old dog who can’t learn anymore.”