Milly's consciousness flickered like a candle flame. When she opened her eyes, her entire body ached.
Cold air bit against her skin and her wrists, ankles, and even her neck were bound by shimmering rune chains glowing with pale blue light. Each rune pulsed faintly, radiating suppression magic so strong that even breathing felt heavy.
Her heart thumped.
She tried to move but the runes only tightened, sending a sharp pulse through her veins.
"Don't bother struggling," came a calm, familiar voice.
Her golden eyes lifted.
The Sage stood before her the strongest of the Seven, his face shadowed by torchlight. His usual composed demeanor carried an edge tonight, as though his patience had run thin.
"…Sir Sage," Milly muttered weakly, her voice raspy. "Why…?"
He stepped closer, his boots echoing softly in the silent chamber. "You've been hiding something. And I intend to know what."
A faint magic circle glowed beneath his hand. "Answer my questions truthfully. Lying will only make the runes react painfully."
Milly clenched her fists but said nothing.
The Sage began.
"Question one: Who are you, truly?"
"I already told you… Mila, a teacher."
The runes flared sharply, searing light crawling up her arms. She hissed through her teeth, pain lancing through her body.
"Wrong," the Sage said coldly. "Again."
Her mind screamed for her to stop talking, but her lips trembled. "I… I don't know anymore."
This time, the runes dimmed slightly accepting the truth.
He continued. "Question two: The energy that destroyed part of the forest was that yours?"
Milly stayed silent. The runes pulsed again pain, brief but sharp.
"Yes," she finally admitted through gritted teeth.
The Sage's eyes narrowed. "And the meteors that fell near the academy two nights ago?"
Her breath caught. She hadn't thought anyone had connected that. "I… didn't mean to…"
"Meaning you were the cause."
She shut her eyes tightly, saying nothing more.
One by one, the Sage's questions came relentless and precise.
"Who is Arthianos?"
"I don't know," Milly whispered. "That name just… appears in my mind when I use the spell."
"Then explain what that dragon-like energy was," he demanded.
"I can't," she said, frustration cracking her tone. "It feels like something someone is helping me, but I don't know who or why!"
The Sage frowned, eyes glimmering. "Someone helping you?"
She nodded faintly, trembling. "When I say his name… it's like something ancient answers me."
The Sage fell silent, studying her as the runes pulsed steadily in the dim chamber.
He saw exhaustion in her face but also fear, confusion, and something else. A memory buried deep.
Finally, he lowered his hand, and the glowing runes dimmed slightly. "That's enough for tonight."
Milly slumped forward, breathing raggedly.
Before leaving, the Sage turned back once more, his voice low and uncertain.
"That dragon name you uttered Arthianos I've never read of it in any record. Yet it feels… familiar, even to me."
He paused, then walked toward the door.
"I don't know what you are, Miss Mila. But whatever you're carrying it's waking up."
The door shut with a heavy echo.
Milly lay there, her vision blurring. "Arthianos…" she whispered faintly, the name lingering like a heartbeat in her soul a name that somehow brought both pain and comfort.
Unseen by her, faint red energy shimmered from the rune chains reacting not to fear, but to recognition.