Auther lay motionless on the blood-stained dirt of the training yard, staring up at the slowly darkening sky. Both hands were shattered. His face was a swollen, bleeding mess. Every breath sent fresh waves of fire through his torn muscles.
He waited.
He waited for footsteps. For the sound of her returning with bandages, or even just a bucket of water. Something. Anything.
Nothing came.
Viola never looked back. She simply wiped her rapier clean on her gambeson, sheathed it, and walked away without a single word. In her mind, the matter was settled. In three days the prince would undergo his Awakening Ceremony. After that, she could finally request to be relieved of this duty. She was tired of babysitting a weakling who only reminded her of what she had lost.
Auther waited until the sound of her boots completely faded.
Then the tears came.
Gritting his teeth, he tried to push himself up. His ruined hands refused to obey. Bones ground sickeningly against each other. A choked scream died in his throat. He rolled onto his stomach and began to crawl.
One agonizing inch at a time.
The training yard felt endless. The castle gates looked a thousand miles away. His vision blurred. Blood from his split lip dripped into the dirt. Still he crawled.
He didn't make it far.
Exhaustion finally won. His body collapsed halfway across the yard, half-hidden behind a low stone wall. The pain was so constant now that it almost felt distant.
Then came the sound of wings.
Three vultures landed nearby, bald heads tilting as they eyed the broken prince like fresh meat. One hopped closer, pecking experimentally at his torn boot.
Auther tried to shout. Only a weak rasp left his throat.
A fourth shadow fell over him.
"Shoo! Get away from him, you filthy things!"
A young woman's voice cut through the air like a bell. Pink hair swayed as she waved her arms aggressively, chasing the vultures off. She crouched beside Auther, frowning at the state of him.
"Gods above… what happened to you?"
She didn't recognize him. Not as the prince. Just another badly beaten young man left to die in the outer training grounds.
Lana gently turned his face toward her. Her large, curious eyes suddenly widened. She stared not at his injuries, but at something only she could see — faint, shimmering strands of mana still clinging to his body like dying fireflies.
"Ohhh…" A soft giggle escaped her lips. "So that's what happened. You were using mana in an unusual but crude way! Like trying to thread a needle with a battle axe. It's honestly impressive you're still alive."
Auther could barely keep his eyes open. "Who… are you and what are you on about?"
He could hardly hear anything his ears were ruined Viola did a number on him and his hate only grew.
"Lana, Lana the alchemist but my friends call me Lana." she answered cheerfully, sliding one arm under his shoulders. "And you're coming with me. Can't leave you out here to become vulture dinner."
She was surprisingly strong for her petite frame. With some effort she lifted him onto her back and started walking toward the outer city.
Viola stood rigidly before Queen Elizabeth, hands clasped behind her back.
The Queen sat by the window, golden light catching the sharp lines of her face. She looked every bit the ruler — beautiful, cold, and terrifying.
"I wish to continue training the prince for a little while longer," Viola said, keeping her voice steady. "Even after the Awakening Ceremony."
Elizabeth was silent for a long moment.
"Do as you wish," she finally replied. Her tone was ice.
Viola felt it immediately. That coldness wasn't directed at the situation. It was directed at her. The Queen knew. Maybe not everything, but enough.
Viola bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
As she turned to leave, Elizabeth's voice stopped her.
"Viola."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
The Queen didn't even look at her.
"How is Auther's training going by the way still hopeless? Just don't push him too hard he might break."
Viola's jaw tightened. She bowed again and left without another word
Lana's small house sat on the edge of the merchant district — modest, cluttered with strange herbs, glowing crystals, and half-finished magical diagrams. She carefully laid Auther on her bed and began treating his wounds with practiced ease.
While wrapping his crushed hands in enchanted bandages, she glanced at his face again, still seeing those strange mana strands flickering weakly around him.
"So…" she said with a playful smile, "who are you really? And why were you fighting someone so far above your level using borrowed mana like that?"
She leaned closer, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"And more importantly… why do you use mana that way it's weird?"
"What mana I'm not even awakened yet I can't use mana."
"Then how?..." She stopped herself she couldn't let him know she could see mana no one else could.
"The same way you can't tell me that is the same way I'm not telling you who I was fighting just know she's a bitch."
"You know what you're also a bitch."
"What?"
"Isn't that a compliment?" she asked playfully, he had forgotten he was from another world
"No it's an insult you are probably too young to use." he said
"I'm older that you!"
"You sure don't look like it." he said chuckling a bit
"Maybe I should have left you with those vultures." she was pouting playfully
"Thank you Lana thank you."
"For what the vultures."
"No the laughs I didn't think I would be able to laugh for a long time but now my ribs are broken and it hurts."