No, Clara didn’t know about it. Not a single thing about the problems this empire was facing. But there was one thing she understood. Right now, she was one of those who belong in the attuneless population, considering her inability to wield this body’s attribute.“Can I also have those marbles, Neith?” The two girls looked at her like she had said something unbefitting. A rift of confusion danced in their eyes. “Uh, first day jitters. Just like everybody else.” The side of her lips quivered from the forced smile. Holly did mention it was forbidden in the placement exam, but Clara would surely find a way to get past that hurdle.“Neith, can I?” she repeated when no one made a move.It was Neith who was first to recover. “O-Of course, Your Highness. I just happen to have the right one just for you. Although I think you’re strong enough on your own. Just a minute while I get it.”Neith disappeared behind the curtain that was beside the shelf. When she came back, she looked at Clara, her

“Witch,” Willow called.“Can you stop calling me a witch? I am not.”Willow released a small wisp of sigh. “The Zephyrian council wouldn’t hold their tongue for too long. It’s only a matter of time before they bombard you with so many questions. How are you going to deal with that?”“Can’t you do something about it, Willow?” She tried to give the air spirit a puppy look even though she knew there wasn’t any soft spot in the Familiar’s heart.“Don’t try that on me. What happened to Princess Ariah isn’t something simple. They’ve been investigating the accident ever since, and now that they know she’s awake, they’ll be extracting answers from you in no time. The king and queen and the council had been generous to give you time when they thought you couldn’t remember.”She sighed. “Then I’ll just keep on pretending not to remember.”“And how long will you keep doing that? For all I know, they’re finding ways to help you remember. A divine healer will be coming from the south to treat you.”

Maxwell looked at the prince, prompting him to continue. Alex raised an eyebrow in question then he simply shrugged before busying his eyes as if inspecting the whole place.“That’s what the initial investigation reported,” Maxwell answered in the prince’s stead.“And any student from here can actually pull that off?” Clara asked.“Actually, I…” Holly interrupted, wanting to say something. But she stopped herself, biting her lip. “Never mind. You’re probably right.”“Well, since that case is sort of closed... for now, on to a more important topic—the placement exam.” Maxwell nipped over to Holly and pulled her up by the arm from her seat. “Come on, Miss Vanders.”“Hey! Let go of me, twerp.” The pair exited the hall, their pointless bicker drowning behind the double doors.Then, someone’s hand obscured Clara’s view. Looking at its owner, Prince Alexander was looking somewhere else, refusing to face her.“What?” she asked. He whipped his head with a creased forehead, visibly annoyed.“Wh

Professor Mabel’s gray hair shone brightly in the sunshine. Indeed she was old and Clara thought she might be weaker. Her age was surplus and people at her age generally began to wither. Wrinkles invaded her face with a few teeth on her mouth. But no, the beauty of her youth was left in wonder. There was something with the way she walked, confident and strong, that made her appear younger than her age.“What’s the point of hitting the diamond crystal? And with that?” Clara asked Alex beside her, she could feel her heart race and her palms grew damp.Alex sighed. “It feels like I’m really showing a new seedling around.” He pointed at the object floating in the center of the lawn, exactly where Professor Rhyb stood. “That huge floating crystal in the middle, it’s actually an energy meter. Each power varies in strength. It always is, depending on the user’s core. And that crystal meter will glow in every power that hits. The amount of glow depends on the intensity of the power; hence, the

But alas, Professor Rhyb came back. The Alium was nowhere to be seen, but another man trailed behind him. His long-sleeved jacket covered him to just above his waist and was tightly tied with string slightly off-center. The sleeves of his jacket were wide and reached down to his wrists, decorated with a decorative band almost at the edges. Its narrow v-neck revealed part of the rather simple shirt worn below held together by a simple knot. His pants were loose and were reaching down to his leather boots made from uncommon leather, but were otherwise a design found commonly. And beside him was yet another man, a lot older and time was evident in every line on his face. He was dressed in a white-hooded cloak embellished with intricate swirling patterns.The three were quick to bow down their heads upon seeing the pair. It was Professor Rhyb who spoke. “Prince Alexander, Princess Ariannah, I have brought Elder Hayes and Healer Reed with me. It is best to take matters as quickly as we can.