**Episode 7**
Sharie had been banned by her grandfather from going to the library, so she had secretly borrowed just a few books and read them over and over again until the pages were worn.
“Uh…”
Naturally, someone like her had no real knowledge of magic.
As expected, Anette continued explaining in a calm tone.
“Magic is an advanced science that uses complex and precise formulas based on calculation. But more than anything, a person’s *aether affinity* is the most important factor.”
“Aether affinity?”
“Yes. Every person is born with a different amount of aether and a unique natural alignment,” Anette explained. “When we combine all of that into a measurable form, we call it aether affinity.”
“Wait a second… could you repeat that?”
It was all so unfamiliar that Sharie’s head spun.
She quickly grabbed her quill pen to take notes, but before she could write, Anette brought out a small ornate box.
“This is…”
“It’s called a Seed of Life. When you infuse it with aether , it shows your personal aether affinity.”
Inside the intricately crafted box was a tiny brown seed, no bigger than a fingernail.
It looked so dry and shriveled that Sharie worried it might crumble if she pressed too hard.
Anette placed the seed in Sharie’s palm.
“Try channeling aether into it.”
But of course, Sharie, who had no proper knowledge of magic, couldn’t just summon mana at will.
“Try to feel the flow inside your body,” Anette advised her, seeing her confusion. “Relax your whole body, and imagine energy flowing out through your fingertips.”
Even with that explanation, it still felt incredibly difficult.
Carefully, Sharie closed her eyes and held the seed.
*‘Is this right…?’*
She wasn’t confident at all, unsure if she was doing anything correctly.
“You’re doing fine,” Anette reassured her softly.
Her anxious heart settled a little at those encouraging words. Then, her palm began to feel warm.
Her heart raced with excitement, wondering what kind of result she might get.
*What if… just maybe… I actually have amazing magical talent?*
She imagined herself wielding a magical sword like the heroes from childhood fairy tales, slashing down enemies like falling leaves, and firing powerful fireballs that made everyone rely on her.
“You may open your eyes now.”
Sharie slowly opened her eyes. The seed in her hand looked exactly the same as before. No change whatsoever.
“Don’t worry too much about the result. If your aether affinity is weak, this kind of outcome is normal.”
“I-I see…”
Still, she had been hoping, and the disappointment was hard to hide.
Her shoulders drooped with discouragement, and they suddenly felt stiff and heavy.
“Aether infusion uses a lot of physical energy. And since it’s your first time doing something like this, it must be especially tiring.”
Sensing her exhaustion, Anette quickly began packing up the books, parchment, and quill.
“That’s enough for today’s lesson.”
As they tidied up together, a familiar voice rang out.
“Looks like I arrived just on time.”
“I was thinking we could have lunch together, Sharie.”
Turning her head, she saw Caissa standing at the doorway, smiling.
Even though it hadn’t been long since they ate together earlier, she felt genuinely happy to see him again.
“Ah, in that case, maybe our teacher could join us too—”
“There’s no need to be formal now that the lesson is over, Lady Sharie,” Anette said, firmly refusing the offer.
She hurriedly ushered Sharie out, as if trying to wipe mud off an expensive carpet.
“I’m fine, so please go ahead with your lord. Go on.”
“Then let’s eat, just the two of us. Shall we?”
Caissa smiled brightly.
—
Anette watched the two figures grow smaller as they walked away.
*‘That’s…’*
To her, they didn’t look like a sweet couple.
It looked more like a predator dragging off its prey.
*‘Well, not my business anyway.’*
Besides, she’d seen Sharie’s face light up like someone had turned on a lamp the moment she saw Caissa. That look said it all—no need to worry.
Just as she was about to pack away the last remaining ornate box, she froze.
“You still have business here?”
A presence behind her approached quietly.
“Didn’t expect to see *you* back, Anette.”
Edvin, caught red-handed, casually tapped her shoulder.
He must’ve followed after finishing his duties helping Caissa in the office.
“A bodyguard’s supposed to stick to their master. What are you doing here, goofing off next to me?”
“*Me*, protecting *him*? Don’t be ridiculous.”
He laughed, as if she had just told the world’s funniest joke.
Anette was already annoyed.
Sensing her irritation, Edvin quickly changed the subject.
“I’m serious though—why are *you* here? Of all people?”
Anette Satin was a brilliant scholar, known for her genius intellect and practical abilities.
But ever since the war ended, she’d been wandering the continent, rarely returning home—so much so that even Edvin barely got a glimpse of her anymore.
Someone like her wasn’t exactly the type to settle down and tutor noble ladies.
Letting out a deep sigh, Anette muttered, “Don’t ask. They sent people to my inn *every single day* to drag me back.”
“You didn’t even reply to my letters. But you told *him* where you were, didn’t you?”
Just when Edvin was about to feel genuinely hurt, Anette shook her head.
“Of course not. I didn’t tell *anyone*.”
She had made every effort to keep her whereabouts secret.
Yet Caissa had still managed to track her down wherever she was.
“…Creepy,” Edvin muttered, visibly shivering.
“I thought maybe… just maybe… you’d finally come back to accept my feelings.”
“Keep talking nonsense, and you really *will* die.”
It felt like she might actually hit him this time.
Edvin quickly raised his arms in defense. “Okay, okay, sorry! But anyway—did you see it too? The way he’s been acting lately?”
Anette nodded.
The same man who used to stare at blood-soaked battlefields with cold indifference was now smiling gently like a lamb.
It *was* a strange sight.
“How’s the tutoring going? First time in nearly five years, right?”
“Well… better than expected.”
Now *that* surprised Edvin.
Knowing Anette’s sharp, no-nonsense personality, he had assumed she’d butt heads with the student no matter who it was.
Especially since she never showed affection to *anyone*.
“I really like students who are passionate about learning,” she said plainly.
While Edvin looked stunned, Anette remained composed.
She glanced back inside the ornate box she hadn’t yet closed and added with a voice full of curiosity:
“And even more so, if they have talent.”
Inside the tiny box, the once shriveled seed had come alive again.
A tender, pale-green sprout had emerged—silently announcing a new beginning.
—
As they walked down the long hallway toward lunch, Sharie suddenly realized something.
*‘Now that I think about it…’*
This was the first time she’d ever walked side-by-side with Caissa.
*‘He’s really nothing like me.’*
She snuck glances at his long legs beside her.
His thick thighs were built strong, like a warhorse charging across the battlefield.
And Caissa was tall—his legs, incredibly long.
Her slow pace must be frustrating for him.
*‘I have to walk faster.’*
For rabbit-folk like her, tails were vital for balance.
Since she had none, she’d learned to walk and run much later than other children.
Even after she started walking, her pace was always slower than others’.
While kids her age ran around the garden, she had to play with younger siblings instead.
*‘Back then… things weren’t so bad.’*
Her little brother, Liber, used to laugh with joy just from playing with her.
Even though she wasn’t fast, clever, or confident, Liber stayed by her side and wore the flower crowns she made.
—
*Sister, this flower crown is really pretty. Thank you.*
—
She couldn’t remember when things changed.
At some point, he started playing with their other siblings and grew bored of being with her.
Eventually, he even flinched when she came near.
—
*Go away. They said if I hang around you, I’ll end up like you. What if I catch your weird disease and lose *my* tail too?*
—
Sharie didn’t blame Liber.
He was just a child, learning the world’s rules from the adults around him.
In the rabbit-folk community, she was a disgrace—someone to be shunned. Everyone treated her that way.
Liber had only learned to follow suit.
Even so, it still hurt.
Once he started avoiding her, Sharie stopped going out as much.
She even gave up her rainy-day walks, the only time she could wander freely without judgment.
With no physical activity at all, her already poor stamina only got worse.
Maybe that’s why…
Even after walking just a little, she was already out of breath.
“Huff… um, this isn’t the way to the dining room…”
She tried to sound casual as she asked, trying not to show how tired she was.
She’d been to the kitchen enough times to know that part of the palace by heart.
