Having begun to recognize our bond, I could sense her emotions to some degree and agreed that it would be best to give her some space.

I hardly remembered Lumia, so I didn’t mind waiting a bit longer to sort things out with her. I had strong feelings when I thought of her, but I didn’t fully understand them. As such, I wasn’t even sure how to approach her. 

It was stressful and a bit overwhelming just thinking about it, so I was glad to have something else to worry about. Finding out what happened with my mana core seemed easier to deal with. Riona said that Silvia would be in the library, so that’s where I went.

I found her quickly, sitting at a table between towering bookshelves.

I was surprised the book she had was written in English, although I guess I shouldn’t have been since everyone spoke English.

The book, a tome on shadow magic, looked quite advanced. I hardly understood any of the concepts, though that could also be because I came in at the middle as was reading over her shoulder.

Seeing that Silvia hadn’t noticed me yet, I tapped her on the arm. “Good morning, are you busy?” I asked.

“Sam! You’re awake.”

I nodded. “And I have questions, if you have the time to answer them.”

“Sure, but first we should go to my office.” Silvia closed the book then it vanished into thin air. She rose and I followed her out of the library.

We walked silently until reaching her office, which was located on the third level of the palace. I had expected her to take me to the academy of magic.

The office, a small round room, had a balcony overlooking the rear gardens. A desk rested under the window, but unlike most desks hers was small and round. There were three chairs set around it, each with a different color cushion and patterned fabric.

As soon as we entered, Silvia flicked her wrist, causing a ripple in the ambient mana.

“What did you just do?” I asked.

She motioned for me to sit and smiled. “Just a simple trick. If you felt it, that’s good. It means your core is fine.”

I had assumed as much already. I didn’t feel any pain and I’d been able to sense mana, so I figured my core must’ve been alright. What I didn’t know is why I couldn’t stop myself from pulling in mana or if that would keep happening when I tried.

“Okay…So what happened to it anyway? Is it safe to use or will I keep losing control when I use magic? And what about my uncle…why did I see his face?”

“Slow down Sam, let’s take it one thing at a time. Your core isn’t broken anymore, after you passed out, I did a full examination and your core was completely fine; however, there were traces of a dark magic lingering in your core. That being said, I doubt you’ll experience issues but we need to be cautious. There could be lingering effects from what happened six years ago…” she paused, hesitating before she continued, “The issue of seeing your uncle is more complicated.”

“How so?”

She paused for a moment, closing her eyes as worry lines compressed her face.

“I think your uncle has given himself over to dark magic. He isn’t the man I once knew, and it appears in his exile, he’s only sunk further into the abyss…” she opened her eyes. “…Sam, your uncle may have used you to renter Faerelle. The Queen doesn’t want you to worry, but I believe you need to know. We don’t know what Vale’s goal is, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume he is still after Lumia.”

My stomach knotted as she spoke. My heart thudded in my ears as concern and gilt gripped me. If I’d brought my uncle back into Faerelle—if he hurt Lumia or anyone else—I couldn't stomach the thought. But how could I have known? It took everything within me to stay calm.

From somewhere deep within me, I felt a soothing wave wash over me. It calmed my nerves and gave me strength. When I glanced up at Silvia she was smiling warmly, her hand resting on my forearm.

"Don't beat yourself up Sam," she said softly, "we'll figure this out."

At first I thought it was her that calmed me, but the feeling lasted even after she took her hand away. It continued to build and envelop me like a warm blanket, until I felt like I could move mountains.

“Lumia,” I whispered, “thank you.”

I wasn’t sure if she could hear my words, but I hoped at least my feelings reached her.

Silvia was thumbing the pages of a book when I returned my focus to her. It was different from the one she’d been reading in the library and I was certain it hadn’t been on the desk or anywhere near her before, instead it seems this one had been conjured up from nothing.

“What’s that?” I asked absent-mindedly.

Just a conceptual study guide. It’ll help you refamiliarize with basic concepts, but first, did you get the ring I selected for you?”

Showing her the silver ring on my finger, I asked, “Is this it?”

Silvia shook her head. “The one I’m referring to is more ornate. It’s a dimensional storage ring.”

“Then no, not yet, I guess.”

Showing me hers, she demonstrated how it worked by storing and withdrawing several items at random. It seemed fairly simple and I was eager to try it out for myself.

When that was done, she said, “It’s time to begin your lesson,” and turned the study guide so that I could see it’s contents. “You need to practice molding mana, but first read this. It might help you grasp the concept a bit faster.”

I began reading and immediately recognized the text. It was a beginners tome detailing the basics of mana manipulation. It explained that mana enters and leaves the core through a network of veins, similar to how a heart pumps blood through the body.

The simplest spells—bullet magic—work by channeling mana through these veins, and out from the fingertips.

This wasn’t exactly mana manipulation, but I hadn’t even used this most basic of spells since my core recovered.

Pointing out the window, I fired a mana bullet without concern for its specific element. It was a good way to gauge my natural affinity and also served to reassure me that I could use magic safely.