• - I was thinking... - Ariela suddenly begins, breaking the silence. - About what the professor said.

• AHHH ARIELA! - Hyuchu grumbles, putting his watch away. - Forget about it, that weakling can’t even give a proper lecture, he wouldn’t scare a fly.

• Ariela chuckles and continues: - I’m not talking about the lecture. I’m talking about his explanation on Affinities. I wanted to understand more about this subject.

• Luzian closes the book he was reading and focuses his gaze on Ariela: - There’s not much to understand. Affinities are just Affinities, that’s it! Even the greatest minds of the Magical Society haven’t been able to delve deeper into it, so why would a clueless person like you manage to?!

• Ariela pouts at Luzian and continues her thought: - It’s just that... Affinities define a lot of what we are, don’t they?

• - In a way. - Luzian replies.

• - You can understand the Purple Eyes better by studying Affinities! - Ariela asserts.

• - Again with the Purple Eyes talk... - Luzian grumbles. - You could understand any witch better by studying Affinities! Come on! Why this obsession with the Purple Eyes?!

• - It’s not obsession, it’s admiration. - Ariela explains. - The Purple Eyes are so strange and unique.

• - You’ve probably never seen one in your life! - Luzian concludes.

• - That’s what makes them even more special to me! - Ariela asserts proudly. - Have you ever seen a Purple Eyes?!

• - I don’t know! There’s no reason to pay so much attention to witches I don’t know. - Luzian explains.

• - HEY ARIELA! - Hyuchu shouts, suddenly approaching Ariela and Luzian. - Are you still working on that book of yours, Just a Life?!

• - I was so focused on writing that I almost forgot about the class. - Luzian explains.

• - Hey, Luzian, Ariela says that the protagonist “Aelin” is literally the daughter she imagines having in the future! - Hyuchu says proudly.

• - For the love of the Moon... - Luzian grumbles. - Isn’t it too early to be fantasizing about a daughter?! How strange... OH Moon, what will become of today’s youth...

• - You sound like an old woman talking like that! - Hyuchu mocks.

• - I love Aelin, my beloved little girl! My dear daughter, and she doesn’t even need to exist to be loved! - Ariela smiles proudly. - I love Aelin, and I’m going to make sure everyone gets to know her through my story “Just a Life”!

• - This is the first time I’ve seen someone with an imaginary daughter. Was the pregnancy imaginary too? - Luzian mocks.

• - It’s not imaginary! - Ariela insists, slightly offended. - I’m talking about something that will happen in the future!

• - I’m Aelin’s number one fan! - Hyuchu proudly declares. - Luzian, give Just a Life a chance, Ari-chan writes with so much affection.

• - Maybe one day. - Luzian concludes.

• - Ariela, let me read the new chapters. You’ve been improving a lot lately. - Hyuchu insists. - How’s your story progressing?

• Almost done with Volume 1! - Ariela clarifies, her eyes full of confidence.

And then, decades pass. A witch runs frantically through a dense forest, the only light source being the Moon shining brightly in a starry sky. The witch, tense and out of breath, carries a basket with a baby inside. Something about this little girl catches attention—her eyes, beautiful and majestic Purple Eyes! As for the witch, her only and deepest wish is to preserve not her life, but the life of the little girl. But fate seems cruel to the young witch. The more she runs and delves into the forest, the more her desperation grows. She is fleeing from something truly dangerous! But no matter how much she tries to escape, her enemy seems to be getting closer and closer, and she cannot see clearly in the darkness. She finds herself at a large creek, in a sea of impossibilities. Her only choice is risky but has a chance of success. The young witch pours the basket with the baby into the creek. Before pushing the basket, the witch speaks in a maternal and loving tone: - My little girl... I don’t know if this will work, but maybe what I’m going to say will somehow stay in your mind. Listen... You are a truly troublesome witch! And that makes me so proud! - She says with a gentle smile on her face. - But: Times have changed, the Magical Society hates troublesome witches, the Magical Society hates witches like you, always has, the difference is that now it’s allowed to hunt and kill them, and the worst part is that it’s considered legitimate and correct!” - She says with indignation. - My little girl, you are complicated, you are troublesome, and so your life will be too—complicated, troublesome, and difficult. I wish it weren’t so, I wish we had a normal life, but we don’t always get what we want. - She says, starting to get emotional. - People will hunt you, truly evil people who want your harm, but with all my heart, with all my soul, I only wish that you... survive no matter what happens! Goodbye... Aelin! - The witch pushes the basket to let it float down the river, tears streaming down her face. She clasps her hands in a kind of prayer and looks hopefully at the Moon. Then she straightens up, turns toward the forest, her expression suddenly changing to one of fury. The witch is ready for a great and deadly battle!

We are now in one of the 5 capitals of the Magical Society, specifically in Cenourinha, at the “Palace of the Thinking Rabbits,” a huge castle belonging to one of the most important families of the witch nation. We are in an office that resembles a library, filled with stacked books and documents. In the center is a desk, and sitting in the main chair is Luzian! Now grown and adult, she looks with severity and irritation at a younger witch sitting in front of her.

• - I’ve told you several times that I’m not available to talk. - Luzian explains curtly. - What’s the reason for your persistence?! I hope it’s really important...

• - BUT IT IS IMPORTANT! - The witch exclaims loudly.

• - Correct your tone with me... - Luzian reprimands.

• - Sorry, my dear Moon... - The witch says, losing all composure. - Well, as I was saying, the matter I came to discuss is of real importance, even if you would find out about it one way or another.

• - If I’m going to find out one way or another, why in the Moon’s name did you insist so much to tell me?!

• - Ah... Well, I thought it would be convenient for you to know as soon as possible about something so grand! - The witch explains proudly.

• - Translation: You wanted to be the first to give me the news, hoping to get some extra credit for it. - Luzian states sarcastically and arrogantly.

• OH! - The witch quickly tries to avoid Luzian’s provocation. - I just got access to a report on Cristaline’s last mission. She was tasked with finding and eliminating once and for all the only Purple Eyes, who, as far as we know, is or rather was alive.

Luzian’s serious look quickly turns cold and depressive, with a certain fury emanating from her.

• - In other words... - The witch continues. - The Purple Eyes is officially dead! - She asserts with pride. She quickly notices that Luzian is not at all excited by the news. - It’s something to celebrate! Our greatest wish for decades has come true, the Purple Eyes are officially extinct.

• - Just answer me this: Does Cristaline have the body?” - Luzian demanded, her tone sharp. The witch opposite her looked confused and fell silent. Luzian pressed on, - Does Cristaline have the body of the Purple-Eyed one? - When she received a hesitant "No" in response, Luzian slammed her hand on the table, rising in a fit of anger. - How can you tell me that the Purple-Eyed one is officially dead if you don't even have a body to show for it?! For the love of—use the term ‘officially’ correctly!

  The witch tried to justify: - Cristaline was very precise in her mission. She used a powerful spell and massacred the Purple-Eyed one. It’s impossible that she survived; a body isn’t necessary for proof. - However, her explanation only fueled Luzian’s rage further. Noticing this, the witch quickly tried to mend her mistake: - The death was so violent that it’s practically impossible for Cristaline to have a body to present.

  - The complete annihilation of the Purple-Eyed ones is of utmost interest to the Magical Society. - Luzian said, sitting back in her chair, slightly calmer. - You don’t seem to be taking this seriously. So tell me... how has the news been received?”

  - It’s likely that while we’re speaking, the news has already spread. At the very least, the entire Order of Witches should know by now and be celebrating non-stop. - The witch replied.

  Luzian’s expression grew more somber and troubled; she didn’t seem pleased at all. - Very well, do as you see fit! - She said, turning her chair and facing away from the witch. - If believing in the supposed death of the Purple-Eyed one will stop you from bothering me about it, then do whatever you think is best.

  - Well... - The witch seemed visibly uncomfortable with Luzian’s reaction. - I just came to update you on the situation. Sorry for the disturbance, dear Moon. I’m leaving now. - With that, she hurriedly exited the room.

  - Luzian was left alone with her thoughts for a few moments. She sighed deeply and then said: - Time to deal with other issues, like someone eavesdropping on adult conversations... ELENE! - Luzian called out with a touch of irritation. “I’m talking about you!”

  A frightened young girl, around 13 years old, suddenly emerged from a closet. She looked very much like Luzian, with long, straight silver hair and pale skin, except for her eyes, which were sky-blue.

  - I’m sorry!!! I didn’t mean to bother you, Mom! - Elene stammered, her head bowed and her posture shrinking with nervousness.

  - Straighten up! - Luzian ordered sternly. - A future leader doesn’t keep her head down, doesn’t tremble, doesn’t get scared, and certainly doesn’t eavesdrop on conversations. A leader has poise and etiquette! I expect better from you, Elene!”

  - RIGHT! - Elene said, quickly adjusting her stance to a more confident one.

  - Elene, do you see that door over there? - Luzian pointed to the only normal exit from the room. - I want you to leave through it. If you do so quickly, I promise I’ll pretend nothing happened. Just... go before I lose my temper.

  - I’M GOING! - Elene replied, hurrying out of the room. She walked down a long corridor, lost in her thoughts, and began to talk to herself, reflecting: - Purple-Eyes... Mom doesn’t seem to believe that the Purple-Eyes was killed! To be honest... neither do I!!! Oh, Purple-Eyes... - She pondered more deeply. - What are you like?! It would be so fun to be your friend in the future, if you even exist! - Elene smiled proudly. - It seems like something like that could actually happen...”

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