I woke up, lying on a bed. As I scanned the room, I saw her: Valensia was sitting to my right, engrossed in a book. Since I moved, she closed her book and put it slowly near her. She looked at me. There was obvious relief on her face.

Flashes crossed my mind. The attack. Asra's betrayal. My panic. The fire. The blood. Our clan in agony. And… that pivotal moment when my power was unleashed.

« Oh no! » I cried, sitting up suddenly.

I looked at my hands. They had changed. Their skin was no longer wrinkled, and they glowed faintly.

« Janvier? » Valensia asked softly.

"I... I think I've let the bridle of my power slip..." I whispered, almost to myself.

After fleeing Bellona’s Clan, I had taken care to erase all traces of my past. To hide, I had to learn to curb my mana—the magic that slowed the aging of my cells, granting me perpetual youth. I had studied ancient scrolls, met discreet mages, and learned to conceal myself.

« I have to… I have to seal it aga... »

But I didn't have time to finish. Valensia gently took my hand.

« Janvier, you don’t need to hide anymore. Nothing’s gonna happen to you, I will protect you. » She paused, then added in a deeper voice, « I will not let what happened four days ago happen again. »

Her gaze was disarmingly sincere.

« Four days?! » I choked. « How is it possible? »

« Astur thinks you used too much mana. Your body wasn't used to channeling so much anymore. You simply... collapsed. »

— Not easy being an old witch... — I thought, with a hint of bitter humor.

« The village? The enemy? » I asked, my heart heavy.

« Malicia is dead. Her army left. They’ll never come back here. The village is rebuilding, slowly but surely. And the people are doing well. Thanks to you. »

She squeezed my hand a little tighter.

« They want to throw a party in your honor… and to celebrate the victory. »

I felt a weight lift from my chest.

« I… I’m relieved, » I whispered.

Valensia smiled at me, her eyes shining with a new sweetness.

« You are even more beautiful than the pictures in those books I’ve read. »

My heart began to beat faster. But for once, it wasn't painful. Just... unsettling.

Embarrassed, I looked away and cried out:

« It’s... it’s not a way to speak to a lady! »

She burst out laughing, a clear, frank, almost childlike laugh.

« You must be hungry. I’ll bring you a meal. »

She stood up, then, arriving at the doorstep, turned around and said to me, with a playful wink:

« Don't run away, eh. »

Eating had done me good. I felt alive again.
Astur had come to check on me. He even knelt before me, thanking me a dozen times for saving him. I didn't deserve such praise... And he certainly didn't deserve to die.

I had learned that he meant a lot to Valensia—she considered him her best friend.

He had even whispered to me, with a knowing smile, that Valensia had hidden his secret notebook in her office… and that I was “deeply concerned” by its contents.

I didn't really understand what he meant, but this confidence made me a little uncomfortable.

I was slowly getting used to this new liveliness in my body. Rediscovering my youth—the one I had had to abandon so long ago—felt so good. A part of me that I thought was lost forever was slowly being reborn, through every gesture, every breath...

Tomorrow, a party was to be held in our honor.

I was both excited... and deeply worried.