For the next two weeks, I didn’t see Sebastian even once. Not that I minded, exactly—I’d just grown used to dividing my life into two distinct phases: when he’s around, and when he’s not. They were always very different experiences.
While he was away at a specialized boarding school, coming home only during breaks, and later at the Triune Academy for Men, where he didn’t even have to return for holidays, life at home with Uncle Robert was pure bliss.
But when he did come back, everything turned upside down. I’d hide in the corners of our sprawling castle just to avoid crossing his path.
After the academy, Sebastian joined the Svarogs, as we call the fighters who defend the kingdom, guarding the western borders of our land. In other words, he became a soldier. By the way, only mages of the absolute and Warrior women can protect us from the desert monsters—no one else can. Though I can’t recall hearing much about female mages among the military, at least not in recent times.
Now, my so-called “brother” has already risen to the rank of Konrad. At twenty-six, that’s quite an achievement. It means he commands a sizable unit of mages.
So, even now, he’s rarely home. Which made it all the more surprising that he showed up for the ball. Why did he bother?
But I quickly pushed that question out of my mind and spent all my time in our home library, searching for any scrap of information about Keepers.
There wasn’t much to find. Yes, in past generations, there were more women with this gift, and there was even a faculty for domestic magic at the academy. But it was shut down when there was no one left to teach.
In one ancient book, I found a mention of Keepers as ideal homemakers: apparently, their energy could shield family estates from destruction, especially during war. But this protection required some kind of ritual, which the book didn’t describe.
And that was it.
Well, I hoped I’d find more books at the academy.
As for the war between the desert evil and the mages, I’m ashamed to admit I knew very little. Mostly just the dates of major battles and the names of prominent commanders. Maybe I’d learn more on the special course?
Uncle Robert had just been informed that classes would start in a month, and I’d already been invited to enroll.
Just like that! There was no way to refuse. This year, the course was free, and I’d be studying with girls mostly from common families, with varying levels of magical ability.
As Mage Wolff said through the communication crystal, “No gift is too small, and everyone must learn to control their abilities.”
“Well, she’s right about that,” I told Uncle Robert with a wide smile, recalling the black scarf tightening around Sebastian’s neck.
She also explained that the program would last one year, with five final exams, and everyone who passed would receive a diploma allowing them to work as maids or assistants to Healers, provided they succeeded in the tests.
Honestly, I didn’t even know how to feel about it.
Me? A maid? I’ve never looked down on servants, but I was raised so differently! I have dresses in my wardrobe worth a hundred maids’ salaries!
An assistant to a Healer? That sounds a bit better. But how could I help? By mending socks for the sick?
Uncle advised me to ignore the whole diploma business and just learn something useful for myself.
Another week flew by with trips to the shops, buying various items from the list the academy had sent.
Stationery, magical notebooks, self-writing pens. I also ordered a coat from Madame Curie.
She’s one of the most renowned Creator couturiers. One glance at you, and she knows all your measurements. And the things she makes! Light, beautiful, comfortable, and long-lasting. Now that’s real magic!
I couldn’t resist and picked out a few new dresses as well, since Gloria and I planned to visit the underwater theater. It’s an extraordinary spectacle, let me tell you!
The actresses are mermaids, the stage is the ocean floor, adorned with radiant crystals. You reach the theater via portal—how else would you get to the depths of the sea?
But first, you have to wear a special magical mask. It’s completely transparent, like thin glass, and when you press it to your face, it feels like it fuses to your skin. With it, you can breathe underwater for at least two hours without feeling any pressure.
I was mesmerized the first time I went. And their singing—oh, it’s breathtaking!
We planned our outing for Sunday.
But all this busyness was just a facade, a way to hide from myself and the thoughts that kept creeping into my mind. How pathetic I am… and how glad I am that my parents aren’t here to see this!
On top of that, aside from Gloria, no one had reached out to me since the ball. Before, I was constantly getting invitations—to grab coffee together, to go horseback riding. Now, when I saw familiar girls on the street, they were always rushing somewhere, with no time to chat. And it hurt. In my whole life, no one except Sebastian had ever treated me with contempt, but now it felt like the entire world had turned its back on me.
If only I could be someone else…
Sunday came quickly. In the morning, a new lemon-yellow dress with bare shoulders and a full skirt was delivered.
As always before going out, I applied a mask made of magical flowers for my face and hair. These are specially cultivated flowers, finely ground and mixed into creams and masks. By the way, this variety was developed by a Creator who lived about two hundred years ago. After using these masks, your hair is bouncy and shiny, and your skin practically glows.
By seven o’clock, I was ready. In my new dress, high-heeled shoes, my hair cascading in waves down to my waist. The maid clapped her hands:
“Oh, you look so beautiful today!”
“Thank you for your help, Kitty.”
As I descended the stairs to the hall, I heard voices. I paused and listened:
“No! And I’ll say it again, no! I didn’t come here for this! I don’t care how she feels!”
“But Sebastian, she’s just a girl, so young and vulnerable. Why do you act this way?”
I’d heard similar conversations between Uncle and Bastian before, but they never changed anything.
So I hurried down the rest of the stairs and opened the door.
Sebastian stood beside his father, about to reply, when he saw me.
His gaze turned sharp, his eyes sliding over my face, then lower, lingering briefly on my chest. I suddenly felt my cheeks burning.
“This is exactly what I’m talking about. You let her get away with too much!” he said angrily.
Without another word, he brushed past me as if I were part of the furniture.
“Uncle, please, I beg you, don’t say anything more to him! It won’t help! Besides, I’m used to Sebastian being like this. I can’t imagine him any other way.”
That was the truth.
“Alright, alright. Go on, then,” Uncle smiled and kissed my cheek. “Have fun. Do you have your communication crystal with you?”
“Yes, of course. It’s in my purse.”
“Oh, these little purses of yours… What can you even fit in them? Well, off you go!”
Outside, a carriage drawn by Krygs awaited me—the portal to the theater was in the city center.
I loved riding in a carriage, gazing out the window, thinking pleasant thoughts. Krygs are enormous black winged horses that barely touch the ground with their hooves. As a child, I used to imagine I was flying, not riding.
But today, my thoughts kept circling back to Bastian. Could he really be different? He was kissing that girl, and he must have been gentle with her. What is his gentleness like?
Could he ever be gentle with me?
I tried to picture Sebastian looking at me with love. Wait—what!?
“Stop it, you idiot!” I muttered to myself. “That’s the last thing I need!”
Outside the window, tall buildings, green gardens illuminated by magical lanterns, flashed by. A perfect picture of a perfect world. Nowhere would you see dirt or decay; everything blooms year-round. But that life is only for mages, and even then, not for everyone.
And for someone like Bastian…
Among common folk, strong mages are rare. Magic is mostly inherited. Our world is divided by magic. I’ve never been to the non-magical districts, but I’ve heard they’re far less comfortable.
“T-p-r-r-u-u! We’ve arrived, miss!”
The coachman’s gruff voice snapped me out of my reverie.
“Thank you, Alfred.”
He helped me down, and I immediately spotted the portal in the center of a small green square. The arch was decorated with thousands of tiny colorful fish that darted—or rather, swam—in all directions when you raised a hand toward them. Some of the fish glowed, making the arch seem to shine on its own from a distance.
Nearby, I saw Gloria in a red dress with flowers in her hair.
“Oh, good evening, lovely lady. May I steal you away?” I said in a mock deep voice.
“Oh, please, someone steal me from here already!” Gloria squeaked back, and we burst into laughter.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Nah, just a bit bored on my own. So, are you ready?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s go!”
We held hands and stepped into the portal. A fleeting sensation of weightlessness—and we were in the middle of a vast hall.
No matter how many times I’ve been here, it always amazes me! Mirrors line the walls, each with a number above it, and the floor resembles a chessboard with large black and white squares.
As soon as you step out of the portal, a golden arrow lights up on the floor to guide you. It led us to mirror number four. On the other side, a young merman in a tuxedo and white shirt appeared—quite comical with his tail. He extended a red velvet box through the mirror. Inside were two masks, which we quickly put on. It felt like dipping your face into water, yet you could still breathe.
After that, we took our guide’s hands, and he led us through the mirror.
We practically floated, holding onto him, until we saw a massive stage formed by colorful corals. In front of it were chairs with magical safety belts.
The merman seated us and fastened the belts. We looked at each other and smiled—our dresses swayed slightly, and our hair floated in all directions.
“I’ll never get used to this. Not many people here today,” Gloria noted, waving to Ophelia, who sat two rows ahead. She waved back but quickly turned away.
“I can’t even say I’m upset about that. I’ve practically ceased to exist for people like Ophelia.”
Gloria gave me a sympathetic look and squeezed my hand.
“Don’t mind them.”
Meanwhile, the magical spotlights in the hall dimmed, leaving only the stage illuminated.
“Is it the mermaid and the prince again today?” an older mage sitting nearby asked me.
“Yes, but it’s a new version.”
The story itself wasn’t new, though.
A mermaid falls in love with a prince, comes to land for him, but he doesn’t love her. He mocks her and ultimately kills her for the amusement of his friends.
All of this is accompanied by songs that tug at your heartstrings. So, if you’ve got something to cry about, this is the perfect place.
But today, they changed the story a bit. The mermaid kidnapped the prince, though it didn’t end well. Her people banished them, and they had to seek out a mage so the prince could breathe underwater. The prince fell in love with the mage, and the mermaid, in despair, took her own life.
“Can’t they have a happy ending just once in these plays?” Gloria said as we exited the portal. “Why couldn’t they go to an old, ugly mage instead?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they enjoy the suffering? Or maybe a story like this really happened once. What do you think?”
“Who knows? Maybe. Hey, it’s only ten. Want to hit up a pastry shop? All this tragedy has made me hungry!”
Gloria looked at me with pleading, hungry eyes.
“Alright, let’s go. I’ll just let Uncle know I’ll be late.”
Pulling out my crystal, I quickly sent a message.
The pastry shop’s grounds were enchanted to be in eternal summer: sunshine, butterflies, tables set amidst a green meadow.
“What would you like, girls? ‘Maiden’s Dreams’ cake or ‘Heavenly Manna’ dessert—our latest specials!” the waitress asked with a friendly smile.
Gloria and I exchanged a glance and spoke at the same time:
“Let’s have both!”
“I’ll take both!”
The new desserts were delicious, and we ate while chatting about all sorts of nonsense.
After saying goodbye to Gloria, I climbed into the carriage and glanced at my communication crystal. Almost midnight—late!
The house was quiet, so I slipped off my shoes to avoid clacking my heels and had almost reached the end of the hall when the study door opened, and Sebastian appeared. His black uniform jacket was unbuttoned, his hair disheveled, as if he’d just been sleeping in a chair or at the desk.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway.
“And where have you been?”
My first instinct was to answer normally, but he irritated me so much that instead, I tilted my head back and snapped:
“Do I have to report to you or something? What’s it to you where I’ve been?”
His eyes darkened instantly.
“Yes, I think you do,” the dark-haired man stepped closer, “very much so.”
“And why’s that? Who gave you the right?” I was on a roll now, but really, am I not grown enough?
Does he think he can lock me in my room all evening without food or water again?
Sebastian came so close that I had to step back.
Why does this jerk have to be so ridiculously tall?!
“I could strain my neck just trying to look him in the eye!” flashed through my mind and vanished, because Bastian raised his hand as if to touch my cheek. Without making contact, he moved his hand downward—near my chin, my neck, my chest. I flinched away from him and hit the wall, my heart pounding like crazy.
“You…” I breathed. “What are you doing?!”
“So, where were you, little sister?”
He pulled his hand back, but I could still feel the warmth of his fingers, and my cheeks burned.
“Don’t call me that! I’m not your sister. I was at the theater! Why are you harassing me? Let me pass!”
I tried to sound firm, but my voice wavered.
“And what, did you already snag someone?”
“Go to hell!”
He grabbed my chin, squeezing painfully with his fingers. He leaned in so close it felt like he might touch my lips. I held my breath.
“I advise you not to speak to me like that. Everything you’re wearing, everything around you, belongs to me. And when I ask a question, be so kind as to answer. Do you understand?”
He spoke quietly, but no less threateningly for it.
“It doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to Uncle Robert!” I tried to pull away, but no luck!
“Are you so sure? Of course, how would you know that Father hasn’t handled family affairs in ages? All you think about is buying new dresses and spending more money!”
“That’s not true!”
“Isn’t it? This dress is new, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but…”
“See! I’m not against it, though. Maybe it’ll help us pawn you off sooner. Just next time, go for a deeper neckline—maybe no one will notice how empty you are.”
I choked on the insult, my hand flying up on its own, but Sebastian caught it.
“Don’t you ever dare…”
He didn’t finish as a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass came from the study, followed by a low growl.
Bastian pushed me behind him and turned toward the door.
“Stay here,” he whispered.
I didn’t have the strength to reply, only watching as a black mist enveloped his arms up to the elbows. He kicked the slightly ajar door open, and what I saw made my skin crawl.
In the middle of the room stood an onyx table, and on it—a monster.
A giant spider with enormous chelicerae, covered in black spikes, with a scorpion’s tail.
Saliva dripped from its maw onto the table, hissing and burning a hole through the surface.
I wanted to run, but my legs felt glued to the floor. Then a black mist enveloped me.
“Stay there, Elvira!” Sebastian’s voice echoed in my head.
The spider, spotting him, let out a wild screech and lunged forward, trying to strike with its legs and tail.
Sebastian made a gesture of power with his hands and struck with pure energy—black, laced with flashes of white lightning.
The spider flew back against the wall, shook its head, and jerked upright. Now it moved more cautiously.
Another leap—and its tail nearly grazed his shoulder. Sebastian dodged just in time, and black tendrils shot from his hands, wrapping around the spider and squeezing.
The monster screeched, struggling to break free. It thrashed and struck with its venomous tail. The tendrils tightened more and more until the spider went still. It twitched a few more times before collapsing.
The tendrils retracted into Sebastian’s hands, and he fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
The mist surrounding me vanished, and I rushed to Bastian.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I reached to place a hand on his shoulder, but he jerked away.
“Get out of here!” Two words, and I barely recognized his voice—low, almost a growl.
“Bastian, I’ll call Uncle!”
“No! I said, get out!”
He turned to me sharply, and I saw his eyes were completely black, dark runes pulsing through his skin, flickering with blood-red fire before fading.
I stepped back, and the next moment, I was standing in the middle of my room. Did he just transport me here? Open a portal?
It seemed so. But why only now? Couldn’t he have done it right away? Or could he not?
What a nightmare! A desert monster right in our home!
What if Sebastian had been on duty?
I paced from one end of my room to the other, unable to stop, until my gaze caught a book lying on my bed.
Where did it come from? I hadn’t brought anything from the library.
Stepping closer, I realized it was the same book from the attic.
Strange.
I touched the silvery cover with my fingertips and opened it, but once again, I was met with blank white pages.
Who brought it here? Maybe a household spirit? But where would one come from?
Yes, they used to exist in our home, but now they mostly sleep. These days, much of the work is done by servants, and there are plenty of magical devices that clean better and don’t have a temper.
Because household spirits are fickle creatures: they clean when they feel like it, and if not, they might even break something. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve never seen one myself.
I placed the book on the shelf and sat on the bed. My hands started to tremble. I can’t let myself fall into hysterics! I’m alive, and everything is fine!
Standing up, I went to the bathroom, turned on the water, and added a calming infusion.
Slipping off my dress, I climbed into the bath. The steam from the infusion gradually relaxed my body, and I felt a lightness settle over me.
What on earth was that? And what was that with Sebastian? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, though maybe I just know too little about absolute magic. And I’ve only seen desert monsters in textbook illustrations. But I’m certain there was no spider like that in any of them—I would’ve remembered.
Getting out of the bath, I quickly pulled on a nightgown, but sleep was the last thing on my mind.
I was worried about that infuriating rooster. What if he’s injured? And why did he tell me not to say anything to Uncle?
Leaving my room felt terrifying, too.
I grabbed my communication crystal and messaged Gloria. She didn’t reply—probably already asleep.
I lay down in bed. Sleep wouldn’t come. I tossed and turned, then finally gave up—jumped out of bed, threw on a robe, and stepped into the hallway.
Nothing bad will happen if I just check on him. What if he dies before morning?
Though the prospect was tempting, he’s still not a stranger to me.
Approaching his door, I knocked softly. Nothing. Gathering my courage, I knocked harder. From the other side, I heard some noise and footsteps.
The door opened, and there stood Sebastian. Half-naked. As in, shirtless. He held a towel, probably just out of the bath.
Involuntarily, my eyes traced the sculpted lines of his muscles. His abs alone—good grief, you could do laundry on them! And across his shoulders and chest were black tattoos of ancient runes, some of which I recognized.
“Seen enough?”
I quickly lifted my gaze to his face. His eyes were green again, as usual.
“Yes… I mean, no!”
Spirits, what am I even saying?!
He smirked crookedly.
“Listen, Sebastian, I was really worried about you and couldn’t sleep, but now I see you’re fine. So, I’ll go.”
“Does this happen often with you?” he asked seriously.
“What do you mean?” I didn’t understand.
“Do you often worry about me?”
“No! I mean, it’s not like that!”
“Then what is it like? Elvira, I’m perfectly fine, and trust me, there are plenty of people to worry about me. So, good night.”
He slammed the door right in my face.
I stood there for a moment, stunned, before quickly returning to my room.
I tossed my robe onto a chair and climbed into bed.
What an arrogant peacock! I swear, I’ll never ask how he’s doing again in my life. Can you believe it? But then again, what was I expecting? Isn’t this the same Sebastian who used to pull my hair, practice magic tricks on me, call me names, set me up in front of teachers, and lock me in the basement?!
For a while, I just seethed with anger. I really am an idiot!
In my magical nightlight, tiny fairies flitted from flower to flower, winking at each other. I didn’t have the heart to turn it off—after what I’d seen, I was afraid to sleep in the dark.
Gradually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I found myself back in the hallway with Sebastian. But this time, he didn’t just touch me—he kissed me.
Well, there’s your “Maiden’s Dreams” cake for you!
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