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His mind was filled with resentment and rage. It is said that anger numbs your mind, and that was exactly, what Valerian was experiencing at the moment. He was a child after all. People might mistake his helplessness in the orphanage for his controlled emotions.

He had always been on the receiving end of punishment and humility, and today what Priscilla did reminded him of Gloria. Just thinking about that lady made the young boy shiver from rage. He hated Gloria so much that thinking back about how he killed her quickly, he regretted it. If he could turn back time, then he would torture her for decades before she was completely broken.

When he reached the library, he began to vent his emotions by reading and learning. Valerian did not have anything like a photographic memory, he needed to read books slowly with dedicated focus. While he was immersed in reading the book, Priscilla, Azula, and Rectus sat inside the study with solemn faces.

...

Azula said, “What do you think of his reaction?”

The question was intended for Rectus, if anyone had any understanding of Valerian’s character among the three of them, it was him.

.....

Rectus sighed and said, “You should not have attacked him. My sister used to tell me how he was bullied by the children and the staff of the orphanage. You might think it is not a big deal, but what if every second he spent in front of other humans was like a reminder that he was a curse?

They had a name for him, Jinx. A child is like soft clay, you can mold them in any shape you want, but Valerian was broken every day. A particular person in the orphanage will find him specifically to vent out her negativity, even on the slightest excuse that she could find.

Today, when you should his disdain, and tried to look down on him, your image overlapped with all those people. The attack spell, only made things worse, you are now the perfect replacement for the first person he killed.”

His words made the tension in the room rise to another level. Priscilla said in a low voice, “I did not expect it to be so drastic. What do you suggest I should do?”

Rectus did not even think for a second, he replied, “Do not approach him on your own, do not appear in front of him when you are alone. He made it clear to me, that if not because her highness was present today, then he would have cast the death vine at you. He does not intend to let you live.”

Azula and Priscilla were shocked to hear this. It did not mean that Valerian was a villain, but he was so deeply hurt that if anyone tried to project negative emotions, and attempted to harm him, the assailant will be countered in the strongest manner possible.

Azula sighed and said, “We should have tried some other manner of testing his potential.”

Rectus nodded and said, “It is no use to regret it now. What’s done is done, think about how to fix this mess.”

Azula nodded and said, “His idea about hiring the officials is good, I think I should try to talk to him about it in more detail. It might help in breaking the ice.”

Rectus shook his head and said, “What you are going to face is not a thin layer of ice on a frozen lake, but a mountain of ice. You still do not realize the gravity of the situation. However, please go ahead and try. I will take my leave, I have to learn something.”

He stood up and was about to walk away when Priscilla asked, “What do you have to learn, Sir Rectus?”

The mage sighed and said, “The meaning of self-respect and pride.”

As soon as his words dropped he walked out of the study room. The maid and the princess gazed at his receding back in a daze. They did not know how to react, to think he was told off by a child.

Azula said, “Priscilla prepare some sweets, I will go to meet Valerian in the library, in the meantime, spread the word in the city, we need to hire officials, those who think can qualify for this job, they can come forward to sign up. Also, make sure to tell them that every person on the volunteer list will be investigated. The punishment of falsification is ten lashes.”

Priscilla nodded and after a bow, she left the study as well. Azula watched her leave and slumped back in her chair and massaged his brows with her slender long fingers.

Unknowingly, she fell asleep on the table, and it was an hour before Priscilla walked inside the study and woke her up. Azula was a princess, who had never spent any time dealing with the administrative work, but if she wanted freedom, then she must do all this and prove herself in the eyes of the Throne.

Azula gazed at the trolley filled with pastries and cakes, and said, “Priscilla, I think you should manage the tasks regarding the official recruitment. Do not come in front of Valerian. He might get triggered.”

Priscilla did not like the idea but she could not help it. After all, who asked her to push the limits and attack the boy. She asked, “Your Highness, why are you putting in so much effort to groom him?”

Azula gazed at Priscilla for a few moments and then said, “I think someone who was also taken in and groomed against her wishes, should already know the answer, right?”

Priscilla was shocked, she did not expect the princess to mention the past. However, if not for the mention, she would not have recalled that she was also one of the broken clay molds. She was groomed to gather herself together and face the world.

After retracting her focus from the memories, she said, “Instructor was a kind man.”

Azula said, “He also happens to be my uncle. He did not marry to assure the stability of the empire and groomed a lot of talented people. Not only so that the empire can be strong, but also so that those talented people can groom even more talented ones.”

Priscilla bowed her head and said, “I understand, Your Highness.”

That said, Azula asked the other maid to push the trolley to the library and walked ahead.

...

Azula pushed open the door and found Valerian to be reading a book with his back to the door, and he was so focused that he did not notice the lady coming inside the library.

The princess gestured for the waitress to leave the trolley with her and go outside silently. Then she pushed the trolley closer to the boy and sat down beside him.

Valerian turned his head to cast her a gaze and Azula said, “Don’t mind me. You can continue.”

The child nodded to her out of courtesy and then he went back to the book he was reading. What surprised Azula was that the boy was even taking notes on a draft paper with a quill.

She cast a gaze at the reed of the book and found the title, The basic rune combinations. This book was among one the essential books every budding Mage will read once. She mumbled, “May I ask you something?”

Valerian gazed at her and nodded, he was having a hard time understanding the context of this book on his own, so he did not mind talking to the princess. Diligentia had taught him, that if you have a hard time understanding something, then take your mind off of it and when you feel calm enough, you can read again.

Azula asked, “Do you understand how a spell is formed?”

Valerian thought for a bit but he shook his head. Azula asked, “How do you cast a spell then?”

Valerian said, ‘The meaning of the spell allows me to imagine a spell, and then I try to cast it.’

Azula gazed at him with her eyes wide open. Then she calmed down and said, “You need to learn about the rune structure. Only when you know how things work fundamentally will you be able to exert even more strength.”

Valerian thought for a bit and asked, ‘Can you tell me?’

He was the one who needed guidance and to be strong, he will do it all, even if he needs to ask for help.

Azula smiled and said, “Yes, why not. Alright, first you close your eyes, and focus on what element you want to cast a spell with.”

Valerian asked, ‘Which one is the easiest to cast?’

“All of them are the same, just the rune shape is different.”, said Azula.

Valerian thought and said, ‘Light element.’

Azula said, “Very well, now you close your eyes and focus on the light element. When you see golden circular shapes, nod to give me a signal.”

Valerian nodded and closed his eyes and then began to focus. However, the runes did not come. Just when he was about to give up, he heard Azula talking in a soft voice, “You already know the shape and color of the rune, think of that rune in your mind and more will come out.”

The boy imagined the rune as Azula told him to and soon, his ‘vision’ was flooded with golden circular runes floating all over the place.

He nodded, and Azula spoke with a smile, “Now, try to focus and gather the five runes together.”

Valerian did as he was told to, and slowly the runes were pulled together. Next, he did not need to do anything, the runes when they came close enough, they seemed to be connected with each other and they started to revolve in a circle.

Azula said, “This is how you cast the spell, Curatio Lucis. Open your eyes and look at your hands.”

Valerian opened his eyes and found his hands to be glowing brighter than ever. Azula said, “Light element can heal and illuminate. The spell ‘Sanatio Lucis’ needs three runes to be connected, while this one needs five runes.

The root effect of these spells is the same just the force is different. The spells are divided into levels, that is what I will tell you later, for now, we need to celebrate your first second grade spell.”

Valerian was surprised and looked at the princess, who picked up two plates of cakes and placed them on the table. She said, “Come. We have a lot of them.”

There was nothing that could not be fixed with a piece of cake.