Page 203 of Cursed Evermore

I almost laughed at the irony. Wolfe was the only one who could set me free or keep me here, regardless of my desire. “I'm sure he will.”

“I admire you for choosing to follow your own path. I sense raw potential in you. Untapped power often develops in unexpected ways.” Her eyes gleamed with something that might have been excitement. “Your training here will awaken abilities that have been waiting for the right moment to emerge, so I have offered to oversee your training myself.”

“Wow, thank you so much. That's an incredible honor.” I couldn't believe it. I was going to be trained by the archmage. My luck seemed to be getting better and better.

“The honor and pleasure are all mine, child. We have much work to do together, you and I. Your magical aura is unusual. There's a depth there that most young mages don't possess, even those who've trained for years. It will be remarkable to help you unlock it.”

Although I beamed at her, a shiver ran down my spine; whether that was from fear or anticipation, I couldn't say. The way she looked at me made me feel as if she could see straight through to my soul and found secrets there even I didn't know.

I steadied my mind and pushed aside my nerves. “I look forward to it.”

“Me too. I’m also aware that your schedule needs to be flexible while you carry out Prince Nightblade’s duties, so please don’t worry about that. We can work around your commitments with no problems.”

That was for the reset—if we didn’t find the ring between now and then. The plan was I’d take a week or two off to bring myself up to speed. It sounded crazy but I knew my desire to learn magic would keep me going. “Thank you so much. Everything sounds perfect.”

“Indeed.” She nodded. “Spend the rest of the week getting used to the place. We'll start officially Monday morning.”

“Wonderful.”

She glanced back at Arielle and smiled. “I shall leave you both to continue exploring, but do find me if you have any questions.”

“We will,” Arielle replied.

“Na már iyah.” She bowed reverently.

“Ye vár iyah,” Arielle and I echoed, our voices in unison.

The archmage offered one last smile before she turned and drifted away. We watched in silence as she vanished into the endless hallway, her robes whispering behind her like falling stardust. Even after she was gone, the echo of her presence lingered, a wistful hum of old magic clinging to the air like mist.

Arielle exhaled beside me, her shoulders finally relaxing now that we were alone.

“How are you really?” she asked softly, her voice gentling.

I hesitated, just for a breath. “I'm truly in awe of this place.”

She chuckled. “I can see that. Even I believed the story we told Magdalena. But... I suppose the truth isn't exactly far off.” Arielle tilted her head, studying me like she was reading beneath the words. “It didn't feel like a lie. And I've known you long enough to tell when you're putting on a face.”

I smiled faintly. “I like it here. Maybe too much.” The words slipped from me like a secret I hadn't meant to say aloud. “Would it be insane if I said this place feels more like home than anywhere I've ever known?”

“Nope. That wouldn't be insane. That's exactly how I felt when I first came here. And what you said about her...” She glanced at the Blessed Mother. “I felt that, too. I always do. That feeling gives me peace. Some days, I come here just to feel strong again.”

I caught it in her eyes then. The grief she carried. The ache for the family she lost. But there was strength there, too. Not forged by fire but born of quiet perseverance and time.

“I felt that strength, too,” I whispered. “It made me feel like I might actually be okay.”

“You will be. I promised I'd take care of you. I meant it. Though, maybe I'm a little biased.”

I laughed under my breath. “Why are you biased, Arielle?”

“Because I want you to stay in the magical realm.” Her voice dropped. “But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.”

“Yeah. We'll definitely cross it.” I looked around the hall, then up at the light catching on the stained glass high above. “Today feels like the start of something different. Something real.”

Her grin bloomed, warm and unguarded. “Then we'll make it yours. Bit by bit. We've got the whole day ahead of us. Let's finish looking around here, then I want to take you to the capital. I want to show you everything.”

“That sounds exciting.”

She squealed and looped her arm through mine, tugging me forward. “It will be. Come on. Let's go to the library. Wait till you see the enchantments in the divination section. The shelves shift based on your mood. If you're not careful, the books might start reading you.”