Chapter 162 - Syvis, the Sacred Princess of the Elves

  Chloe Evenhart:

  The mage engineers' css was in full swing, and I was trying hard to focus on the magical seals our professor had given us to memorize. The intricate lines and symbols tangled up in my mind, but all I could think about was that small moment from this week. Every time the memory resurfaced, my face would heat up, leaving me pletely disarmed.

  "Is everything okay, Chloe?" Syvis asked, notig my distra.

  "Yes, I just... got a bit distracted," I replied, trying to focus ba the seals. I khat sooner or ter, I would have to put of my mind and trate, but it felt impossible.

  The b was full of long tables covered with images and magical equipment, all prepared to help us with our tasks. In groups of three, we had to pick a workstation and anize ourselves, but I could barely hold onto a sihought. The memory of what I did with Nate kept making me feel uled. It was iable; my face heated up every time I relived the moment when I kissed him on the cheek. Embarrassment ed me, and before I k, I was blushing again.

  "You're red," Syvis observed, raising an eyebrow slightly.

  I must have looked as red as the glowing stones in the castle firepce. The memory of what I did with Nate left me even more flustered, so I forced myself to look at the seal I was copying, hoping it would distract my mind.

  "I think it's just nerves," I tried to brush it off, fog bay seal.

  I had taken aep with Nate and kissed him on the cheek. Ever since he reassured me on exam day, saying he’d stay with me... forever... I wao do that.

  That silly boy probably doesn’t even realize hoy I was when he said that. If we ever do end up together, I'll have to scold him for all the times he acted so evasively.

  "My seal is done. Need some help?" Viktor offered, cheg in on our progress.

  I discovered that Syvis is treated very differently by the elves. They seem uneasy around her, stantly apologizing and avoiding eye tact, worried that direct looks might be seen as disrespectful. For example, when Syvis actally hurt her finger while handling magical equipment, five elves rushed over to apologize while they tried to heal her. She had to insist that they step back, assuring them she could handle a simple injury herself. Princess Melina is lucky to have people who have known her all along studying in the same css, but Syvis is pced on a pletely differeal in the elven kingdom.

  Gradually, I came to uand that in the elven realm, Syvis is far more than just a princess. She is seen as something almost sacred, transding any political title. She fided ihat she feels unfortable with all the reverend tries daily to get the elves at the academy to treat her more naturally.

  One m, as we were leaving the dorm, we found a line of elves waiting, each holding a breakfast tray for her. She kindly dismissed them, expining that she preferred eating in the cafeteria like any other student. They bowed, apologized, a. This went on for a few days until they finally started uanding that she wao be treated like a regur person.

  Syvis expihat in the elven kingdom, it is practically impossible for her to be seen as anything but ‘delicate’; they stantly che her and ask if she’s okay. It makes her feel like there's a barrier between her and her people. Being with us is a relief, a rare ce for her to feel like an ordinary person, without all the formalities and reverence.

  I also feel that a bit. Some students from on noble families seem hesitant to approach us, the higher-ranked nobles. Fortunately, we’ve built bonds that make these differences easier to handle, and the academy’s group structure helps soften these divisions.

  "In Saul's duchy, we're traio hahese things from a very young age," Viktor said with a certain pride. "We're a military duchy, quite advanced."

  "It's great to have you here to support roup," I replied, grateful for his presence.

  "As the heir to the duchy, I o be familiar with these details from early on. If you ever want to visit, I'd love to show you our teology," he added, with a fident ahusiastic smile.

  Why does he keep mentioning this? He never misses a ind us he’s his duchy’s future heir. Is it a regional thing from where he's from? I think I got it after the first five times...

  "Bae, we also learn that kind of thing. We don’t like using teology that disrupts the enviro much, so seals are our specialty," Syvis added.

  "Good to know. If that es up on the history test about your race, I've already got it memorized," I said.

  Syvis ughed.

  "You ask me anything; I’ll always be happy to ahe academy textbooks only scratch the surface—they don’t expin why things are the way they are," she told me, folding the paper of her seal.

  Hmm... that’s true. I ask her all my questions about Nate’s situation. From what I uand, she doesn’t know he’s a High Elf half-blood, and my mom said o tell anyone, but through Syvis, I might be able to ask questions as if I'm just trying to learn for studying.

  "Syvis, you answer a question about the High Elves?" I asked, watg as she dipped her finger into the ink and began trag a seal on paper.

  "Whatever you want to know, just ask," she replied with a small smile.

  "I mentiohat we’ve had magic training with Professor Adrihna. Something that’s always intrigued me is that I rarely see her eat or sleep. Could you expin that better? The book only mentions briefly that their bodies are strohan humans'."

  Syvis paused to think, carefully adjusting her seal before answering. "High Elves are somewhat like demi-humans in that regard. Just as demi-humans have enharength due to their beast genes, High Elves also have physical and biological differences pared to humans and even on elves."

  I turned my paper to tinue drawing the seal as she spoke, my curiosity growing. "They’re more resilient. Adrihioned something about it once, but didn’t go into much detail."

  Syvis nodded, firming. "High Elves have distinct characteristics both externally and internally. They have a longer lifespan than on elves, go long periods without eating or sleeping, and their physical resilience is signifitly higher. While humans and on elves o eat every day, they typically eat once a week and go up to a month without eating if they choose. Additionally, they’re naturally more talented with magic, which gives them an advantage over any other type of mage. They use magic more fluidly and are exceptionally attuo the elements."

  "However, they only have the pnt and light elements," Viktor interjected. "This makes them less effective in offeacks pared to a human or on elf who trols, say, fire."

  I thought back to the times I’d seen Professor Adrihna in a. "But I've seen Professor Adrihna fight, and she's impressively strong in terms of attack."

  "She’s undoubtedly the best light mage around, thanks to her Special Eyes," Syvis expined. "That’s why Adrihna use the element in a far more offensive way. Most High Elves focus on protective barriers and creating structures. Sure, they form light ons and fire beams, but nothing pares to Adrihna's offensive power. She’s an exception for mastering light with sutensity."

  I was amazed to hear that, especially when Syvis added, "In fact, she even turned down an offer to bee an Inquisitor."

  My eyes widened. "She turned down being an Inquisitor?" Inquisitors were known as the most powerful and respected mages on the ti, the absolute elite. To knorofessor Adrihna had deed su invitation was, to say the least, astonishing.

  Maybe she just wao stay home reading, I thought, chug for a moment, knowing that could have been her reason for deing.

  I remembered the versations I’d had with Professor Adrihna, especially one involving Nathan. I had once asked Professor Adrihna if Nathan would i the trait of being uo fall in love, and she had reassured me that he wouldn’t, as he art human. I didn’t know whether to feel happy or frustrated about it—he seemed so clueless about feelings.

  I started ughing internally, recalling all the times I had flustered him, making his cheeks turn red.

  I hope the problem isn’t me... maybe he’s just a bit oblivious.

  Or... could it be that I’m actually too bold? If that's true... what does he think of me? I’ve probably just made things more plicated...

  I felt myself go pale at the thought.

  What if... he’s seehis whole time as some sort of... shameless girl?

  I was embarrassed just thinking about Nathan misjudging me for all those times I had acted impulsively to provoke him.