As she crossed the threshold of the Sorell mansion, Elyandra felt as if she had stepped into a living vault.
If the external facade already proclaimed opulence, the interior elevated it to another level. The polished marble floor reflected the light from the crystal chandeliers like a lake of trapped stars. Tapestries embroidered with gold and silver threads narrated the glory of House Sorell in meticulous detail. Alabaster sculptures captured the light in an ethereal way, while rare porcelain vases displayed arrangements of exotic flowers whose colors seemed to defy nature itself.
The air carried a subtle scent of noble wood, mild incense, and the freshness of well-tended indoor gardens. Every detail screamed wealth and power—even the silence seemed to have monetary value.
Elyandra walked beside her parents, with Siris following closely behind. Her golden eyes scanned the environment with calculated attention, absorbing every detail like someone mapping a new board before making the first move.
They were greeted by a row of impeccably uniformed servants who bowed deeply.
— Raise your heads — Lord Vaelric ordered, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
At that same moment, the Marquess of Sorell appeared, a polite smile on his lips and a calculated glint in his eyes.
— My dear Lord Valemortis, with all due respect, allow me to disagree. Your benevolence is admirable, but we must always remember the distinction between hierarchies. Order is the foundation of our society.
Vaelric raised an eyebrow, his cold gaze meeting the Marquess's.
— I am perfectly aware of the caste structure that governs the Empire, Marquess. I know how to distinguish a noble from a commoner and understand the importance of order. However, I also know how to treat people with due consideration, regardless of their position. And, believe me, I am well aware of exactly what kind of hierarchy I find myself in at this moment.
The Marquess let out a low laugh, attempting to dissipate the slight tension.
— Ah, your frankness is refreshing! But I digress. We have weightier matters to discuss. How about we retire to my study? There are maps and reports that will certainly interest you, especially regarding recent movements on the borders and the finances necessary to maintain our defenses.
Vaelric nodded and turned to his wife.
— Altheria, my dear, would you join us? Your insight into these matters has always been invaluable.
Lady Altheria smiled gently before turning to her daughter.
— Darling, we will be absent for a few moments. Be a good girl and remember the manners you've been taught, especially under the roof of another noble house.
She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Elyandra's forehead. Then, she cast a significant look at Siris, who responded with a discreet nod and a warm smile, promising constant vigilance.
As soon as the adults moved away down the side corridor, Elyandra remained still, a whirlwind of thoughts already in motion.
"Eavesdropping on that conversation would be extremely advantageous... perhaps I can catch some crucial information about the true intentions behind this visit."
Before she could take a single step toward her parents, two familiar voices sounded behind her.
— Lady Elyandra!
Turning around, she found Arcturus of Sorell with a radiant smile and, beside him, Callen Leonhart. Arcturus held her hand with genuine enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling.
— It's good to see you here! I'm so happy you came!
Frustration bubbled subtly behind Elyandra's serene facade. Her plans to follow her parents and catch fragments of political talk were slipping through her fingers. Still, her face remained flawless—the polite smile, the perfect posture, the image of an exemplary young noble.
— Lord Arcturus — she replied in a soft, melodious voice, delicately withdrawing her hand. — I have been very well, thank you for asking. And congratulations on your acceptance into the Royal Academy of Magic. Eighty-five percent is a quite... impressive score.
Arcturus puffed out his chest with pride.
— It was quite easy, to be honest! The exams were a bit basic. And Callen passed too! He's incredibly smart, though he doesn't like to brag.
Callen limited himself to a light nod, his expression reserved as always.
— That is excellent news for you both — Elyandra commented, keeping her tone balanced. — I haven't taken the exams yet, but I intend to do so soon.
"Two more future competitors in my path... or perhaps allies? It depends on how the game unfolds. Arcturus seems like pure energy, easy to direct if used correctly. Callen... he remains a more interesting enigma. Intelligent, reserved, with that strategic spark I noticed during the chess match. If I polish him well, he could be a great help."
Siris remained a few steps back, a soft and enigmatic smile on her lips, watching the scene like someone watching a play.
Arcturus's energy, however, did not allow the conversation to remain formal for long.
— Lady Elyandra! Since we're here, how about we go to the courtyard? The Sorell gardens are incredible! There's a huge hedge maze and... oh! I brought enchanted soap bubbles! We can play for a bit before dinner!
Without waiting for an answer, Arcturus grabbed her hand again and began pulling her with youthful enthusiasm. Elyandra was dragged a few steps, maintaining her composure by a thread while an almost imperceptible roll of her eyes betrayed her inner self.
"Children... they are like small hurricanes of spontaneity. Logic and strategy are often swept away by sudden impulses. But... perhaps there is something to be learned from this unpredictability."
With a polite smile, Elyandra followed the blonde boy through the marble corridor, with Callen accompanying them in silence and Siris maintaining a discreet distance.
The courtyard was an extensive and impeccable garden, with winding paths between vibrant flowerbeds, classical sculptures, and an ornate fountain that gushed crystal-clear water. The air, scented with roses and lavender, enveloped everything.
Arcturus handed Elyandra a small iridescent vial and a light ring.
— Look! They're enchanted bubbles! They glow with all the colors of the rainbow and last much longer than normal ones! Try it!
Elyandra took the objects with studied caution, as if handling an unstable artifact. She dipped the ring into the liquid and blew softly. The bubble burst instantly. Arcturus laughed, carefree.
— You need to blow with more style! Like this, look!
He demonstrated, creating a large, glowing bubble that floated through the air. Elyandra tried again. Another bubble burst. Furrowing her brow slightly in concentration, she persisted, her lips forming an almost martial pout. The scene was a comic contrast: the energetic boy trying to teach the impeccably poised noble the simple art of making enchanted bubbles.
In the distance, leaning against an ivy-covered pillar, Callen watched everything in silence. His neutral expression hid a sharp attention, especially when his eyes fixed on Elyandra. Siris, for her part, kept a soft and mischievous smile, clearly enjoying the more childish and disconcerted side of the little Valemortis.
After several frustrated attempts, Elyandra managed to create a bubble that floated for a few seconds before bursting. A small smile—almost involuntary—appeared on her lips.
— Hm. Interesting... — she murmured, still maintaining her formal tone.
Arcturus clapped his hands, radiant.
— See? You did it! Let's make a giant bubble now!
The boy's vibrant energy was starting to take its toll. Internally, Elyandra felt her reserves draining quickly.
"My God... where does he get so much energy? It's as if he swallowed a lightning bolt. I can barely keep my eyes open and he's still jumping as if the day has just begun. I urgently need a break."
Siris, a perceptive observer, noticed the girl's growing effort. With silent grace, she approached the group.
— Lord Arcturus — she said in a soft, melodic voice —, forgive me for interrupting the fun, but perhaps it is a good time for Lady Elyandra to review some concepts. The Academy exams are approaching, and a little study is never too much, is it?
Elyandra caught the cue instantly. Her eyes met Siris's for a fraction of a second, conveying silent gratitude.
— Oh, yes! Siris is right — she agreed, forcing a discreet yawn and bringing her hand to her forehead with an air of slight exhaustion. — The exams... they are really worrying me a bit. Perhaps a brief moment of study will help me clear my mind.
Arcturus seemed disappointed, but his kindness prevailed.
— Oh, of course! Studying is important! But we can play later, right?
Callen, who had been watching everything in silence, noticed Elyandra's genuine interest in the exams. An idea began to form in his mind—an opportunity to get closer to her in a different way. Before he could speak, Arcturus exclaimed:
— I can help Lady Elyandra study! I've already taken the test and did very well! I can explain everything! And Callen can help too! He's super smart!
Callen was caught by surprise but maintained his reserved expression. His eyes met Elyandra's for a brief moment. Elyandra offered a grateful smile to Arcturus, seizing the chance to escape the boy's overwhelming energy.
— That would be very kind of you, Lord Arcturus. Perhaps we can find a quieter place to review some topics.
With a final complicit look at Siris, Elyandra allowed Arcturus to guide her inside the mansion, leaving Callen behind, watching them walk away with an expression that mixed resignation and slight disappointment.
The House Sorell library was a treasure in itself. Shelves of exotic woods curved under the weight of volumes bound in rich leather. The aroma of ancient parchment, ink, and oriental spices filled the air.
What really captured Elyandra's attention, however, was the section dedicated to trade and finance. Treatises on merchant routes, foreign market analyses, compendiums of tax laws... a true feast for her strategic mind. Her golden eyes shone with an almost feverish intensity. She moved between the shelves with surprising agility, delicate fingers sliding across the spines as if caressing rare jewels. A genuine smile—rare on her controlled countenance—lit up her face.
"Oh, heavens... 'The Fluctuations of the Xylos Spice Market'... I must read this immediately. And there! 'The Art of Negotiation with the Desert Clans'... fascinating! And that volume bound in dragon leather... 'The Secrets of the Royal Accounting of Azmar'! It's like an intellectual amusement park!"
Elyandra practically danced between the shelves, picking up a book, leafing through it with greed, devouring entire paragraphs in seconds before moving to the next. A murmur of excitement escaped her lips every now and then. Arcturus, who followed her, stood a little way off, eyes wide.
— Wow... — he murmured. — She... she became completely different all of a sudden! She looked so tired a moment ago, and now... it looks like she found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Siris let out a soft laugh.
— Lady Elyandra has this peculiarity, Lord Arcturus. When she finds something that truly interests her, her energy seems to have no limits. It is quite... interesting to observe.
Callen watched the scene in silence, his cold expression replaced by genuine curiosity. He followed Elyandra's every quick movement, trying to decipher the source of that sudden animation. To the three of them, the scene was almost surreal: the small white-haired figure moving with speed between the shelves, gathering books with voracity, like a squirrel hungry for knowledge.
Elyandra finally stopped at a mahogany table, surrounded by a pile of volumes on economics, trade, and finance. Her fingers danced through the pages, her mind buzzing with strategies, trade flows, embargos, and market manipulations. A purely intellectual ecstasy enveloped her.
Finally, she closed the last volume with a satisfied sigh, a slightly egocentric smile curving her lips.
— Truly, commerce is a complex gear... — she murmured to herself, eyes shining. — But when used well, it can open unimaginable doors.
Only then did she notice the passage of time. She looked up and saw Siris standing a few steps away, loyal and patient as always. In front of her, leaning over the table, Callen was fast asleep, his head resting on his crossed arms, a few dark strands of hair falling over his forehead.
— This is certainly not the expected scene of someone with noble pretensions — Elyandra commented, with a slight, amused tone.
Siris approached softly.
— He accompanied you in your reading, Lady Elyandra. He remained watching you, page by page, until sleep got the better of him.
Elyandra observed Callen for a moment, her mind at work.
"He stayed there... watching me while I read? Why? What was the reason for such attention? Was he really interested in the books... or was there something else in his gaze while I was absorbed?"
The mystery of Callen's silent observation hung in the library air, adding a new layer of intrigue to the encounter at House Sorell.