Corvin entered his study with Valyne's delicate hand still linked to his forearm. He guided her toward the large sofa and sat down comfortably, his posture relaxed, while she remained standing before him, her expression caught between awe and confusion. He let the silence linger, giving her the space she needed to gather her thoughts. At last, Valyne inhaled deeply, her lovely turquoise gaze locking onto his. She looked as if she were carrying the weight of two worlds on her shoulders, torn between wonder and fear.
"How?" she whispered at last. "How is it possible that you fed my mana core to the limit, so much that I ascended without ever entering the meditative state? That should not even be possible."
Corvin's lips curved into a faint smile, calm as ever. "You are still not bound to me, my dear," he said evenly. "The oaths you swore upon entering the Arcanum still hold your leash. They keep you from standing fully at my side, no matter what your heart may want."
