At dusk in the living room of the residence where Aria lived, Evans and Aria were sitting on a sofa, he was wearing a comfortable white sweater with short sleeves and black pants, Aria on the other hand was wearing a simple pastel purple dress. Evans noticed Aria reading, waited a few seconds and called out to her.
-Aria. -She looked at her brother curiously.
Evans subtly waved his left hand causing all the lights in the room to go out, Aria was startled and clung to Evans' arm.
-Aria, why are you scared? You're a wizard. -Evans told her warmly.
-It was dark, I'm sorry. -Aria replied a little embarrassed and then created three stars of light while flashing her smirk.
-That's right, a wizard is due to his judgment, judgment comes from ideas. -Evans waved his hand and made the lights in the hall of the residence come back on. -A wizard not only accumulates knowledge, he must learn to apply it.
Evans stopped, he observed Aria while he thought, "does this little girl understand my words or is she just watching me?", as he did not want to misguide Aria he preferred to ask her:
-Aria, do you like magic?
-Yes, magic is fun. -She answered enthusiastically.
-How about the book? Is there anything you don't understand? -Evans asked.
Aria pulled out of her ring the first book on basic magic that Evans had given her, showed him one of the middle pages, then with a whimsical tone she said:
-I can't activate it. I think something is wrong...
"Wow, you figured it out; it's a basic magic circle that's imperfect, it's a way for you to apply what you learned."
-What's wrong? -Evans asked.
Aria who looked thoughtful, pouted and in a whimsical tone somewhat angrily told him:
-My brother can't be wrong.
Evans laughed, stroked Aria's glossy black hair and said:
-This book is just a test, you will learn, but you must also apply what you have learned, that circle is made for you to correct, so I can evaluate how much you have learned. -He paused when he saw how capricious Aria seemed, sighed and continued. -Aria, you must point out the mistake and correct it.
In the end Aria ended up nodding, immediately erased two magic formulas, placed a formula and a magic symbol, infused mana to the magic circle activating the spell from which emerged two jumping rabbits formed by light that roamed the environment to disappear a few minutes later.
-That's the magic you used that time! -Aria exclaimed with her eyes shining with excitement.
"It's actually a technique of controlling the flow of mana and magical energy; but yes, I know you've seen it before."
-Yes, you're right; but, the goal is for you to learn and understand the nature and function of this magic circle.
Aria nodded and spent the rest of the night activating the magic circle causing different animal shapes to come out depending on the symbols it replaced, exceeding Evans' expectations, when she was already tired Ana appeared to take her to her room.
••••
Later that night, Evans sat in the center of his room, he took out of his ring the Superior level elixir that he had obtained by improving the compound magic circle that Professor Raneira had assigned to them.
The liquid inside the vial was bright and pure of a light blue color, after observing it, he couldn't help but think, "It is slightly inferior to the elixir Amelia gifted me, the imperial family must have an excellent alchemist."
Evans drank the elixir and felt the mana circulate rapidly and violently through his mana channels. Evans was unfazed, though suffering in silence, he carefully conducted the absorbed mana into his third circle of mana to coat and consolidate it. Once you consolidated a magic circle you were not only one step away from the next circle, you also achieved faster, steadier and more powerful spell activation.
----
"Who are you Evans Qualty?"
Bang!
A magical slash of cutting mana was etched into one of the sturdy walls of the private room the warriors used to seclude themselves.
-You are very different from what my dreams showed me; you are even dragging some of my enemies to your side. You were already dead when she took our marquisate. What happened?
Bang!
A magical lunge left a crater in the wall with a radius of one meter.
Asert sat on the edge of a single bed with white sheets, put away his sword and pulled out one of the mid-level healing elixirs given to him by the Academy upon seclusion.
"I don't know why you're acting like this; but if you get in my way you'll pay for it."
A look full of resentment appeared on Asert's face, then he closed his eyes and began to circulate the elixir through his body.
••••
One week later. The circle of mana was consolidating.
"I hope this damn world burns to the ground."
In Evans' mind flashed the words the real Evans thought the tragic night he lost his wife and son.
Then the words he said to the real Evans:
-I want revenge too. i will help you.
After that memory his mind went even further, now he heard an audience celebrating, judging, insulting and condemning.
Kill her!
Yesssssssss!
Burn her!
The traces of what was once human burned in intense flames. Now the rancor was not Evans', it was his own, but it was the similarity of feeling that drew him to Evans. The spirit stirs, its circle consolidated, Evans opens his eyes and keeps his energy from surging as he mutters with a grim look:
-Not yet; but now I'm sorry; I lost something I wasn't supposed to lose; no, it was taken from me. I will not forgive, ever.
----
With two days to go until the auction, a beautiful and imposing ship arrives at the port of Academy Island, its classic style, with imposing green sails, makes it easy to recognize.
The Pintado!
YES, it's the Pintado!
A holy lord; only holy lords travel on El Pintado!
There was no lack of murmurs.
The Stariar Academy instructors approached the harbor, more than thirty of them, the flagship of the Sacred Temple of the Sun had docked at the pier.