(Lina pov)
As far back as I can remember, I've always liked books more than people. Reading is easy—quiet, safe. Talking… not so much. Words get stuck in my throat, and making friends has never been simple.
Maybe that's why I started watching Evelyn.
The first time was an accident—I stumbled upon her training in the clearing behind her house. She swung her sword again and again with such focus, as if the world itself disappeared around her. I couldn't look away. After that, I made it a habit. Every day, I'd sneak there, just to watch.
Evelyn always seems to know exactly what she wants. Her path feels clear, sharp, like a blade. Mine? …I don't even know if I have one. If it weren't for my brother bringing me books from the city, I'd still be completely lost. He's like Evelyn's brother, training to be a knight. Strong, determined, sure of himself.
Unlike me.
I was furious when Marcus blurted out that I'd reached Stage One. That was supposed to be my secret to share with Evelyn, in my own time. But since our houses are close, he found out first. Typical Marcus.
At first, I thought Evelyn only knew about fighting. She always carried herself like a warrior. But then she surprised me. She created a magic staff out of thin air, handed it to me, and showed me how to cast a fireball. My very first fireball.
I can't lie… I was happy. Really happy. Even if she only knows a handful of spells—Fireball, Minor Heal, and Heal—it felt like she was opening a door for me.
Still, curiosity got the better of me.
"Why fireball?" I asked her one day. "Of all the spells you could've chosen, why that one?"
Her answer… it shook me.
"Because I want to create an artificial sun," she said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I nearly dropped my staff.
"Do you have any idea how reckless that sounds? How dangerous?"
But Evelyn only smiled at me, a little sheepishly.
"I managed to make one once. Only about the size of my thumb. It ate up almost all my mana. It lasted five seconds before collapsing in on itself. The suction it made… if it had lasted longer, it could've destroyed everything around me."
Her words echoed in my head long after.
A spell that collapses on itself. A suction force strong enough to tear things apart. My heart raced as the thought struck me—did Evelyn just casually create a black hole spell?
From what I've read, countless mages have tried to replicate that spell ever since the first hero used it. None succeeded. It's considered impossible.
And yet… Evelyn, at ten years old, spoke of it like an experiment she'd tried on a whim.
Walking home that evening, my thoughts wouldn't settle.
Is Evelyn a genius?
Or is she just absurdly, terrifyingly lucky?
Either way, she's nothing like anyone I've ever known.