Lancel's first impression of Duchess Prelati was that she was small.
Now he understood where Ishtar had gotten her features from. The two looked almost identical. The only difference was that, for some reason, Duchess Prelati kept her eyes closed.
At that moment, as if answering his unspoken question, Ishtar leaned in and whispered.
"Master keeps her eyes closed so her mana doesn't spiral out of control."
"Out of control?"
"Yes," Ishtar replied with a nod. "It's far beyond what any witch can properly contain. Try focusing on her."
Lancel turned his gaze back to Duchess Prelati and concentrated. He poured mana into his eyes, sharpening his perception, trying to see what Ishtar wanted him to notice.
"…She's leaking mana," he murmured. "And not just a little… that's a ridiculous amount."
"That's right," Ishtar said. "What you're seeing now… that's her in a suppressed state."
That typically shouldn't happen.
