The training hall stood in silence. The artificial sky on the ceiling slowly "breathed" with a muted glow, and the water in the small lake barely stirred from the internal ventilation. Alex sat facing the mirror-like surface, his bare feet feeling the damp coolness of the grass. An exhale—long and even; an inhale—shorter, so as not to disrupt his concentration.
He spread his arms, palms up.
On his right wrist, the skin rose slightly, as if an invisible snake were stirring beneath it—and a thin ruby stream of blood, obedient to its master, burst from the vein and spiraled outward, merging into a sphere.
On his left palm, a black magical circle appeared, and from its center, soundless as night, a clot of darkness flowed out. It did not glow—on the contrary, it devoured light, making the space around it a shade darker. This sphere had no "pulse," but it had depth. Alex felt it like a bottomless well, and every movement of his thumb echoed inside with an icy resonance.
Alex slowly brought his hands closer together. According to the books—do not press, do not smash them together, but "introduce" them. Two different manas were like two different personalities. They needed time to grow accustomed to each other.
Blood responded first: the surface of the sphere stretched out with a red tongue, as if testing the temperature of the darkness. From the darkness rose a barely perceptible chill-haze; goosebumps spread across Alex's skin. He stopped the approach at a palm's distance, restraining each mass with his intent. The muscles of his forearms tightened, but his breathing remained steady—four heartbeats per inhale, six per exhale.
One minute. Two. Three.
The grass around his legs fell still, as if afraid to rustle. On the water, the circles from the ventilation stretched and vanished. In his right hand, the blood calmed its pulse to an almost even line; in his left, the darkness seemed to grow heavier.
Alex dared to reduce the distance by a few more millimeters.
The changes were subtle. At the edge of an invisible "buffer zone," something lightly popped in the air—not even a sound, more like a tiny collapse of silence. The blood tensed, losing its sheen. The darkness answered with a faint rasp, like sand on glass. For a moment, it felt as though they touched—not physically, but by "intent."
Another dozen breaths passed. Just barely—by a millimeter—the blood sphere leaned toward the shadow, and the darkness did not recoil, only settled more densely, like a cat before a leap. At the boundary of their future contact, right in the air, something new was born—a thread, impossibly thin. It trembled and rang soundlessly, like a string brushed ever so lightly.
Alex froze. This was exactly what he had seen for the first time in the Jester's garden before the explosion—a "resonant bridge," as a dry textbook chapter would have called it. Do not break it. Let it stabilize. Carefully.
"Just a little more," he whispered to himself, and against his own conclusions from yesterday, allowed his palms to draw closer by half a fingertip.
The string snapped taut.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. In the next, utterly silent fraction of a second, Alex managed to notice how the surface of the blood pierced the edge of the darkness; how a spark burst from the junction—not of light, but black-ruby, like a shard of twilight glass; how the thread-bridge split into two thinner spirals, and then—
Then came the explosion.
Alex felt an invisible sledgehammer slam into his chest, and the next instant he was lying on his back several meters from where he had been sitting.
His palms were once again covered in thin but deep cuts, from which tiny drops of blood still seeped. His skin burned, as if scorched by a heated blade. A dull roar filled his ears, like the distant sound of the sea, and his vision blurred, making the outlines of objects sway as though reflected in water.
He took several deep breaths, trying to reclaim the sense of his body. The world gradually stopped spinning, and his ears caught the faint hum of the training hall's ventilation. Propping himself up with one hand, Alex sat up and looked at his scarred palms.
A moment later, bright green magical circles appeared on them—at first as glowing outlines, then slowly releasing gentle warmth. The wounds began to close, the scars fading, leaving behind only a faint tingling.
"Are you all right, my Lord?" Siren's worried voice sounded in his head.
Alex gave a crooked smile and replied,
"I'm fine."
"You literally read yesterday that different manas need time to get used to one another. Why did you force them together the moment you saw that… 'resonant bridge'?"
"I didn't think it would explode instantly," Alex shrugged. "This time the bridge—or rather, the thread, because it looked more like a thread—seemed more distinct than the first time. I thought that was a good sign. So I tried."
He paused briefly and added,
"In any case, I got useful information. So the risk wasn't pointless."
"Just be careful," Siren insisted. "It's unknown when such an explosion might have more serious consequences than just scratched palms."
"Don't worry," Alex assured her more gently. "I'm not going to push the mana to the point of explosion again. If they need time, they'll get it. As much as they need. What matters is the result."
The light-green circles faded, and the skin on his hands was completely clean again. Alex exhaled carefully and was about to recreate both spheres when the doors of the training room flew open.
Adam entered—disheveled, sweat gleaming on his forehead, breathing heavily as if he had run the entire way.
When their gazes met, Alex raised a hand in a casual greeting and stood up from the grass. Adam did not wait—within a few steps he was beside him and suddenly pulled him into a hug.
Alex froze in confusion, his body instinctively tensing, but the next moment he heard a quiet, emotion-fractured whisper.
"It… it worked. Mom woke up. Thank you… thank you, thank you…"
Understanding flashed in Alex's eyes. He smiled softly and relaxed his shoulders.
"I'm glad the potion helped."
Adam released him, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and after taking a deep breath, spoke more confidently.
"Actually, I was looking for you to pass along important news. Tonight, Father is hosting a celebratory dinner in Mom's honor. You, Miss Elizabeth, and your parents are invited. Mom really wants to meet you all. And, by the way, you can't refuse."
Alex puffed out his cheeks theatrically and spread his hands.
"I wasn't planning to. I've wanted to meet Miss Luna for a long time. Besides, refusing an official invitation from a count would be, at the very least, rude."
Adam exhaled in relief and smiled.
"Good thing it was so easy to convince you."
"And if my parents are invited as well," Alex said thoughtfully, "then I should quickly go to them and pass the invitation on to Astarion."
Adam shook his head.
"That won't be necessary. Father already sent his butler to your home. All that was left for me was to deliver the invitation to you and Elizabeth. And I've completed that task."
He paused for a moment, then added with a hint of secrecy,
"By the way, the Ravenford family is invited as well. So you'll have a chance to meet Aria's and Demian's parents."
A sly smile spread across Alex's face.
"Wow, then why are you still here instead of running to Aria? She hasn't seen you in a while. During the last training session, she even asked me whether you were doing all right."
Adam flushed, frowned, and muttered,
"I already told her."
Seeing Alex raise an eyebrow, as if preparing a barbed remark, Adam quickly added,
"And I only did it because I knew exactly where she was. As for you—you could've been anywhere, so…"
Alex burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.
"And what's so funny?!" Adam protested, turning even redder.
"The fact that I didn't even get a word out, and you're already making excuses," Alex explained through his laughter. Then he sighed theatrically. "Am I really such a bad friend in your eyes?"
"No, of course not, it's just…"
Alex slung an arm over his shoulder.
"Don't worry so much. I just missed you, so I decided to get on your nerves a little. Keep you from getting too relaxed."
Adam replied with a smile already on his face,
"Sometimes you're even better at that than Aria. And… I'm glad to see you too."
Alex removed his hand from Adam's shoulder and headed back toward the little lake. Adam followed after him.
"So what have you been doing here since early morning?"
"Training."
"That much I can see," Adam snorted. "But this is the first time you've started this early."
Alex smiled lightly.
"What I'm trying to master requires a lot of time. So I decided to start as early as possible."
"And what exactly is that?" Adam raised his eyebrows.
Alex fell silent for a moment, gazing into the calm surface of the water. Then he answered,
"On the Jester's recommendation, I'm trying to combine blood magic and dark magic."
Adam raised his brows in surprise, a sharp glint of interest flashing in his eyes.
"Whoa… As far as I know, blood magic and darkness are among the most powerful. So if you really learn how to combine them… and at the same time use both blood and darkness…" He paused and added rhetorically, "Just how strong would that make you?"
Alex merely smiled faintly and shrugged carelessly.
"I want to find out myself."
Adam fell silent for a moment, thoughtfully staring at the water.
"If you succeed, then my already meager chances of catching up to you will shrink even more. They were almost zero as it was, and now… the gap will turn into an abyss."
Alex tilted his head and said gently but firmly,
"Don't jump to conclusions. You'll still have a chance to catch up to me, if it matters that much to you. For now, you need to focus on your training with Professor Light. And then—with your father."
Adam twisted his lips into a doubtful smile.
"Even that won't be enough."
"When the time comes," Alex replied softly, "I'll help you become stronger myself."
"How exactly?" Curiosity crept into Adam's voice. "Don't tell me it'll be endless training sessions again, only now under your supervision?"
Alex smiled slyly.
"Let that remain a secret."
Adam sighed heavily, as if resigning himself.
"Fine… Then tell me, how are things going with combining blood and darkness?"
"There is progress. Small, but it's there." He briefly recounted what he had learned from the books and from the Jester, and also described his first two attempts.
Adam listened attentively, occasionally nodding. When Alex finished, he said slowly,
"It sounds like I understand everything. Except for one thing… Was one explosion really not enough for you, that you decided to make another one?"
Alex turned his head toward him and looked at him with that very expression that could turn any face into a stone mask. His gaze was steady, cold, devoid of emotion, as though he were looking through Adam rather than at him.
"It was necessary," he replied calmly.
Adam folded his arms across his chest and nodded with the air of a sage, though mockery was clearly playing in his eyes.
"I'm sure it was."
He tilted his head to the side, studying Alex closely.
"Then show me what it actually looks like."
Alex only sighed, but without objection sat down on the grass by the lake. His palms lowered, his fingers relaxed. And a moment later, magical spheres began to form in the air.
The large back courtyard of Astarion's estate looked different this evening than it usually did. The tall stone walls entwined with ancient ivy seemed to retreat into the shadows, leaving space for light and warmth. Dozens of magical lanterns hung in the air as if frozen in a graceful dance—transparent spheres glowing softly. They swayed on invisible currents of air, bathing the courtyard alternately in golden and pale blue light, as though stars had descended from the heavens to watch the celebration up close.
At the center of the courtyard, paved with carefully tended stone, stood a long table of dark wood covered with a luxurious white tablecloth. Its surface bowed under the abundance of dishes: succulent roasted meats, platters of fragrant fruit, exquisite salads, and delicacies scented with spices, awakening the appetite even before the first sip of wine. Crystal goblets reflected the glow of the lanterns, as if playing with their glimmers, while silver cutlery shone with a pristine luster.
Along the edges of the courtyard, among flowerbeds and decorative shrubs, small fountains murmured softly—their thin streams caught the light and scattered it into tiny sparks. Everything around seemed harmonious, solemn, and at the same time cozy. The festive dinner breathed with the warmth of a family gathering, even within the walls of the ancient estate.
In the celebratory glow of the magical lanterns, the guests gathered in the courtyard looked as though they had stepped out of a living painting. Each drew attention in their own way, and together they formed a refined palette of colors, shades, and personalities.
Elizabeth, as always, stayed true to her style. Her long dress was a deep red, but this time restrained, without defiance, with elegant lines and a light train. The rich shade harmonized with her hair, emphasizing her composed beauty and nobility.
Emma chose a delicate light-blue dress that softly reflected the lantern light and suited her fair hair perfectly. The airy fabric fell in gentle waves, creating a sense of lightness and ease.
Gabriel looked serious yet balanced. A dark green shirt and black trousers lent his appearance restraint. His posture carried a sense of composure and quiet confidence that even the festive decorations could not conceal.
Alex and Adam appeared dressed in classic white shirts and black trousers. The simplicity of their attire only emphasized their natural confidence. Alex, with his ever-calm expression, seemed both a part of the gathering and someone standing slightly apart, while Adam radiated warmth and openness, instantly making him the center of attention among acquaintances.
Aria looked like a true young lady. She wore an elegant dress in a soft lilac shade, adorned with delicate lace along the edges. Her dark hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders, and she herself radiated lively energy and lightness that perfectly matched her appearance. Damian, meanwhile, had chosen a strict black suit with silver inlays on the lapels. The contrast of colors made his look more mature and solid than usual, fitting well with his serious gaze.
Astarion, the host of the evening, wore dark blue trousers and a white shirt. Restrained yet elegant, he radiated the confidence of the true master of the estate. His appearance was simple, but it was precisely in this simplicity that its perfection lay.
But the most glances were drawn to Luna. Tall and statuesque, she commanded attention the moment one looked at her. Long snow-white hair cascaded down to her waist, softly reflecting the glow of the magical spheres. Her deep violet eyes shone with warmth and, at the same time, a mysterious depth, while a dress of the same violet shade perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. There was something majestic and tender in her presence—strength and kindness woven into a single image.
Standing nearby were also Aria's and Damian's parents, the Ravenford couple. Their appearance could not go unnoticed. The father, Arthur Ravenford, was a tall man with short red hair and light stubble that added to his masculinity. His outfit consisted of a deep dark-gray jacket and a wine-red vest, which together created an image of reliability and strength. The mother, Celeste Ravenford, by contrast, radiated warmth. Her orange dress seemed to gather the colors of the evening sun, and her wavy brown hair fell softly over her shoulders. Her smile was calm, yet sincere and open.
Together, they formed a picture where colors, characters, and moods intertwined, as though this were not merely a celebration, but a symbol of families and friends coming together.
While conversations buzzed around him, Alex found himself alone for a moment, casting his gaze over the entire courtyard. The magical lanterns continued to flicker above the long table, casting soft reflections on the guests, and the night garden around them looked almost enchanted.
Alex noticed a familiar figure heading his way. He raised a hand in an easy greeting and smiled lightly.
"Good to see you, Astarion," he said without formality, as though greeting an old acquaintance.
Astarion responded with a slight smile, stopping beside him.
"And I'm glad to see you too, Alex. I hope my sudden invitation didn't throw off your training schedule."
"No. I managed to finish them before evening."
"Good…" the count replied quietly, and a brief pause hung between them. Then, inclining his head slightly, he continued, "You know, this evening became possible only thanks to you."
For the first time, his voice allowed the steel of restraint to slip. Notes of gratitude rang out clearly, sincerely.
"Thank you for giving my wife back to me… and Adam his mother. I will be eternally in your debt. You may come to me anytime, with any request."
Alex smiled gently and shook his head.
"What debts can there be between old friends?" he replied calmly. "For me, the greatest reward is already seeing your family together again. I need nothing more."
Astarion lifted his gaze, and a barely noticeable shadow flickered in his eyes—as though he did not wish to accept the refusal.
"Is there truly nothing at all I can do to repay you?" he asked, almost pleading.
Alex looked aside and paused for a moment on Adam's figure, laughing together with Aria and Damian.
"There is one thing," he said slowly. "Two weeks ago, Adam told me that in two months he will finish his training with Professor Light. After that, his education is supposed to be taken over by you, if he proves himself worthy."
Astarion listened attentively, his gaze also drifting toward his son.
"I have no doubt that he will manage," Alex continued. "So if you insist on granting my request… teach him everything you know yourself. Become the best teacher he could have."
The count returned his voice to its usual calm, but now there was a special weight in its evenness.
"If this is your wish… then I will give it my utmost effort, both as a father and as a mentor. I will make Adam into a warrior worthy of standing beside you."
He looked away for a moment, then sighed lightly.
"It seems I'm not the only one who wanted to speak with you," he added, noticing movement behind Alex. "We'll be able to continue later."
The count gave a brief bow and moved toward Arthur and Gabriel.
Alex turned his gaze back. Luna was approaching him. She smiled warmly, and in the flickering light her snow-white hair shimmered like moonlit spider silk. Her deep violet eyes met his bright crimson ones, and Alex felt a faint wave of satisfaction somewhere deep inside.
Luna approached at an unhurried pace, her long violet dress swaying softly with each step. Stopping before Alex, she inclined her head slightly, warmth flashing in the depths of her violet eyes.
"I'm glad to finally meet you, Alex. It is a great honor for me," she said in a melodic voice.
Alex inclined his head in return, choosing a restrained tone.
"The honor is mine as well, Miss Luna."
A gentle smile lit her gaze, and she gave a slight shake of her head.
"Please, there's no need for such formality. At least when we're speaking privately. In this short time, I've heard quite a few stories about you from Adam and Astarion, and I've formed the impression that you've become a close friend of our family. And if you allow yourself to be simply yourself even around my husband, then please, do the same with me."
Alex smiled more warmly, agreeing easily.
"If that's your wish, then all right. Especially since I've also heard many interesting things about you from Adam and the count. So I truly am glad to meet you."
He tilted his head slightly to the side, adding,
"How are you feeling after… such a long sleep?"
Luna looked surprised by the question for a moment, then smiled a little awkwardly.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect that to be the first thing you'd ask. The first few days were difficult: my body tired quickly, and I couldn't even move for long. But lightning mana quickly brought it back to normal, and now everything is fine."
"I'm glad to hear that," Alex replied sincerely.
Luna inclined her head once more, her voice becoming even gentler, with distinct notes of gratitude.
"And still, I want to thank you. It was you who found that potion… it's thanks to you that I can stand here now."
Alex gently but firmly asked,
"Please, raise your head. You yourself said that I've become a friend of your family. So how could I not help?"
She paused in thought for a moment, then asked carefully,
"Is there any way I could repay you for this?"
Alex sighed heavily in his mind, almost seeing a second Astarion standing before him. "An exact copy of the count… How good that Adam didn't inherit this habit—always repaying debts."
Out loud, he only said warmly,
"If you can truly enjoy the life you were given thanks to that potion, that will be more than enough for me."
Luna lifted her gaze to him, and for a moment sincere surprise flickered in her eyes. Adam said Alex is only fifteen… So why does it feel like I'm speaking with a grown man?
She merely smiled, straightened, and said,
"In that case, I will treasure this gift. And… if you ever find a free hour, I would like to meet again. Just to get to know each other better. If you've already become a friend to Adam and—surprisingly—even to Astarion, then I think we should become friends as well. What do you think?"
Alex nodded with a gentle smile.
"I would be very glad to. I'll be sure to contact you as soon as I have some free time. Though… I'm afraid that may not be anytime soon."
"I know," Luna laughed softly, her voice light and ringing. "You're quite a busy person for an ordinary student. But I'll wait as long as it takes."
"Thank you for your understanding," Alex replied.
"Well then, it truly was a pleasure speaking with you," she said gently. "But you still haven't met the Ravenfords. They're quite curious to see who it is that teaches their daughter blood magic."
She sighed heavily and added, almost in a whisper,
"I barely managed to convince Arthur to give me a little time to speak with you first. But it's better not to keep him waiting. If Aria's temper seems fiery to you, then Arthur's…"
She didn't finish, because a low male voice full of playful notes came from the side.
"And just what is my dear friend trying to say so secretly to young Alex?"
Alex and Luna turned toward the voice in unison and saw Arthur approaching them with a sly smile.
"You imagined it," Luna replied dryly, pretending nothing had happened. "And in general, eavesdropping on other people's conversations is impolite. Although… manners and you, Arthur, rarely meet."
For a moment, a shadow of irritation crossed Arthur's face, but he almost immediately hid it behind a smile.
"You slept for twelve years, and you still know exactly how to annoy me."
"And you missed it, admit it," Luna shot back, smiling as sincerely as if she'd just been praised.
"Me? Never," Arthur waved it off, snorting slightly with affected superiority.
Luna narrowed her eyes and looked straight at him, as if trying to burn a hole through him with her gaze. Arthur merely clicked his tongue, adding a touch of pride to his voice.
"Well… maybe a little. But only because you truly have a talent for it."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Luna smiled even wider. "Even if I had to practically drag it out of you."
"And for the record, I wasn't eavesdropping," Arthur finally said more calmly. "I was just walking by. And precisely at the moment when you whispered my name. And if you were whispering, I doubt you meant to say anything nice about me."
Luna crossed her arms over her chest in indignation.
"How could you think I would ever put my dear friend in a bad light?"
She turned her gaze to Alex.
"Right, Alex? I only said that Arthur would like to meet you."
Alex barely managed to hold back a smile that was already threatening to break free, and answered with an almost imperceptible laugh in his voice,
"That's exactly how it was."
Alex looked at Arthur and added,
"Miss Luna was just about to excuse me so I could properly meet you and Miss Celeste."
Arthur scrutinized Alex first, then Luna, trying to read deceit on their faces. Finding nothing suspicious, he let out a heavy breath.
"Perhaps I really did overreact."
"Finally admitted it," Luna said with satisfaction, taking a step back. "Well then, I'll leave you two to talk."
She gave Alex one more warm smile, then turned and headed toward Astarion, Celeste, Emma, and Gabriel.
Alex followed her with a brief glance, but immediately looked away when he heard Arthur's light laughter.
"I don't want to upset you, kid," Arthur said with a sly grin, "but Luna is a married woman. No matter how hard you try to charm her, you don't stand a chance."
Alex was so taken aback that his eyes darted about, as if searching for any possible response. But Arthur clapped him on the shoulder and burst out laughing.
"I'm joking! Relax. What, don't you understand jokes?"
Alex quickly pulled himself together and replied evenly,
"I understand jokes perfectly well. It's just that your comment… stunned me rather than amused me."
"Hm. Looks like we didn't start off on the right foot," Arthur clicked his tongue again. "Let's pretend none of that happened."
He extended his hand.
"Arthur Ravenford."
Alex shook it with a slight nod.
"Alex Bledhart."
When their hands parted, Arthur finally smiled for real.
"Now that's a proper introduction."
Arthur narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, as if studying Alex.
"So you're the one teaching Aria…" he said slowly. "I'll admit, I never imagined that my daughter would be taught one of the most difficult forms of magic by a seventeen-year-old boy."
Alex met his gaze calmly.
"And so… are you disappointed?"
Arthur repeated the word, as if weighing it, then snorted.
"Disappointed? No. When Aria first told me about it—rather angrily, at that—I was more confused than anything. I couldn't understand what Elizabeth was thinking when she decided to make you my daughter's teacher. But no matter how you look at it, she's the Academy's Headmistress. She knew exactly what she was doing. So I decided to trust her and wait for the results."
Alex inclined his head slightly.
"And how do you find the results?"
A satisfied smile appeared on Arthur's lips.
"Impressive. In one year, Aria achieved what took me two. Yes, Elizabeth laid the foundation, but you… you managed to realize her potential properly. Which means you truly are worthy of being my daughter's teacher."
Alex answered with a warm smile.
"It means a great deal to hear that from you. If you're satisfied with Aria's results as a father, then my efforts haven't been in vain. She has talent; I'm merely guiding it in the right direction."
"Talent," Arthur stretched the word smugly. "Of course. She inherited my genes. They're what awakened that gift in her."
Alex almost laughed at the comment but managed to restrain himself, while Arthur continued,
"And your work shouldn't be underestimated either. Especially considering that Aria is your very first student."
He took a short breath and then added in a completely different tone—lively, animated,
"My daughter has become much stronger. At times our duels turn into a real trial even for me. I have to push myself harder and harder, and I'll admit, it makes my blood run cold. And do you know where I'm going with this?"
Alex looked at him attentively.
"You want… a duel with me?"
Arthur's smile took on a clear note of challenge.
"Exactly. Of course, not right now. But in the future, I want to personally test my daughter's teacher. So, Alex… are you ready to accept my proposal?"
An ironic thought flashed through Alex's mind: In one evening, I've already received an invitation to a conversation from Luna, and now a duel challenge from Arthur. Still, I perfectly understood a father's desire to test the one teaching his child. Refusing would be foolish.
"I accept your challenge," he said confidently.
"Ha!" Arthur laughed. "For a moment, I thought you might refuse. I'm glad you didn't disappoint me."
He inclined his head a little more seriously.
"Even though we've agreed, we won't be able to arrange the duel in the coming days. Too much work. But as soon as I have some free time, I'll contact you myself."
"I'll be waiting," Alex replied calmly.
Arthur gave a short laugh.
"I like your attitude, boy. I'm glad we met. But now…" He narrowed his eyes slyly. "Now you need to meet my wife. Otherwise, Celeste will eat me alive if I keep you for even another minute."
Alex shifted his gaze to the woman who was speaking with his mother at that very moment and said with a faint smile,
"She looks rather busy. I doubt she'd be offended if you kept me a little longer."
"Ha! You only say that because you don't know my wife," Arthur laughed. "Believe me, I've already caught her formidable glare more than once. If you feel even a little sorry for me—go and save me from her wrath."
Alex replied with light mockery,
"Well, otherwise Aria will eat me alive instead, so I suppose I'll have to save you."
With that, he left Arthur and headed toward Emma and Celeste, who were standing slightly apart from the rest of the group. Emma was telling Celeste something, and judging by the latter's warm smile, they were genuinely enjoying the conversation.
"Mom," Alex said softly as he approached. "Am I interrupting?"
Emma turned to him with a kind smile.
"Oh, dear, not at all. We were just talking with Mrs. Ravenford about the Academy."
Celeste, who had been listening attentively to Emma, shifted her gaze to Alex. There wasn't a trace of tension in her eyes—only a warm spark of interest.
"So this must be Aria's teacher, the one I've heard so many good things about," she said in a gentle voice.
Alex bowed politely.
"Alex. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Celeste."
"The pleasure is mine."
Emma smiled at her son, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I think I'll leave you two alone. Otherwise your new acquaintance might think a mother won't let you out of her sight." She nodded lightly to Celeste. "And in the meantime, I'll go find Elizabeth and Astarion."
Celeste inclined her head politely.
"I'd be happy to continue our conversation later."
"Of course," Emma replied, casting one more warm glance at her son before calmly heading toward the group where her husband, Elizabeth, and the count himself were standing.
"So," Celeste said, studying the boy carefully, "this is what my daughter's teacher looks like."
There was neither irony nor doubt in her voice—only gentle interest, as if she wanted to learn not about Alex's power or status, but about him as a person.
Alex sensed that tone and answered with a warm, sincere smile,
"I hope Aria hasn't complained about me too much?"
Celeste laughed lightly—quietly, but very sincerely.
"You know my daughter. She could complain even about the sun if it were shining at the wrong angle. But this time… there were fewer complaints than I expected. She's always complained about the various teachers we found for her. The only exception was Elizabeth… and you, which truly surprised me. And that's enough for me to understand that my daughter is in the right hands."
Alex tilted his head slightly, a bit embarrassed, but smiled.
"To be honest, I think Aria is very strong on her own. She has a talent for manipulating blood. I'm only helping her unlock it properly."
Celeste looked at him longer than was customary in casual conversation. There was a distinctly feminine wisdom in her gaze—the kind that makes one feel as though they're being seen straight through.
"You speak like a grown man, Alex," she said quietly. "But you're only seventeen, aren't you?"
"Seventeen," he confirmed with a faint smile. "Though I suppose the past year forced me to grow up faster."
Celeste nodded, as if acknowledging his words, and something warm—almost maternal—flickered in her smile.
"I'm grateful to you," she said. "For the fact that Aria is learning from you not only magic. I can see she's changing. Becoming calmer. And at the same time—stronger. As a mother, that means a great deal to me."
Alex was a little taken aback by such a frank confession, but he replied sincerely,
"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Celeste."
She lightly touched his hand with her fingertips—a gesture free of formality, filled only with sincerity.
"Just keep being the guiding presence for her that you already seem to have become."
Alex wanted to respond, but at that moment Aria's clear, ringing voice sounded nearby,
"Alex!"
She was approaching together with Adam, smiling.
"I hope you've talked enough with my parents and are now ready to spare a crumb of your precious time for us."
Adam, smiling lightly, turned his gaze to Celeste.
"Sorry for interrupting so abruptly, but we really need Alex for something."
Celeste smiled warmly and stepped aside.
"All right, all right," she said. "I won't interfere. But, Alex, I hope we'll still have time to talk again."
"Definitely," he replied with a smile, after which he left together with his friends.
When they had moved a safe distance away from Celeste, Alex looked at both of them with curiosity and said,
"So why did you need me so urgently?"
Adam shrugged carelessly.
"Honestly? For nothing. We just decided to pull you out of that endless line of formal conversations with adults."
Aria added with a sly smile,
"You should be grateful to us. If we hadn't done that, someone else 'important' would have intercepted you and buried you under boring questions again. And that's it—the evening would've passed you by, and you wouldn't have had a chance to actually enjoy it."
Alex laughed.
"To be fair, talking to your parents was quite pleasant."
Aria rolled her eyes theatrically and sighed heavily.
"I have no doubt."
Hiding his smile, Alex changed the subject.
"By the way, where's Demian?"
Adam smiled faintly and nodded to the side.
"The poor guy is stuck in a conversation with Luna and Arthur. Now we need to rescue him too. He's literally caught between two fires over there."
Alex's smile spread wider than it had all evening. For the first time, he allowed himself to drop all the formal manners he had been holding onto and simply laughed out loud.
"Well then, let's go," he said, feeling a pleasant lightness. "Let's free our hero."
He followed Adam and Aria, with every step feeling that the evening was finally becoming a real celebration rather than a formality.
While laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the backyard, while voices and conversations intertwined around the long table and an atmosphere of warmth hung in the air, no one even suspected that the celebration was not private at all.
High in the night sky, among a scattering of dim stars, a small magical sphere drifted silently. Its transparent surface rippled with gentle waves, like a reflection on water, transmitting every movement, every smile, and every spark of light from Astarion's estate to somewhere far away.
In another place, hidden from prying eyes, a man leaned over an artifact, peering intently at the image. His lips slowly stretched into a smile, and his voice drawled, savoring every word,
"What a pleasant evening… Everyone is talking, celebrating, drinking, and laughing. And all of it thanks to the awakening… of Luna."
He repeated her name several times, each time changing the intonation—now saturating his voice with poisonous admiration, now with mocking sarcasm.
"Luna, Luna, Luna… And how did it happen that she didn't invite me to this little family celebration? Did she forget? Or did Astarion insist again?"
The man laughed, and his laughter was hollow, echoing, as if there were nothing inside him but malice.
"Too beautiful a picture," he whispered, squeezing the artifact in his hand. "So beautiful it's almost sickening."
His eyes flared with cold fire.
"I suppose it's time to remind old friends that I still exist…"
For a moment, he fell silent, as if truly considering his own words.
"Although… am I really ready to ruin a celebration held in honor of my childhood friend's awakening?"
Then he suddenly burst into laughter again—loud and wild.
"Ha-ha-ha! Of course I am!"
His laughter echoed through the darkness for a long time, while the magical sphere continued to transmit the image of a happy evening, one that was about to be interrupted by the interference of an unwelcome guest.