Chapter Eight – The Whisper in the Woods
The following morning, the sky was still gray from last night's rain.
Aveline stood by her window, brushing her hair while Sylph hovered near the sill, watching droplets slide down the glass.
> "You didn't sleep again," Sylph said.
"I rested… a little," Aveline replied, tying her ribbon.
"You call that resting?"
"I had to log my progress. The synchronization rate increased."
Sylph sighed. "At this rate, you'll reach level four before your next birthday."
Aveline smirked slightly. "That's the plan."
She finished getting dressed and headed downstairs. Her parents were already having breakfast.
Her father looked up from his newspaper. "Morning, Aveline."
"Morning, Father."
"Sleep well?"
"Yes," she lied easily, sitting down.
Duchess Selina poured her some tea, smiling warmly.
> "You've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately," her mother said.
"It's peaceful there," Aveline replied, keeping her voice steady.
"I see. Just… don't wander too far. The forest isn't safe after the rain."
"I won't, Mother."
Her father said nothing more, but Aveline felt his eyes on her for a moment longer than usual.
---
A Normal Day, Almost
The day passed normally.
Lessons, lunch, more lessons.
Aveline tried to act like a regular noble child — polite, focused, ordinary.
But her mind wasn't on her handwriting or arithmetic.
Her thoughts kept drifting toward the forest beyond the estate wall — the one her mother warned her about.
Something had changed there last night.
She could feel it.
The mana in the air had shifted, faint but undeniable.
When her tutor dismissed class in the late afternoon, Aveline didn't go to her room.
She slipped out the back door instead, her boots barely making a sound on the wet grass.
---
Into the Woods
The forest was still damp, smelling of earth and rain.
Sylph appeared beside her shoulder, crossing her tiny arms.
> "You know you're not supposed to be here."
"We've done worse," Aveline whispered.
"That's not reassuring."
Aveline ignored her and kept walking. The deeper she went, the stronger the pull became — like the air itself was calling to her.
Small lights flickered between the trees — not fireflies, but traces of mana reacting to her presence.
> "System, scan for anomalies," she whispered.
[Detecting… Unidentified Mana Signature. 200 meters north.]
Aveline tightened her grip on her small dagger — a keepsake gift from her father.
She didn't expect to fight, but she wasn't careless either.
---
The Encounter
When she reached the clearing, she froze.
A creature stood there — tall as a horse, its body covered in silver fur that shimmered faintly even in the dim light.
Its eyes glowed a deep blue, like calm water under the moon.
A single curved horn jutted from its forehead, glowing faintly with mana.
Sylph's voice dropped to a whisper.
> "That… that's not from this region."
"What is it?"
"A Lumivorn. A creature of ancient forests. Extinct for hundreds of years."
The beast tilted its head, watching Aveline quietly.
It didn't move to attack. Instead, it took one step forward, then another, until it stood only a few feet away.
Aveline held her breath.
The air around her shimmered faintly — her mana reacting to its presence.
> "Are you… drawn to me?" she asked softly.
The Lumivorn lowered its head. A pulse of energy flowed out from it, brushing against her like a wave of warmth.
The System chimed faintly in her mind.
> [Detected: Unknown Creature Responding to User Mana Signature.]
[Possible Bond Formation.]
[Proceed?]
Sylph floated beside her. "This is crazy. You can't—"
> "Proceed," Aveline said quietly.
Light flared between them — not blinding, just warm.
When it faded, the Lumivorn had vanished.
A faint blue mark glowed on her wrist — a crest shaped like a crescent horn.
> [Bond Established: Lumivorn (Unnamed).]
"...It bonded to you," Sylph said in disbelief.
"It chose me," Aveline corrected softly.
For a moment, she stood still, feeling the new mana thread connecting her to something vast and calm — deep like the earth, steady like time.
Then she smiled, faintly but truly.
---
Back at the Estate
By the time she returned, the sun had already set.
She washed up quickly before dinner, making sure no trace of dirt or forest scent remained.
At the table, her parents seemed relaxed again.
The Duke even laughed once at something her mother said.
But Aveline could feel the Lumivorn's quiet presence in the back of her mind — calm, patient, and somehow comforting.
Sylph whispered from under her sleeve.
> "You know you can't hide this forever, right?"
"I'll manage," Aveline whispered back.
"You said that about your system too."
"And I'm still managing."
She smiled slightly and took another bite of dinner.
---
Later That Night
Aveline sat by her window again, looking out at the forest.
She could feel the bond clearly — a pulse of gentle energy in sync with her heartbeat.
> "Are you watching me right now?" she murmured.
In her mind, the Lumivorn's presence stirred. No words, just a quiet acknowledgment.
Sylph floated beside her, watching the faint glow on her wrist.
> "You're collecting too many secrets, Master."
"Then you'd better help me keep them."
Sylph sighed, smiling faintly.
> "Always."
Outside, the wind moved softly through the wet leaves.
Somewhere deep in the forest, faint blue light glimmered — a silent answer from the creature that now shared her mana.