[Realm: Uhorus]

[Location: Verdantis]

[Capital City]

Getting visibly frustrated was almost unlike Alyssia.

Yet the moment the heavy door to her chambers shut behind them, the last traces of composure she’d maintained throughout the day seemed to evaporate.

"Ugh, what a bother!"

The exasperated cry escaped her before she threw herself forward without the slightest grace.

The mattress dipped beneath the impact as Alyssia all but dove face-first onto the large bed, several plushie animals bouncing upward from the force before tumbling across the blankets. A gray wolf rolled against the pillows, a small rabbit disappeared beneath one arm, and an oversized fox was nearly sent tumbling onto the floor before settling precariously near the edge.

For several long moments she simply remained there.

Face buried, arms spread and legs dangling carelessly over the side of the bed.

Lucinda couldn’t help but watch with amusement.

It seemed whatever etiquette Alyssia had once carried as a former princess had long since surrendered to exhaustion whenever they were alone. Or perhaps...

Lucinda considered it for a brief moment.

...perhaps Alyssia simply no longer cared about appearing dignified in front of her.

It was a strangely comforting thought.

Alyssia eventually turned her head just enough to offer Lucinda an almost embarrassed, sheepish look before letting out another defeated sigh.

Lucinda herself had also begun shedding some of her own burdens.

One by one, she’d removed portions of her armor, setting the heavy gauntlets carefully beside the door before unclasping her pauldrons and, finally, the ornate chest plate protecting her torso. Sure magic could make the job of removing armor easier, but there was something comforting about this process.

Without them she appeared noticeably lighter.

The sleeveless black shirt beneath fit comfortably against her frame, allowing her shoulders and arms a freedom they rarely enjoyed. Even someone as disciplined as Lucinda eventually tired of spending entire days enclosed in armor.

Still, her own fatigue could wait.

Alyssia’s mood clearly could not.

Lucinda folded her arms loosely before speaking.

"You really shouldn’t let something like this weigh on you so heavily, Alyssia," she said gently, her voice carrying neither pity nor empty encouragement. "I know today didn’t go the way you wanted it to, but mistakes happen. They happen to everyone, regardless of how talented they are. One bad day doesn’t suddenly erase everything you’re capable of."

Alyssia let out a dramatic sigh.

"Your words are incredibly cliché..." Despite her complaint, there wasn’t any real bite behind it. "...but they’re also rather sweet."

She shifted onto her back, eyes drifting upward toward the high ceiling above her bed.

The room fell comfortably quiet.

Without looking, Alyssia lazily reached beside herself until her fingers found the small gray wolf plush resting against the pillows. She lifted it absentmindedly, holding it in front of her face before gently stretching its tiny cheeks between her fingers.

The sight was unexpectedly childish.

Lucinda found herself smiling.

Alyssia continued speaking while still abusing the poor plushie.

"But do you understand why this bothers me so much?" Her voice lost some of its earlier theatrics. "I’m a spawn of Octavia." She stared blankly at the wolf. "Magic should be the one thing I’m naturally exceptional at."

Her fingers slowed.

"And yet today..." A small breath escaped her. "... I couldn’t even manage something so basic." Another pause followed. "Honestly..." She gave the plush another tiny squeeze. "...is there anything more ridiculous than a spawn of Octavia struggling with magic?"

Lucinda’s smile softened.

("...I understand why she’s frustrated.")

She didn’t dismiss Alyssia’s feelings as simple embarrassment.

To someone else, today’s failure may have merely been an unfortunate mistake.

To Alyssia...

It challenged part of her identity.

Lucinda quietly raised one hand.

A red glyph came into existence for only a heartbeat before fading just as quickly.

Across the room, one of the plush armchairs responded. It slid silently across the polished floor, stopping beside Alyssia’s bed. Lucinda lowered herself into the chair, crossing one leg over the other before leaning forward slightly.

She offered Alyssia a reassuring smile.

"I don’t think your magic is the problem."

Alyssia blinked.

"...You don’t?"

Lucinda slowly shook her head.

"Not from what I witnessed." She spoke thoughtfully, carefully replaying the training within her mind. "Your control was actually remarkable."

Alyssia looked unconvinced.

Lucinda continued before she could interrupt.

"Until the very last moment, every adjustment you made was very precise. You manipulated enormous quantities of mana, shaped it, and redirected it. You even began constructing entirely new outlets to alter how it behaved." Her expression grew increasingly thoughtful. "Those aren’t the actions of someone lacking magical ability. If anything..." She folded her hands together. "...they’re the actions of someone whose fundamentals are exceptionally solid. The problem only appeared right at the end. Everything held together until the final moment."

She met Alyssia’s eyes.

"That’s why I don’t believe your magic itself is what’s failing."

The older spawn slowly lowered the plush onto her stomach. "Then what could it possibly be?" Her frustration had become less explosive. "If it isn’t my magic, what is it?"

Lucinda remained silent for several seconds; she didn’t want to answer carelessly.

Eventually she spoke.

"There are several things capable of affecting someone’s control." Her voice carried a careful tone. "Ordinarily they wouldn’t become significant enough to trouble a spawn of Octavia."

She paused briefly.

"Our affinity for mana naturally compensates for many weaknesses. Fatigue, distraction, and even ordinary stress." She slowly shook her head. "Those things rarely cause meaningful problems for us."

Alyssia listened without interrupting, and Lucinda’s thoughtful expression deepened.

"But there is one exception."

Alyssia subtly lifted one hand, making a small circular gesture.

Go on.

Lucinda understood immediately.

"I don’t encounter it very often," she admitted honestly. "In fact, among spawns of Octavia it would probably be exceptionally rare." She hesitated only briefly before continuing. "But severe emotional distress can still interfere with mana control."

Alyssia’s brows slowly drew together.

"Emotional distress?" She tilted her head ever so slightly; the idea sounded almost foreign to her.

Lucinda nodded once.

"Yes." She leaned back slightly, choosing her explanation carefully. "It doesn’t necessarily weaken your magic. It interferes with something arguably more important, your focus. When someone’s emotions become turbulent enough, maintaining perfect concentration becomes much more difficult."

She spoke slowly enough for every word to be clearly heard.

"Certain emotions can actually strengthen spells." She held up a finger. "Anger, for example, can dramatically increase the intensity behind someone’s magic. It can make spells more destructive." Her hand lowered again. "But increased power doesn’t always mean increased control." She smiled ever so slightly. "The stronger your emotions become, the harder it often becomes to maintain your precision."

"How am I even supposed to fix something like that?"

Alyssia let out the question more quietly than before.

She carefully set the gray wolf plush beside her, no longer absentmindedly tugging at its cheeks. The playful distraction had lost its appeal.

Pushing herself upright, she settled against the headboard with one knee loosely drawn upward, her expression no longer annoyed so much as contemplative. The frustration that had carried her into the room had slowly given way to uncertainty.

"If the problem really is something as vague as emotional distress..." she continued after a brief pause, her red eyes lifting toward Lucinda. "...where does one even begin? Magic has rules, and spells have formulas."

A small, almost helpless smile crossed her lips.

"But feelings?" She shook her head. "I’ve never found those particularly cooperative."

Lucinda’s own smile became apologetic.

"That’s..." She hesitated, clearly wishing she possessed a better answer. "...not really something I can solve for you." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "If it truly is emotional, then I don’t think another person can simply point you toward the answer."

Her gaze remained gentle.

"It’s something only you can understand. And because of that..." she exhaled quietly. "...it’s also something only you can resolve."

The answer wasn’t satisfying; neither of them expected it to be.

Alyssia lowered her gaze for several thoughtful seconds.

"Yes." She nodded slightly. "I suppose you’re right." Another quiet sigh escaped her. "I just wish problems like these came with clearer answers."

She stared absently at the wolf plush resting beside her.

"You know..." Her voice softened. "I’ve spent years dealing with people, politics, wars, magic, and people trying to decide my future for me." A smile appeared, though it lacked any real amusement. "And somehow the most troublesome thing turns out to be my own head."

Lucinda remained silent, allowing the thought to settle instead of interrupting it.

Eventually Alyssia looked back toward her.

"But tell me something." Her expression became curious rather than frustrated. "How do you manage it?"

Lucinda tilted her head.

"My own problems?"

Alyssia nodded. "Surely you haven’t gone through life without burdens of your own." Her tone remained calm. "I’ve known you for a very short time, Lucinda, yet even I can tell you carry more than you ever say aloud." She smiled faintly. "So what do you do?"

Lucinda’s eyes drifted downward.

"I suppose..." She considered her answer carefully. "...I have experienced my share of difficulties." There was no self-pity in her voice as she made the acknowledgment.

She clasped her hands together.

"When things become overwhelming..." Her gaze slowly lifted again. "...I remind myself why I’m still standing."

Alyssia listened attentively.

Lucinda smiled, though it was a restrained one.

"I remember my duty, the responsibility I’ve accepted, and I try to steel myself. " The words came naturally, too naturally.

As though they had been repeated countless times before.

Alyssia studied her for several silent moments.

"So..." she spoke gently. "...that duty." Her red eyes never left Lucinda’s. "You mean continuing to fight because you’re a spawn of Octavia." She tilted her head slightly. "Because that’s the role you’ve been given."

Lucinda answered without hesitation.

"Yes." She simply nodded.

Alyssia watched that immediate response with a thought.

("That sounds less like duty...") Her fingers idly brushed against the blanket. ("...and much more like obligation.")

She chose not to say it aloud.

Lucinda already carried enough expectations; there was little value in placing another one upon her.

Instead, she asked something else.

"Do you ever think about not fighting?" The question emerged so naturally that even Lucinda appeared caught slightly off guard.

She blinked, for perhaps the first time since entering the room, and Lucinda genuinely had to think. Even so, her answer arrived remarkably quickly.

"Well..." she smiled sheepishly. "I suppose everyone thinks about taking a break from time to time." She laughed softly to herself. "At least I’d like to think that’s normal." The smile gradually faded. "But with the power I’ve been given..." She shook her head almost apologetically. "...I don’t really have the luxury of stepping away. There are too many people depending on it. And if I can help, then I feel as though I should."

The room fell quiet again.

Alyssia simply watched her.

("You think about taking breaks...") Her eyes lingered thoughtfully on Lucinda. ("...do you really?")

Something about that answer felt incomplete.

("Somehow...") She leaned back slightly. ("...I don’t think resting is something you truly allow yourself to consider.")

Lucinda had answered quickly, almost like someone reciting something they had long convinced themselves was true.

Alyssia didn’t challenge it.

She merely let the thought remain her own.

Eventually she let out another small breath.

"Never mind." A small smile returned to her face, noticeably lighter than before. "This conversation has become heavier than I intended." She swung her legs gently over the edge of the bed. "I’ll let Lyra know to have the servants bring us some tea..." A brief pause followed. "...and some pastries as well."

The words carried a little more warmth now.

"Perhaps neither of us is going to solve our problems tonight." She offered Lucinda a small smile. "But pastries seem like an acceptable place to start."

Lucinda couldn’t help returning the smile.

"I’d like that."

Watching Lucinda then, Alyssia found herself quietly reconsidering the advice she’d sought.

Lucinda undoubtedly had wisdom; she had kindness and patience. A remarkable ability to comfort others. Yet Alyssia couldn’t shake the feeling that, when it came to herself, Lucinda was navigating burdens every bit as complicated as her own.

Perhaps...

She thought quietly as she reached for the bell cord beside her bed.

...Lucinda had never truly learned how to help herself either.