Lilian still couldn’t bring herself to embrace her.
Her intuition told her that if she really did, there would be no turning back.
Although in her heart, Elenora’s status had changed—from someone she initially thought was unrelated to her, to a friend she got along well with.
But in the end, Lilian still wanted to repay her debt, break the contract, and be free to live her own life.
To do that, learning magic and runes was the top priority.
First, it would enhance her strength.
In this world, having strength meant she could do whatever she wanted.
Second, mastering these skills meant she could create valuable potions to sell—not just small-time muscle recovery potions.
Each potion with a unique effect was priceless to those who needed it.
Three hundred gold coins might actually be pocket change.
So Lilian didn’t make any moves.
She just waited for Elenora to calm down before asking her to start the lessons.
“Then let’s begin right here.”
“Here?”
“Yes. Practicing magic doesn’t require a large space. On the contrary, it needs a relatively quiet environment.”
Elenora’s bedroom was certainly designed for quietness.
At least when the door was closed, you couldn’t hear the hallway.
“Lilian, you’ve learned about runes before, right?”
“Yeah, we covered it during Knight Training.”
“Knight Training? You’ve only been training for less than half a month, and they already taught you this?”
Elenora looked puzzled.
She had assumed Lilian was just going through the motions of training, so she hadn’t asked much about it.
But from Lilian’s words, she’d already learned runes?
“Yes, I’ve finished the training. I’ve successfully sensed the [Body] and [Tool] runes.”
That didn’t make sense.
Lilian wasn’t skilled in these things in her past life.
But Elenora soon understood.
This was Lilian after all.
Lilian was supposed to be like this.
Thinking that, Elenora put her hands on her hips, feeling proud.
Lilian looked a little confused.
“That’s good. Generally, there are two ways to cast spells: one is sensing Wisdom and using Wisdom to guide the magic power, which is how wizards work; the other is sensing Emotion and using Emotion to guide magic, which is how warlocks operate.”
Oh, classic division.
Straight out of the game handbook.
“So, which one am I?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Huh?” What nonsense are you talking about?
Elenora placed a hand on her slightly rising chest, looking quite confident.
“Like I said, there are fifty runes. Whether it’s elemental like Wind, Ice, Thunder, Fire, Water, Earth, or rules like Fate, Time, Space—I understand a little of all of them.”
“So, you want to learn whichever one, I can teach you.”
“Ah?”
Elenora had this kind of background?
A supreme magic master?
Or should she call her Magic Queen?
Seeing Lilian’s shocked expression, Elenora became even more smug.
Hmph, that’s right, I’m that awesome.
“But for now, let’s start from the basics.”
The so-called basics meant magic power—the root force that activates runes.
Once Lilian entered a state of Meditation, she would naturally understand what magic power was.
At least, that’s what Elenora said.
Too idealistic.
Lilian didn’t really understand.
“To sense magic power, the first thing you have to do is Meditation.”
Elenora rummaged through her cabinet and pulled out a black ribbon.
She walked over to Lilian and handed it to her.
“Put this on.”
Lilian looked at the ribbon in Elenora’s hand with suspicion.
Is this right?
Meditation requires blindfolding with a ribbon?
And this ribbon was pitch black, absorbing light well.
Wearing it would severely limit vision.
Lilian was doubtful of Elenora’s intentions.
But her instincts told her she should wear it.
“Um, can I not wear it?”
Better to refuse.
Meditating while blindfolded, with someone watching nearby, felt weird.
Especially when that someone was Elenora.
Even though Elenora hadn’t troubled her for a few days, what if old habits flared up?
She’d just said magic was fun—probably because of this!
“What are you talking about? This ribbon has the [Acquisition] and [Wisdom] runes inscribed. It helps you sense magic power a lot.”
Elenora looked at Lilian with a hint of reproach.
It really didn’t seem like she was trying to mess with Lilian.
“Come on, here.” Elenora suddenly seemed a bit nervous. “Let me put it on you.”
Elenora moved behind Lilian and, with trembling hands, tied the ribbon over her eyes.
Her fingers brushed Lilian’s cheek, and Elenora clearly sensed Lilian’s warmth.
She lifted Lilian’s dark green hair, stirring up a breeze.
The scent of reassurance intoxicated Elenora.
She wanted to get even closer.
No, no—that wouldn’t do.
She just needed to teach Lilian properly.
She still had to find a way to make Lilian hate her later.
After tying the ribbon, Elenora reluctantly stepped away.
Facing Lilian, the girl’s eyes were covered by the pitch-black ribbon.
Against her pale face, it looked strangely alluring to Elenora.
Elenora couldn’t help but step closer.
Lilian didn’t react at all—she must have entered the state.
Just as Elenora expected, Lilian’s talent was quite good—not the “no talent” she claimed.
Looking down from the ribbon was Lilian’s pink lips.
Lilian was meditating, completely unaware of the outside world.
If she tried just a little…
The thought spread like a virus, quickly overrunning all of Elenora’s reason.
Just a little taste.
Just a little taste.
Just a little taste.
Elenora’s head moved closer to Lilian.
“Master?”
Lilian tried calling out to Elenora.
She had underestimated the ribbon.
Once blindfolded, Lilian truly couldn’t see a thing.
Darkness enveloped her, not a single speck of light.
And, perhaps by illusion, all her other senses seemed heightened except for sight.
The breeze caused by Elenora’s movement brushed against Lilian’s skin, giving her goosebumps.
The wind carried a faint fragrance, probably Elenora’s own scent.
Normally quiet footsteps now seemed to echo right next to her ears.
Suddenly, it felt like something covered her ears and then released them.
Lilian was startled to find everything had vanished.
Not only light, wind, scent, or sound—everything was gone.
Only a deathlike silence surrounded her.
“Master?”
No response.
“Miss?”
Still no response.
“Elenora!”
Nothing.
Lilian sensed something was wrong and yanked the ribbon off.
Nothing happened.
Darkness still surrounded her.
System?
Nothing.
Lilian began to panic.
Meditation couldn’t be this intense.
Hello—
She tried to call out but heard nothing.
This scene looked familiar, as if she had seen it before.
Aside from her childhood memory when her parents had someone test her magic potential.
It was that one moment between two memories.
After Li Lian’s death, before Lilian’s birth.
Had she died?
Such an absurd thought surfaced.
It fit Lilian’s understanding of death—nothingness.
Though this matched her concept of the afterlife.
But she definitely wasn’t dead.
If she were, she wouldn’t have consciousness.
Lilian had died once before, not just an assumption.
During that time after death, she truly had no awareness.
Recalling her purpose, it seemed to be—“magic power?”
The moment the concept of magic power appeared, everything changed.
Something like a river flowed here.
Lilian immediately understood—this was magic power.
Then, how did she get out?