"Maybe I should tell Mama indeed.”

  Matthew, An, and Bir looked at Yvain with curiosity. No one had ever raised an issue about the Vision Resonator, and even to Bir, the device seemed perfect for the test or Vision training.

  "Why do I o stay away from that device?" Bir asked.

  "Isn't it good to be cautious?" Yvain smiled, making the other three blush. Why was this boy so charming? Was it because of his blonde hair? Or his blue eyes?

  "For Vision users, memory aional stimution be dangerous. If someone has hidden trauma their brain forces them tet or if there are repressed memories, their Vision could go haywire," Yvain expined.

  "Everyone has something like that to some degree, so it's good to stay away from it," the boy sighed. He turo Bir and tinued, "Isn't it your turn to be tested now? May I watch?"

  "Ah... I'm sure they'll let everyone here watch," Bir replied, feeling a bit flustered by his question. She knew he might've just wao be polite and tiheir versation, but she weirdly felt gd he asked.

  "Then, please go on," Yvain said. "I ’t wait to see yic."

  Wasn’t it too good to be true?

  This sweet and handsome, gentlemanly boy who came from nowhere had tally bumped into her three times today—of course not. Bir wasn’t that stupid. He must have had something he wanted from her, someone from the pace.

  Maybe he wao have a e with her brother, the first prince.

  This boy was a Sator, after all.

  But why not?

  Bir felt it was okay even if she wasn’t the one he was after and that he wanted something from her. Maybe because she was still a bit er all. She was still a child.

  But just a little, for the first time ever, she was gd she rincess. Albeit illegitimate and had nothing in on with any royalty other than having the name.

  "O-okay, th-thanks, I mean, bye—I mean, s-see you ter," Bir stumbled out her words before quickly heading toward the middle of the stadium.

  Yvain watched her go with , muttering to himself, "She seems nervous. Even though she’s such a talented person… So why?"

  Matthew and A the boy, rolling their eyes in exasperation and shaking their heads.

  ‘It’s because of you, idiot!’ they thought.

  “It’s quite a surprise that you know her. Well, she’s the first prince’s favorite sister, so it makes sehat you would want to get closer to her,” An remarked.

  “It’s a great ce,” Yvain replied calmly. “But right now, I just want to see her magic.”

  Yvain realized that there was no one in this pce more talented in Vision than him. Yet, he felt drawn to Bir in a way he couldn't expin. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that pulled him towards her.

  It must be her magic.

  The lead examiner, a man of impeccable groomie the otions around him, surveyed the eager faces of the partits gathered iadium.

  "Dear partits," his voied across the stadium, "It is time to withe true power of Vision. We have among us a prodigious talent already graced by the Vision’s touch."

  A murmur rippled through the crowd as all eyes turo Bir Inkor, the princess of Inkia, a shy figure standihe ter of the arena.

  “I bet she woke up one day and just decided to 'see’ the world in a different light. Someone from the pace is just different, huh," a snide remark floated through the crowd, the words dripping with sarcasm.

  “I heard she was favored by the first prince.”

  “She’s lucky she’s talented.”

  “Illegitimate girl. When’s the queen pnning on selling her in marriage?”

  “Pitiful…”

  Bir, not oblivious to the hushed whispers around her, seemed lost ihoughts as the examiner tinued, "Our esteemed princess shall demonstrate the extent of her abilities for all to witness. Let us marvel at the prowess of one gifted with the Vision.”

  As the event unfolded, Yvain watched Bir from afar, w what secrets y beyond her meek facade. Matthew and An, oher hand, exged knowing gheir expressions a blend of curiosity and newfound respect.

  “You show us any magic spell you’ve learned, Yhness. This is just a firmation that you’ve truly maed your Vision,” the examiner said.

  Although he had stated she could present any spell she had learhere was an expectation for Bir to showcase her best spell.

  She would still pass even if she only maed a basic fire spell, but if she wao gain an advantage in the politics of the academy now, she must at least show the spell in which she was most fident.

  Well, if she did too well, she would also stand out too much, and that wasn’t the goal either.

  Maybe… just hide her power a little more—

  She stopped thinking the moment she caught that boy’s eyes. Evan di Sator was looking at her from afar. Normally, if it was this far, she wouldn’t even be able to see him looking at her, but weirdly, she knew.

  It felt like being judged. No… it felt like being thhly examined.

  Why was it that even the eyes of the examiners weren’t as nerve-wrag as the eyes of a boy? It felt like watg into the eyes of a…

  Ruler.

  Yes. Simir to the look of her father—no, why was it even more… subtle and deeper than her father? He was just a boy!

  “Vraeth'shyn'lok."

  Bir whispered her spell. She didn’t know what had possessed her, but she somehow chose to show her best spell.

  A hush fell over the examination chamber.

  “That’s…!”

  “What is that—”

  Crimson threads weaved a mesmerizing dahrough the air, and hanging from them was a giant marioe of firicacy.

  CRACKLE-CRACKLE!

  Arms, legs, head—

  The puppet stood tall at 12 feet, its features exquisitely detailed but eerily lifeless. Suspended above, a massive hand of translut magic moved with grace, maniputing the strings like a master puppeteer.

  “Summoning magic? But… what is that? A giant wooden marioe puppet…”

  The spectators, prised of hundreds of other exam partits, gasped in unison as they witnessed Bir's mesmerizing dispy.

  The examiner leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What is this, Yhness?"

  Bir raised her head, her gaze fixed on the elegant puppet a pristine white dress, wielding an oversized sword. "String golem, a creation I summoned.”

  The puppet's movements were precise yet devoid of life, creating an uny aura iadium. The red strings pulsed with magic, each twitch trolling the puppet's every motion. It ectacle of both beauty and unease.

  CRACKLE CRACKLE—

  GASP!

  SWISH!

  As the puppet danced in a silent performahe examiner's skepticism melted into impressed awe. "Intriguing choice, Princess Bir."

  Whispers of amazement rippled through the crowd, eyes widening i the intricate marioe's movements.

  “Kgh—” Bir suddenly grasped her neck. A thin mark was created, as if an invisible string was choking her. And the marks subtly appeared on both of her wrists too.

  “Are you okay, Princess?” the examiner asked.

  “This is enough, right?” Bir asked, her voice strained.

  “Of course! You pass, Yhness. Sucredible talent!” the examiner said gleefully.

  Bir finally exhaled, the stress evaporating like mist on a sunny m. With her release, the massive hand above gave up the ghost, a perfect disappearing act.

  The crimson strings gracefully uncoiled, dang in freedom before the colossal marioe dramatically crumbled to the earth in an act of final farewell. And just like that, the show was over for the puppet master, bowing out with a fir befitting the end of a tragiic py.

  “gratutions, Yhness! You passed as the best partit of the Visiome!” the examiner announced.

  Cp-cp-cp-cp!

  Bir looked up and around. Everyone ping at her as if she had just shown them su eaining performance. Ahh, so this was how it feels like being a circus animal. Well, this was just as expected.

  But then, once again, she met with those eyes.

  Huh?

  Why…

  He wasn’t g.

  Instead, he looked at her with widened eyes.

  Yes. Evan di Sator looked incredibly shocked.

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  I really like yuesses about what the Vision Resonator will be used for :'v

  To make it as a on or to create an army? Man, your minds are so cool.