CHAPTER 23: PATHWAYS AND PLOTS 1

Aegis sat cross-legged on the meditation platform, trying not to stare too hard at the ghost queen floating in front of her.

[... This is actually kind of crazy, no? I’m about to get magic lessons from dead royalty. It’s like if, I don’t know, George Washington taught me how to shoot a gun.]

"Close your eyes." Rosanna’s voice wrapped around her like silk. "I need to examine your aether pathways."

"My what now?"

"The channels through which magic flows in your body. Think of them as... spiritual veins."

[That’s not how the lore describes mana. Interesting. Maybe Rosanna has some archaic way of viewing aether.]

Aegis closed her eyes. A cool touch pressed against her forehead. Rosanna’s ghostly fingers felt like morning mist.

"Hmm. Fascinating."

"Good fascinating or ’you’re about to explode’ fascinating?"

"Your pathways are almost completely blocked." Rosanna circled her. "Like someone tried to force water through a straw filled with mud."

[Wow.]

"The shadow magic didn’t help. It leaves residue, corrupting the natural flow." The ghost queen tutted. "We’ll need to clear these blockages before you can properly cultivate your aether."

"How?"

"Breathe."

"That’s it?"

"Not normal breathing. Aether breathing. Draw the ambient magic in through your nose, let it cycle through your core, then release through your mouth."

Aegis tried. Nothing happened.

"You’re forcing it." Rosanna’s hands settled on her shoulders. "Don’t grab the aether. Invite it."

Aegis adjusted her position.

[Okay... What, like flirting with magic instead of wrestling it?]

She tried again. Softer, this time.

And, this time, something responded. A trickle of warmth entered her lungs.

"Better. Now guide it down to your core. The spot three inches below your navel."

The warmth pooled in her stomach. It felt like drinking hot chocolate after being in the cold.

"Good. Hold it there. Let it settle."

Aegis focused on that warmth.

In the hospital, she’d spent hours staring at ceilings, counting tiles, playing mental games to pass time. There wasn’t exactly a whole lot to do when the cute nurses weren’t around. This wasn’t so different. Just internal ceiling-staring.

"Now release. Slowly."

She exhaled. The warmth flowed out, taking something with it. Black wisps escaped her mouth.

"Shadow corruption." Rosanna sounded satisfied. "Keep going."

Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.

In. Hold. Out.

Time blurred. The world narrowed to breath and warmth. Like those endless hospital nights, but reversed. Instead of feeling life drain away, she felt it flooding in.

"Your pathways are opening." Rosanna’s voice came from far away. "I can see the flow establishing itself."

More black wisps. Then gray. Then nothing but clean air.

The warmth in her core expanded. From a puddle to a pond. From a pond to a small lake.

[Is this what having actual mana feels like?]

"Excellent. You’re a natural at this." Rosanna sounded genuinely pleased. "Most students take weeks to achieve what you’ve done in an hour."

[Charisma 100 probably helps. Even magic wants to get with me.]

"Open your eyes."

Aegis opened them. The world looked sharper. Colors more vivid. She could see threads of light floating through the air.

[MANA POINTS: 10 → 50]

[Aether Breathing (Basic) Learned]

"Holy shit."

"Indeed." Rosanna smiled. "Your pool quintupled. With regular practice, you’ll expand it further."

"How often should I—"

"Daily. Dawn or dusk works best, when the veils are thin." The ghost queen stood. "For now, you need rest. And to get down from here before sunrise."

Aegis peered over the edge. The three-hundred-foot drop looked worse than before.

"About that..."

Rosanna laughed. She waved her hand. Aegis felt herself lifting.

"I won’t always help you descend. Consider this a one-time courtesy."

The ground rushed up. But instead of splattering, Aegis touched down gently in the courtyard. She looked up. Rosanna waved from the tower’s peak before fading with the first rays of dawn.

[Best. Teacher. Ever.]

---

Nazraya’s classroom buzzed with morning chatter. Aegis slumped in her seat, exhausted but wired. Fifty mana points thrummed through her veins.

"Today we review aether manipulation fundamentals." Nazraya swept in, silver hair perfect as always. "Since certain students still can’t manage basic exercises."

Her red eyes lingered on Aegis.

[If only you knew, Professor Hands-On.]

"Partner up. Practice channeling aether between you."

Lune slid her chair closer.

"Partners?"

"Sure."

They faced each other. Lune extended her hand. Aegis took it.

"Channel your aether into me." Lune’s pink eyes stayed fixed on their joined hands. "Slowly."

Aegis pushed a trickle of power through their connection. Lune’s eyes widened.

"Your mana... it’s different."

"Different how?"

"Cleaner. Stronger." Lune tilted her head. "What did you do?"

"Extra meditation."

"Hmm."

They practiced in silence. Aegis noticed Lune’s notebook open beside her. A sketch filled the page. It was of Aegis hunched over a book, brow furrowed in concentration.

[She really likes drawing me. Weird hobby but whatever.]

"Stop staring at my art."

"It’s good."

"It’s practice." Lune flipped the page. Another sketch. Aegis laughing at something Scarlett said.

[Okay, that’s a lot of drawings of me.]

"You’re an interesting subject." Lune’s voice stayed flat. "Your expressions are... educational."

"Educational?"

"Mhm."

Before Aegis could ask what that meant, Nazraya appeared behind them.

"Adequate work, Miss Solana." Her gaze shifted. "Miss Starcaller, see me after class."

[Fuck. She knows something’s different.]

The bell rang. Students filed out. Aegis lingered.

But Nazraya just handed her a tome.

"Additional reading. You’re finally showing potential."

"Thanks?"

"Don’t disappoint me." The professor’s smile let her know there’d be consequences if she did. "I have such plans for you."

Aegis escaped into the hallway. Students clustered in groups, gossiping. Her Maid’s Earring caught familiar voices.

"—obviously cheated." Varyn’s pompous tone carried. "No commoner jumps from dead last to top rank honestly."

"Father says the same." Another noble chimed in. "Probably bribed someone."

"Or worse." Varyn lowered his voice. "I heard she’s been visiting professors after hours. Trading favors for grades."

"Disgusting."

"Typical commoner behavior."

[Great. He’s spreading rumors.]

This could be bad. The Autumn Gala invitations went out next week. Commoners needed noble sponsors. If Varyn poisoned the well...

[But I know exactly who might invite me.]