Redpine Academy of Magic and Witchcraft, or Redpine Academy for short, was a western-style castle with several tower walls with cone-shaped roofings interconnected with the main building.
Although it didnât look as grand as Heliaâs Castle, it was founded on the summit of the tallest hill on the western side of the city. It appeared towering and overlooked the entirety of Redpine City.
Of the several cone-roof towers, the third tower was used to accommodate the witches-in-training living on campus.
Inside one of the rooms on the seventh floor, a beautiful young lady sat by the window and stared out at the night sky with her dull and apathetic blue eyes, not focusing on anything in particular.
An air of solitude seemingly filled the dark room as the young lady enjoyed the cold winds and silence.
The young lady was precisely Cyrena, Helia Ashenbornâs untalented seventh daughter.
Although Cyrena shared her motherâs blue eyes, her snow-white hair greatly differed from her mother and elder siblings, who all had jet-black hair.
Not only was she known to be untalented, but she was also regarded as an outcast in the family.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the dark room was disturbed by the several thuds on the door. Someone had knocked on it from outside.
âMy Lady, your mother, Lord Ashenborn, summons you back to Heliaâs Castle,â Cyrenaâs male servant informed her.
âA notice has already been sent to the headmasterâs office, informing the headmaster that you will be taking a week off academic studies, my Lady. Lord Ashenborn expects you to return by tomorrow morningââ
Creak..!
The marble-coated wooden door slowly opened before the expressionless Cyrena exited her room in a light-blue dress.
âWe can leave now.â
The male servant slightly bowed and reached out his hand to carry Cyrenaâs luggage. However, the male servantâs hand quickly froze upon realizing Cyrena wasnât bringing anything with her.
âDo you have friends you would like to inform about your departure before we leave, my Lady?â
âNo need. I donât have any friends.â
âI⦠I seeâ¦â the male servant stuttered awkwardly.
Nevertheless, the male servant quickly recovered his composure and led Cyrena to the front courtyard outside the main building, where a ride was prepared for Cyrena.
â¦
Sometime later, Cyrena returned to Heliaâs Castle with the male servant. She headed straight to Helia Ashenborn in the Great Hall.
Plenty of lavish food remained on the long sandalwood table. But even though they had been there for some time, they remained in their freshly-cooked state under the preservation of magic.
âYouâve returned quite fast. Have you eaten? If not, join me. I have some things to say to you, Cyrena,â Helia Ashenborn cooly said, but she had been expecting her daughter to show up.
Cyrena impassively took her seat on the side and started filling the empty plate in front of her with food from the table.
Although Helia Ashenborn didnât receive a verbal reply, she didnât mind. Such was the norm for the estranged relationship between them.
âIâve arranged for a private teacher to teach you for the whole week youâll be staying in the castle. It doesnât matter which subject you want to prioritize; I expect you to study seriously when you are with your teacher. Thereâs something I want to confirm.â
Helia Ashenbornâs strict words quickly produced a reaction as Cyrena suddenly paused and gave her a cold glare.
âWhen have I not taken my studies seriously? Iâve put in more effort than anyone else! My theoretical knowledge wouldnât lose to anyone in my class!â
âIt doesnât matter how much effort you put in if it doesnât produce results, and theoretical knowledge is useless if you cannot apply them,â Helia Ashenborn replied coldly.
If Cyrena Ashenborn had not come out of her own womb, Helia Ashenborn would have questioned whether Cyrena Ashenborn was her daughter.
Nevertheless, Cyrenaâs gaze became colder after hearing her motherâs cold words.
Even if Cyrena was at the top of her class in potioneering and other miscellaneous subjects, Helia Ashenborn wouldnât acknowledge her.
Only strength mattered.
Without it, Cyrena can only be a useless person in her motherâs eyes.
âYour teacher for the week starting tomorrow is called Vahn Cadieux, a young man around twenty years old. Before you start disrespecting your teacher, you should know that he is also the teacher of Linette Delarosa, whom I met earlier,â Helia Ashenborn stated.
âLinette Delarosa is a genius who is already close to stepping into the realm of Senior Witches. On the other hand, you are trash. You canât advance from first grade, even after studying at the academy for three years.â
âNevertheless, I didnât call you back to scold you for being unable to use magic. I just want you to put away any prejudice you may have against Vahn Cadieux for being a man and learn from him seriously for a week and confirm his teaching qualifications.â
âAnd if I canât learn anything from him even after a week?â Cyrena Ashenborn asked.
âThen you donât have to study under him anymore, and I will kick him out of the castle and let him stay in one of the inns in the city instead,â Helia Ashenborn coolly said.
âHowever, on the off chance you can learn a lot from Vahn Cadieux, I will request him to extend his teaching. After all, even if you are trash, you are still my blood; I want the best for you.â
âEven if you canât become a powerful witch like your older sisters, you can still become best in other non-magic professions like the potioneering that you enjoy.â
âI understand, Mother,â Cyrena replied expressionlessly.
Although Cyrena doubted how someone younger than her by a year could teach her, a man no less, she didnât want to argue with her mother.
There must be some truth to Vahn Cadieuxâs wisdom for Helia Ashenborn to arrange for Cyrena to study under the person.
âWhere are you going?â Helia Ashenborn asked after Cyrena suddenly placed down her fork and knife and stood up.
âI am full, so I am retiring to my room for the night,â Cyrena left after throwing out those impassive words.
Helia Ashenborn glanced at the barely eaten piece of black venison on Cyrenaâs plate before she snickered and paid no further attention to Cyrena.