Velma had always been a girl on strings.
Born into the distinguished Elrayne family, Counts of the eastern lands.
Expectations had wrapped around her like chains from the mont she took her first breath.
The child of imnse potential.
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They called her.
Her talent for magic was evident even as a toddler, her little fingers glowing with a natural affinity for the arcane arts.
But what started as pride in her abilities soon turned into a relentless burden.
Her parents adored her in public.
Showering her with complints that were laced with veiled demands.
"Velma, you're going to make the family proud."
"Velma, you'll be the brightest star in the east."
"Velma, you'll outshine everyone."
It wasn't just her parents.
The entire eastern region seed to have their eyes on her, expecting her to soar higher than any other.
Her tutors demanded perfection in her studies.
Her peers, envious of her abilities, expected her to lead.
And even strangers whispered about her greatness before she had even achieved it.
But the truth was, Velma wasn't sure what she wanted.
She didn't know what made her heart race or what truly brought her joy.
Every waking mont was spent in a cycle of trying to et the expectations of others.
And slowly, she began to adapt to their desires.
Velma beca adept at changing herself to fit the mold others needed her to fill.
For her parents, she was the perfect daughter—obedient, intelligent, and graceful.
She smiled when she was told to.
Studied what they wanted her to.
And perford flawlessly at every event they paraded her to.
For her tutors, she was the diligent student, hanging on to their every word and excelling in every subject they threw at her.
She pushed herself to exhaustion mastering complex spells.
Always desperate to hear the words..."Good job."
For her peers, she was the charming friend, always adapting to their conversations, interests, and jokes.
She laughed when they laughed.
Even when she didn't understand the humor.
And pretended to enjoy hobbies she had no interest in.
The problem was, she had worn so many masks for so long that she no longer rembered what lay underneath.
There were fleeting monts when Velma would catch a glimpse of her true self in the mirror and wonder who she was.
Like the ti she was asked about her favorite color at a banquet, and she froze because she didn't have an answer.
She'd spent her whole life liking whatever color was popular with those around her.
Was it blue? Red? Green?
Or the ti she was asked what she loved most about magic.
She could list dozens of spells and techniques she had mastered.
But she couldn't pinpoint which one she enjoyed practicing.
Did she even enjoy magic at all?
Velma realized with growing dread that she had spent her entire life living for others.
She didn't know her own likes.
Her own passions, or even her own personality.
When the invitation to attend Ravenwood Academy, the most prestigious magic academy in all four continents, arrived, Velma's parents were ecstatic.
"You'll represent our family..."
Her father said, clapping her on the shoulder.
"You'll be the pride of the east."
"It's the opportunity of a lifeti..."
Her mother added, her eyes alight with excitent.
"You'll prove to everyone that you're the best."
Velma nodded along, as she always did.
But sothing inside her whispered otherwise.
Ravenwood wasn't just an opportunity for greatness.
It was an escape.
No one at Ravenwood would know her as Velma Elrayne.
The prodigy from the east.
No one would expect her to be perfect, to shine, to be anything but another student.
For the first ti in her life, Velma felt sothing she hadn't felt before.
[Hope.]
Velma decided that Ravenwood would be the place where she would finally figure out who she was.
She would take on one last role.
One last mask, but this ti it would be on her terms.
At Ravenwood, she would be ordinary.
She would blend in, make no waves, and find the freedom to explore herself without the crushing weight of expectations.
Velma rehearsed her new persona during the journey to Ravenwood.
She practiced speaking less formally, letting her hair fall naturally instead of the intricate styles her mother preferred, and dressing in simple clothes rather than the elaborate gowns her family always insisted on.
When she stepped onto the academy grounds, she felt a surge of relief.
This was it.
The start of a new life.
But it didn't take long for Velma to realize that freedom ca with its own set of challenges.
At Ravenwood, she wasn't special.
She was one of many talented students, each with their own strengths and ambitions.
No one cared about her family na or her achievents in the east.
At first, it was liberating.
She could walk through the halls without the weight of a thousand eyes on her.
She could skip a lecture without worrying about tarnishing her family's reputation.
She could fail a spell without the world ending.
But then ca the whispers.
"Did you see her casting?
She's better than most of the second years."
"She must be soone important.
No one's that good by chance."
"Why doesn't she participate more?
Is she hiding sothing?"
Velma found herself slipping back into old habits.
Playing to the tune of those around her.
She couldn't stop herself.
When a professor praised her, she worked harder to earn more praise.
When her classmates looked to her for leadership, she stepped up, even though she didn't want to.
And just like that, the strings tightened again.
Velma sat alone in the library one evening, staring at a blank notebook.
She had told herself she would use this ti to write down her thoughts, to try and figure out what she liked, what she wanted, who she was.
But the page remained empty.
She didn't know how to start.
Why?
So why did it feel worse now?
Why was she still a marionette, dancing to a tune she didn't even recognize?
She looked down at her reflection in the polished floor and didn't recognize the girl staring back.
"Why?"
She whispered, her voice trembling.
"Why am I still like this?"
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