{lisa}
lisa tossed and turned in her bed, the familiar sounds of creaking springs and muffled moans drifting through the walls. She pulled her pillow over her head, trying to block out the noises coming from her parents' room.
[... Right,] she thought, a wry smile on her face. [I forgot how thin these walls are.]
At that exact mont, Margaret let out a particularly loud moan.
lisa's face was on fire.
She felt her cheeks burning. Shifting side to side, she tried to push the sound out of her skull as she all but willed herself to go to sleep.
Morning ca all too soon, the sunlight streaming through her window and pulling lisa out of her dreams.
After a quick breakfast, during which she studiously avoided eting her parents' eyes, lisa made her way to the backyard. The crisp morning air helped clear her head, and she took a deep breath, centering herself.
[Okay, l,] she thought, raising her wand. [Ti to get to work.]
She began practicing the spell parries, as described in the notes she took from class, her movents growing more fluid with each attempt. It was hard to know if she was doing this right since she was alone and all, but she was at least casting the spell. That was sothing.
As she worked, she could feel her mind starting to wander, already thinking of ways to modify the spell, to create sothing new and exciting.
But then, Isabella's words echoed in her head:
"You need to focus on mastery of spells, not just creating more and more spells."
lisa sighed, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand.
[She's right,] lisa admitted to herself. [I need to master the things I can already do before I start trying to reinvent the wheel.]
She ran through the parry spell again and again, working on her speed and precision in drawing the spellsign and muttering the incantation.
It wasn't as thrilling as inventing a new spell, but lisa could feel herself improving with each repetition.
[Maybe there's sothing to this mastery thing after all,] she mused, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Just as she was really getting into the rhythm of practice, a voice called out from the house.
"lisa! There's a letter for you!"
lisa lowered her wand, wiping the sweat from her brow.
[A letter?] she thought, curiosity piqued. [Who'd be writing to here?]
She made her way back inside, where Margaret was waiting with an ornate envelope in hand. lisa's eyes widened as she recognized the royal seal.
[Oh shit,] she thought, her heart rate picking up. [This is it.]
With trembling fingers, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter. As she read, she could feel a mix of excitent and nervousness building in her chest.
"Well?" Margaret asked, unable to contain her curiosity. "What does it say?"
lisa looked up, a slightly dazed expression on her face.
"It's... it's ti," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "They want at the palace. Today."
Margaret's eyes widened.
"Today? But that's so soon! Are you ready?"
lisa took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.
[Am I ready? Hell no. But I can't let that stop .]
"Ready or not, I have to go," she said, a determined glint in her eye. "This is my chance, Mom. I can't waste it."
---
lisa sat next to Javir in the magical carriage, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.
The streets of Syux rolled by outside, but lisa barely noticed, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
"Nervous?" Javir asked, a hint of amusent in her voice.
"Is it that obvious?"
Javir reached over, placing a comforting hand on lisa's knee. The touch sent a jolt through lisa's body, and she had to fight to keep her composure.
"You'll be fine," Javir assured her, giving her knee a squeeze before withdrawing her hand. "Just rember what I told you. Sa as with the gala, be charming, be yourself, and don't let the court sorceress see you sweat."
lisa nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Right. Charming. I can do that."
As they approached the palace gates, lisa felt her heart rate pick up.
[Holy shit,] she thought, her eyes wide. [AHHHH, I'm really doing this.]
The carriage ca to a stop, and Javir turned to lisa with a smile.
"This is where I leave you," she said. "You've got this, lisa. Show that mage what you're made of."
lisa swallowed hard, nodding.
"Thanks." As she stepped out of the carriage, lisa turned back. "I'll just walk back ho after. I think I know the way by now. No need to wait around."
Javir raised a brow.
"Yet again, your morization skills do not cease to surprise . Good luck, lisa. I'll see you soon."
With that, the carriage rolled away, leaving lisa alone there. She took another deep breath, squaring her shoulders.
[Okay, l. Ti to, uh, be charming again.]
A knight stood at attention by the gate, his armor gleaming in the morning sun. lisa approached him, trying to project confidence she didn't entirely feel.
"Good morning," she said, her voice only wavering slightly. "I'm lisa Blackfla. I'm here to see the court sorceress."
The knight's eyes widened slightly at her na, behind his helm.
"Co."
He gestured for her to follow, leading her through the gates and into the palace proper.
As they walked through the opulent halls, lisa couldn't help but feel out of place today. No fancy gown this ti, just her, a white shirt with so frills, black pants, and black boots.
She was acutely aware of the curious glances thrown her way by passing nobles and servants. So of them she recognized from the gala, most of them she didn't.
[Just breathe,] she reminded herself. [You belong here. You earned this. You literally saved the king's life! Calm your nerves.]
The knight led her to a grand set of doors, ornately carved with scenes of historical battles. He knocked, and a voice from within called for them to enter.
lisa's breath caught in her throat as she stepped into the room.
She hadn't been here before. It was a large, circular chamber, its walls lined with bookshelves and what looked like random magical artifacts. In the center stood a massive desk, behind which sat King Aldric himself.
"Ah, lisa Blackfla," the king said, rising from his seat. "Welco. Please, co in."
lisa approached, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty. Thank you for having ."
King Aldric waved off her formality with a smile.
"None of that, now. You saved my life, Miss Blackfla. If anything, I should be bowing to you."
[I don't think I'd make it through the night if the city found out you did that.]
lisa felt her cheeks flush.
"I... I was just doing what anyone would have done, Your Majesty."
The king's eyes twinkled with amusent.
"I doubt that very much. But your modesty is comndable."
He gestured for her to take a seat, and lisa perched on the edge of an ornate chair, her back straight and her hands folded in her lap.
"Now then," King Aldric said, leaning back in his own chair. "I wanted to thank you again for your actions during the gala. Your quick thinking and magical skill saved not just my life, but potentially the stability of the entire kingdom."
lisa nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"As a reward," the king continued, "I've arranged for you to study under our court sorceress, Zephyra Vortell. She's a... remarkable woman, and I believe you'll learn a great deal from her."
lisa's eyes lit up.
[AAAH, can't believe this is happening!]
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm honored by the opportunity."
The king's expression turned slightly apologetic.
"I must warn you, however. Zephyra is a very busy woman, with many responsibilities. I was only able to secure four weeks of her ti for your tutelage. After that, well," he gestured vaguely, "we have a war she needs to continue helping with."
lisa felt a pang of disappointnt, but quickly pushed it aside.
[Four weeks with the current court sorceress is still a lot.]
"I understand, Your Majesty," she said, nodding. "I'm grateful for any ti at all. I promise to make the most of it."
King Aldric smiled, clearly pleased by her response.
"Excellent. I have no doubt you will. Now then, shall we go et Zephyra?"
lisa's heart leaped into her throat as she followed the king out of the chamber and down a winding corridor.
They passed countless doors and hallways, each feeling more grand than the last, until finally coming to a stop before a simple wooden door.
The king knocked, and a voice from within called out:
"Co in!"
As the door swung open, lisa's eyes widened. The office before her was a chaotic ss of books and scrolls. A couple of broken spirit crystals littered the side of the room.
In the center of it all stood a woman with raven-black hair and piercing athyst eyes.
... And an exceptional pair of boobs.
[Wow.]
lisa blinked.
Clad in a sleek, black dress that hugged her healthy figure perfectly, Zephyra Vortell, the court sorceress of Syux, looked up from the to she was reading. Her eyes landed on lisa, and a slow smile spread across her face.
"Well, well," Zephyra hissed out, her silky voice sending shivers down lisa's spine. "So this is the famous nim mage I've heard so much about."
lisa swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of her racing heart and the heat rising to her cheeks.
[Oh fuck,] she thought, her nim nature responding to the sheer presence of the woman before her. [Right, right. Your pheromones.]
She inhaled sharply and reeled them in.
[Control... Control. That's your greatest tool, l. Use it wisely.]
King Aldric cleared his throat.
"Zephyra, this is lisa Blackfla. I trust you'll take good care of her during her ti here."
Zephyra's smile widened, her eyes never leaving lisa's. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire
"Oh, I intend to, Your Majesty. I intend to."
With that, the king left lisa there.
And lisa felt like she was about to be eaten or sothing.
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