Let's Train Heroine

The afternoon sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of the academy's grand library, casting vibrant colors across the polished wooden floors. The quiet rustle of pages turning, and the occasional cough echoed in the vast room.

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Maris sat at one of the long oak tables near the back, a pile of old tomes spread out before her. She should have been focused on her studies—transcribing ancient incantations and understanding complex spells—but her mind was elsewhere. Her quill hovered over the parchment, ink dripping forgotten onto the page.

Her usually calm expression was marred by a slight frown, her delicate brows knit together in deep thought.

For the past few days, something had been off with Lucan. She had always prided herself on knowing him better than anyone else, able to sense the smallest shifts in his mood, his thoughts, his desires. But now, there was an unfamiliar distance in his eyes, a strange preoccupation that she couldn't quite place.

He had been spending more time away from her, claiming to be engrossed in his work at the academy. But Maris knew Lucan too well—there was something more to it, something he wasn't telling her.

Her hand tightened around the quill, the delicate feathers brushing against her palm. She took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. There was no need to jump to conclusions. Perhaps he was just overwhelmed with his responsibilities, or maybe he had taken on a new project that required his full attention. But no matter how she tried to rationalize it, a gnawing worry took root in her heart.

Was there someone else?

The thought was almost unbearable. The idea that Lucan could be interested in another girl, that he could be slipping away from her, made her stomach churn with anxiety. She clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm as she suppressed the surge of jealousy rising within her. No, she couldn't let herself spiral into such thoughts. Not without evidence.

But evidence… she could find evidence.

Maris had lost ability to spy on Lucan 24 hours, if she had this ability then she wouldn't even need to worry about such in first first. However, now she lost it, so she had to go herself to find evidence.

Determination settled over her like a shroud. She would find out what was occupying Lucan's thoughts. If there was another girl, she would deal with it. Lucan was hers, and no one else had the right to interfere in what they had.

Maris rose from her seat, her movements graceful and precise as she gathered her books and notes. She cast a quick glance around the library, ensuring no one was paying her any undue attention, before slipping out through the heavy double doors. Her thoughts were already forming a plan, a way to subtly monitor Lucan's activities without arousing his suspicion.

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Later that evening, Maris found herself lingering in the shadows near the academy's alchemy lab, where Lucan had said he would be working late. She had timed her arrival carefully, knowing he would be engrossed in his experiments and unlikely to notice her presence. The cool stone walls pressed against her back as she listened, her heart pounding in her chest.

She heard his voice, low and focused, as he muttered incantations under his breath. There was a rustling of papers, the clink of glass vials being moved. But there was something else in his tone—a hint of urgency, a slight edge that Maris had never heard before. It only heightened her suspicions.

What was he doing in there? Was he really working on an alchemy project, or was there something more to it? And why hadn't he told her about it? They used to share everything—every thought, every idea. But now… now it felt like there was a wall between them, one she didn't know how to break down.

Maris swallowed, her throat dry as she strained to hear more. She had considered confronting him directly, asking him what was going on. But she knew Lucan too well; he would tell something that sound so convincing she might doubt her own instincts. No, she needed to be sure of what she was dealing with before she made her move.

The door to the lab suddenly creaked open, and Maris shrank back into the shadows, holding her breath. Lucan stepped out, his expression thoughtful, a leather-bound notebook clutched in his hand. He paused for a moment, glancing down the empty corridor as if sensing something amiss, but then shook his head and continued on his way.

Maris waited until he was out of sight before stepping out of her hiding place. She hesitated, torn between following him and going into the lab to see what he had been working on. But her curiosity got the better of her. She pushed open the door to the lab and slipped inside, her eyes quickly scanning the room.

It was exactly as she had expected—an array of alchemical tools and ingredients were scattered across the tables, notes and diagrams pinned to the walls. But one thing stood out: a map, partially obscured by other papers, with strange markings that she didn't recognize. Maris's breath caught in her throat as she stared at it, her mind racing. Why would Lucan be interested in a map?

And what was it leading to?

Her hand hovered over the map, the urge to take it and study it herself overwhelming. But she forced herself to step back. If Lucan discovered that she had been in here, it would only make things worse. She needed to be patient, to gather more information before she acted.

Maris left the lab, her heart heavy with suspicion and uncertainty. She would watch Lucan closely from now on, more carefully than ever before. Whatever he was up to, whatever secrets he was keeping, she would find out. And if there was someone else… Maris's eyes darkened with determination. No one would take Lucan from her.

Not now, not ever.