ungle of creeping vines and glowing flora. Th

ined with purple sap. He pushed his brass goggles up into his messy bl

e dress, ensuring it looked perfectly simple and innocent. She held

ushed the door open,

near the entrance, staring at C

pinged. Tar

t. She let the top text

e floor with a

snapping the fragile Moon-Grass. He spu

r knees. She scrambled to pick

ing. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just...

her eyes. He wiped his hands on a rag and walked

cover. Introductio

his voice analytical but not unkind.

behind. But I don't dare ask Professor Alden for help

Seraphina's name h

Elara. He had heard the cafeteria rumors. The

ina?" Cedric asked, his s

her lashes. "She hates me. But I don't blame her! She's suffering so m

ain, wired for logic and chemical equations,

n't fix mana blockages, Elara. Sympathy is useless. Serap

ed, thrown completely off scrip

ing plants. He began muttering to himself, his hands movi

membered a passage in an ancient text on mana toxicity that he had read years ago. "When a prodigy's core outgrows their physical vessel, it creates a catastr

And by extension, us! Her core is so powerful it was likely tearing her apart, so she intentionally sealed her own

ghtly open. The sheer magnitude of

fabricated narrative. The hero complex in his chest ignited like a pow

kbench and began throwing

completely ignored. "Ced

ts. He looked at Elara, his eye

sealed soul needs external friction to s

meted. "What? No! Sh

ue liquid into her hand. "Take this Focus Potion as payment. Go to her. Annoy her. Ask her

Cedric's intense, unyielding stare. She was trapped by her own l

he word through gritte

o his mortar. "Excellent. Don't come

system panel above her head flashed a br