6
She had been told, time and again, that she could not wield power. That she was useless. That she would be cast aside. And yet… had she just awakened?
Breaking through the undergrowth, I thrust out my hand toward the open air. Flames bloomed along my fingertips, flaring briefly before fading away.
Controlling it came easily, and I didn’t even falter nor did my body resist it.
‘This is real. This is awakening!’
No longer would I need to live in hiding.
“I–I must tell the H–honor’d one at once…!”
With that, I nearly sprinted straight into the study but stopped short at the threshold.
Perhaps there was a better way than rushing headlong to Lord Tiverius. A way to not only announce my awakening, but also to silence the vile rumors whispered behind my back, and restore my dignity as heir.
In the courtyard adjoining the Lord Patriarch’s study stood a towering cypress tree. If I displayed my power there, before as many eyes as possible, the effect would be undeniable.
Yes. I would set the courtyard ablaze.
Reckless? Certainly. The tree looked precious so guilt tugged at me as I considered burning it. But in Ignitus, only the power of flame truly mattered. Would they really scold me for awakening at last?
Slipping into the courtyard with the stealth of an assassin, I stretched my hand toward the manicured cypress and flung open the gates of my power.
Magic, like a starving beast, leapt forth to devour the tree in an instant.
Shouts rose at once.
“What in the world.. ?!”
“The sacred tree of Tellus is burning!”
“Fetch the lords, quickly!”
The servants scattered in a panic.
Tellus?
Only then did I notice the inscription carved into the stone at the tree’s base:
[A gift, in proof of friendship between two houses.]
Panic prickled my spine. This was worse than I had imagined.
But it was too late because the branches were already collapsing into flame. I forced myself to ignore the doomed tree and focused on what mattered: proving my power.
“There… there she is! The young lady!”
Their voices only spurred me on. I spread my arms wide, reveling in the attention.
“Yes! Look here, all of you!”
Especially those wretches who had mocked me behind my back, I want them to see!
I poured forth more mana, driving the flames high into the sky.
With a roar, fire burst upward, bright enough to blind. For a moment I forgot myself, enraptured by the sight.
Light blazed all around me, glorious, intoxicating. In my previous life, such power had been the stuff of dreams. Then, even a single flicker of flame had been hailed as mastery. But this, this was true Ignitus fire.
My eyes stung. A tear slipped free only to vanish, consumed by the heat before it could fall.
“… Ra!”
Through the crackling I heard a voice.
“Calidora!”
It was Lord Abellus. He stood in the garden, staring at me in shock. Then, with a sweep of his hand, he summoned a gust of wind.
With a hiss, every flame was extinguished.
The garden lay in ruins. Not a shred of green remained, only ash.
“What madness is this?!”
Abellus rushed to my side, suppressing the last of my mana. He began to speak, then stopped, glancing around in alarm. Without another word, he hoisted me into his arms and fled.
Why was he so distressed? Shouldn’t my awakening be shown to all?
He carried me into a great hall, where Lord Tiverius and his closest retainers awaited. Setting me down before them, he could hardly contain his agitation.
“She has awakened.”
“I… I have, Lord Patriarch!” I cried, chest swelling. “I awakened!”
“You claim you opened the power on your own?” one elder murmured.
“Impossible. We judged her mana unfit.”
“Perhaps her condition has changed,” another replied.
“Uncle,” said Abellus, his gaze fixed on the Lord.
Tiverius inclined his head. “We shall see for ourselves.”
At their command, I tried again. This time, however, my strength was gone. Only a feeble spark flickered to life, snuffing itself out within seconds.
The family physician delivered his verdict at once.
“To awaken earlier than expected is fortunate, yes. Her manifestation shows no abnormalities.”
“That was never our concern,” one elder snapped.
“Her mana reserves are precisely as foretold. No more, no less.”
Precisely as foretold?
“But, just now, it was so much greater…!” I protested.
“Exhausted in mere seconds,” the physician sighed. “How are we to manage this…”
Their words blurred. My body sagged, spirit crushed.
Even though I had conjured flames far beyond what my past life had ever known, it still was not enough.
“I thought… I thought I had done well,” I whispered, burying my face against my knees. “But I’m still weak…”
When I lifted my head, Abellus was watching me, his hand half-raised as though to comfort me then he stiffened, straightening sharply as if caught.
The elders spoke among themselves until at last Lord Tiverius approached.
“I shall not hold you to account this time. But heed me well: never use your power within these halls again. Others are not as we are, their bodies cannot withstand the flames. Do you understand?”
“…Y–yes, my lord,” I murmured.
He turned to leave with his retinue.
“W–wait! Lord Patriarch, don’t go!”
I clutched at the hem of his robe. His eyes widened at the sight of me, clinging desperately at his feet.
“I swear, I won’t do it again. But I must… I must ask you something.”
“What is it, child?”
“I heard them say… I am the one you cast aside. What does that mean? Am I not of Ignitus? Am I another family’s child?”
The hall fell silent, cold as stone.
“Where did you hear this?”
“I–I just… am I truly not Ignitus?”
Faces darkened and even the Lord Patriarch’s gaze sharpened.
“Come. We must speak further.”
At last! My heart leapt.
As I followed, I caught one of the retainers muttering: “What is this ‘H–honor’d one’ she keeps saying?”
“Likely some nonsense she invented herself. Children do that.”
