The next couple of weeks, every chance I got, when Lady Larissa would leave, i would be in her private library.Reading and practicing. the illusion sorcery was simple enough. I practiced first with simple light illusion.

  Making a room look brighter than it actually is.

  They said everyone is born with an elemental affinity. For those with enough mana to use it - using magic from other elements wasn't impossible. Nonetheless, it took more mana for weaker spells and weaker effect..

  Mine was Light. It explained the tiny orbs of yellow and violet that used to float around me when I was happy as a child-like glowing butterflies no one else could see.

  But now I was learning to do something much bigger.

  At first, I practiced tiny manipulations: brightening dim corners of the room, making a candle flame flicker without wind. But soon, I was warping more complex forms. I made a table appear to vanish, then reappear in gold. I sat beside a waterfall in my mind and recreated its sound within the library. Once, I turned Larissa's yapping lapdog into a purring cat.

  According to the books, this kind of progress should've taken years. But not for me.

  However, one thing concerned me. During the day using mana felt like jumping into a large lake, there was almost no way to measure how much water there was, and I could hardly go deep enough to see the bottom much less touch it. Standing in the sun was like diving in the ocean, even if I wanted to reach the bottom I would die first. But at night, that ocean became a shallow wading pool. I could still move, still cast-but every spell had weight. I could see the limits.

  Whatever that god did to me - if it was Divine Favor- it was only in the sun.

  One afternoon, I sat in the sunroom, reading The History of Aldzaran Dungeons, when a knock sounded on the door.

  Knock, Knock!

  "Kitanya" a voice called slightly muffled by the door.

  It was Kaim, the head butler. "Master Larissa would like you to join her and a guest in the lounge."

  I stood, smoothed the sheer train of my dress, and closed the book. Today, Larissa had me in a white leotard beneath a transparent gown with hanging sleeves that caught the light. Decorative, ornamental. Meant to make me glow.

  When I opened the door, Kaim's eyes narrowed. He never liked me, especially in these kinds of outfits. As if I dressed myself. was useful for catching the light and Master Larissa preferred it as such.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  I walked down the hall, bracing myself for another round of songs or foreign language displays. The lounge was small, not meant for dancing-usually reserved for dignified guests.

  When I made it to the lounge I straightened myself. Prepared to sing whatever song or translate for her. The Lounge had no room for dancing.

  When I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat and the blood drained from my face.

  An old man sat across from Larissa. Gaunt, with sallow skin and jowls sagging beneath thick eyebrows, he wore the white-and-gold robes of a Holy Tribunal emissary. No crest. No sigil. A lower-ranking Trinitarian.

  Those who worshiped the Triad and followed the Holy Tribunal Index were called Trinitarians. The Holy Tribunal used the Trinitarian Sigil as their own.

  The Triad - Valos The Divine, Vana the Nurturer or the Light, and Vorn The Wrath were represented with three connected V's in a circle.

  But it wasn't him that terrified me-it was the twelve-inch box beside him. Carved from pale wood and inlaid with gem-studded runes, each stone shimmered with a different elemental color

  "Kitanya" Master Larissa smiled. Her smile was uncharacteristically wide. It was unsettling. "Don Vannis would like to test something with you." She pointed to the third sear with her eyes.

  I forced my feet to move, the sun catching the shimmering tattoos across my arms and neck. He stared at them openly. looked me up and down, analyzing the way my tattoos glowed and shimmered when the sun hit them through my sheer dress. I had worn this many of time before and and for the first time I felt.. exposed, vulnerable... naked.

  My hairs stood up on end, I sat across from them. The velvet-lined box was opened. Crystals of white, green, blue, red, purple, yellow, and black sparkled in the soft light.

  "Place your hand above each crystal," Don Vannis instructed.

  I wasn't getting away from this, and as a slave there was no way I could refuse. When I Master Larissa she didn't meet my gaze. It was an expression I hadn't seen it since I was child and still just wanted to go home.

  I placed my hand above the white crystal. It glowed faintly.

  Don Vannis looked satisfied-relieved, even. So I stopped.

  "She's only ever shown light affinity," Larissa said quickly. "Some minor tricks-like enchanted markings" she appeared suddenly nervous.

  He now seemed anxious to get the rest over with.

  "Her hand must go over each one" he spoke softer now.

  Master Larissa sat back a bit, quietly.

  I had a horrible feeling in my gut.

  He nodded. "She must test the rest."

  I moved my hand slowly. Green glowed. Then blue. Then red. His face darkened. When I reached for the yellow crystal, it pulsed with blinding light-, the yellow one was humming and lighting up. It glowed so bright that I had to move my hand away to block my eyes.

  Crack!

  We both flinched away. A hairline fracture split the crystal.

  Don Vannis didn't speak for several seconds. Then he looked up-his expression no longer curious, but full of loathing.

  "Madam Larissa," he said, "a word. Alone."

  Larissa nodded weakly.

  I rose to leave, looking to her as I passed. Her face was cold and expressionless.

  Whatever this was was serious, and it wasn't just about her... this had to do with me... So I stopped just outside the door, pressing my ear against the frame.