Redpine Academy of Magic and Witchcraft, or Redpine Academy for short, was a western-style castle with several tower walls with cone-shaped roofings interconnected with the main building.
Although it didn’t look as grand as Helia’s Castle, it was founded on the summit of the tallest hill on the western side of the city. It appeared towering and overlooked the entirety of Redpine City.
Of the several cone-roof towers, the third tower was used to accommodate the witches-in-training living on campus.
Inside one of the rooms on the seventh floor, a beautiful young lady sat by the window and stared out at the night sky with her dull and apathetic blue eyes, not focusing on anything in particular.
An air of solitude seemingly filled the dark room as the young lady enjoyed the cold winds and silence.
The young lady was precisely Cyrena, Helia Ashenborn’s untalented seventh daughter.
Although Cyrena shared her mother’s blue eyes, her snow-white hair greatly differed from her mother and elder siblings, who all had jet-black hair.
Not only was she known to be untalented, but she was also regarded as an outcast in the family.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the dark room was disturbed by the several thuds on the door. Someone had knocked on it from outside.
“My Lady, your mother, Lord Ashenborn, summons you back to Helia’s Castle,” Cyrena’s male servant informed her.
“A notice has already been sent to the headmaster’s office, informing the headmaster that you will be taking a week off academic studies, my Lady. Lord Ashenborn expects you to return by tomorrow morning—”
Creak..!
The marble-coated wooden door slowly opened before the expressionless Cyrena exited her room in a light-blue dress.
“We can leave now.”
The male servant slightly bowed and reached out his hand to carry Cyrena’s luggage. However, the male servant’s hand quickly froze upon realizing Cyrena wasn’t bringing anything with her.
“Do you have friends you would like to inform about your departure before we leave, my Lady?”
“No need. I don’t have any friends.”
“I… I see…” the male servant stuttered awkwardly.
Nevertheless, the male servant quickly recovered his composure and led Cyrena to the front courtyard outside the main building, where a ride was prepared for Cyrena.
…
Sometime later, Cyrena returned to Helia’s Castle with the male servant. She headed straight to Helia Ashenborn in the Great Hall.
Plenty of lavish food remained on the long sandalwood table. But even though they had been there for some time, they remained in their freshly-cooked state under the preservation of magic.
“You’ve returned quite fast. Have you eaten? If not, join me. I have some things to say to you, Cyrena,” Helia Ashenborn cooly said, but she had been expecting her daughter to show up.
Cyrena impassively took her seat on the side and started filling the empty plate in front of her with food from the table.
Although Helia Ashenborn didn’t receive a verbal reply, she didn’t mind. Such was the norm for the estranged relationship between them.
“I’ve arranged for a private teacher to teach you for the whole week you’ll be staying in the castle. It doesn’t matter which subject you want to prioritize; I expect you to study seriously when you are with your teacher. There’s something I want to confirm.”
Helia Ashenborn’s strict words quickly produced a reaction as Cyrena suddenly paused and gave her a cold glare.
“When have I not taken my studies seriously? I’ve put in more effort than anyone else! My theoretical knowledge wouldn’t lose to anyone in my class!”
“It doesn’t matter how much effort you put in if it doesn’t produce results, and theoretical knowledge is useless if you cannot apply them,” Helia Ashenborn replied coldly.
If Cyrena Ashenborn had not come out of her own womb, Helia Ashenborn would have questioned whether Cyrena Ashenborn was her daughter.
Nevertheless, Cyrena’s gaze became colder after hearing her mother’s cold words.
Even if Cyrena was at the top of her class in potioneering and other miscellaneous subjects, Helia Ashenborn wouldn’t acknowledge her.
Only strength mattered.
Without it, Cyrena can only be a useless person in her mother’s eyes.
“Your teacher for the week starting tomorrow is called Vahn Cadieux, a young man around twenty years old. Before you start disrespecting your teacher, you should know that he is also the teacher of Linette Delarosa, whom I met earlier,” Helia Ashenborn stated.
“Linette Delarosa is a genius who is already close to stepping into the realm of Senior Witches. On the other hand, you are trash. You can’t advance from first grade, even after studying at the academy for three years.”
“Nevertheless, I didn’t call you back to scold you for being unable to use magic. I just want you to put away any prejudice you may have against Vahn Cadieux for being a man and learn from him seriously for a week and confirm his teaching qualifications.”
“And if I can’t learn anything from him even after a week?” Cyrena Ashenborn asked.
“Then you don’t have to study under him anymore, and I will kick him out of the castle and let him stay in one of the inns in the city instead,” Helia Ashenborn coolly said.
“However, on the off chance you can learn a lot from Vahn Cadieux, I will request him to extend his teaching. After all, even if you are trash, you are still my blood; I want the best for you.”
“Even if you can’t become a powerful witch like your older sisters, you can still become best in other non-magic professions like the potioneering that you enjoy.”
“I understand, Mother,” Cyrena replied expressionlessly.
Although Cyrena doubted how someone younger than her by a year could teach her, a man no less, she didn’t want to argue with her mother.
There must be some truth to Vahn Cadieux’s wisdom for Helia Ashenborn to arrange for Cyrena to study under the person.
“Where are you going?” Helia Ashenborn asked after Cyrena suddenly placed down her fork and knife and stood up.
“I am full, so I am retiring to my room for the night,” Cyrena left after throwing out those impassive words.
Helia Ashenborn glanced at the barely eaten piece of black venison on Cyrena’s plate before she snickered and paid no further attention to Cyrena.