<h4>Chapter 96 Danger</h4>


    "Don''t scare her, headmaster," La deadpanned whilst spinning around. "We don''t know for certain. Our potion is not done yet."


    Potion? Ophelia''s head snapped to La who held a scalpel in one hand and blood on her whiteb coat. Her throat tightened at the nauseating scent in the air.


    "I heard from La you were reading books written in the oldnguage," Reagan murmured. "The words on there arenguage of the gods. Even the most trained magicians struggle to understand it."


    Ophelia slowly blinked. She could see how unnatural this situation was. "I-I was never e-educated on thenguage. I-I was just looking over it, I don''t—"


    Reagan gave her a pointed look, as if he saw through her excuses.


    Ophelia mped her mouth shut. "I-I didn''t mean to read it, I was just mouthing it without realizing it."


    "Direct Descendants of the moon do not have to be taught thenguage of the gods, for it is their native tongue," Reagan told her.


    Ophelia tilted her head in confusion. "W-what are you implying?"


    "It could be impossible," Reagan began. "But the possibility is high, mydy. I know you might find it hard to believe, but La and I are certain that you could be a Direct Descendant of—"


    "We can''t be too sure," La suddenly said. "The ancient books never said purple eyes are direct descendants, but a potential trait. Ever since the massacre and burning of textbooks, all information is lost. I told you, we shouldn''t be too sure until we have proof."


    Reagan let out a small sigh. Seeing thedy''s confused expression, he could only frown. Telling her the wrong information would only endanger her.


    "It is alright," Ophelia told him upon his burdened frown. "My appearance is quite strange, but I assure you it is just g-gic defect."


    Reagan narrowed his eyes. Who told her of such a thing?


    "M-my father has light blond h-hair too," Ophelia continued. "T-the younger you are in t-the family, the less y-you resemble the head. M-my oldest sister has golden strands, b-but as you can tell, I do not."


    So this was what they meant. Suddenly, the Eves family began to intrigue Reagan. He was certain the books hadmented something about them before. He hade across many types of research in his lifetime, from the limited books of this castle to the sprawling shelves back in Tower of A Thousand Wizards, and he often remembered many of what he read.


    "A-actually, I havee t-today with a request," Ophelia said whilst awkwardly twisting her fingers.


    "Yes, what could it be?" Reagan gently asked.


    "I-it may be impudent of me," Ophelia stated, her heart skipping when La nced at them again. She wondered what La was dissecting.


    Reagan patiently waited. Could it be that she''d like him to fix her tongue? It wouldn''t be a surprising response. He knew high society must''ve ridiculed her for something she couldn''t control. With his magic, if it was an organ thing, he could definitely give it a try even though healing magic was rarer than snow during spring. Though, he wondered why House Eves didn''t hire a powerful healer, for they had the money to buy the services.


    Then, Ophelia uttered something so surprising, that even La dropped her scalpels.


    "C-could you teach me magic?"


    A nobledy''s duties in life were to oversee and birth. She was to manage the house and its affairs. She was to birth her husband aplenty children, heirs one after the other, in the case that they die young. She was to obey the man that keeps a roof under her head and food on the table. She was to only speak to other married women about their children and seldom of herself. Her entire identity was to her husband, his family, her children, and nothing else. The life she was to live was not for her own, but the people around her.


    A stunned silence fell over the apothecary. La nced at thedy almost in disbelief, her mouth stuck in ce. Reagan observed thedy for a split second.


    Realizing Ophelia said something wrong, she blinked. "O-oh, I-I uhm…"


    Ophelia thought they meant their words. "I-I thought, w-well…"


    "The Duke would not allow it, mydy. Since La''s incident, he had forbidden us from teaching you," Reagan regretfully informed her. "I suspect he knew you would''ve asked us this after La''s demonstration in the evacuation chambers. He came to me shortly after the goblin invasion."


    Ophelia''s shoulders dropped. Her eyes trembled to find a ce to look at. Killorn did what? Her voice was stuck in her throat. She visibly tensed and tried to force a word out of her mouth.


    Ophelia didn''t know what to say. Killorn knew Ophelia spoke fondly of magic, yet restricted her to the very thing that made her happy recently.


    "Usually I would not mind going against the impudent man, but he was quite serious and you know how stubborn he can be," Reagan said. "Though, I am still honored that you asked. Instead, I''ll offer my doors to you—you''re free to enter and leave this ce as you please."


    "I-I understand," Ophelia mournfully said in a tiny voice. "I-if my lord husband wishes for it, w-who am I to go against him?"


    Reagan''s expression softened. "Should you have any other requests, please do not hesitate to inform me."


    Ophelia reluctantly nodded her head and rose to her feet. She saw the sun had long setted and knew Killorn would be looking for her now.


    "I-I must go, thank you f-for the tea," Ophelia warmly said.


    "Of course," Reagan stated with a warm smile. "La, change your coat and guide thedy back to the Mavez mansion."


    La tossed down her coat and said nothing. She changed into a cleanb gown and grabbed her brown leather bag as if intending to leave for somewhere else.


    "Come with me," La stated whilst walking through the doors with Ophelia. They journeyed in silence, all the way from the tower to the maze, and then on the path back to the Mavez Dukedom.


    Orange hues fell over them as the setting sun pierced through the clouds. Only when they were far from the magic tower did La finally approach Ophelia and lower her voice.


    "Reagan is protective of all schrs," La began. "Anyone under his wing concerns him. I''m sure you can imagine what kind of strain that is for an old man?"


    Ophelia bobbed her head, wondering where this conversation was leading to.


    "Like most his age, he is always eager to teach what he knows, but his hands are bound when he believes a precious schr could be put in harm''s way—in this case, it is me," La said. "I have be a weakness for Reagan."


    Ophelia slowly blinked. She realized what La was implying. Killorn held La like a captive in front of Reagan—whether it was intentional or not.


    La nced at Ophelia. "Reagan will be implicated if he teaches you. However, unlike the wolves, we do not serve the Duke. We''re not under the Sovereignty of the Wolves."


    Ophelia''s lips parted in realization. She thought they were. As they walked, she passed through many werewolves that must''ve worked for Killorn. When they saw her, they immediately bowed their heads and saluted, cheerfully calling her by the proper address of "Luna!"


    "Wolves born on Mavez Dukedom''snds are forced to obey their Alpha, but I am a mage. I might be scared of the Duke, but I am not afraid of disobeying him," La stated.


    Ophelia was surprised. She couldn''t fathom anyone ever going against the frigid andrge man.


    "I''ll teach you magic," La immediately told her. "You are more special than you credit yourself for."


    "Y-you just want an e-excuse to rebel against t-the Duke," Ophelia said out loud.


    La''s lips curled. Finally, she smiled. She evenughed under her breath. "Perhaps."


    "W-why?" Ophelia mumbled.


    "You''ll find out tomorrow," La deadpanned. "I must implore you for a favor, mydy."


    Ophelia blinked. "L-like?"


    La stepped closer. "I won''t say it, but just now, I am more useful to you than unexpected. You would not want to lose me."


    Ophelia didn''t know what La was implying. She nced over her shoulders. She was d that there was no servant or guard present on this path. Should they have heard this, they''d report it to the Duke immediately.


    "But because it is a secret that I will teach you magic, you''ll have to meet me at night time in the basement of the Mavez mansion," La informed her.


    "T-the Duke returns at night t-to me f-for his d-duties…" Ophelia''s cheeks burned when La raised a brow.


    "I can leave earlier and before he returns for your services, then," La stated. "It''ll be when the sun is midway into the setting. Come alone and to the basement where they keep the weapon supplies."


    Ophelia tilted her head. "I-isn''t that ce usually locked up?"


    "It is," La told her. "But Reagan and I usually have free reign around the Mavez Mansion. The Duke is kind to us, but mainly to Reagan who had watched him grow up."


    Ophelia didn''t know Reagan was that involved with Killorn''s life. In fact, she knew nothing about her husband. She was suddenly saddened by the truth.


    "I''ll find a way to open the basement doors, you just have to show up, alright?" La said.


    "Y-yes…"


    La revealed a slight smile, for the first time since their conversation.


    Ophelia was momentarily awestruck by La''s beauty. With her hazel hair and soft brown eyes, La was quite the dazzling gem.


    "It will be my pleasure to teach you then, mydy," La softly responded.


    Ophelia''s heart skipped with excitement. She immediately nodded, her eyes glistening with joy.


    "T-thank you!" Ophelia chirped, her chest light and airy. She was ovee with delight,pletely unaware of the danger that lurked from their secret.