i am my own apprentice

Aelir’s numb, frozen body warmed, her fading consciousness adrift in a dark, undulating sea.

As she plummeted toward the abyss of death, a green vine snaked around her ankle, gently pulling her back to the surface.

“Ugh…” A muffled groan escaped her throat as her awareness stirred.

Light pierced her vision, and blurred images flooded her mind.

Her head spun, still groggy from waking, but the pain that had wracked her body was gone.

A soothing warmth coursed through her, yet it paled in comparison to the figure before her.

By the window of the ice shelter stood a silver-haired girl in a thin white shirt, her slender frame radiating grace.

Her long hair cascaded like a starry river, and her bare, flawless legs stood unshod on the icy floor, untouched by the cold.

In the frigid shelter, she was a vision of beauty and serenity, like an angel from a fairy tale, her presence alone instilling a sense of peace.

Hearing Aelir’s groan, the figure turned. Seeing the girl awake, she approached and crouched beside her. “You’re up. How do you feel? Any discomfort?” Her gentle tone and caring questions carried a familial warmth that eased Aelir’s heart.

“I’m… not in pain anymore. Where is this? And who are you, pretty lady?” Aelir’s soft voice, tinged with curiosity, broke through her initial shyness, encouraged by the girl’s kind demeanor.

“This is the Secret Realm for the exam. I’m also a candidate,” Selina replied, her words jogging Aelir’s memory.

The pieces fell into place. She was in Tianqi Academy’s entrance exam.

She’d miraculously passed the aptitude test, but in the Secret Realm trial, she’d crossed paths with a red-clad noble boy. He’d relentlessly pressured her to join his team, and when she refused, his wounded pride turned to malice.

He’d hounded her every move until, by chance, she found a golden chalice in a ruined relic site.

That discovery sparked an endless chase.

Aelir glanced down, her heart sinking. The chalice was gone. Her face paled.

The Secret Realm tested a candidate’s overall strength. Her talent was decent, but her combat skills were barely enough for self-preservation.

Scoring 5,000 points in three days was impossible without the chalice—her only hope.

“Looking for this?” Selina held up the ornate golden chalice. Aelir’s dull eyes lit up, her hand reaching out instinctively, only to freeze mid-air. She glanced at Selina’s calm expression and hesitated.

“You… saved me?” Aelir asked softly.

“Not really. They disturbed my rest, so I cleaned up the trash,” Selina said nonchalantly.

Since waking from her breakthrough, she’d noticed changes—her height had increased, her body felt more developed, and her tone carried a regal authority reminiscent of Carina addressing her court.

The Sacred Mark’s influence lingered.

“Then… I won’t take it,” Aelir mumbled, retracting her hand, her voice barely audible.

“Why not?” Selina tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes.

“You saved me. The chalice should be yours.”

“But you found it. It’s yours.” Selina nudged the chalice closer, urging her to take it.

Aelir shook her head stubbornly. “You saved me.”

Selina couldn’t help but laugh, her silver-bell-like chuckle startling Aelir. The girl blinked, confused, as Selina’s face bloomed with amusement. “What’s wrong? Did I say something odd?”

“No, it’s just… your personality reminds me so much of Roan,” Selina said, covering her smile.

“You know my father?!” Aelir’s eyes widened in shock, but her excitement quickly turned to wariness. Her father, a notorious thief executed by the empire’s knights, wasn’t a name associated with good company.

This elegant girl might be a noble with a grudge. Aelir shrank back, fear creeping into her expression. “Why do you know him?”

“Don’t be afraid. Your father and I weren’t enemies. If anything, I’d call him Master,” Selina said gently, her words easing Aelir’s tension slightly, though her blue eyes remained cautious.

“What was your relationship with him? Can you prove it?” Aelir pressed.

“I don’t have proof on me, but I can share something to earn your trust. Like about my master,” Selina said, tapping her lip thoughtfully.

“Your master?” Aelir frowned, puzzled.

“Yes, my master was Kant, the Thief Saint. You wouldn’t know him, would you?” Selina smiled, watching Aelir’s reaction.

Aelir’s breath quickened. “You’re… Kant’s apprentice?!”

Selina nodded.

“Kant… Uncle Kant…” Aelir’s voice trembled. “I know him. He… he fell five years ago in the Elven Forest. I have a senior sister, Litiya. I came to Tianqi Academy to find her.”