Magic Academy's Bastard Instructor

Chapter 68: Memoir [2]

Chapter 68: Memoir [2]

At this point, Astrid's consciousness was blocked from the present. The spirit, Abyss, had gathered enough data to confidently take full control.

With a sickly mother, a busy father, and siblings much older than her, Astrid often felt lonely growing up.

Her closest companions were the maids.

"Your stigmata is wonderful, Alexia!"

"Shh," Alexia, her closest maid, pressed a finger to her lips. "It's supposed to be a secret, Princess."

"Oh, I'm sorry…."

Alexia smiled gently. "No need to apologize, Princess. My stigmata isn't anything special anyway…."

Astrid shook her head. "Not at all! This is my first time seeing so many birds up close. They're usually too quick to flutter away. But now that I can see them like this, they're actually very cute."

A small bird landed gently on Alexia's fingertips. 

"Birds are free, Princess," Alexia said. "They belong to no one, and yet they bring joy wherever they go. To me, they represent freedom. It is precious, even if it's fleeting."

Astrid tilted her head in curiosity. "But what about someone like me? A princess isn't free, right?"

"Even a princess has her own kind of freedom, Princess. You might not choose your responsibilities, but you can choose how you carry them. Like the birds, it's not about who or where you are, it's about how you soar."

"Hmm…."

Astrid fell silent, unable to comprehend what Alexia just said. She was only nine years old.

The bird on Alexia's fingertips flapped its wings, and suddenly, as if on cue, all the birds scattered into the sky, displaying a chaotic yet beauty.

Astrid gasped as her eyes followed the flurry of wings until they disappeared into the horizon.

"Wow~!" 

Alexia chuckled. "Remember, Princess, even in a cage, a bird can still sing."

Years passed, and Astrid's life remained peaceful. Her siblings often visited their home, and Astrid greeted them with excitement.

"Sister!" she would call out.

"Oh, Astrid~! You've grown so much!" 

"Hehe~"

Astrid shared a close bond with Irene. Though Irene's visits were rare due to her busy schedule, she always made time when the opportunity arose.

However, her relationship with her brother, the heir, was a bit distant. 

While there were no complications in their relationship, a clear boundary existed due to the age gap and his status. Astrid admired him but often felt intimidated by his presence.

To— Tok.

Astrid knocked on the door.

"Mother, it's Astrid."

——Come in.

Astrid entered and approached the bed where her mother, Julia Barielle, the Imperial Queen, lay. 

Her health had deteriorated over the years due to something called Mana Core Degeneration Syndrome, a condition diagnosed by the royal physicians.

——How was your day, Astrid?

"It was great, Mother," Astrid responded, smiling cheerfully. "I learned a new spell at the academy today. It's amazing what magic can do!"

"That's wonderful," her mother said, reaching out to cup Astrid's cheek. "I'm glad you're embracing your studies."

"Yes, and I even helped a classmate with a difficult spell. One day, I hope to create a spell that can cure you."

Meanwhile, Vanitas stood nearby, watching the mother and daughter interact. 

He found himself in a rather unusual situation.