Layla POV

It's been nearly twenty years since I saved Aria and took her in. I decided to act less like a teacher and more like a mother. She took her mage craft seriously and found that she had an unusually high affinity for ice magic. I moved us to a region more suitable for the development of her ice magic. "MOTHER!" Aria shouted as she ran towards me.

She had grown into a lovely young woman...but she still has a lot to learn. "You're still a child." I said as several ice wraiths slithered towards us, "Phoenix Arrow!" I said as several flaming arrows appeared and flew at the monsters disintegrating them, "HA! THAT'LL TEACH YOU!" Aria laughed, "Now why are you laughing? You went and messed with monsters knowing you can't beat them yet!" I said, "Yeah, but I have you. And you love me." she said as she held onto my arm, "Aria, you know I will not be around forever." I said, "I know, but that day's not coming anytime soon so I'm not worried." she said sweetly making me sigh, "And this is why you can't find a husband." I said as I pinched the bridge of my nose, "MAYBE I DON'T WANNA FIND A HUSBAND!" she pouted.

Later that night I decided to check on a small side project I was working on. I was training Aria to hide the abyss in her eyes, "Aria, how are you coming along with your eyes?" I asked as we ate, "My eyes?" Aria said with her mouth full, "Manners darling." I said, "What do you mean my eyes? If you're talking about the Abyss, I can almost hide it completely. It only comes out when I lose control." she said, "That's good. Your eyes could get you killed if you're not careful." I said, "I know. But why bring it up?" she asked, "Because you've hit a wall in your training. I cannot teach you what you need to learn, and you are unwilling to learn what I teach." I said, "Because all you wanna teach me is illusion and healing magic! I wanna learn to use my magic to fight and help people." she said, "I know. That's why I'm sending you to the Verdosa Mage Academy. It's the same academy that I studied at when I was fifteen. Not too long after I graduated I was chosen to become a court mage. I expect you to do well and uphold the Nicos family name." I said, "BUT MOTHER!" she said, "No buts. This is a difficult decision for both of us. More so for me, I'm admitting that I failed as your teacher and I have to send my daughter away." I said, "Mother." she said, "You leave in three days. I suggest you get your things packed by tomorrow." I said.

Aria POV

Three days passed in the blink of an eye and Mother teleported me to Verdosa Academy. I was accepted due to my mother being an alumni of the academy. I knew they expected me to be great like her, but I'm scared. I'm terrified that I won't be able to live up to their expectations and let everyone down. I was put into an all-girl dorm. "So this is my new home. It feels so...cold." I said as I walked into my dorm and found another woman sitting on a bed, "Intruder!" she said as she sprung up and prepared to attack me.

As her flames flew towards me I focused my magic onto them and froze them solid, "How did you get in here!" she said, "With my key. I'm your roommate." I said, "Tsk. I requested a private room. Why should I, a noble, be forced to room with a lowly commoner." she said in disgust as I got unpacked, "Say what you will about me, I don't care. I don't even wanna be here." I said, "WHAT!" she said angrily, "Look, princess!" I snapped, "Heiress actually." she said snidely, "I'm only here to make my mother happy. She was a court mage and the top graduate to ever come from the academy." I said, "You're Layla Nicos' daughter?" she said with a snicker, "Yep." I said, "Very well, I Nicole Vermillion, shall allow you to stay. I wanna prove that your mother was not as great as they say." she said.

"Welcome class to Magecraft 101. I hope you all get along cause you'll be together for the duration of your time in this academy. I am Stella Nora, one of your many teachers." a woman said as she walked into the classroom.

"Today we will be testing each of your specialties, or what magic comes naturally to you." she said. We each took turns finding our specialties, "Oh have you not found your specialty yet? Figures a peasant like you wouldn't have anything special about her." Nicole laughed, "Who cares what you think. Whatever my specialty is, it'll be far better than anything you can do." I said, "That'll be quite the feat considering my specialty is in demonic flames." she said, "Miss Nicos please step forward." Miss Nora said I got up and walked to the front of the classroom and she looked at me through the crystal in her staff, "Interesting. You seem to be closely tied to the Abyss, this could mean that you specialize in magic that cannot be taught, true primordial magic." she said, "Wait I thought Aria was primordial magic?" I said, "It is, but it can only scratch the surface of the primordial magic of the Abyss. I have high expectations for you young lady." she said as I walked back to my seat, "Demonic flames hugh." I said arrogantly, "I'll make you pay mongrel." Nicole said angrily.