Chapter 16.1

“That bastard? Her teacher? Do you even hear yourself right now?!”

Naturally, Lucion was livid, practically declaring war against Khalid.

“What are you getting so worked up for? It’s not like he’s going to be your teacher.”

“The bastard put his hands on Edith, that’s why!”

“She said it was a misunderstanding. They talked it out. Why are you still harping on it?”

Khalid sighed and turned to Edith.

“It’s up to you, Edith. If you’re not comfortable, we can cancel the arrangement.”

“I want to do it. I want Master Agni to teach me. Please.”

If Agni was the key to understanding her uncontrollable power, then Edith had no choice but to rely on him.

But Lucion, unaware of this fact, trembled with betrayal.

“Edith!”

Clap, clap, clap, a slow clap filled the air. From across the room, Agni smiled smugly as he reached out his hand.

“Then it’s settled. I look forward to working with you, Edie.”

“Edie? Edie?!?!”

“I like giving nicknames to things I’m fond of.”

That much was true. He called Helena “Lena” too.

‘But something tells me his reason for calling me that isn’t just out of friendliness.’

As Edith shook Agni’s hand and bowed politely, flames practically burst from Lucion’s eyes.

“Let go of her hand! And who gave you permission to call her that?”

“What’s the problem? Edie doesn’t seem to mind.”

“Not at all. I think it’s nice to be friendly.”

“Are you serious?!”

Lucion’s annoyance at Agni’s antics quickly gave way to frustration at Edith’s response. He thumped his chest, looking like he might explode from sheer outrage.

Agni smirked, amused by how easily he had baited him.

“Are we done here? I’d like to leave now. I was about to start today’s lesson.”

“Hm, on the first day? Isn’t that a bit rushed?”

But the decision was Edith’s to make. When Khalid told Edith it was her call, she nodded.

“Yes! I want to start right away!”

Seeing how eager she was, Lucion clenched his fists tighter.

Agni’s gaze flickered toward Lucion’s trembling hands, resting on his knees. His lips curled into a grin.

“Well, since my student insists, we’d better get started. See you all later.”

Rising to his feet, he gave Edith a slight nod.

“Let’s go, Edie.”

“Okay!”

Edith sprang up and followed Agni out, feeling the weight of an intense gaze on her back.

Thud. The door closed behind them.

Agni chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

“The look in his eyes was downright murderous. Check if there’s a hole in my back.”

“You’re fine.”

“So are you, Edie.”

He patted her back, and Edith let out an awkward laugh.

“You don’t have to call me that. Lucion isn’t here.”

“You caught that, huh? Yeah, I was teasing, but it’s true. I do like you.”

“Thank you for thinking well of me.”

As always, her composed response made Agni burst into laughter. She truly was an amusing one.

“Since it’s the first day, how about we start with a little Q&A?”

Once they arrived at Edith’s room, Agni made himself comfortable, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers.

“If you have any questions, ask away. I’ll answer generously.”

The sly glint in his eyes made it clear he was offering her a rare opportunity.

Since he put it that way… Edith asked the thing she was most curious about.

“Why do I have your fragment, Master Agni?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. I’ve only ever given a fragment to one other person.”

Even though he claimed he’d answer anything, now Agni was the one asking questions.

“Do you remember eating the fragment?”

“Eating? Do you have to eat it to gain its power?”

“Huh?”

Agni scratched his ear like he had just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable.

“You thought you were born with this power? You can use it because you consumed one of my scales.”

“But I don’t remember eating a scale.”

Edith’s memories only began at the age of six, and by then, she already had control over fire.

Which meant she must have eaten it before then. But the problem was Edith had no recollection of that time at all. It was like those days had been completely erased.

“Is there any way I can suppress this power on my own?”

“Nope.”

“And you can’t take it back yourself…?”

“Nah. If I tried, I’d rip out your heart. You’d die.”

His blunt answer made Edith sigh in defeat.

“I guess the Ice Flower is the only way,” she mumbled to herself.

“The divine artifact?”

“You’ve heard of it?”

“Of course. It’s a dragon’s artifact, just like my scale.”

“Really?”

Edith leaned in, intrigued by this new information. Until now, the Ice Flower had only been referred to as a divine artifact. She had never known where it came from or how it even grew.