Refuse Vaelra’s offer, insisting he can manage his studies alone.

Elion stood up from the table, closing the book on illusions with a quiet snap. His chest was tight, his emotions a tangled mess of defiance and desire. He had been foolish to think he could hide in magic, that he could escape from the reality of his situation by burying himself in arcane studies. He couldn't run from what was happening inside of him any longer.

“Thank you for your offer, Lady Vaelra,” Elion said, his voice trembling with both strength and hesitation, “but I think I can manage on my own.” He **** himself to meet her gaze, though every part of him screamed to look away.

Vaelra’s eyes darkened for a moment, a flicker of disappointment—or perhaps amusement—passing over her features. She crossed her arms over her chest, her presence still dominating the room. “Is that so?” she replied, her tone low, almost purring. “You may be able to hide from yourself, Eliona, but you can never escape the truth. I’ve seen your heart. It’s not so different from the rest of us.”

Elion’s pulse quickened, his anxiety rising. He knew she wasn’t just talking about magic anymore. She was talking about him—his confusion, his resistance. Her words seemed to penetrate his defenses, making him feel more exposed than ever before.

“Please,” Elion began, his voice faltering. “I just need to focus on my magic. I’m not—”

Vaelra stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his, sending a shiver down his spine. “You’re not what? A girl? You’re more than that, Eliona. We all are. The question is, will you let yourself become more? Or will you continue to cling to an illusion of strength that doesn’t suit you?”

Her words stung, but they also unsettled him. Could it be true? Was he simply trying to hold onto an image of masculinity that didn’t fit his true self? It felt like a question he wasn’t ready to answer, but one he couldn’t ignore.

“I—” He started, but his voice trailed off, lost in the storm of his thoughts.

Vaelra gave him one last lingering look before turning on her heel. “You’ll figure it out, Eliona. The Academy has a way of showing us who we truly are.”

As she left the library, Elion sank back into his seat, feeling the weight of her words. Was he really resisting for the right reasons? Or was he simply afraid of embracing something he didn’t fully understand?

With a sigh, he picked up the book on illusions again, but the words seemed to blur in front of his eyes. The struggle, the resistance, the growing sense of confusion—it was all so overwhelming.