Alto, now thirteen, stands in a private room of the Silver family's mansion, facing her parents and an unfamiliar man in long, ornate robes. Between them, various magical items are laid out on a table covered in silk cloth, their crystalline frames still humming faintly with the lingering effects of Alto's mana.
The robed man is staring at Alto, a bewildered expression on his face. His voice is full of barely contained excitement.
"Incredible...no, stupendous! You have an affinity for every single elemental sub-class! And your magic level, it's well over three! I can count on one hand the number of regular elves I've met with that much power, and none of them can boast of your affinities!" (robed man)
The voice of Alto's father, tinged with a calculating curiosity, interrupts the man's rant.
"So, Professor...you're saying she has magical talent?" (Master Silver)
The man – a Professor from Elven Academy – gives her father a look that can only be described as incredulous, his voice rising in pitch.
"Talent!? She has the potential to be a once-in-a-generation magical prodigy! With her power and affinities, if she were to show up to the Academy any time in the next forty years with even a functional grasp of advanced-tier spells, she'd probably be given a full scholarship to study there! Hell, I'll write the recommendation letter right now if you want!" (Professor)
{AN: Though I don't mention them much, recall that people on Azura gradate spells into four tiers based on their complexity and scale – basic < advanced < master < calamity.}
Her father hums thoughtfully, his expression painfully immune to the Professor's enthusiasm.
"What would her curriculum be at the Academy, if she attended?" (Master Silver)
The Professor's expression turns dubious.
"Well...elemental magic, of course? The reason for the scholarship is to foster generational prodigies in their area of expertise. With her aptitude, assuming she's willing to put in the work, she's practically guaranteed to completely master every elemental master-tier spell known to elven kind. Truthfully, she has a good chance of being able to learn multiple calamity-tier elemental spells as well...there hasn't been a regular elf that could do that in over a millennium." (Professor)
Master Silver frowns, thinking for a moment more in silence, then lets out a light sigh and nods respectfully at the still confused Professor.
"I see...well, thank you for your time and assistance today, Professor. We appreciate you imparting your wisdom on the matter, and we hope that you'll give our best to Lady Tessa as well." (Master Silver)
The Professor blinks.
"Uhm...of course, my pleasure..." (Professor)
Before he can say more, Alto's mother smiles and steps towards him gracefully, gesturing towards the door.
"Please, Professor, let me help see you out personally." (Mistress Silver)
Smart enough to take a hint, the Professor nods reluctantly after a final, studying glance at Alto, then retrieves the magical devices he brought before exiting the room with her mother. Once it's just the two of them, she glances at her father.
"Will I be attending the Academy as he suggested?" (Alto)
Though she took the initiative to ask the question, everything about her demeanor – voice, posture, gaze – is cold and detached...clinical. In part because, over these past three years, she's learned not to get attached to the idea of anything, especially people or new opportunities. But it's also because, in this particular case, she feels that she already knows her father's answer...and Master Silver doesn't prove her ignorant.
Her father scoffs at the question, almost disdainful.
"Perhaps if you'd be studying economics, finance, or anything to help you succeed in business, or if you'd awakened a useful affinity. However, he'd have you almost exclusively studying magic...elemental magic, no less...the magic of the working class rabble. I can't think of a more frivolous use of your time." (Master Silver)
Unsurprised by the response, Alto just nods robotically.
"Yes, Father, I understand. Will there be any changes to my schedule?" (Alto)
He raises his eyebrows at the question, then glances away thoughtfully.
"Hmm...well, magic is a skill like any other...one that elves especially love to romanticize. It'd be a shame to waste your talent completely, frivolous though it may be. It could be a good networking tool, after all, to relate to magic enthusiasts. We'll have you master the basic elemental spells...I'll hire an appropriate magic tutor and modify your schedule." (Master Silver)
Alto just nods mechanically.
"Yes, Father. Anything else?" (Alto)
He shakes his head, gesturing dismissively.
"No...return to your studies." (Master Silver)
Alto nods and exits the room without further ceremony, and a mere four days later, she begins her magic lessons.
Against all odds, the experience for her is...transformative.
Truly, the feeling she gets the first time she casts a spell is just...euphoric. A perfect synthesis of all the best parts of her favorite enrichment activities over the years – like destiny itself crafted the art of magic just for her. It's appealing to her in the way all unfamiliar activities initially are, offering mystery and the opportunity to lose herself in a new well of knowledge.
After all, the Silver house was almost prejudiced in its relationship with magic during her childhood. Her parents never used it, and with the emphasis that her father put on the house staff being useful but not seen, the few maids or such that used magic for their tasks never did so in front of Alto. It was uncharted territory for her, and despite her best efforts to manage her own excitement, she gets swept up in practicing magic.
However, it isn't just the novelty of magic that captivates her. The nature of spell casting also plays a role. Mastering spells relies heavily on the same didactic approaches she's always excelled at in her studies, but magic operates on an entirely unfamiliar set of rules and logic that she relishes acclimating to. Then, there is the application – spells demand a significant amount of almost physical effort, but reward one with beautiful, tangible results in the form of physical manifestations. This, too, ultimately contributes to Alto's love of magic.
The feeling of having her body drained of mana – pushing herself until she physically struggles, until she's covered in sweat, until she's no longer the picture of grace and composure she is always expected to be – she finds that it...brings her a sense of silent victory. Like an outlet for rebellion she never knew she needed or wanted... a way to reclaim some of the control over her life that she's lacked most of her childhood.
Yet, the thing she loves the most about magic, the thing she absolutely obsesses over after she experiences it...is experimentation.
Since Mizuki never bothered to dabble in incantation-based spells, one may wonder what the Professor and Alto's father meant about 'mastering' certain spell tiers. With incantation spells, which Mizuki recently confirmed do not rely on visualization or comprehension like true magic, what exactly is there to master?
However, while Mizuki may not be acutely aware, those like Alto know that there are still facets of incantation-based spells that are under mental control, tunable based on the caster's will. How else would a wind mage alter the force and direction of a gale? A physical enhancer modulate their strength in real time? A dark class mage with the affinity to alter temperatures do so with precision? All from a single, initial incantation.
Thus, it's the nuanced control of these various spell characteristics – magnitude, shape, speed, direction – that separates novices from masters. By extension, those with true mastery over their spells can learn to cast concurrent spells, and even combine their effects in novel ways, if they're compatible. It's within this application of spell casting that Alto realizes her love for magical experimentation.
In this capacity, she is somewhat spoiled for choice. Elemental class includes some of the most numerous and diverse – yet still compatible – spells known to elves...and Alto has an affinity for every single elemental sub-class!
As her magic tutoring progresses towards mastery of basic elemental spells, and her control improves, she gets to experience the rush of this for the first time. Can she find the right balance of wind and water spells to make a mini-monsoon? Can she target a pre-made water spell with a fire spell to produce a steam explosion? How will her spell control and versatility be affected if she combines an earth and water spell to produce mud?
These and other questions fascinate her through her early studies of magic, and that's just from combining two of her four elements!
From when magic first entered her daily life, weeks pass, then months, and somewhere along the way, Alto realizes that she is happier than she's ever been. She doesn't have much time to devote to magic, just an hour each day, plus whatever she can occasionally 'steal' through enrichment activities, but it's enough.
Alas, nothing is forever.
Even with her limited time allocated to magic, and her absurdly diverse spell affinities, she is still a prodigy. In the end, it takes her less than two years to master every basic-tier elemental spell. Then, on the eve of her fifteenth birthday, she finds herself called to her father's office.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Enter." (Master Silver)
Alto walks in and gives a slight nod.
"You sent for me?" (Alto)
Her father delays responding, continuing to write on a piece of paper for several moments. Eventually, he looks up at Alto, scrutinizing her briefly, then he speaks, his voice clipped.
"Yes. You've mastered all the basic-tier elemental magic spells?" (Master Silver)
Hearing the question, unease washes over Alto. She pauses for a moment before responding, her voice hesitant.
"...I have." (Alto)
He nods.
"Good. Starting tomorrow, we'll replace magic with a different business tutor." (Master Silver)
As if he's already heard her confirmation, her father glances down at the document he's working on and continues writing. Meanwhile, Alto is listening to the sound of her own pounding heart.
'No more...magic?'
Her father suddenly stops writing, a frown forming on his face as he realizes she's still standing there silently. He looks back up at Alto, his lips pursed disapprovingly.
"Alto, do you understand what I've told you? Acknowledge me when I speak to you." (Master Silver)
Meeting his gaze, she speaks hesitantly.
"Sorry, Father, it's just...don't you think I should at least master the advanced-tier spells? Would it not be an embarrassment to the Silver name if others learned that someone with my talent can only cast basic spells?" (Alto)
'If there's anything that's going to convince him, it's avoiding embarrassment for the family. I know it isn't the strongest argument, and it's just a way to buy time, but...I can't stop magic completely. I just can't. If I can get through advanced-tier magic, I'll have leverage with the Academy, then I can-'
Her thoughts are interrupted by her father's especially stern voice.
"No. I won't indulge such frivolities when you're not even fully prepared as heiress. Never forget, Alto – we aren't nobles, entitled to our laurels. Every privilege we have is earned, and they can be lost, too. You've learned enough magic...it's time to focus more on the skills and knowledge that will serve you in business." (Master Silver)
The rebuttal is like an icy dagger in her heart. But still...still, she can't quite let it go. She clenches her jaw, and bows her head slightly.
"I understand, Father. In that case, I'll limit further magic study to my enrichment time." (Alto)
Master Silver frowns, his eyes narrowing.
"I do not think that is the best use of that time...it will not make you a more suitable heiress. It's better to find more productive activities." (Master Silver)
Alto's hands clench at her sides, realizing that she's on the edge of pushing him too far. But...
"Is my enrichment time not at my own discretion?" (Alto)
For the first time, faint but genuine surprise registers on her father's face. He sets aside his quill and folds his hands under his chin, staring at Alto intently for several moments.
"It is...but that's because I assumed you were responsible enough not to squander it. However, if you are unhappy with your level of freedom, or if you can't make good use of that time, then perhaps it's prudent I reconsider how lax I've been with your enrichment. Do I need to remind you of your place, and your obligation, within this family?" (Master Silver)
Alto bites her lip in frustration, lowering her head slightly. That's it...the wall that is her father. It's sometimes easy to be convinced otherwise with his affinity for bargaining, but...he rules the family with an iron fist. When push comes to shove, and he's made up his mind, it's his way or nothing...literally, she'd guess.
She's sure that, if she ever outright defied her father, nothing short of being completely disowned would await her. After all, she turns fifteen any day now. By elven law, she still won't be considered a full adult capable of military service, owning a business, and other things, but she will be considered old enough to live alone. Or rather, for her parents to legally make her homeless...
As heart-wrenching as being deprived of magic is, she's not ready to burn that bridge. She's not naive enough to assume that she can thrive on her own, when she's been otherwise pampered all her life. And if she's not ready for absolute defiance, that only leaves total obedience.
"No, Father...I understand." (Alto)
Master Silver studies her for a moment longer, then nods.
"Good. It's for the best, since your enrichment time needs to be adjusted going forward anyway. Now that you're turning fifteen, I've identified a prospective husband for you from a good family. Starting next week, I expect you to visit with him twice per week during your enrichment time...and make a good impression." (Master Silver)