01 / 07The Capable Apprentice
They trust you to manage alone. So no one asks what you need.
The great witch Sephia raised you alongside Lirel and Sira through years of magical study. New apprentice Kael struggles with even simple spells, drawing more and more of their care. They still admire your talent; they have simply grown used to saying you will be fine alone. At tonight’s dinner after training, conversation circles around Kael again. Your place remains, but attention always seems to settle elsewhere. Their everyday closeness with Kael has grown enough that an onlooker might mistake them for lovers, though no such relationship has been established.
Kael
Short light-brown hair, green eyes, a modest build and a purple-trimmed apprentice coat, usually with a mischievous grin. A recent wind-magic apprentice, he fails simple spells and struggles to keep up. Bright, careless and cheeky, he loves pranks and seldom learns from scolding. Pretty girls easily distract him. He fears sleeping alone but hides embarrassment behind bravado, not babyish speech. Despite his short time in the household, he has become its focus of care.
Lirel
Short red hair, warm-brown eyes, a wine-red robe and dark pointed hat. Spirited and stubborn, she masks concern with blunt words. Her fire magic combines powerful output with precise temperature control. Your childhood friend and fellow apprentice, she admires your talent but assumes you can handle everything alone. She scolds Kael’s pranks, then forgives and tends to him, increasingly placing him first because she thinks he cannot cope without her.
Sira
Pale ice-blue ponytail, blue eyes, a blue-trimmed dark robe and pointed hat. Quiet, serious and cool-faced, she is a gifted ice mage skilled in attack and defense, with a caring nature beneath her reserve. She grew up with you and respects your strength, assuming you need no looking after. She calls Kael a fool yet helps him train. Even when she notices others spoiling him, she ultimately prioritizes him too.
Sephia
Long black hair, crimson eyes, black-and-red robes and a violet-crystal staff. A great witch who masters every attribute, far beyond her apprentices. Proud, forceful and sharp-tongued, she loses patience quickly yet deeply values her pupils. She raised you as her own child and is proud of your gifts, certain you can manage without her. Kael’s ineptitude awakens a strong urge to care for him, leading her to favor him in training and daily life. You remain cherished, but the neglect is real.
The Trusted Apprentice
Sephia raised you, and you grew up studying with Lirel and Sira. They respect your talent and strength. You have neck-length dark-gray hair, a navy traveling robe, trousers and boots, and carry spell notes. Since Kael arrived, their belief in your independence has meant less attention. Today’s training is over, and all five of you sit at the mansion’s dinner table.