As soon as Eirene stepped inside the cabin, the atmosphere shifted.
Professor Maeron muttered something under his breath—barely a whisper—and glanced toward the door. Eirene followed his gaze, and for a fleeting second, she saw a faint shimmer of light outlining the doorframe. It flickered like a soft glow, then vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
She looked at the professor in confusion. Before she could ask anything, Professor Maeron met her eyes, his voice calm but laced with a strange familiarity.
"I know you have many questions, Princess… questions that no one here has answered yet."
Princess?The word echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her.
"I'm only surprised you took this long to come," he continued with a faint smile. "But I understand. Everything here is unfamiliar to you, and it will take time to grasp the truth behind it all."
He gestured casually toward the door."I've sealed it with a protection charm. No sound will escape this room now—so feel free to speak your mind."
Eirene opened her mouth, ready to ask her first question.
But Professor Maeron gently raised his hand to stop her."One moment, Princess. I already know your mind must be overflowing with questions. And I want to answer them—truly, I do. But I won't be able to address them all today. As Ms. Mary might've told you, my responsibilities are… extensive."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming firm yet kind.
"So here's what we'll do: For every meeting we have from now on, you may ask me three questions—any three. No limits, no restrictions. And I promise, I'll answer them honestly."
His eyes, sharp and unreadable, held hers.
"Choose your questions wisely."
Eirene sat still, her tiny fingers nervously tangled in the folds of her dress as she stared at the floor. Professor Maeron's voice still echoed in her ears—only three questions per meeting.The weight of that condition pressed down on her like a stone. She had dozens of questions—each one louder than the last inside her head—but only three could be spoken aloud.
Just three.
She glanced up at Professor Maeron, hoping for a hint of leniency in his eyes, but found only calm silence.
He was watching her—quiet, unreadable, but not unkind.
Behind his composed exterior, Maeron's thoughts wandered far deeper. He studied the small girl sitting before him—not just a child, but the one foretold in the Prophecy of Seven Stars. She had finally arrived.So small. So lost. So unaware of the ancient truth stitched into the very fabric of her soul.
He could see the confusion in her eyes, the weight of questions she hadn't yet learned to put into words. "You're overwhelmed," he thought, "but you're brave."
Maeron's gaze drifted momentarily to the spot near the cabin door—where the magical seal still shimmered faintly before vanishing. No one could hear them now. No one could interrupt this sacred beginning.
This was no ordinary conversation. This was the first step in awakening the chosen one.
He folded his hands and leaned back slightly, giving Eirene space and silence—space to choose, space to think. Her questions would reveal much more than curiosity; they would expose the direction of her instincts, the corners of her mind, and the fire of her soul.
Maeron remained still.
He would not interfere.
Not yet.
Her first words—her first question—would tell him whether the prophecy was already whispering to her… or whether the echoes of fate were still asleep inside her heart.
Professor Maeron, who had been silently waiting, was pulled out of his thoughts by Eirene's gentle voice.
"Professor, when will we meet next time?"She looked up at him with wide, curious eyes full of hope.
Despite himself, a soft smile appeared on Professor Maeron's face. Her question, though simple, felt endearing.Seeing him smile, Eirene couldn't help but smile back with an innocent charm. In that moment, she looked absolutely adorable—like a little girl discovering a new world.
Professor Maeron responded in his calm, deep voice,"Princess Eirene, we will meet every weekend—just like today."
"Oh!"Eirene gasped. Her expression shifted as she realized something."That means... I won't get answers to my questions for the next seven days? Then I'll need to choose the three most important questions now, the ones that will help me get through the whole week peacefully," she said, half to herself and half seeking the professor's confirmation.
Professor Maeron gave her a slight nod, but then gently added,"Princess Eirene, not three—two questions. You've already asked me one."
Eirene froze.
Her mouth dropped open slightly in surprise, as if someone had just eaten her favorite chocolate in front of her.She stared at Professor Maeron with a stunned expression.
"Don't look at me like that, as if I've betrayed you," Professor Maeron said, trying to suppress a smile.
"Rules are rules, and they were set from the very beginning—during each of our meetings, you're allowed to ask me any three questions, and I'll give you the most honest answers."
He looked at Eirene gently, then added with a hint of amusement,"And you, Princess Eirene, have already asked your first question."
Eirene had begun to understand the true importance of the "three questions per meeting" rule. After thinking deeply, she finally asked her second question:
"Professor, what exactly am I supposed to learn here… so that I can go back home and help my people?"
There was hope in her eyes—hope that the answer to this question might also reveal the answers to several others she held within her heart.
Professor Maeron looked at her quietly. A thought echoed silently in his mind:"What can anyone possibly teach you, Your Highness? I'm merely trying to keep you hidden and protected here until the right time comes—until you're ready to fulfill the purpose for which you were born."
But Eirene's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"Tell me, Professor," she insisted, "What should I be learning here? My roommates study regular subjects in the dorms—but how will those things help me protect or support my people?"
Her words brought Professor Maeron fully back to reality. He studied her for a moment before gently answering:
"What your friends are learning now is called basic knowledge. These lessons help you understand the difference between right and wrong, to see that your actions affect not just you or your loved ones—but the entire environment around you. This is the foundation upon which greater wisdom will be built."
Eirene looked at Professor Maeron, clearly confused, as if she hadn't quite understood his explanation. Noticing her expression, Professor Maeron smiled gently and said,
"Perhaps you don't understand right now how this basic knowledge will help you, Eirene—but once you begin your learning journey, you'll gradually start to find answers to all your questions on your own."
He paused, then continued with warmth in his voice,
"And for the questions that remain unanswered—search for them. Some answers you'll find by observing the world around you, some with the help of your friends, and some by looking into your past."
"And if, after trying everything, you still cannot find an answer—come to me. I will help you find the answers you seek."