The rest of the lesson passed quickly as the class practiced various healing patterns under Whitehall's keen observation. At the end of the lesson, as the students were packing up their materials, Whitehall held Valentina back.
"Just a moment, Valentina."
Valentina stayed in her seat while the other students left the room. Avie gave her one last envious look before disappearing through the door.
"Your contributions today were very valuable," Whitehall said when they were alo...
2025-08-03 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The second day of the new semester began with a flood of students streaming into the main hall for course registration. Valentina made her way through the crowd, a list of the courses she wanted to attend this year firmly in hand. She had chosen to focus on medical applications of Essence Weaving, inspired by her time at Greystone Hospital.
"All those looks," Vyxara murmured, amused. "You'd think you were an exotic creature from the Scorched Lands or the Far West and not ju...
2025-07-31 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The first day at the university was a pleasantly busy one. After breakfast together in the dining room, where Valentina constantly attracted curious glances, they spent the morning in the library. Together with Crispin, Valentina and Innogen studied the courses on offer for the new academic year, compared their interests and thought back and forth about their timetables.
"Professor Whitehall offers several advanced courses in medical Essence application," Valentina remarked enthusiastic...
2025-07-27 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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Valentina lit the simple oil lamp with a casually woven small Viur pattern. Warm, flickering light illuminated the room.
"What a... humble abode it is after all," Vyxara commented with ironically feigned politeness. "Your little maid Jenny would have a heart attack if she could see where her fine lady lives now."
Valentina couldn't help but let out a short laugh. Jenny, who had always been careful to keep Valentina's room in the palace in immaculate condition, wo...
2025-07-24 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The wheels of the carriage rattled over the cobblestones as Valentina pulled herself up from her exhausted lethargy. After days of traveling, she finally saw Bridgewater's city gate in front of her. A tingle of excitement and nervousness ran through her body.
"Ah, we're back," Vyxara whispered in her head, the demon's voice sounding amused. "Where it all began. Where we met. Where we 'tied the knot' so to speak. Isn't it nice to be back?"
"Yes, it is." Valentina ...
2025-07-20 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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After her last time with the duke for the time being, Valentina couldn't sleep, she still felt far too agitated. She slipped into a silk night robe and slipped out into the palace garden. The moon was high in the sky, its silvery light making the artfully trimmed hedges look like frozen ripples in Essence.
"A wonderful night for one last walk," Vyxara murmured in her head. "Though I have to admit, his way of saying goodbye was... interesting."
"He really made an ...
2025-07-17 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Her days in Dusktown were coming to an end. Late summer was already turning the leaves in the palace gardens the first golden hues, and the morning mists drifting up from the sea were getting thicker. Valentina felt the approaching change like a slight tingling under her skin.
On the morning of the day before her departure, Jenny brought her a message from the duchess – handwritten on the finest paper with a subtle scent of lavender. The duchess wished to speak to her in her private c...
2025-07-13 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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Lady Celestine's townhouse was situated in one of Dusktown's most elegant streets, surrounded by manicured gardens. Music drifted softly from the open windows. Valentina hesitated outside the gate, her heart beating faster at the thought of what she was about to do.
"Nervous, little Weaver?" Vyxara's voice sounded amused. "Yet you weren't usually so shy with a little tenderness in your illustrious inner circle. Not even at the beginning with Master Bloomfield."
"...
2025-07-10 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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In the evening, the inner circle had gathered as usual. Valentina leaned relaxed in the duke's arms while he gently played with a strand of her hair. They had found their way back to a new, cautious familiarity over the last few weeks. The rest of the inner circle also lounged about on the divans – Baron Sebastian shared a couch with Lady Vivienne, while Lady Celestine snuggled close to Master Bloomfield. Master Amadou and Countess Rosamere were engrossed in a whispered conversation.
...
2025-07-06 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The time after her birthday was characterized by great busyness. Her days consisted of court duties, research work and a lot of time with the duke. He was particularly attentive and affectionate, as if to compensate for the harshness of that night. His touches were gentler, their conversations more profound, his gifts thoughtful – small gifts, rare books, or exquisite hair clips that he had brought to her bed in the morning.
"He's really trying," Vyxara remarked with amusemen...
2025-07-03 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The duke was waiting for her at the entrance to the grand banquet hall, splendidly dressed in the Greystone colors. His eyes shone appreciatively as he took her arm.
"My enchanting Valentina," he murmured. "You're outshining everyone else today."
The duchess stood beside him, elegantly dressed in silver-grey brocade. Her smile was cool, but not unfriendly, as she greeted Valentina with a precisely measured bow.
The banquet hall was a marvel of Essence-enhanced light and shad...
2025-06-29 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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"Wake up, little Weaver. Today is your big day."
Valentina slowly opened her eyes. Vyxara's voice sounded unusually gentle, almost tender.
"Twenty years," the demon mused with amusement. "Such a short period of time for me, and yet – how much you've changed in that one year."
Valentina stretched out under the silken sheets. A year ago, she had still slept with two sisters in a small room on her parents' farm. Today she woke up in a four-poster be...
2025-06-26 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
Since releasing the story, I've maintained a consistent rhythm of three chapters per week like clockwork. This is important to me because, personally, I incorporate the chapter releases of stories I follow into my daily routine, and I'm always a bit sad when a chapter doesn't come out – even though, as an author myself, I completely understand that sometimes things simply don't work out.
That's why I also want to be honest with you: maintaining the rhythm of three ...
2025-06-23 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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"Stay a little longer," the duke murmured to his inner circle. "I have arranged another special entertainment, just for us."
Lady Vivienne, who was about to leave, sat down again with a delighted smile. Master Bloomfield, Baron Sebastian and the duke's other confidants also remained nearby as if by chance.
When the last regular guest had left, the duke pointed to the large pavilion, where servants were already arranging divans in a semicircle. Silk curtains were stretched between ...
2025-06-22 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Master Lucian led Valentina to a secluded alcove in the garden, half hidden behind a lushly flowering wisteria. The sweet scent of the purple flowers mingled with the spicy aroma of wild thyme growing between the paving stones.
"I've received disturbing news from Bridgewater," he said quietly, after making sure that no one was within earshot. His usually relaxed posture was noticeably tense.
"What news?" Valentina felt her stomach tighten.
"The Illumination seems to take a s...
2025-06-19 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The first servants were already preparing the palace gardens for the celebration. Valentina watched from her balcony as they set up wooden tables on the lawns and strung garlands between the trees.
The rising sun made the complex Essence patterns that impacted the fountain sparkle with color. Master Lucian worked to intensify the patterns in the garden, his hands moving in precisely through the air. The roses in the flower beds seemed to bloom even more intensely, their colors became de...
2025-06-17 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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"A bath will do you good," said Lady Celestine, leading Valentina through the steam-filled corridors of the exclusive bathhouse. Granite pillars rose from the hazy clouds and the splashing of water echoed from the vaulted ceilings. "After such an exhausting day at the hospital, you need some relaxation."
A servant hurried over and helped them take off their robes. Valentina was grateful for the steam that hid her embarrassment. Despite the increasingly revealing evenings in the duke's i...
2025-06-15 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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The familiar Leb Essence current of the Greystone Cascade surrounded Valentina as she formed the patterns, running her hands over the gaping wound. After all those weeks in Dusktown, the complex healing process was as familiar to her as breathing.
"Better," Master Wilford grumbled approvingly.
"Oh, a real compliment from the old curmudgeon?" laughed Vyxara in her head. "You've earned it. You're actually getting better and better."
The days at the hospital r...
2025-06-12 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Jenny hurriedly helped Valentina to change for the theater performance. The maid had already prepared a lavender-colored silk dress – one of the new gowns the duke had gotten her.
"You should hurry," warned Vyxara. "After that little interlude in the garden, we don't want to keep the duke waiting too."
Valentina tried to block out the memory of Lorenzo's near-kiss while Jenny helped her put on the dress. Her lips were still tingling from the anticipation of his...
2025-06-10 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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"If you patch up the arteries like that, they'll rupture again later and the patient will bleed to death on the way home," growled Master Wilford. "Concentrate on the Greystone Cascade, feel the flow."
Valentina corrected her Essence pattern and immediately felt the healing deepen. The fisherman on the treatment table, who had rammed a fishhook deep into his hand, visibly relaxed.
"The old curmudgeon is getting tame," Vyxara commented with amusement. "A few days ago, ...
2025-06-08 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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Lady Celestine led Valentina through a hidden corridor to an elegant salon in the older part of the palace.
"The Duke's more intimate circle," she explained quietly as she led Valentina to a velvet-covered divan. "Here we can let the masks of court slip a little."
The room was ornately furnished, with heavy tapestries and comfortable seating. A small group of musicians played subtle melodies, whose shameless lyrics Valentina listened to with a blush.
Master Gregory Bloomfiel...
2025-06-05 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Valentina was on her way back to her chambers when she heard voices coming from one of the salons. She immediately recognized Lorenzo's soft baritone and Hazel's cutting voice. She was about to go on, but something in Hazel's tone made her pause.
"Curious, little Weaver?" teased Vyxara. "Go on, you know how to eavesdrop."
Valentina hesitated for a moment, then activated her Essence Listening ability. The voices became crystal clear, as if she were standing right ...
2025-06-03 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Vyxara woke Valentina very early the next morning. She blinked sleepily, feeling a pleasant heaviness in her limbs and still a slight throbbing between her legs from the passionate night. The duke slept beside her, his breathing calm and even.
"Time to go," whispered Vyxara. "The servants will be active soon."
Valentina carefully slipped out of bed and picked up her nightdress and nightrobe from the floor. The duke stirred briefly, but continued to sleep. She gav...
2025-06-01 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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Valentina stood in the dark corridor outside the duke's chambers. The moonlight that fell through the high windows did not penetrate the shadows that Valentina had drawn around herself.
"The door is locked," Vyxara whispered in her head. "You remember the right pattern?"
With her eyes closed, Valentina wove the right Essence pattern and let Luvt and Ard's searching feelers wander into the lock. The lock was secured by a protective pattern, but it did not even res...
2025-05-29 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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In her chambers she found Jenny asleep in an armchair. The young maid had obviously been waiting for her. A fire was still burning dimly in the fireplace and there was a carafe of now cold herbal tea on the small table.
"Jenny," Valentina said gently and touched her shoulder. "Go to bed. It's late."
The maid was startled. "Oh, my lady! I just wanted to... I thought you might need..."
"You're very attentive," smiled Valentina. "But now go to sleep. Tomorrow is another day."
2025-05-27 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Valentina stood outside the duchess's chambers, her palms damp with nervousness. She had chosen a simple, dark green dress – elegant enough for an audience, but again deliberately not in the duke's colors.
"Remember," Vyxara whispered, "she's a pragmatic woman. No excuses, no apologies."
Lady Beatrice, the duchess's lady-in-waiting, opened the door. The honey-blonde woman eyed Valentina with cool professionalism and led her through an elegantly furnished antero...
2025-05-25 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Valentina stood in the early morning in front of the window of her chamber and watched the drizzle cover the gray walls of Dusktown. She hadn't slept too much. Last night seemed like a dream to her – the intimate, pleasant evening with the duke, the wine, the food, the subtle touches, the suggestive conversation.
"And you're still dead-set on confronting him directly?" Vyxara sounded amused.
"I'm tired of guessing." Valentina turned away from the window. "If he wants me...
2025-05-22 17:12:00 +0000 UTC
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The duke's private dining room was smaller but exquisitely elegant. The walls were covered in dark red brocade and a black marble fireplace provided cozy warmth. Instead of the usual Essence lamps, candles in silver chandeliers lit the room. The table was set for two, with the finest silver cutlery and cut crystal glasses.
"Intimate," purred Vyxara. "Candles instead of Essence lamps, very atmospheric."
A servant helped Valentina to her chair. She was grateful for...
2025-05-20 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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Valentina woke up from Jenny's excited chatter before Vyxara could wake her.
"Oh, my lady, what an exciting day for you!" The young maid limped herself quite excited through the room and drew open the heavy curtains. "His Grace wants to accompany you to the city in person! I've heard he wants to take you to Master Silkhand – the best tailor in all of Dusktown!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Even the Duchess has her dresses made by him."
"Jenny," Valentina gently inter...
2025-05-18 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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When Valentina returned to her chambers, she felt physically and mentally exhausted. The day at the hospital had taken more out of her than she had expected. But Jenny, who was already waiting for her excitedly, gave her no time to rest.
"My lady! The banquet starts in two hours!" The young maid hobbled busily around the room. "The bath is already in. With rose oil, as you like it."
"How thoughtful," Vyxara scoffed. "Almost as if someone had given instructions to the ...
2025-05-15 17:12:01 +0000 UTC
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