Chapter 10: A Faith-Testing Study Session

I stared intently at Elena in the library's silence, which suddenly felt much quieter than usual. 

Inside my head, my mental calculator spun wildly, weighing the pros and cons of this absurd situation. 

*If I refuse, my villain image might be safe, but she'll keep following me around with those pleading eyes. If I accept... oh lord, what kind of scene am I writing into my life now? A villainess teaching the heroine magic? The original author would roll in their grave if they knew their story got remade into something this ridiculous!* 

Yet, letting out a long sigh in my heart was the only outlet I had. 

I lifted my chin a little higher, put on an intimidating, haughty expression, and tapped the wooden table surface with the tip of my finger. 

"Sit down," I commanded briefly in an ice-cold tone. 

Elena's emerald-green eyes instantly lit up brightly. Without wasting time, the honey-brown-haired girl pulled out the chair across from me and sat down in a stiff, enthusiastic posture, looking like an exemplary student ready to receive wisdom from a grand master. 

I opened my own magical study notebook, then pushed it slowly toward Elena. 

"The main issue with advanced energy manipulation isn't about how much raw power you unleash, you idiot—I mean, beginner," I quickly corrected myself, nearly slipping up by using a modern world casual term. "Rather, it's about the stability of the focal point within your core." 

Elena nodded rapidly, jotting down every word I spoke onto a parchment sheet with total enthusiasm. 

"A focal point...?" Elena murmured softly. "So, instead of channeling all my mana into my palm, I have to anchor it in the center of my chest first?" 

"Precisely," I answered briefly, trying to sound as elegant as possible. "If that flow leaks even a little bit, your elemental magic will explode before it even forms, exactly like that stupid incident caused by the second-year students yesterday." 

*Even though I almost blew up the arena myself during the exam yesterday because of that spell,* I thought, flashing a subtle inner grin to mask my guilt. 

That secret study session went on in an atmosphere far different from my expectations. 

Instead of dangerous political intrigue between a villainess and a heroine as written in the original novel, that afternoon's library session felt more like a crash-course tutoring center. Elena proved to have exceptional comprehension skills. In less than an hour, the tiny spark of fire at her fingertips, which used to be wild, began to stabilize into a bluish energy crystal. 

"Wow... I get it now, Lady Alicia!" Elena accidentally exclaimed in a cheerful tone, causing a few library patrons at the end of the aisle to glance our way. 

I immediately glared sharply, putting on a ruthless, intimidating villainess stare. 

"Lower your voice, Elena Rosehart. This place isn't a night market," I hissed coldly. 

Elena instantly covered her mouth with both hands, offering a awkward, apologetic smile through her admiring eyes. 

*Oh no...* I panicked inwardly, massaging my suddenly throbbing temples. *This girl has zero fear of me whatsoever. If she keeps acting this sweet, how on earth am I supposed to play the cruel villain everyone is supposed to hate?!* 

Outside the library windows, the sun began to set, casting a reddish-orange hue that slowly faded across the western horizon, marking the end of this exhausting yet baffling day.