I Won't Die A Villainess

Chapter 3 // Elios //

// Elios //

"Miss Aria where are you going?" One of the maids asked as I passed by them on my way.

"I'm just going to the study for a bit," I told her as I continued to walk towards the hall. It's already been months since I entered this body. For now, things have been going slow for me and Ella.

I've been trying to keep myself busy, that's why I've been learning everything I can to adapt in this world. I've also been training and keeping up with my lessons with the tutors my mother assigned me. But they don't really pay that much attention to me, since I'm just the second daughter of a Baron's mistress. They don't really regard me as an important piece in the Tremaine household. Despite being the daughter of a mistress, Penelope is the eldest and set to inherit everything. As for Ella, she's a true-blooded Tremaine. A trait that no one could dismiss even if she is demoted into a scullery maid.

As for me, well. There's an advantage to being neglected. I get to do anything without having people question me.

"Miss Arianna has been acting strange hasn't she?" I heard the first maid whisper towards her companion.

"She's been going in and out of the Study for days now, I even saw her read a book."

The other maid gasped. "Does she even know what a book is?"

"Not only that but she's been spending an awful lot of time with lil' Miss Ellie."

Their gossip faded out as I walked further away. In the past, Aria was known to be hot-headed and cause trouble everywhere she goes. Since she was the second child she didn't have that much responsibilities as Penelope did. Aria was an example of a spoiled neglected child, desperately acting out to get her mother and sister's approval. And later died because of it.

But now that Aria is long gone, and I'm not gonna stand by idly waiting for what's about to come. If I plan on surviving I need a foolproof plan. Even if I change, I can't guarantee the rest of my family will. I don't plan on waiting for this house to sink, with me along in it.

But first I have to learn everything about this world. It's etiquette, it's politics, its power source. If I could understand more about this world, I could figure out why I was sent here. I could blend in if I familiarize the ways of this world and maybe, just maybe, I can figure out a way to go back home. If I can ever go back. If not, I'll just run away and start a new life. Maybe I could use the name Song Ah Ri again.

I walked my way into the study and began piling up books about histories, theologies, Great kings, politics, etc.

I plopped down on the chair and began reading.

In this world; Kingdoms are fueled by magic, the more mages the kingdom produces; the more power they have. When a child posses magical energy he or she is bound to be gifted with an ability. This ability is divided into two; 'Manipulation' and 'Prowess'.

Manipulation is when you have the ability to manipulate something external. Most users with this type of magic become Mages, priests, or if you're powerful enough; you can enter the Holy Order. It's an Elemental type of magic, which manipulates anything that is composed of the four elements. To be able to manipulate the original elements (water, earth, fire, and air) – is called an Elementalist, which I happen to be one.

Prowess on the other hand is more internal. More of a skill or talent rather than magic, but also has some magical elements to it (sometimes). It focuses on potential energy inside a person. It's less powerful than that of Manipulative magic but useful. It gives you the power to excel on certain things like sword fighting, gives you superhuman strength, allows you to alter gravity, make you be able to decipher an ancient language without even learning it, or even give you a sixth sense of determining danger.