"…The condition is," Emily said with a sly smile, "you tell me the full truth."
Logan blinked. "The full truth about what?"
Emily's gaze sharpened, and the light-hearted tone vanished. "About your strength. I know you're holding back—and not just a little. The way your spells moved, your control, your instincts—those aren't things a Tier 1 child with two affinities should possess."
Logan hesitated.
Emily folded her arms. "I'm not asking as a noble. Or even as a healer. I'm asking because if I'm going to help you, I need to know what I'm dealing with. No more masks."
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Logan sighed. "Alright. But you can't tell anyone. Maybe only your husband. But make sure you both tell no one else."
Emily nodded. "Sure. You have my word."
Logan glanced at the door, then back at her. "I don't have just two affinities."
"I figured," Emily muttered. "How many?"
"…Five."
Emily's eyes widened slightly. "Five?"
