Atanasia was a fresh start. Eric prioritized finding a job, a home, and a place where he could practice magic in seclusion. After his failure at the capital, he wanted to remain inconspicuous, ultimately settling for a job at the port, a home in district five, and a discreet field beyond the cobblestone zone.

He first beheld Annette, in the fields as she caressed a lily against her nose. Seemingly, no one other than him used these fields; and though logic beckoned him to turn around, his gaze wouldn’t avert. Undoubtedly she was a woman of great beauty. Eric thought it unwise to disturb her and sheepishly used magic to disguise himself observing her from afar.

When had he last seen a person looking so serene? It had been about a year since he left the capital and every day seemed redundant. He couldn’t recall the last time he experienced such peace; life had always been about progression.

Lost in thought, he was taken aback when the woman suddenly departed. Curiosity overcame him, as he trailed her back to the district, acknowledging that his actions were a bit questionable. He discerned that she only lived a few houses down, although he was puzzled about why he had never noticed her.

On his way to the port, the day following their initial encounter, he realized that the woman was a boy he had often seen in the neighborhood. Why did she endure such a facade? He had heard of such cases but was clueless why someone of her status would have such a need. Yet, he did not press the matter and continued his life forward, concluding it was best not to disturb the woman's way of life.

A few months passed, without a word between them. The night preceding their fateful meeting, Eric couldn’t sleep. An unholy disturbance permeated the air; his bones ached, and his mana begged to be released. He skipped work the next day and headed towards the field to prepare for the imminent threat.

A blood-curdling shriek diverted his attention; he beheld the enigmatic woman again. Her breathing appeared erratic and panic crossed her face. Pursing her was an imuli, a shape-shifting creature that was only present to the "human" eye in its shape-shifting form. Only those with an affinity for magic could see its true form, which they only ever revealed out of sheer desperation.

This must have been what was causing the disturbance, he concluded. Though he couldn’t determine, why was it chasing her? Eric had never detected that she had an affinity for magic, and distressingly she was running towards the forest into the imuli's trap. He pondered whether he should allow natural selection to persist, eventually deciding to rescue her. Although he had never fought a creature, his conviction to save the woman led him deeper into the forest.