In “The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess,” Episode 7 thrusts Princess Athanasia into a period of frustration and a pivotal encounter that begins to shape her magical abilities and her relationships within the Obelian Empire. Following Lucas’s somewhat unconventional teaching methods, Athanasia grapples with the elusive nature of magic, leading to a significant breakthrough and an unexpected meeting that alters her perspective on her predetermined fate.
Athanasia’s Struggle with Magic and Lucas’s Peculiar Tutelage
Two weeks have passed since Athanasia began her magic lessons with Lucas, the powerful wizard. Despite her efforts, Athanasia finds herself unable to grasp new magic, fueling her growing frustration with Lucas’s vague instructions. She confronts Lucas, accusing him of lacking responsibility and being an ineffective teacher, as he insists she must figure out magic herself. Lucas, with his usual arrogance, explains that magic involves channeling one’s own energy to command elements and requires a personal bond with them.
Athanasia, annoyed by his ambiguous explanations, strikes him, demanding clearer guidance. Lucas demonstrates his own powerful magic, effortlessly floating objects and tidying the room, but reiterates that her magic must be discovered through her own personal efforts. He confirms that this method of teaching magic, where the student must personally acquire it, has been the standard for centuries, including when he himself learned it. Exhausted but determined, Athanasia vows to find her own way to master magic, even as she admits her distrust of Lucas, knowing little about his origins or true purpose.
An Unforeseen Encounter with Ijekiel Alpheus
During this period of magical struggle, Lucas, perhaps annoyed by Athanasia’s frustration or in a display of his petty nature, teleports her, sending her flying to an unexpected location. This sudden displacement leads to a chance encounter with Ijekiel Alpheus, Duke Alpheus’s son. Athanasia initially views Ijekiel with suspicion, recalling visions that depicted his father as manipulative.
However, their interaction reveals Ijekiel to be an innocent child caught in his father’s political machinations. He confides in Athanasia about his impending departure to a faraway place for studies, a move orchestrated by his father for the family’s benefit, which Ijekiel is reluctant to accept, especially due to his closeness with Jennette. Athanasia, empathizing with his situation, offers words of encouragement, advising him to embrace his fate and study diligently to prove himself. This meeting subtly influences Athanasia’s understanding of the people around her and the complex dynamics of the noble families.
The Dream Lotus and Athanasia’s Magical Awakening
While sulking in the gardens, contemplating her magical predicament, Athanasia experiences a vivid and achingly familiar hallucination of her mother’s voice, calling her name from the lake. Ripples shimmer, and an ethereal image of her mother forms from droplets of water, smiling with warmth and love. Hearing her mother tell her it’s “all right” even if she can’t use magic fills Athanasia with fragile hope.
However, this comforting vision quickly turns perilous as the image dissolves, and the water beneath her gives way, dragging her into the cold darkness of the lake. She is ensnared by the tangled roots of the Dream Lotus, a magical plant known to lure prey with hallucinations. Sensing a disturbance in the flow of magic, Lucas instantly teleports to rescue her.
In a desperate struggle to break free from the Dream Lotus’s deadly grip, Athanasia, recalling Lucas’s earlier advice about channeling her own energy, suddenly activates her magic. She uses water magic to rescue herself, emerging from the lake as Lucas arrives. This act marks a significant breakthrough in her magical journey, demonstrating her ability to acquire and utilize magic personally, as Lucas had insisted.
Aftermath and Continued Tutelage
Following her dramatic self-rescue, Athanasia runs to Lucas, expressing gratitude rather than anger. She then confronts him, playfully punching him for his earlier actions, which Lucas finds amusing, noting her “fiery attitude”. Despite the earlier tension, this incident solidifies her decision to allow Lucas to continue teaching her, as she has now experienced firsthand the results of his unconventional guidance.
The episode concludes with the recognition of Athanasia’s awakened magic. Lucas, initially surprised by her pure magical potential, realizes she has the capacity to surpass even Claude. Claude, aware of Athanasia’s powerful awakening and a brief illness she experiences, hires Lucas to continue watching over her, ensuring her magic is controlled and she remains healthy. The servants also note that Lucas’s presence has made Athanasia more lively. This pivotal episode sets the stage for Athanasia’s deeper dive into magic and her evolving relationships with both Lucas and the imperial family.
