Riftan marched with his eyes fixed ahead as if he hadn't heard anything, and Maxi ran to keep up with his long strides.
“R-Riftan!”
His cry was pleading, but Riftan didn't even look over his shoulder.
He went down the stairs like someone running away.
After staring at his retreating figure, Maxi ran after him and grabbed his cloak.
Riftan stiffened and pulled his hand away.
“P-Please, l-listen… to what I have to say…”
She faltered on the step.
Her dress tangled around her legs, causing her to stagger forward.
Riftan lunged, grabbing her waist and managing to stop her from falling.
Maxi's face was pale as a ghost as she clung to his forearms.
She heard him swear over his head.
"Damn...
what were you thinking?!
You could have gotten hurt!" Riftan barked, holding his shoulders.
Maxi flinched for a moment before defiantly meeting his gaze.
“T-That… w-wouldn’t have happened… if you hadn’t ignored me.”
"Damn, couldn't you just let me go?
Why the hell are you doing this?
I don't want to hear your nonsense!"
Looking down through her lashes, she tried to hide how his harsh words hurt her.
She couldn't let him see her cry when she was trying to convince him that she wasn't as fragile as he thought.
Riftan wouldn't hesitate to reject her even more coldly if he believed it would keep her away.
This reaction didn't surprise Maxi.
Merely leaving Anatol had left him furious; she knew he wouldn't agree with her coming along.
Gathering his strength, Maxi spoke as calmly as he could.
"How would you know it's nonsense...
when you haven't even heard it?
I'm just asking you...
to listen to what I have to say...
certainly, t-that's not too much to ask."
Riftan pursed his lips.
He looked at her silently with flaming black eyes before crossing his arms and spitting, "Fine.
Talk."
Her behavior suggested that her response would remain negative no matter what she said.
Maxi swallowed.
"I have heard...
that the journey to Livadon is arduous.
A...
dangerous path to travel without a wizard..."
“I’m going to find a new wizard, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
"B-But you might not be able to find one!
A-Aderon said it would be...difficult."
"That's not something you need to worry about.
It's my problem."
There was no sign of him relenting, and Maxi was speechless.
Riftan took her silence as a sign that their conversation was over and turned away.
Maxi desperately grabbed his arm.
"I know...
you don't consider me trustworthy, but...
I've been studying diligently, and my mana has increased.
If you can't find another mage in time...
I-I could take Ruth's place and“"
“Enough!” Riftan shouted, losing his temper.
"Do you think we're in for a smooth ride?
Like you said, the road to Livadon is fraught with danger.
Still, you want me to take you along?
I'd rather die than let that happen!"
His voice echoed through the hallway.
Riftan ran a hand through his hair and coolly hammered in the final nail.
“We don’t need your magic, so stop pestering me with so much nonsense!”
With that, he headed downstairs before she could stop him.
Maxi stood frozen as she stupidly watched him leave.
Several servants poked their heads into the hall and stole glances at her.
His face flushed with embarrassment, Maxi quickly walked away.
The cold rejection burned what little confidence she had, and she was devastated.
After returning to her room dazed and despondent, Maxi sank to the floor in front of the door.
An anger she had never felt began to rise as the shock subsided.
He would rather die than take me somewhere dangerous… How selfish!
Does he force me to remain within the confines of this castle while he throws himself into danger?
Do other people's feelings not matter as long as he is comfortable?
Maxi rubbed his forehead irritably.
If she let him go like this, she was sure she wouldn't be able to get a single rest at night.
It would be months of torturous imaginations of Riftan being poisoned or suffering some serious incurable injury.
Was this the comfortable life he spoke of?Her face pale, Maxi glanced at the corner of the dimly lit room before leaving again.
There was no point trying to convince him; she would have to get the knights' agreement first.
Riftan may be willing to take the risk, but his knights may think otherwise.
If she could win them over, maybe they could convince Riftan.
Maxi clung to that thread of hope as he headed towards the training ground.
The wide grounds were teeming with knights and servants preparing for campaign.
Maxi hurriedly walked past the trotting warhorses and men inspecting weapons.
She thought she could find Riftan, but he was luckily nowhere to be found.
Maxi deduced that he must have left the castle to inspect the construction site before leaving for the campaign.
His eyes scanned the grounds, searching for a familiar face among the knights.
It wasn't long before she spotted Hebaron polishing a giant sword near the guardhouse.
Maxi immediately ran to him.
“Sir Hebaron… c-may I ask you for a moment?”
Hebaron, who was oiling his sword while sitting on a wooden chair, raised his head.
“What can I do for you, my lady?”
He stood up, not bothering to hide his irritation.
Maxi was a little intimidated.
The news that his comrades were in danger seemed to have robbed the knight of his usual optimism.
“I… I wanted to talk to you… about yesterday’s matters.”
“Please continue.”
Feeling nervous, Maxi looked around.
Although some of the knights glanced in their direction, none of them seemed particularly interested in the conversation.
They were all engrossed in inspecting the weapons and horses and practicing their sword skills.
Fidgeting nervously with her skirt, Maxi spoke as calmly as she could.
“I heard that the j-journey to Livadon requires a mage, and… I would like to take on that role.”
Hebaron's eyes widened.
He straightened up and regarded her thoughtfully.
“My lady, we are grateful… but did the commander consent to this?”
Maxi's face turned red.
"Riftan...
refuses to listen to anything I t-say.
So...
I wanted to hear the opinions of the other knights."
Hebaron was silent and did not answer her immediately.
“The commander told us he intends to hire a wizard from the Earl of Loverne, so I don’t think it would be necessary for you to put yourself in danger, my lady.”
"What if he fails?
What will you do then?"
“Then we would leave without a wizard“”
“You mean to tell me… that you could travel to Livadon without either of you getting hurt?”
Hebaron clenched his jaw.
His expression alone was answer enough.
She continued in a firmer tone.
"I'm sure...
you're aware, Sir Hebaron...
that the time I spent in the infirmary...
improved my skills immensely.
Melric says I'm better...
than some of the inept healers...
working for mercenary groups."
"My lady," said Hebaron with a worried look on his face, "you are certainly talented.
Believe me, we were all impressed, and I would be lying if I said I didn't consider you replacing Ruth.
However, a campaign is no joke.
We couldn't take you by carriage like we did last time.
You would have to stay on horseback all day like the rest of us and camp until we reach a town.
There is also the danger of monster attacks, but the only magic that you are capable of using, my lady, it is healing.”
"That's not t-true.
I also learned how to cast defensive magic," Maxi countered, lifting her chin.
“I may… not be able to cast a large barrier… but I should be able to protect myself.”
Although he had never tested the strength of his barrier, Maxi maintained a confident stance.
Going on this campaign with Riftan was currently more important to her than her own safety.
If Riftan was going to take the risk, then so would she.
"I'll g-do my best...
not to get in the way.
So..."
“One campaign is hard enough for an experienced knight, but you are…” Hebaron trailed off, looking her impolitely up and down.
Maxi frowned.
He appeared to be assessing the condition of a horse he was about to purchase.
“I am what?”
“You wouldn’t be able to endure the long journey.”
“B-But… even Ruth has been on campaigns, hasn’t she?”Although Ruth was taller than her, he was terribly thin.
He was also constantly tired and pale from spending all night with his head in his books.
Compared to the wizard, Maxi was quite active.
"I'm...
in better health than Ruth and have greater stamina.
If he can do it, then so can I.
Although it's true...
that I have less experience...
t-every master...
y-once was a beginner, wasn't that right?"
“How persuasive, my lady,” Hebaron said with an enigmatic expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
Maxi could tell he was conflicted.
After stroking his chin in silence for quite a while, Hebaron raised his hands in resignation.
"I understand.
If we fail to find a mage in two days, I will try to persuade the commander."
"Thanks!" Maxi exclaimed, smiling brightly.
A faint smile tugged at Hebaron's lips as he shook his head.
"Don't thank me, my lady.
The commander can hold out until the end."
“T-That’s true, but…”
Maxi's face fell as she remembered how much Riftan cruelly bullied her.
Hebaron let out a long groan as if he too was intimidated by the prospect of dealing with his commander.
Seeing the knight's reaction, Maxi suddenly worried that she might have put him in a difficult situation.
Searching his face, she asked hesitantly, “W-Would it really be helpful… if I went with you?”
Hebaron looked around as if unsure how to respond.
“Of course, my lady,” he finally stated with a groan.
“Some of us even suggested taking the old wizard with us.”
“M-Melric is… w-well enough to travel.”
"I am aware.
It would be a great help if you would come with us, my lady, but a campaign is no joke.
If this is something you have decided to take lightly, I ask you to think more about it“"
"T-This is not a decision I made lightly.
I am… ready.
I would rather… endure the physical hardships… t-than stay in this castle and worry endlessly.
Besides“"
Maxi stopped.
She was about to confess that she was quite familiar with difficulties when it suddenly occurred to her that he might find her statement strange.
Instead, she smiled at him.
Hebaron watched her with his green eyes as if trying to read her thoughts before letting out a hearty laugh.
“How reassuring, my lady.”