After the conversation with Hebaron, Maxi went directly to the infirmary, where Melric was preparing emergency herbs for the campaign.
The old wizard was sitting among bags of herbs scattered on the floor.
Maxi rolled up his sleeves and went to the table to help him.
Melric looked up as he filled a small padded pouch with dried herbs and watched her with a worried expression.
"My lady, you don't look well.
Why don't you rest in your quarters today?
I can handle the preparations myself."
"I just… had trouble sleeping last night.
I'm fine."
The old wizard sighed as he lowered a pot of ointment from the shelf.
"The monsters seem to get bigger as the years go by.
It's really a mystery."
“Have you… ever participated in any campaigns, Melric?”
"I often participated in small-scale raids.
I was also in a few long-term campaigns when I was younger.
Although, being a low-level mage only good at healing, I was mostly deployed to the rear."
His expression darkened as he stirred thick ointment with a spatula.
"You may be asking why there isn't a mage to join the party leaving for the campaign.
If all other options fail and they can't find a mage, then I will go with them, my lady."
"N-No!
I ask because I want to go with them.
I have no intention of sending you… so please don't worry about it."
Melric's eyes widened.
"You, my lady?
Did you allow this?"
Maxi's face fell.
Was Riftan so ruthless that even someone who had only been here a month would react like this?
Maxi weakly shook his head.
“I… intend to persuade you.”
"If I remember correctly, you told me that you started learning magic last year.
Is that correct?
Do you have any experience with attacks, my lady?"
“N-no… but I… have encountered monsters on several occasions.”
Maxi forced the fact that he had passed out twice back down.
There were valid reasons on both occasions.
The first time was after several sleepless nights and malnutrition due to anxiety over a possible divorce.
The second time he fainted was because of mana exhaustion.
At the moment, she was in better health and was more skilled at controlling her mana.
"To be honest...
I've never traveled this far.
What...
exactly does a wizard do in a campaign?"
"Powerful mages capable of offensive magic join the knights in battle, but healers like me usually hide somewhere safe so as not to get in the way.
We heal the wounded after battle.
Additionally, low-level mages who are only capable of a few basic spells are actually quite useless in battle.
When I wasn't tending to the wounded, I served as an aide, preparing the soldiers' meals or tending to the horses."
“I-I understand.”
If she could convince Riftan to take her along, would she also have to prepare meals for the men and take care of the horses?
Maxi felt a dark cloud form over her; she has never cooked anything in her life.
"So...
if the monsters appear...
would I have to hide until the battle ends?
What if I can't find a place to hide?"
"As you know, my lady, knights who go on long-distance campaigns are accompanied by junior knights.
If there is a monster attack..."
Melric placed a parchment on the table and sketched two lines.
"The men divide into two groups.
While the knights position themselves in the front line, the juniors fall back to protect the provisions and horses.
The mages accompany them.
Since the junior knights will be on guard, you don't have to worry about being unprotected during a battle."
Maxi's anxiety eased a little after Melric's explanation.
She continued asking questions as she stuffed essential herbs into the padded pouches the knights would carry with them.
Melric continued to give advice based on his personal experiences.
He advised her on how to avoid being a hindrance in battle, how to prevent insect bites while camping, and even how to find her way by reading the stars if she got lost.
Maxi memorized everything and prepared himself again.The sun was beginning to set when she finally returned to the castle.
After eating and getting comfortable in bed, Maxi had trouble falling asleep.
She considered waiting for Riftan to try another conversation with him, but the memory of his firm rejection made her fear speaking to him.
It would be better to wait until Aderon returns to inform them of the results.
The next morning, Riftan was once again absent from his quarters.
Ludis informed Maxi that he had spent the entire night in the knights' quarters.
Whether he was avoiding Maxi or busy with campaign preparations, Maxi couldn't be sure.
Maxi spent his time reading picture books about monsters in Ruth's tower or studying maps to memorize the route to Livadon.
At night, she had Ludis prepare the same sturdy leather pants and boots worn by the squires.
It was the first time she wore pants.
Although she felt strange and they didn't seem to fit her well, they were surprisingly comfortable to move around in.
She didn't have to worry about stepping on the train of a skirt, and she liked how she didn't have to worry about the fabric bunching or wrinkling when she sat down.
After taking a few turns in her new outfit, Maxi changed back before Riftan could catch her dressed as a man.
She hid the boots and pants in a trunk.
The next morning, she rushed to the training grounds wearing the simple tunic and pants worn by the castle's servants.
It was almost time to leave, and the faces of everyone leaving for the campaign were tense.
The knight in charge of training was not someone Maxi was very familiar with, so she changed course and headed towards the knights' quarters.
Through the window of the council room, she saw a group in deep discussion over a map.
Maxi's eyes searched for Riftan.
She spotted Hebaron and Gabel instead, and hurriedly went inside.
The loud voices in the room quieted down.
“S-Sir Hebaron, I came to ask… about the matter… that I discussed with you the other day.”
After blinking at her outfit, Hebaron stood up from the chair and slowly walked over to her.
"Lady Calypse?
May I ask why you are dressed like that?"
Blushing, Maxi smoothed his pants.
“I tried it… because I thought it would be better… to travel like this… b-but I don’t think it suits me so well.”
“N-No, you’re fine like this.”
The knight looked uncharacteristic, embarrassed as he waved his hands.
The uncomfortable atmosphere that took over the room made Maxi step back.
“If I’m interrupting an important discussion… should I come back later?”
"No, come in, my lady.
We were discussing your request."
Maxi hesitated before accepting Hebaron's invitation and entering the council room.
One of the knights quickly stood up to offer his chair.
Maxi nervously looked around as he sat among the burly knights.
A large map of the Western Continent was spread out on the table.
It was covered in a complicated web of lines and several wooden figures resting on top.
"W-Where is Riftan?
I was informed… that he spent the night here."
"You must have lost sight of him.
The commander went to the great hall to send a carrier pigeon.
He should be back soon," Hebaron said.
He frowned as he scratched the back of his head and added, “We were planning to discuss the matter of his lordship joining the campaign as soon as he returned.”
“I suppose the plan to steal a wizard from the Earl of Loverne has failed.”
Gabel nodded from the chair across from her.
“Most of them said they couldn’t leave because they are settled on the count’s land with their wives and children.”
“I-I understand…” Maxi cleared his throat to hide his trembling voice.
“Then… I will be your mage for this campaign.”
"But, my lady, are you sure about this?
You have lived all your life in Croyso Castle, after all," said a dark-skinned knight sitting in the corner, looking at her skeptically.
"All of us here know that you are a talented healer, but the path to Livadon is full of monster lairs, and we would have to camp most nights because villages would be few and far between.
Would your lordship be able to withstand such conditions?"
"Sir Hebaron has already briefed me on what is involved.
I have already experienced camp during my journey to Anatol...
and I am ready...
to face whatever lies ahead.""The journey will be more arduous than you think, my lady.
If you made this decision lightly“"
“Even the princess royal does this, so why can’t her ladyship do the same?” said the knight on his left.
Maxi remembered him as the young man who often came to the infirmary for treatment.
“What is there to worry about when she will have our company?” continued the knight with his arms crossed.
"If it concerns you so much, we could assign some of the squires as your personal guards.
If they can't be spared, then I don't mind taking on the job myself."
After offering the knight a grateful smile, Maxi said firmly, "It is precisely because the journey will be dangerous...
as you yourself said...
that I think you should take me with you.
T-Going without a mage on a journey that could last a month...
on a route where villages are scarce...
but monster lairs abound...
would be very dangerous."
The knights exchanged glances as they silently debated the matter amongst themselves, and Maxi's lips curled into a relieved smile as she realized that she had more or less managed to persuade them.
It was at this moment that she heard a cold voice sound from behind her.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Maxi's face fell as she turned towards the door.
Riftan wore a frightening expression.
He gritted his teeth as he marched over to the table.
“Explain to me what my wife is doing here.”
“I’m here because I asked the knights… to take me as their mage s-if“”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
His icy gaze fell on her, and Maxi clenched her jaw.
Hebaron stepped forward as if to defend her.
"You're here out of concern for you, Commander.
There's no need to get so angry."
"I clearly told her she can't come, but she's here plotting with my men behind my back.
How exactly is that for my good?"
Hebaron frowned indignantly.
"Do you need to speak so harshly?
It's because you're so obstinate that you had to resort to coming directly to us!
Don't pretend you caught us in some conspiracy!"
“Whatever the reason, I will not tolerate discussions about my wife behind my back!”
Riftan stared at Hebaron with murderous eyes, and the knight returned his gaze.
The atmosphere was so heavy that Maxi almost cowered under it.
Gabel stepped between the two men, growling like wild dogs.
"Please calm down!
We understand that you are worried about you, Commander.
That is why we have remained silent until now.
But as you also know, we are in need of a mage.
Please consider this objectively."
Riftan gritted his teeth.
"Are you crazy?
My wife is the daughter of a duke who has lived her entire life in the safety of Croyso Castle.
She would not be able to endure something as arduous as a campaign!"
“And why… do you have the right to decide this, Riftan?” Maxi countered, standing up indignantly.
"I can do it too!
Give me a chance.
You can't leave like that...
when there's a wizard right here!"