Since that day, Riftan has completely stopped mentioning his studies with Ruth.
He even stopped entering the library uninvited.
However, this change only made Maxi more anxious, as it seemed like he was going to unnecessary lengths to ignore the fact that she was learning magic.
Although she couldn't understand why he found the subject so distasteful, she was optimistic that he would change his mind once she was able to master a useful spell.
No lord would object to having more wizards under his command.
Even the princess of Wedon had become a sorceress when her talents were discovered.
Even if she couldn't become as skilled as Princess Agnes, it would be of great help to Anatol if she mastered healing magic.
And Riftan would certainly recognize his abilities when that happened.
Maxi leafed through his book impatiently and frowned.
She wanted to learn magic as quickly as possible, and her lack of progress had made her restless.
Ruth, who was scribbling something on a map, looked up from the table.
"You shouldn't be so hasty.
It takes time to learn magic, and you've just finished learning the basics."
Maxi looked at him embarrassed.
Ruth must have had a pair of invisible eyes on top of her head, because she always scolded her as soon as she lost concentration.
She tucked her hair behind her ears and began to mumble.
“B-But I still don’t know a single spell.”
"That's to be expected.
You can't do magic with just theoretical knowledge.
You must absorb an adequate amount of mana into your body."
Maxi closed his mouth.
The truth of his words hurt.
As he had pointed out, she was unable to accumulate enough mana, and was having difficulty in her practice sessions with the magic stone.
She doubted she would ever be able to use magic.
His shoulders slumped as his confidence waned.
“I practice with the stone every day, but it doesn't seem like I'm getting better.”
“You may not be compatible with the fire element stone.”
Ruth fiddled with her quill, frowning.
He seemed to be thinking deeply.
Maxi watched him expectantly, hoping he would find a solution.
There was a long silence before he spoke again.
"How about we try changing locations?
The concentration of mana varies depending on the place, so practicing somewhere else might help."
Maxi found the suggestion unconvincing.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Where do you suggest?”
“There is not a significant difference between places, but the concentration of mana is higher in areas that are abundant in natural matter such as plants, wind, soil and water.”
Maxi turned his head to look out the shaky window.
In the middle of the mahogany frame, she could see the gloomy winter sky.
The sight alone was enough to make her shiver.
“Y-You expect me to go outside in this cold?”
"You won't freeze to death by spending a few minutes outside.
Think of it as a short stroll through the gardens.
You've been stuck in the castle for too long."
“Y-You’re the last person who d-should accuse me of this.”
The only person who spent more time in the library than her was Ruth.
She at least inspected the castle once a day to supervise the servants, but the wizard never set foot outside the library.
I probably took less than twenty steps a day.
She looked at her thin arms and legs with emphasis.
Ruth frowned and crossed her arms defensively.
"I can't leave the library even if I wanted to.
Besides investigating the monster migration, I'm also working hard to design runes for a monster detection device that will be installed on the walls.
I'd like to split myself in half to do double the work!"
“A-Are you working on another magical d-device?”
"Indeed.
As you may recall, monsters took advantage of the dense fog to infiltrate our walls in the middle of the night.
To ensure this never happens again, I plan to install the device where monsters frequently appear.
But we are still in the planning phase."
Ruth rubbed the back of her neck and yawned loudly.
It was only then that Maxi noticed the dark shadows under his eyes.
She felt apathetic.
In her rush to learn magic, she had not noticed her fatigue.
"W-Would you like some help?
I could help you w-arrange the e-equations...""That would be wonderful, but I must refuse.
Lord Riftan gives me death glares every time our paths cross because I'm teaching you magic without his permission.
I don't even like to imagine what he would do if he found out I was making you work as my assistant."
Ruth shuddered.
His overreaction fueled Maxi's anxiety.
Was Riftan against her learning magic, as seemed obvious to others?
Feeling discouraged, she lowered her eyes.
Ruth continued in a lighter tone.
"It's kind of you to offer, my lady, but I would prefer that you concentrate on your studies for now.
That would be of greater help to me."
“I-I understand.”
Maxi picked up the book he was reading and stood up.
Ludis, who was quietly sewing a short distance away, promptly gathered her things as well.
When Maxi reached the door, she turned to look at Ruth.
“T-Then I’ll leave you c-to your work.”
Ruth waved a little dejectedly.
"Thank you.
Please enjoy the fresh air for both of us."
“I-I’m just going to c-collect mana,” Maxi grumbled.
As she left the library, Ludis quickly came behind her and draped a cloak over her shoulders.
“T-Thank you.”
“Would you like to stop by your room and get a warmer cape?”
"N-No, that's good.
C-Could you bring this l-book to my room?
I-I'd like to go d-straight to the j-garden."
"Allow me to carry it for you, my lady.
I cannot leave you unattended."
"T-That won't be n-necessary.
I-I'm just going t-for a walk."
“But…”
“I-And I think I can c-concentrate better w-when I’m alone.”
Seeing that Maxi had made her decision, Ludis obediently took the book and bowed.
Maxi turned and headed down the hall.
The shutters had been opened for the first time in a long time, and sunlight shone down the carpeted stairs.
She squinted at the window before quickly descending the stairs.
The servants must have aired out the castle, as the interior seemed colder than usual.
She turned toward the kitchen, thinking about warming herself by the fire first so the cold wouldn't feel so biting.
She walked quickly across the room, pulling her cloak closer to her body.
However, once he reached the kitchen, any desire to rest there quickly evaporated.
She stood at the door watching the servants moving around.
There were more of them than usual preparing ingredients, lighting fires, and moving buckets of water back and forth.
"Fools!
Are you trying to burn the bread?
Take the loaves out of the oven immediately!"
“S-Sorry!”
Two young men grabbed a wooden spatula to lift pumpkin-sized loaves of bread from the oven.
Their faces turned red at the cook's scolding.
While the young people were busy stacking bread on a clean wooden board, eight maids sat around a table filling pies with chopped onion, diced sausage and various spices.
Five cauldrons bubbled within the fireplaces that lined the walls.
The kitchen was filled with the voices of servants, whose hands moved about grilling meat, mashing turnips for salad, and boiling potatoes and eggs, which they then placed in wooden bowls.
The kitchen was always busy around mealtimes, but it seemed to be even more active than usual.
Maxi shyly approached the cook.
“D-Did you request something that I’m not k-knowing about?”
"My lady!
Please forgive me for not noticing your presence."
The cook bowed quickly.
Maxi waved her hand to signal that she wasn't offended.
"Okay.
T- It seems like the kitchen is b-busier than usual."
"Yes.
Sir informed us that there will be cavalry training today and asked us to prepare more food than usual."
“C-Cavalry training?”
"The knights have mock battles on horseback on the training grounds.
It's quite a spectacular spectacle."
The cook smiled at her.
Then, realizing that he had forgotten the pan of oil, he screamed and ran to take out the fried pies.
After sprinkling cinnamon powder and pouring syrup over them, he gave Maxi an apologetic look.
"I apologize, my lady.
They burn so quickly that I was afraid of wasting perfectly good ingredients."
"It's m-my fault for disturbing you.
P-Please continue."“Aren’t you here because you need something, my lady?”
“N-No, I was just passing through.” Not wanting to disturb their work anymore, Maxi quickly left the kitchen through the back door.
Workers chopped firewood and carried it to a cart in the open yard.
The men took off their hats in greeting.
Maxi waved back before quickly walking down the path that led to the garden.
Everything became calm as soon as she moved a little away from the large hall.
After observing the area, Maxi threw his head back and took a deep breath.
The pale winter sun illuminated the bare branches, which looked like burnt bones.
The wind was biting, but it was a rare sunny day.
After spending several weeks inside the stuffy, dimly lit library, where it smelled of burning wood, she found the crisp winter air invigorating.