part0022

Chryselle was at the Central Market, buying ingredients for a meal she’d decided to prepare for her master, when she heard news regarding her older brother. The merchants, vendors, and even the passersby were excitedly chattering about an event that had transpired near Blackstone Town, a day ago.

“Hey, did you hear? The magicians of the tower and the Thunder Lord clashed yesterday, near the Prey River!”

“I know! My husband was there when it happened! Lord Nickolai and the Master of the Tower fought to their deaths! You should have seen the traces of their battle!”

“Ah, your husband enlisted in the military.”

“That’s right. He’s been stationed in the nearby garrison. When they heard the magic explosions, the soldiers went to check the commotion. And you wouldn’t believe it! Hundreds of magicians from the tower fought against the mercenaries and the disciples of the Thunder Lord!”

“That must have been terrifying—”

“It was. My husband told me he was frozen in fear watching the battle.”

“I’d probably abandon my post and run away. Two of the strongest magicians of this kingdom fighting each other? Didn’t they try to kill each other before, too?”

“I’m just glad my husband came back alive after witnessing that battle. I heard that the Prey River was destroyed after their fight. Really, those monsters.”

“Even though that river had almost dried-up… what a waste.”

“I’m just glad the lord built that water system a year ago. Even without the Prey River, we no longer have to fear the drought.”

“So, who won the battle? I heard it was a draw, too, this time around.”

“Stupid, do you think my husband would have returned alive if the Thunder Lord had won that fight?”

“Lord Nickolai would have killed all of the spectating soldiers. That madman. I still wonder why that lunatic is still part of the royal court magicians.”

“Shhh! Lower your voice! What if someone hears you?”

“So what? Look, the Thunder Lord lost the fight. Even the mercenaries he hired ran away after witnessing the might of the tower’s magicians. Strongest magician of the kingdom? Hah! I suppose that title is gone now!”

After eavesdropping the conversation between the two women, Chryselle momentarily stood there, frozen and bewildered by what she’d heard.

Her brother must have anticipated this happening. He’d even told her that given the chance, he would do his best to stop Nickolai from reaching Blackstone Town.

Chryselle smiled. Although she knew that hatred toward the Thunder Lord must have played a big part in Alecto’s decision, she was still grateful for what her brother did, no matter what. Not everyone had the courage to boldly stop the so-called strongest magician of the kingdom in his tracks.

Chryselle felt indescribable warmth surging inside of her. She felt proud that her brother had won against one of the strongest royal court magicians of the kingdom.

“Young miss, are you not going to buy anything?” said the stall vendor.

Chryselle broke out of her trance. “Ah, yes. I would like two of these please. And that over there—” she pointed at meat hanging from a hook. “Four large slabs please.”

“White boar meat?” said the stall vendor. “Alright.”

The stall vendor looked extremely pleased for some reason. He glanced at Chryselle every now and then, smiling upon looking at her face.

“Making white boar stew, young miss?” The vendor skillfully cut the meat and placed it inside a bag made of weaved leaves.

“Hopefully… yes,” Chryselle said in a soft voice.

The vendor smiled and chuckled. “Hopefully? Sounds like it’s for your beau, eh? Or is it for your husband? Lucky man.”

Chryselle’s face flushed. She shook her head. “N-No. It’s not like that—”

“Of course, of course,” the vendor said mischievously. “Here you go, young miss. I added a small pouch of umami salt in there.”

“Umami salt? It’s really expensive, sir. At least let me pay for—”

“No, no. It’s fine. The pouch is almost empty. Only a pinch or two is inside, but it should be enough for a stew. Take it.”

Chryselle took the bag filled with meat, vegetables, and spices. She lightly bowed her head, her crimson hair covering a portion of her face. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be sure to come to this stall again.”

The vendor grinned at the merchants in the other stalls. His eyes saying: ‘Hear that? The pretty miss is my regular now! Blame your rotten luck, bastards!’

A chuckle escaped the vendor’s lips. He said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, “Of course, please come again! Just add the umami salt and I’m sure your lover will like it!”

Chryselle didn’t utter a reply to that statement. She left the market, her ears flushed red from embarrassment.

After buying ingredients at the Central Market, Chryselle went to her home in the Eastern District. After receiving a hefty sum of ‘pocket money’ from the Master of the Tower, she bought one of the newly built residences. A simple, one-story stone house.

The moment Chryselle reached her house, she noticed a familiar woman, half her face shrouded by her hood, standing in front of the door.

“Esmeralda?” said Chryselle. She hadn’t expected to meet her here, this early in the morning.

The princess looked in the direction of the voice. Upon seeing Chryselle, she beamed. “So that’s why no one is answering!”

The princess ran to Chryselle and locked her left arm with hers. “I heard you bought a house. I came to visit!” She showed her a small bag filled with sweets. “It’s from that popular stall near the newly built temple. I’m sure it’ll taste better if the two of us eat it together.”

Like an elder sister, Chryselle patted the princess’s head using her free hand. She said in a gentle voice, “How thoughtful of you. Come. Let’s go inside.”

The princess smiled blissfully after receiving a pat on her head. She remembered the times when her elder sisters weren’t yet married. They, too, indulged her wishes.

After entering the stone house, the princess removed her cloak and hung it on the wall. Chryselle noticed the sword on the princess’ waist.

“A sword?” said Chryselle.

“I’ve been recently honing my skills with the blade,” said Princess Esmeralda.

“I’m surprised that Sir Parzival allowed you to wield that.” Chryselle started preparing food in the kitchen.

“Well… I was reprimanded by the knights when they found out a few days ago that I’ve been secretly going to the Training Hall.”

Princess Esmeralda kicked off her shoes and sat on the bed. “But it’s fine now. After that golden-haired man talked with Parzival, the knights finally gave their consent and allowed me to use the Training Hall.”

Golden-haired man? There was only one person who fit that description in this town. Chryselle said, “Anandra?”

“Yes, him.” The princess imitated Anandra’s stern-looking face and his firmly shut lips. “The grumpy old man! He told my knights that I’m quite exceptional with the sword. I guess his words carried greater weight than my own.”

The princess said the last part unhappily. Parzival and the other knights were already aware of her talent with the sword. But it was only after hearing it from Anandra’s mouth that they finally allowed her to practice at the Training Hall.

Chryselle chuckled. “Anandra’s about the same age as me, Esmeralda.”

“Eh? But George and Austen said that although he looks young, Anandra is actually a middle-aged man! Forty, was it?”

“I’m pretty sure he’s way younger than that,” said Chryselle in a voice filled with understanding.

Esmeralda sighed. She was tricked by the brothers again. She stood up and walked to the kitchen. She noticed how skillful Chryselle was with the knife. Her hands moved swiftly, as though she’d cooked this particular dish hundreds of times before.

“You’re quite skilled!” exclaimed the princess.

“It’s for Master Lark,” Chryselle said happily. “Although the weather’s scorching hot, I heard before that he really likes this dish.”

The princess noticed Chryselle’s gleeful expression upon her mention of Lark’s name. Chryselle had changed, the princess was certain. For some reason, after she returned to Blackstone Town, she’d started looking at the lord in a different way.

How should she describe it? It felt as though Chryselle’s eyes were glimmering whenever she talked about the Lord of Blackstone Town. Was it admiration for his strength? She was not sure.

“I wish I knew how to cook,” the princess said in regret. “I could have helped you.”

“Visiting me this early in the morning is already more than enough.” Chryselle took a sip of the broth. “Have you read the book I gave you?”

“I read several pages yesterday,” said the princess. “The first two magic exercises were easy, but the third one…” Her voice trailed off.

“So you’re stuck at the third one?” said Chryselle. The two of them moved toward the bed and sat as they waited for the white boar meat to become tender.

“That’s right.” The princess nodded.

“I see.” Chryselle opened her hand and a thumb-sized orb of light shot out and hovered several inches above her palm. “The third exercise in the book is an insurmountable wall for most non-magicians. It’s meant to hone your mana shaping skills, just like this one.”

The thumb-sized orb of light slowly elongated then spun around, forming a thin, spiraling thread. The princess knew how hard it was to achieve this feat. When she did it back then, she could not even alter the orb of light as she pleased.

“You’re amazing,” whispered the princess.

The orb of light in Chryselle’s palm vanished. “You should be able to do it too. Here, let me guide you.”

Chryselle placed her hand on the princess’ back and slowly guided her mana into her hand.

Unlike when she did it alone, the princess easily manipulated the mana with Chryselle’s guidance. The orb of light in her palm slowly started assuming the same spiraling shape. The two of them repeated this several more times, until the princess started grasping the basics of the mana shaping process.

“Master Lark did this with George and Austen, when they’d just started,” said Chryselle. “I heard from the brothers that the master guided them the first time they mastered the magic formation for the first-tier spells.

“The ability to give shape to mana and will it to flow in the caster’s desired direction is one of the most fundamental things in magic. Without it, magic formations would cease to exist. Out of the seven basic mana exercises in the book, the third one is the most important. Remember this, Esmeralda.”

The princess nodded. She opened her hand and repeated the third exercise taught in the book. Although she was still unable to create the same spiraling shape as Chryselle, she could see the thumb-sized orb of light wriggling, as through trying to assume a certain shape.

It was an exhilarating feeling. Although Lark refused to teach her, she was finally grasping the basics of magic.