Chapter 86 - The Test

The castle that they lived in was soon called the Brownie Castle. It was because of Brownie, who roamed around the castle, chatting endlessly. Maylie’s mother, Maria, began helping Brownie cook.

“I feel awful just idling around even though I am healthy now. Please let me at least cook.”

Among three of Maylie’s younger siblings, two of them who were old enough started going to school. It was the best school in Modjankle except for the one that only received nobles. Azriel suggested to Maylie to go to school as well. In fact, age 16 was close to the graduating age, but there it was not an obstacle if one had the tuition. Maylie was happy that her siblings started school but was hesitant about herself.

“How much am I going to learn anyway? It’s useless because I’m not smart,” responded Maylie.

“You haven’t studied properly yet. How do you know whether you’re smart or not when you’ve never had a chance?” Azriel asked.

“You just know that kind of thing even if you never try. Moreover, it’s going to be wasted anyway. What’s the point of schooling for a maid?”

“Maylie, you told me that you only know how to become a maid, but that’s because that’s all you know of, isn’t it?”

“Yes…”

“That’s why I’d like you to try other things, too. It’s not too late to choose your job after trying many things.”

Maylie blankly stared at Azriel and asked. “What about you?”

“I’ve already chosen what I’m going to do, so I’d like to give you a chance to choose, too,” Azriel answered.

“…You are indeed amazing.”

“What is?”

“Just because,” saying so, Maylie smiled with her eyes reddened. “I’ll try going to school. I’ll experience it and choose.”

You’ll be my priority whatever I choose. Maylie murmured to herself and hugged her precious friend. “Thank you, Azriel.”

“No, it’s all thanks to Rhema,” Azriel said.

“To me, it’s all thanks to you. But what if… I don’t keep up with the class so well?”

“That can’t be. Also, what if you can’t keep up? It’s important that you try.”

“…Right,” Maylie’s arms held Azriel even more tightly.

Azriel patted her friend’s back. “You can stop anytime, don’t feel so pressured.”

*

It was in the afternoon when everyone left for school and Maria left for market, Azriel sat down with Rhema at the study.

“Starting today, I will teach you magic, not conjuring,” Rhema said.

“Rhema, before we begin, there’s one thing I want to ask,” Azriel asked.

“What is it?”

“Do you know about these ruins?” Azriel asked, holding out a pamphlet toward him. Rhema, who scanned it with his eyes, nodded and said. “These are the ruins found in Colte.”

“This was buried because of a sudden landslide. Did you do it by any chance?” she asked.

“Yes, I did it,” he candidly answered her.

I had a hunch that it was him. Azriel sighed in a low voice and asked. “Can you tell me why you did it?”

“Things that the wizards of this date cannot handle are in the ruins. So, I buried it back.”

“Things that they can’t handle?”

“Those ruins are a research facility for familiar spirits. Artificial familiar spirits that ancient wizards made are asleep.”

“Artificial familiar spirits? Aren’t familiar spirits made when wizards and already existing creatures make an agreement?”

“There were attempts to make stronger familiar spirits than already existing creatures in ancient times. They succeeded to some degree.”

“Oh…”

“Familiar spirits that are not contracted with wizards are no different than demons. If they are loosened by chance, it will be chaos.”

“But Rhema, these ruins— only wizards can enter it, right? Then no one can open it anyway. There are no wizards like in ancient times.”

“Of course, there aren’t, but there are people ‘who could become a wizard.’ The ones that would’ve become outstanding wizards if they were born in ancient times. If they are utilized, even magicians can open that door,” Rhema continued as he folded the pamphlet and handed it back to her. “The wizard who came to Colte wanted to use you for such a purpose. Was it Tarbo Tameion?”

“…!” Azriel was stunned to hear his name.

“It’s not that I need your body, so follow me. Don’t you want to know what you are?”

“I’m planning to take you to the ruins.”

“I’m not interested in your body. Instead, what I’m interested in is within that body. The enormous ma…”

Azriel remembered what Tarbo Tameion said when he grabbed her. She vacantly dropped her jaw.

“Did he realize that I had the dragon eye?” she asked.

“That’s not it. He probably didn’t know what the dragon eye even was,” Rhema replied.

“Then how…?”

“He merely noticed what kind of mana that you had. That much is pretty outstanding.”

“I see.”