Chapter 116: Chapter 1
Riftan marched with his eyes fixed ahead as if he had not heard a thing, and Maxi scampered to keep up with his long strides.
“R-Riftan!”
Her cry was pleading, but Riftan did not even look over his shoulder. He flew down the stairs like a man making an escape. After glaring at his retreating figure, Maxi sprinted after him and grabbed his cloak. Riftan stiffened and pushed her hand away.
“P-Please, l-listen... to what I have to-”
She teetered on the step. Her dress tangled around her legs, sending her lurching forward. Riftan lunged, grabbing onto her waist and managing to stop her fall. Maxi’s face was as white as a ghost as she clung onto his forearms. She heard him curse above her head.
“Damn it... What were you thinking?! You could have been hurt!” Riftan barked, grabbing her shoulders.
Maxi hunched forward for a moment before defiantly meeting his gaze. “I-It... w-would not have happened... if you had not ignored me.”
“Damn it, couldn’t you have just let me go? Why the hell are you doing this? I do not want to listen to your nonsense!”
Looking down through her lashes, she tried to conceal how his harsh words hurt her. She could not let him see her cry when she was trying to convince him that she was not as delicate as he thought. Riftan would not hesitate to rebuff her more coldly if he believed that would keep her away.
This reaction was not a surprise to Maxi. Merely venturing outside of Anatol had made him furious; she had known that he would not agree to her coming along.
Collecting herself, Maxi spoke as placidly as she could. “How would you know that it is nonsense... when you have not even h-heard it? I am merely asking you... to listen to what I have to say... Surely, th-that is not too much to ask.”
Riftan pressed his lips into a thin line. He silently gazed down at her with fiery black eyes before folding his arms and spitting out, “Fine. Speak.”
His demeanor suggested that his answer would remain in the negative no matter what she said.
Maxi gulped. “I have heard... that the journey to Livadon is arduous. One... th-that is dangerous to take without a mage...”
“I am going to find a new mage, so you need not worry about that.”
“B-But you might not be able to find one! A-Aderon h-has said that it would be... difficult.”
“This is not something you should concern yourself with. It’s my problem.”
There was no sign that he would relent, and Maxi was left speechless. Riftan took her silence as a cue that their conversation was over and turned away.
Maxi desperately grabbed his arm. “I know... that you do not th-think me reliable, but... I have been s-studying diligently, and my mana has increased. If you are unable to find another mage in time... I-I could take Ruth’s place and-”
“Enough!” Riftan yelled, losing his patience. “Do you think we are going on a leisurely excursion? As you said, the way to Livadon is full of dangers. Yet, you want me to take you along? I would rather die than let that happen!”
His voice reverberated around the hall. Riftan ran a hand through his hair and coldly hammered in the final nail.
“We do not need your magic, so stop pestering me with such nonsense!”
With that, he flew down the stairs before she could stop him. Maxi stood frozen as she numbly stared after him. A number of servants stuck their heads into the corridor and threw furtive glances at her. Her face flushing in embarrassment, Maxi hurried away.
The cold rejection burned away what little confidence she had, and she was left heartbroken.
Having returned to her room dazed and deflated, Maxi sagged to the ground in front of the door. An anger she had never felt before began to rise up as the shock subsided.
He would rather die than take me somewhere dangerous... How selfish! He forces me to remain within the confines of this castle while he throws himself into danger? Do others’ feelings not matter as long as he is at ease?
Maxi rubbed her forehead in irritation. If she let him depart like this, she was certain that she would not be able to have a single night’s rest. It would be months of torturous imaginings of Riftan being poisoned or suffering some grave, untreatable injury. Was that the life of comfort he spoke of?
Her face pallid, Maxi stared at the corner of the dimly-lit room before storming out once more. It was no use trying to convince him; she would have to get the knights to agree first.
Riftan might be willing to take the risk, but his knights might feel otherwise. If she could get them on her side, they might be able to win Riftan over. Maxi clung onto the shred of hope as she made her way to the training grounds.
The spacious grounds bustled with knights and servants preparing for the campaign. Maxi hurriedly walked past the stomping warhorses and men inspecting weapons.
She had thought that she might run into Riftan, but he was thankfully nowhere to be seen. Maxi surmised that he must have gone outside the castle to survey the construction site before leaving for the campaign. Her eyes roamed the grounds in search of a familiar face among the knights.
It did not take long for her to spot Hebaron polishing a giant sword near the guardhouse. Maxi immediately ran to him.
“Sir Hebaron... c-could you spare me a moment?”
Hebaron, who was oiling his sword while perched on a wooden chair, raised his head.
“What can I do for you, my lady?”
He rose to his feet, not bothering to conceal his annoyance. Maxi was slightly intimidated. The news that his comrades were in danger seemed to have robbed the knight of his usual optimism.
“I-I wanted to speak with you... about the matters from yesterday.”
“Please, continue.”
Feeling nervous, Maxi looked around. Although some of the knights glanced their way, none of them seemed particularly interested in their conversation. They were all absorbed 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 the role.”
Hebaron’s eyes grew wide. He straightened and regarded her pensively.
“My lady, we are grateful... but has the commander consented to this?”
Maxi’s face flushed. “Riftan... r-refuses to listen to anything I s-say. So... I wished to hear the opinions of the o-other knights.”
Hebaron remained silent and did not answer her right away.
“The commander has told us that he intends to poach a mage from the Earl of Loverne, so I do not think it would be necessary for you to endanger yourself, my lady.”
“A-And if he fails? What will you do then?”
“Then, we would leave without a mage-”
“Do you mean to tell me... that you could travel a-all the way to Livadon without any of you getting hurt?”
Hebaron clenched his jaw. His expression alone was answer enough.
She continued in a firmer tone. “I am sure... y-you are aware, Sir Hebaron... that the time I spent in the infirmary... has improved my abilities immensely. Melric says I am better... than some of the inept healers... w-working for the mercenary groups.”
“My lady,” Hebaron said with a troubled look on his face, “you are certainly talented. Believe me, you have us all amazed, and I would be lying if I told you that I have not considered having you fill in for Ruth. However, a campaign is no trifling matter. We would not be able to take you by carriage as we did last time. You would have to be on horseback all day like the rest of us and camp out until we reach a city. There is also the danger of monster attacks, but the only magic you are capable of, my lady, is healing.”
“That is not t-true. I have also learned to cast defensive m-magic,” Maxi countered, raising her chin. “I might... not be able to cast a large barrier... b-but I should be able to protect myself.”
Though she had never tested the strength of her barrier, Maxi put up a confident front. Going on this campaign with Riftan currently felt more important to her than her own safety. If Riftan was going to take the risk, then so would she.
...
“I-I shall try my best... not to get in the way. So...”
“A campaign is difficult enough for a seasoned knight, but you are...” Hebaron trailed off, indelicately looking her up and down.
Maxi frowned. He looked as though he were appraising the condition of a horse he was about to purchase.
“I am what?”
“You will not be able to endure the long journey.”
“B-But... e-even Ruth has gone on campaigns, has he not?”
Even though Ruth was taller than her, he was awfully thin. He was also constantly tired and pallid from having his head buried in books all night long. Compared to the sorcerer, Maxi was quite active.
“I am... in better health than Ruth a-and have greater stamina. If he can do it, th-then so can I. Though it is true... that I am less experienced... E-Every master... w-was once a beginner, no?”
“How very... persuasive, my lady,” Hebaron said with an enigmatic expression which was neither a smile nor a frown.
Maxi could tell that he was conflicted. After stroking his chin in silence for a long while, Hebaron raised his hands in resignation.
“I understand. If we fail to find a mage in two days, I shall try to persuade the commander.”
...
“Th-Thank you!” Maxi exclaimed, smiling brightly.
A faint smile tugged at Hebaron’s lips as he shook his head. “Do not thank me, my lady. The commander might hold out till the end.”
“Th-That is true, but...”
Maxi’s face fell when she recalled how viciously Riftan had intimidated her. Hebaron let out a long groan as if he too was daunted by the prospect of dealing with his commander. Seeing the knight’s reaction, Maxi suddenly worried that she might have put him in a tight spot.
Searching his face, she asked hesitantly, “W-Would it truly be helpful... i-if I went with you?”
Hebaron glanced about as though he were unsure of how to answer.
“Of course, my lady,” he finally professed with a groan. “Some of us even suggested taking the old mage with us.”
“M-Melric is not... w-well enough to travel.”
“I am aware. It would be of great help if you came with us, my lady, but a campaign is no laughing matter. If this is something you have decided to take on lightly, I ask that you think about it more-”
“Th-This is not a decision I’ve made lightly. I am... ready. I would rather... endure the physical hardship... th-than to remain in this castle and worry to no end. Besides-”
Maxi stopped. She had just been about to confess that she was quite familiar with hardship when it suddenly occurred to her that he might find her statement odd. She flashed a smile at him instead.
Hebaron regarded her with his green eyes as though he were trying to read her thoughts before letting out a hearty laugh.
“How reassuring, my lady.”
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