“That child appears to take pleasure in sticking her nose in everything,” said Calto. “A true mage of Sigrew in every way.”
“I see you’ve… grown quite close,” Maxi muttered, slightly bewildered.
It was strange to see a newly conferred mage and an elder of Urd interacting without the usual formalities. Calto shrugged, unbothered by Maxi’s shock.
“While you and the others were fighting in the campaign, the rest of us spent our days deciphering these records. Once you are forced to work in close quarters from dusk till dawn, it is only natural that you become familiar. Though,” the elder added with a low grumble, “in the case of your friend, excessively so.”
Maxi pulled a chair closer to the warmth, sat down, and regarded Calto inquiringly. The elder tossed a piece of kindling into the fireplace and wordlessly stared into the flames.
“Once this business is over,” he began, carefully selecting his words, “most of the mages, including Celric, Anton, and myself, will return to the Mage Tower. Will you not consider coming with us? 1 would assign you the best mentor if you wished to start training to become a senior mage.”
Maxi’s eyes widened at the unexpected offer. Was it not common knowledge among those at the Tower that she had been impatient to leave Nornui?
“F-Forgive me,” Maxi said, waving her hands, “but 1 have no desire for advancement—”
“I ask that you allow me to finish first,” Calto said firmly. “It is not my intention to keep you in Nornui forever. I am merely suggesting a year of training. Once it is over, I shall send you to whatever post you wish, be it Drachium or Anatol. It goes without saying that highly dangerous magic will not be a subject of study, but I shall grant you leave to learn any spell that is permitted outside Nornui.”
Maxi’s expression grew troubled. “May 1 ask… why you are making me this offer?”
“You are a talented mage, Maximilian, and 1 consider it a waste to halt your training after only three years of study.”
Calto leaned back into the couch cushions. “The Mage Tower is in great need of more capable senior mages. Many were killed during the war three years ago, and since then, the feudal lords of each kingdom have been hounding the Tower for replacements. Producing an exceptional mage normally takes a decade, however.”
“I’m sure that lifting the restriction on forbidden spells… should allow you to deploy more.”
Calto shook his head. “We are already considering lifting restrictions on less dangerous spells, but we cannot allow those that are directly against the church’s doctrines to be used outside Nornui. Not only will the Head of the Tower not allow it, but those who are learned in such magic are content with their roles as scholars. Even if the ban were lifted, few, if any, would volunteer for deployment.”
Calto sighed heavily before adding, “Ultimately, it has become necessary for the Tower to cultivate mages capable of powerful spells but still considered safe to be sent out in the world. You are a promising candidate, Maximilian. A few more years of training will grant you power far beyond what you are capable of now.”
Maxi swallowed dryly. Powerful magic. Was there a mage in this world who would not be tempted? Even more so for someone who had come to realize their helplessness over the course of two wars.
But nothing was worth the pain of being separated from Riftan again.
“I am grateful… that you think so highly of my abilities,” Maxi said, shaking her head, “but I have been away from home far too long. I never wish to be parted from my husband again.”
The elder searched her eyes as if trying to determine if there was any room for persuasion. Maxi very deliberately held his gaze. In the end, a resigned sigh seeped out of him.
“You have made your intentions clear. But there is still time — much of it, in fact — until the Council ends its deliberations. Feel free to come to me if you change your mind before then.”
Though Maxi wanted to tell him she would not be changing her mind, she bobbed her head out of courtesy. As if to signal the end of their conversation, Calto picked up a piece of parchment from the desk and tilted his chin toward the door.
“On another note, I fear that Sidina has gone astray. Would you mind tracking down the whereabouts of my breakfast? If that is too much trouble, you could ask a passing maidservant to bring me some food if they are not otherwise occupied.”
He was clearly trying to get her out of the room, which was just as well for Maxi. She happily rushed out the door and whisked down the stairs, out of the annex.
Strangely enough, Calto’s offer had somewhat organized her complicated thoughts. She was reminded once again that being with Riftan was what mattered most, and that would never change.
I should talk to him again.
Planning to seek her husband after fetching Calto his meal, Maxi quickened her steps. The path to the main castle bustled with servants carrying pails and armfuls of firewood, and Maxi wove through them as she headed to the building’s rear. She was almost at the kitchen when she ran into Sidina.
“What’s this? You’re done talking already?” the girl asked, one hand hastily pocketing a loaf of bread.
Maxi narrowed her eyes. “You were supposed to be fetching food, but I see you’ve been filling your stomach instead.”
“I was only tasting it! Look, I’ve got your food here.” Sidina raised the bundle she was carrying with an aggrieved expression. “The kitchen is a shambles right now. Serving eight thousand ravenous soldiers is no small matter. Do you even know how hard 1 had to fight to get my hands on—”
“A-All right, you’ve made your point. Let us hurry back to Master Calto.”
After cutting off the girl’s rambling excuse, Maxi whirled around. Though Sidina had always had a habit of blabbering, it seemed to have become more pronounced since Maxi had been away.
“So, what did Master Calto want to discuss with you?” Sidina inquired, sidling up to her.
After a brief hesitation, Maxi chose to tell her the truth. “He suggested… that I train for a few more years at the Tower.”
“You as well?”
Maxi stuck close to the wall to avoid the throng of soldiers making their way to the kitchen before turning to look at Sidina. “Did he offer you advancement too?”
“Oh, I’ve already informed him of my desire for advancement long ago. Since the mages who participated in the campaign will be given priority to study the dark mages’ records, I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.” She wagged her finger smugly. “Miriam received a similar offer. I overheard Master Albern asking her if she wanted to become a senior mage of Kabala during the celebration last night, but she turned him down. From what 1 gather, she is set to join the Bolose Royal Knights once all this is over.”
Maxi’s eyes sprung wide. Miriam, who hated mingling with people, was hardly a good fit for the boisterous order. Had they formed a rapport while staked outside the monster city together?
“That’s surprising. I thought Miriam was more passionate about research.”
“Well, the chance to join the royal knights of Livadon does not come around often. If she does well, she could even become a royal mage. 1 hear the pay is pretty darn good,” Sidina whispered in her ear as if she were sharing a tremendous secret.
Maxi shrugged and followed the contours of the castle to avoid the growing influx of people. Last night’s celebration must have continued throughout the night, for the army cooks also reeked of alcohol as they carried pots of food out of the kitchen.
Had Riftan neglected her last night because he had been drinking till dawn with the knights? Maxi clenched her jaw as she kept walking. If so, he would soon go down in history as the man who had the most violent wife.
“What do you intend to do, Max?” Sidina said abruptly, interrupting her roiling thoughts.
The question did not register in her jumbled mind at first. She blinked, and Sidina shot her a sideways glare as though telling her not to feign ignorance. “About Master Calto’s offer!” she pressed. “Do you truly have no wish to return to Nornui to continue your training?”
Maxi gave a small sigh. “You know how desperate I was to leave the island.”
“Yes… but don’t you think it’s a waste? Once this campaign is officially over, you will be free to study the innumerable records from the Pamela Plateau.”
“Did you not say you lost hair while translating those records? Though 1 very much loathe these curls of mine, I still wish to keep them attached to my scalp,” Maxi retorted as she made her way toward the annex.
Sidina suddenly blocked her path. “Jests aside, 1 hope you give it serious thought. We had to leave Nornui right after our conferment, so we never received proper training in elemental magic. A few more years will help us make full use of what we’ve learned so far.”
“Such training does not have to take place in Nornui.”
“Yes, but you would have to spend five years when one in Nornui would suffice!” Sidina clung to Maxi’s arm, looking utterly pitiful. “Don’t say no. Just spend one more year with me at the Tower. We are bosom friends for life, are we not? After the training, 1 also plan to request assignment to the north. Once we both complete the training—”
Sidina suddenly stopped whining. Puzzled, Maxi glanced at the girl before looking over her shoulder to follow the direction of her gaze. Riftan, Ursuline, and Elliot stood with their warhorses, reins clutched in their hands.
The radiant sunlight seemed to bring out Riftan’s dazzling beauty, and Maxi felt her anger melt away. She sprinted toward him, leaving Sidina behind…
