Chapter 11 #2
Though her progress was slow, she was unmistakably improving.
Once, in her excitement about her improved mana accumulation, Maxi overexerted herself and collapsed onto the bed before sundown.
The incident exasperated Riftan, and he threatened to forbid her magical studies if she continued to exhaust herself.
After that, Maxi practiced in moderation, careful not to overextend herself again.
She spent her afternoons studying runes in the library, then took a late lunch before giving instructions to the servants and writing in her daily log.
In the evenings, she practiced magic in her room until Riftan returned.
Though repeating the same schedule every day was tiring, she pressed on.
Meanwhile, Riftan was busy preparing weapons and training soldiers to deal with the monster migration into Anatolium.
Each day, two dozen carrier pigeons arrived with news from across the continent.
They flew in and out of his study, seemingly without end, while the knights and sentries trained in the freezing conditions until sunset.
Maxi did not want to be the only person living at ease. Fighting off sleep, she worked to memorize the complex magic rune in the latest book Ruth had assigned her. The mage observed her quietly and then made a suggestion.
“Why don’t we practice what you’ve learned?”
“P-Practice?”
“You have yet to use magic on another person,” Ruth explained. “It’s worth a try now that you’re more or less familiar with the healing rune.”
“B-But my control is s-still unstable. W-What if something g-goes wrong?”
“Even if you fail, you won’t cause any physical harm. Repeated practice is key to developing precision and speed.”
Maxi nodded. In truth, she was eager to try casting a real spell. “B-But who should I p-practice on?”
“Mentors usually create a small wound on their body for their pupil to heal, but I don’t have a particularly high tolerance for pain.” Ruth rose from his seat and wrapped his robe around himself tightly. “Fortunately, Calypse Castle is full of men just begging to get hurt. Shall we head outside?”
Realizing that the sorcerer intended to go to the training grounds, Maxi hesitated. Riftan still did not approve of her learning magic. Though he allowed her to pursue her studies, he remained doubtful of her ability. If he saw her fail, he might assume that his worry had been correct.
“Sir Riftan is training the squires today,” Ruth said reassuringly. “He won’t be at the knights’ training grounds.”
Maxi blinked; it was like he could read her thoughts.
But she nodded and they rose from their seats.
Ludis, sewing by the brazier, promptly picked up her cloak and made to follow them, but Maxi dissuaded her.
After explaining that they were only going to the training grounds, Maxi and Ruth left the library and headed downstairs.
When they stepped outside the castle, the sunlight was blindingly bright.
Maxi squinted as she looked out at the stark garden. The snowfall had been intermittent the past couple of days, and a layer of snow dusted the flower beds, sparkling like diamonds. Bare tree branches creaked forlornly in the wind.
Together, Maxi and Ruth hurried across the bleak landscape. Once they were beyond the gate that enclosed the garden, they could hear clanging swords, clopping hooves, and bellowing voices.
“It seems we will have to wait awhile, my lady,” Ruth muttered as they came to the entrance of the knights’ training grounds.
Maxi peered around Ruth’s lanky frame. Hundreds of mounted knights faced one another in eight long rows.
All were clad in heavy armor, and each held a lance taller than a man.
The air contained a palpable tension that made Maxi hold her breath.
A red flag was raised, and the mounted knights bellowed as they charged forward.
Maxi gasped and covered her eyes with both hands. The cacophony of metal striking metal, whinnying horses, and thunderous roars seemed unending. So fierce was the fray that the stones trembled beneath Maxi’s feet.
“More aggressive than usual today,” Ruth commented, emitting a low whistle.
When calm fell over the training grounds again, Maxi slowly removed her hands from her eyes. The knights had returned to their formation and dismounted, pulling off their helmets.
Ruth took Maxi’s arm and led her down the steps. “Come, my lady. I’d wager that there are more than a few bruised men down there.”
Flustered, Maxi stumbled after Ruth, feeling rather inelegant. Sir Hebaron noticed their approach and looked surprised.
“Mage Ruth,” the knight said, putting down the gear he was tending to. “What brings you to the training grounds?”
“I came to see if anyone was injured during practice.”
“Well, well,” said Hebaron, tossing his helmet unceremoniously to the ground. “What a pleasant surprise. I thought you didn’t want us calling on you for anything less than a crippling wound.”
Perhaps it was the adrenaline from the joust, but Hebaron appeared more intimidating than usual. He cut an imposing figure. Maxi hid behind Ruth, but the sorcerer would not entertain such childish behavior, and nudged her toward the knight.
“I would never volunteer to do such a thing, of course,” Ruth said. “Her ladyship will be doing the healing.”
A handful of knights had gathered now, curious, and their eyes grew wide as they realized the hooded figure behind Ruth was the lady of the castle.
Maxi gave them an awkward smile. She had thought she had grown accustomed to facing these men, but she was so nervous standing before them in their full armor that her hands shook.
Maxi tugged her sleeves to hide her trembling and forced herself to speak.
“A-Although I am not s-skilled, I-I would like to t-t-t…to o-offer my help in t-tending to any injuries….”
The knights exchanged puzzled looks at Maxi’s stumbling offer, and an awkward silence ensued. Elliot Charon, the knight standing at the front of the group, spoke first.
“We are grateful for your offer, my lady, but you do not need to trouble yourself. Minor injuries are easy enough to treat ourselves.”
Being so decidedly rejected by one of the few knights she knew robbed Maxi of her courage. Seeing her frozen in silence, Ruth stepped in.
“Her ladyship is currently learning magic, and she requires volunteers to practice healing spells on. Your cooperation would be much appreciated.”
Hebaron gulped water from a waterskin, then shot Maxi a surprised look. “Magic?”
The other knights also turned to her, wearing equally shocked expressions.
“You know how to use magic, my lady?” one of them asked.
“I-I have just st-st-st—just b-begun learning, s-so I cannot c-claim to b-be capable…”
The knights glanced at one another, unconvinced.
“Mage,” said Hebaron, looking troubled as he scratched at his sweat-slicked curls. “The intention is a fine one, I grant you that. But if there were to be any unexpected effects…Our training regimen is grueling enough as it is.”
“It’s healing magic,” Ruth said. “There would be no unwanted effects, even if she failed to cast the spell properly. You need not worry about that.”
The group of knights continued to exchange furtive glances, and Ruth crossed his arms, glowering at them.
“I’m sure I do not need to remind you of the importance of healers,” Ruth said.
“For the sake of Anatol and the Remdragon Knights, I am currently sacrificing all my time, and my sleep, to teach her ladyship magic. Yet you refuse to offer the smallest assistance because you are afraid?” He scoffed. “And you call yourselves knights!”
“Hell, there’s no need to harp on like that,” said Hebaron. “Who said we wouldn’t help? I simply do not have a scratch on me to offer.” He turned to the gathered knights. “Oi! Anybody hurt?”
“Her ladyship has yet to accumulate enough mana,” Ruth said. “So she will not be able to heal significant injuries, only minor cuts or scrapes.”
“Aren’t you hard to please,” grumbled Hebaron. Then, as if remembering something, he stopped and motioned to a knight watering his horse some distance away. “Ricaydo! Didn’t you scratch your cheek during the joust? Why don’t you volunteer?”
The blond knight frowned and shot them a sharp look. Maxi reflexively hunched her shoulders, shrinking under his gaze. Out of everyone here, why did Hebaron have to pick Ursuline Ricaydo? He was always hostile toward Maxi.
“I would think you would be more fitting,” Ursuline shouted back at Hebaron. “Surely the blow from my lance must have left you a sizable bruise.”
“Ha! Bruise, you say? Nothing more than a flea bite. I’m afraid I am unscathed.”
“A commendable denial, but I saw you teetering on your horse like a scarecrow.”
“Sounds to me like you hurt your eyes as well, Ricaydo!” Hebaron turned to Maxi. “My lady, make sure you treat him thoroughly.”
Troubled, Maxi eyed Sir Ursuline’s cold expression.
Impatient with the two knights’ bickering, Ruth heaved a sigh and stalked over to Ursuline Ricaydo. “I see you have a cut on your cheek, Sir Ursuline,” he said. “The wound is something her ladyship can heal. It will not take long, so please grant your consent.”
“There is no need. Such a small scrape will heal right up on its own.”
“Wouldn’t you rather be rid of it quickly? It might scar your handsome face.”
“I would rather it scar than risk healing by an incompetent mage.”
Ursuline’s harsh words aroused a determination in Maxi to prove him wrong. There was no reason for him to refuse so vehemently. Even if she failed, he would not be harmed.
Maxi swallowed hard and spoke shakily. “I-I assure y-you, I-I have had p-p-practice. I sh-shall not f-fail, s-so p-please a-allow m-me to…” Her words shriveled on her tongue when she saw the disgusted look on Ursuline’s face.
“Are you even capable of reciting the spell?” Ursuline spat contemptuously.