AME 69

Chapter 69

He looked incredibly flustered. His honest-to-a-fault expression clearly revealed the thought running through his head—How am I supposed to say this?

Watching Kaon silently, Alessia lowered her gaze. So it really had been a foolish hope.

“…Forget it.”

She masked her disappointment with practiced ease and looked up as if nothing had happened, pulling her hand away. The tiny flame that had flickered like a spark at her fingertips quickly faded out.

“I get it now. There’s no need to say anything. I understand. I was prepared for this, so it doesn’t bother me.”

She met Kaon’s eyes with quiet composure.

To say she felt nothing would’ve been a lie. She would probably never stop hoping that the power which had vanished might one day return. She knew that was foolish—and yet.

Still, she couldn’t cling to something impossible forever. Crying quietly in a corner where no one noticed, crushed by helplessness, wouldn’t help her at all. No one knew that better than she did.

So it was time to let go of regret and focus on what she could do. First, she had to clear her mind and regain her health…

“Hey, no, that’s not it. I get why you’re misunderstanding, but I didn’t see wrong. I really saw it.”

…Or so she thought.

“There’s definitely magic flowing from your body. Not from the ring—your own magic.”

The words pouring from the young master of Ferdinand kept stoking a hopeless kind of hope in her heart. He spoke with such seriousness, spouting nonsense that couldn’t possibly be true.

“It’s just that… how do I even explain this? I can see something. I really can see it—but…”

“…Are you messing with me right now?”

“I know it’s magic, but it’s so faint. Even fainter than a mirage.”

Kaon finally laid it all out. The reason he’d hesitated was because Alessia’s magic was unbelievably weak. The energy, thinner than a sheet of paper, was barely visible even when he focused.

Granted, she had only used a tiny, simple spell, which could explain the small amount of mana. But that wasn’t the whole issue.

Why is her mana so unstable?

The flow of magic from Alessia was fragmented, disconnected. Like a stream of water struggling to escape a tied-off waterskin, leaking in broken spurts.

But the magic he’d seen at dawn had been different—dense and seamless, completely enveloping her body. If that much unstable mana had surged all at once, he’d have noticed it right away.

Not even a day had passed, and yet the discrepancy in her magical presence was staggering. Kaon couldn’t make sense of it.

“Just before you collapsed, there was a flow of magic coming from you that’s nothing like what I’m seeing now. That’s what made me suspicious.”

Kaon sneaked a glance at Alessia. She stared down at the ring, her expression unreadable. She clearly looked shaken.

“Anyway, what I’m saying is—it’s there. Even if you can’t feel it yourself, you do have magic flowing through you.”

He decided to put aside the parts he couldn’t figure out for now. What mattered most was this: Alessia might not be a fake after all. She might actually be a real mage.

Ferdinand needed a mage. Alessia had been fulfilling that role perfectly as a fake one. If she truly was the real thing—capable, sincere, and well-coordinated with the knights—then she’d become a tremendous asset to Ferdinand.

It was too early to be sure, but Kaon was willing to help however he could. It was for Ferdinand—and for himself.

“When you’re feeling better, let’s do some real tests at the training ground. We’ll see just—hey!”

Kaon’s serious suggestion was cut off when a blanket smacked him square in the face. He raised his voice in protest.

“I was trying to help you!”

“I get it already.”

“…You—”

Kaon moved to pull the blanket off his face, annoyed, but froze. Her voice—thick and muffled, as if holding something back—stopped him cold.

“Just… stay like that for a minute.”

Kaon said nothing. Pretending not to notice the emotion in her voice, he quietly waited under the blanket.

It took another full week before Alessia recovered enough to stand. Even then, the physician had recommended more rest, but as soon as she could move freely, she got out of bed.

“I’m so sorry, my lady!”

As soon as she appeared at the training ground, Lewick—who had been standing in a daze—bowed deeply. He looked like he might drop to his knees at any moment.

“Lewick, please don’t. I’m fine.”

“No, my lady. If you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t even be standing here right now. In battle, even a moment of carelessness can cost a life. It was my failing that endangered you. I sincerely apologize. And I can’t thank you enough.”

He remained bent over, his back refusing to straighten. It felt excessive, but Alessia could sense his overwhelming guilt.

They said he had constantly asked after her condition while she was unconscious. He must have waited anxiously for this moment.

“You worked hard, my lady.”

“The Ferdinand Knights will never forget what you did.”

“Absolutely! She saved my life—what kind of person would forget that? I, Morris, will keep both eyes on these guys to make sure they never forget!”

One by one, the other knights also came forward to thank her, their gestures sincere. Not a single one held back.

Alessia bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She hadn’t saved Lewick purely out of selflessness. It was the easiest way to remain in Ferdinand comfortably, nothing more.

Seeing them express such gratitude made her feel a bit ashamed. It was the same feeling she had when Kaon and the others cried for her. A strange, prickly warmth she had never once experienced back in Ingelos.

“My lady! Yvonne is here!”

A knight called from behind her. The moment Alessia heard that name, she turned around reflexively. And there she was—Yvonne, just stepping into the training ground.

“Ah, Sir Leroy. I hope you’ve been—”

Alessia stopped mid-greeting, eyes going wide. Yvonne had fallen to her knees the moment their eyes met.

“Sir Leroy, what are you—”

“I don’t presume a mere apology or my kneeling could ever be worth much. But… please allow me to express my shame.”

The abruptness of it left Alessia stunned. Yvonne had always been prideful—never one to back down easily.

She had also been the most openly hostile knight toward Alessia. In truth, she had distrusted all mages. They said she had lost comrades because a mage failed to show up during a battle.

That pain had hardened her.

For over a year, Alessia and Yvonne had barely exchanged proper words. Their “conversations” were more like warnings followed by cold, obligatory apologies. When Alessia greeted her, Yvonne ignored her. When she spoke with the knights, Yvonne shot cold looks her way.

“I’ve acted with unforgivable rudeness toward you, my lady. I have no excuse. It was arrogance and poor judgment on my part. I’m sure my behavior made things difficult for you. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”

Now here she was, kneeling before the other knights, confessing her wrongs. The training ground fell into stunned silence.

“My loyalty is wholly pledged to Ferdinand, so I cannot swear a new oath to you, my lady. But I will never forget the grace you showed me, and I will repay it for the rest of my life.”

Yvonne bowed deeply. Her posture solemn, almost reverent. Alessia quietly helped her up.

“Sir… I think even saying I understand your heart could hurt you more. I wasn’t there. I didn’t experience what you did. And I won’t claim that all other mages are innocent—I don’t know them all.”

She took Yvonne’s callused hand in hers. When she noticed her stiffened left arm, Yvonne’s dark blue eyes trembled.

“But I know you only wanted to protect your comrades. That you didn’t want them hurt again. I understand how painful it is to get your hopes up, only to be crushed.”

Yvonne had tormented her, yes. But Alessia had never truly suffered because of her. And that let her see Yvonne clearly. Someone who bristled defensively at the world—just like Alessia had been once, long ago.

“My lady…”

“It’s okay now. Really.”

Yvonne finally bowed her head. Kaon, watching from beyond the doorway, let out a long breath.

At last, everything was falling into place.

Alessia made her way to the small training hall on the next floor. It had been prepared for her private magic training.

“You’re here.”

Kaon, leaning against the wall, grinned as she entered. Alessia gave a small nod.

“If you feel even a little bit off, stop immediately. Pushing yourself and ending up back in bed won’t do anyone any good.”

“I know.”

“For someone who knows, you sure—ugh, forget it.”

He shook his head with a helpless sigh, as if he’d given up on her. Being treated like a troublesome child was annoying, but Alessia let it slide.

After all, Kaon had volunteered to help her get a feel for her magic again.