Chapter 132: Gratitude and Growth
At the student's gratitude, Ace remembered how the Count interacted with others and smiled with a mixture of courtesy and warmth. "Elena, please call me Ace, I beg you. Your words of gratitude flatter me. I am fortunate to be Mr. Vilgefortz's apprentice. It is not only my honor, but my duty to be able to help you."
"I am lucky to be free, so seeing their difficulties hurts me deeply, and only by helping them can I ease that pain."
Elena's face blushed even more. She had always been protected at home and then she spent several years in Aretuza's strict upbringing. She had never met such a kind man.
But after hearing what Ace said, she was slightly unhappy. "Ace, you are very kind, but some people are not worthy of you at all, like Catherine. People like you, even in high society, are very rare. You should take more care of yourself."
Ace smiled, listening patiently, and then responded softly: "Don't say that, Elena. A person as beautiful as you should focus on beautiful things."
"Catherine may come from the countryside and her appearance may be different, but the magic within her is the same as ours, and magic is above all."
When Elena heard Ace call her beautiful, her face blushed even more, she muttered something under her breath and ran away without looking back.
Ace smiled nonchalantly, straightened his clothes, and waved hello to the people looking timidly at him from behind the dormitory building.
Soon after, a magic note book was thrown towards him.
Ace looked it over carefully. The first half of the notebook contained answers written in elegant calligraphy to the problems he had encountered in his studies. In the second half, there were questions written in the same handwriting, waiting for his answers.
"Thank you, Catherine." Ace knew that the girl was shy, she didn't dare to speak out loud, so he just used an exaggerated way of moving his lips to communicate. "I will check the books as soon as possible to answer these questions. See you at the same place in two days~"
The look from the window continued for a moment longer and then disappeared.
Ace was walking back, in a good mood, not realizing that that look had returned, silently watching his back.
He walked with a light step, feeling how the magical energy within him had grown once again, marveling once again at the Count's power.
The Lion's power was truly extraordinary, able to increase his power by helping others. These strictly supervised Aretuza students were filled with various needs. Once they got used to him, they did not hesitate to ask for his help.
However, lately things were starting to get complicated. The girls' requests became increasingly numerous and varied. He had to keep his distance from girls like Elena, who were beginning to object to him helping others. How could a single person be more important than the entire academy?
As he walked, Ace pulled a small notebook out of his pocket and began organizing his schedule. After returning, he was to consult Lady Lydia, at dusk to see if the fishermen had new pearls, at night to practice dancing with Disoline behind Garstang's palace. And in the morning...
It wasn't about love affairs, but about improving his strength and securing his future. All of this was for Cintra's flourishing, and she had to meet as many sorceresses as possible for the Count's sake.
With this thought, Ace was filled with a sense of mission and pride.
Following the familiar path, he arrived at Vilgefortz's laboratory. Opening the door, he saw Lydia painting.
He knew she didn't come often, but given the state of her painting, Lydia had been there for a while.
"Miss Lydia, I have returned."
The sorceress didn't respond, and Ace wasn't surprised. He approached slowly, maintaining a respectful distance, observing Lydia and her handiwork.
To be honest, he didn't understand much about art. His family had barely achieved the status of nobility, lacking the resources to cultivate a refined taste for art.
But he knew how to appreciate other things.
"Miss Lydia, you have changed into a new headdress today. It matches your hair color and matches your skin very well." Ace praised sincerely. "Any man who sees her would be attracted, I assure you."
Lydia didn't stop painting, she seemed used to Ace's way of speaking.
"Sometimes I think your painting is beautiful, but it can only show a part of the beauty of your soul... Oh!" Ace suddenly screamed. "Miss Lydia, you are hurt! How can you continue painting like this? Magic should be able to cure this. When will the master come back? If he sees you, he will surely be worried."
Lydia's hand stopped. There was indeed a burn on her painting hand, which was the remnant of a magic experiment.
Vilgefortz had left without using magic to heal her, without caring, not even looking at her or her wound.
The sorceress put away her drawing board and turned to look at Ace.
Ace has been practicing magic for a while and is already familiar with the fluctuations of magic power. At this moment, he felt a slight tingling sensation on his skin.
He knew that the sorceress was trying to read his mind, because this was not the first time.
Fortunately, the Count had foreseen this when he decided to send him to learn magic.
The magical amulet, crafted by Counselor Mousesack and Miss Triss, lay cold against his chest, inadvertently repelling the intrusion. At the same time, following the Count's instructions, his mind began to wander, confusing Lydia's mind reading.
In fact, upon looking at Lydia, his thoughts would naturally diverge without any effort.
'What a beautiful woman... Her painting is beautiful, but she is even more... Art is the window to the soul, her interior must be equally beautiful... These are qualities I wish to have but cannot... '
'What kind of man could win Miss Lydia's heart... No one could refuse Miss Lydia... It would be foolish... What kind of idiot...'
The tingling sensation quickly disappeared, and Lydia's face, covered by a magical illusion, showed no expression.
"Miss Lydia?" To break the silence, Ace spoke first.
"Are you going to Aretuza?" The telepathic voice echoed in Ace's mind, devoid of any emotion.
Ace nodded.
"You are not young, and you are lagging behind others. You should study more." Lydia continued, and Ace continued to nod obediently, accepting Lydia's teachings calmly.
"That's right." Ace said. "So can I go practice magic now? I want to master the portals first."
Aside from fire magic and necromancy, considered forbidden arts, Ace had been studying various conventional earth, water, air, and aether spells these days, discovering that he had a greater affinity for air magic.
In addition, Ace also has a special liking for portals.
Lydia raised her chin slightly and watched Ace bow politely to her. Before he left, she suddenly said: "Wait."
Ace turned his head in confusion.
"In the future, if you have questions, ask me, don't go to Aretuza."
Ace touched the notebook in his arms. It was obvious that Lydia had just witnessed the academic exchange between him and the female student.
"These are very simple questions. I don't want to waste the lady's time with them. I will only bother her with problems that cannot be solved."
"After all, the lady's time should be spent on more advanced magical research and exquisite paintings. Not on these boring questions."
Ace lowered his head, as if embarrassed for having to bother her for such simple questions.
In fact, most of the questions in the notebook he already knew. He was just looking for an excuse to interact with the female students.
Some people only feel comfortable asking for favors when they have already helped others.
Anyway, asking basic questions about magic fit well with his image as a magic apprentice.
Lydia responded to his explanation: "Worry more about your own time, so you can return to Cintra sooner."
Ace nodded without really committing.
After he left, Lydia stood there blankly for a while. After a long time, she sat in front of the easel.
She touched the black silk and onyx headband she had carefully chosen that morning and then looked at the wounds on her hand holding the paintbrush.
Lydia always used telepathic magic to communicate, never speaking out loud. But at that moment, it seemed like a voice echoed repeatedly within her body.
"My... time."
...
Kaer Seren.
Watching Ace's level jump another level on the follower panel, Lann momentarily lost control of his emotions. 'What the hell is this kid doing in Aretuza to improve so quickly?'
While he was running around with House and Milva, fighting little monsters or clearing out bandits, and completing side quests, Ace was just studying at the magic academy. How could he level up faster than the other two combined?
Lann thought about the newly acquired ability points and decided not to use them on Leo for the time being, hiring him as a [Follower].
First, he wasn't sure if Leo would have a talent, and being so young, he probably hadn't mastered many skills. Spending a follower point on him would not bring immediate benefits like with Milva.
Second, Leo would be training in Kaer Seren for a while, unable to provide experience feedback. It was better to wait until he finished his training, after all, 'The Lion's Gift' sounded like an excellent graduation gift.
Furthermore, if Leo failed to mutate the witcher, he could use this system panel's ability [Follower] to bring Leo back from the brink of death like with Black Wind.
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