19 The reason why he took her in

After walking for a while, Isabelle saw a sign on a door. <Alchemy>

Balthazar gently opened the door and inside was a small room.

"This is your personal room?" Isabelle asked

"Yes"

"Then where is the room where you teach other students?"

"Here"

This made Isabelle very confused. 'Isn't he an Archmage? This room is much smaller compared to a normal classroom'

Balthazar looked at Isabelle, He knew what she is thinking.

"This room used to be a storage room"

"Then why did you make this your classroom?"

"Compared to other subjects, Only a few to none is interested in Alchemy. So it's better if I let the other professors use the bigger rooms"

Indeed Alchemy is not a popular skill to learn to those who aim to enhance their elemental might. There are potions who can momentarily increase their strengths, But compared to those who trained their elemental might for years, which the effects are permanent, potions are pretty much useless.

For wounds there are healing spells. Healing potions are not really that good compared to that of a healing spells. The potions are only used when a mage ran out of mana to use healing spells.

For those who are gifted with great elemental prowess and talent. Alchemy is actually useless in their journey as a mage.

But not for Balthazar.

'I'm not that great with magic, I might have a chance as an Alchemist so that must be the reason why he took me in. But somehow why do I feel sad? Is it because I completely gave up on that dream? Have I completely accepted the fact that I don't really have an affinity with magic?'

When she was still a child, Isabelle's grandfather showed her magic spells for the very first time. At that time, Isabelle was so amazed. Isabelle hopes that she too can use magic.

And that's exactly what she did. Isabelle found out that she too can use magic. She can use it, But she doesn't know how to control it.

Desperate to use magic. She forcefully activated it unknowingly and everything she touched froze solid. And it was no ordinary Ice, It was as if the very object itself was made out of ice from the beginning.

Her rampaging magic froze the entire room. When her grandfather came to rescue Isabelle, He saw her grandchild panicking. The more Isabelle panicked, The more the temperature decreased, He tried to calm her crying grandchild. Then, an accident happened. Isabelle's touch turned her grandfather's leg into ice.

That was the day when her grandfather lost his left leg. And the day she vowed not to use her elemental magic again until she learned how to control it.

For now, The only way she can be a mage is to use spells that is not related to her magic. But she never succeeded to cast even the simplest form of spells.

Because no other methods work, She thought that maybe she was cursed.

"What's wrong?" Balthazar saw that Isabelle was slightly down.

"No, I just thought that maybe alchemy isn't that bad" Isabelle forced a smile.

"Yes, Alchemy isn't that bad. But I'm not here to teach you alchemy"

'huhh? If he's not here to teach me about alchemy, then why did he took me?'

'Think Isabelle, Think! why?! why did this old man took me? try to remember the events so far. I met him on accident then I accused him as terrorist in front of many people. hmm what else did I do?. AH! this book! Come to think of it I am a beauty myself! Did he maybe took me in to be his test subjects for his "Experiments"?!!!'

"Ah! you old man! For your information I'm still a minor and-"

"No, You're the only one who thought of that"

Isabelle blushed and her pointy ears jerked. "What?! are you saying I'm a perverted?!"

"Again, your the only one who thought of that" Balthazar calmly replied.

At that point, Isabelle's face was completely embarrassed by her own delusions. Her pointy ears were as red as tomato.

"The reason why I made you my apprentice is that I took an interest in you"

"ehhhh, What's so interesting in me anyways? well aside from my beauty, could it be that you actually-"

"Like I said a couple of times already, You're the only one of thought of such things. The reasons why I took interest in you is your magic and that strange mark of yours"

"So you want me to be your test subject?" Isabelle warily asked.

"No, I'm here to mold you into a fine mage"