Going home

"Mm."

Matthew nodded, feeling displeased in his heart.

'How could she forget to cook?'

'It's not okay to only think about the impossible feat of sensing man.'

He couldn't help but say a few words.

"You must balance work and rest, and you must not overdo your training, do you understand?"

Natasha had a look of shame on her face when she heard this.

"Yes teacher, I will keep this in mind!"

She felt very moved in her heart:

'The teacher doesn't want me to force myself too hard, which may injure my body.'

'That's right, although persistence is important, I have to move with one step at a time.'

'I have just started bone refining, if I hold go too hard, it might easily cause problems with my body in the later stages!'

Not sure if she really understood the importance of lunch, Matthew continued to preach.

"You have to understand that although persistence has its merits, relaxing and combining work with rest is the kingly way."

"You must relax your mind appropriately in order to be more efficient, that way you will gain more insights when you practice!"

"I understand and will never make this mistake again!"

Natasha said respectfully.

'Sure enough, if I force myself, problems are likely to occur. I must relax my mind properly, otherwise it will be like a string that is stretched too tight or for too long, it will break easily!'

Natasha came to this realization in her heart.

Seeing that she seemed to have understood, he waved her away to go and cook.

'This disciple, listens to instructions very well, but it's a pity that I'm not really an expert, and the method of I came up with is fake, so persistence is useless!'

He sighed again In his heart, but he had already deceived her, so he could only continue to deceive her.

…

After she started the bone refining process, Natasha experienced the feeling of sand rubbing against bones, everytime she tempered her bones with mana.

However, Natasha no longer tried to force herself past her limits, as soon as she felt that she could no longer hold on, she would take a break and do other things to relax her mind.

Five days later.

Natasha, who was practicing, felt a jolt sudden jolt in her body, and the bones all over her body vibrated slightly.

There was a sudden sense of smoothness as mana penetrated into her bones.

The whole person felt a sense of becoming stronger, and her mana also improved accordingly.

"I finally got some progress in bone refining."

She had practiced hard for the past five days and finally completed the first stage of bone refining, so she was very happy.

The subsequent process became much smoother, as the discomfort and pain had practically vanished.

The pain would only return during the initial stage of refining bones into the bronze level.

"I have now successfully reached the stage of refining bones to become iron"

"Now that I have started, the next tempering should be easier until the bone becomes copper."

Natasha was very excited for the prospect of there being no pain during tempering, and being able to persist longer and spend more time practicing.

"I feel so strong that I am not afraid of being surrounded by hundreds of people, even if I only use bare hands."

Natasha mentally compared her current state to how she was before she stared practicing here.

"It has been almost a month since I left home, now that I have achieved some success in bone refining, it is time for me to go back."

"The gift that I had given to the teacher has been used for my practice. I should make sure to bring more rare medicinal materials next time I come here, and also prepare another gift for the teacher."

She felt that although her teacher did not care about her gifts, as a student, she could not ignore such details so that she could leave and maintain a good impression on her teacher.

"With teacher's level, he probably won't take rare treasures and spiritual plants seriously, after all, such things should just be mundane things in his eyes.

"What gift should I prepare for him?"

Natasha wondered in though for a while, before suddenly slapping her forehead.

"Why am I so stupid? Even if he doesn't care about rare treasures, I just need to bring them so as to express my heart's intentions."

"Using playthings like gold and diamonds to decorate his house would probably make the teacher happy."

After reaching this conclusions, Natasha felt relaxed.

"I should send my guard outside to go catch some hare, and some fish from the stream, so that I can cook a hearty meal for the teacher before I leave."

The moment Natasha thought so, she directly took action and went to find a guard.

…   

As he looked at the hunger inducing dining table, Matthew looked was very pleased.

'Accepting a student was a good decision!'

'The food is becoming more and more delicious, and there are more varieties now.'

"Teacher, it has been nearly a month since I came here. I want to go back home for a visit."

After the meal, Natasha was very direct.

Matthew heart couldn't help but skip a beat:

'After this kid goes back, and tells her parents about becoming my student, won't I be exposed?'

'Even though she is not very smart, her parents and family can't be as stupid as her, right?'

'Unfortunately I won't be able to justify refusing to let her go home, if I do that I would just arouse Natasha's suspicion.'

Matthew pondered for a while before he said:

"It's okay to go back home, but you must not disclose the fact that you are practicing to become a mage to anyone before you become an apprentice mage, this naturally includes your parents. Do you understand?"

"Yes teacher, I won't mention anything related to my practice to others!"

Natasha was startled by the instruction, but she immediately gave solemn promise.

"Don't forget, I like to quite and tranquility, I like to be low-key, and don't like to be public."

"Although I have accepted you as a student, you cannot mention me before you become an apprentice mage. I hope you can understand!"

Matthew said with a serious expression.

"Yes teacher, I won't mention you at all before I become an apprentice mage!"

Natasha promised respectfully.

"If I haven't become an apprentice mage, it means that I have no connection with you."

"You already made an exception and accepted me as a student, if I can't succeed, it might damage your reputation."

"As your student, I will do my best to protect your reputation!"

Natasha said with some shame.

'It seems that my teachers prestige is very high, just having a disciple like me who hasn't even become an apprentice mage will directly reduce the prestige.'

'My talent is still a bit lacking.'

Matthew's intention was to avoid being exposed in advance and being seen through, so he told Natasha not to mention himself, let alone anything about being a mage.

Unknown to him, Natasha did her usual overthinking.

"Ok, as your teacher, I trust you. You should leave early and pay attention to safety on the way."

Matthew's face softened and he reminded:

"You should take precautions when passing through the Lefifi forest, there are lions and other ferocious beasts in it."

'You must be more careful to not get hurt."

The Lefifi forest was too dangerous, and Natasha may not be able to survive if she encounters a fierce lion beast.

Matthew could only remind her, as for whether or not she could pass through safely, that would depended on her own luck.

"Yes, teacher!"

Natasha bowed respectfully, and said:

"Teacher, I will be back in a weak or two, at most, I will take a month to come back!"

"Ok, I will wait for you!"

Seeing Natasha being so obedient, respectful, and full of filial piety, towards him, Matthew felt a little emotional.

'How can I receive such feelings from all of these lies?'

"Alas, as expected, I am not a qualified liar. This was all forced by the situation!'

Matthew felt helpless

He really didn't want to lie and deceive people, it was all because of Natasha's bad brain that insisted on being deceived, and the apprenticeship gift that she gave him was too much! How could anyone refuse it?

Natasha left.

Natasha stood on the hillside at the entrance of the village, looking at Natasha's retreating carriage with a complicated expression.

"I hope she can pass through the evil forest safely, this silly girl… alas!"

After sighing, Matthew watched until he could no longer see the carriage, then returned to his residence.

Lying on the chair under the big tree, he suddenly felt a little… lonely!

"Fuck!"

"Just as I got used to having someone taking care of me, I suddenly became alone again"

"I don't feel comfortable at all!"

Matthew slapped the armrest of his chair and couldn't help but swear.