Chapter 5: The Antique (Part 1)

The morning passed quickly, with Sir Perot's focus primarily on those with elemental affinity. For Merlin and others like Anson, who lacked any elemental connection, he simply left them to their own devices.

When Sir Perot clapped his hands, signaling the end of the morning training session, people began to stand up and prepare to leave.

May Snow looked excited, clearly having benefited greatly from Sir Perot's guidance. She approached Merlin, throwing a glance at Anson, who awkwardly greeted her, "Miss May Snow!"

"Hmph."

May Snow turned away in irritation, clearly displeased with Anson.

"Let's go home."

May Snow pulled Merlin along, quickly exiting the church. Outside, Moss was already waiting in the carriage.

"See you this afternoon, Merlin!"

Anson, who was following behind, winked at Merlin before climbing into his own carriage and departing.

Once they were settled in their carriage, May Snow glared at Merlin with irritation. "Merlin, didn't I tell you to stop hanging around Anson? All he does is encourage you to fool around…"

It was obvious she didn't think much of Anson, viewing him as a bad influence on Merlin. Judging by her hostile attitude earlier, it was clear Anson feared her more than he let on.

Curious, Merlin asked, "Why does Anson seem a bit scared of you?"

"Anson didn't tell you?" May Snow looked at Merlin, suspicious, then, as if realizing something, nodded. "Makes sense. It's pretty embarrassing—no wonder he'd rather keep it to himself."

She clenched her fist and said with a hint of satisfaction, "Last time, he dragged you off to mess around with some women, and I caught him. I gave him a good beating, but it seems he hasn't learned his lesson yet. He might need another reminder."

Seeing the smug look on her face, Merlin was left speechless. It seemed his sister had a rather fierce side. Thinking back to her impressive display of strength, he now understood why Anson was so wary of her.

As the carriage bumped along, the atmosphere grew quiet. Finally, after some hesitation, Merlin asked, "May Snow, how did you sense the elements?"

May Snow looked at him with mild surprise but answered thoughtfully, "It's simple, really. I just close my eyes, and I can sense it. I can't see or touch it, but I can feel the fire element. It gradually enters my body, and one day, when it's gathered enough, it'll unleash great power!"

Merlin nodded slightly, closing his eyes and trying to sense anything as she had described. But no matter how he tried, he felt nothing. It was evident that elemental affinity was innate, something that couldn't be altered. Without it, there was no way to sense or interact with the elements.

His hopes of becoming an Elemental Swordsman were likely out of reach.

Before long, the carriage arrived at Wilson Manor, where the butler had prepared a lavish lunch, including a golden-brown roasted lamb emitting a rich aroma.

Merlin, however, had little appetite and only ate a small amount.

May Snow, on the other hand, ate with relish, nearly finishing the entire lamb herself. Patting her stomach in satisfaction, she leaned back in her chair and, with a slightly concerned look, said, "Merlin, I'll be going back to the church this afternoon for more sword practice, so I'll skip etiquette class. Moss will take you to class in the carriage, but make sure you're home before dark. And stay away from that troublemaker Anson! Father asked me to keep an eye on you before he left."

Seeing her stern expression, Merlin nodded quietly, realizing how troublesome he must have been before.

After May Snow left the manor, Merlin, feeling the growing chill in the air, went upstairs to put on a thick coat. Only then did he go back downstairs and step into Moss's carriage.

On the way, Merlin massaged his temples, feeling a bit of a headache. He had no memory of this etiquette class, a clear sign of just how much he'd forgotten.

Thankfully, Moss was an honest and silent driver, guiding the carriage to their destination without saying a word.

Merlin stepped out of the carriage, greeted by a three-story building surrounded by a rusty iron gate. An elderly guard, wrapped in a worn coat and face red from the wind, was dozing in a corner by the gate. However, as soon as someone approached, he would wake and open the gate.

"You're early today, young master Merlin."

The old guard, familiar with Merlin, greeted him warmly.

Merlin, unsure of the guard's name due to his memory loss, returned the greeting with a smile and headed inside.

The building was nearly empty. Merlin climbed the creaking wooden staircase, his footsteps echoing as if the stairs were barely holding together.

Along the walls, colorful murals depicted various scenes of people and landscapes, though their quality varied. Even as a novice in art, Merlin could tell that some of these murals were little more than crude doodles.

Reaching the second floor, he wandered through a few spacious rooms that were currently empty, each with instruments like drums and organs—likely used for music lessons.

"Hey, Merlin, what are you doing there? No music class today; it's history class."

Turning at the familiar voice, Merlin saw Anson, who quickly grabbed him, leading him toward the third floor. Anson grinned mischievously as he whispered, "Come on, let's get good seats. I heard today's new history teacher is quite the beauty. It's going to be worth it!"

Merlin, unsure where to go, let Anson lead him. They entered a large room on the third floor.

Inside, about a dozen young men and women dressed in elegant clothing were clustered in small groups, chatting. When Merlin and Anson entered, a chubby boy in the front row waved to them.

"Good job, Gut. You always grab the best seats when there's a pretty new teacher."

Anson chuckled, greeting the boy with a wide grin.