"The essence of air magic is the wind itself. And to control the air, you have to first feel it." She has a wide, almost proud smile on her face as she talks.
It's been about thirty minutes since we both woke up from sleep. I'm hungry, I can't believe I rushed out of the Flameworth's estate without bringing food with me or anything.
But Jennette isn't complaining so I'll just endure for now until we reach somewhere we can eat.
We have just twenty minutes until we start riding again, and she's using this twenty minutes to try and introduce the concept of air magic to me.
But I don't have time to learn the philosophies and everything, I just want to control air and use wind blades swiftly like she did as soon as possible.
"Yeah, you're just gonna have to teach me the spells, Jennette. I don't need to listen to your graceful philosophies and sweet words that mean nothing. I can control the air around me to a certain degree, what I just need is a good air-breathing technique to master, and to learn a couple of first-circle air-magic spells." My voice comes out sharp, and sleepy.
I'm sitting on the mat cross-legged, and my arms are folded as my eyes focus on her. She's standing on the grass, her gaze facing downwards— on me.
Her eyelids droop as she hears my words. She's disappointed, but I don't care. I've had enough of these nebulous philosophies, I just want to learn magic, and grow stronger. Not to become air magic Aristotle.
She lets out a resigned sigh, "fine, I'll teach you a breathing technique of my family. It's a treasured breathing technique, one of the highest grades in my family, so learn it well." She says— her voice low and resigned.
Ah, that's right, I never asked what family she belongs to. Well, It doesn't matter. I don't think she'd want to talk about it, and I'm not so keen on listening to another one hour long backstory.
"Thank you." My voice is melts into a soft tone as I reply.
She nods, and she brings out a book from inside her subspace pouch.
And I turn my head to the direction of our wagon.
The horse's eating grass, the wagon is still tied to it. And it's standing at the same spot we left it last night.
"Wow, so the horse didn't run after all." I mutter, barely enough for Jennette to hear me.
She chuckles lightly as she walks toward me, "I told you the horse was properly trained."
"Yeah, that madman trained it. And his training really worked. Now I feel so bad for the horse."
My eyes watch the horse with pity, and I shake my head, thinking about how evil Klaus is.
"Well, that 'madman' has talent. He's a Rodron after all. The Rodrons are a small Count family that train horses. They're master horse trainers."
I whistle, "wow, I thought he was crafted with madness, and appeared from thin air. Didn't know he had a family and everything."
As she sits on her mat next to me, she slaps my knee, "stop being so disrespectful!" She scolds. Her voice stern yet graceful.
How cute, a youngster about 13 years younger than me is scolding me.
A wry smile stretches on my lips, "but it's the truth. You've not been with that madman for any longer than thirty minutes, have you? Trust me when I say he's insane. He makes people carry boulders on their heads!" My tone is light and playful as I speak.
"But it made you stronger did it not?"
"...That's besides the point."
She lets out a sigh, and her lips curl up slightly.
'You should stop sighing. It's becoming a habit.' look at you now.
"Here, take it. It's the breathing technique." She hands a brown book over to me.
And I collect it, and the title written on the book catches my eyes.
"The dancing air breathing technique. What a great name." My tone drops with sarcasm.
She rolls her eyes. "Just follow the instructions. And in two weeks, you'll be able to master it."
"Oh? Another high score to beat?"
I flip the book open.
"It's supposed to take at least two months, but I reduced the time to two weeks because of how much of a genius you are."
"Exactly. That's why this is another high score to beat. Because from what I'm seeing..."
I quickly flip through the pages of the book.
"I'll master this before tomorrow." I declare brazenly. Knowing that it's a lie.
"Well, aren't you confi–"
"Get 'em, boys! "
A gruff voice echoes. It's loud, and it seems to relay a command.
Immediately— Jennette stands up, her glance flicking left and right.
I'm sitting still. Watching, and waiting for whoever the voice belongs to, to appear.
"Haha! I told you they smell like money!"
Five rough-looking men dash toward us— it seems we're their targets. They're all dressed in leather pants, and wearing jackets made of animal skin. Hmm, but they're lean, and they look unfed.
The one leading them at the front has a long and dirty unshaven beard. And a long, mane-like brown hair that pours down to his shoulder, with a wide grin plastered on his face.
My nose scrunches, and the top corners of my lips raise in disgust.
That smile of his reminds me of Alexander...
They're all holding long swords too.
Are they swordsmen?
"Who are you? And what business do you have with us?" Jennette asks immediately. Her voice is low and tense, but mixed with hostility.
Her eyes narrow as she glares at them intensely.
But they pay her no mind— dashing toward us like hunters targeting their prey.
"Take the maid, we do need something to entertain ourselves with tonight! And the boy.. don't rough him up too bad. And ransack their wagon! There's gotta be money there!" Their leader yells.
And my face twists. They said they'd do what to Jennette?
Jennette bends low— a crouch. And a subtle green hue of air mana permeate from her body— corrupting the pure mana in the air around her, and changing it to the wind element.
The men are just few inches away from us. And they're not running anymore. Instead, they're walking slowly. Deliberately.
"Mn." I stand up from the mat where I'm sitting. I roll my neck— cracking it. And I crack my fists.
Step. Step.
Jennette's face contorts as I walk past her, and toward the incoming men.
"Wait– what are you.. They're dangerous!" She tries to stop me from going further, but I shift her with my left hand.
"There's no way these people are as strong as Klaus. That means I won't lose."
And I'm not wrong. They all have no circle or cluster of light around them. No affinity. No mana, no nothing.
And I take slow, and careful steps toward them.
They're sneering, and laughing at me as they size me up.
"This is a real battle, not a spar!"
I turn my neck, and my red eyes lock with Jennette's.
And I place my index finger on my lips.
"Shhhh."
As she sees my gesture, her eyelids relax. Her mouth parts slightly— like she wants to speak. But I turn to face the men.
"So, you said you all were gonna do what to her?" I ask. My voice eerily chill. My two hands fold into a solid fist, and my calm gaze rests on them.