Chapter 44. Who took Scarlet?
THE NEXT MORNING
ALEXANDER
I didn’t sleep. Not because the bed was uncomfortable. The bed was probably worth more than an entire village. No, I didn’t sleep because every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the system announcing that I apparently had "Royal chambers" with Iris. Even though she had politely taken one side of the enormous suite while I stayed as far away as possible, my brain refused to cooperate. The morning sunlight poured through the massive windows. A gentle knock echoed through the room. Knock. Knock. Before either of us answered, the doors opened.
An army of servants entered. Not one, not two, at least twenty. Each carried silver trays covered with breakfast. Fresh bread, eggs, fruit, bacon, honey, tea, juices. Enough food to feed an army. The servants arranged everything within seconds before stepping back simultaneously.
"Good morning, Your Majesty."All of them said at once.
"...Morning."I sighed.
I looked like death.
"Master."Iris looked perfectly refreshed.
"Yes?"I asked.
"You have dark circles beneath your eyes."She said.
"I noticed."I nodded.
"Did His Majesty sleep poorly?"The old butler smiled politely.
"I couldn’t stop thinking."I said.
"A common royal problem."The butler said.
"I don’t think it is."I sighed.
The butler simply nodded anyway. I sat down and rubbed my eyes.
"I need coffee."I groaned.
Silence. The servants exchanged confused looks.
"Coffee?" One maid whispered.
"What is coffee?" Another whispered.
"I am unfamiliar with this royal request."The butler frowned.
"...Seriously?"I asked.
Apparently this kingdom had disappeared before coffee became popular. I buried my face in my hands. Scarlet quietly walked over.
"If Master permits..."She began.
"Hm?"I asked.
"I can help."She said.
She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. Warm golden light flowed through my body, holy mana washed away the heaviness behind my eyes. The headache disappeared. My exhausted muscles relaxed, within seconds I felt almost completely awake.
"Oh..." I blinked. "That actually worked."
"I only eased your fatigue. It is not a replacement for proper rest."Scarlet smiled softly.
"I’ll take it."I said.
She looked relieved.
"A useful spell."Iris nodded approvingly.
Scarlet gave a small proud smile. Then a knock. The doors opened again. The old butler immediately stepped aside.
"Oh."He said as his posture became even straighter. "She has arrived."
Everyone turned. An elegant woman entered wearing ancient white and gold robes embroidered with countless glowing runes. Long silver hair reached her waist. Golden eyes calmly observed the room. She radiated overwhelming magical pressure, even Scarlet unconsciously stepped back. The woman studied Scarlet for several long seconds. Then she smiled.
"So." Her voice was calm. "You’re the Saintess."
"Excuse me?"Scarlet blinked.
The woman ignored everyone else and walked directly toward her.
"I have searched for an apprentice for nearly four centuries."She said.
"What?"Scarlet asked.
"You possess extraordinary holy affinity."She said.
"I... appreciate the compliment?"Scarlet looked completely confused.
"I was not complimenting you." The woman nodded once. "I have decided."
"Master?"Scarlet looked toward me.
Before I could answer the woman snapped her fingers. Snap. A magic circle instantly surrounded Scarlet.
"W-Wait!"Scarlet gasped.
The light flashed and Scarlet vanished.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Michael, who had just entered carrying paperwork, stared at the empty spot.
"Did someone just steal one of Alexander’s summons?"He asked.
"Yes."The butler calmly nodded.
"WITHOUT ASKING?!"Michael asked angrily.
"Do not worry."The silver-haired woman was already walking toward the door. She smiled kindly. "I am merely borrowing my apprentice."
"MASTER?!"Scarlet’s startled voice echoed faintly from somewhere else in the castle.
The doors closed as silence filled the room.
"Did that really just happen?"I slowly looked at Iris.
"Yes."Iris calmly buttered a piece of toast.
"Should we go after them?"I asked.
"Probably."Iris took a bite.
"DING."The system appeared.
"Hidden event updated.
Optional objective added: locate the royal archmage and retrieve Scarlet. Reward: ??? Penalty for failure: Scarlet may become a permanent royal apprentice."The system said.
"..."
"We’re finding Scarlet."I immediately stood up.
Everyone around the table nodded without hesitation. Finding the Royal Archmage’s tower turned out to be surprisingly easy. Finding a way inside that was another matter entirely. The tower stood at the highest point of the castle, rising above every other building like a silver spear piercing the clouds. Ancient blue runes spiralled around its walls, and floating books lazily circled the upper floors.
"That is an archmage tower."Michael looked up.
"How can you tell?" Victor asked.
"It is floating."Michael said.
Sure enough... The top third of the tower wasn’t touching the lower half anymore. It simply hovered.
"Magic is stupid." Victor muttered.
"I heard that." A woman’s voice echoed from somewhere inside the tower.
"I apologize to magic."Victor immediately stood straighter.
The massive bronze doors slowly opened by themselves. CREEEEAK.
"Enter." The same calm voice said.
"I don’t like that invitation." Rosalia whispered.
Neither did I. We stepped inside. The interior was even larger than the outside. Shelves filled with ancient books stretched upward for dozens of floors. Floating staircases moved by themselves, mana crystals illuminated the air. Hundreds of magical circles slowly rotated across the ceiling. Then we saw Scarlet, she was sitting at a table. Completely unharmed. Actually she looked interested. The silver-haired woman from earlier sat across from her, calmly pouring tea.
"Master!"Scarlet noticed us first.
"I am so sorry! She teleported me before I could react!"She immediately stood.
"I noticed."I said.
"I did."The woman looked up from her teacup.
She sounded strangely pleased.
"I would like Scarlet back."I said.
"I know."She nodded.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You... know?"I asked.
"Yes."She said.
"Can we have her back?"I asked.
"No."She said.
"I had a feeling."Michael sighed.
The woman finally stood. Her robes shimmered with ancient runes.
"I am Oxana."She said and bowed elegantly. "Former royal archmage."
"Former?" Reynold asked.
"I have been retired for approximately..." She thought for a moment. "...six hundred and ninety-one years."
Nobody knew how to respond. Oxana walked around Scarlet once.
"This child possesses extraordinary holy mana."She said.
"I do?"Scarlet blinked.
"Yes." Oxana nodded. "You are wasting nearly seventy percent of it."
"I am?"Scarlet blinked.
"Terribly."Oxana said.
"I... didn’t know..."Scarlet looked horrified.
"Most modern mages do not."She said. Oxana sounded almost disappointed. "The standards have fallen considerably.
"We’re trying our best."Michael coughed awkwardly.
"I know." Oxana smiled politely. "That is the problem."
Michael looked personally attacked.
"I require her."She turned toward me.
"For how long?"I asked.
"A week."She said.
"No."I said.
"Three days."She said.
"No."I said.
"One day."She said.
"No."I said.
"Six hours."She said.
"..."
"I am negotiating."She smiled.
"I noticed."I said.
"Master..."Scarlet looked back and forth between us. "You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to."
She immediately shook her head.
"I want to learn."She immediately shook her head.
Everyone looked at her.
"If... if I become stronger... I can protect Master better."Scarlet smiled nervously.
Silence filled the tower, Rosalia smiled faintly. Noa gave a single approving nod, even Iris looked satisfied.
"An admirable motivation."Oxana folded her arms.
"Fine."I sighed.
"...Really?"Scarlet blinked.
"You want to train."I said.
"Yes."She nodded.
"I won’t stop you."I said.
"Thank you, Master!"Her entire face lit up.
She smiled so brightly that even Oxana looked surprised. "I approve."The ancient archmage slowly nodded.
Then she pointed toward me.
"You."She said.
"Me?"I asked.
"You may visit."She said.
"That’s... generous."I said.
"But."She said.
There was always a but.
"If you interrupt a lesson..."She began. The mana pressure inside the tower suddenly increased. Books started floating, the walls glowed, even Iris narrowed her eyes.
"I will turn you into a frog."She said.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I believe Scarlet is in excellent hands."Michael quietly stepped behind Reynold.
"I suddenly agree." Victor nodded rapidly.
"Wonderful."Oxana smiled sweetly.
She clapped once. Every floating book in the tower immediately opened.
"Lesson One."She said.
Scarlet hurried after her. Before disappearing up the spiral staircase, Scarlet turned back and waved enthusiastically.
"I’ll catch up with everyone later!"She said.
I could tell that she is happier than before. I want her to be happy so I am going to let her train with her, but I not planning to leave to the archmage forever.
"We’ll be waiting."I smiled.
As she vanished onto the next floor, the system chimed once more.
"DING. Special training event detected. Unit: Scarlet Current Status: Training under the first kingdom’s royal archmage. Estimated completion time: 6 Hours. Potential Rewards: Holy magic mastery, new divine skills, improved mana control. Hidden saintess evolution progress."The system said.
"Somehow..."I stared at the screen.
Your summons keep finding legendary teachers."Michael sighed beside me.
"I’ve stopped questioning it."I said.
"So have I." Michael admitted. "I’m just updating the paperwork now."
At this moment, I knew that these seven days would change our lives forever.