Chapter 21 - 21: You’re going to have a little practice bout
"What do you think of Alchemy, Erik?" Sigrún asked, feeling a bit offended by Erik's excessive enthusiasm for artifacts, as her first disciple seemed to have forgotten that she was his master in the first place.
"It's the foundation for everything, I'd say. It doesn't just create medicines but also all kinds of incredible materials, so I'm dying to start learning as soon as possible."
Erik replied with a big smile, which made Sigrún's expression change to a broad smile as she shot a smug look at Eleonora, who responded only with an elegant smile, not letting her little sister's games get to her.
Sigrún's joy was due to the fact that Erik wasn't lying, something both women could easily tell. The starry-haired young man truly thought highly of alchemy and was eager to start learning, which not only made Sigrún very happy but also filled her with a great sense of duty and belonging toward her new disciple.
"Well, it's great that you're so enthusiastic about studying, but the first thing you need to learn is the languages and basics of magic, so it'll be a while before you can start with alchemy or artificery."
Eleonora threw a bucket of cold water on Erik's excitement. He looked a bit surprised and then went back to eating his cookies in silence, emanating an aura of deep disappointment, which elicited a soft laugh from the two women.
Some time later, the joyful chat between the masters and their new disciple was interrupted by the arrival of two new people on the balcony—a young man and woman dressed in robes similar to those of Eleonora and Sigrún, white and embroidered with the same emblem on the chest.
Despite her appearance as a young girl of 18, the woman possessed an aura of maturity and unique elegance, with sapphire-colored eyes and long, wavy chestnut hair framing her delicate, feminine features. Her white robe clung to her athletic and well-proportioned body, accentuating her slight curves.
The young man, on the other hand, had a dignified bearing with an imposing stature and athletic build, his skin like polished ebony, smooth and radiant, contrasting beautifully with his immaculate white robe that framed his slender and well-proportioned figure. His dark, deep eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, and his closely cropped hair gave him an air of sophistication and elegance.