“My lady, are you sure about departing to the capital immediately like this?”

A maid of flaming red hair and ocean blue eyes said those words, as she stood within the shared dormitory that both Marilyn and Cecilia had stayed in for the past year or so. Of course, Cecilia was not here, she would currently be outside of the dormitory building already prepared and ready for departure. So now it was just Bethany and Marilyn.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Marilyn would respond, as she had begun to pick up her bag and holstering it upon her shoulders. “You don't need to worry about me, Bethany. I’ll be fine, I’m with Cecilia too for the journey, remember?”

“Yes, I am well aware of that, but...”

Bethany's voice had gotten a bit more timid. Without prior context it would be a tad bit confusing, but her knowledge of how many dangers Marilyn have been in so far was a primary cause of concern throughout her time taking care of her.

This would especially be the case after she had found out about Marilyn's battle with the assassin, and how Cecilia had told of the sequence of events that happened to the maid.

Marilyn sighed, this was certainly a tedious thing to try to talk Bethany down from, but she must once again try. “Bethany, do you trust me?”

Bethany stood silent for a bit, but nodded, “I do, my lady. I am just—”

“Concerned for my safety, yes.” Marilyn interrupted. “But trust is built upon letting it go and having the other person do things that you have faith they will do, right?”

“My lady?”

“What I mean is, you should try and let me go on my own for now. I won't be long, and the journey to the city itself will be accompanied by Cecilia before I go off on my own.” She said, “I’ve done it before when I went to the capital all the way from Kharnam, so what'll be different now?”

Bethany was once again silent, in deep thought. It was quite the pleasant surprise that the younger person would be far wiser than their elder, but this was certainly the case.

“I’m stronger now, and I know what to do whenever the situation arises.” She said, “You’ll have to learn to let me go, just this once.”

“...” Bethany looked downwards, a bit saddened.

“...please?”

Bethany sighed, “My reason for my insistence on accompanying you was not just to protect you.”

“Hm? What do you mean by that?”

“I also want to understand how you do things now directly, not just through words of mouth from your friends, my lady.” She stated, with a small smile curled upwards.

“So you wanted to test me too?”

Bethany nodded, though she was slightly hesitant to do so.

“...are you just trying to convince me here, or is that actually true?” She asked.

“U-uhm…” A small blush appeared, before she relented. She couldn't exactly try to lie to Marilyn right now, especially not this way, for something so trivial. “There's quite the grain of truth in that lie, but my most major reason was to protect you, my lady.”

Marilyn just simply looked at her and chuckled, smiling even. She would proceed to hold the maid’s two hands with her own. And as she did, she would say, “I’ll be fine. I promise you that. You can punish me if I can't keep it, and I’ll let you follow for a while after that. Deal?”

Bethany looked at her mistress in the eyes, a bit perplexed. She was quite taller than the silver-eyed girl, but right now she presented an aura of maturity. It was enough for her to respond in kind.

“I’ll make sure to keep those words to heart, my lady.” She would say.

“Good. Now then, you have something to say to me beforehand too?”

“Huh?” Bethany blinked, “Oh, yes, indeed. Your mother has requested that I must return home for a few weeks in order to maintain the manor.”

“Wha…?”

It would be considered quite contradictory, that Bethany very much insisted on staying with Marilyn when her mother, Anna Althorn, specifically asked for her to come back home. But knowing Bethany herself…

“So your entire charade here was just you not wanting to be there…?” Marilyn inquired.

“Um…it’s embarrassing for me to say this, but yes.” The maid would reply, chuckling awkwardly for a bit.

Marilyn also giggled in response, “I see. Well, I’ll allow you to do that then. The sooner you do it the more time you get to spend with me, no?”

Bethany nodded, “Indeed. I’ve also assumed that your father and mother didn't do quite so well for the past year in maintaining the house without me, so I must see it through now, for whenever you’d come home eventually.”

“Yep, that's certainly a good prospect to have.” Marilyn said in turn, as she would depart her hands from Bethany's.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Her broken staff had been attached to her hips by a belt of sorts. Considering it was broken in two, she could do so semi-comfortably, so she won't exactly need to worry about it dangling too close to her feet.

“Well then, wish me luck on my journey, Bethany.”

“I will, my lady. But if I may, can I at least accompany you until the entrance to the building? I do also need to actually head to the academy town for supplies.”

Marilyn was about to depart in full, but she turned around, “Oh? Sure! I’d be happy to accompany you.”

Bethany would then smile with delight, as the two proceeded to leave the room they're in. But even before they could exit the door fully…

“Ahh, Ms. Althorn, Ms. Hart, it's nice to see you.” The voice of an aged man, boisterous in tone, could be heard.

Marilyn turned around, and Bethany did so too. It was a familiar face, one of the professors of the academy in fact, one that a certain dragon-kin girl has a grudge with for his actions regarding tedious homework.

“Professor Winston! Why are you here?” Marilyn greeted, and also asked him.

“Well, I figured that strolling and meeting the students personally as they rested could provide some necessary bonding with them. And it's now the young ladies’ turn to be greeted and talked with.” He said, with a smile that was hidden by his moustache.

“Translation: He's just bored, and wanted to have some fun by scaring students with his presence.” And another voice would say in retort. It was a person next to him, one that Marilyn would know.

Black eyes and long grey hair, with an alluring and sultry appearance. Her clothing resembled that of a traditional wizard one would see in classical fantasy stories, to the point that the hat is even present upon her head. She looked to be quite younger than Winston, seemingly in her early thirties, but her voice presented her person as someone older than him.

One may not know this, but the quality of people with strong magical talent living longer lives, and looking younger for an extended period of time, was not an uncommon fact. It was just the problem that those kinds of people in general were so rare that they could be considered as such.

But in any case, Marilyn did know who this person was. The professor of Applied Arcana and Advanced Magical Theory—

“Professor Polendina!”

“Hey hey, dear Marilyn. Glad to see you are doing well indeed.” She said, resting one hand upon her hip, as Professor Winston was visibly annoyed.

“I don't appreciate slander like that, Professor Polendina.”

“Oh you, we’re close enough to call each other by first name basis, just Vivian is fine. I’m on break anyway.” She said, sighing.

“I am a professional, so outside of private areas I’ll keep referring to you professionally.” He responded, hands behind his back. He then decided to clear his throat, “So, may I inquire about your current business, Ms. Althorn?”

“I’m heading to the capital, to sell things and repair my staff and all, with Cecilia already waiting outside for me.” She would explain.

He nodded, “I see, very well then. May I offer a recommendation beforehand though?”

“First of all—”

“Professor Polendina, could you please not interrupt me?”

“Shush, I have something important to say.” She would interrupt him again. “Marilyn, dear, can't you just repair the staff on your own? You have the talent to do so, no?”

“I mean, I can…” She trailed off, but eventually she would answer in full, “But I just feel like observing someone repairing things for me is more interesting, you know? Could learn more about how the process works because of it too.”

“Hmm…darn, what a good reason that is.” Vivian was frustrated, but she was more impressed than anything. It was the equivalent of her saying 'what a smart girl she is.'

Bethany had just been watching all this time, intently listening, before the older woman noticed her.

“Ah, yes, you're…Bertha?”

“It’s Bethany, Mrs. Polendina.”

“Oh you, I am not yet married, but thank you for the extra consideration.” She said, “You're the cousin of Robert, isn't that right?”

Bethany nodded, “Correct. He was your favourite student, he told me about that constantly before he settled down.”

“Indeed he was. Such a smart boy, yet so reckless at times. His talent was all around above average at most, but quite tenacious from what I’ve seen in his records as a pathfinder…” She said, mostly to herself, “But with that in mind, I could definitely see where Marilyn learned all of those neat tricks from. Your father has taught you well. Your potential though is far higher, keep it up.”

Marilyn was a bit surprised by the sudden compliment, but bowed quickly. “T-thank you, couldn't have done these things without him.”

Vivian smiled, “It's most appreciated, dear.”

“Ahem.” Winston would suddenly interrupt, “I was trying to recommend something to her.”

Vivian turned to him, snorting, “Oh, right. Go ahead, Bale-bear.”

“Don't call me that.” He said quickly, before turning to Marilyn, “I suggest that you should go to the shop known as the Gilded Tail, if you were to sell your most recent loot at its most effective price, while also getting high quality repair in turn.”

“Gilded tail…?” Marilyn trailed off again, thinking about that name.

“It's quite an interesting shop, dare I say…eccentric.” He said.

“The owner flirted with him constantly when he was still young, but he was very adamant in refusing, and the cycle went on till graduation. It was quite amusing to see.” Vivian Polendina suddenly interjected with a smile, “Don't concern yourself over it, dear. That was just the previous owner, she's retired. The current one though is weird herself, in her own way. She won't seduce you, but she's rather gimmicky.”

“Right…” Marilyn sheepishly laughed. She did not understand what they were trying to say here, but she’d note it down for now. “Well, I guess I’ll take my leave then?”

“Dear gods…no day is peaceful with you around isn't there…?” Professor Winston himself was just mentally exhausted from this endeavour now.

Vivian huffed, “That's the cost of being so professional even during breaks, take things with stride will you, Bale-bear?”

“I will remain adamant about that statement, so I refuse.” He responded.

“There you go, classic line from him by the way!” Vivian would call out in response.

Marilyn was simply amused by this interaction, very much so. But with that said and done…

“Yeah, I guess I’ll take my leave then.” She declared, “Bethany, you're coming with me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

And the girl as well as the maid would unceremoniously pass by the two professors, who were busy with the constant play of teasing. But eventually they noticed, and decided to bid their farewells.

“Good luck on your journey, dear Marilyn!” Vivian would half-yell, waving her hand high.

“And may the stars be with you in turn…” And that shall be what Winston himself would use as his departing words for her.