Aria, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

“That’s enough.” Her tone was soft but authoritative, a voice that sliced through the air like a sharp blade. “You’re making too much noise,” added Aria, not bothering to hide the impatience in her tone.

Esmeria stepped back slightly, as if she had just been reprimanded.

“My apologies, Lady Aria,” she said formally, bowing her shadow as a sign of respect.

María, on the other hand, simply turned her gaze to the side, her shoulders relaxing as she exhaled softly, as though an invisible weight had been lifted off her.

‘At least Aria still seems to be on my side,’ María thought with relief.

Without another word, Aria headed toward the carriage and climbed in with movements that were both elegant and mechanical. María followed shortly after, throwing one last distrustful glance at Esmeria’s shadow before taking a seat across from Aria.

The carriage soon began to move, leaving behind the noise of the city and the bustle of its civilians.

The sound of the horses’ hooves echoed in a steady rhythm, blending with the crunch of the wheels against the cobblestone road.

Through the window, the city slowly faded into the distance, replaced by the tranquil yet eerie scenery of the forest surrounding the region.

María tried to relax, leaning slightly against the backrest of her seat. Her hands were clasped on her lap, and her fingers tapped lightly as she attempted to distract herself from the thoughts that plagued her.

“Why did she tell me all that…?” she muttered to herself in an almost inaudible whisper, referring to her recent conversation with Esmeria.

María shook her head, as though trying to push those words out of her mind.

‘There’s no point in dwelling on it now. I just need to focus on serving Aria.’

Despite her efforts to stay awake and alert, the swaying of the carriage and the monotonous sound of the wheels began to take their toll on María.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

For some reason… she felt unusually tired.

Her breathing grew slower, and though she opened her eyes with effort every now and then, they eventually gave in.

Within minutes, María was fast asleep, her head tilted to one side as soft snores escaped her lips.

Aria, who had been watching through the window, immediately noticed the change in her caretaker. She turned her face toward her with an impassive expression, analyzing every detail: the way María had started drooling slightly, the relaxation in her muscles, and the rhythmic sound of her snores.

“She fell asleep,” Aria concluded in a low voice.

There was no judgment in her words, just a cold, precise statement.

It was then that something caught her attention.

A shadow moved near the corner of her vision, cast on the floor of the carriage.

Aria didn’t need to turn her head to know who it was.

“Why is this taking so long?” Aria asked, her tone monotone yet direct, addressing Esmeria.

Esmeria’s shadow expanded slightly, taking on a more defined shape as she responded, this time with a spark of emotion in her voice.

“There’s been a slight change of plans.”

Aria shifted her gaze from the window to the shadow, her expression cold.

“Be more specific.”

Esmeria let out a light chuckle, a low and mocking sound.

“I just thought this would be a good opportunity for you to practice your combat skills, Lady Aria.”

“Another fight?” Aria raised an eyebrow, though her expression remained mostly impassive.

“Of course,” Esmeria continued with enthusiasm. “Your performance in your first battle was… unexpected, to say the least. You used my power with surprising precision. I didn’t expect that at all!”

“Wasn’t that the logical outcome?” Aria replied, her tone unchanged. “We practiced that technique for weeks in my room. The result should have been predictable.”

“That’s true,” Esmeria admitted, though her tone carried a lingering note of surprise. “Still, there’s something you can’t practice in a room—nerves. Most novice mages tend to fail their first spells in dangerous situations. But you… you didn’t even hesitate.”

“Hesitation is inefficient,” Aria stated, crossing her legs as she continued to stare at Esmeria. “So, what exactly do you want to do?”

Esmeria laughed softly, as if she had been waiting for that question.

“There are certain monsters in the nearby forest. I want you to test your skills against them. Consider this practical training.”

Before Aria could respond, her stomach let out a faint growl.

The girl glanced down, frowning slightly.

“I’m hungry.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Lady Aria,” Esmeria said playfully. “I promise you, once we reach that stinky old man’s lair, you’ll be able to eat all you want!”

Aria said nothing. She simply turned her gaze back to the window, watching as the forest grew denser and darker with every passing moment.

From time to time, she cast furtive glances at María, who remained deeply asleep, a thin trail of drool running down the corner of her lips.

“How unprofessional,” Aria murmured to herself, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.

It was more of a simple observation, almost indifferent.