A quiet twinkle filled the forest as the swooping wind shook the prickly tree branches on which long clear icicles hung like knives. Tired and feeling cold I continued to go forward, along the shortest route before jumping off a ledge.

Maybe a little exercise will heat me up?

"Lady Siri."

I turned around and extended my hand to the snow-skinned noble, who fitted perfectly with the wintry landscape around her. The Firmusian's cold fingers grabbed my wrist and helped herself onto the low ground. Despite her image of being a perfect princess, the girl didn't appear to mind showing me her private oddities. Still, it remained strange for a woman about my age to be afraid of holding hands with another woman. I could understand why she would avoid hand-holding with a man, but this went far beyond remaining chaste.

"How did you like the training session?" I asked as we followed the sound of people talking in the distance.

"I remain oblivious to why the training focuses on caster-against-caster combat." The ever-cold cryomancer pointed out a question I had a couple of months ago.

"That is because the Academy teaches Oriri students first and the outsiders second. In their system, it makes sense to prioritise the skill of fighting another wizard far beyond gaining military expertise. The Sophists organise that once their children finish their education." A charming expression appeared on Lady Siri's face I could see the cogs turning in her head producing a small frown at the inefficiencies of the system.

The sun shone down on a meadow outside of Oriripol's walls proper, inside which a large group of roughly fifty people had gathered, not all of whom were students. Some turned their heads to look at us for a brief moment before losing interest. Their instructor was flanked by a divination mage who had been scrying on them through the lesson and the two seemed to be discussing something between each other.

"Sandwich?" I looked at the cryomancer whose eyes smiled with shameless delight.

"Whoa-!" Before I turned my head to look at what the girl was seeing my nose hit something hard and I was thrown backwards onto the snowy ground.

"Is 'Sandwich' my new nickname?" A blacked-out figure stood like a mountain above me with the sun creating a halo around his head before extending his hand toward me.

"Mister Vilkas, I didn't notice that you were attending this class."

"That's not the only thing you hadn't noticed," The Black Ribbon Officer grabbed me by my shoulders and tilted me as if my spine was crooked before handing me my weapon. "Hopefully my stealthy appearance hadn't hurt you more than those spells.

"Is this your way of apologising?"

"I could try harder but it was your face which hit my chest not the other way around."

Feeling the judgemental gaze of the Firmusian on me, I hid my sigh as I dusted myself off. I can't be a bad model for Siri to follow, I have to be the bigger person here.

"So was your appearance coincidental or is there a matter for discussion."

"A little bit of both," The Amroch scion stated. "I do have to be honest that I didn't expect for us to bump into each other, but I did want to talk."

"Sandwich?" The pale eminence grew tired of us lessers ignoring her and tugged on Vilkas's sleeve almost yanking his head to her level.

"I heard women don't like eating directly after exercise?" He asked, his eyes wide open. I didn't blame him as I too was shocked at the power of the cryomancer who looked as if she would topple over with the lightest gust of wind. "Here you go." With a quick snap of his fingers, a large sandwich appeared in his hand and the two lamps in the colours of a sun-washed-sea jumped from his face to the food.

"Yay!" Like a greedy critter Lady Sir snatched the food from Vilkas's hand and scurried over to a tree stump behind which she kneeled down, hiding the precious loot.

"Did she eat her breakfast? I heard of people being cranky if they don't eat it but she is like an animal." Vilkas commented, making sure his words didn't reach the powerful high noble although I would be surprised if anything reached the feasting girl's mind now.

"Yeah, she is quite chaotic sometimes... Anyway, what was the thing you wanted to talk about?"

"Are you trying to change the subject?" He said without turning toward me.

"I can assure you that my ward has excellent manners."

"And I can assure you, you hadn't taught them to her," His callous fingers scratched his light brown stubble as he turned his body toward me. "I wanted to ask if you could enchant something for me?"

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"I do not follow, why me? You are in one place in Edor overflowing with master enchanters."

"Well, I don't need a master-level enchanter and I figured that I should look for another student for help."

"So you want me because I'm cheap?" The nerves on this guy.

"My official answer is no. It's not like I'm not going to pay. We are both from outside the city and you know what kind of premiums city folks demand. I trust you enough that I can pay upfront if you desire."

I wanted to be angry at him but there was nothing wrong with what Vilkas had said. Arcane products were sold as if they were luxuries, where the name of the craftsmen mattered rather than being sold like tools that they were.

"What is the thing you need me to enchant, and with what?"

"I need something with the Water-Breathing enchantment."

"Why would you need that?! You are aware of how high-tier that enchantment is? If there are one enchantments you shouldn't cut corners is that one."

"Lady Sofia, please keep this between ourselves there is no need to shout," The man said, his eyes no longer smiling as I suddenly became aware of all the eyes gathered on me. "I'm aware that this enchantment is hard to create but I thought you could make it, don't they teach you that enchantment?"

The Oriri mages did teach the Water-Breathing enchantment. I was wrong in saying that this enchantment was high-tier. In itself, it was a rather simple enchantment with some finicky requirements as to the material on which it could be used. But just because I knew how to make that enchantment didn't mean I could sink into any body of water and live in it. There was a whole plethora of auxiliary enchantments such as Dark Vision, Dash and Warm Hearth to allow going deep underwater.

"...How will you use it?" I'm jumping the horse here, maybe he just wants to stick his head into a pond and look at some fish. That's not something I would imagine him doing but I won't judge.

"I had a merchant lose a shipment in the bay and none was able to recover it with magic. I plan to dive toward it and put it into my inventory. Should be a simple job after your part is over.

"I see."

"Phew, I was worrying that you wouldn't make it after your initial reaction."

"I see you're nuts. Vilkas you need a set of clothes with at least five enchantments to go into Demiurge Bay. I simply can't do this. There are so many things that can go wr-."

"Nuts," Lady Siri chimed in as she walked in between me and that suicidal idiot. "Can I have them?" Like a tax man, the pale woman extended her porcelain arm in between us. Watching us full of anticipation not shown on her motionless face.

"I'm sorry Lady Siri, we were not talking about food. I got carried by my emotions."

"Annoying," I heard Siri grumble under her nose as I gave her an apologetic bow. "Then what are you talking about?"

"We were talking about business. I need to acquire a piece of equipment that would allow me to breathe underwater."

"Then why is Subject and Sandwich raising their voices?"

When by the Dove Thrones did I get the nickname of Subject? Wait does that mean she trusts me or that she simply sees herself as my Liege? I am her guide and do stuff servents should but it doesn't sit right with me.

"Lady Sofia simply raised her objections to my plan." Vilkas answered causing the two differently coloured eyes to switch onto me.

"Sandwich plans to dive into the freezing cold bay with enchantments bought on the cheap."

"You too?" His beer-coloured eyes gave me a questionable look. "Lady Siri, can you create such a thing?"

"Yes."

"Huh?!" The girl is lying, isn't she? She must be.

"See, I'm going to be fine. How much will it cost me, Lady Siri?"

"Can I have more food? Please." The Firmusian spoke as if she recalled something.

"Ehhh..."

"Lady Siri, food isn't a proper currency." I can't believe I'm seeing this.

"Yes it is, a tribute, within the context of payment, conveys a transactional gesture wherein one party, typically of subjugated status, offers physical goods, commodities, or resources as a form of homage, acknowledgement, or appeasement to another party, often of superior standing or authority. This payment may encompass a wide array of tangible assets, including but not limited to agricultural produce, livestock, precious metals, gemstones, artisanal crafts, weaponry, raw mana deposits, arcane goods or other valuables deemed of sufficient value. Therefore deliciousness can be given as payment to me as I deem their value surpasses the minimum threshold of value." Without stopping to breathe, Lady Siri began to speak as if something switched inside her head. Many law-speakers would surely be impressed by the girl's ability to swamp her opponent with bureaucratic speech said in the most serious, deadpan monotone voice. In the end, I wasn't sure what the girl had said but I knew she had won the argument, not wanting to hear another mini-lecture.

"I guess we have a deal." Vilkas tried to give the girl a handshake, seemingly forgetting who she was. With a slight frown, Lady Siri cocked her head to the side as watched his hand.

"You can't guess." She said as she parroted the noble spare, extending her hand as he did without compensating for her shorter stature causing their hands to levitate above each other.

"I will kill you if you don't try to pay her properly." I whispered into his ear as the group around us began to move.

The smell of smoke filled my lungs as we re-entered the city. Unlike when walking alone through the busy city, the masses of people crowded into the city for protection split apart with the same haste, people in other cities made way for ceremonies headed toward the holy sepulchre.

I would periodically glance at my ward who watched the city around her with a judging gaze although that might be because of the slight frown adorning her resting face giving her a grumpy appearance.

“Lady Siri, are you truly capable of enchanting?” I asked as our group passed the gatehouse behind which the facade of the Academy blocked the sun.

“I am.” She responded as the group spread out, returning to their rooms.

"Can I watch how you work? I won't interrupt you. I will be as quiet as a mouse."

"What's a mouse?" The Firmusian responded.

Should I bother explaining what is a mouse to Siri? I asked myself as she tilted her head, blinking at me as if prepared to wait all of eternity for her answer. Yeah, can't refuse her.

"It's a type of animal. Looks like a small rat or like a squirrel."

"Oh, I know the last one."

"So, could I watch?"

"...No." The extraordinarily gifted mage spoke what I was preparing for. Still, it felt like a needle pricked my heart as Siri refused to allow me to watch her work.

At least she is not dancing around that issue.

I lead Lady Siri toward her accommodation, the bell announcing the end of the lecture period had rang quite some time ago causing the various servants to appear like mushrooms after the rain. They all appeared to be in some sort of hurry, as they passed us with hurried steps.

The closer we got to the residents of the highest echelons of nobility the song of birds could be better heard as only a few servants had any reason to go through these meandering paths. Wanting to enjoy the fresh air I followed a less-used path closer to the wall, passing through the many smaller buildings intended for servants.

The smell of fresh bread lingered in the air as we passed a small fenced-in courtyard with a large tree growing in the centre. A maid appeared from one of the side doors carrying a bag over her shoulder. Swiftly, she emptied the sack's contents onto the paved ground appearing to have done this many times as in no time at all she disappeared behind the door. What littered the ground were various scraps of stale bread which the staff hadn't found a use for in time. Bread usually didn't last long, a day at most before it went stale. Still, there were many uses for such a bread but I'm not sure if many of them would be viewed in a positive light in Oriripol's centre of culture and fashion.

"Deliciousness." Without warning the pale Firmusian exploded with energy, opening the flimsy gate and running toward the pile of bread.

"There is no way." Never in my life would I suspect that I would watch a high noble eating stale bread from the ground.

*Hissss*

A white goose emerged from the thick oak he was hiding behind. The gander spread his wings as it ran toward the hungry-hungry Siri, hissing at her.

"Ahhh!" The same icy mage who appeared unfazed by spells whizzing around her just half a bell ago was turned into a terrorised kitten as she turned around and hid behind me.

"I hadn't expected this either." I reached behind and brushed Lady Siri's silk-like hair trying to calm her as the goose broke off its chase.

"How did it know..." I heard the girl whisper, sounding as if rain was falling upwards.

"It heard you, Lady Siri. The goose was hiding behind the tree."

"I need Iris." The terrorised noble said reaching her hands to me.

"Lady Siri, we are the same height. I can't pick you up." The mage looked at me with an utterly shocked expression.

"Another reason why Iris is better."

*Sigh*

This girl is seriously spoiled.