In the evening, a sumptuous dinner was laid out on the old round table on the first floor of the Selandris household.

The main dish was coarse sweet rye bread. There were four side dishes: steamed smoked venison jerky, pan-fried silver salmon, potato strings stir-fried with onions, and a large pot of carrot pork rib thick soup.

Six candles, a rare sight, were lit on the bronze candelabra in the middle of the table, bathing the entire living room in their warm flickering glow. Next to the candelabra was also placed a bottle of fine grape wine.

The fireplace had also been thoroughly cleaned, and was filled with high-quality smokeless coal. The burning coals warmed the air, making the entire living room feel cozy and warm.

The ever-present musty smell that pervaded the wooden cabin was largely dispelled by the heat, and what little remained was overwhelmed by the rich aromas of the food.

Seated on a spotless chair, Selandris looked over the beautifully presented dishes on the table, and could already feel her appetite stirring just from the mouthwatering smells.

She gazed at Rosen standing respectfully nearby in surprise.

"Father, would you be so kind as to explain to your daughter how you managed to obtain all this with just a stack of rough wood-grain paper?"

Earlier in the afternoon, she had bared her soul to the apprentice, but was also aware of his financial circumstances.

He had a small coin purse with no more than a dozen copper kroners inside.

Yet the food, candles, coals, and most of a new set of dinnerware before her now, not to mention the simple bedding added to the small downstairs bedroom, must have cost at least three silver kreys.

That was more than ten times the difference!

Could this fellow actually perform illusions, so that the shopkeepers around South Square had mistaken the wood-grain paper for withdrawal slips from the Silver Crescent Bank?

Or had the kindly shopkeepers accepted IOUs penned by the young man?

Rosen smiled, first pouring Selandris a small cup of wine, then taking a ceramic plate and carefully slicing off a piece of jerky to place before her.

"Mentor, please forget the 'father' jest."

Selandris took a delicate bite of the jerky, and found it tender and deliciously flavorful. With just a little chewing, her mouth was filled with the taste of meat.

She took a sip of the wine, the rich, mellow liquor coating her mouth and flowing down her throat as smooth as the finest silk.

The bright candlelight, brand new dinnerware, exquisite food and wine, and the attentive apprentice standing dutifully by her side.

For a moment, it was as if she had returned to her maiden days.

Back when the family had not yet fallen into decline, her father still lived, her brother had not yet inherited the estate, and her sister-in-law still treated her kindly.

Unconsciously, Selandris' eyes grew moist. She gently sniffled, raising a hand to wipe away the tears at the corners.

She smiled gently, "Rosen, my dear apprentice, would you kindly put your mentor's mind at ease?"

Having come this far, Rosen naturally hid nothing more.

"Mentor, Xaboli must have told you that I am skilled at drawing."

"I took the papers you gave me, gathered some charcoal from the fireplace, and went to the South Square Market, drawing portraits for people one by one."

"For each portrait, I was able to obtain some goods in trade. After more than ten sketches, I had everything needed."

Selandris was surprised, "You used charcoal to sketch portraits on wood-grain paper? Such crude materials could be exchanged for goods?"

'Swish!'

Rosen took out a neatly folded sheet of wood-grain paper from his pocket and handed it to Selandris, standing straight with chin held high.

"Mentor, a skilled artist can produce the most stunning work even with the most rudimentary tools."

"While my mastery of spells naturally cannot compare with yours as your apprentice, I believe I surpass you when it comes to painting."

As he spoke, his face held a touch of modest yet steady confidence, neither arrogant nor self-effacing.

"You are becoming more and more interesting, young man."

Selandris dabbed her mouth with a napkin and unfolded the yellowed wood-grain paper. Glancing at it, she couldn't help letting out a soft 'Ah!' as two red clouds appeared on her fair cheeks.

Yet her gaze remained fixed on the sheet, staring for quite some time before finally shifting back to Rosen's face. Her ruby eyes now brimmed with wonder.

"I wager if you brought this sketch to the 'Gleaming Silver' dinnerware shop, you could easily trade it with the owner for a full set of silver tableware."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Rosen nodded in agreement, "That shopkeeper is a vigorous fellow whose eyes are always roving lasciviously over the bosoms and backsides of young female customers."

"But the subject of this 'Beauty After Her Bath' is you, Mentor. Without your permission, I would never take such liberties."

"Hmm... you did well. We have an intimate mentor and apprentice relationship, so we may be candid with each other, but we must not make things easy for those filthy, wretched men outside."

Selandris carefully smoothed out the creases in the paper before returning it to Rosen.

"Tomorrow morning, get a wooden frame for this painting and have it mounted on my bedside."

"As you wish, Mentor."

Rosen then added, "If you find this sketch too crude, I can redo it as an oil painting."

Selandris' eyes lit up, "Ah, so you can paint with oils too? Then do as you suggested!"

She pointed to the chair across from her, "My dear apprentice, you must be exhausted after running about all day. Come, sit and share dinner with your mentor."

Rosen was indeed starving, and immediately replied, "I would be honored."

The meal that followed was immensely satisfying for both master and apprentice.

After eating her fill, Selandris stretched lazily, "Once you've cleaned up, come upstairs to begin your first lesson as apprentice."

With that, she headed upstairs by herself.

Rosen promptly stood and bowed, "Farewell, Mentor."

Although they had not been together long, he felt he understood her somewhat.

Raised in a noble family, Selandris still yearned deep down for the dignified life she once had, and placed great importance on etiquette.

This was not to say she was a strict person - on the contrary, she was very tolerant and open-minded.

Rather, she was most accustomed to the noble, ceremonial lifestyle, and felt most comfortable when everything was proper and in its place.

Since this was so, Rosen naturally made every effort to maintain decorum and fulfill her psychological needs, which could be seen as carrying out the third duty of an apprentice.

He began swiftly clearing the leftover food from the table, using not just his hands but attempting to employ the sorcerer's hand as an aid.

Though somewhat clumsy at first, after practicing through the afternoon Rosen clearly felt his control over his magic had become more adept.

This was clearly a unique method of integrating cultivation into daily life.

In his past life, he had lived alone for over a decade before finding his other half near forty.

He was quite skilled at these household chores, and soon had everything tidy and in order.

After finishing the housework, he quickly washed his face and changed into a set of fresh, odorless clothes. Confirming he carried no strange smells, he headed upstairs.

'Knock knock knock~'

"Mentor, I have arrived."

Knocking before entering should align with noble etiquette as well.

A reply came from inside, "Come in, the door's unlocked."

Only then did Rosen enter.

Inside, Selandris sat upright in an armchair, a pale blue book laid out on the desk before her.

Seeing Rosen come in, she pointed to the book on the desk, "Take this book and read it. It will be the primary text for some time going forward."

Walking over, Rosen saw it was a hand-copied tome, its cover bearing the four characters for Introduction to Sorcery in elegant script.

He first bowed in thanks before reverently cradling the book in both hands.

"There is no second chair, but the floor is clean thanks to you, so listen to the lesson sitting there for today."

"Yes, Mentor."

Rosen sat cross-legged three meters away, carefully resting Introduction to Sorcery on his lap.

Now he suddenly noticed Selandris' aura and demeanor had undergone tremendous change.

She currently sat ramrod straight, gazing sternly ahead, her pose upright, exuding an untouchable air of dignity and propriety.

During the day, Rosen had been aroused to wicked thoughts by her teasing, his mind often flashing with the urge to spend the night in passionate embrace. But now, swept by her gaze, his heart was purged of all indecent notions.

He thought to himself, 'No wonder she became an intermediate mage so young, her professional attitude is superb!'

He too settled his stray thoughts and sat up straight.

Seeing this, Selandris nodded approvingly and began lecturing on magic.

"You already have a good foundation in spells. I won't belabor the simple basics."

"For this first lesson, I will explain the three fundamental quantities of mana, as well as how to measure each quantity as precisely as possible and perform quantitative calculations."

Hearing just this one line, Rosen instantly became alert, his whole mind focused.

He also thought, "Coming straight in with the good stuff! An afternoon of patience and hard work was worth it!"

Selandris then began to teach, meticulous and thorough.

Rosen concentrated fully, not daring to let his mind wander for a moment.

As he listened, he felt the many confusions he had encountered recently were perfectly resolved one by one, a feeling of enlightenment washing over him.

'Exhilarating!' he thought to himself, having the illusion of being back in university listening to a professor's lecture.

Selandris lectured steadily for over two hours before asking, "Do you understand?"

Rosen immediately raised the points of confusion he had along the way.

Some were tangential thoughts, while others were more basic issues he had not fully grasped.

Selandris showed no impatience, answering each one clearly until certain Rosen understood completely before moving on.

Resolving his questions took over an hour more, and by the time they finished it was already nine at night.

Obvious fatigue showed on Selandris' face, "That will be all for today, we'll continue tomorrow night."

Rosen promptly took his leave, then swiftly went downstairs and brought up a cup of warm milk and a pitcher of water he had prepared earlier.

"Mentor, this is milk for you to drink before bed, and here is rinse water."

"Hmm... how thoughtful."

Selandris nodded lightly and drank the milk. She then said, "No need to go to such trouble in the future. Your main duty is to learn magic well, not attend to me."

Rosen was puzzled. Hadn't she been the one to say he should take good care of her? Why was she changing her tune now?

Seeing Selandris maintain her solemn mien, Rosen truly could not make heads or tails of it.

Noting she remained fully dressed, he ventured to ask, "Mentor, do you require assistance undressing and letting down your hair?"

"No need to trouble yourself. From now on, you need not worry about these personal matters."

As Selandris spoke, her tone was cool and expression aloof, seeming vaguely displeased.

'Why the drastic change? Did I fail to meet her expectations? Or could it be the madness Xaboli mentioned does flare up unpredictably?'

Rosen really could not figure it out, but having dealt with plenty of moody spirits in his past life, he did not find it too strange.

Seeing Selandris' solemn mien persist, Rosen was at a complete loss.

"Good night, Mentor."

Exhausted from the full day, Rosen simply bowed briefly before retreating downstairs.

The small bedroom to the right of the kitchen had been arranged into his resting quarters that afternoon.

After checking the stove fire was safe, he flopped onto the bedding, nearly falling straight asleep.

But he did not forget his daily meditation exercises, going through the full routine before finally drifting off.

Just as he was fading in and out of sleep, he suddenly heard a woman's voice from upstairs, no - it sounded like an argument, whispered yelling.

He thought it strange, wasn't the mentor the only one upstairs?

But the voices soon stopped, and did not start up again.

'Probably just talking to herself,' Rosen thought hazily as he sank fully into slumber.

--------------