Chapter 146

CHAPTER 9 A Distressing Invitation from a Midnight Visitor Huberd Dee woke up and cracked his eyes open to get a look at his surroundings. He was lying not on an infirmary bed but on a cot that had been brought into the fundamental magecraft classroom. When someone lost a lot of mana during a magic battle, there was a risk of developing mana deficiency. Since all the tools needed to deal with this condition were in the fundamental magecraft classroom, he’d been brought there instead. Or maybe they’d purposely put him in a different room from the others to avoid a fight breaking out between him and his opponents. Professor William Macragan sat at a table a short distance away, polishing the gemstone on his staff. Huberd knew Macragan’s eyes were bad, so as soon as the man’s back was turned, he quietly got up and snuck toward the hallway. “You should stop meddling in Everett’s affairs,” said the old professor. “She’s one of the Seven Sages now.” Huberd paused in front of the door and turned to look back at Macragan. He was still facing away, polishing his staff. “Mr. Macragan, are you working with the Silent Witch?” asked Huberd. “We happened to end up in the same place, so I’m just watching over her. If a Sage is concealing her identity, I’m sure she has an important reason. And it’s not my place to meddle.” Though Monica didn’t seem to care much about such things, the Seven Sages were the most powerful mages in the kingdom, and direct advisers to the king. They all held the special title of count of magic, giving them a very high social rank. Their words carried the same weight as a high noble’s. Monica Everett was a far more powerful person than Huberd or Macragan. Though Macragan was only watching over her for now, if Huberd caused more problems for her, the professor would probably step in. “Well, that stinks,” he said. “If I can’t play with the Silent Witch, I’ll die of boredom before I can graduate.” “Or you could take your studies more seriously.” “I wouldn’t mind going up against you, Mr. Macragan.” William Macragan, the Waterbite Mage, was a former teacher at Minerva’s. Huberd had taken a combat training class with him. He knew the man was more than capable. “Now, no bullying your elders,” replied Macragan. “By the way, did you use any big spells to send your opponents flying?” “Pfft. I don’t have the mana for something like that.” “That’s right. Your mana capacity isn’t very high. Then were Ashley and the others next to you while they were unconscious?” “Well, yeah. Why?” If Macragan was asking that, did it mean one of the losers hadn’t been found yet? Either way, Huberd didn’t care what happened to them. He shrugged, then headed out. He’d barely recovered any of his mana, and he was still in awful condition. But he walked through the halls with the same gait he always did. Outside, the sun had almost gone down, and the chilly night air was beginning to make its way past the windowpanes. A little ways down the dim hall, Huberd ran into someone blocking his path. “Good day.” It was a charming noble girl with orange curls. A young maidservant waited behind her. Huberd knew this girl’s name—she was Isabelle Norton, daughter of Count Kerbeck, the most important noble in Ridill’s eastern provinces. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Huberd Dee. My name is Isabelle Norton.” Isabelle curtsied and smiled politely. During the duel, she’d been doing her best to keep people away from the woods and had been sending them back to the school building. If Monica had to go to the battleground, Isabelle didn’t want anyone stopping and questioning her. Isabelle felt responsible for Monica running into Huberd. She had underestimated how crafty and wicked he was. After the duel was scheduled, she had seen Monica grow weaker every day, and each time they met, Isabelle’s chest tightened even further. “Hm, hm, hmmm? Isabelle Norton. Count Kerbeck’s daughter, right? …Come to think of it, Monica’s cover name is Norton, too.” Huberd looked down at Isabelle with a dismissive stare as his lips twisted into an evil grin. “I get it,” he said. “You’re helping her. Well, Kerbeck does owe a lot to the Silent Witch, I suppose.” “I’m glad I don’t have to explain,” said Isabelle. “In truth… I had something to discuss with you.” “You want me to help the Silent Witch on her mission?” That should be obvious, said Isabelle to herself, keeping her tone polite and level. “I would like you to cease interfering with the Silent Witch’s mission.” Her tone was refined, but essentially, she’d just told him to stay out of Monica’s way. Huberd shrugged like he didn’t know what she was talking about. “Well, that stinks. I really love Monica, you know. I just can’t help myself.” “Oh, how envious that makes me. I, too, love the Silent Witch, and yet here I am, holding back tears and pretending to be a villainess.” Abruptly, her tone changed from cute and sulky to sweet and venomous. “My mother has a bit of a relationship with your family,” she said. “Specifically, with your mother.” Huberd chanted a spell. He probably intended to threaten Isabelle with attack magecraft. But before he could finish chanting, Agatha stepped out from behind her mistress and strode up to him. Huberd stopped chanting. Agatha’s hand, flattened into a chopping shape, was stopped just in front of his throat. He whistled, impressed. “She’s pretty dangerous, huh?” “Agatha doubles as my bodyguard.” Magecraft was powerful, but all you had to do to counter it was strike before your opponent finished chanting. And if you could take out their throat, a mage would be done for. Agatha understood all that and acted accordingly. From behind her fan, Isabelle carefully watched Huberd’s expression. Even with the maid’s hand at his throat, he was grinning. Isabelle was sure—this was a boy who treasured nothing and thus felt no fear. Most threats would be ineffectual. But Isabelle wasn’t about to let that discourage her. In cases like this, she just had to be annoying. A real pain in the butt. “Can you promise me you won’t do anything to disadvantage the Silent Witch?” she asked. “If I refuse, I suppose you’ll drive me out of Serendia Academy, right?” “You must be joking.” Isabelle narrowed her eyes and assumed an icy tone. “I’ll drive you right out of the entire kingdom.” That wasn’t an empty threat. Count Kerbeck could manage it. The expression disappeared from Huberd’s face. His cold gaze said one thing: What a nuisance. Isabelle didn’t flinch. She stared right back at him. She didn’t care if his malice transferred from Monica onto her. In fact, she’d prefer that. She’d made an oath back when the Silent Witch had saved her and her people—that she’d do anything to help her. “I’m prepared to make use of my authority,” Isabelle continued. “If you bring any harm to the Silent Witch, I shall do everything in my power to make your life miserable.” “…Quite the annoying little princess, eh?” “Oh, my! As a villainess, I can think of no greater compliment.” Isabelle flashed him an especially elegant smile. A villainess had to be bold, brazen, and above all, annoying. As Monica tossed and turned in bed, her nose twitched. She could smell herbs and medicine mixed into the cold night air. This wasn’t the smell of her musty attic dorm but of the infirmary.