Chapter 49: A Declaration from the King

Leonor feared for the end of the school year. It was her last year at the Academy unless she stayed to become a teacher like Quinn, but there weren’t any open places for her.

As the weather warmed up, Leonor knew she would be heading back to Burien Manor soon. She needed to reintroduce herself to noble life and ensure her place as her father’s successor. He had already pestered her plenty for missing so many social obligations.

However, a big part of her didn’t care what the nobility thought of her. Perhaps that was her biggest flaw.

In the years she had been at the Academy, she had been strengthening herself. Her body was strong and she was no longer starving. With her newfound confidence in herself, she feared her father a lot less. He seemed so pathetic compared to when she had no choice but to rely on him.

She hoped that one day in the future she wouldn’t flinch every time he raised his voice or moved too quickly around her. It was certainly wishful thinking.

That day, Leonor didn’t have classes until later in the afternoon so she and Quinn went into a training area to train their mana while they had the freedom.

An explosion rocked the practice yard and the young mage fell to her knees as she gripped her hand and held it to her stomach.

"God dam–"

"My lady!" her mana partner shouted, halting the vulgar language before he or Leonor could get into trouble.

Quinn’s grey eyes darted to the windows of the surrounding buildings, knowing professors were likely looming since the weather was warming. A few of the windows were open, after all.

His attention was back on Leonor and he rushed forward, making sure she wasn’t hurt, though her low pain tolerance made her overreact at times.

"You burnt me," Leonor groaned through clenched teeth. "Give me scars and you’ll make me unmarriable in the eyes of my father."

The grey-haired mage laughed and shook his head. Leonor’s words were said in jest. She expressed before that she had no desire to marry whoever her father set her up with. Since she had come of age, it was always a pressing issue.

"Your advisor for graduation insisted that I not hold back," Quinn reasoned, scratching his head. "If you face a magical monster in the future, you will be ash before you can even hold up a shield."

Leonor stood up suddenly as if her hand had magically gotten better. She held up her arm in front of her and a translucent blue triangle was conjured from within.

"Your boasting of the number one position in your graduating class is exhausting," she snapped. "Throw it once more."

"Your word is my command, number two," the mage quipped.

Before more words could be said, his fingers seemed to follow a particular circle pattern in the air before he conjured up the fiery offensive magic he was known for and he rushed forward, raising his hand as he threw a fireball at her. Leonor’s blue shield was strengthened as she focused.

She had been growing her mana for years. It was no longer exhausting to manipulate her mana and she was a worthy opponent to someone as strong as Quinn.

At the last second, Leonor had to throw her arm to the side and throw the fire off of her rather than absorb or overtake it. He was always just a bit stronger than her. It was maddening because he knew it so well.

Quinn had another quip ready at the tip of his tongue, but he widened his grey eyes when he saw a small black kitten run from one bush to the next.

"Eve!?" Quinn exclaimed. "Your familiar should not be out right now, my lady!"

In an unladylike manner that her father would most likely despise, Leonor flopped to the ground and heaved a heavy sigh. She ran her fingers through her black hair,

"I know," she muttered. "She has a mind of her own."

Quinn let out a "tsk" and studied the young woman who was pointedly avoiding his eyes. She would be far superior to him if she sent all of her mana into one task the way she was supposed to. It was an ongoing issue Leonor had experienced through her time at the Academy.

"Eve, come out!" Quinn shouted.

The black kitten ran forward so she could hide behind Leonor. As the fluffy cat ran, she changed from a kitten to a larger fluffy black cat as Leonor used less mana and returned it to her familiar. She peered from behind her master and her eyes widened at Quinn. She felt however her master did. At that moment, Leonor was annoyed at the man in front of them.

"Don’t punish her for my shortcomings," Leonor requested with a small smile.

Quinn’s frustrations reached a head.

"I’m not upset with her!" he insisted. "I’m irritated that she’s the only thing keeping you from excelling further than me!"

Leonor fondly pressed her finger into the locket against her upper chest. It was part of the reason for her lack of focus. She was becoming paranoid that the lilac was starting to wilt quicker than before. Multiple times a day she pushed what small amount of healing mana she had available into the locket.

"It’s more complicated than not being able to put my familiar away, Quinn," she responded quietly.

Quinn calmed himself down. It wasn’t the first time he and Leonor had that exact argument. He thought she was selling herself short.

Knowing Leonor didn’t like being pestered, deciding to be more diplomatic, he offered her his hand and helped her to her feet.

The moment Leonor was on her feet and brushing her riding pants off, a horn went off outside of the campus and the two mages exchanged looks of confusion.

"An announcement?" Leonor asked.

"Whatever it is, it seems worth our attention," Quinn said. "Let’s make haste."

They ran out of the training grounds and towards the main road leading to the front of the campus. However, they weren’t the first to take off in that direction. Many were gathered in front of the Academy where three roads met and gave them the largest amount of space.

In the middle where carriages normally drove a man was standing on a riser. As he raised his hand, the large crowd quieted down.

"From the mouth of His Majesty, King Stephano the Third, the northern war in Letum is over," he shouted in a loud voice that carried far considering the expanse of people. There was a murmur, but the man wasn’t finished. He waited for the audience to quiet down before he continued. "In three days, the soldiers will return to Coeurvalle. His Majesty has invited every subject of the Castillian Empire to bear witness to the heroes."

Leonor gasped and she turned to Quinn. Despite his qualms of being touched, she couldn’t help grabbing the front of his robes.

"I don’t care about anything else," she blurted out breathlessly. "I’m going to the capital. Whether you go with me or not, I have to go."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read