Chapter 156

Chapter 156
**Chapter 156**

Because of the extreme cold and the snowstorms that arrived daily, she had almost forgotten, but after winter, spring always comes.

It was around that time when, even on the bare branches of the majestic garden of Count Elvester’s mansion, new leaves began to sprout.

Kohella, the great matriarch of the house of Elvester and a figure respected by all its members, had returned to the mansion and was looking for one of her trusted people.

The survivor of the now-vanished Flameheart family, who received the affection of Count Elvester and taught magic to the young Countess Freya, the master.

Katia Flameheart, the mage originally from the Ebelstein mercenaries, was standing in front of an old woman who was clutching a large staff in a corner of the garden.

“Every time I see her, I think the same thing: she is a truly small and humble person, despite the weight her name carries.”

That was how Katia described Kohella.

Everyone in the huge Elvester estate trembled just from being in front of Kohella, but no one had ever seen the old woman display her true power.

Even so, from the aura she emanated, one could feel that she was not an ordinary person, so everyone bowed to her first.

The presence of a 6-star mage was something difficult to describe in words.

Although Kohella only smiled slightly, Katia had an ominous premonition that she could not explain.

“Last time, in the territory of Baron Ravenclaw, I personally saw your disciple. Indeed, a man with a truly magnificent body.”

“Really? I only gave him a few lessons years ago, when he still knew very little about magic. Surely now he is at a very different level.”

“I see. Katia, you said you came from among the Ebelstein mercenaries. Now that you live here, so far away, in the region of Count Elvester, don’t you miss your old home?”

“The place I could truly call home already burned down and disappeared. The tavern streets of Ebelstein were simply a place where I went to earn my bread.”

Katia was an excellent magic instructor.

The young Countess Freya, whom she had instructed, reached the 2-star mage level shortly after completing her initiation ceremony.

Furthermore, Katia was much more than a strict teacher: she was a guide in life.

Sometimes with maternal tenderness, and other times with firmness, she had the capacity to mold her disciple into a more upright person.

It was thanks to Katia that the young Countess Freya, who did not have a shred of seriousness in anything, was venerated as a saint by the people of the territory.

Whenever there was an important event, Katia would roll up her sleeves and help her personally.

Having been the teacher of the young Countess Freya for so many years, Katia had become quite well-known in the social circles of the Eastern continent.

Many heads of noble families tried to hire her as a magic instructor, but, unfortunately, none could offer her better conditions than the Elvester house.

Moreover, trying to snatch the magic instructor from the family that held true power in the Eastern continent required considerable courage.

One way or another, it was evident that Katia would continue living at the house of the Elvesters for quite some time.

“When the weather improves, they say a new magic teaching academy will be established in the Western continent. Given that there have not been talented people who have tried to teach magic so systematically, the society of the southwest is showing great interest.”

“Do you mean the Ravenclaw Academy? Magic is delicate and complex, and it is also highly influenced by lineage. I was wondering if it could really be taught in that way.”

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Katia brought a hand to her chin and remained thoughtful.

“Even so, if it is something that Dereck undertook personally, surely there must be a great purpose behind it.”

“We cannot stand idly by. It would be strange if the magic instructor of the house of Elvester stayed behind in the current topics of magic education.”

“Certainly, I think it would be good to pay attention to this matter.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to see it directly with your own eyes?”

Kohella narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Katia perceived that smile as something ominous.

“In Eastern society, there is no longer any young noblewoman comparable to Freya, so we must broaden her horizons. Taking advantage of the occasion, it would be convenient for you to go and observe the state of the academy’s construction in the Southwestern continent. I myself will give you the authorization.”

“I appreciate… I appreciate the consideration. But I fear neglecting my duties. The Southwestern continent is not a place that can be reached in one or two days by carriage.”

“I have been informed about Freya’s recent state. That girl will also need new stimulation.”

Katia swallowed.

It was true that Freya had quickly reached the 2-star level, but since then, she had shown signs of stagnation.

Her learning capacity was so high that she practically had no rivals of her same age.

If she could interact with Ravenclaw’s disciples, it could be good stimulation, but…

“The disciples that Dereck brings with him have a level and authority that are too high.”

As she exchanged letters with Dereck frequently, Katia knew the internal structure of Ravenclaw well.

She had even heard that one of the girls could use 3-star magic immediately after her coming-of-age ceremony, an achievement so rare that only a few existed in the entire continent.

Instead of stimulating Freya, she feared that it could shatter her confidence.

“I would prefer for the young Countess Freya to remain in the mansion a little longer, focusing on her magical progress…”

Katia swallowed again, with her hands clasped behind her back.

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Seeing the smile on Kohella’s face while she made that proposal, it was impossible for her to think that she could refuse.

She closed her eyes for an instant, thought, and finally nodded.

“Without a doubt, it is a good proposal. However, going to the place where the Ravenclaw Academy is being built also means going to see a former student from many years ago.”

Dereck had already reached the 4-star mage level, surpassing Katia.

Even so, Dereck continued to treat her with the utmost respect as his teacher, because he never forgot the help she gave him when he was nothing more than a mercenary at the very bottom.

“For that reason, instead of sending an official letter from the family, I will personally take charge of the matter.”

Kohella smiled slightly and said she understood.

Katia began to sweat slightly and lowered her head in silence.

***

“Oh…!”

When Dereck was startled, Ellen, who was sitting next to him, was also surprised.

Ellen had been receiving various theories about magic there, in the territory of Baron Ravenclaw, for some time now.

Unlike when she was in the mansion of Count Belmierd, here she did not have to worry too much about her attire or feel that her every move was being watched, so her mind was much more relaxed.

That was why, once the magic classes were over, she had been thinking about spending the night at the Baron’s mansion.

“…?”

Just when she was thinking about how to strike up a conversation with Dereck, she saw that, after reading the letter that the butler Delbriton had brought him, he smiled slightly with evident pleasure.

Since it was not common to see Dereck with such an animated expression, Ellen tilted her head curiously.

“What’s wrong, Dereck?”

“Excuse me. I was distracted for a moment. I just received the notification of the visit of a long-awaited guest.”

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“A long-awaited guest?”

That phrase did nothing but increase Ellen’s curiosity.

Even when young nobles of the highest rank came to visit him, that man of steel always maintained a strictly professional expression.

That he could forget he was in the middle of a magic lesson because of someone like that was extremely unusual.

It was evident that there was a personal feeling involved.

Who could soften his cold expression in that way?

Unable to contain herself, Ellen asked point-blank.

“Who is that person who makes you so happy…?”

“She is the teacher who taught me magic when I was a mercenary.”

“I have heard of that. Katya… Katia Flameheart, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. She is a person from whom one can learn a great deal. Just as I imagined, she has also become famous in the Eastern continent as a magic instructor.”

Due to the huge physical distance between the southwest and the east of the continent, news rarely traveled from one side to the other.

Even so, judging by the degree of mutual knowledge about each other’s situation, it was evident that they exchanged letters frequently.

The fact that a man so busy who barely communicated with anyone except for official matters wrote letters in his own hand regularly showed the close relationship that existed between them.

“Not only does she possess deep knowledge of magic, but also a very wise and deep view of life. At least, I have never regretted following teacher Katia’s advice.”

“D-Dereck… it’s the first time I’ve seen you trust someone so much…”

“There are many stories from the past that I could tell, but there is no point in rambling. The important thing is that both she and I are always busy, so we haven’t had the chance to see each other in person. Just thinking that I will finally be able to see her in person makes me very nervous. There are many things I need to prepare.”

For some reason, Dereck seemed to be speaking more than usual.

He really looked excited at the thought of meeting his former teacher again.

From what Ellen had heard, she was already an older woman, so it didn’t seem like a question of rivalry, but seeing her provoke such an obvious reaction in that imperturbable man made Ellen’s feelings become strangely complicated.

Always surrounded by young women like flowers in full bloom, he had never been seen blushing, and now, just because his teacher was coming to visit, he seemed to have returned to his childhood.

For Ellen, receiving such special treatment from Dereck had great importance.

‘I don’t know much about this mage named Katia, but I had better avoid doing anything that could cause a bad impression.’

Ellen understood situations quickly.

She thought that the best thing was to leave a good impression on Katia, so she held her breath in silence.

That said, she didn’t know how Dereck’s other disciples would react.

***

“— I am already an adult. I can manage on my own.”

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“— It’s been quite a while, Dereck.”

As she got into the carriage, Katia remembered the day she left Dereck behind, in that small hideout in the slums.

Back then, he was nothing more than a small child.

To prevent Katia from worrying about leaving him alone, he clenched his fists tightly and adopted a resolute expression.

That image, so insecure despite his apparent firmness, made it difficult for Katia to take a step forward.

During the trip to the territory of Count Elvester, she looked again and again in the direction of Ebelstein, because the existence of that fragile disciple had lodged in her heart like a thorn.

After arriving at the territory of Count Elvester, she spent very busy days, but even so, every time she received one of Dereck’s letters, she sighed in relief.

As time passed and she continued to receive news of him, she gradually began to leave those worries behind.

Even so, a strange feeling of guilt persisted.

After all, that day she had left him alone.

Although it was not something she could avoid, that weight did not disappear easily.

‘After all this time, I will see such a dear face again. There is no need for me to be so sad.’

Katia leaned back against the carriage seat and broke into a satisfied smile.

“Uuuh… Teacher Katia… if the family has such large and luxurious carriages, why do we have to travel in such an old and small one?”

“— I already explained it to you, Miss Freya. If we were to officially visit the territory of Baron Ravenclaw in the name of the Elvester House, it would be too heavy a burden.”

The carriages of the Elvester House were so huge that one had to stretch their neck to see them completely, so the carriage that Katia had obtained seemed little more than an old, rattling cargo vehicle.

Freya pursed her lips in disgust, but she could not oppose Katia’s decision.

With the help of the servants, she climbed into the carriage, complaining and groaning.

“If we travel all the way to the southwest of the continent in such a bumpy wagon… my waist is going to be shattered!”

“There are moments like that in life. It is good to think of everything as an experience.”

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“Uuuh…”

While she tried to calm the persistent Freya, Katia reviewed the route to the Southwestern continent in her mind.

They would have to pass through the imperial capital in the center, cross the Laurel Plains, pass through the territory of Count Renuel and that of Duke Beltus, and then continue quite a bit further.

‘If we could use Count Elvester’s name, crossing the territories of other nobles would be easy, but since we are traveling for personal reasons, I hope unnecessary problems do not arise.’

She had heard that the nobles of the southwest were exclusive by nature and very stingy regarding passing through their territories.

In particular, it was often said that the ladies of Ebelstein society were extremely determined and resolute, so it would probably be quite an exhausting trip.

‘Since we are heading southwest, we will also pass through Ebelstein. I will be able to observe the atmosphere of its society: will Jayden still be with his business on Tavern Street?’

At that moment, Katia still did not fully understand what it meant to be Dereck’s beloved teacher.

The Elvester house, where she resided, was too far from the southwest of the continent, so it was natural that she was not familiar with the true atmosphere of the place.