The Duke rose from his seat and left the dining hall, followed by his knights. Isabella and Wolfram stayed with us. Wolfram took a step towards me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Lord Haruki, I am impressed by what you have shown so far. But be cautious. The power of a Holy Blessing can also awaken envy and greed. You must be vigilant and protect yourself from those who may seek to exploit your abilities". His words reminded me that not everyone in the estate would welcome or accept my gift. It was important to use my powers wisely and discern the true intentions of the people around me.
Wolfram accompanied us to the spacious terrace while Isabella headed towards the kitchen to prepare a new lunch for us. The snow-covered garden stretched out before us, with only a few bushes and trees suggesting. Yet, the sight of the sun casting its warm light on the glittering snow of the serene landscape was enchantingly beautiful, and the air felt refreshing and pure. On the terrace, a few empty flower pots rested, while in the center stood a small round metal table surrounded by two snow-covered metal chairs. It seemed that this place rarely received visitors.
Wolfram approached the table with determination and conjured his magic, causing flames to engulf both the table and the chairs. Within seconds, the snow completely evaporated. "You may take a seat now," he invited us, adjusting the chairs with a skilled gesture. It was the first time I had witnessed someone using magic, and my surprised gaze did not go unnoticed. Wolfram added, "I possess some fire magic, but it is in no way comparable to yours or the Duke's magic." As I settled into the chair, I still felt the pleasant warmth emanating from it. "I can also use a bit of magic," Ryota announced somewhat enviously. "It's truly impressive that you already possess the art of magic at your age," I praised him sincerely. Before I could ask further questions about specific types of magic, Sophie and Isabella arrived on the terrace with the long-awaited meal.
A modest meal of goulash and bread was served, accompanied by plain water. It might have been simple for nobles, but the meal was lovingly prepared. I reminded myself to exercise some restraint. I should pay more attention to my manners and not eat so hastily, especially in the presence of Ryota or other nobles. With the spoon, I carefully took a bite of the goulash and couldn't help but exclaim, "Mmm, delicious!" Ryota looked at me and smiled before taking a spoonful himself. Hardly had I noticed, my plate was already empty.
While Isabella and Sophie were busy clearing everything, Wolfram suggested that we continue our tour of the garden and enjoy tea with cookies in the greenhouse as a finale. Obviously, they wanted to prevent us from witnessing the incidents within the estate. So, we ventured outside and strolled through the wintry garden. I hadn't seen so much snow since my childhood in my previous life. At Ryota's age, I had loved playing in the snow. "Oh, shall we build a snowman?" I asked excitedly. Ryota looked questioningly at Wolfram, who shrugged slightly before Ryota turned his gaze back to me. "A snowman?" They seemed unfamiliar with the concept of a snowman. "I'll show you how it's done!" I replied eagerly.
We began forming snowballs and stacking them on top of each other. While we were engrossed in the task, a servant approached Wolfram and whispered something that I couldn't hear. Wolfram explained that he needed to leave for a moment but would return soon. We nodded in agreement, and I continued working on the snowman. "So, this is a snowman," Ryota said, delighted but also a bit skeptical. "Not quite yet. We still need branches for the arms and stones for the eyes and mouth," I explained, pointing to the respective spots.
We split up to gather the items. I headed towards some bushes and trees to find suitable sticks. The gentle rustling of leaves and the crunching of snow beneath my feet accompanied me. Suddenly, I heard a menacing sound coming from the bushes. As I cautiously approached, the noise grew into a deep growl. My heart started pounding as I realized something dangerous was approaching me.
And then, out of nowhere, it leaped forward—a terrible monster. It had the appearance of a wolf, but its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its teeth resembled those of a shark. A shiver ran down my spine as I took in its form. I knew I couldn't escape. Panic surged within me, but I had to keep a clear head. Ryota was right behind me, and I had to protect him. "Ryota, stay back!" I called out with a trembling voice, positioning myself between him and the monster. I didn't know how I would manage to distract the monster and buy time, but I would do my best.
The monster was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, I saw its powerful jaws lunging at me. But suddenly, I felt warm liquid on my face. Blood had spread across my robe. Had the monster already bitten me? Confused, I searched for pain, but surprisingly, I felt none. It was hard to believe. What had happened? I turned around to check on Ryota, and he, too, was covered in blood. Fear and confusion marked his face. My heart ached at the sight. Without hesitation, I went down on my knees and took Ryota into my arms. "Are you hurt?" I asked, concerned. I used my healing magic to treat both of us and clean the blood.
It was only then that I noticed the lifeless monster lying a few meters behind Ryota. It had been defeated, but how? Sophie and Isabella stood in the distance, their faces filled with horror, calling out for the knights. I tried to comprehend the events, but everything had happened so quickly. Ryota clung to my arm, his eyes empty as he muttered, "I'm not a monster." I held him tightly and smiled at him. "Everything is okay, Ryota. You protected us," I said gently. Surprise and relief now reflected in his face. I didn't know exactly how it had happened, but I was certain that Ryota had mysteriously defeated the monster.
I carried Ryota all the way back to the estate, ignoring his words of resistance with a smile. "Am I too heavy?" he asked, feeling embarrassed. "Even though I'm not particularly strong, I can easily carry a lightweight like you," I replied proudly. It was true; my physical condition wasn't the best, but I was determined to support Ryota. Once we reached the interior of the estate, I set him down gently. Outside, the knights attended to the monster's carcass, while Isabella and Sophie silently followed us. Wolfram approached us with a troubled expression, revealing his concern. "Are you both alright?" he asked. "We're fine," I answered, keeping my gaze fixed on Ryota. He still seemed somewhat tense. "I'm incredibly sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone. It's solely my fault," Wolfram apologized. The atmosphere in the estate was now even more tense than before. After the poisoning incident and the monster attack, a heavy atmosphere weighed upon us.
Ryota led me through the expansive corridors of the estate. I could feel the tension in the air, and the faces of the servants and knights were marked with concern. Nevertheless, I tried to calm Ryota and put a smile on my face. I reached for Ryota's hand and asked him, "Could you show me something else? Is there perhaps a library here?" He looked at me surprised, but then he answered, "Yes, we have a library. There's a large one on the second floor, and my brother... the Duke has a private library in his study, but I can't show it to you without his permission." With curious eyes and full of anticipation, we walked along the path towards the library.
Finally, we reached the library. As the heavy door swung open, a room full of stories and knowledge unveiled before us. The gentle light streaming through the tall windows made the dust in the air shimmer, giving the library a mysterious aura. The shelves stretched to the ceiling and were filled to the brim with books of various sizes and ages. One could almost sense the scent of past knowledge and adventures lingering in the air.
Ryota guided me to one of the tables covered in old leather-bound books. I carefully picked up one of the books and blew the dust off its pages. The words written on them seemed to reveal a hidden world full of stories, mysteries, and knowledge. It was a feeling of awe that filled me as I turned the pages and allowed myself to be enchanted by the lines.
"Forgive me, Mr. Hikaru! Perhaps you should let us clean the room first, and you can come back another time," Wolfram apologized awkwardly. His face blushed slightly, and his droopy ears gave him a charming appearance. I, too, couldn't help but blush slightly and averted my gaze from him. I put the book back and closed my eyes. A bright glow filled the room, and when I opened my eyes again, everything was renewed. No trace of dust remained; the old shelves, tables, and books shone with new splendor. The air smelled fresh and no longer musty and old. The room seemed to glow. The others stared at me in astonishment.
"Now you don't have to worry anymore," I said to Wolfram with a smile. Then I turned to Ryota and asked, "Can you read already?" Ryota seemed slightly annoyed and replied, "Of course I can read! I can even read difficult books!" He grabbed a thick book and began reading it. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight. I turned back to the books myself.
"Are there any books on alchemy here?" I asked Wolfram. He seemed to ponder for a moment and then went to a shelf, from which he retrieved an old book on alchemy and handed it to me. He apologized once again, saying, "I'm afraid this is the only book on alchemy in this library." Gratefully, I accepted the book and sat opposite Ryota. I began to read, hoping to learn more about alchemy, but unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Frustrated, I closed the book and looked around the shelves.
Suddenly, I noticed the nature spirits drawing my attention to a book. Curiously, I went over and took it out. It was a book about potions. However, before I could take a glimpse inside, Isabella and Sophie brought us tea and cookies, placing them gently on the table. The aroma of fresh tea mixed with the scent of the old books, and I couldn't resist taking a deep breath and savoring the fragrance.
Ryota seemed fascinated by the books but also a little uncertain. "It's been a while since I was last here," he said softly. "The library was always the place where I found peace and solace. I could immerse myself in the stories and escape from reality for a moment."
I smiled encouragingly at him. "I understand how you feel. Books have a special magic. They open up new worlds for us, transport us to fascinating places, and help us find new friends."
Ryota nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that's true."
And so, we stayed in the library, immersed in a world of books and dreams, while outside, the sun slowly set, and the scent of tea and adventure filled our senses.
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