The atmosphere was tense. lina could almost see the sparks flying between Alistair and Count Speziale as the two n stared each other down. Alistair kept a firm hand on lina's shoulder, which in turn seed to annoy the Count. lina found this kind of display a bit childish. She just wanted to secure the deal for those Monster Realm ingredients and get this whole thing done and finished.
Auden began the discussion, "lina, would you—"
"Miss lina," Alistair corrected.
"Excuse ?" Count blinked.
"Address her properly as "Miss lina". She is an unmarried woman. People might misunderstand if you address her so casually," he clarified, a smile on his face. But the smile definitely didn't reach his eyes, which were staring at Auden coldly.
"I believe we are close enough friends at this point to address each other by na, isn't that right, lina? She agreed to it herself," Auden pointed out.
"It is because you requested to do so," lina said. As a commoner, she didn't really have the right to refuse a request from a count.
As an [Archmage], she would sotis forego noble etiquette, but she couldn't do it so easily now. She had no political influence, and if a noble would decide to hold her accountable, it would bring trouble not just to her, but to everyone around her—Gilbert, Adrien, Roxie, and perhaps even Sunglow as a whole.
However, seeing that Alistair was ready to start a fight over this simple matter, lina decided that it would be wiser to drop the issue and instead get to the at of the discussion.
"But it doesn't really matter. We're here to talk about the contract, aren't we?" lina said.
"Indeed, we are. So tell your thoughts. Are you ready to sign?" Count Speziale said.
"I'm afraid not. This contract contains many clauses that are not favorable to lina," Alistair interjected.
Then the two n went on lengthy discussions about the contract clauses. lina mostly listened, trying to understand exactly what each clause alluded to. Alistair had explained a lot the previous day, but Count Speziale had his own explanation as to why a specific clause was needed.
In the end, lina chose to trust Alistair. He only had her best interest in mind, while Auden clearly was trying to maximize his profits. The discussion over clauses got so heated that lina believed that they wouldn't be able to sign anything. Auden wasn't willing to back down and adjust the contract in many cases, while Alistair insisted that signing it in its current state was out of the question.
When it was clear that the two n were at a stalemate, lina decided that it was ti for her to intervene. She knew that the Count wanted to secure her partnership—he'd organized a whole competition for that very reason. This ant that he was unlikely to let her go. She could use that as leverage.
lina activated and woefully put her hands against her cheek, like she'd seen many noble ladies do. "My, what a difficult situation. It appears we cannot co to an agreent. I was hoping that we could work together, but perhaps it might be easier for us to acquire the Monster Realm ingredients ourselves."
"lina, there is nobody else in Alemahria who has steady access to Monster Realm ingredients," Count Speziale smiled, likely thinking that he had talked them into a corner.
"Yes, that's why it would be very regretful if we couldn't co to an agreent. We'll need to venture into the Monster Realm ourselves. Perhaps we can search for partners in Su Xien. I hear their country is quite progressive in this regard," lina taunted while making an innocent face.
"Yourselves? lina, I assure you that venturing into the Monster Realm is not a simple task. Not to ntion that you would need access to one of the passageways," Auden objected, appearing rather calm. But lina could feel that she had shaken him, if only a little.
"There is a passageway near Sunglow, so it's not impossible," Alistair stated.
For a brief mont, Auden's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't known that. lina felt that this was the right mont to finish him off.
"I didn't want to use my spare ti to head into the passageway, but I'm sure that together with Sienna and Mango, I could manage," lina said, pointing at her familiars.
Mango was amusing herself by levitating a spoon in circles. Sienna, who had been observing the exchange from lina's shoulder, let out an approving chitter.
"T-There's no need for rash actions. I'm sure we can adjust the clauses to fit your needs," the Count said, and pointed towards one of the clauses he was unwilling to change before.
After that, the talks proceeded smoothly. Auden and Alistair were able to agree on clauses, and lina signed the contract. Alistair even managed to reduce the percentage Auden would own from 20% to 15%.
lina was just happy that she would be able to get her hands on a wide variety of new Monster Realm ingredients. All she could do was read over the list and imagine what she could make from the ingredients. She had used so in a potion, but how would they interact with pastries? She'd have to set aside so ti for experintation.
"Thank you very much for this discussion. You can expect the first shipnt of ingredients by the end of next week," Count said, getting up from his seat.
"I'll be eagerly waiting for it," lina said with a smile, reaching out to shake his hand.
But just like before, Auden kissed her fingertips instead, earning a dissatisfied growl from Alistair. "Rember, lina. If Sunglow begins to feel too small, then you're always welco in Tuvia."
"I can't abandon my grandfather and my employees here," lina said, pulling her hand back.
"I'd be willing to arrange for them to co with you," he said with a smile, his gaze travelling to her left hand. "It's not like you are tied down to anything here besides that."
Is he referring to the fact that I don't have an engagent ring?
lina hid her hand, feeling uncomfortable. She couldn't beco Alistair's fiancée at the current ti. Not with how things were at the mont. She hadn't built enough of a reputation to be worthy of him—Duke Sinclair would never approve. She feared knowing what he would say if he knew that lina was living under the sa roof as him.
"I believe changing living accommodations so often would be too stressful for lina," Alistair said with a forced smile, leading Auden towards the door. "Thank you so much for visiting, but she needs to rest now. lina always wakes up very early in the morning."
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"Of course, of course. I understand," the Count replied. "But rember, lina. If you need my help, just send a letter. And there's no need to send it through Sinclair's na. I'll make sure all of your letters are accepted."
"Thank you," lina said with a polite smile, but she felt Alistair next to her was likely seething. Auden probably didn't see the signs—the gentle trembling of his hand, the overly polite but forced smile, and the cold stare that might be mistaken as friendly if you didn't know him well. But lina knew him, and she knew that a bit more, and he just might lose his temper. "I'll be expecting that shipnt."
Auden bowed and then finally left. lina closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. "That's over at least."
Alistair didn't seem to share her sense of relief. Instead, he was glaring at the door as if his anger could sohow pierce through it and reach Count Speziale.
"lina," he suddenly turned towards her, grabbing both of her hands in his. "I'm going to have to leave for Fenrora for a bit."
"Why all of a sudden?" She blinked in surprise.
"It's ti I faced my father properly. Not to ntion that he needs to know about everything that happened in Sunglow. About Adrien and Church and the Monster Lord," he said.
"Are you going to try to convince us to join our cause?"
"Yes. Although I'm not sure if the current events are enough to convince him. If only we had so proof of what the Church is going to do." He clicked his tongue in frustration.
"What about the spy docunts?" lina suggested.
"I don't think that's enough. If only I could tell him everything I know. I'm sure if he knew the disaster that the Church is trying to cause, he would try to stop them."
"Then tell him."
Alistair looked at her in shock. "Tell him? You an about… everything?"
"He's your father, right? If he's not going to understand, then who will?" lina said. She had the impression that the Duke's heart was in the right place, even if he was sowhat rough on the outside.
"You will, I imagine," Alistair said, gently brushing lina's cheek. "Just wait for for a bit longer."
"Wait for what? You're already here," lina cocked her head quizzically.
"You'll see," he smiled brilliantly, and pulled her into a hug.
She could sense that the eting with the Count had shaken him, but she didn't understand why. Was it all because she had t with him alone? If she had known that it would bother him so much, she never would have done it. But hopefully now that the Count was gone, he'd be able to calm down over the matter.
It was Sunday, which ant another intensive day of magic learning. Leon had arrived at the bakery early in the morning, eager to show his progress. It was honestly impressive. The mage was making leaps and strides in understanding the flow of mana and how to control it.
He demonstrated his fireball spells, and lina could instantly see the difference. Hardly any mana was being wasted, which ant that he could make much more powerful fireballs. There was still room for improvent, but it was much better than a month ago.
lina gave him special exercise for finer mana control—naly, burning holes of specific size into paper. It was a tricky exercise since the paper burned so easily. One had to control mana perfectly to burn the exact necessary spot and not have the fire spread to the rest of the paper. It was an annoying exercise usually given to those at a more advanced level.
But lina had a feeling that Leon would be able to do it. He had the grit and determination to see things through. He'd be able to do it eventually, and even if he didn't, his mana control skills would improve dramatically.
Adrien, on the other hand, wasn't progressing much at all. He could levitate the rock occasionally for a brief mont, but most of the ti it ended with him overpouring his mana and causing the rock to explode. Which ant that lina had to intervene and stop the explosion.
Little mango was running in circles around them, levitating a whole flurry of rocks. Sienna chased after her, both familiars playing and enjoying the warm weather.
"I don't get it!" Adrien huffed in annoyance, kicking the rock into the bushes.
"You're trying too hard. You need to relax your grip on mana. Let it flow more freely rather than trying to restrain it so hard," lina said calmly.
"I AM letting it flow! But there's too much. I think. It just seems to do whatever it wants," he huffed, sitting down in the grass.
lina thought about it. She didn't quite get why he was struggling so much. He certainly hadn't had any problems with mana control in the Church. Maybe the problem was that he was still too young and his mana too unstable. His being frustrated wasn't helping either—magic was often influenced by one's emotions.
"Why don't you take a short break, then we'll try the ditation thod again?" She suggested.
"Sure…" he muttered, slinking inside the bakery.
lina thought she should talk to him so more, but this day she had another student to take care of. Leliana had joined their magic class at the suggestion of Elowen. The elf was trying to teach her how to levitate the rock, but the redhead hadn't had any luck so far.
By lina's estimates, Leliana had a dium amount of mana. Not enough for her to beco a battlemage like Leon, however, she certainly had enough to learn to apply magic in her daily life. Her main goal was to learn how to imbue plants with mana, and for that, she needed to learn how to control it. Not to the sa degree as Leon and Adrien, but enough so she could at least sense how much she's pouring into the plant.
"Are you sure that this is correct? How can staring at a rock make it fly?" Leliana asked lina suspiciously.
"It's not the staring that levitates the rock. It's you guiding your mana to it and then lifting it. Much like you would with your hand," lina explained. "Besides, Mango can do it."
The fox was swirling the rocks in a circle around its head, making them appear as a rocky halo of sorts. Little rascal had such precise control that even lina was envious. So creatures were just born with it.
"Still, I don't know how this mana thing is supposed to feel like," Leliana huffed.
"It's like I showed you the other day, rember?" Elowen said and touched Leliana's hand.
She flinched a little, and lina deduced that Elowen must have guided a bit of his mana into her hand so she'd feel it better.
"Oh, right… That did happen," she said sowhat sheepishly, Leliana's cheeks nearly matching the color of her hair.
"Do you think you can find a similar feeling within yourself and try to guide it to the rock?" lina prompted.
"I can certainly try," Leliana said, but didn't sound very confident. Nonetheless, she did her best, and lina did notice the mana within her body stir. A little.
"When did you show her your mana?" lina asked Elowen conspiratorially.
"When we were trying to grow feyfruit. They need mana to thrive," the elf replied.
"That they do," lina nodded. For a mont, they observed the scene quietly.
Then Elowen cleared his throat and whispered. "I saw a vision. Of what happened to Sunglow."
lina barely managed to contain her expression. She had been hoping that Elowen would rember. Her heart rate increased. "What did you see?"
"It was Leliana's recounting of events. She said that everything happened suddenly. One mont, Sunglow was peaceful, and the next it was replaced with a completely foreign scenery."
lina exhaled a sigh of relief. "So the problem was the passageway after all."
"Yes. We don't have to worry about that. But she did say sothing else concerning," the elf continued.
"What?"
"The Church arrived soon after everything happened, but they refused to help the survivors."
"How soon after did they arrive?" She asked.
"I'm not certain, but from my understanding, they arrived on their own and very soon."
That was concerning. If the passageway had gone berserk, then there wouldn't be any proper communication channels left. How could anyone deliver the news of the disaster quickly? It was almost as if they knew the disaster would happen, yet still chose to let it happen. Not to ntion that they refused to help those who remained. Had their goal been to get rid of Sunglow from the very get-go?
But if that was true and this whole plan failed in this tiline, then what would they try to do this ti? Especially after lina, Alistair, and Elowen had captured their spy.
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