Chapter 95: Pre-Tournant
She had never imagined that beyond this beam of light, there existed such bright, dazzling individuals, seemingly possessing the whole world, who could so easily approach her master and give him so many things she couldn’t—resources, intelligence, precious weapons, and even the posture of an equal ally.
And what about her? She was just a small, clumsy maid, who could only diligently clean rooms, learn how to read, and try to cast a weak light orb. There was nothing more she could do.
She didn’t even know who that princess was, needing her master to introduce her.
The imnse sense of disparity overwheld her like cold waves, and she instinctively lowered her head even further, almost burying it into her chest, her fingers unconsciously clutching her clothing as if doing so could shrink her into a shell no one could see.
Ryan reached the door of Room 207, took out his key, and opened the door.
The room was dim, with only the last sliver of daylight coming through the window. He carefully placed the wooden box containing the sword beside the low cabinet near the door, emitting a soft thud. Then, as a habit, he moved toward the desk, intending to light the mana crystal lamp and browse so more materials.
At that mont, he felt sothing soft gently bump into his back.
He paused, surprised, and turned around.
Cosette was standing very close behind him, almost pressed up against his back.
She seed to have completely missed the fact that he had stopped, still holding her head down as she walked forward. Her forehead lightly brushed against his shoulder blade. Only when Ryan turned around to look at her did she suddenly lift her head in alarm, her hazel eyes flashing with a trace of panic and unshed tears she couldn’t hide.
"What's wrong?" Ryan asked, sowhat puzzled.
Since the restaurant, the little maid seed a bit off.
Cosette quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, her hands nervously wringing together, her lips pressed together tightly, but no words ca out.
Ryan watched her for a mont, then recalled sothing.
Could it be... was the food not to her taste? He had specifically ordered two decent-looking desserts...
“Did... the food not suit your taste?” he asked, testing her.
Cosette shook her head vigorously, a few brown strands of hair swaying with the motion.
She still didn’t speak, only staring at her own shoes, her shoulders slightly hunched, as if she wanted to disappear.
Ryan frowned slightly, reaching out to feel her forehead. The temperature was normal, with no signs of fever.
“Not feeling well?” He withdrew his hand, looking at her clearly dejected expression. After a mont, he added, "If you're feeling unwell, you should rest early tonight. No need to wait for , I can study on my own."
Usually, Cosette would wait for him to finish studying and prepare for bed before she went to her own room to rest.
Cosette finally reacted. She lifted her eyes and quickly glanced at Ryan. Her gaze was complicated, but it quickly lowered again.
She nodded slightly, letting out a barely audible "Mm," then turned around, her steps a bit unsteady as she walked toward her small door. She gently pushed it open, walked in, and silently closed the door behind her.
Ryan stood still, staring at the closed door, a faint sense of confusion passing through his mind.
The little maid was certainly acting strange today, but he couldn’t figure out why. Was she just tired? Or did she have so private feelings she wasn’t comfortable sharing?
He shook his head, not dwelling on it further. There were more important things to focus on. He turned and lit the mana crystal lamp, its warm yellow glow dispelling the dimness in the room.
His gaze fell on the wooden box containing the sword, then shifted to the forest map and notes spread out on the desk.
In the small room on the other side of the wall, Cosette did not turn on a light. Instead, she sat in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees, burying her face deep into them.
In the dark, the tight, suffocating feeling in her chest hadn’t subsided; in fact, it spread even further with the silence.
The dim light from the street lamps outside filtered through the curtains, casting a pale, narrow beam of light on the floor.
She stared at that beam, the first ti fully realizing how vast and unsettling the world her master inhabited truly was, far beyond what she had ever imagined.
Her emotions, which she couldn’t even na, slowly began to crack open in the dark, like a seed buried deep in the soil, splitting just a tiny bit without anyone noticing.
She thought back to the cold and pain in the alley, to the silver coin and warm hand her master had given her, to the stable life she had slowly built over the past few months, one where she had even started learning magic.
Her master was the only light and support in her dull world, the one she cherished and held close with all her heart.
---
The morning mist settled like silver smoke, tinting the outer edge of the Whispering Forest in a hazy gray. Dew droplets clung to every grass blade, refracting the faint light of the sky that had yet to break through the clouds.
On the clearing near the forest entrance, figures began to gather.
The third-year students arrived one after another, each finding a spot to check their bags, tighten their bracers, or quietly exchange guesses and unease about the upcoming assessnt.
Nearly everyone noticed the team standing apart from them—about twenty people, in dark red uniforms with intricate silver patterns on the cuffs, their expressions calm, completely out of place in the tense atmosphere.
“Those people... are from the interdiate departnt, right?” A brown-haired boy was struggling to stuff his overlong gaiters into his boots but couldn’t help glancing over at them, his tone uncertain.
“Yeah, looks like it. What are they here for? To observe?” His companion, who was adjusting his backpack straps, frowned. “I haven’t heard of any observation groups for the assessnt, and... they don’t look like they’re just here to watch.”
Whispers spread among the third-year students like a breeze through the grass.
Many of them stopped what they were doing, sizing up the senior students, who clearly had better equipnt and appeared much more at ease.
The interdiate departnt students seed oblivious to the attention, either ditating or speaking briefly in low voices. Occasionally, they glanced toward the third-year students, but their expressions were calm, even indifferent, as if the commotion around them didn’t concern them at all.
Then, a light cough broke the stillness, like a rock sinking into the stream.
On the stone platform, Minister Morris stood, his black robe flowing slightly in the cool morning breeze. His hands were clasped within his sleeves, and his gaze was calm yet authoritative as it swept over the crowd. The whispers died down almost instantly, but many young faces still showed confusion.
"Everyone," Morris began, his voice not loud, yet piercing through the chilly air with clarity, "It seems that everyone is ready, good. Before we set off, please allow to go over the details of this survival training once more."
A reassuring smile appeared on his lips, and he paused, slightly turning to gesture toward the group in red uniforms.
"First, let introduce—twenty-three students from the interdiate departnt, who will also join you in the Whispering Forest for this training."
With his words, a brief silence followed, and then, an eruption of suppressed exclamations ca from the third-year crowd!
“What? They’re joining us?”
“Together with us? This... this isn’t according to the rules!”
“They’ve been studying for over a year more than us! How can this be fair?”
Surprise, confusion, and even anger rippled through the students.
They now understood why the interdiate students were here, but the answer only made it harder for them to accept.
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