Chapter 11: Morning Lessons and Hidden Struggles

He shoved the watch directly into his spatial pocket.

“Forget all the study methods you’ve been using so far. From today, I will teach you new ones.”

“…Why did you take my watch?”

“It means not to be pressured by time. You don’t need to feel rushed at all, my lady.”

“But then you can’t keep track of time normally.”

“It’s okay. I’ll always be by your side. Just ask me whenever you need.”

“Uhmm.”

Elin, letting out a small sigh, slowly nodded.

“So, you’re going to teach me magic starting today?”

“Yes. But first, let’s go outside.”

“Why?”

“The weather is lovely.”

Elin’s legs had also improved.

The weather was clear and sunny.

I couldn’t have her stay cooped up in the room reading books on such a day.

Luke immediately opened a portal to the garden.

“If you come out recklessly, you’ll get scolded.”

Elin, who had come out to the garden unexpectedly, hushed her voice.

“It’s okay. I’ll take responsibility.”

Just as I was about to let it go as usual,

Elin grabbed Luke’s sleeve.

“That responsibility… how do you plan to take it?”

Elin, with her small lips pursed, continued.

“If you’re trying to leave responsibly….”

“There’s no way I would do that.”

No need to worry unnecessarily.

“I’m your tutor, my lady. How could I ever leave you?”

“The people before me disappeared quickly.”

“Were they all like me?”

“Huh?”

“Did they all promise never to leave your side, swearing on their fingers?”

Elin looked down at his outstretched finger,

then shook her head.

“I would never do that. Unless you push me away first.”

• “I believe you.”

The strength drained from Luke’s grasp on her sleeve.

It felt like just yesterday we were on guard.

No, it was actually just yesterday.

Now, she was anxious that Luke might leave.

But where would he go?

I’d never leave until I see her happy.

Clap!

I patted my hands to lighten the mood.

“Now, let’s begin the lessons in earnest.”

Elin still wore a blank expression, but her ponytail was vigorously swaying.

It was safe to assume she was enthusiastic.

“Before I teach you magic, what do you think magic is, my lady?”

“Using mana to control nature as I wish.”

Perhaps because she had looked at a specialized textbook,

she gave a mechanical answer.

“The dictionary definition is correct. What you described is, for example, like this.”

Snap.

As Luke snapped his fingers, fire ignited in his opposite hand.

“Summoning nature in exchange for mana.”

Snap, snap.

Each time he snapped his fingers, the fire transformed into ice and electricity.

“But that’s not all.”

Clap.

As he clasped his hands together, a spatial pocket opened.

The watch he had removed earlier appeared in his hand.

“Opening another dimension isn’t part of nature.

So, here’s the problem: how do I use spatial magic?”

“Uhmm.”

Elin, twirling a strand of her hair, tilted her head.

Her ponytail fluttered gently.

She seemed to try to figure out the answer on her own but ended up shaking her head.

“I don’t know.”

“That’s understandable. Spatial magic and curse magic are spells that even scholars debate about.”

There aren’t many wizards specializing in spatial magic.

Natia coveted Luke’s grimoire, and Raniyan’s suggestion to build a magic tower wasn’t just idle talk.

“I’ll give you the correct answer. Magic isn’t about controlling nature.”

And right now,

Luke was trying to teach Elin his own magic without any compensation.

“Controlling mana in the direction you want.”

There’s a significant difference between handling mana and controlling nature.

It’s like the difference between drawing something purely from imagination versus tracing over a physical object.

The former is difficult but has limitless possibilities.

The latter is relatively easy but has clear limitations.

“Therefore, I have only one thing to teach you.”

Snap.

A blue mana wave scattered into the void.

Luke skillfully gathered the mana wave and placed it on his palm.

“When you concentrate like this.”

The swirling mana compressed into a small sphere.

The gathered mana orb remained stable on his hand.

“Pulling out and transforming as much mana as you want. If you can do just this, other magic is a piece of cake.”

Elin, watching the mana orb spin, tilted her head in confusion.

“…How do I do that?”

“You said you couldn’t use magic at all, my lady.”

Nodding,

“Because you haven’t grasped the feeling yet.

Would you like to try holding this mana sphere?”

He tossed the orb he was holding.

Elin hesitated, then caught it with both hands.

“The shape hasn’t distorted at all. Amazing.”

Clap, clap, clap.

The sound of applause echoed in the garden.

Elin blinked.

She had just caught the thrown orb, yet she was being praised as if she did something extraordinary.

“Maintaining a mana sphere collected by someone else is nearly impossible.

But you managed it effortlessly, my lady.”

Elin isn’t lacking in talent.

In fact, her ability to handle mana might even surpass Luke’s.

Luke was genuinely impressed.

“Lady Elin, could you create a flame spell with that mana?”

“…I’ll try.”

Elin closed her eyes and recited a simple first-circle spell.

Push—

“Ah.”

The mana sphere vanished into thin air.

That was the problem.

She clearly had inherent abilities with mana, but couldn’t progress beyond that.

Why was that?

This was a question that hadn’t been resolved even after nine sessions.

Not being able to use magic because she didn’t know the reason wasn’t entirely accurate, but…

“It always happens like this. I did it exactly as I learned.”

Elin, looking like wilted vegetables, drooped slightly.

Her already small stature seemed to shrink even more.

“Who taught you, my lady?”

“Mother.”

“Oh, I see.

It seems the duchess doesn’t have the ability to teach.”

Elin’s eyes became enigmatic.

Ah, perhaps that was a comment that could be taken as derogatory.

But thinking about how Natia treated Elin as a tool,

I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“As I said, you will forget everything you’ve learned so far.”

“Do you mean to start over from the beginning?”

“Exactly. Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

He extended both hands to Elin.

“Would you place your hands on my palm?”

Elin lifted her small, messy hands.

This needed separate treatment.

“I will release your mana. Please remember the sensation well.”

“…”

“Okay.”

“Don’t open your mouth in case something goes wrong.”

“…Hah.”

“You can relax now.”

Her breathing steadied.

“Hoo.”

Elin’s breathing resumed after a brief pause.

“Close your eyes and focus on the sensations.”

Elin closed her eyes.

Luke slowly created a mana sphere.

Unlike before, the sphere formed on his small palm.

“…!”

Her ponytail stiffened slightly.

“Do you feel it? What mana is like.”

Nodding repeatedly.

“Now, please open your eyes.”

Elin slowly opened her eyes.

‘…Ah.’

She took a short breath.

A small mana sphere was spinning on Elin’s palm.

There was no hand underneath Luke’s.

Perhaps her concentration faltered because of that.

The mana’s shape quickly distorted.

“As expected, I do have an eye for this.”

“……?”

“You have talent, my lady.”

Elin’s eyes widened.

She had never heard such words in her life.

“You maintained the mana sphere on your own. That’s not something anyone can do.”

What I did just now was nothing.

It’s like holding a bicycle from behind and then secretly letting go.

Elin firmly believed Luke was helping her, but

in reality, she was moving forward with her own strength.

“Can you try doing it alone?”

“…”

• “I’ll try.”

And just like a child learning to ride a bicycle on their own becomes interested,

with added praise, even more so.

Elin, with her small mouth slightly open, concentrated on the mana.

The mana swirled as before but never formed into a perfect sphere.

That was normal.

Even if she could ride a bike alone, she wouldn’t get used to it immediately.

“You don’t have to overexert yourself.

Just doing this slowly every day will help you grow quickly.”

Swoosh, swoosh.

Poke.

She gently stroked her hair.

Perhaps because she was concentrating.

Elin no longer trembled even if Luke’s hand touched her.

“Isn’t this fun?” “How is it?”

“Yeah, fun……”

“Ugh.”

Elin, who had been lifting her lips in a smile, staggered.

“Lady Elin?”

Luke caught Elin as she collapsed.

Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth.

“Lady Elin! What’s wrong!”

He placed his hand on her forehead.

It was hot, almost as if she was getting a burn.

“This is….”

He quickly understood the situation.

It was a scene he had seen countless times during academy exam periods.

She had collapsed from forcing mana.

He bit his lip.

He had been careless.

He thought this level was manageable.

From the first lesson until she collapsed, he had pushed her too hard.

He was completely failing as a tutor.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

He swiftly lifted Elin into his arms.

Blaming himself could wait.

But if something happened to Elin,

he couldn’t forgive himself.

“Please hold on a little longer.”

Cool-headed, Luke immediately went to find a physician.