Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 112 – Max’s Resolve (1)

He picked up the top book from the pile and looked at the girl on the other side with his eyebrow raised.

Max’s confidence in facing a meticulous gaze disappeared. She mumbled an answer.

“A-and... be-because it could happen...E-even just a little bit... I t-thought it would be g-good to know...”

Ruth suddenly smiled brightly as she looked at him nervously, not sure if he was going to snort.

“It’s a very admirable idea.” He spoke as if praising a child and pulled out his chair across him.

“Did you start studying yesterday? Show me what you did.”

He picked up a pile of parchment before she even allowed it. Max glared at him with slits. One day she will tell the wizard that he should never touch a woman’s object without asking her permission. While making a decision...

... Ruth asked unexpectedly, “Can you speak the ancient language?”

“I l-learned it.... W-when I was little.” She said awkwardly.

By the time Rosetta grew up to be a perfect girl, Max had the most rigorous education. It was the Duke of Croix’s order to correct her daughter’s foolishness. However, even with a rigorous curriculum, her symptoms were not alleviated, and it was not long before Rosetta’s excellence was revealed. That way she was freed from the terrible task of reciting poetry in front of a high-intensity teacher and her father once a month.

Of course, she never recited a poem she had memorized all night long. She was beaten to death by her father even before the first verse was over. Max hastily lowered her eyes to hide her white face with terrible memories.

“I-I am not g-good at it, but....” She started to speak.

“When I look at your handwriting, it seems meticulous.”

“B-because I-I like to r-read books... I h-have n-no problems with r-reading and writing. The h-hard words... I don’t k-know..”

Ruth stayed silent for a long time. Max averted her eyes because the silence was uncomfortable. Ruth,Looking up at the pile of parchment she had left behind without a word, Ruth suddenly said, “Why don’t you learn magic?”

Max didn’t understand what he was saying at once and blinked. Excited by his own suggestion, Ruth suddenly reached out.

“Learning magic is much better than learning healing. If you could use healing magic, my burden would be less!” The wizard did not hide a little suggestion that it was purely for his own benefit.

Max frowned and refuted, “Ma-magic... is very complex and requires sophisticated calculations... I he-heard it’s a high le-level of le-learning. It’s too m-much for me.”

“Of course it takes a long time to study and train to learn high level advanced magic, but it’s a different story when it comes to general magic. As long as you have basic mana affinity, you can learn some magic from years of education and training.”

“Wh-what’s general ma-magic?” Max asked curiously.

“It refers to all shamanistic magic. It includes simple healing magic, recovery magic, levitation, etc.” Ruth spoke naturally as if healing magic, healing magic, or levitation was a plus or minus.

Max gave a passive smile. “If I c-could... it w-would be great... but it will take years. It’s good to le-learn th-therapy right away...”

“It takes years to develop your mana affinity and learn math, ancient languages and basic studies. You have the basic skills to learn because you are weak but interested in magic and can do ancient languages and math. If you only train for a few months, you’ll be able to learn some simple magic.”

With his continous persuasion, Max felt her expectations waver. Can I really do magic?

She looked up at him with trembling eyes. “C-ca-I... can I... re-really learn ma-magic?”

“There’s nothing to lose from trying.”

That’s right! Max gathered up her courage. “I-if you co-could teach me... I w-will l-learn diligently!”

“Okay, then come to the library tomorrow afternoon. I’ll have the equipment you need to learn magic.” Ruth spoke cheerfully, walked to the shelf and picked up two thick books.

“These books will help you understand magic. Read it whenever you have time.”

She came out of the library holding the book and a fluttering heart. Her heart was beating very fast. She seemed to have found her potential for the first time in her life.

An unfamiliar pounding kept Max awake until dawn. She resorted to candles and read the book Ruth gave her until it was dark under her eyes. One was an outline of magic and the other is a simplified version of the magic principle.

It wasn’t as difficult as she thought. Determination soared in her heart, thinking that she could do it. As far as she knows, she could really be a wizard.

She portrayed the scenes in her mind of spewing fire from her palms, smashing the mana, and causing rain and wind to annihilate enemies trying to invade Anatol. The sight of Riftan hugging her with pride was there too. Just imagining him being proud of her, her lips parted and a smile emerged on her face.

If she could do magic, she could have probably accompanied Riftan on the expeditions. She completely forgot that she had fainted at the sight of the devil as she stomped her feet on the bed. Her heart was filled with hope.