Sellen wore a rumpled robe, completely unconcerned with her appearance, chewing in great mouthfuls and eating with obvious relish. Nolan ate while watching her. The witch teacher hadn't noticed her obedient disciple at all, having long since tossed "respect your master and honor the way" to the back of her mind.
"So, what do you plan to do next? Now that things have finally calmed down, shouldn't you settle down and study sorcery with your teacher for a while?"
With her apprentice's cooking lifting her mood, Sellen sipped her wine as she spoke.
"Uh… actually, I want to take Gatefront Town first. Once that's captured, the war in Liurnia should be more or less over."
Nolan speared a steak with his fork and took a huge bite, not bothering with manners in front of his teacher. Even if he went further—say, stripping naked in the tent like a witch—his teacher would only say he'd finally come to his senses and praise him warmly.
"Oh? Just take Gatefront Town and that's it? That easy?" Sellen pinched her own chin and blinked.
Nolan was a little surprised that she cared about the war at all, but her keen interest quickly dispelled his doubts.
"The Cuckoo's main force is concentrated on the west bank right now, trapped between the royal lands and the Village of the Albinaurics."
"That tiny area can't support the Cuckoo army through plunder alone. All their logistics depend on Gatefront Town."
"Once we take Gatefront Town and then deal with the Cuckoos, it'll be like catching turtles in a jar. The only ones who could help them are the Magic Academy."
"So, Teacher, what do you think the Academy would do if Caria really took Gatefront Town?"
"Seal the gates," Sellen replied without thinking.
From what she knew, those cowards would never choose a frontal fight unless they had no other choice. The Academy wasn't weak, but it wasn't truly strong either. As she always said, most mages were pure scholars. Aside from a few Preceptors, Associate Preceptors, and the sorcerers of the Haima Conspectus, the rest—no matter how high their magical attainments—hardly knew how to fight. If every one of them were a battle sorcerer, the Cuckoos would never have dared covet them.
More importantly, they were deeply wary of Demigods. The more they understood the royal family, the clearer it became just how terrifying those princes and princesses truly were. Even if they were currently trapped inside the fortress, that didn't mean that princess had ceased to exist.
The witch teacher's enthusiasm was like a summer rainstorm—violent when it arrived, but gone just as quickly. No sooner had she finished washing the bowls and chopsticks than she crooked a finger lightly at her beloved disciple.
"Come here. Your teacher is going to sleep. I didn't sleep at all last night. Your progress with that spellcasting without a medium is finally showing, and now I'm exhausted."
Hearing this, Nolan looked at her without saying a word. The tent fell silent. He actually felt a little guilty toward Sellen. For the sake of one sudden whim of this disciple, she had stopped chasing her own dreams, even setting her origins aside.
Nolan lay down, and Sellen climbed into his arms, letting out a lazy yawn.
"These past few days without you by my side, I haven't slept a single peaceful night. Today I can finally get a proper rest."
Nolan felt helpless, not knowing what to say. If Raziel heard this, he would definitely tease him again. He had never imagined he possessed the ability to help someone sleep well. He didn't know whether it was from spending too long with Trina and picking up strange habits, or simply a psychological effect on his teacher. At least, he hadn't noticed anything abnormal about his own body.
Studying, cooking, and keeping someone company while they slept—was there any student more overworked than this?
After thinking for a moment, Nolan sighed quietly to himself and lowered his head, only to find that his teacher had already fallen asleep. She really was exhausted.
Just as Nolan's thoughts wandered, a dazzling blue light suddenly flickered near the distant tent flap. Looking closely, he saw countless tiny blue particles streaming toward that spot…
Miriam?
Nolan sat up gently. Sellen lay across him like a quiet little cat, still sunk deep in sweet dreams, completely unaware.
If a Preceptor of the Academy had seen such a disgraceful scene back in those days, both teacher and student would have undoubtedly been slapped with a major demerit.
But at that moment, Nolan's movements paused ever so slightly.
The particles rapidly converged, gradually taking on a humanoid form. It wasn't a Preceptor, but a blue silhouette instead.
Her skin shimmered like a sapphire gem. A wide witch's hat rested atop her head, and four long, slender arms extended from beneath her robes. When she lifted her head slightly, a single ice-blue eye gazed quietly at Nolan.
"Nolan, my knight, I am pleased to see you have carried out this arduous task so admirably."
"You truly performed exceptionally this time. As a reward, I intend to—"
The Lunar Princess's voice drifted over, cold and clear like fresh snow, carrying both restrained delight and faint authority.
Before Nolan could rise, the Lunar Princess lifted two slender, jade-like hands, signaling that formalities were unnecessary.
Yet just as she reached the midpoint of her words, her voice stopped abruptly without warning.
Her gaze shifted to Sellen in Nolan's arms. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of her lips before she gracefully brought her fingertips together.
"I think I should first learn a bit about the lady in your arms. She is your teacher, is she not?"
The awkwardness of nearly being caught breaking academy rules vanished from Nolan's mind. He admitted openly,
"That's right. This is my teacher, the 'Witch' Sellen."
He adjusted his hold slightly, letting the witch's head rest more comfortably against his shoulder.
Nolan glanced down at Sellen and found there was nothing to be afraid of.
Though it might seem improper for a knight to meet his sovereign in such a manner, who was it that barged in uninvited and peeked into someone else's privacy?
Besides, nothing improper had happened. His teacher was tired. Letting her lean on him and rest properly was hardly a crime.
That was respect for one's teacher.
"I never imagined the renowned Witch to be like this. How intriguing."
Ranni nodded, showing not the slightest hint of reproach. She floated gently upward and chose a higher place to sit.
Nolan was already used to Her Highness's peculiar habits. This was someone who even placed books beneath herself while eating.
"I had hoped to find an opportunity to speak with her, but it seems now is not the right time."
Ranni murmured softly, then noticed Nolan's expression gradually becoming somewhat irreverent, as if he had glimpsed a rather amusing secret.
A sudden sense of embarrassment welled up within her, and she unconsciously tugged her Snow Witch Hat lower.
"Your Highness, given your current circumstances, this is not a place you should be. If something were to happen…" Nolan said hesitantly.
A few Church Confessors would be manageable, but if the Two Fingers sent Baleful Shadows, Destined Death would show no mercy.
"It is of no concern. This is merely a duplicate. They would not squander such precious power on it."
Ranni straightened slightly, confidence filling her gaze, without a trace of fear.