Chapter 38: Test of Faith I

Alicia Jung stood outside of the Witch’s Spire with a deep frown on her face as she watched her once terminally ill Young Master disappear into the woods.

Then, she stared down at the small letter that was given to her. Alicia was told by Rian to read it together with Lady Rosalia and Charlotte.

But she simply sighed, incapable of understanding her Young Master’s intention or what he was planning to do.

’Why does he always have to get himself in trouble...?’

She had been alongside him ever since he was five years old. Yet even back then, Rian Rosenheim had been a shy, introverted kid who stuck to his mother like glue.

But looking at him now, there was a thought that kept gnawing at Alicia’s head—it was like he was an entirely different person.

His expressions were different. His mannerisms, strange turns of phrase, and even the way he sometimes looked at people he had known his entire life—as though he were meeting them for the first time...

’No...I’m crossing the line.’

’My job is to serve him. Nothing less...and nothing more.’

...

"You intend to return to Eisenbran?"

The sudden voice caused Alicia to glance over her shoulder.

Nadine stood at the entrance of the spire, carrying none of the conventional equipment one would expect for travel. Then again, the Witch of Black Ice probably had little need for anything else.

"Yes," Alicia bowed. "The Young Master instructed me to meet with Lady Rosalia before beginning my surveillance."

"So he’s on Rosalia’s side...?" Nadine scratched her chin in thought. "No, that doesn’t seem right for someone like him."

"Ahh, whatever, let me come with you."

Alicia’s frown deepened. "Why?"

Nadine stepped past her, already on the route back to Eisenbran without looking back. "I’m just curious about your Young Master. He was the only one to pique my curiosity after a long time, that’s all."

For the first few minutes, neither of them spoke.

Nadine didn’t appear bothered by the silence. Alicia, meanwhile, kept one hand near the letter tucked against her waist while paying close attention to the mage walking beside her.

The Witch of Black Ice was one of Adrian Rosenheim’s oldest acquaintances. She had also agreed to support Rian’s claim over the mines, even if her reasons were entirely self-serving.

But that did not mean Alicia trusted her.

She knew what her employer was like and knew what the situation at House Rosenheim was. Nadine might look carefree now, but Alicia knew better.

Her reasoning was that she was interested in the Young Master, but she could just as easily be evaluating him and reporting back to the Lord.

But eventually, the witch broke the silence. "Has Rian truly been...cured? He certainly looks that way."

"I’m afraid I don’t understand your question."

"Yes, you do."

The witch continued walking without looking at her. "His complexion has improved, and he carries himself better than someone confined to bed for most of his life. To an ordinary person, he might even appear healthy."

"Well, I say that..." she chuckled to herself softly. "But I’ve never seen the boy. Only the rumors, that’s all."

Though once she finished, the air suddenly became chilly as the witch finally turned to look at the young maid. "Remember, I am not an ordinary person."

"..."

"His mana and life force are horribly unbalanced. He possesses more magical potential than most mages. Even if he’s somewhat behind on the starting line, someone like Rian could easily catch up."

"However... his body is like a candle struggling to sustain a bonfire."

Alicia’s hand tightened around the letter.

"So I’ll ask again..."

"Has his curse truly been cured?"

Alicia considered lying. Rian’s condition was one that only two people knew about: his fiancée Charlotte and herself. If word spread that he was still ill, everything her Young Master set-up prior would immediately lose its weight.

Yet an unpleasant feeling had been lingering inside her ever since Rian disappeared into the forest. Perhaps it was simply worry, or that she had become too accustomed to hovering over him after thirteen years.

But one thing she knew she could count on...were her own instincts. And right now, those instincts were telling her that something was wrong.

She stared at Nadine once more, studying her carefully.

The witch possessed no apparent interest in the Rosenheim succession, because if she did, one side would’ve had control of Eisenbran by now. More importantly, whatever existed beneath those mines concerned her just as much as it concerned Rian.

If something happened to him, Nadine might be the only person in Eisenbran powerful enough to help.

"No," Alicia finally answered. "He hasn’t been cured."

They both stopped in the middle of the trail.

"The Young Master discovered a way to prolong his life," she continued. "It allowed him to leave his bed and use magic again, but the curse itself remains."

"At what cost?"

"Every hint of magic he uses..." Alicia hesitated before answering. "Takes up his lifespan. The stronger the magic, the greater the cost."

Nadine stared toward the forest Rian had entered.

"How long?"

"Less than a month."

"And you allowed him to enter those mines alone?"

"Do you think I wanted to?!"

The words broke out of her mouth unexpectedly. She knew that was no way to talk to a 7-Star Mage. But Alicia couldn’t help herself.

"Sorry, Lady Nadine..."

"He refused to let me accompany him. He believed that I would be better suited to surveilling Lord Felix and coming up with countermeasures."

The witch remained silent, looking at the letter in her hand instead, pointing to it. "What did he write?"

"I don’t know. He ordered me to open it only after I returned to Lady Rosalia and Charlotte. It sounds crucial to whatever plan he’s thinking of."

The witch resumed walking, though her pace had become noticeably faster.

"Then we should stop wasting time."

Alicia followed closely behind.

"Once we’ve read that letter—"

Nadine continued, frost spreading out from her every step.

"We’re going after him."