Chapter 633: Disciple?

Next day.

"Why are you here again, girl?"

Arnold looked at the young girl standing before him in the woodland behind her house.

It was a morning of new day. Earlier, he had been keeping an eye on Sira and Alice's home from a distance when he noticed Alice leaving the house and heading into the woods. Curious about her destination, he had quickly made his way to their usual meeting spot. Before she arrived, he had put on his hooded cloak and fastened the plain silver mask over his face.

Now, as Alice stood before him, nervously twisting her fingers together, Arnold couldn't help wondering what had brought her here this time.

"We-well..." Alice hesitated, glancing up at him. "You're strong, right, sir?"

Arnold frowned slightly at the unexpected question but nodded.

"Yes, I am."

"Hmm, then..." She took a small breath, gathering her courage. Her brown eyes flickered with nervous hope as she looked at him. "I-if you don't mind... could you teach me some magic? I mean, could you help me learn how to use it? I've never had the chance to train before."

Arnold's eyes widened slightly.

'She wants me to teach her magic?'

He studied the girl for a moment before glancing around the woodland.

He and Amon had been observing the village for days. As far as Arnold could tell, hardly anyone ever came to this part of the woods. It was quiet, secluded, and far enough from the village that they were unlikely to attract unwanted attention.

Teaching her here shouldn't cause any problems.

"Pl-please..." Alice lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the hem of her clothes. "I don't need to become incredibly strong or anything. I just want to learn a few spells that could help me protect myself."

Her voice grew quieter toward the end.

After everything that had happened to her, Arnold could understand why she wanted to become stronger. She had some time hiding her class, terrified of what the villagers might do if they discovered the truth. Then, a few days ago, three men had tried to kidnap her.

She couldn't depend on luck to save her every time.

Arnold nodded. "Alright. I'll help you."

Alice's head snapped up.

"R-really?"

"Yes, but I should warn you that I've never taught anyone before. Don't expect me to be a particularly good teacher."

"That's fine!" she answered quickly. "I'll do my best!"

Arnold couldn't help smiling faintly beneath his mask.

'At least she's enthusiastic.'

"First, tell me about your affinities. Which elements can you use?"

"I have two," Alice replied. "Darkness and Curse."

Arnold stared at her for a moment. "Darkness?"

He hadn't expected that answer. "My friend uses Darkness magic," he continued. "He'd probably be more helpful than me when it comes to teaching you actual spells. As for Curse..." He paused thoughtfully. "This is the first time I've met someone with that affinity."

Alice blinked in surprise. "Really? Where is your friend, then?"

'Busy trying to figure out how to sneak in temple,' Arnold thought.

"He's occupied with something at the moment. He's investigating a few things."

"Oh..."

Alice's shoulders drooped slightly. "Then... does that mean I can't learn anything today?"

Arnold shook his head. "No, you can still learn something. I might not know any Darkness spells, but magic isn't just about memorizing spells and waving your hands around."

He raised one finger. "Before you can use magic properly, you need to understand mana. You need to learn how to sense it, absorb it, and circulate it through your body. Without a solid foundation, even the most powerful spell will be difficult to control."

Alice listened attentively, her disappointment quickly fading.

"Besides," Arnold continued, "your class is related to witches, isn't it?"

She nodded.

"Then you might have an advantage. Witches are generally known for their exceptional magical abilities and precise mana control. I can't promise you'll learn faster, but your class might make certain aspects of magic easier for you."

Alice's eyes sparkled.

"Really?"

"That's what I believe."

A bright smile spread across her face. It was a remarkable change from the frightened expression she usually wore whenever she walked through the village, constantly looking over her shoulder as though someone might attack her at any moment.

Seeing her so genuinely excited, Arnold felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He had never imagined himself in such a role, but it wasn't as unpleasant as he had expected.

"Alright, let's begin."

Alice nodded enthusiastically.

Arnold glanced around before pointing toward a relatively flat patch of ground beneath a large tree.

"First, sit there. Cross your legs and keep your back straight. You need to be comfortable, so don't force yourself into an awkward position."

Alice hurried over and sat on the ground. She crossed her legs, straightened her back, and placed her hands on her knees.

However, she kept glancing at Arnold, waiting for his next instruction.

"Good. Now close your eyes."

She obeyed. "Relax your body. Don't tense your shoulders or clench your fists. Take a slow breath in... and then breathe out."

Alice followed his instructions.

"Again."

She repeated the process several times, gradually relaxing as the tension left her body.

"Now, I want you to focus on your heart."

Alice's eyebrows twitched beneath her closed eyelids, but she remained silent.

"Mana circulates throughout your body, and your heart serves as its central point of circulation. For now, don't worry about controlling it. Simply try to sense the mana inside you. Imagine it gathering around your heart before slowly spreading through your body."

Arnold paused to let her absorb his words.

"Don't rush. Imagine a gentle stream flowing from your heart, traveling through your chest, your arms, your fingertips, then down through your stomach and legs. Let it move naturally before returning to your heart. Keep the flow steady. Don't try to force it."

Alice concentrated harder.

At first, she felt nothing. There was only the sound of the wind passing through the trees, the occasional chirping of birds, and the distant rustling of leaves.

After several minutes, however, she began to notice something strange. A faint warmth seemed to gather in the center of her chest.

It was so subtle that she initially wondered whether she was imagining it.