Taking a Disciple

Frieren stood where she was, looking him up and down.

Compared to the young, robust priest in her memories, who had been able to sneak drinks even while traveling, Heiter had grown so old that she could barely recognize the man he had been. In the end, though, all she said was:

"You really aren't dead yet."

"That's right."

Heiter answered with a smile.

"It seems the goddess isn't willing to take me in just yet."

"She probably thinks you drink too much."

"Quite possibly."

Heiter soon noticed Lorenzo standing beside Frieren.

"And this is?"

"Lorenzo. He's a mage too. We're traveling together for now."

Frieren introduced him.

"Hello, Mr. Heiter."

Lorenzo greeted him politely.

"I see."

Heiter looked a little surprised.

"I never expected you to find a new companion, Frieren."

Since the hero's party had ended its journey, Frieren had always wandered alone. Given her indifference toward time and relationships, Heiter had assumed she wouldn't travel with anyone again for a long while. Perhaps she had changed a little over the years?

"I didn't go looking for him. We just happened to meet, and I'm interested in his magic, so we're traveling together for the time being."

Frieren corrected him.

"Is that so?"

Heiter smiled and didn't press the matter.

"Still, however it happened, having someone by your side is a good thing."

"Come inside first. Leaving friends I haven't seen in so long standing out in the yard would hardly be proper hospitality for a priest."

The house smelled of herbs and burnt firewood. They sat down in the living room, and Fern brought out the hot tea and snacks she had prepared. She also thoughtfully placed a cushion behind Heiter's lower back.

Even though Fern was a child under ten, she always gave the impression that she was the more dependable person in the household.

Frieren then took two bottles of wine from the small case she carried and set them on the table.

"I originally brought these as a gift for you, but Fern says you've apparently stopped drinking?"

Heiter's gaze fell on the bottles.

It was only for a brief moment, but Lorenzo clearly saw the elderly priest's eyes light up. In the end, though, he didn't reach for either bottle.

"I have indeed given it up. My health isn't what it used to be, after all."

"So you stopped drinking because of your health? I thought you'd finally understood the goddess's teachings after becoming an archbishop and turned over a new leaf."

"How could that be?"

Heiter laughed, then asked:

"So why have you come to see me?"

"Because I want to make an effort to interact more with the people I meet on my travels, and I owe you quite a few favors. So I came to repay them before you die."

"I see..."

Heiter thought for a moment and took a sip of hot tea before turning to Fern.

"Fern, could I ask you to prepare the guest room? Frieren and Lorenzo have come a long way, so they'll probably stay here tonight."

"Understood."

Fern asked no further questions. She cleared the tray and bowed politely to them.

"Lady Frieren, Lord Lorenzo, please enjoy your refreshments."

With that, she turned and left the living room. Heiter watched her go, then waited a few seconds before speaking again.

"Where did you meet her?"

"At a nearby cliff. She was practicing magic there."

Frieren picked up a snack.

"I see. She went there today too."

Heiter wasn't surprised.

"How was her magic?"

"Her mana control is good, but she still has too little of it, and she doesn't know how to allocate it properly when casting spells."

Frieren took a bite of the snack and chewed slowly.

"So she's talented?"

"Yes, quite talented."

Frieren nodded.

Hearing that assessment, Heiter seemed to have finally confirmed something important and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"In that case, I'm relieved."

He set down his teacup and looked at Frieren.

"Then there's something I'd like to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"I'd like you to take Fern as your disciple."

"No."

Frieren refused almost without thinking.

Heiter seemed to have expected that answer.

"May I ask why?"

"A mage's journey is dangerous. She's still too young, and she can't face monsters on her own. If she came with me, she could die at any time."

Precisely because she had seen so many people die on their journeys with her own eyes, she was unwilling to lightly take a child down the same path.

"Besides, isn't she fine staying here?"

Frieren looked toward the door.

"Lots of people have a talent for magic, but they don't all end up becoming mages."

"If possible, I'd like her to go on living this peaceful life too."

Heiter lowered his head, looking at the tea rippling gently in his cup.

"But, Frieren, I don't have much time left."

The old man's smile remained gentle, and there was little sadness to be heard in his voice.

"Fern is an orphan of war. Her family is gone, and she's been living with me all these years."

"Once I die, she'll be alone again."

Heiter raised his head.

"I can't stay with her for much longer, so before I leave, I want her to at least have the strength to survive on her own."

"Sorry, Heiter. That's one thing I can't help you with."

Frieren remained adamant.

"I see..."

Heiter said nothing more. He simply reached for the wooden staff beside him and used it to slowly rise to his feet. He went to the bookcase against the wall and took a heavy old book from the bottom shelf.

The book's cover was badly faded, and its edges and corners were damaged in many places. It had no title, only ancient characters and magical patterns that were almost impossible to make out.

Heiter placed the old book on the table.

"This is a grimoire recovered from Sage Aiwish's tomb."

At that name, Frieren finally showed a little interest.

"Sage Aiwish?"

"That's right."

Heiter pushed the grimoire across the table to Frieren.

"It's said that this book contains magic that can grant immortality and bring the dead back to life."

"That kind of magic doesn't exist. At the very least, there's absolutely no way Sage Aiwish could have mastered it."

Frieren answered without even opening the book.

"But what if it does? Perhaps there really is something in it about resurrection magic and immortality magic."

"You want me to decipher this grimoire?"

Frieren pulled the old book in front of her and opened it to the first page.

The yellowed paper was densely covered in ancient writing, interspersed with a great many complex spell diagrams.

Much of the content was incomplete due to its age. Restoring it all was clearly no easy task.

Frieren quickly flipped through a few pages.

"It uses several ancient scripts that have been lost, and quite a few passages have been deliberately encrypted."

"How long will it take to decipher?"

"If I study it seriously, about five or six years."

Frieren closed the book.

"Possibly longer."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Heiter answered without the slightest hesitation.