Even through his glove, Matthew could feel the smooth, delicate touch of the Long-Eared Elf's hand.
Matthew forced himself to stay calm. The Long-Eared Elf before him was exactly his type, but he couldn't let anything slip. This was the Court Wizards' headquarters.
Matthew searched Alsha's memories, trying to recall how she handled situations like this.
Before coming to Six-Ring Wizard City, Matthew had done his homework. He had carefully studied the people Alsha knew and memorized their traits, personalities, and preferences.
Then he remembered: Alsha never asked Aileen Seale for anything outright. Aileen was guileless enough that a little prompting would make her offer it herself.
He definitely couldn't ask directly.
Matthew said with a regretful look, "'Spirit Gathering Method' and 'Spirit Condensation Method' are secret arts of the Seale Family. It seems the Wizard Handbook: Upper Volume just isn't meant for me."
"Huh?" Aileen Seale blinked. She hadn't finished speaking yet. "Why wouldn't it be? Sister Alsha and I were clearly meant to meet!"
"They're secret arts of the Seale Family. You can't reveal them to outsiders so casually. I'll choose a different Meditation Method," Matthew said, as though he were looking out for her.
Seeing him give up, Aileen Seale stamped her foot in frustration. "How could Sister Alsha be an outsider?"
"Your Highness, there's no need to say more. I can't just take the Seale Family's secret arts."
Just as he'd hoped, Aileen Seale got sidetracked. Her attention turned to whether the Seale Family's secret arts could be shared.
She thought it over. Her father rewarded people of merit with treasures from the family vault, too. And after more than a thousand years in Six-Ring Wizard City, Spirit Gathering Method and Spirit Condensation Method—both derived from the Wizard Handbook: Lower Volume—were no longer secret mental arts