My Young Lady Mentor

"Famously lively?"

Aaron set down his wooden sword, picked up a towel, and scrubbed the sweat from his face and body.

After two weeks of training, Aaron had mastered the basic sword technique [Sword Stance: Heavy Strike]. Its greatest strength lay in bringing the full force of his body to bear, starting at the waist and committing everything to deal as much damage as possible. Its weakness was just as clear: the strike spent all his strength and left him easily fatigued. If he missed, he would leave himself wide open.

[Sword Stance: Vengeful Strike] was a combat technique that had to be paired with Action Surge. The moment the first attack landed, the fighter activated Action Surge and struck again, following up with a powerful cleave or rising slash to secure victory.

Unfortunately, Aaron's talent for swordsmanship fell well short of his other gifts. He was above average at best, and his wrist strength was a little weaker than that of the other recruits.

Banneret Lucian had noticed all of this. In his view, Aaron had no need to settle every fight in melee. Close combat was only a means; victory was the goal.

"Mm. Famously lively." Lucian picked up a water flask and tossed it to Aaron. "Take off your training clothes and come to my office, recruit. There's something I need to tell you."

"Yes, sir!"

Word that Aaron was going to receive magic training caused an immediate stir among the recruits.

"Man, you've got it good! You get magic training, and they even found you a mentor!"

"I'd love to become a spellcaster too. Too bad I don't have the talent."

"You still have a chance, recruit. We all do. A fighter can become an Eldritch Knight someday—if it works out."

"Right, if it works out!" someone said with heavy sarcasm. "If it works out, I'd like to be the Lady of Magic's chosen one!"

"Hahahaha!"

The recruits broke into chatter. Instructor Simoni had put them through hell lately, but a light still shone in every pair of eyes: hope. They knew that if they endured to the end and passed the assessment, a knighthood would be within reach.

Aaron ignored their discussion. He had taken off his sweat-soaked training clothes and was about to change into clean ones when his sword appeared in front of him.

"So you'll be coming back, right?" The speaker was the Paladin Norrington. He rarely said much, but he consistently ranked near the top in swordsmanship class, even if he was weaker in academic lessons.

"Of course I'll be back. I'll just have to go back and forth from now on—a few days here, a few days there." Aaron took his sword and hung it at his waist.

As a sword-bearing noble, Aaron could carry a sword anywhere except the palace.

"When you come back, we'll fight again." Norrington clearly still brooded over his last defeat.

"Gladly. I'm looking forward to it." Aaron had always been curious about how Divine Smite worked.

Just then, another Purple Dragon recruit squeezed into their conversation. His dark skin, sturdy build, spotless boots, and carefully groomed hair marked him as a Suzail local.

His name was Havrel Coffey, son of Suzail's minister of shipping.

Suzail was Cormyr's royal capital on the shores of the Dragonmere. Its port was not as good as Marsember's, the nearby second-largest city, but with the royal court based here, the minister of shipping had always held an enormously lucrative post—one every noble family coveted.

As usual, their Princess Regent had not gone through the royal council to appoint anyone. Instead, she had chosen a bureaucrat she trusted from among her own confidants. Nobles across the kingdom resented her for it. If the kingdom's current troubles had not made keeping the shipping lanes open an overriding priority, they would have moved to impeach her long ago.

That simply was not how things were done.

"Hey, buddy!" Havrel had spoken with Aaron a few times over the past two weeks. Since Alusair had personally sent Aaron to recruit training, Havrel readily took him for someone on his side. Despite being minister of shipping, Havrel's father was only a robe-wearing noble—not even entitled to carry a sword. His family had money but little standing, so Havrel was eager to build a connection with Aaron. "Tymora's smiling on you!"

"Oh? What makes you say that, Havrel? What do you know?" Aaron's interest was piqued.

"Heh. You'll find out when you get there today. I guarantee you'll be pleased—because you're a man." Havrel grinned lewdly and nudged Aaron's stomach with his elbow. "Lucky you. Do you know how many people are pursuing her?"

Her? Aaron frowned. Alusair found a female Sorcerer to teach me?

My Brooch of Shielding didn't react, though.

And anyone qualified to teach me would have to be able to cast fourth- or fifth-circle magic at least, wouldn't she? She could probably be my great-grandmother...

Havrel could tell what Aaron was thinking from his expression. The minister of shipping's son leaned in mysteriously. "How about a wager?"

"What kind of wager?" Aaron asked, intrigued. "What are the stakes?"

"Whether you're satisfied with your magic mentor. If you are, you buy everyone here five glasses of Water of Amn apiece at the tavern. If you aren't, I buy everyone five glasses apiece and a plate of roast lamb. What do you say?" Havrel snapped his fingers.

The kid really was rich. Aaron thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

That's right. This can be part of the plan!

"Deal. Let's make it the Dragon's Tooth Tavern in the Lower City, and invite all our brothers-in-arms here!" Aaron slapped Havrel's palm to seal it. "I swear to Selûne, the Lady of Silver, that I'll give my honest opinion."

"And I swear to the Lady of Wealth... Uh, I swear to the Lady of Joy that I'll keep my word!" Havrel was delighted that his little scheme had worked. He had instinctively started to swear by Waukeen, but remembered that the goddess of wealth had been missing for more than two years. He could only change his oath to Lliira, the goddess of joy.

"Brothers, be our witnesses."

At the prospect of free food and drink, the recruits cheered their agreement.

Just as planned!

Havrel was pleased with himself. He was working hard to fit in.

Just as planned!

Aaron was equally pleased. He had been wondering how to make contact with the Dragon's Tooth Gang, and now the opportunity had presented itself.

A whole group of Purple Dragon Knight recruits would be holding a gathering in their tavern. Surely the gang's boss would have to come out and greet them—especially when his business operated in a gray area.

Whether Aaron won or lost the wager did not matter.

He had been standing out a little too much lately. Losing a casual bet would do him no harm; it might even bring him closer to the others.

Aaron gathered his things, said goodbye to everyone, and left.

"All packed?" Lucian was waiting in his office. The thick-bearded mentor rose from behind his desk. "Come on. Let's try on your clothes."

"Clothes?" Aaron did not understand.

"Yes. I had a set of tails tailored for you. You'll wear it tomorrow when you meet your magic mentor." Lucian seemed to remember something and looked troubled. "First impressions matter a great deal to her. They'll determine whether she wants to teach you, and how seriously she takes the job."

"She sounds very spontaneous—and very willful." Aaron followed Lucian toward the changing room.

"You'll understand when you meet her. The good news is that you're handsome. Very handsome. The bad news is... I have no idea how the two of you will get along face-to-face." Lucian held his head. "I really don't understand why Royal Magister Vangerdahast chose her..."

What kind of person is this magic mentor of mine?

Aaron looked forward to meeting her more and more. Judging by what Havrel had said, she seemed to be quite captivating.

The next day, Sunday, at the Cormyr Royal War Wizard training ground beside the Dragonmere.

June had arrived. A salty breeze swept in off the water, lifting the tails of Aaron's formal coat. Dressed in his new outfit, he stood with his hands at his sides beside Banneret Lucian, who wore his baronet's ceremonial robes. Amid a vast sea of flowers, they awaited the arrival of Aaron's "magic mentor."

Flowers bloomed in June. In the great garden near the training ground, colorful beds of lavender, lupines, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, roses, and peonies opened beneath a clear blue sky. They basked in the sunlight, displaying their beauty and filling the air with fragrance.

The sea breeze soothed those who waited, easing some of their nervousness.

"At times the great eye of heaven shines too fiercely, and often its golden face is dimmed. Every lovely bloom must one day fade, stripped of its beauty by chance and changing seasons."

As they waited, Banneret Lucian gazed over the boundless flowers and recited a few lines of verse. He brushed his hand across a tender peony, his eyes full of memories. "Luna, you're still as beautiful as ever. But I've grown old..."

"Tch. The old geezer's reminiscing again." Disma stood nearby with his arms crossed and a blade of foxtail grass between his teeth. For once, he was dressed somewhat formally. When Lucian ignored him, he turned to Aaron instead. "Brat, don't take after the old geezer. He's the one who messed things up—ow!"

The senior apprentice crouched down, clutching his head.

What does he mean, don't take after the old geezer? What did Lucian mess up?

Are they talking in riddles? Aaron had no idea what Disma meant. Seeing the fire in Lucian's eyes and the tears in Disma's, he wisely decided not to ask.

"Banneret Lucian, Disma, thank you for spending your Sunday with me." Aaron changed the subject with a smile. "I'm sorry to make you come along to welcome my mentor on your day off."

"Tch. I had nothing else to do, so I came to have a look. It's not as if I came especially for you." Disma squatted on the ground without a shred of dignity, the foxtail grass in his mouth bobbing from side to side. His dull eyes rolled upward, his face plainly saying that Aaron should not flatter himself. "I just felt sorry for you and thought the old geezer might bully you. Don't get all touched."

What is with this guy? Aaron was speechless.

Lucian coughed twice. "Outside the fortress, you can call me mentor, or just Lucian... Aaron, I came with you today because I want you to know that magic isn't everything."

"I know. Magic isn't everything. There are many other powers in this world." Aaron had not grasped Lucian's point, so he repeated the lesson and waited for his mentor to explain.

"Sorcerers are always arrogant, Aaron. You may not feel that way yet, but that's because you haven't truly felt the power inside you." Lucian put a hand on Aaron's shoulder. Affection—and a hint of odd amusement—showed in the Banneret's eyes. "I've met many Sorcerers. Their sources of power, backgrounds, and abilities varied, but they all had one thing in common: they thought very highly of themselves."

"Plenty of Sorcerers dream of becoming gods one day. At the same time, most find it difficult to submit to anyone, even someone stronger than themselves."

"You must overcome the arrogance in your blood. You must understand that your bloodline and the power within you will give you advantages in body and magic, but that gives you no right to bully the weak. Strength of spirit matters most. Without firm convictions, you'll stray from the right path. Your power and magic may turn against everything you once defended. Strength of spirit can't be learned from a book. That's why I'm here as your knightly mentor. Remember: stay true to yourself."

"That's Sorcerers for you." Still squatting, Disma spoke in a bored voice. "Aaron, I'm telling you, the old geezer has given that speech to at least five people. He only changed the part about you being a Sorcerer. The rest was exactly the same..."

"Oh! This is a rare day, Aaron. Look at your senior apprentice—he actually remembered my teachings!" Lucian looked moved. Shaking his head, the mentor sighed. "The Namemaker once said that even a pig learns to climb a wall after being taught three times. He wasn't wrong!"

"Old geezer, who are you calling a pig?!" Disma sprang up and roared.

"Wait! She's here!" Aaron hurriedly caught hold of Disma before he took another blow to the head.

At the far end of his gaze, a carriage raced toward them. Hooves thundered and wheels rattled in perfect rhythm, yet there was no driver on the box where one should have been.

Before their eyes, the driverless carriage sped up to within fifteen meters, then swung through a ninety-degree turn and screeched to a halt. The gust it raised sent bits of grass, dust, and flower petals flying toward them.

The carriage door flew open. A beautiful young woman who seemed nothing short of a miracle peered out. Even the sunlight seemed to pale before her, while her impossibly perfect face drew every eye like a work of art.

She wore a fine-checkered dress in hawthorn-wine red with a lace-trimmed collar. Pale pink hair, luminous as a waterfall of starlight, fell to her waist. Slender brows showed faintly beneath her wispy bangs. Her face was radiant, and her sweet, bright-gold eyes brimmed with intelligence and life. The cloak over her dress could hide neither her angelic beauty nor her devilish figure.

Her delicate collarbones traced a tempting curve beneath her fair skin. Sunlight glowed across her exposed neck and the proud curves of her breasts.

Next came her shoes: low heels with red soles, brown square buckles, and butterfly-shaped diamond accents. Her feet and slender legs, sheathed in sheer, glossy brown stockings, emerged slowly from the carriage and came to rest on the step. Beside the fuller legs of the Cleric and the Princess Regent, both shaped by combat training, hers looked a little more delicate. A faint crease even formed in the stocking behind one knee as she moved.

She sprang down from the carriage in two quick steps, far more nimbly than any noble young lady might be expected to. Her pink hair swirled through the air, carrying the scent of tulips, and her sweet golden eyes immediately found their target.

"We're honored that you came in person to guide this unusual student of mine." Banneret Lucian stepped forward and nodded.

My magic mentor? Her? Aaron stared at the young woman's stunning face.

Is she even an adult? She doesn't look as old as I am.

"Oh my, Alusair told me the Salian family had an interesting child. Is this him?" Interest sparkled in the young woman's bright-gold eyes as she fixed her gaze on Aaron. "It is him, right? Hee-hee! I can feel it!"

Lucian's expression shifted. They say people with extraordinary charm are drawn to one another. I suppose it's true. "Yes, that's him. Aaron Salian, my knightly apprentice."

"It's an honor to receive your guidance, my lady," Aaron said quickly.

"Oh... Interesting. How interesting." Hands on her hips, the young woman approached Aaron and sniffed. "Mm! I smell a lie."

"You're thinking, 'This girl might not even be as old as I am. What makes her qualified to teach me?' Aren't you?" The pink-haired young woman leaned closer with a mischievous look, hands still on her hips.

"Uh..." Aaron waved his hands in embarrassment, then answered with a playful smile. "I certainly wouldn't tell you I had my doubts."

"Hee! I'm joking." She spun in place and spread her arms excitedly. "You really are an interesting one!"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Charlotte Caladnei, the next Royal Magister of Cormyr!"

An update! Once he's learned magic, it'll be time for adventure!