My Mentor, the Young Lady

"Famously lively?"

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

After two weeks of training, Aaron had mastered the basic sword technique [Sword Stance—Heavy Cleave]. Its greatest strength lay in putting the whole body behind the blow, driving power up from the waist and holding nothing back to deal maximum damage. Its weakness was just as clear: the strike spent all that power at once. It left the swordsman tired and, if it missed, wide open.

[Sword Stance—Vengeful Strike] was a technique that had to be paired with Action Surge. The instant the first attack landed, the swordsman used Action Surge to launch a second, following up with a powerful sweeping slash or rising cut to finish the fight.

Unfortunately, Aaron's talent with the sword fell far 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 it all. He saw no need for Aaron to settle fights in close combat. Melee was only a means; victory was the goal.

"Yes, famously lively." Lucian grabbed a waterskin and tossed it to Aaron. "Get out of your training clothes and come to my office, recruit. I have a few things to tell you."

"Yes, sir!"

Word that Aaron was going to attend magic training quickly caused a stir among the recruits.

"Lucky you, man. You get magic training, and they even found you a personal 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. Warriors can become Eldritch Knights someday—if we manage it."

"Right, if we manage it," someone said with a sneer. "If we're dreaming, I'd like to be one of the Lady of Magic's Chosen~"

"Hahahaha~"

The recruits broke into overlapping chatter. Instructor Simoni had put them through hell lately, but there was a light in every pair of eyes: hope. They knew that if they held on and passed the assessment, the title of Knight would be theirs!

Aaron ignored their discussion. He took off his sweat-soaked training clothes and was about to change into clean ones when his own sword was held out in front of him.

"So you're coming back, right?" The speaker was Norrington, the Paladin. He rarely said much, but he consistently ranked near the top in swordsmanship lessons, though he was weaker in academic classes.

"Of course. I'll definitely be back. I'll just have to split my time between the two places—here for a few days, there for a few days." Aaron took his sword and fastened it at his waist.

As a sword-bearing noble, Aaron could wear his sword anywhere except the royal palace.

"When you come back, let's fight again." Norrington clearly still hadn't gotten over his last defeat.

"Sure. I look forward to it." Aaron had long 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 Havel Coffey, son of Suzail's minister of shipping.

Suzail stood on the shores of the Dragonmere and was Cormyr's royal capital. Its port was not as good as the one in nearby Marsember, the kingdom's second-largest city, but the presence of the royal court made the shipping ministry an immensely lucrative post. Every noble family wanted it.

As usual, their Princess Regent had bypassed the kingdom's council and appointed a trusted official from among her own confidants. Nobles across the country grumbled about it. If the kingdom's present troubles hadn't made keeping shipping routes open an urgent priority, they would have moved to impeach her long ago.

That was no way to govern.

"Hey, man~" Havel had exchanged a few words with Aaron over the past two weeks. Since Alusair herself had sent Aaron to recruit training, Havel readily took him for someone on his side. Havel's father might be minister of shipping, but he was only a robed noble—he didn't even have the right to wear a sword. His family had money but little standing, so Havel eagerly tried to get closer to Aaron. "Tymora's smiling on you!"

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

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

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

But my shield brooch didn't react.

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

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

"What kind of bet?" Aaron perked up. "What are the stakes?"

"Whether you like your magic mentor. If you do, you buy everyone here five glasses of Water of Amn each at a tavern. If you don't, I buy everyone five glasses each and a plate of roast lamb. How's that?" Havel snapped his fingers.

The kid really was rich. Aaron gave it a moment's thought, and the Child of Chaos's eyes suddenly lit up.

Of course. This could be part of the plan!

"You're on. Let's make it the Dragon's Tooth Tavern in the lower city and invite all our brothers-in-arms here!" Aaron slapped Havel's palm to seal the deal. "I swear to Selûne, the Lady of Silver, that I'll honestly say what I think."

"And I swear to the Lady of Wealth... uh, I swear to the Lady of Joy that I'll keep my word!" Delighted that his little scheme had worked, Havel had instinctively started to swear by Waukeen. Then he remembered that the goddess had been missing for over two years and hastily changed it to Lliira.

"Brothers, be our witnesses."

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

The plan worked!

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

The plan worked!

Aaron was pleased too. He had been wondering how to make contact with the Dragon's Tooth Gang, and here was his chance.

If a whole group of Purple Dragon Knight recruits held a gathering at their tavern, surely the boss of the Dragon's Tooth Gang would come out to greet them? Especially when his business skirted the edges of the law.

Whether Aaron won or lost the bet didn't matter.

He had been attracting a little too much attention lately. Losing a harmless wager might even help him get closer to the others.

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

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

"Clothes?" Aaron didn't understand.

"Yes. I had a Tails outfit tailored for you. Wear it when you meet your magic mentor tomorrow." Lucian seemed to remember something, and his face took on a pained look. "First impressions matter enormously to this mentor of yours. They'll decide whether she wants to teach you at all—and how seriously she'll take it."

"She sounds spontaneous. And rather willful." Aaron followed Lucian toward the changing room.

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

What kind of person is this magic mentor of mine?

Aaron grew more eager to meet her. Judging by what Havel had said, she was apparently very charming.

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

It was June. A salty breeze off the water stirred the tails of Aaron's formalwear as he waited with his hands at his sides in a vast sea of flowers. Beside him stood Banneret Lucian, likewise dressed for the occasion in his baronet's ceremonial robes. Together, they awaited Aaron's "magic mentor."

Flowers bloomed everywhere in June. In the great garden near the training grounds, lavender, lupines, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, roses, and peonies formed a field of color beneath the clear blue sky. They basked in the sunlight, flaunting their beauty and filling the air with fragrance.

The sea breeze soothed those waiting and eased their nerves.

"Sometimes the great eye of heaven shines too fiercely, and often its golden face is dimmed. Every lovely bloom must fade and fall, stripped of beauty by chance and time."

As they waited, Banneret Lucian gazed over the endless flowers and recited a little verse. He brushed his hand over a delicate 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 folded and a blade of foxtail grass between his lips. For once, he was dressed fairly formally. When Lucian ignored him, he turned to Aaron instead. "Brat, don't end up like the old geezer. He's the one who botched things... Ow!"

Disma crouched on the ground, clutching his head.

What does he mean, don't end up like the old geezer? What did Lucian botch?

Aaron had no idea. Seeing Lucian's blazing eyes and Disma's tearful ones, he wisely decided not to ask.

"Banneret Lucian, Disma, thank you both for spending your Sunday with me." Aaron steered the conversation elsewhere with a smile. "I'm sorry you had to give up your day off to come welcome my mentor."

"Tch. I had nothing else to do, so I came to have a look. Don't think I came just for you." Disma stayed crouched on the ground, looking thoroughly undignified. The foxtail grass bobbed from side to side in his mouth, and his dull eyes rolled upward. His whole expression said he wanted no thanks. "I just felt sorry for you and thought the old geezer might bully you. Don't flatter yourself."

This guy... Aaron was speechless.

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

"I know. Magic isn't everything. There are many other kinds of power in this world." Aaron hadn't quite grasped Lucian's point, so he repeated it and waited for his mentor to explain further.

"Sorcerers are always arrogant, Aaron. You may not feel that way yet, but you haven't truly experienced the power within you." Lucian rested a hand on Aaron's shoulder. Affection and a faint, peculiar amusement showed in the Banneret's eyes. "I've met many Sorcerers. Their magic, backgrounds, and strength all differed, but they had one thing in common: they all 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 bones. You must understand that your bloodline and the power within you will give you advantages in body and magic, but they do not give you the right to bully the weak. Strength of spirit matters most. Without firm convictions, you'll stray from the right path, and your power and magic may turn against everything you once defended. Strength of spirit cannot be learned. If it could, there would be no need for me to serve as your Knight mentor. Remember: stay true to yourself."

"That's Sorcerers for you." Disma remained crouched on the ground, sounding bored. "Aaron, I'm telling you, the old geezer's given that speech to at least five people already. He only changed the part about you being a Sorcerer. The rest was exactly the same..."

"Well! This is a surprise, Aaron. Look at your senior—he actually remembered my teachings!" Lucian looked touched. Shaking his head, he couldn't help remarking, "The Namemaker once said that even a pig can learn to climb a wall if you teach it three times. Evidently, it's true!"

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

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

At the far end of his gaze, a carriage raced toward the three of them. Hooves pounded and wheels rattled in perfect rhythm, but the driver's seat was empty!

Before their eyes, the driverless carriage hurtled up to them and performed a ninety-degree sliding stop less than fifteen meters away. The gust it raised sent bits of grass, dust, and flower petals swirling through the air.

The carriage door swung wide. A beautiful young woman who seemed nothing short of a miracle leaned out. Even the sunlight paled beside her; her impossibly perfect face drew every eye like a work of art.

She wore a hawthorn-wine-red dress with a lace collar and fine checked pattern. Pale pink hair, luminous as a waterfall beneath the stars, fell to her waist. Two slender brows showed faintly beneath her wispy bangs. Her face was dazzling, her sweet golden eyes bright with intelligence and life. The cloak over her dress could conceal neither her angelic beauty nor her devilish figure.

Her delicate collarbones rose in tempting curves beneath fair skin. The smooth skin of her neck and the proud fullness below it caught the sunlight with an alluring glow.

After her lovely face came a pair of modest lace-up heels, brown with square buckles and butterfly-shaped diamond ornaments above red soles. Her feet, clad in sheer, glossy brown stockings, and her slender legs emerged slowly from the carriage and settled on the step. Compared with the Cleric and the Princess Regent, whose combat training had given them shapely legs, this young woman's legs were somewhat slimmer. A faint crease appeared in her stockings at the backs of her knees as she moved.

She hopped down from the carriage in two lively steps, moving 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 could come in person to guide this unusual student of mine." Banneret Lucian stepped forward and inclined his head.

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

Is she even an adult? She looks younger than me.

"Oh my, oh my. Alusair told me the Salian family had produced an interesting boy. Is this him?" Interest brimmed in the young woman's lively golden eyes, already fixed on Aaron. "It is him, isn't it? Heehee~ I can feel it~"

Lucian's expression shifted. They say people with exceptional charm are naturally drawn to one another. Apparently, it's true. "Yes, that's him. Aaron Salian, my Knight apprentice."

"It's an honor to receive your guidance, ma'am," Aaron said quickly.

"Oh~~~ Interesting. How interesting." The young woman put her hands on her hips and moved slowly closer to Aaron. She gave a little sniff. "Mmm~ I smell a lie!"

"You're thinking, 'This girl might be younger than me. What makes her qualified to teach me?' Aren't you?" The pink-haired young woman approached with a mischievous look, hands still on her hips and chin held high.

"Uh..." Aaron waved his hands awkwardly, then answered with a playful smile. "I certainly wouldn't tell you I had wondered about that."

"Hee~ I'm joking." The young woman spun in place and spread her arms excitedly. "You really are an interesting boy!"

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Charlotte Carladnay, the next Royal Magister of Cormyr!"

Updated! Once he finishes learning magic, it'll be time for an adventure~