"All right, stop here. Any farther and this ship will run aground."
Sovell stood at the bow, looking at the forest on the distant shore as he spoke to the purple-haired boy beside him.
"Yes, teacher. Have a safe journey."
"So you've learned to say things like that too, huh? Hahaha!"
Kay arrived with the laughter, leading Joanie. He ruffled Lancelot's silky hair, and before long, a purple "bird's nest" had taken shape on the boy's head.
"Sovell, sorry for the trouble."
Artoria stroked Joanie's coat as she spoke to Sovell.
"Not at all."
After a bow, Sovell snapped his fingers at Joanie's four hooves.
Snap~
Four streaks of blue-green light flew from his fingertips, landing on one hoof each.
Lancelot, standing nearby, had long since grown used to the relationship between his two teachers.
As early as a month after becoming their student, Lancelot had noticed a pattern:
"Although Teacher Sovell generally takes the lead in deciding what we do, he's unusually respectful toward Teacher Lily in everyday life."
Before long, all the luggage had been loaded onto a small boat, including the King of Brittany's chest of tableware and silk, along with the gold and silver King Ban had given them as "tuition."
Hemp ropes connected the boat's bow to Kelpie's and Joanie's saddles, saving them the trouble of rowing.
Kelpie willingly leaped off the deck and sank into the water. The pale coat instantly returned to a faint, moonlit blue, and the crescent-shaped tail swished powerfully through the water.
Joanie had a harder time. Perhaps because land animals instinctively feared deep water, Sovell had to lift her with the wind and set her down on the surface.
The next moment, the blue-green light on her four hooves transformed into a Wind Wall, supporting the mare so she