Another world, Celeste

Chapter Twenty, pt 3

"Excuse me for interrupting."

The staff who brings the food earlier returns to retrieve the empty plates and cups. Luna and I express our thanks to the staff for the meal.

"The clerks are looking for you," the staff politely addresses Luda.

Luda nods in response and the staff leaves after delivering the message.

Looking a bit peeve, Luda excuses himself. "I'll be returning to my work now."

After watching Luda leaves, Luna hung her head and speaks to Roy exhaustedly.

"Why must you poke at that particular incident, Roy? There should be another anecdote you could choose to tell that doesn't particularly involve the aged fruit wine. You know how much he takes pride in his wine brewing?"

I see. Luda does have other interest other than golems. That's a bit of a relief actually. Golems are essentially large-scale remote-controlled model toys and Luda is always summoning a variety of golems that he created during our lessons and explaining how each of them is made to perform different tasks that he can be overly enthusiastic about it.

Roy replies with disinterest. "It's a story from a long time ago. Besides, we're talking about Iris here."

Luna covers her face and sigh.

Then, Roy cheerfully declares. "And so, Luna and I will be your tutors."

"What do you mean 'and so'? You haven't even explained what the specialised magic lesson is about."

I rebuke him instead of nodding understandably.

"Light magic. I also have them," states Roy matter-of-factly.

"I figured that already."

Taken aback by my unsurprised reaction, Roy scratches his head and says with reluctance, "I'm also somewhat of a priest."

My mouth opens slightly in response. That's a shocking fact.

I throw a dubious glance at Roy. "Aren't you a hot-headed mercenary? You don't look like someone who's achieved enlightenment."

Luna chuckles at my remark.

"Oi! I don't just know how to swing a sword and fight bare-handed. Practising meditation is an essential part of training in the temples and I endured through it all or else the instructor in charge of training novice trainees won't allow me took part in the combat training after."

Without waiting to be asked about it, Roy recounts the times he studies hard by citing books about magic, history, culture and philosophy, geography, arithmetic and mastering elvish. Sure, I get that Roy is not entirely a battle-maniac after spending these few months training with him. He sometimes says insightful comments when retelling some of the encounters he's faced from his travels, but I never take him as a well-read person.

I get it. I get it already. When is he going to stop trying to convince me that even a battle-maniac like him is properly educated?

"...The book about edible and poisonous plants are useful when you're travelling on the road and also, reading up on monsters' anatomy was especially useful. You can figure out their weak spots faster when you come across certain monsters."

In the end, his thoughts stray towards travelling and camping in the outdoor.

"Roy, you know the last two books are practically survival guides on the wilds. Also, aren't those part of the rangers' learning curriculum?" I interrupt him.

Luna raises her right palm at Roy and he ultimately stops talking.

Then, Luna resumes talking about the initial purpose of this conversation. "As we were saying earlier, the specialised magic lesson will be focused on light magic. Formerly, light mages were mostly comprised of non-combatants; healers and they could only directly cast 'Purify' onto a specific target. Over time, stimulated by the practice of the temple, mages developed various methods in the application of light magic."

I nod while listening attentively.

"The magic lesson will be divided into two types of training and Roy here, will be teaching you how to incorporate light magic into fighting techniques and the second training will be done at the rehabilitation centre."

As I thought, visiting the rehabilitation centre will proceed as planned. That's the only place in the sanctuary I haven't gone to yet.

"Are you against it? Does being close to tainted monsters makes you... gives you discomfort?" Luna conveys her concern carefully.

"Well, I didn't throw up, tremble in my feet nor feel like my soul being sucked dry as the symptoms state when one crosses with a tainted monster. Otherwise, I'm good."

Sensing that Luna is expecting to hear how it personally affects me, but what can I say when there is no clear answer to tell her. Hence, the ambiguity of my response.

"You did better than the city's soldiers. They can't do anything but talk with big mouths."

Roy compliment my behaviour during the incident by ridiculing the Imperial Army.

"Thanks, I guess."

Visiting the rehabilitation centre is added to my lesson schedule. Luna says there's nothing to prepare or anything for me to do specifically while I'm there. On top of that, she gives me a temporary permit to access the sanctuary by the entrance so Maya doesn't have to accompany me anymore. Also, the additional combat lesson is added after the tainted monster incident and since Roy will be teaching me, he strongly insists on having the combat lesson overlap with one of our existing training days. I readily accept despite his odd manner. Luna, however, cast a suspicious look at Roy which he ignores.

For the rest of the day, Bane and I spend our time at the nursery. When we arrive at the outdoor playground, a repeat from our first time here happens once again. Cubs and young monsters tackle us from all sides and I receive their fluffy attacks without resistance. I apologise to the caretakers for suddenly coming over but they gladly welcome us without complaints. The caretakers use this chance to clean up the place whilst the young monsters' attention is currently diverted at Bane and me.

By the time I return to the village, my face is plastered in utter bliss, my clothes covered in fur and Mint who happens to be on duty by the gate points at me in frustration when she figures out by the direction I'm coming from.