Avoiding Death in an Otome Game

Chapter 72: Chapter - 72: A New Worry

”If I had to make an estimate, your talent is probably unrivaled among your generation, at least within the Yona Kingdom.” Albert says with his calm gaze fixed on me

*Unrivaled in the generation? Me?*

That was a considerably stronger statement than I had expected to hear from him, especially considering that Albert had no reason to flatter me, and from what I had seen of him so far, he did not seem like someone who casually praises students.

Still, I was not particularly comfortable receiving such a direct compliment.

”Thank you”

That was all I could think of saying.

I let the silence linger for a moment before finally returning to the reason I had come here in the first place.

”Teacher.”

”Hm?”

”About the memory magic... Will you teach it to me?”

Albert did not answer immediately.

He looked at me for a few seconds, seemingly considering the request again, before giving a small nod.

”With your mental strength, learning it should be possible.”

A sense of relief passed through me.

*So I really can learn it.*

Albert then leaned slightly toward the drawer built into the right side of his desk and opened it, searching through its contents before pulling out something that looked almost disappointingly ordinary.

It was a very thin book.

In fact, calling it a book was probably generous, because it consisted of only a few pages bound together beneath a grey cover, and there was not even a title written on it.

Albert placed it on the desk before sliding it toward me ”Read this.”

I picked it up carefully. On closer look there were only four pages in it ”That is all?”

”That is enough.”

Albert’s expression remained serious.

”Do not simply memorize the words. Read it properly and understand what it is explaining.”

I looked down at the grey cover again.

”What should I do after I finish?”

”Come back tomorrow.”

He paused before adding, ”If you understand the content, I will teach you the spell itself.”

I nodded ”Understood.”

I placed the small book carefully inside my storage magic tool after making sure it was securely stored.

”Thank you, Teacher.”

I stood from the chair and was about to leave when Clara suddenly spoke.

”Oh, wait!”

I stopped on my track.

Clara was looking at me with a cheerful expression.

”Also bring your fiancee tomorrow.”

I stared at her ”...Elena?”

”Yes” She clasped her hands together, looking genuinely excited.

”I have not had a proper girl chat in so long, and Miss Janet is always busy these days, so she hardly ever comes to visit me anymore.”

I was not sure how to respond to that either. (3x)

There was also another problem.

*Is it really even a safe idea to bring Elena here?*

I was still not completely certain about Albert and Clara myself.

Albert had saved us during the attack, and everything I had seen from him since then suggested that he had no hostility toward me, but that alone was not enough to erase all of the questions I had accumulated since arriving at the academy.

Now Clara wanted Elena to come here as well.

I did not particularly like the idea of bringing her into a place where I was still unsure about the people involved, especially when I had no idea what Clara might ask her about.

But refusing directly would also be strange, particularly after everything Clara had done during the attack.

So, after a brief hesitation, I nodded.

”Alright. I will ask her.”

Clara immediately smiled ”Good!”

I gave Albert another polite nod before turning toward the door and scramming myself out of the study.

Now I really want to go to my room and collapse on my bed but there is one more important thing to do.

.....

After leaving Albert’s study, I made my way toward the library, where I had agreed to meet Elena before the evening.

Elena was already there when I arrived, sitting at one of the tables with several books arranged in front of her, and she looked up almost immediately after noticing me approaching.

”You took longer than I expected.”

”I had to convince Teacher Albert.”

She closed the book in front of her and looked at me with a hint of curiosity.

”How did it go?”

I pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down before answering, ”Better than I expected, actually.”

That immediately caught her attention.

I gave her a brief explanation of the conversation, leaving out the parts that were not necessary, and told her that Albert had confirmed that my mental strength was sufficient to learn the memory magic I had been looking for, after which he had given me a small book containing the principles of the spell and instructed me to study it carefully before returning tomorrow so that he could teach me the actual spell.

Elena listened quietly until I finished, then tilted her head slightly.

”So Teacher Albert really knows a memory spell like that?”

”Apparently.”

”And he agreed to teach you?”

”He did.”

She seemed pleased by that, although her expression changed slightly when I mentioned the final part of my conversation with Clara.

”There is one more thing.”

”What?”

”Clara asked me to bring you with me tomorrow.”

Elena blinked ”Me?”

I nodded ”She said she wanted to have a ’girl chat’ with you, apparently because she has not had much opportunity to talk with Miss Janet lately.”

Elena remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly thinking about it, while I watched her expression carefully before adding, ”But I think you should not go, I will just tell her that you were busy with somet-”

”You do not have to.” Elena suddenly said.

”Hm?”

”I’ll come.” Her answer was immediate enough that I was slightly surprised.

”Are you sure?”

”Of course. It could be interesting,” she said, resting her chin lightly against her hand. ”I have never really had the opportunity to speak with a humanoid spirit before, and Clara seems rather different from the spirits I have heard about.”

I had expected at least some hesitation considering that Clara was a spirit and Albert was someone whose background remained unclear to me, but Elena instead seemed genuinely interested in the opportunity.

I gave her a doubtful look ”You think so?”

”Yes.”

She smiled faintly before continuing, ”Besides, I am curious about Teacher Albert and Clara’s relationship as well.”

That part made me pause ”Why?”

”Because they are unusual.”

She seemed to consider her own words before adding, ”think about it. Teacher Albert is a Grand Mage and Clara is his spirit, yet she claims to be his wife. I mean such a thing is even possible?”

I could understand her curiosity. In fact, I had wondered about exactly the same thing when I first heard about Clara’s words.

”Don’t you find it fascinating?”

I gave her a wry smile.

”Interesting is one way to describe it.”

*I had personally use the word dangerous.*

I still had too many unanswered questions surrounding Albert, Clara, their past, and their connection to everything that had happened at the academy, and although neither of them had given me any obvious reason to consider them enemies, my mind had not completely relaxed yet.

Elena, however, seemed to have already made up her mind ”I will come with you tomorrow.”

I considered arguing again, but judging by her expression, there was little point.

”Alright.”

She smiled in satisfaction and reopened the book in front of her.

”Then it is decided.”

We spent some more time in the library after that, although neither of us managed to concentrate particularly well on our studies, partly because the academy was still recovering from the attack and partly because my mind kept returning to the small grey book sitting inside my storage magic tool.

Eventually, when it became late enough that the library was becoming quieter, Elena and I decided to return to our respective dormitories, and after saying goodbye to her at the corridor, I finally made my way back to my room.

Ian was not there yet.

That gave me some peace and quiet, which was exactly what I needed.

I closed the door behind me, walked over to my side of the room, and sat down on the edge of my bed. For several seconds, I simply remained there without moving.

*Was this actually safe?*

The question had been bothering me ever since Clara had asked Elena to accompany me.

I had no evidence that Albert or Clara intended to harm either of us, and considering what they had done during the attack, it would be difficult to call them hostile based on what I had personally witnessed, but I still could not completely dismiss the possibility that there was something I did not understand.

Especially when it came to Elena. I could tolerate taking risks with myself, but involving her was different.

But, at the same time, tomorrow could also be a useful opportunity.

If Albert and Clara really had some connection to the things I was worried about, spending more time around them might allow me to understand their intentions better, while if they were simply ordinary people with unusual circumstances, then there would be no reason for me to keep suspecting them.

There was also another point that somewhat eased my concern.

Clara was an ice spirit.

Even if she had somehow been exposed to some kind of evil essence, I could not imagine her being capable of directly influencing Elena in the same way a human possessing a suitable vessel might.

At least, that was what I believed based on what I currently know about evil magic users and evil attribute.

*Still, I will keep my eyes open.*

I decided not to think about it any further for tonight. If I notice anything suspicious then I will sent a letter to father and ask him for help.