Chapter 51 Apology And Promise
It's the 7th day of my visit back home. Since I'm heading back to the royal capital on the carriage tomorrow, today is practically my last day of vacation.
Now, as I pondered how to spend this final day, the memory of the diary I borrowed from my mentor's study came to mind. I should properly apologize and ask if she could lend it to me. I can't just go back to the royal capital without telling my mentor. It would be rude, and I'd probably worry about it and not sleep well.
I got ready with extra gear, put the diary in a small hemp bag, and forced my heavy feet to leave the house.
But soon, I had to stop to catch my breath. That's when I saw two familiar faces in the distance. It was Lukas and Petra!
I didn't expect to see them. Not wanting to be noticed or bother them, I quietly tried to walk away, keeping my footsteps as quiet as possible.
"Ah..."
Oh no, I made eye contact with Lukas.
I held back my childhood friend, who looked like he was about to run over. Instead of letting Lukas and Petra talk far away from each other, I decided to go to them. This way, Petra could join the conversation too, and we could avoid any worries or misunderstandings.
"Laura! Where are you going?"
"I'm going to see my mentor for a bit. I'll be back tomorrow, and there's something I want to talk about with her."
I emphasized the part about "talk about with her". Lukas's lips momentarily pursed as if sulking. He probably intended to follow me, so it was good that I took the initiative.
I made eye contact with Petra over Lukas's shoulder. She smiled awkwardly. Let's make ourselves scarce.
"See you later, Petra."
When Lukas turned to look at Petra after I said "do your best" with just my mouth, she slightly blushed and nodded in response. It seemed like my message got through.
In a hurry to leave the two of them behind, I naturally picked up the pace. As a result, I ended up getting closer to my mentor's house. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of my mentor's house.
Taking a deep breath, I hesitated before knocking on the door several times. After repeating this a few times, feeling like the day would end if I didn't act soon, I boldly knocked on the old, worn-out door.
"Oh, Mentor?"
My voice sounded strained. After clearing my throat and adjusting my voice, which had long been dry, my mentor peeked out from the bedroom in response to my call.
"Oh, Laura. You'll be heading back tomorrow, won't you?"
"Yes. So, I came to bid my farewells."
"Haha, you're still as formal as ever, my disciple. Here, a parting gift for you."
A worn-out notebook was handed to me as if thrown. I almost dropped it for a moment, but managed to catch it somehow and flipped through a few pages. There, written in familiar handwriting, were detailed instructions on a synthesis method.
I initially thought it was a healing potion synthesis note, but upon checking the ingredients section, I realized it was different. This was because most of the ingredients listed were actually poisonous substances.
"What's this?"
"It's Berta's work! It's a synthesis note for poisonous substances. There was a time when I was really into synthesizing poisons."
A synthesis note for poisonous substances by Berta, my mentor. Despite my surprise at its existence, I couldn't help but feel uneasy hearing those ominous words, as I timidly looked up at her in front of me.
"...You haven't committed any crimes, right?"
"You ain't gonna get away with this! Rude disciple! Just like making a healing potion, making poison is also quite complex. It's not just simple curiosity. It'll be useful for you who always get involved in things."
It seems like she is worried about me. My mentor's concern gently spread in my heart. At the same time, the diary wrapped in the hemp bag in my right hand felt even heavier.
My conscience aches. I can't just take it out silently like this.
I took a deep breath, steadied my trembling legs from nervousness, and spoke up.
"Thank you! ...Um, Mentor."
"Huh?" Mentor tilted her head, and I bent down, offering the hemp bag.
I felt she tilting her head above me, but I couldn't lift my head in embarrassment. I continued speaking while staring at the worn-out floor.
"Sorry for not keeping quiet! I found this in your study the day before yesterday...!"
The weight that was suddenly on my hand disappeared. My mentor must have taken the hemp cloth.
There was a faint rustling sound as the cloth was moved. She took out a manuscript. Then came the sound of turning pages. Throughout this, my mentor did not say a word.
The silence was so deafening. A long, seemingly eternal silence. It was broken by a deep sigh from my mentor.
——I was dumbfounded.
Trying to suppress the rising feeling, I bit down hard on my lower lip.
"...You fool. You should have just taken it quietly."
I raised my head at a voice much kinder than I had expected.
I met the bitter smile of my mentor, who said, "You hopeless one." In her red eyes, besides my own stubbornness, I could sense a feeling of fondness towards her disciple.
Just as I let out a sigh of relief, I tried to apologize repeatedly.
"If I had just taken it without saying anything, I would have been so nervous... I'm really sorry."
To be honest, my mentor chuckled, "You're too honest." She definitely chuckled.
As the tension drained from my stiff body, I showed a visibly relieved expression. My Mentor finally burst out laughing at me and then handed me a manuscript.
"Take this. It should be useful. ...But, could you give me a little time to talk about that?"
The relaxed atmosphere tensed up again.
That thing mentioned in the manuscript is undoubtedly true. Could this really be something my Mentor wrote—
Thinking that far, I shook my head a few times to clear my mind. My Mentor said she would talk about it eventually, so I decided not to pry too much.
As I nodded without words, my Mentor suddenly lowered her eyelids.
"Sorry for being silent. But... even for me, it wasn't a good past. Let's arrange such a place soon."
Seeing the worn-out figure of my mentor that I had never seen before, I was shaken and couldn't find any clever words to say. While scolding myself as a pathetic disciple, a question I wanted to ask my mentor began to rise in my heart. It's more like something I want to request rather than ask.
I hesitated to convey it here, but if I miss this chance, I might lose the timing and not be able to ask, so I timidly spoke up.
"Um... Is it okay if I bring someone else to that place?"
If possible, I also want to bring Arnold to listen together.
Without asking who my mentor wants to invite, she just nodded.
"Mentor, th... thank you very much."
For a moment, I was about to apologize, but I realized it would be more appropriate to express gratitude instead, so I bowed deeply. Without any reaction from my Mentor, she just said, "I'm going to get some fresh air outside, I'm counting on you to watch over things," as she walked past me and left the hut.
Left alone, I impulsively sat down on a nearby chair. The chair creaked in protest, but I didn't have the energy or composure to pay it much mind.
I glanced through the diary handed to me by my Mentor once again. I'll read it carefully on the carriage ride back and consult with Arnold once we reach the royal capital.
Lost in thought, I stared blankly at the door through which my Mentor had exited for a while.
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