"Do you have a way for me to become a mage?"
"…"
"…"
Silence ensued in the dining room as Grace and Rachel stared at the white mask in stupefaction.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"N- No. Just out of curiosity, why do you want to become a mage?" Rachel asked probingly.
"I heard they were powerful. More powerful than those who used External Arts. So naturally I want to become one. Why, is it wrong to become a mage in this country? Oh yeah! You haven't told me where exactly we are yet, Princess."
"Hah~ Do you seriously think it is so easy to become a mage? Just because you want to, you can become one? If that were the case, would royalty like us not to become Magi before everyone else?"
Yu remained silent, waiting for the princess to continue with an interested gaze.
"I don't know who you heard this from, but Magi are indeed powerful, but there are other ways to become stronger, like becoming a knight. Plus, if you want to become a mage, you will not only need to be very smart but will also need to start at a young age-"
The princess cut off her own statement as she realised that she was talking to Yu, the smartest 8-year-old she had come across by far. At least, he seemed to be the most mature of all of them.
"Ahem, more important than that, you will also need potential."
"Potential?" Yu questioned.
"Yes. Potential. Potential decided how fast you can progress through the ranks of a mage, and thereby decided how far you will go as a mage since even Magi are not immortal. Your potential needs to reach a certain level for a mage to even consider accepting you into their tower since they would be spending considerable resources to make you learn magic."
"Tower?"
"Yes. Once a Mage reaches Rank 1, they have the authority and ability to build a Mage Tower. Remember, never become the disciple of a Mage who does not even have a Mage Tower, since that either means they are not even Rank 1 Magi, or are too poor to afford a tower."
"So, Princes… How do I check my potential?"
Rachel looked at the small boy looking at her through the mask as she suddenly recalled the story which Yu had told them, and how the parts within the Santok Empire matched with the investigations she had conducted.
The poor boy had had his home burnt down and was escaping in the snow with a friend, who likely died along the way but he must not have realised and just thought he had fainted. After that, they were kidnapped and then sold here.
Such a life was… rather pitiful. Since he was already her slave, it would not hurt too much to get his potential tested. Even if there were none, it would at least make him more grateful towards her.
The Princess closed her eyes in contemplation before opening them to face Yu.
"Alright. I will take both you and Grace to the Santok Mage Tower to get your potential checked. But remember, do not do anything to embarrass me, and whatever the results, you must not cause a ruckus there."
"Yes!! But when do we leave?"
"I'll ask around to find out when the next recruitment is. We will go then."
"Alright!" Yu exclaimed loudly when suddenly the door to the dining room was opened and two guards entered in a hurry with their swords unsheathed, frantically looking around for enemies.
"Pfft~ Don't worry. That was just little Yu here yelling." Rachel said as she waved her hand and the guards bowed before exiting once more, closing the door behind them.
"Well, Grace? Do you have anything you wish to share? Yu has already made his request. You must also have something right?"
Grace looked at the green eyes of the princess before taking in a deep breath and speaking.
"Yes. Your Highness, I do not wish for my potential to be checked. I would rather that remain a mystery to me, since I would never want to live the life of a mage, constantly buried in books."
"Oh?"
"Instead, I would request to become a knight. My brother used to be one before… anyways, I would like to become a knight to honour his memory."
Yu turned his attention to Grace, before turning it back to the princess as though he was trying to figure something out, but couldn't quite put his hand on it. He felt as though something was strange, but it was too faint of a hint for him to fully understand what was strange.
Rachel's gaze turned considerably gentler as she nodded.
"Alright. Grace, you will become a knight. If the Leader of the guards agrees after training you for a year, you will become my personal bodyguard. If not, then you will still remain as my personal attendant."
"Thank you." Grace bowed in her seat, her eyes already becoming slightly watery.
"Ah! Yes! Thank you" Yu replied hastily as he recalled he had not thanked Rachel yet. However, as he went to stand up, he accidentally caused his chair to fall backwards with a loud thud.
Immediately, the two guards had entered once again with their iron swords unsheathed. In a comical replay of the previous scene, they were told to leave once again by Rachel.
"Sit down and eat. I'm sure you must be starving." Rachel said, shaking her head.
Both Grace and Yu began to eat, however, a strange suspicion appeared in Yu's mind.
"Does the princess treat all her servants-to-be like this? Eating with them at the same table and allowing them a final wish of some sort? Because this behaviour seems awfully nice."
However, Yu held back from saying anything and continued eating. At the very least, he would allow the princess to figure out when the next recruitment drive was and get himself tested before anything else.
…
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man was currently standing in the way of Kai and Morgan's group, causing them to halt in the middle of the snowy path, with leafless trees all around them.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" Morgan spoke up while keeping his hand firmly on his sword.
"Young Master has sent this servant to escort you safely"
"And who is this young master?" Although Morgan had a strange suspicion, he still had to make sure it was the correct person.
"The Young master of the Battle Hall, the sole heir to the Drake County, Young Master Aaron."
Morgan's expression changed rather drastically from cautious to elation, followed rapidly by confusion and slight anger. However, after taking a deep breath in, he spoke in the indifferent tone he had taken up since this journey of escape had begun.
"Alright, lead the way."
The Man nodded and began running at a speed which greatly shocked Kai. This was definitely not a speed a normal human could possibly run at, even more so during winter when the path is covered in snow.
Morgan motioned with his reins and the horses began galloping after the man, barely being able to keep up as they sped off in a certain direction.