At that precise moment, a wave of determination surged within Lance. The contours of the lesser meditation rune were etched into the very fabric of his mind, allowing him to visualize its form effortlessly.
"With the rune clearly etched within, what remains is merely its daily consolidation," Lance pondered, a tinge of excitement threading his thoughts. The ease with which his consciousness had navigated the inner sanctum of his mind was unexpected; the golden light spots, symbols of his mental power, had yielded to his command as naturally as his own limbs.
He felt a strong, almost reckless urge to begin sketching the rune right there within the cavernous landscape of his thoughts. Yet, prudence prevailed. He remembered Amman's cautious words and the weight they carried. Withdrawing from the depths of his mental realm, Lance let out a sigh tinged with a mix of disappointment and relief. He acknowledged that he had indeed crossed a significant hurdle; there was no sense in jeopardizing his progress for fleeting impatience.
"Are you contemplating an attempt? Do not fear failure on your first try; persistence will lead to success," a calming voice offered, breaking the silence.
Lance jolted slightly, not realizing until then that Amman had taken a seat beside him. The old wizard's eyes, filled with a mentor's concern, met Lance's as he emerged from his introspection. Mistaking Lance's sigh for frustration at an unsuccessful entry into the mental realm, Amman had readied himself to offer consolation.
Lance suppressed a grin, maintaining a modest demeanor as he responded, "Yes, thank you, teacher." He was internally buzzing with the knowledge that he had accessed his brain as swiftly as some of the prodigies Amman had described, but he chose to keep that excitement under wraps. Humility, after all, seemed the wiser path.
Amman offered further guidance: "You can attempt to enter your mind two or three times a day. More than that could be counterproductive. For beginners, controlling and directing one's thoughts into the brain can be quite draining."
Acknowledging the wisdom in his teacher's words, Lance nodded. He proceeded to ask Amman several more questions, absorbing as much information as possible before departing from the Moonlight Tower.
Walking away, Lance mulled over Amman's advice regarding the formation of runes. He recognized that there was no need to rush; time was on his side. This period, he decided, would also serve well for fortifying his foundational knowledge and enhancing his physical condition—a balanced approach to becoming a more adept and well-rounded aspirant in the arts of magic.
Lance made his way back to the castle under the cover of night. The usual bustle of dinner had ceased earlier than usual due to the Viscount's departure, leaving the halls quieter than he was accustomed to. Accepting the situation, Lance headed straight to the kitchen to find something to eat.
Once he had satisfied his hunger, Lance approached the porter, requesting a candle to light his way through the dimly lit corridors. With the flickering candle in hand, casting elongated shadows against the stone walls, he navigated the familiar path to his room.
"Huh? There's someone in my room?" Lance observed a sliver of light escaping from beneath his door, signaling an unusual presence in his personal space at this hour.
Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of a young girl standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. Her linen-colored hair contrasted with her fair skin, and she appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, exuding a mix of timidity and uncertainty.
"Who are you?" Lance inquired, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
The girl glanced up at Lance, her eyes wide with a touch of fear. Before she could muster a reply, the familiar, more robust figure of Aunt Xili emerged from the bathroom, breaking the uneasy silence.
"Master Lance, she is your new maid, selected personally by the lady of the house," Aunt Xili explained with a hint of sternness in her voice. "I've already briefed her on her duties and what is expected in caring for you. A young master like yourself shouldn't be without proper assistance."
Aunt Xili continued, barely taking a breath, "I've prepared hot water for you, should you wish to bathe. Even though it's summer, a hot bath after a long day can be quite refreshing."
Lance simply nodded, processing this new addition to his daily life, as Aunt Xili exited the room, leaving behind a trail of instructions.
With a decisive "Bang!" Lance secured the door behind them, noticing the increase in unease reflected in Bonnie's eyes. Seeking to alleviate the tension, he asked in a calm tone, "What's your name?"
The girl managed a response, though her cheeks blushed with a hint of nervousness. "Bonnie, my name is Bonnie, Master…" She hesitated momentarily before offering, "Do you need help changing your clothes?"
Lance offered a nonchalant shrug, shifting the conversation away from personal services to something that piqued his curiosity. "What did the lady say to you?" he inquired, subtly probing for any insights into the intentions behind his new assistant's arrival.
Bonnie seemed momentarily puzzled, then responded, "Madam? Do you mean the Viscountess? I've just arrived at the castle, and everything's still a bit unclear to me."
Lance didn't press further, realizing that the girl might genuinely be unaware of any deeper schemes. With a casual air, he stripped off his day's attire and proceeded into the bathroom, leaving Bonnie in a state of startled confusion.
Submerged in the warmth of the hot bath, Lance allowed the soothing waters to ease the day's accumulated tensions. The rigorous morning of swordsmanship and the intense concentration required for his magical studies had drawn heavily on both his physical and mental reserves.
He pondered momentarily on the Viscountess's motives for assigning Bonnie as his maid but decided not to dwell on the potential intricacies of court intrigue for now. Lance was practical; he understood the dynamics of castle life well enough but chose to focus on his immediate need for rest and recovery.
Exhaling a long, relaxing breath, Lance closed his eyes, momentarily setting aside the complexities of his world to simply bask in the tranquility of the moment.
…
After finishing his bath, Lance emerged to find Bonnie still lingering uncertainly in the corner of his room. Observing her more closely now, he couldn't help but acknowledge her attractive features and the vulnerability reflected in her blue eyes, which unwittingly sparked a sense of protectiveness.
"Your name is Bonnie, correct? You don't need to attend to me tonight. Go to your own room and rest," Lance instructed, offering her a dismissive wave.
However, Bonnie hesitated, pointing timidly to a modest bed that had not been there previously. "Master Lance, I was told to sleep here," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lance's brows furrowed as he caught sight of the small bed, an unmistakable sign of the Viscountess's intent to keep a closer eye on him. Internally, he scoffed at the transparent attempt at surveillance. "Who directed you to do this?" he inquired sharply, his tone turning colder.
Frightened by his sudden change in demeanor, Bonnie stuttered, "They... the masters of the castle."
Lance straightened, an authoritative edge to his posture. "The 'masters of the castle'?" he echoed disdainfully. "My father, Lord Viscount Lane, is the true master here. And with both him and my brother Griffin away, I am the acting authority. Understand?"
He then issued a firm command, amplifying the authority in his voice, "I'm telling you now, leave. Exit my room!"
Overwhelmed, tears brimming in her eyes, Bonnie had no choice but to comply with Lance's stern order. She hastily exited the room, leaving Lance alone with his thoughts.
With Bonnie gone and the door securely locked behind her, Lance settled into solitude, picking up a book for a brief read before retiring to bed. Despite the unwanted drama, he was determined to maintain control over his personal space and privacy within the castle walls.
…
Roused at the usual time of 5:30 a.m. by [Fox]'s alert, Lance yawned and stretched, feeling the grip of sleep still tugging at his consciousness. "Still not used to waking up this early," he muttered under his breath while splashing cold water on his face. Lance was a firm believer that succumbing to lethargy was a direct path away from success; thus, he fought against the urge to crawl back into bed.
Upon opening his bedroom door, he was greeted not by the quiet castle hallway he expected, but by the sight of a slender figure curled up against the doorframe. "Bonnie?" he questioned in a hushed tone, a crease of worry marking his brow.
Startled awake, Bonnie looked up, her demeanor reminiscent of a startled animal, eyes swollen and red from tears – a testament to a night spent in distress. Clad only in her lightweight servant's garb, she shivered slightly, the castle's stone walls offering little reprieve from the nocturnal chill despite the season.
"Did you spend the entire night here?" he inquired, a note of concern threading through his words.
With a somber nod, the girl seemed to muster her courage before speaking, "Master, I implore you, please keep this a secret. I am appointed as your maid... if you dismiss me, they intend to sell me away to the old stablehand to be his wife." Her voice quivered with earnest fear, a clear indication of the dire straits she believed herself to be in.
Lance's heart softened at the sight of Bonnie's miserable state; he couldn't help but let out a resigned sigh and nod in acceptance. "Fine," he conceded, masking his frustration with a wave of his hand as a sign that she could stay.
However, as he started to walk away, he noticed Bonnie quietly following him, maintaining a cautious distance but matching his pace step for step. Lance halted, irritation creasing his brow. "Is this what the lady instructed you to do?" he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
Bonnie replied in a timid voice, "I am assigned as the young master's personal maid. It is my duty to follow where you lead."
Lance decided not to dwell on it further, considering her presence an unneeded complication rather than a help. He brushed off the matter and continued to the martial arts field as he had planned. His focus was on improving himself, not babysitting.
[Fox] had significantly expedited his learning curve. He executed the horizontal and vertical cuts with near-perfect precision, though he acknowledged the need for improvement in the other four maneuvers of the basic swordsmanship set.
Despite Bonnie's watchful, somewhat doleful eyes, Lance dedicated his morning to rigorous training, sweat drenching his garments. To him, the girl's presence was inconsequential; his priority lay in mastering the sword and, by extension, himself. This dedication filled his every action, pushing distractions to the periphery of his awareness.
…
By noon, Lance had reached a natural stopping point in his basic swordsmanship practice. He had become acutely aware of how proper form could invigorate and strengthen various muscle groups, while incorrect techniques could lead to strain or injury. Each correct movement not only expended his energy but also contributed incrementally to his overall physical condition. Understanding the lengthy nature of this process, Lance recognized the importance of consistency and resilience on the path to improvement.
Returning the wooden sword to its place on the rack, Lance prepared to head back to the castle. However, his attention was caught by a small contingent of soldiers navigating the path ahead, escorting a peculiar haul.
Driven by curiosity, Lance approached the group. "What's going on here?" he inquired as he neared.
Recognizing him, the soldiers quickly straightened, offering their respects in unison. "Master Lance!" they greeted.
One, identified as a captain by his insignia, gestured towards their captive bounty. "These are murlocs, my lord. They were found lurking near the shoreline, attempting to pilfer our provisions. We've managed to capture them," he reported, indicating the odd creatures bound before them.
Lance's interest piqued as he observed the strange beings..