It was two days after the naming and it was now time for us to leave Forostar. On the day of the naming, Vera spent the rest of the day together with Lady Artanis while I went out with Grimwin where I tried out cutting down trees together with all the other lumberjacks. It was surprisingly fun, albeit extremely back-breaking work.
The trees, due to its species and how they were grown gradually infused with mana, were extremely tough for me to cut through since I couldn't use mana. Grimwin claimed that the wood they produced was the hardest hardwood in the world, and I was inclined to believe him. It wasn't an empty boast when one can't make a chip on it without using an enough amount of mana.
The mana inside the wood was spread out throughout the material and when a force is applied from the outside, the mana counteracts the force. The primary method they used to cut down these trees had the same logic as cutting normal trees. They infused the edge of their strike with mana while using mana to enhance their swing. They just needed to exert enough force to exceed the force generated by the mana in the wood.
Ultimately, I wasn't even able to make a notch on the wood itself. It was still an enjoyable experience since it was something completely new to me. Grimwin also introduced me to some other people in the village. His joyful excitement in talking to people was kind of infectious. All in all, I had a great time on the day Vera got named.
Yesterday, Vera once again spent the entire day together with Lady Artanis. It... got me a bit lonely not having her constantly by me, but that's how it should be; I think. People shouldn't have to be constantly together all the time, that'd be unnatural. Spending time with someone else was also doing Vera really good. She wasn't as timid anymore whenever we went out for a walk in the village, and she — little by little — started talking to Grimwin too. Grimwin was ecstatic, even by his standards, the first time Vera actually verbally responded to him.
Vera's interactions with Lady Artanis showed to me the extend of just how lonely Vera actually was. She was practically clinging on to Lady Artanis most times of the day. Scratch that, not just during the day but at night too. It was the first time since my regression that we didn't sleep in the same room — for two days in a row to boot. It made sense though since, soon enough, we were going to leave Forostar for quite some time.
In my case, I spent the day yesterday preparing for everything we needed to travel and for the academy with the support of Lady Artanis. She gave us a letter of recommendation and proof of residency for the both of us. She also handed us a book titled: "Entry to Vier Academy Made Easy! Vier Academy Exam 101". From the quick skim through I did of it, it was a comprehensive study guide book for the coverage, outline, and expected questions for the entrance exam of Vier Academy.
Today would be the day a merchant currently in the village would travel back south towards the City of Lumisade. If we miss this timing of traveling with the merchant, the next merchant heading towards the central city would come by next week. We definitely couldn't miss it, or else we'd have to spend three days walking instead of just patiently riding a carriage. Vera would not like that one bit.
I woke up especially early today in order to beat Lady Artanis to the kitchen. Preparing breakfast for our send-off was one of the least things I could do for her hospitality. After serving everything on the table, I went to Lady Artanis' room to wake the two of them up.
"It's time for breakfast, both of you!" I yelled through the bedroom door. I wasn't rude enough to enter the room without permission given I didn't know what state of dress the two of them were in.
I didn't have to wait for long before both of them came out of the room looking groggy. Well, Vera was. Lady Artanis was still the epitome of elegance, even though she just woke up. Her hair was neat without any trace of bedhead and her face was clean with no indications of drool or eye crust. Her appearance greatly contrasted Vera's incredibly cute messy appearance. With visible dried drool streaks on the side of her lips, hair spreading out in every direction with some strands getting lost in her mouth. I couldn't help but laugh at the disparity.
Vera immediately pouted, "You don't have to laugh about it." She humphed. I brushed away the stray strands on her face. "Stop eating your hair."
Her eyes narrowed, she rushed past me as she called me: "Meanie."
I chuckled as I trailed after her together with Lady Artanis.
"It's good to see the two of you being as close as ever."
"Of course we should be. I was the only one Vera had for years."
"Now, now. There's no need to get testy."
I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't notice your tone?"
My eyes widened in realization. "Oh! I'm sorry Lady Artanis. I didn't mean it like that."
The delivery of my response to her statement was unintentionally rough and sharp. I admonished myself. What am I doing being aggressive towards our benefactor? I was no better than a mutt who bites the hand that feeds them.
Lady Artanis, on the other hand, merely smiled. "Are you, perhaps, jealous? Envious? Lonely?"
I couldn't refute her words at all. "I think so. Probably."
"When you get into the academy, try and release Vera from her shackles. Even if just a bit. It's fine to keep supporting her and to stay by her side, but don't let her stay dependent on you forever. She needs to find independence of her own, in her own. This... I can't — with full confidence — give the same advice to you since I haven't observed you as much as I have Vera, but... this advice goes for you too."
Her words stopped me in my tracks. Lady Artanis calmly kept going forwards and eventually left me behind in the hallway. Alone.
I entered the dining room to see Vera nearly finished with her food with Lady Artanis not too far behind.
"Dina! What took you so long? I'm already nearly done. My gosh, what a slowpoke."
Her normal liveliness finally being exhibited showed just how much she'd grown in the short amount of time she'd spent with Lady Artanis. It seemed like Lady Artanis was right.
So I have until we enter the academy, huh.
I guess, I should make the best of it for now.
"I was just busy thinking; going over the things I prepared for our journey."
She beamed, "Thanks, Dina!"
And with that smile, my worries got swept away.
I ate my breakfast as I listened to Lady Artanis regale stories of her past with the villagers, mostly humorous in nature. They were still deep in their conversation by the time I finished eating, so I elected to clean everything up.
With everything packed and all ready to go, Lady Artanis walked with us together to where the merchant was staying at which was a small inn specifically for merchants with a stable incorporated with the tree trunks for the horses.
Traveling with the merchant didn't mean that we'd get to Lumisade faster, however. The merchant still had to stop by each town for a day to buy and sell wares. It would take us nearly a week to get to Lumisade whereas if Vera and I just walked it on our own, it'd only take three days.
We weren't that pressed for time since we had around two weeks left before we needed to be in the Academy especially since we'd be taking the train from Lumisade to Vier. It was much better to have a more comfortable journey instead of roughing it out on our own.
The merchant was outside the inn, waiting for us. After apologizing for making him wait, he introduced himself as Helgi. He was one of the two merchants that made Forostar one of their locations. The few number of merchants was a bit suspicious considering how well-off the villagers were in comparison, Helgi's deep respect for Lady Artanis was also worth noting.
Am I actually just being jealous or something?
Why did I feel the need to nitpick every little thing Lady Artanis does? Why am I trying to find fault with her instead of being appreciative of everything she's done to help us?
Am I actually a prick?
I breathed out as I cleared my head. We bid Lady Artanis and Forostar our goodbyes as Helgi's carriage left the village, making it smaller and smaller until it disappeared — hidden by trees.