章 54: Chapter 22 - Letter
The next three weeks passed in a flash, with Lilly training her enchanting and flame every day. Her control of the enchanting power increased by leaps and bounds, and she even started getting the hang of transmutation.
Selene had been healed shortly after the discovery of the staff, and had been training almost every day since. She was putting a bit too much effort in, but to any onlookers, she explained it by saying she was excited to join the war.
Mia had long since started using the smithy next to Lilly's office. They would often train their crafts together, with Lilly heating the forge and Mia providing test subjects for Lilly's transmutation.
Princess Adelia and Claude had returned to Eldhaven, preparing to gather allies for the future. She had ideas of including her two older brothers, but that would be an emergency solution. The crown prince might have been involved after all.
The sessions with Keldorn still went as usual, with him teaching her to the best of his abilities and sprinkling some humbug about his ideals in between. Lilly still argued against him on those, making sure she didn't seem disinterested.
Gramps and Eolande were doing what they did best, baking and guarding, although Eolande had made some more crystals as well.
Right now, Lilly was sitting in her office, reading a letter. She didn't get many letters, especially not from out of town, so this was a new experience. Eolande was reading over her shoulder, but considering who the sender was, Lilly thought it was fine.
"Dear little student, I hear a lot has happened since I left. I was rather shocked when the hero of Thundrel turned out to be none other than my student."
'I would have loved to see his face!' Lilly thought, fondly remembering Eldrin's stoic expressions.
"And even possessing an ancient power like the Vermilion Flame! Now you certainly don't get to call me 'mister ancient mage family' anymore.
I heard Master Keldorn is teaching you now; that's certainly an upgrade from me. But if he ever looks down on my teachings, you tell him to take it up with me. I'm still far ahead of him in terms of magical combat!"
A smirk appeared on Lilly's face, sensing the pride her teacher held in his combat prowess. "Who do you think would win in a magical battle, Elly? Grandfather or Eldrin?"
Eolande chuckled, probably having reached the same part. "In a pure magical battle without enchantments? I'm fairly certain Grandfather would still win, especially with the element of surprise."
Lilly nodded, assuming as much. She kept reading.
"The war is starting to get serious now. The fleet you ruined certainly halted their attacks for a while, but they're building up for another attack now, according to our sources. I doubt they'll send more boats to Thundrel as long as you're there, but that means you have to stay safe. So have Eolande glued to your back as much as possible.
I'm doing fine as artillery, but Thoren has gotten some new scars. Reinforcements from our allies, Sarthas, are on their way here now, so we fear Dortfell will make more severe attacks before they arrive.
Wishing you all the best, and hope you're adjusting to your new duties. When I get back, I'll teach you some attacks, since I assume you'll have some use for them now. Then you'll see me in my element as a teacher!
See you then!
Eldrin Woldner"
"He's as emotional as ever," Lilly said with a smirk. "I'm glad he's doing fine, and he's probably right to teach me some offensive magic when he returns. At least so I know how to effectively use the flame."
Eolande sighed, walking around Lilly and leaning on her desk. "He really is bad at showing emotions. I suspect he has set some high standards for himself due to his family."
"It wasn't because you called him a crybaby too many times or something like that, then?"
Eolande was caught off guard by that line of thought. "... He did cry a lot, though." Her expression changed to one of worry. "Oh gods, you think it's my fault?"
"Who can say? Strict families can cause issues like that. If he changed after you met him, though…"
Eolande seemed deep in thought with her furrowed brows, but before she could reply, she was interrupted by knocks on the new door to the room.
"You really don't have to knock, Mia!" Lilly called out. The door opened to show Mia in full smithing gear, including a new mithril bracelet that protected her from any heat the forge could handle.
"Sorry, I just feel nervous about interrupting important meetings. Can you fuel the forge again? I'm really close to finishing this palladium cuirass."
Lilly stood up right away, ready to assist. "Of course I can. I really wish we made the capacity of the forge greater while we built it, though."
"It's already very good; it's just that I need a lot of heat for this thing," Mia said as Lilly followed her into the half smith half enchantery they hadn't quite named yet.
The room was smaller than the office, but it fit the two of them perfectly. Lilly's enchanting table stood on one side, moved over from Eolande's house, along with the storage shelves. The forge was on the other side, surrounded by fire-resistant stone on nearly every surface, currently smoldering gently.
Tools and quenching basins were placed a bit away from the forge due to the extreme heat it would radiate, but the anvil stood firmly in the center, unbothered by the temperature. It was made from orichalcum with a palladium layer on top, so it could take a lot of heat before melting.
Lilly positioned herself behind the forge, as she had done many times by now, and put her hands on the formation on the back. Shortly after, the forge was filled to the brim with heat, ready to go.
"Having a hot girlfriend is such an advantage for a smith," Mia joked.
Lilly would find it funny if it was one of the first ten times she heard it, but maybe it would start getting funny again soon. "You know the cost; I'm not working for free."
Mia smiled and walked over to Lilly, taking her head in her hands and giving her a loving kiss. She stared Lilly deep in her eyes as they separated, tenderly lingering in the aftermath. "You know, it never seemed fair to me that we both get a kiss when you're doing me a favor."
"Oh no, you've been enjoying these payment kisses? That's not fair at all, give me another one! And no enjoying this one!" Lilly, feigning outrage, grabbed Mia's head and stole another kiss before letting go.
Mia laughed. "Haha, okay then, I'll keep that in mind in the future. You go protect the city some more while I finish this piece."
Lilly smiled and walked to the door, but stole one last glance at Mia as she was getting back to smithing, observing the glow of the forge dancing across her features. Mia noticed, and with a smile, said, "Go now, you're making me nervous. I need to focus on these things, and you're the opposite of focus."
Lilly smiled again as she left the room, letting Mia do her thing in peace. 'Ahh, whoever came up with the idea of building a smithy here is a genius! Oh, right, it was Mia. My girlfriend is a genius!'
Eolande had a resolute expression when Lilly returned to the office. "I've concluded that I have no involvement in Eldrin's closed-off personality."
Lilly somehow doubted she had been impartial in that judgment, but she let it slide with a smile. "I'm sure you're right, Elly. The reason you didn't get a letter probably has to do with limited paper on the frontlines."
"I don't care. What do I need a letter for? I didn't save a city and turn into a hero recently." Her expression seemed a bit displeased for someone supposedly not caring.
Lilly kept smiling as she went to sit by her desk again while Eolande eyed her silently. "What should I reply with, you think? Wishing him well and hoping he comes back safe? It would be great to have him during the confrontation with Grandfather, but he's busy with the war, of course."
"I think it's fine; he wouldn't have been a major help during the battle. Planning might have been improved, but there's little we can do about it now."
"True, we're stuck with the pieces we have. I should ask Myndia if she thinks the flame will be ready later. She's an essential part of the plan, after all."
She retrieved a piece of parchment from a drawer and got ready to write a reply for Eldrin, dipping her feathered pen in the ink bottle. She thought for a while about how to start but eventually settled on a familiar greeting.
The words soon flowed easily, filled with extra affection to counter his own letter. She ended with wishing him well, and a promise to take his studies seriously again once he returned.
"That should do it!" She sealed the letter in an envelope with a wax seal she had been given, stylized to signify her title as Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame. Then she touched the formation on the side of her desk again, summoning Daisy from her desk in the hallway.
She appeared quickly as usual, but she had a very different demeanor from before. "Anything I can help you with, Lilly dear?"
Lilly smiled, recalling how Daisy had acted before her talk with her. "Yeah, could you send this letter to Eldrin, Daisy dear? He's on the frontline of the war, I hope that won't make it difficult."
Daisy walked up to the desk casually, taking the letter as Lilly held it out. "Not at all; they have several supply lines, so sending letters is no issue. It's not the best if you need discretion, but I'm guessing it's just a personal letter?"
"It is, so just send it however you'd like. Appreciate it, Daisy!"
"No worries!" She strode out of the room again, smiling like always, before closing the door behind her.
Eolande wore a slight smile as she exhaled sharply. "People sure change fast if you let them."
"Well, I think she just started acting like herself. I'm really glad I talked to her; now she's the perfect assistant!"
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