Under the Oak Tree

270 Chapter Maxi felt as if a pail of ice water had been upended over her. Mortified, she tried to break free from Riftan’s crushing embrace, and for a moment, he refused to budge.

As soon as he reluctantly drew his lips away from hers, Maxi pulled back. Her face burned as if scorched by the sun. Though she wanted nothing more than to flee, her legs felt too weak to fully support her. She was frantically glancing back and forth between Riftan and Ruth, struggling for words, when the sorcerer spoke.

“I-I didn’t mean to interrupt! Please, carry on! Don’t mind me!”

He spun on his heels and promptly tripped over a tree root, emitting a strange yelp as he tumbled into the dirt. Riftan eyed the pathetic sight of the sorcerer heaped on the ground with a stony expression. He clicked his tongue and got up, and Talon followed his master to his feet.

Stroking the warhorse’s thick neck, Riftan asked, “What is it?”

Ruth flinched and stared up at him. He heaved a sigh and handed over the parchment clutched in his hand.

“It’s from Sir Sejuleu. I rushed to bring it to you because I thought it urgent.” Ruth glanced at Maxi and added, “I was not expecting to find you occupied. I did not intend to interrupt anything.”

Maxi was nearly purple from the embarrassment of it all. Riftan gave Ruth a warning look and snatched the letter from his hand. The contents must have been dire, as Riftan’s face darkened.

“Where is Hebaron?”

“How should I know? Wasn’t he with you?” Ruth answered sullenly.

The sorcerer rose to his feet, dusting off his robe. Riftan shoved the letter in his pocket and rather brusquely helped Maxi up.

She teetered before regaining her footing. After gazing grimly down at her, Riftan straightened her clothes and swiveled his head to Ruth.

“Go back to the castle and assemble the knights while I return Talon to the stable.”

With that, he led his horse away. Maxi stared after him in bewilderment. She was disoriented as if plunged into water, while he was as calm as though nothing had happened. It made her wonder if their brief meeting had been a daydream. She was brushing her fingers to her slightly swollen lips when Ruth spoke in a grave voice.

“My cursed luck.”

Startled, Maxi flung her hand away, eyes flying to him.

Ruth scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly, “I apologize for unintentionally ruining the moment.”

“I-It’s fine!” Maxi practically yelped.

She then started for the castle as though fleeing. Ruth trudged behind her.

“Do you think I wished to witness such a thing?” he grumbled. “If there is a question of who was most affected, it would be me and my poor, sullied eyes. I’m sure you missed each other terribly, but please consider the time and place.”

Maxi shot him a glare. Three years later, the sorcerer was exactly as she remembered.

Glowering at him in disapproval, she retorted, “Is that what you have to say… after all this time?”

“Now that you mention it, I suppose it has been a while,” he replied nonchalantly, sweeping his gaze over her. “You have not changed a bit, my lady.”

“I could say the same for you.”

Maxi let out a sigh.

Could there be a more anticlimactic reunion?

“Where have you been?” she said. “Don’t tell me… you’ve been hiding from the mages.”

Ruth winced and yelled, “Why on earth would I hide? I stayed at the guardhouse under the pretext of standing watch after Sir Riftan ran off to your rescue, abandoning me in this cesspit. I simply could not bring myself to sleep in that pigsty.”

“Was he… truly in that much of a rush?” Maxi asked out of a desperate need to reaffirm the revelation.

Ruth scowled and bent down to bring his face closer to hers.

“Do you see this?” he asked, pointing to the purplish bags under his eyes. “Do you know how hard he drove us upon learning you were traveling to the Pamela Plateau? He decimated a troll settlement in two days with an absolutely unhinged strategy, then made us ride north without rest. We practically did not get any sleep until we got here.”

“R-Really?”

Ruth shook his head when he saw her face light up.

“Please, do not look so happy! What on earth have you gotten yourself into this time?”

Hearing the reproof in his voice, Maxi snapped back, “Don’t… make it sound as if I deliberately caused trouble. The Mage Tower asked me to help with the investigation of the Plateau… because they thought highly of my abilities.”

“And you accepted?” said Ruth, snorting at her smug tone. “Did you not consider how furious Sir Riftan would be?”

Maxi winced and clutched her dress. “Was he… very mad?”

Ruth’s narrowed eyes seemed to say, What do you think?

She felt deflated. Riftan’s cold demeanor now seemed to take on a different light. Was he maintaining his distance to try and keep his temper in check? Though she had once hoped he would express his anger instead of ignoring her, now imagining him unleashing his rage made her shrivel. If she thought about it, whenever his temper was truly at its limit, his demeanor was akin to the calm before the storm.

Then… what was that kiss about?

While she was trying to make sense of it, Ruth continued complaining.

“We are headed to the continent’s northernmost point in the middle of winter. Once this is over, I am not stepping a foot out of Anatol for the next five years. I have had it up to here with campaigning.”

“Y-You can be rest assured, then,” Maxi replied, feigning nonchalance. “I am a high mage now. I shall take your place… and accompany the Remdragon Knights on their campaigns.”

Skeptical, Ruth looked over at her before he set his jaw determinedly. “My lady… you must promise me that. Please.”

It appeared the past few years had been difficult for the sorcerer. Over the course of their walk to the castle, he kept asking her to swear that she would succeed him. Maxi shook her head as she stepped into Sevron Castle.

“I will be sure to keep my word, so you must remember to help me convince Riftan when the time comes.”

“I believe you will do just fine without my help,” Ruth muttered.

Cottoning on to his implication, Maxi’s face flushed red. She was about to chide him when a cold voice interrupted.

“What a long time it has been.”

The blood drained from Ruth’s face. Turning his head stiffly, he met Calto Serbel’s gaze. It was as if he had locked eyes with a ghost. The elder stood in the middle of the squalid hall while the other mages trudged down the stairs behind him, headed for breakfast. They stopped in their tracks to watch the scene before them with avid interest.

Maxi slowly backed away when she sensed the grim air between the two Serbels. Soon, Ruth sighed heavily.

“Uncle.”

Maxi gaped in surprise. Having likewise been in the dark as to how close on the family tree these two were, the mages all froze on the staircase. Only Anton and Celric, who were standing next to Calto, looked unsurprised.

“You seem to be doing well,” Calto remarked, his tone chilly.

Ruth blinked as though he could still not believe his eyes.

...

“I cannot say the same for you, Uncle,” he said in a daze. “Your hairline has greatly receded since I saw—”

Gasps went up all around the hall as Calto lunged with startling speed.

“You wretched child!” he bellowed, grabbing his nephew by his collar and yanking it back and forth. “Is that any way to speak to your uncle after sixteen years?!”

“Kergh! U-Uncle!”

“As you have astutely observed, my hair has indeed thinned, and it is all thanks to you! Does that make you happy, you blasted brat?!”

Though Anton and Celric tried to stop him, Calto’s grip was surprisingly firm. He maintained his hold on his nephew and bombarded him with every obscenity he could think of. When he ran out, he began cursing in Elvish. Maxi gasped in shock. She was nowhere near proficient in Elvish, but she knew enough to recognize that the words spewing from the elder’s mouth were grossly indecent.

“Master Calto!” Anton implored, tugging Calto’s arm. “I understand your anger, but please, remember your station!”

As soon as the two senior mages managed to pry Calto off, Ruth ducked behind Maxi.

“Don’t you think that’s a slight overreaction to a jest?” the sorcerer called out.

“A jest? You dare make jests at me?!”

Still fuming, Calto broke free from Anton and Celric and lunged again. Grabbing Maxi’s shoulders, Ruth pushed her forward like a makeshift shield.

...

“W-What are you doing?!” Maxi shrieked in horror.

“I should ask you!” Ruth yelled back at her. “What sort of horror have you brought with you?!”

“You damned weasel! You dare refer to your uncle as a blight?!”

“Ahhh!” Ruth cried out in pain as Calto grabbed a fistful of his hair. Wedged between the two men, Maxi began shrieking when Riftan’s icy voice echoed around them.

“What the devil is going on here?”

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze over. After a moment of solemn silence, Calto mustered his composure and released Ruth’s hair. Ruth scurried away, this time taking shelter behind Riftan.

“Didn’t I ask you to assemble the knights?” Riftan hissed menacingly through gritted teeth, showing no inclination to protect him. “What is this ruckus?”

“I-It was not my fault!” Ruth cried, pointing to his uncle. “That man attacked me out of no—”

He abruptly cut himself off when he saw the murderous look on Calto’s face. After coldly eyeing the elder, Riftan strode over to him.

“It’s a good thing you’re here. I have something to discuss with you.”

Riftan gave Maxi a sharp look, silently telling her to be on her way, and handed Calto the message. The elder’s face had returned to its usual solemnity. His gray brows knitted together as he stared down at the parchment.

“And this is?”

“A message from the north. It appears the Bolosé Royal Knights have uncovered something unusual in their investigation of Eth Lene Castle.”