Episode 5

"This sword is just an ordinary blade, perhaps it's quite cheap."

"Really?"

"How about a staff, would this suit your needs?"

The woman walked to the back and returned while handing me a wooden staff, the front end of which was curved.

"I'll give you the staff if you can wield it properly."

"Of course."

"What should I do?" I asked in return.

"Sit on it, and if you can fly, it means you can wield it."

"I understand."

I did as she instructed and as soon as I sat on the staff, my body felt pulled upwards and I found myself gliding, brushing against the store roofs.

"Is this sufficient?"

The woman just gazed at me with wide eyes. Had I done something wrong? When I landed, for some reason she hugged me tightly.

"Madam."

"From now on, call me master."

"Master?"

"The staff actually belonged to my own teacher, who once said that before you take a disciple, make sure they can handle this staff."

"You mean to say?"

"From this point forward, our relationship is that of master and disciple, there's no refusing... You will also stay here with me."

Whilst I could have walked away from the girl, I now found myself settling down with an adult woman.

"By the way, could you let go of me?"

"Not until you tell me your name."

"Aksa, my name is Aksa."

"An admirable name," the woman finally stepped back and showed a polite demeanor while placing her hand on her chest.

"My name is Heliet Ladeosfa. From now, I will train you to become a mighty sorcerer."

"Even though you say that, I am weak and my occupation is merely that of an adventurer."

"No matter, you may use the room on the second floor."

As I wasn't exactly flush with funds, it seemed I would accept her offer, perhaps until she grew disillusioned with my abilities and sent me away.

The room I accepted was spacious, devoid of all but a bed.

Heliet pressed a hand to her cheek.

"Though this room was unused, I've kept it clean so that you might be comfortable here."

"Thank you, I've taken on a quest from the guild today... I might return later this evening."

"I understand, your training begins tomorrow, so you will visit the guild again only after you've spent time with your master."

"Is this your first time teaching a disciple?"

"Address me as master."

I gave a wry smile.

"I mean master."

"For a veteran sorcerer like myself, or those out in the world, taking on a disciple is something they desire in order to pass down their knowledge and skills. However, my teacher had strict rules about taking only one disciple per generation, a tradition that has now passed to me... Thankfully, after a long wait, I now have one."

"May I ask something?"

"Of course, my dear disciple."

"How old are you?"

"900 years."

"Sorcerers can live that long?"

"Only a few, I happen to be one of the immortal ones."

"You must have been lonely all this time."

"Indeed, Aksa... when I fell ill, there was no one to tend to me."

"Please don't keep hugging me."

"It's fine, we are master and disciple."

That's the problem.

"If you'll excuse me then, thank you for the staff."

As I reached for the door, Heliet called out.

"Leaving your sword behind?"

"I no longer need it."

"Is that so? I will sell it then."

"Ah."

Life is indeed full of surprises. When I needed a place to stay, I found one in a way that nobody, not even I, could have predicted. One might say it's a stroke of luck.

Resolved, I headed for the outskirts of the city to hunt slimes to fulfill my quest, and along the way, I crossed paths with Vivia Legal.

"We meet once more."

I mentioned that I had found a place to stay, which seemed to slightly annoy her.

"Is that so, that's a pity... I still have other tasks to attend to, let's talk another time."

"Alright."

I watched her receding back as she moved further away.

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