My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 250: Love of Magic

Chapter 250: Love of Magic

While it would be best for Quinn to give a better show of his mana abilities while in front of students considering he was the left hand of the King, Leonor hated being fooled in such a way.

Considering she hadn’t properly sparred since Stephano left Montclair, she hadn’t been as aware of her surroundings as she should have been.

Quinn certainly knew how to read her. Even if he was moping before, she should have known he was sharp enough to push it to the side.

There was a massive difference between someone who lived their every second as a mage and someone who only used her mage abilities every so often. It was a wonder she wasn’t worse off but her ability to have Eve awake and moving around even when she was asleep was what helped her still exercise her mana pool enough that it hadn’t grown much smaller.

Realizing she had truly been slacking, she knew it was up to her to exercise her latent abilities and relearn how to control what was already within her.

The only way she could surprise Quinn was by dropping her shield and firing offensive magic into his face, hoping it was enough.

She went for his head the same way he did to her and Leonor grinned when Quinn’s hair blew back as the mana approached him. Unfortunately for Leonor, he was faster than he looked and moved away in the nick of time.

It was just enough for her to get back on her feet. She brushed one hand over her riding pants so the dirt covering her would come off.

"I didn’t realize we were going to have an audience today," Leonor muttered through clenched teeth as she raised her shield toward Quinn once more.

"They have free hours where they can do whatever they want," he admitted. "It just so happens that one of those moments is beginning soon."

Leonor was certain Quinn knew this and he was putting her under pressure on purpose.

Her volatile emotions surrounding her defensive mana pushed forth and she decided to go about her spar differently than she often did when she needed to move faster.

The shield came closer to her body and, instead of using it to protect herself, she used it to hurl a punch at Quinn. He pathetically put forth his own defensive mana but it wasn’t enough for her hands fortified with her defensive mana.

There were compatible and incompatible mana categories someone could fight with while using the same with both partners was not advisable if one of the mages had that mana category as their main.

"If you think you can use my own mana against me, you’re mistaken!" Leonor shouted.

Her fist met his stomach and she didn’t feel it one bit because of the shield around her gloved hands. She felt satisfied for finally dealing him a blow. Even if she overall didn’t do as well as Quinn that day, she still had that one punch over him.

As it turned out, the one punch was the only time she bested her friend for the rest of the morning and afternoon.

Blast after blast was enough to wear Leonor down by the time they were finished with one another.

They even took a break at one point to eat a meal and restore themselves somewhat, but Leonor felt completely exhausted by the time she was finished with the sparring.

Students came and went. They witnessed their greatest mage and the duchess either going after one another or simply exercising their mana pools. A few were even so bold as to join and show off their uniquely colored mana.

For the first time in ages, Leonor was immersed in a world where all she saw on all sides was mages participating in one of the greatest loves of her life. It made her more certain she needed to formally tell the King that she was committed to furthering mage education in Montclair and doing what she could to prepare the kingdom for future disputes.

Emotion welled up inside of her so much that she found laughter easy despite how biting cold it was once they settled down and no longer mana blasts were being thrown at one another. Her heart had calmed down.

Despite the fatigue and knowledge that she would be sore the next day, she felt as light as a feather because of her elation.

Being an experienced mage who often dealt with others, Quinn could read his mana partner.

"Tomorrow you will likely be sore," he reminded her. "We will do something far less strenuous so be sure to come out even if you wake up feeling as if you have been in an accident."

Leonor remembered the feeling well. Considering her mana classification was far more physical than others, it took a long time for her body to stop being sore after training her mana and some of the first sessions with Quinn.

"Before I go I’m taking restorative tea with me," Leonor said. "I know without having to ask that you have it stocked somewhere in that place."

"You know me so well," Quinn responded lightly, managing to laugh at Leonor’s words.

The looks of disbelief and realization exchanged between students as Quinn smiled at Leonor were widespread.

Students who witnessed their normally stoic leader become slightly more emotional and responsive to the duchess instantly believed he could have a less than platonic fondness for her. They didn’t know just how wrong they could be.

The duchess and head mage left to the innards of the mage quarter and Leonor left alone with a small pouch of the tea leaves tied to her belt.

Leonor had a pep in her step as she walked along and a faint smile remained on her lips. She hoped that Desmond was having just as good of a day as her. If not, she would certainly try to spread her good feelings to him.

She soon found the palace was a labyrinth of surprises and she was caught off guard because her head was in the clouds.

She practically screamed at suddenly being grabbed by her elbow and her body crashed into the cold brick.

Considering she was still energetic from the mana practice before, she had defensive mana covering her hand in an instant.

She thrust it forward without thinking further, only trying to preserve her life in a place unfamiliar to her.

"Our paths did cross, after all," a rough voice uttered, strained because of the pain she had inflicted.