Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 56: What Do You Feel?

Chapter 56: What Do You Feel?

The brisk gusts of the chilly winter wind caressed the mounds of serene white snow, creating a delicate, sparkling veil that danced around the sleek, black horses galloping ominously through the wide and desolate snowfield.

Tillian brought his horse to a halt and signaled for the remainder of the survey team to do the same. It was time for a brief respite before they resumed their daily patrol.

Dismounting from his huge black stallion, he unfurled a thin leather bag, and withdrew a metal bottle filled with warm water, downing half of it in one gulp. The Duke’s aide observed the act with a shake of his head and uttered with a resounding sigh,

"You are too bold, drinking from a bottle magically altered by that eccentric magus. I’d sooner face a giant beast than let him lay hands on my own food."

Tillian could not help but chuckle at the comment.

"For a warrior of your talent, strength, and especially your age, you’re excessively particular about this. Ahspid’s magic merely aids in keeping our food and drinks warm when we are out in the cold. It’s far superior to risking broken teeth when biting a frozen lump that was once a slice of bread."

Despite the reassurance, Sir Stanis clung steadfastly to his convictions.

"Who can say what else he conjures when casting those spells? I’ve always maintained that the worst foe is one who fights with bare hands and emerges victorious. I’m not afraid of a man wielding a sword against me, but this... It’s just not normal."

"You’ve spent your entire life living in a world teeming with mages and alchemists, and yet you still struggle to accept their existence. It’s your perception of things that I find abnormal, Sir Stanis."

The knight sank his teeth into a frozen piece of chicken extracted from his own brown leather bag, his brows furrowing in contemplation.

"I wouldn’t mind this if we were all equal in our abilities. But they are attempting to manipulate the natural course of life. Some even seek to defy death itself! How can you not feel uneasy around such individuals?"

Tillian gazed ahead, maintaining silence for a brief moment before responding with a measured and somewhat chilly tone,

"Yet, Stanis, they aren’t immortal. They live and die just like everyone else."

"What about those eccentric alchemists?" Stanis persisted, unbothered, "Engaged in studying those crazy formulas, in pursuit of that mystical stone said to fulfill their every desire! I’ve heard tales that claim this stone can even resurrect the dead! Imagine the implications, Your Grace. Legions of deceased warriors rising from the dead, again and again, impervious to any attempts to quell them!"

"Firstly," the Duke set aside his lunch, wiping his hands on the small towel provided by Bella, then continued, rubbing his stinging eyes with cold hands, "this is not how alchemy works. It is a give-and-take principle, and whatever is offered must be of equal value. Therefore, to revive the dead, one would need to sacrifice another life. And secondly... the Philosopher’s Stone is a mere legend. It doesn’t exist."

Sir Stanis hesitated, mulling over Duke Valentine’s response. He then leaned in closer to his lord and whispered in a hushed, somewhat secretive tone,

"Perhaps... But the Snow Dragons were also dismissed as mere legends just a few months ago, and now... Ugh, my heart is practically screaming at me, warning me that this weird magus might attempt something dangerous with that dragon’s heart. mark my words, Your Grace. We should keep an eye on him."

Pausing, he shifted his dark eyes toward the other knights seated around them, as if fearful they might overhear his words. In an even more subdued voice, he added,

"And by the way... Wasn’t it Ahspid? The one who used to have an assistant who disappeared into thin air? And an alchemist no less."

Tillian shot Stanis a somewhat stern look—his aide’s words triggering an unusual wave of uncertainty within his typically composed soul. Then, fixing his glowing red eyes on the towering mountain miles ahead of them, he repeated in a quiet tone,

"Dangerous, huh?"

***

Aideen continued to trace the index finger of her right hand over the peculiar, angular shape of the gem nestled on the smooth, thin band of her ring. The moment she touched it for the first time, she recognized the distinctive shape—a small snowflake with a unique design.

’His Grace mentioned that the design was crafted by a magic spell, making it one-of-a-kind and irreplicable. I wonder if there is an actual snowflake that mirrors the intricate design of this gem? How wonderful it would have been!’

The contemplation sparked strange, almost enchanting feelings within the princess’s heart, prompting her to close her eyes and curve her lips into a subtle yet content smile.

’Look at her grinning because of that ring... I heard he proposed right outside in the snowfall, but their lovey-dovey moment was abruptly interrupted by that boulder, Sir Stanis. Tsk, everyone in this castle is an idiot.’

Ahspid rose from his seat and approached the lady, gently separating her hands and firmly placing them on the smooth surface of the wooden desk with a resounding thud, causing Aideen to wince from the sudden impact.

"Kindly detach yourself from that ring, Your Highness. You will have ample time to explore its fascinating details in the future."

"Forgive me, Lord Ahspid, it’s just that... I have never received a ring before, especially one as beautiful as this. I can’t seem to stop reveling in this strange yet pleasant feeling of having one."

The mage arched his thin eyebrows which made the hairs of his see-through bangs tickle his eyelashes. Leaning over the woman’s shoulder, he focused his gaze on the snowflake-shaped gem as well, wondering,

"Then what about that fat old fart? Count something? You never received a ring from him either?"

Aideen only shook her head while Ahspid shrugged his shoulders.

"Figures, he would rather kiss a pig than gift anything to anyone, that broke cheapskate. But what is this obsession with the snow anyway? Frozen water, just it!"

The princess shot a piercing glare in his direction and shook her head.

"How can you not be fascinated with snow? Like you said before, it was just water at one point; its shape and texture remained the same no matter where it was. But then, like magic, suddenly it was divided into thousands, millions of tiny pieces, each with a unique design that can never be repeated again. How can something like that leave you indifferent, Lord Ahspid?"

The mage could not help but sigh. The experiences he had encountered thanks to real magic did not leave much room for fascination. Thus, the genuine enthusiasm of the young woman before him left him feeling somewhat empty and frustrated.

It was a rather bitter sensation, especially since it wasn’t entirely his choice to be in this state.

Nevertheless, he regarded his lessons with Aideen as something that could still evoke a spark within him, something reminiscent of the long-forgotten memories of genuine emotions stirred by someone still capable of being fascinated thanks to his knowledge and powers.

Taking a seat beside the princess, he released another long sigh, ran his slender fingers through his long purple hair, and began,

"First of all, My Lady, I am not a lord, so please stop calling me that."

Aideen arched her eyebrows in frustration.

"So what should I call you now?"

"Just Ahspid is alright. I am quite fond of my name, you see. Now," the mage adjusted his own rings and continued, "since you cannot get enough of such a worldly ’miracle’ as snow, perhaps we should start today’s lesson by learning one simple method that will help you create easy and short-lasting illusions, such as an illusion of a snowfall."

"Already?!"

The princess nearly jumped on her seat with excitement, which only elicited a slightly disappointed expression from Ahspid. He scratched his nose and said,

"Well, I’m not a teacher, My Lady, so we will do whatever I feel like doing. Haven’t you learned that during our very first lesson?"

Aideen could not help but pout, nodding her head in confirmation.

"Wonderful. I like the students who learn fast. Now, as you may already know, apart from each magus’s innate abilities, numerous magic spells can be used by any mage; however, they require knowledge of runic writing."

"Magic runes?"

"That is correct. By knowing a specific runic formula for the spell, you can use it by applying your own mana to it."

"But Lo–– I mean, Ahspid, how can I write or even learn the runes when I cannot see?"

Ahspid curled his lips into a wide grin and answered in a confident tone,

"You can, and you will, Your Highness. I will teach you how to read–perceive if you like– with your other senses, tactile, in this case."

The man placed his gloved right hand on top of the desk and began moving it slowly, outlining bizarre shapes with a peculiar sound created each time the leather of his thin glove slid over the polished wood.

Then, he stopped, blew slowly on the invisible strange writing he made with his index finger, then carefully took Aideen’s right hand in his and placed it on that part of the desk, adding,

"Focus your senses now, My Lady. What do you feel?"