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Chapter 6: The Butler’s Private Magic Lesson

Unfortunately, although Nanali was clever, she had not yet reached true genius level.

As for her Magic Teacher, he had failed to teach Nanali a suitable casting method, yet that really was not his fault.

Humans originally possessed very little elemental magic, at most the light magic wielded by church priests and holy knights.

Most of the magic humans used today had been learned from the elves in order to counter the demon race’s dark sorcery.

Of course, magic was the very foundation of elven society, so they had never revealed their more profound spells to humans.

If not for the exigencies of that era, the elves probably would not have passed on even these rudimentary spells.

Even so, when the elves taught humans those basic spells, they imposed strict conditions.

The first rule forbade copying spellbooks, so the humans the Empire sent to study with the elves could only pass the knowledge on orally.

Although many copied spellbooks now circulated on the black market, every one of them was deemed forbidden, and anyone caught with one was executed on the spot.

A large portion of those human apprentices had been divided among the Empire’s nobles and royals to tutor their own bloodlines.

Another group was assigned to the army to teach battlefield magic.

A small remainder wandered among the common folk.

As the years passed, the mage lineages held by the nobles gradually died out, and the surviving ones stayed tightly locked in noble hands, never to be shared with outsiders.

When imperial corruption set in, the nobles poached the army’s mages by every means, so now most units did not even know a single basic incantation, utterly betraying the Empire’s original plan to learn magic from the elves.

Those itinerant mages among the populace likewise faded from sight.

Whenever Ryan thought about this, he could not help lamenting that the current king was a complete weakling who wasted every good card he had been dealt.

If the crown prince were on the throne instead…

“What are you thinking about?”

Nanali’s voice pulled Ryan out of his thoughts, and only then did he gather his words and answer, “There is nothing wrong with what your teacher taught you; unfortunately, it does not fit your constitution.”

“My constitution?”

“Yes. Magic is a profound art. Everyone’s mana channels differ, so casting techniques differ too. A single technique can never suit everyone.”

Ryan tried to explain Nanali’s situation in terms a layperson could grasp.

Hearing this, Nanali quickly understood, her eyes brightening as she asked, “So I’m not talent-less after all?”

“Exactly.”

Ryan nodded with a smile. “You may believe that only a few people possess talent, but in truth the untalented are the minority. Our teaching methods are simply too uniform, causing many gifted people to miss their chance.”

Listening to Ryan, Nanali unconsciously straightened her back and paid close attention.

“In my view, my lady, you not only have talent, you have quite a lot of it.”

“Really?”

Although Nanali fought to keep her expression calm, her heart already leapt with joy.

“Whether it is true or not, cast once more using the method I teach you and you will see.”

Nanali nodded vigorously, staring at Ryan and waiting for his guidance, afraid to miss a single word.

“What you learned was the most basic magic technique: convert mana into the elemental energy you need, then release it in the most direct and destructive way possible.”

Ryan continued patiently, “From what I observe, your body is actually better suited to being a Summoner.”

“A Summoner?”

“Yes. A Summoner does not wield mana as a blunt weapon but uses it as a tool.”

As he spoke, Ryan raised his palm and summoned another ball of flame.

With a thought, the flame morphed into a tiny fire sprite that began to dance.

Seeing Nanali stare unblinkingly at the dancing sprite, Ryan chuckled, “Interesting, isn’t it?”

Nanali almost nodded before catching herself, a blush tinting her cheeks.

Seeing this, Ryan stopped teasing her, flipped his hand, and dismissed the sprite before continuing, “What matters for a Summoner is control.”

“Control?”

This was the second unfamiliar term Nanali had heard from Ryan today.

The moment he said that word, she felt as if she had grasped something but could not quite put it into words.

Satisfied, Ryan nodded; his young lady truly was smart, which would make teaching much easier.

“First, regard the mana you command as living beings, then rule over them like a king so they obey your every order.”

Ryan’s explanation seemed to unlock something in Nanali. She immediately began to sort the mana inside her body, unknowingly closing her eyes.

Ryan kept silent, standing guard at her side while she organized her mana flow.

After an unknown time, Nanali opened her eyes and extended her palm.

A lively little flame sprang up in the center of her hand.

Though no larger than before, the flame no longer looked on the verge of dying; instead it burned with vibrant life as though it were alive.

Genius.

Ryan awarded Nanali that judgment in his heart.

When the flame kept burning without dimming, Nanali could no longer contain her delight. She looked at Ryan with a joyous smile, “Ryan, I did it!”

Ryan froze for a heartbeat.

This was the first time Nanali had called his name and the first time he had seen her smile.

The childish voice shed its earlier distance and sounded all the sweeter; to Ryan, that sincere smile shone like an angel in the sky.

Realizing he was staring, Nanali hurriedly put away her smile and patted her cheeks, now flushed red, “I… I wasn’t… no, um… thank you…”

After stammering for quite a while, she finally whispered her thanks with a crimson face.

“No need to thank me. After all, you are my young lady.”

Ryan shook his head with a grin, then said, “Compared with a normal magician, a Summoner channels mana differently. I will teach you those methods too. You are smart, so you will learn them quickly.”

“I… can I really?”

Although Ryan spoke with certainty, Nanali still felt it was too good to be true.

“Of course you can, my lady. Try trusting me… remember, I am your private butler now.”

Ryan felt it was also time to bring up the private-butler matter with her.

“My lady, I sense you are keeping your distance from me. Did I do something wrong?”

“No…”

Nanali shook her head and murmured, “It’s just… when Old Lamb fell ill, you didn’t come back, yet you happened to return on the very day he passed. I… find it hard to trust you.”

“How about now?”

Ryan asked with a smile.

“Now…”

Turning her blushing face aside, Nanali whispered, “For now, I will reluctantly try trusting you…”

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