Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 13

Nimrod’s life became quite bustling after Gid appeared. As I wrote in my letter to you, we became close so quickly that there was no room for awkwardness.

Typically, Jenien was an eccentric wizard who locked himself in his study to do research, and Vanessa would occasionally sneak in to bother him. Gid, however, used much more sophisticated methods.

He taught me five ways to annoy Jenien, and they always worked. Just like this morning.

“…….”

Jenien stared blankly at the chaotic kitchen, but Gid simply shrugged his broad shoulders.

“Isn’t the food storage a bit too empty? What exactly do you live on?”

“What do you care whether I starve or not!”

Gid chuckled and tossed a large chunk of butter into the dough.

“I’m worried, of course. The esteemed and amazing Archmage, Jenien Pokis Polis Stargera, should—”

“Why does it irritate me so much when you say things like that?”

Despite the growling voice, Gid smiled leisurely and peered into the tin pot. Inside, berries simmering in sugar water were bubbling away.

“Please take better care of yourself. I wouldn’t say anything if you were alone, but don’t you feel sorry for Vanessa, who’s with you? Someone asked you to take care of her, didn’t they?”

“She rummages around and eats well enough on her own.”

Vanessa giggled at Jenien’s cold remark. He was right.

“Jenien is locked up in his study every day, so I have to eat well on my own. But I still go to play with him every day.”

“Who asked you to play with me? I like being alone! You… you’re just like someone else!”

Jenien shouted, but Gid gave Vanessa a gentle smile.

“It’s kind of you to think of Jenien’s health. It’s easy to become worn out if you’re just in the study.”

“Right? Jenien doesn’t even know how I feel. I’m thinking of him this much!”

Jenien looked at Vanessa and Gid with an expression of exasperation. There was no solution when these two, who never listened to him and weren’t afraid of him, joined forces.

So, Jenien decided to attack Gid.

“Hey, that guy over there. His smile is all a scam. Do you know how cold he is outside? He has such a terrible personality that I’ve never seen him smile!”

“I’ll treat Vanessa well since she’s my friend. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, friend.”

“You’re welcome.”

The attempt to disparage Gid just flowed away like that. Even though only his broad back was visible, it seemed like Gid had a crooked smile on his face.

In the end, a vein popped out on Jenien’s forehead.

“…Both of you, get out. Go out and play!”

“Jenien, the pie is done. Wait a moment.”

Vanessa put on thick gloves and opened the oven. The savory aroma unique to well-baked wheat filled the kitchen. Only then did Jenien quiet down.

Vanessa glanced back and saw that he was already holding a fork, waiting patiently for a plate.

Vanessa bit her lip to keep from laughing.

‘If we tease him more here, it’ll backfire, you know.’

‘Gid, did you write a thesis on teasing Jenien?’

‘I was prepared.’

Fortunately, Jenien didn’t hear the two whispering.

The well-baked pie was very delicious. Vanessa and Gid, as well as Jenien, ate two plates each, so the taste was certain.

Jenien seemed very surprised that Gid knew how to cook.

“Do you ever have to cook? What do people use you for?”

“Well, my father sometimes did.”

Gid cooled the berry jam and put it in sun-dried glass jars, and he stacked the black bread, which could be stored for a long time, in a shady place.

Jenien clicked his tongue as he looked at the messy kitchen and simply tapped the wooden stick a few times. Then, the kitchen utensils moved to find their places.

“How do you do that?”

“You wouldn’t be able to do it even if you knew.”

Vanessa pouted at Jenien’s blunt voice. Seeing that, Jenien threw a thick book at Vanessa.

The book was well-bound in dark green cloth, but it looked quite old.

Gid knew that Jenien had bothered to search his study for this book. Of course, he wouldn’t have any reason to look at basic magic.

Of course, that ‘bothered to find it’ heart was hidden by the hateful voice.

“It’s basic incantation magic, so go out and study. What kind of academy student plays around so much every day?”

“The teacher told me to spend the vacation happily without thinking about studying!”

Vanessa protested, but Jenien indifferently picked his ear.

“That teacher probably didn’t know you were this stupid.”

“Jenien.”

Gid’s golden eyes slowly blinked with a strange look, but Vanessa was behind the man’s broad back, so she couldn’t see his face. She only saw Jenien scoff and go to another floor.

Gid gently poked Vanessa’s sulky cheek with his large hand.

Only then did Vanessa let out a sigh and stare at him intently. And she admired him inwardly.

The perfectly proportioned features and the faint smile lingering in his golden eyes were still hard to get used to. It was surprising that admiration sometimes leaked out even after all this chattering and joking around.

“Jenien searched for that book in his study for a long time yesterday. He seems to want to give it to Vanessa, so don’t be upset.”

“Why does he talk like that when he deliberately brought it down? He’s so shy.”

Gid smiled as Vanessa grumbled.

“I have something to do, so I’ll have to go upstairs for a bit.”

“Don’t worry. I can play well on my own.”

Gid grinned and disappeared to another floor, following Jenien.

As the bustling mansion became quiet, Vanessa went out to the unkempt front yard and sat down. And she firmly resolved.

Today, I will definitely succeed in at least one incantation magic. I’ll make Jenien eat his words.

Thinking that it wouldn’t be too difficult since she had studied formulas and theories throughout the vacation.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Once again, a voice that made flames flicker flowed out. But again, nothing happened.

Vanessa felt how arrogant her thoughts had been a few hours ago and listlessly turned the pages of the book.

She had just failed to realize basic incantation magic for the eleventh time. If she combined it with what she had practiced in the past, she couldn’t even count it.

“They say to put in will, how can I put in more will when I’ve put in this much?”

Vanessa glared at the book, but there were no other explanations. Only words that the wizard’s will was the most important factor in realizing magic.

“Is this the end!”

Since incantation magic already contains formulas in the words themselves, realization was not difficult if the wizard’s talent and will were sufficient.

Of course, the fact that it was not difficult was limited to well-trained wizards, and even that was terribly difficult for novice wizards like Vanessa – or hatchlings, according to Jenien.

Vanessa threw the book aside and fell backward.

The bright blue sky had not a single cloud. Only a few scattered clouds could be seen in the distance.

“It’s hot.”

Vanessa muttered, but she didn’t particularly think about crawling under the shade. It was because she was feeling dejected from failing magic in a row.

Jenien was right. It looks like it wasn’t the time to have fun. What if I don’t have any talent? I don’t even deserve to rest in the shade.

What if the teacher really thinks I’m stupid, like Jenien said?

So, she was still sprawled out even when she heard the sound of the mansion door opening. Until she heard a soft voice.

“Vanessa, why are you lying there? Isn’t it hot?”

Vanessa rolled her eyes and saw a man walking towards her, his gorgeous blonde hair sparkling in the pouring sunlight.

He looked slightly disheveled from doing something with Jenien, and his sleeves were completely rolled up, revealing his muscular arms.

The man, who smiled with his eyes, had the power to seduce anyone, but the depressed Vanessa couldn’t smile at all.

“I guess I’m not a wizard.”

Vanessa muttered gloomily, and Gid frowned.

“That can’t be. The academy professors aren’t fools. Neither is the patron teacher who Vanessa likes so much.”

“Then I guess I’m stupid, like Jenien says.”

“I don’t think that’s the case either. You mustn’t fall for Jenien’s mean words.”

Unlike his glamorous appearance, the man acted very unpretentiously. It was amazing that he even made jam himself, and he sat down comfortably without caring about the dirt-covered ground.

The man picked up the book that Vanessa had thrown away and skimmed through the contents.

“I was wondering where the smile you had while melting butter went. It looks difficult.”

“The Vanessa from a few hours ago has already disappeared. It’s the worst… you see that there? It says ‘basic’….”

“Vanessa, magic is never easy, as much as it’s called a miracle. The same goes for incantation magic.”

“But I have to be able to do it by the time I’m a fourth-year.”

Gid quietly tilted his head at the voice that seemed to carry all the worries of the world. A faint smile formed in his eyes as he carefully examined Vanessa.

How can I soothe this sulky young lady?

The question didn’t last long, and the method was simple.

A sound like the wind rustling through the leaves came from his mouth.

A cool breeze blew over his large hand. The wind passed through his hand, tousled Vanessa’s hair, and passed by.

“Wow.”

Come to think of it, there was a wizard here as great as Jenien. Incantation magic was nothing to him!

Vanessa jumped up.

“What does it feel like? According to this book, is it just about wanting it desperately?”

Gid smiled slightly awkwardly at the eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“I want to explain it well, but… I don’t know how to express this.”

In fact, the feelings are all different.

He said that, but after thinking for a moment, the man quietly curled his fingertips. Vanessa also gathered her hands together.

“It’s as if a flower blooms from a very small point.”

The fingertips spread out softly.

Vanessa stared intently into his eyes. It was a feeling that seemed like she could grasp something.

As if something was blooming from a black dot where nothing existed….

A voice like heat haze flowed from Vanessa’s lips.

And finally, a small flame bloomed like a flower on her white hand. Vanessa’s eyes widened like saucers.

“Wow. Wow! What do I do, what do I do!”

Vanessa stomped her feet, not knowing what to do because she was so happy. Even so, she tried not to move her hands as much as possible.

The burning red flower kept trying to grow, so Vanessa worked hard to concentrate and maintain its size.

“You’re a very talented, excellent wizard. Jenien was wrong.”

A soft whisper was heard. He was looking down at Vanessa with a proud look for some reason. Vanessa smiled brightly.

“That’s right, Jenien was wrong.”

Vanessa decided to stop torturing herself by being steamed under the sunlight.

The two sat side by side under the shade of a tree. Vanessa tried to make a flame on her hand again and smiled smugly with satisfaction. Once she did it, she gained confidence.

While Vanessa was diligently turning the pages and studying other magic, Gid tore open a few letters he had in his arms and swallowed a sigh.

“Why?”

“Work keeps…”

He said only that much, but he looked very tired for some reason, so Vanessa smiled. And she widened her eyes.

“Come to think of it, what kind of work do you do?”