Chapter 21
“Your job posting has been submitted.”
“Thank you.”
After confirming the submission, Aileen left the newspaper office.
It was a warm afternoon, and the streets were filled with people — most of them out shopping and enjoying the sunshine.
Watching a pair of young girls walking arm-in-arm with bright smiles, Aileen murmured,
“Maybe I should do a little shopping too.”
It had been a long time since she’d bought anything just for herself — not for Adrian, not for Richard, but for her.
In fact, the last time she remembered shopping for herself was when she was fifteen, back when her mother was still alive.
Lost in that bittersweet memory, she didn’t realize her guard, Kane, was watching her curiously.
“My lady?”
“Kane, since the weather’s nice, why don’t we take a little walk through the marketplace?”
“Do you plan to shop, my lady?”
“Maybe a little.”
Kane’s expression turned solemn, like a knight preparing for battle.
“Very well. I’ll be right behind you.”
Aileen couldn’t help but laugh softly at his seriousness as she stepped into the lively street lined with stores.
There were plenty of sights to enjoy — boutique windows displaying fashionable new dresses, and jewelry shops glittering with gemstones.
As she wandered, one particular workshop caught her attention. She stopped, picked up a parasol displayed at the entrance, and opened it with a whoosh.
“Kane, what do you think?”
“You look stunning.”
“I mean the parasol, not me.”
“With you holding it, my lady, the parasol looks like a flower,” Kane said in complete seriousness, though his words sounded like flattery.
Realizing that asking him was useless, Aileen chuckled and decided to buy the parasol anyway.
She continued her stroll through the street, enjoying the sunshine, when she glanced back and noticed Kane’s face glistening with sweat under his light armor.
“Kane, aren’t you hot? Should I get you something cold?”
“I’m fine, my lady.”
“But you look hot…”
“Truly, I’m fine. This heat is nothing compared to summer training.”
Still, he wiped the sweat from his brow discreetly.
Aileen sighed with a mix of sympathy and guilt before walking into a nearby café.
When she came back out, she handed him a chilled fruit juice.
“Here.”
“My lady, really, I—”
“Even if you’re fine, I’m not,” she said firmly. “If it bothers you that I’m spending money for you, then think of it as me spending it for myself instead.”
Kane hesitated, then respectfully accepted the drink. His quiet “thank you” made Aileen smile warmly.
She watched with satisfaction as he cooled off with the juice.
“Alright, let’s—”
“Hey, I said I’m not buying!”
A loud voice cut through the air, followed by a slam! as a store door burst open.
Startled, Aileen turned her head just in time to see a man being thrown out of a shop. Something rolled across the ground and tapped her shoe.
As she bent down to pick it up, the man shouted back at the shopkeeper,
“Why won’t you buy it?! It’s efficient, I’m telling you!”
“Efficient, my foot! That junk can’t even handle a mid-grade magic stone without cracking. Who’d use that?”
“That’s—”
The man faltered, clearly out of arguments. The shopkeeper scoffed.
“We can barely afford mid-grade stones as it is. Get lost, will you?”
With that, the shopkeeper slammed the door in his face.
The man stood frozen for a moment, then muttered a curse under his breath and looked around in frustration.
Aileen, feeling bad for him, approached carefully.
“Excuse me…”
He spun around, his eyes sharp and irritable — clearly still upset.
Unbothered, Aileen held out the item she had picked up.
“Were you looking for this?”
It was a magic stone — dark blue, like a piece of the night sky. Judging by its glow, it was mid-grade.
The man snatched it quickly and shoved it into his pocket.
As he did, Aileen took a moment to observe him. He wore a blue robe lighter than his hair, lined inside with a white fabric bearing a familiar symbol — the Tower of Magic insignia.
He was a mage.
Aileen looked at him with genuine curiosity. Mages were rare, and their reclusive nature made them even harder to find in crowded places like this.
Her open gaze must have bothered him, because he frowned.
“What are you staring at?”
“Oh, I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable.”
She apologized quickly — experience had taught her that people like him were best handled politely.
He snorted but clutched something in his arms protectively.
Aileen caught a glimpse of it — a wooden cube with a carved magic circle, surrounded by several cracked and colorless stones.
“Is that a magic tool?” she asked.
The man turned sharply, suddenly intrigued.
“Oh? You recognized it?”
“Well, it has a magic circle carved right there—”
“You want to buy it? I’ll give you a special discount — 1,000 slons!”
Kane’s brow furrowed instantly. Aileen blinked, incredulous.
“Did you offer that price to the shopkeeper too?”
“Of course! It’s worth that much!”
“…May I take a closer look first?”
“As long as you don’t break it.”
He handed it over, and Aileen examined it carefully.
“What kind of magic is stored inside?” she asked.
“It purifies the air, tracks locations, and even plays recorded music,” he said proudly. “This gem here stores the sound!”
Aileen stared blankly at it.
“All of that in one device?”
“Yep! The more, the better!”
“Then why does it need a tracking spell?”
“So no one can steal it! You’d understand if you made something this amazing yourself — which I did!”
He crossed his arms, clearly proud of himself. But Aileen could only give a faint, awkward smile.
“Sorry, but I won’t be buying it.”
“What?! Why not?”
“Well… I can tell you put effort into it, but it uses way too many stones. You said even mid-grade ones can’t handle the load — most people can’t afford to replace those. And combining all those spells just drains more energy.”
The man’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly, stunned.
Aileen continued calmly,
“Plus, the tracking spell is unnecessary. It only wastes more power.”
“Ugh…! Fine! Don’t buy it then!”
Snatching the device from her hands, the man stomped away angrily.
Aileen crossed her arms and called after him,
“If you focused on one spell per tool, it’d be much more efficient!”
“Whatever—ugh!”
He suddenly stumbled — and collapsed to the ground.
Alarmed, Aileen rushed over.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“…Hun…”
“Sorry? What was that?”
Leaning closer, she heard him whisper weakly,
“Hungry…”
❧ ❧ ❧
A short while later, Aileen found herself sitting across from the very same mage — now devouring food at an alarming speed.
She watched, wide-eyed, as every plate he touched emptied halfway in seconds.
“Please eat slowly,” she urged.
He only nodded without slowing down.
Finally, after polishing off four servings, he leaned back and sighed deeply.
“Ahhh… finally alive again.”
Aileen couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“You must’ve been starving.”
“Of course. I’ve barely eaten for a week.”
“A whole week? Why? Can’t mages work for the palace or make magic stones to earn money?”
He clicked his tongue.
“You don’t get it, miss. Mages would rather spend that time on research. As for making stones — it’s a waste of energy. Better to use magic for spells, not crafting.”
“You’d really rather starve?”
“I was working on a new device. Once I sell one, I’ll make a fortune! Life’s all about that one big win.”
“Or one big loss,” she said dryly, sipping her tea.
He blinked, then gave her a crooked grin.
“You’re funny. Most nobles get offended when I talk like this, especially when I drop honorifics. But you don’t seem to care.”
“I’ve met worse. Some people are polite and still unbearable,” she said, thinking bitterly of Damon.
After calming herself, she smiled.
“And honestly, you don’t seem like a bad person.”
“Ha! I’ll take that as a compliment. And you don’t seem bad either — feeding me and all.”
He chuckled and patted his full stomach proudly. His playful attitude made Aileen laugh too.
“So, my kind benefactor — what’s your name?”
“Aileen Wor—” She stopped herself just in time. “Aileen Olden.”
The man’s eyes widened.
“Wait, you’re that high up?”
“Something like that.”
He grinned. “I’m Hynel, by the way. Genius mage of the Magic Tower.”
“Wouldn’t eccentric mage be more accurate?” she teased.
He frowned.
“…You sound just like the idiots at the Tower.”
“Well, even I can tell you’re unusual,” she said with a mischievous smile.
“What? I’m perfectly normal!”
Aileen wisely didn’t argue.
After pouting for a moment, Hynel suddenly leaned forward.
“So, Lady Olden—uh, I mean, my lady—”
“Just call me comfortably.”
“I’d rather not end up in jail for insulting a noble,” he muttered. “Anyway, are you sure you don’t want to buy my magic device?”
Aileen was about to tell him she’d already decided not to — but his eager expression made her pause.
He rushed to add,
“I’m serious! I’m a certified magic engineer. I make all kinds of useful tools!”
“I can tell you’re talented, Hynel,” Aileen admitted. “But if they’re all like this one, I’ll have to pass.”
She gestured to the magic tool on the table — the same one she’d rejected earlier.
Hynel pouted, looking disappointed, until Aileen asked with genuine curiosity,
“But tell me something — you must be a pretty high-ranking mage, right?”
Unlock soon!~