How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 49

Perhaps Ryan’s rainy season had finally ended. This time, Aisha received a reply from Vitas after only three weeks.

Not only that, but the letter was noticeably thicker than the last. Her parents had not written together. Instead, there were two separate sheets, with her mother’s letter considerably longer.

Aisha hesitated, then decided to read her father’s first. After a pause, she unfolded the paper—

Dear Aisha,

We were very happy to receive your last letter and saw the question you asked. I’m sorry that, due to certain considerations, I was the only one to mention having a history with your teacher, Eric Green, in our previous letter. Your mother has now decided to explain it to you herself. I hope you won’t blame us for concealing it before…

…

The remainder contained ordinary questions about her life.

Hock’s letter was not long, but his steady personality could be felt in every line. Aisha also sensed that her father remained worried about her relationship with Eric and feared the man might make things difficult for her.

In truth, apart from her teacher’s refusal to address her innate magic, Aisha had encountered no other problems.

After some thought, she decided to explain properly in her reply.

Then came her mother’s letter.

Intuition told Aisha that it would contain important information. She pressed her lips together, drew a deep breath, then carefully opened it.

The first thing she saw was her mother’s fluid, beautiful handwriting.

My dear daughter Aisha,

We received your last letter. I’m very glad that you’re curious about the details of my past. It means there is a real connection between us, that neither of us is merely a symbol the other can summarize with ease.

However, I’m not certain it would be appropriate to tell you everything. Considering Eric’s pride, I doubt he would want you to know too much. Please forgive me for sharing only part of the story.

We truly were friends as students, though we met in the Free Arena.

At the time, I visited the Free Arena often to improve my combat skills. Because I wanted experience against every kind of fighter, I preferred unknown opponents and most often entered random-match competitions. That was where I met Eric—and defeated him.

Honestly, I didn’t consider it a remarkable achievement. Winning and losing are perfectly ordinary in an arena. But even now, I remember Eric’s expression of disbelief after his defeat. He seemed unable to accept losing. From then on, he kept hounding me.

I no longer remember how we became friends. But warriors commonly forge friendships through fighting, and I must admit that Eric was an excellent opponent. We spent most of our time together fighting.

I learned a great deal from him. He is an extraordinarily versatile mage, and in him, I could see almost every tactic a mage might use. That was why magic never frightened me later on the battlefield.

From that perspective, his immense pride was not entirely without justification. He truly was outstanding and had been famous as a genius from a very young age. He also came from an exceptionally distinguished background—one might say he belonged to the most prominent local family in Wold. I imagine the surname Green has already told you something of that.

When I graduated, he tried with all his strength to persuade me to remain in Wold. Naturally, I refused. I had not applied to military academy in order to seek a comfortable life on a peaceful island.

The years after graduation were indeed difficult, but I never regretted that choice. It was only after returning home and joining the army that I truly took notice of your father and fell in love with him. Hock is the person who made me mature. Building a life with him and having you were the best decisions of my life. You may not know how happy I am now, Aisha.

Eric rarely leaves his residence because of his magical research. I believe that stifling way of life contributed to his obsessive streak in some respects.

Our final meeting was the day before Hock and I held our secret wedding. I had only intended to tell a trusted friend the news privately. I never expected Eric to travel personally to Helman after hearing it. I suspect it was the only time in his life he ever left that island.

You know that Wold is the Heart of the World. Under ordinary circumstances, Eric can obtain everything he needs without leaving it.

It was also during that final meeting that I finally realized Eric and I understood our relationship differently. Afterward, we ended all contact.

Before sending you to Wold, I did worry that Eric’s obsession might affect you in some way. Your last letter made me even more concerned. If you encounter any trouble, you must tell me. If necessary, I can travel to Wold myself.

You may also ask the Great Claudia for help. She is Eric’s paternal aunt, and surprisingly, he can sometimes listen to her.

Eric is rebellious, stubborn, and self-centered. More than anything, he hates being lectured by people who act superior. Speaking to him directly may therefore accomplish less than you hope.

Oh, and although Eric’s gloomy temperament and reputation as a genius make him seem unfathomable, he is unexpectedly simple. You need to understand him the same way you would understand an idiot—the very stupidest kind.

I’ll wait for your reply.

Love,

Mom—Tina

After finishing the long letter, Aisha released a lengthy breath.

Following some thought, she declined her mother’s offer to come personally.

Aisha could already infer a great deal. If stating it openly would embarrass everyone, pretending ignorance seemed better.

Calling Tina to Wold might resolve Aisha’s earlier problem once and for all. But she did not want her mother forced into an awkward and uncomfortable encounter because of her.

Besides, Eric had recently begun speaking of her and Tina in the same breath far less often. For some reason, he now occasionally avoided her eyes.

Now that Aisha understood that Eric’s strange attitude toward her came from his history with her mother…

She could certainly find a way to solve it herself.

Looking back, Eric probably had not accepted her because he saw any brilliance in Aisha herself. He had done so because she was her mother’s child.

If that was why a mage on the ninth floor of the Tower of Magic’s upper section had taken her as a student, then the earlier predicament was inevitable.

If she wanted to borrow her mother’s light, she naturally had to endure her mother’s shadow.

If Aisha wanted others to see something in her besides the shadow Tina cast, she had to shine by herself.

At the very least, Eric needed to know that she too gave off light—even if it was still faint and not yet bright enough…

In a certain sense, her final entrance examination had never ended.

Aisha drew a deep breath and rose.

“Awooo—”

She saw Les rise with her.

For some reason, the concern in the giant wolf’s gray-blue eyes brought Major General Les Wolf, who resembled him, into Aisha’s mind. She could not help smiling.

This was already the second time that man had appeared when she needed help—though it was probably only coincidence…

Come to think of it… she had forgotten to ask how long he would remain in Wold or where he usually stayed…

But if she asked such things, he would probably find her presumptuous.

Aisha’s smile stiffened. For some reason, her heart gave a faint ache merely thinking about it, and her ears grew hot again.

She—she had no special intentions. She only… needed to return his coat. And she ought to do something to thank him for helping her twice.

For example, perhaps he kept pets. Aisha could use magic to provide a comprehensive preventive checkup…

Les watched Aisha’s face redden and frowned in confusion.

He had been worried ever since her expression changed several times while reading the letters. Then she said nothing, suddenly looked grave, and prepared to leave without explaining where she was going. Les became even more concerned and called out to stop her… only for Aisha to inexplicably blush again.

Lately, in addition to lessons and assignments, Aisha visited the Free Arena to practice her innate magic. Every day, she exhausted the final trace of her magical power before going to bed.

Les could hardly avoid worrying. Completely draining magical power was harmful to a mage’s health. Had Aisha pushed herself so far that she had developed a fever?

And so, while Aisha remained lost in thoughts of returning his coat and thanking him, the gray giant wolf suddenly approached and tried to press his forehead to hers.

Aisha froze, then came to her senses. Smiling, she embraced Les briefly and pushed him away.

Realizing this was no time for wandering thoughts, she composed herself.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine, and I’m not leaving you behind. There’s simply something I need to do.”

She snatched the coat from the back of the chair and put it on, then paused.

“Les, I’m going out for a little while… only upstairs.”

With that, Aisha embraced the wolf’s head, kissed him, and jogged from the room.

There was something she wanted to show Eric. But based on her experience with him, approaching and telling him directly would probably accomplish nothing. Her mother’s words confirmed that.

Therefore, following Tina’s advice, Aisha needed to find—

Claudia Green.

Eric’s paternal aunt. The mage who occupied the Tower of Magic’s top floor. The most respected living mage in the world.