How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 50

Although Aisha lived on the ninth floor of the upper section, the mages of the Tower of Magic did not make a habit of visiting one another. They rarely interacted.

Even though Claudia was Eric’s paternal aunt, in all her time here, Aisha had only once seen Claudia come down to check on him. On that occasion, Claudia nodded to her and asked a few questions about how she had been lately.

As for going upstairs… that was the residence of a mage granted the title *Great*. No one dared visit carelessly. This was Aisha’s first time climbing higher.

There were already few portraits along the ninth-floor stair corridor. On the tenth floor, they were scarcer still, and almost all displayed expressionless, elderly faces. At first glance, the effect was almost sinister.

Aisha drew a deep breath, approached the doors of Claudia Green’s residence, and knocked softly.

Click.

Before Aisha could knock a third time, the heavy wooden door unlocked and slowly opened.

The interior was designed so openly that, from the doorway, Aisha could see through the corridor into the sitting room.

Unlike Eric’s research residence below, Claudia’s home contained fewer objects and appeared more spacious. Pale colors dominated. The curtains stood open, sunlight spilling across a classical, spotless interior.

Claudia sat alone at a table drinking tea. She raised a white cup, took a sip, and returned it to the saucer with scarcely a sound.

At the same time, she glanced sidelong at Aisha in the doorway.

“Come in,” she said slowly and evenly in her aged voice.

Aisha hurried inside, still wondering how to explain her purpose politely.

Before she could begin, Claudia said gravely, “When I divined that a visitor would arrive soon, I hoped it would be you. I’m glad you decided to come.”

In other words, Claudia had been waiting for her.

Overwhelmed by the honor, Aisha had not yet found words when Claudia paused and indicated the chair beside her.

“Sit.”

The instant she spoke, a small teacup bounced and rolled across the table to the place before the chair. The teapot bent at the waist and poured steaming black tea. Fragrance immediately filled the air.

Aisha quickly sat and thanked Claudia.

Then she tried to find tactful words to describe her experiences and thoughts.

Claudia was Eric’s paternal aunt. As family, their relationship had to be close. Aisha did not want to offend her and worried that criticism might provoke resentment. She searched for gentle language and rapidly rehearsed the speech in her mind.

But the moment she began, Claudia stopped her.

“I already understand something of why you came,” Claudia said calmly. “I will handle the matter of Eric. Let us save some time and simply talk.”

Did this mean… the Great Claudia wanted to chat with her?

Aisha stared. “But I haven’t said anything yet…”

“I know. I watched Eric grow from childhood. I understand him.”

Claudia’s green eyes narrowed, hiding a faint, mysterious gleam among deep folds. Her gaze did not rest on Aisha. She seemed instead to be searching through empty air for old memories, her tone faintly reflective.

Only after a while did she look back.

“Eric is extraordinarily stubborn in certain matters. That serves his research well. In your case… it may not be good. But it may not be entirely bad either. The matter is difficult to explain.

“When he accepted you, he did not see you yourself. He saw ‘Tina’s child.’ That was certain to create problems over time. I’m sorry I did not stop him at the beginning. But I have always believed that a student’s own heart influences their growth more than a teacher’s instruction.

“So I waited for you to come to me—or until the proper moment to offer you a hint. Of course, Eric himself still has room to grow. I believe the two of you can have a good influence on one another…”

At this point, Claudia suddenly smiled with warm affection.

The solemn heaviness created by her old-fashioned clothing and severe expression melted like snow. She instantly seemed far more approachable.

“That is why your arrival makes me sincerely happy. By the way, what made you think of coming to me?”

Aisha listened in a daze. Seeing Claudia’s rare smile distracted her even further. Only when the question came did she return to her senses.

“My mother—she suggested that I ask you.”

“I see… Tina.” Nostalgia entered Claudia’s smile. “The first time I heard her name was from Eric… He used to mention Tina without realizing it. If one counts carefully, she was his only friend.

“That was why we were all so surprised when he constantly spoke a girl’s name. Later, by coincidence, I met Tina several times… Such a spirited, innocent, and intelligent girl.”

Hearing Claudia speak of her mother’s past softened Aisha’s heart. She remembered the portrait on the graduation wall at Wold Military Academy and the radiant young Tina within it.

Then something stirred, and Aisha reached a decision.

“Great Claudia, um… there is one more thing. May I ask a favor?”

Aisha paused, then rose solemnly and looked at Claudia with earnest anxiety.

“I heard that you also oversee the graduation of students from the Tower of Magic. Um… you know my enrollment certificate says Aisha Byrd. When I graduate, could my other legal name be added to my graduation certificate as well? You know… Aisha Killott…”

“Of course.”

After an instant of surprise, even Claudia’s usually tranquil eyes revealed pleased approval.

“But do you not want to add it now?”

Aisha smiled and shook her head.

“Mother believes this better protects my safety. I don’t want to create trouble for her either, so keeping a lower profile is better. And… I want to give myself a deadline. Before graduation… I want to become a daughter who will not tarnish my mother’s name and can make both my parents proud.”

“…That is very good, Aisha.”

Claudia’s smile grew gentle. She reached out and stroked Aisha’s head.

Aisha instinctively dodged, then realized Claudia meant no harm and held still so she could continue.

Claudia gave her hair an affectionate, elder’s stroke before withdrawing her hand. She studied Aisha, eyes flickering, and spoke softly.

“But you have even more room to grow. Do not let your glorious mother limit your vision. You have… great things that only you can accomplish… Aisha, I look forward to your future.”

…

After Aisha left, the clock on the wall pointed exactly to five in the afternoon.

Claudia glanced at the time and waved a hand. The teapot and cups flew back into the cabinet. At the same moment, the long wooden dining table twisted and transformed strangely. In the blink of an eye, it became an exquisite magical research table.

The curtains closed, and magical patterns emerged across the walls. The sitting room instantly became a vast laboratory.

Every mage had different habits. Claudia preferred to conserve space.

In the past, she had needed every available inch for her collection of books. Even though an entire floor of the Tower of Magic now gave her room for anything she desired, she retained the old habit of saving space.

She also planned every minute of every day. It was now time for research.

Ordinarily, she would clear all unnecessary matters from her mind and devote every thought to knowledge and inspiration. Today, however, Aisha’s face kept surfacing in her mind.

The girl had unquestionably changed since their previous meeting. Such change in only two months was an extraordinary achievement.

Today…

Growing confidence and indescribable vitality had shone in the child’s eyes. That strength and hope closely resembled her mother’s, yet Aisha was unquestionably herself.

Compared with Tina, impulsive and lively in youth, Aisha possessed a calmer temperament and a gentle kindness. That likely came from her father and her own experiences.

The blend was gradually creating something new and striking within her, something that made anyone who noticed begin to anticipate what she might become.

Now that Aisha had grown, Eric was the one who still needed to.

Claudia thought for a moment and reached a decision.

Come to think of it…

She frowned slightly again.

Having lived on Eric’s floor for so long, Aisha had probably become reasonably familiar with Thorne.

After accepting several gifted mages who had since graduated, Eric had intended to stop taking students. For several years, he accepted no one.

Thorne was an exception.

Apart from factors related to Thorne’s family background, Eric had probably been willing to take him on because he saw his younger self in the boy.

Both came from distinguished magical families. Both possessed outstanding talent, proud temperaments, and a reluctance to express their feelings directly.

In a certain sense, Thorne resembled Eric…

Of course, Thorne should not share Eric’s obsessive streak. He was also plainly more mature and intelligent.

But…

After some thought, Claudia shook her head.

There was probably no reason to worry excessively. Aisha was not Tina, after all. Surely she would not fight Thorne every day until he fell in love with her.

…

Aisha returned deeply encouraged and relieved. Much of the pressure upon her had lifted. She quickly threw herself back into her daily studies.

Recently, she absorbed Eric’s lessons very quickly, accelerating her progress. That naturally brought more assignments and more books to read. Every day became full and productive.

In the blink of an eye, another Wednesday arrived. There were no general lectures that afternoon, making it Aisha’s regular day at the Free Arena.

“Thank you for today’s instruction. I’ll be leaving first.”

After the morning lesson, Aisha said goodbye to Eric and Thorne with an energetic smile. With her books and wand in her arms, she hurried out of the classroom ahead of them.

Once the last strand of her pale hair disappeared behind the door, Eric finished gathering his things and prepared to leave as well.

“Teacher!” Thorne called. “I won’t be in the tower this afternoon either. Lady Claudia asked me to go out and prepare some experimental materials for her…”

Eric paused and nodded.

Claudia currently had no students and knew Thorne well. She did occasionally ask him for assistance. There was nothing unusual about it.

Without suspicion, Eric turned to leave and gave his customary instruction.

“…I will be in the laboratory. Do not disturb me when you come or go.”

“Yes, Teacher.”