The magus ignored the weakness of her body and knelt on the ground to examine the newly peeled pelt. Even though it had been washed by the rain a few times, the pelt was still wet and gave off the faint scent of blood.
Ten minutes later, the magus raised her alluring face and stared at Claude. "How did you do it?"
"It's simple." Claude averted his gaze and shrugged. "It's a spell. If I had to do it myself, I'd only be back tomorrow."
The magus nodded and didn't ask what spell it was. She laid the pelt on the ground and hoped to dry it off with the heat from the fireplace.
Claude bent down and helped her straighten the pelt. "Do you need me to get it tanned?"
The magus shook her head. "No, this pelt can't be tanned. It'll be useless to me.
Dry it first and I'll do it myself when I'm better. This pelt is the key to a spell. "
"You disguised yourself as a black bear?"
Claude asked. "The first time I saw you, you were beside the waterfall. You were wearing that pelt and looked like a rather strange black bear.
I was still wondering why the black bear walked like that. I didn't think it was you inside. "
Alright, it would've been better if he hadn't mentioned it. The moment he brought it up, the magus' cheeks flushed red and she rolled her eyes at Claude. He had seen her naked when she went to the waterfall to take a bath.
"That's a shapeshifting spell. Do you think it's just a pelt?
The pelt is too old. It's been 20 years and I can't turn into a real black bear even with a shapeshifting spell.
When my body recovers, I'll draw a rune magic circle on this new bear skin. Then, when I put on this bear skin, I'll become a real big black bear … "The young female mage defended herself with a red face.
"Shapeshifting spell?
Isn't that a shapeshifting spell? "
Claude wondered if he was a druid to be able to turn into a black bear. "I've read about evil magi being able to turn into all sorts of beasts. Looks like this is a shapeshifting spell like yours."
"I heard from my mother that in the earliest days, mages didn't need beast skins to transform into ferocious beasts. They only needed some precious magic materials. In the eyes of others, they were indeed ferocious beasts, possessing the same dexterity and strength as ferocious beasts, as well as battle techniques and ferocity.
Later, due to the exhaustion of magic materials, there was no way to cast such a spell, so he could only further modify it, changing the Transfiguration Spell to the Shapeshifting Spell, which required the complete fur of a ferocious beast.
Only in this way can he transform into a true ferocious beast in a short period of time … "
Do you think magi are evil? "" That's right, "the young magus explained, before recalling Claude's words.
"It's not just my opinion, but the entire continent views magicians this way. It's written in the books, and everyone says so.
Take me and you for example. We haven't done anything evil, but if people find out that we're magi, we'll be seen as evil in their eyes.
Actually, I personally believe that magic is just a weapon. It's good in the hands of good people because they won't harm others.
But in the hands of bad people, it's a threat. They'll use magic to do evil.
I became a magus out of curiosity and to explore the secrets of magic. I didn't think about using magic to harm others.
I won't attack unless I'm attacked.
With magic, I won't cause trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either. It gives me a lot of confidence.
The only worry I have is that my identity will be exposed and my family will be affected.
But now that I'm in the army, no one will suspect me of being a magus.
Do you know, when I see you, I think of my sister, Angelina? She's only seventeen this year and she's also a magus.
When I found out that she had the same talent as me, I told her about the taboo of magi, but she insisted on learning magic.
Now that I've been away from home for three years, she's already become a one-ring rune magus and takes care of my mother and brother.
So, I didn't help you with any ulterior motives. I just thought of Angelina. You're as strong as she is, living alone in the forest with Black Wind. I really admire you. "
The magus lowered her head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I thought you were like those people and wanted something from me."
Claude chuckled. "What could I possibly want from you? You don't have as many spells as I do, and you live a poor life. I can't stand the days of hiding in the forest and eating coarse wheat biscuits.
The only thing I admire is your big black wolf. It's very intelligent and human-like. "
Hearing his name mentioned, the big black wolf looked up at Claude and scurried to the magus's side to protect her.
"My mother picked it up in the wolf's den when it was just born. It hadn't even opened its eyes yet, so she brought it to me. After I became a one-ring magus, I used a spiritwake spell to awaken its sentience and connect our minds. That's why it's so smart," said the magus as she stroked the wolf's head and hugged it, much to Claude's envy.
"By the way, I still don't know your name. Shouldn't you introduce yourself?" asked Claude.
"I-I'm Cyrillady Corvinberen. You … you can call me Cyrilla …" The magus's face flushed red and her voice became softer and softer.
"Alright, I'll call you Cyrilla from now on.
Pleased, Claude asked, "By the way, did you learn magic from your mother? Where did she go?
How did she let you live alone in the forest? "
Cyrilla's face turned from red to pale in an instant. Her expression turned sorrowful.
"I'm sorry, Cyrilla. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked such a private question." Claude hurriedly slapped himself to show his apology.
"It's fine …" Cyrilla shook her head. "One summer, a magus with a hooked nose came to visit. He should be an old acquaintance of my mother's.
I think he persuaded my mother to go to a place called Nubissia with him. He said that he found a magical ruin and wanted to excavate it.
He even organized a few people, most of whom were acquainted with my mother. They said that it would only be half a year.
It's said that the ruin has a history of more than a thousand years. It's well-preserved and there should be great rewards.
My mother was finally moved and decided to go with him.
I was already 14 at the time and knew how to take care of myself. Blackwind had also grown up.
So, my mother told me to stay here and wait for her to come back for half a year at most.
But she never came back. It's been four years, and there's still no news of her.
I don't know where to look for her, so I can only wait here. "
Claude let out a long sigh and imagined it to be a sad story of a treasure hunt gone wrong.
"You don't know about Nubissia?
It's a barren land even bigger than our Freia. But most of it has been colonized by other countries. It's said that it takes at least 20 days to get there by ship.
Fortunately, you didn't go out to look for your mother. Otherwise, I wouldn't have met you here, "said Claude.
"It's not that I don't want to look for her, but … but I don't know how. I've been living here with my mother ever since I was young. Apart from my mother and Blackwind, I rarely talk to anyone. I don't know how to talk to people either.
My mother said that men are all scoundrels and liars. Those who try to be nice for no reason don't have good intentions. "
Claude rubbed his nose awkwardly. That was a little too direct, wasn't it?
Footsteps could be heard coming from the stairs. Soon, they arrived outside the door. Then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Claude was overjoyed. He didn't even know how to start a conversation with Cyrilla.
Myjack opened the door and was shocked by the bear pelt on the floor.
However, he quickly stood up straight and asked, "Sir, your grilled bear steak is ready. Would you like to eat it or come down?"
Claude looked at the magus. "Cyrilla, do you want some?
This is the bear that you killed … "
"Then I'll order some for Blackwind." Cyrilla nodded.
"Alright, I'll go down and bring it up for you," said Claude.
After leaving the room, Myjack asked curiously, "Sir, did she really kill such a big bear?"
"Of course. Where else would I find such a big bear?
It's raining so heavily outside. The bear probably came out to hunt for food and destroyed her shack. She killed it after injuring her. However, she had the big black wolf to help her. The big black wolf was injured too, "Claude said.
When he went downstairs, he found Makqi, the two signallers, and Gum eating a grilled bear steak.
Makqi gave Claude a thumbs up in his drunken state. "Sir, you're really something. You tricked another pretty girl over."
Claude punched him in the face. "What nonsense are you spouting? She's a hunter's daughter and lives in the mountains. I got to know her when I went up there to play.
This time, she was attacked by a black bear and was injured. Her wolf dog told me to save her. We're just friends … "
"The relationship between a man and a woman starts from being friends …" Mazik muttered, "Why can't I know a beautiful woman as a friend?
It's all because you're a pretty boy. Women like pretty boys. "
"Eat your food. Go back to your house when you're done," Claude cursed.
The two signallers and Gum giggled at the side.
Claude got a plate and gave the magus a piece of grilled bear steak. He then took a small wooden bowl and three pieces for the big black wolf.
Of the remaining three, two were for himself and one was for Myjack.
"By the way, Sir, what should we do with the two bags of bear meat?" Myjack asked.
"Tonight, you and Gemi will braise the bear meat.
They were first marinated with salt, honey, spices, and salted bean sauce for two hours before being dipped in a pan of hot oil. Finally, they were placed in a saucepan over high heat for an hour before being taken out to dry. Tomorrow morning, they could be sliced into slices of rye bread for everyone to taste.
It's not like you haven't done it with me before. Just do it like you used to braise beef, got it? "
Claude pointed at Gum. "And you, Gum, eat less. If you're hungry, eat more bread. Don't be like the last time where you ate 15 catties of braised beef in one night. It's fine to have a taste, but don't treat it as a staple."
He carried the grilled bear steak upstairs and waited for the magus to finish eating before he asked, "By the way, Sheila, there's still a bag of bear bones here. What do you plan to do with them? The smell is too strong in the house."
The magus gave it some thought. "I need to extract the bone marrow from the bones. It's the main ingredient for wound medicine.
But I don't have the strength right now. Why don't you put the bag somewhere safe and I'll deal with it when I'm better? "
Claude put down the empty plate and said, "Why don't I help you extract the bone marrow? That way, the bones won't attract insects and insects."
Without further ado, Claude spread a tarp on the ground and found a large canister.
He didn't even try to hide it in the room. In front of the young Mage, he directly used Hand of Magic and Precise Control, easily breaking the bear bones in half, taking out the bear marrow and putting it into a large bottle.
In less than half an hour, he had finished processing a large sack of Bear Bones, making the young Mage extremely envious.
"Your spell is really easy to use. It's really convenient." Sheila was practically drooling.
"Magic Hand and Precise Control were originally rune spells. Hundreds of years ago, Mages used these two spells for alchemy experiments.
I used them to help myself in my daily life. Now, do you understand why I can skin a bear so quickly?
The last time I was entangled by your vines, I also used Hand of Magic to tear it apart. If you want, we can exchange spells. "
"You're willing to trade spells with me?"
Sheila's eyes lit up, but they dimmed right after. "I only know five spells. My mother took her magic tome with her when she left. There are many spells in it that I haven't learned yet. She also took many magic items with her.
I'm already a second-circle magus, but I only know five basic first-circle spells. None of them are as useful as your two spells. "
So your mother wasn't there to search for treasures, but to deliver them … Claude finally understood one of the questions he had been harboring. He could tell that Sheerah's magic was much stronger than Claude's from the poisonous smoke traps she set up in Witch Forest.
That was because she was already a second-circle magus and was only 18 years old. That alone showed that she was more talented than Claude.
It was a pity that she didn't have any offensive spells. It was no wonder she had to charge at Claude with her spear when she used her vines, just like how she had to fight the black bear that attacked her shack in the rain.
She didn't have any spells she could use in battle. Of course, she could only blame her mother for taking the tome away and not returning.
"Tell me, what are those five spells of yours?
Let me see if I can trade with you … "Claude looked like a strange middle-aged man trying to trick a little girl with a lollipop.