Chapter 10: Chapter 9: The instructor

Months after the pseudo-annihilation, pretty much everything was back to normal for Alice. Even her tinnitus disappeared after a few weeks.
She took some notes during her lessons and asked questions, compared this world’s knowledge to the one from her dreams, and actively helped Maximilian assimilate the aspects he didn’t quite grasp. Some days, just after the meal, she would train at the sword with Rachel. Despite her friend’s pleas, though, Alice always refused to protect herself with her magic. 

Then she would have the afternoon lessons, and would do the same as in the morning.

To her, the only difference was Maximilian’s attitude towards her. At first, he was almost rude when he talked with her but, since that certain event, he seemed slightly kinder. Even for little things like the flavor of tea that he asked his maid to prepare for the both of them, he took his guest’s preferences into consideration.
At some point, Alice heard from the Marquis that Maximilian had been quite shocked when he saw her covered in severe burns on the ground. He must have realized that he cared about her, so she started to view him as a valuable friend in return.

For his sake, Alice was adding much more details to most of the original lessons. For example, when there were basic lessons on the human body, she did her best to describe the role of each part of the brain, various things about the immune system, cells or genetics. She was not sure it was still entirely true in this world, though. After all, back on Earth, there was no such thing as mana veins.
Moreover, in this world, because of the importance of mana, meals were slightly more calorific, and digestive organs tended to be a bit bigger compared to those from Earth's humans.

"So, Maximilian, did you understand the lesson? This concept of force is important. With this, you can predict an object's trajectory pretty accurately."
"It sounded a little too abstract for me. I might need your help."
"Still, I am worried about you learning a gravitation theory with flaws and developing a weird magic type as a result. I wonder if I should introduce you to general relativity at some point."
"A weird magic type? Like you are one to talk... Also, do you not realize that our tutors get upset when you act like you know more than they do? Where did you get this knowledge, anyway?"
"Um... reading books?"
"I doubt it. The tutors did it too for way longer than you."
"Let us just say that I am a genius."
"If you are, why are you wasting your time teaching this to me only? You should write books for everyone in order to help the Ouronia Kingdom."
"Uh… I will do it someday. For now, I want to share this knowledge with you only."

Maximilian was surprised when the usually expressionless Alice spoke so boldly, especially while maintaining eye contact. In reality, Alice had been doing this deliberately lately in order to show her affection to those close to her. She was worried people would think her ever-stoic expression meant she was a sociopath or something similar.

"I see. Thank you."

Over time, Alice became more comfortable speaking casually with Maximilian, Rachel, their parents, and even the attendants at the manor. This mutually beneficial relationship between the Vallmonts and the Ravendalls helped both families increase their influence.
For the Count, being on good terms with a marquis was a major advantage, and he was no longer mocked as much as before for being a former baron. Countess Leila had also greatly expanded her network through her tea parties with powerful nobles.
As for the Marquis, strengthening his relationship with the Count meant getting closer to the royal family. Some rumors even said that the King would soon make him a duke due to this new relationship and the Marquis' consequent mana pool.

 

On the day Alice turned thirteen, the Vallmonts celebrated with her at their manor. Even Count Edgar de Ravendall made his way to the manor for the occasion. As a gift, the Marquis announced that he had hired a talented practical instructor for Alice from the King's network. He had originally wanted to hire Viktor de Brangett, who had briefly taught Alice a few months prior, but his specialty was helping new awakened people to discover their elements and training them during their first week.

This first week was critical, as it was during this time that a person could lose control of their mana and straight up die. Viktor was so busy with this that he didn't have the leeway to train a specific person for a long period of time. However, since he was very interested in Alice's magic, he insisted on sending his greatest disciple in his place. Most likely, he did this to receive regular reports about her magic.

"This instructor will teach you magic at your mansion on the days you do not have to come here. How do you like it, Alice?"
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am very happy to have someone competent to teach me."

The Marchioness seemed relieved that Alice liked this gift. She feared that the young lady would still be traumatized by the explosion incident that had happened a while ago.

"It is nothing. You deserve it just from helping out our Max. His grades have become so much better than before."

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(This is a really good news since I was worried about stopping using magic at such a bad time. Though I'm not sure about being tutored by someone close to this old man...)

Now, Alice would finally be able to use magic again after many months of restriction.

***

And so, the very same week, on a day Alice planned to do nothing in the Ravendalls’ mansion, a young woman asked the guards to meet her new student, the daughter of the Count de Ravendall.
This new instructor sat with Alice in the parlor while her maid Mia was serving them tea.
She quickly introduced herself. Her name was Serena, and she was the youngest disciple of Viktor. Yet, apparently, she was recognized by everyone as his best one.
In turn, Alice concisely introduced herself as the daughter of the Count. 

Then, none of them spoke for a few seconds. This was too familiar to a certain memory from the darkest place of Alice’s mind.

(Oh no! Not that again! I’m the host, and I don’t know what to say!!)

However, her worries disappeared immediately after.

“So, what exactly is your magic?! Master Viktor told me that it was totally like strengthening magic but that at the same time it had nothing in common! How come?! Let me see! With my magic, I’ll understand it immediately! Let’s quickly drink this tea and go outside!”

(S-so much energy… She’s exactly like Rachel. At least, she goes straight to the point…)

Serena was apparently a magic addict who thought about this all day. She did not look like one, though. She had long, beautiful blond hair, profound yellow eyes and the face of an angel. She was quite short for a woman and must have been 19 or 20 years old.
She even wore an elegant golden dress that made her look like a dignified lady. Truly, it was as if she was made of gold.
Yet, after drinking her cup of tea in only two or three gulps without checking for poison, she completely ignored etiquette, stood up and hurried to the door in order to go to the training ground, despite all the dirt there.

"S-slow down please! Why are you in such a hurry?!"

Serena stopped, turned and looked at Alice with a smile.

"We have only four hours for this lesson. We need to start as soon as possible to try out things!"
"Do you really expect me to last four hours of mana training?! I am only thirteen, so my mana pool will not last this long!"
"Fair enough. However, you do not need to worry, for I have mana potions."
"What? First time I hear about these! Why did no one tell me about them?!"
"Well, they're hard to make since the flow of mana is so easy to mess up as it gets in the container. But I'm kind of a genius, you know?"
"I see…”