“There was no one who taught you about Force before?” Burn asked as he escorted Man back to her room. They left Yvain to train alone sihere was no longer a point for Burn to teach him more than that for now.

  Man chuckled. “As you know, I have no talent in it. My body couldn’t even muster a proper push-up.”

  “But how could no one, ever, tell you about it?” Burn was a bit suspicious of the woman’s social circle. She was the legendary witch; there was no way she had no basi-depth knowledge about Force at all.

  “Every Force user… no, anyone who was knowledgeable about Force, took one look at me and deemed me pletely hopeless, refusing to eborate,” Man expined.

  She turo Burn and narrowed her eyes. “If we didn’t have this retionship, I’m quite certain you would do the same.”

  Burn didn’t refute that. It was indeed a plete waste of time to teaeone so ued.

  “I thought all this time, Force users are muscle brains who only had physical training in their mind… apparently not,” Man remarked, her tone ced with admiratioe a subtle hint of insult.

  Burn didn’t refute her ent, aowledging the perception many held about Force users. He uood the misceptions surrounding their training and abilities, which often overshadowed the nuanced uanding that actually defiheir practice.

  “Well, pared to Vision users who pced their trust in what God gave them, believing that their journey would be equal, Force is the plete opposite. We aowledge our limitations and work around them. There’s nothing equal about it at all,” Burn expined.

  Man, impressed by Burn's insight, hummed in a beautiful melodious tone, her eyes refleg the fading light of the setting sun, “Hmm~ You must be suuuuuper talented.”

  “I am not,” Burn suddenly refuted.

  The solemn ambiance deepened as they paused. Their iwined arms as they walked back to her room were painted in hues of red and gold, signaling the approag dusk.

  "My body was average. If I went to any Force user or teacher, they would likely refuse me," Burn said. "But... no oually told me that I was hopeless. The people around you are wrong."

  Somehow, Man was left breathless.

  "You mean..." Man whispered. "Even someone like me... learn Force art?"

  Unbeknownst to her, her face was flushed. There was nothing but pure excitement and admiration in her bluest of blue, and it somewhat made Burn feel a little better.

  Little did he realize, he was a tad irked that everyone around her had told her that mastering Force art was out of her reach, deeming her hopeless.

  “There’s no equality in Force art, but everyone give it a try. Someoh no legs learn, someoh no arms too. They might seem hopeless, but the possibility is never zero,” Burn cleared his throat, “Even though you have zero talent…”

  By the way, Burn's subtle jab at Man's talent brought a chuckle to her.

  "But what if my body ’t gather ee mana at all?" Man asked softly.

  "Try to supply it from your Vision. I’m sure you start with that," Burn said.

  "You do that?" Man gasped in admiration again.

  "Like you supply mana from outside, like Mana potions, and my kisses, I’m sure you also support it from elsewhere," Burn answered.

  "That’s so cool!"

  "And by the time you master your body, I’m sure you will be able to gee and gather mana with your body too."

  "You think so?"

  "Yes."

  "Caliburn, you’re so smart!"

  "I just refuse to be stupid."

  "Heheheh, a genius is different after all~"

  "Heh."

  ***

  As phe week, they began their march to Inkia. Despite Burn's assertion that Man and Yvain were not hey insisted on joining, leaving the three kingdoms uhe supervision of Burn’s men.

  Before setting off, Man prepared a colle of ented artifacts for Yvain and Burn to wear. However, Bur o adorn himself with any and graciously allowed Man to bestow them upon his knights.

  Yvain received a new scepter, while Gahad and the others who apahem to war received ented rings, earrings, brooches, and garments.

  “You said you didn’t have access to your treasures yet, correct?” Burn inquired as Man added additional entments to his armor. “Where were they stored?”

  It was the first day of their march, with night desding upon them.

  “They’re far,” Man remarked, pausing her hand.

  “Far?” Burn blinked. “You’ve regained your strength, so I assume you travel anywhere in a matter of seds with yic, ’t you?”

  “It’s beyond the reaagic,” Man scolded, spping his arm lightly, “Stay still, I o trate.”

  Despite Burn's initial refusal of her artifacts, Man insisted on imbuing his equipment with entments instead. They were sitting in front of a fire, chatting among themselves while the others prepared the campsite.

  Yvain was o be seen after saying he wao see how the food would be cooked, and Gahad ran around supervising things. It was quite peaceful around Burn and Man.

  “If you have to go to retrieve your treasures to help you recover better after the aftereffects of the curse, just go. Yvain is safe with me,” Burn said.

  “I know. That’s not what I’m worried about,” Man finished her entment. Immediately, the expehril armor he bought from the outsiders now felt as light as a feather but still had a protective sensation while wearing it.

  It seemed that she reduced fri between the pieces too, allowing him to move more freely, with better sensory feedback.

  “What are you worried about, then?” Burn asked.

  “That I’ll be gone for too long,” Man answered. “I told you it’s far.”

  “Where?” Burn couldn’t believe it would be that far, but when he saw Man sigh and point upward, he roven wrong.

  She poio the sky—to the moon.

  "No... really?" Burn raised both eyebrows skeptically.

  "I'll go grab them after we solve this loop," Man softly said, trying to hide her . "Now, hands."

  Burn mindlessly extended his hands like a dog to its master, obeying Man's every whim without a sed thought. As he let her ent his gloves, he realized it had bee a charming daily routine for him to daan's tune, a reality that occasionally made him want to roll his eyes into another dimension.

  But he decided to save that eye-rolling exercise for ter.

  Man, oher hand, was genuinely ed for Burn. She knew he'd probably scoff at the sight of her "worry," but that didn't stop her from sneakily casting entments on every single piece of clothing he owned, even the ones he only wore to bed. Because, you know, nothing says "I care about you" like bewitg your pajamas.

  Burn had heard that Vision users were only half as formidable sans their precious treasures. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder if Man, with her supposedly infinite soul, was the outlier in this equation.

  Surprisingly, despite his stubborao being coddled, Burn couldn't deny the tangible effean's entments. Maybe, just maybe, he was relutly warming up to the idea of having someone like her by his side. Someone who, against all odds, seemed to genuinely give a darn about his well-being.

  He just o get used to it.

  "It’s done,” Man said cheerfully. She stood and pulled Burn’s hand toward his tent. “Let’s go ge before dinner.”

  Burn simply followed her as she pulled his hand, hearing the little hums and noises she made. Not only to him, her cheerful mood affected the people around and gave them a little glimpse of heaven.

  "Isn't it just grand to have an empress in charge?" Morien quipped, a hint of satisfa in his voice.

  "Absolutely," Tristan chimed in with an agreeing sigh.

  "The bance does seem rather delightful. No more tiptoeing awkwardly on eggshells around His Majesty," Yvolt added, a chuckle underlining her words.

  "And to witness His Majesty bending to someone else's will is quite the sight, isn't it?" Gahad remarked. "A pleasant ge, albeit a surprising one."

  "You lot have it all wrong!"

  The knights spun around at the youthful voice that interrupted their versation. Yvain strode toward them, a half-eaten sandwi hand, still mung away as he spoke. "It's my Master's behavior that's actually surprising."

  "How so, Your Majesty?" Gahad inquired.

  "You guys have only just met Master, so you're not privy to her usual demeanor.”

  “She's a rather gloomy person, rarely crag a smile unless absolutely necessary. I’ve never seen her ugh so much. And as foing the extra mile, well, that's a rarity for her, unless it involves delving into the realms of magic," Yvain expined between bites, his tone carrying a subtle hint of amusement.

  "That’s… straristan remarked, a hint of bewilderment in his voice.

  He imagihat Man was always cheerful and radiant no matter the situation, sihey often saw her sharing ughter by Burn’s side. She seemed like the sort who ughs at tempest or hurrie.

  Well, if you t Burn as a storm or hurrie, then the analogy fits.

  “It’s rather challenging to fathom that someone like His Majesty could actually ignite joy in another's life, don’t you think?” Morien murmured wryly.

  Typically, Burn’s mere presence would drain the positivity from those around him—if there was any to begin with. He would exacerbate the situation further if the atmosphere was already gloomy.

  Yet, here we have Man, basking in good spirits around him?

  "Temper your enthusiasm for now. Remember, His Majesty remains the very essence of evil. Let’s not disregard the trials we’ve already endured," a woman's voiterjected.

  Dame Landevale joihe discussion, fresh from honing her rapier. With a reassuring hand on the hilt of her sword, she remarked, "As, dear Miss Man. Her delicate heart may soon find itself shattered."

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