Finally I am not awaken by knocking. I ready myself and head for breakfast. Ryan and Jessica beat me, but not by a lot of time. As I settle in with my breakfast, Ingrid walks into the room. She looks nervous while looking about.
"What's Ingrid doing here?" Ryan asks. "I'll go see." He leaves us to check on the lady. The conversation ends up with the pair coming to our table. "It seems she has need to chat with Thomas. Secretly."
"Secretly?" Jessica eyes me. "Should we be worried?"
"Odin suggested she could train me a little in magic."
"This..." Ingrid fidgets. She looks at me. "Do you trust them?"
"The truly troublesome one isn't here." I think of Daniel. Can't place him in the trust ring. "I gave Ryan access to my wing when I visited last night. I would offer Jessica, but..."
"Please don't." Jessica eyes me. I know why. That's why I didn't.
"Okay." Ingrid sits down and pulls out a letter Odin sent her. It's not in a language I know. Which is interesting. "The curse I removed is the true love finder one. People won't be caught by such a thing now."
"Thankfully." Jessica exhales. I agree. Better those around me aren't caught. It was one thing when I was really little. But as I grew... Why? So many of these curses don't make sense for me now.
"I... I have a spell I am to cast on you. If Odin analyzes it and says it's safe... I can remove your mana limiter."
I freeze watching her. "Yes."
"It's painful-" Ingrid tries. "The test and the early removal. And the one who gave the blessing will know. They'll visit."
"Yes." I press my hands on the table. "Yes. Please. Whatever is needed. A chance. I can't work magic like this. I can only hope when I ask it for support, it gives me what I need."
"Meaning?" Jessica asks.
I grunt. "I asked it to save me from encroaching guards when I was trying to escape the castle a few years ago. I was locked to my bed until morning. The worst part was... I needed to pee for the bulk of the night."
"That sucks." Ryan pulls back. "Really glad I'm not covered in curses like you."
I flex a little. Looking at Ingrid shows off nerves. She could be punished if people know she willingly hurts me. Odin's spell never did. But she's probably not as skilled. I should consider Odin for the benefit he really was. Ingrid isn't at his level. He was her age when I was born. It has me sigh. "I won't force you to try the spell. Or attempt the curse removal. I'll deal."
"I'm sorry." Ingrid stands up. "I'll... I'll be back." She flees. It truly looks like that too.
I sink covering my head. Ugh. A chance. Not a guarantee. With a bunch of possible concerns. Only to find the mage capable uncomfortable with it. "Sucks."
"Yeah. But don't worry. That one is a guaranteed time out." Jessica offers. "You'll be safe to cast sooner rather than later."
"My father's broke when he turned twenty." I think of the history. It was literally on his twentieth birthday. My curse is probably the same. "I can only assume the curses are copies."
"See? Five years. That's it." Ryan stands up. "I will never have any."
"Yeah." I need to accept things. If nothing else, it'll only be a few years. "Can't wait for Hydrangea to get here. I need the distraction." Jessica agrees with me. "So you went to the library instead of practice swords." I look to Ryan. A different topic would help matters. I can't just focus on my curses. That doesn't help matters.
"Yeah. I wanted to research a few things, but it ended up all blocked." Ryan thinks it over. "You offering up your wing may help matters. I can ask for things through you then."
"Reach the royal libraries." I can do that. "Some things are restricted because of age or level."
Ryan makes a face. "That just sucks. You should have an easier access than me too."
"If there's a book you want me to try to get, ask. I don't mind."
"Thanks. I may. Depends." Ryan thinks it over. "We won't have an easy time going anywhere until the next day off."
"Or we earn it." Jessica looks to me. "These four months will go by so quickly, but also feel far too constricting."
"Yeah." Ryan agrees to that statement. "Every chance I have to leave, I'm going to want to."
I think it over. "I'm pretty sure I'm marked allowed to head to the castle. As long as I don't have another place to be and the halls aren't on denial to leave." Like at night.
"Because of your title." Ryan glances to Jessica. "Jessica can't join you on that trip, but I should be able to."
"Sorry, Jessica." Taking her would mark her as my engaged. "If you have need to go, I may be able to think of a few things."
"No. If I can't leave on my own, I will not use your abilities to." Jessica closes her eyes. "I am going to be red five knight and lead the entire group."
That's a goal. "I look forward to that day."
"I think you can do it." Ryan glances between us. "So both of you will aim for all the weapon types."
"Not before graduating, but yeah." I shrug. That's just the normal. "I was going to just learn spear and shield beside you if you don't mind."
"That would probably work." Ryan looks to Jessica. "My flyer can count as a weapon. I checked the possible list when I was at the library last night. So I truly only need bow and sword. We can keep training if we have time, but weapons may not be our best use of time."
"Is my magic healing based, too?" Jessica weighs the idea. "Although, I can assume Callie will wish to join our first campaign."
"A lot will. It's a known annual quest that pays well with limited death concerns." Ryan knows because his family puts out the quest. "The monsters attacking aren't truly the serious level, but far beyond the farmers who handle the crops. We're mostly a wall guarding easy food for the monsters."
"Mostly those interested in vegetables and fruits want to attack." Jessica must be aware of the quest too. "A rare case of a carnivore will happen. But we station strong enough knights throughout the line to not have any real concerns."
"Knowing what will come is always the best way to handle things." There would be no way they'd send us on a dangerous mission first thing. Not unless it was self specific. Sending me for Odin may be a dangerous mission, but would be something I'll need to do sooner rather than later.
"That's true." Hydrangea stands behind me. "Glad to know you feel that way, Thomas."
I look up at her. She's ready for the day. "Ready for the test?"
"I have the easy part. We'll do it in the arena in case you manage to injury someone." She motions us after her.