32: Raine in Cecilia's eyes

A few days later, Red River Fortress training grounds.

Renn and Cecilia were exchanging pointers while practicing spells.

"Lord Renn, your magic has improved a lot again. Your proficiency in Mud to Stone is increasing so quickly."

"Also, your mana is rising very fast. It looks like it won't be long before you can promote to a Mid-level Black Iron Mage."

Cecilia stroked Little White's soft fur while giving Renn pointers on his spell cultivation.

"It's only Mid-level Black Iron; compared to you, Cecilia, it's not worth mentioning."

Renn calmed the mana core within his body. Having just tried the newly learned elementary spell, Mage Hand, he had exhausted his mana.

"I've been studying magical knowledge under my grandfather's tutelage since I was a child. I started as a Mage Apprentice at five, and now, nine years later, I'm only a Low-level Bronze Mage."

"Grandfather said that the path of a mage is a path of seeking knowledge, and there is no end to learning."

"Master Kapdo is quite right. Learning is endless, isn't it!"

"Learning is endless?"

"What you said makes a lot of sense, Lord Renn!"

Cecilia felt the meaning behind those words; it was exactly the same as her grandfather's teachings.

"Lord Renn, your talent is truly high. In the future, you might become a powerful Archmage."

"Hahahahaha!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Cecilia. But from now on, could you stop calling me Lord Renn?"

"We're so familiar now; calling me that feels too distant. I'm quite a bit older than you, so you can call me Big Brother. Since you're teaching me magic, I'll call you Teacher. We'll each have our own way of addressing the other, how about it?"

"Teacher Cecilia!"

Renn teased Cecilia half-jokingly, making her blush slightly.

"Lord Renn, stop joking. I've only explained some basic mage knowledge to you; I can't be a teacher. Only my grandfather is qualified to take students. I'm still far from it!"

"I'll call you Big Brother Renn. You can just call me Cecilia, no need to call me Teacher, Big Brother Renn."

Cecilia thought being a teacher sounded interesting, but she didn't believe she was qualified to be Renn's formal magic instructor.

Renn didn't force her.

"Alright, Cecilia!"

"Mage Hand is actually quite useful. If used proficiently, one person can do the work of a dozen porters. Engineering efficiency would skyrocket."

Hearing Renn's assessment of Mage Hand made Cecilia feel that it was quite different from the magical knowledge she had learned in the past.

"Big Brother Renn, as a multi-functional elementary spell, Mage Hand can indeed help a mage do many things. Whether it's daily experiments or attacking enemies, it has good effects."

"But I've truly never seen a mage like you, who thinks about building houses and being a laborer with every spell."

Renn smiled and said, "Isn't it all the same? Work is work, no matter what it is."

"That is very different. Mages have a mage's pride. Every mage I've seen is an arrogant person. No matter how they disguise it on the surface, they are arrogant at heart. To ask them to build houses for commoners—it's simply unthinkable."

"Only magical architecture or magnificent special projects can attract an arrogant mage to lower their head and act as an architect."

Although Cecilia wasn't old, she had seen many mages. Whether at the Holy White Academy, the City of Mages, or the Golden Capital, all mages carried their own unique arrogance.

"Those guys always think they're different from commoners, putting on a high-and-mighty act."

Thinking of the faces she had seen back then, Cecilia couldn't help but complain to Renn.

"Cecilia, aren't you a mage too? I think you're very easy to get along with!"

Renn hadn't actually met many mages, but in his memories, mages indeed didn't interact much with commoners, and their tempers seemed rather poor.

The only mage Renn had direct contact with was Cecilia, and he hadn't sensed any strange temper or difficulty in getting along with her.

"I'm a bit different, Big Brother Renn. Perhaps it's because of my background—I'm a bit special. As for the specific reason, sorry, I can't tell you, Big Brother Renn."

"Besides, Big Brother Renn, you are a Baron, a landed noble, a Silver Knight, and a mage. You are already different from commoners. Even if you met other mages, their attitude towards you would be very friendly."

Cecilia thought for a moment and added:

"Big Brother Renn, you are different from all the nobles and even Professionals I've met. You are somewhat unique."

"Oh?"

"What's different?"

Renn was quite curious about Cecilia's view of him.

"Whether they are nobles, mages, or other Professionals, they all like to distinguish themselves from commoners, believing they are superior and not mere mortals."

"Other nobles wouldn't care about the lives of commoners, let alone personally build houses or do things for them. It's always the subjects who work for the nobles; there has never been a noble who works for their subjects."

"Big Brother Renn, you are the first noble I know who personally helps common subjects with their work."

Over the past few days, Cecilia had seen Renn go to the construction sites in town every day after learning the Mud to Stone spell to help the workers petrify the ground.

Renn's actions brought a great shock to Cecilia's heart, making her almost doubt if the things she had seen during her travels were all fake.

Finally, Cecilia concluded that Renn was a unique freak, a freak unlike any other noble or Professional.

"Hahahahaha!"

Knowing that Cecilia thought he was a freak, Renn couldn't stop laughing.

"I didn't expect that this was the image I had in your heart, Cecilia."

"It's the truth!"

Cecilia didn't think she was wrong, looking at Renn with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance.

"Yes, you're right. I am indeed a bit different from other nobles. My thoughts are different, and the territory I want to build is also completely different from theirs."

"What I want to establish is a new order, a brand new and unique order where everyone can live a happy life."

"How about it?"

As Renn spoke, his gaze fell upon Cecilia.

"Are you willing to help me, Cecilia?"

"To establish a new order together with me."

"Eh?"

Cecilia didn't know how the conversation had suddenly turned to her. But looking at the spirited man before her, those bright eyes seemed to contain some mysterious power, radiating a unique charm.

Cecilia didn't know how to answer Renn. She had an impulse to agree in her heart, but thinking of her grandfather, she suppressed that impulsive emotion.

"Sorry, Big Brother Renn, I can't answer you right now. I have to take care of Grandfather; he needs me more."

"But Big Brother Renn, if you ever need my help, just ask. I will do my best to help you with whatever I can."

Renn felt a bit disappointed at failing to recruit Cecilia, but on second thought, Kapdo was still recuperating in the territory. There would be opportunities to recruit them later, and Renn regained his confidence.

"It's okay, Cecilia. Master Kapdo indeed needs your care. We'll talk about this again once Master Kapdo wakes up."

"Okay, Big Brother Renn. As long as you're not angry!"

Cecilia nodded obediently. Having finally made a friend she got along with, she didn't want Renn to get angry and turn against her over this.

"Cecilia, I actually do have something I need your help with right now."