Chapter 1526: Getting To Know Her Apprentice

There wasn’t a big ceremony or anything, I just agreed to be her apprentice and that was that, similar to what happened with Director Fetra.

She then led me through the forest path, striding forward with the confidence of someone who has walked the same path several thousand times.

I followed behind her, keeping my eye out as I watched the forest around me, wondering if I would get the feeling of someone else spying on me just like before.

Without looking behind, Director Vesper spoke up, "You don’t need to be so on guard, Apprentice Aster. There is no one else here on this island today aside from the two of us."

I looked around the trees, "There’s no other creatures on the island?"

"Not at all."

I frowned at her words before narrowing my eyes at the darkness.

It wasn’t even that dark since my Umbramancy allowed me to see through the veil of darkness and there was nothing but trees all around us but... I don’t know... It feels like there’s just something there but I don’t know what.

It’s not the same as how I found the Director spying on me, but it was more like you could feel your hair standing because someone was right behind you, that kind of feeling.

As though reading my mind, she spoke again without turning back, "I’m quite surprised you can actually sense it. That’s just the Guardian watching over the island. All of the training islands like this have their own Guardians. It’s not specifically watching you, it’s just monitoring the island to make sure everything is functioning correctly."

"Guardian?" I repeated.

"It’s a magical entity that was created specifically to watch over these islands. It’s harmless unless you intend to use these islands to do something against the Academy."

Hmm... Seeing that I had no such thoughts in mind, I guess it had nothing to do with me so I decided not to ask.

We continued down the path until we reached a particularly large tree that seemed to be made out of the shadows itself.

Without hesitation, she walked straight into the base of the tree, her figure passing through the tree like it was made of liquid as the tree parted itself to allow her to walk through it.

I decided to just follow behind her, walking with my hand in front of me and watching the wood part as I pressed my fingers into it.

The feeling was like pushing against a curtain so I strode through it, only to find myself inside what I could only describe as the interior of a luxurious home.

Not quite on the level of a mansion but it definitely looked like a place that a noble might live in with the spacious entrance hall that led to a living room with a set of stairs heading to the second floor.

"Welcome, to my humble abode," She gestured to the living room. "Do make yourself at home, I’ll make some tea for us. It has been quite a while since I last had visitors. Well... Visitors that were allowed into my home that is."

I blinked in surprise, "Eh? Umm... I thought for sure you were going to lead me somewhere to start lessons or something."

She stopped on her way to the kitchen and turned around to tilt her head at me, "It’s a rest day, student Aster. Do you wish to have lessons today as well?"

"Eh? Umm... I mean... I don’t exactly mind but... That was what I was under the impression of. Why else did you want me to follow you?"

She gestured to the couch beside me, "Can’t I just want to have a talk with my new apprentice? Go on, student Aster. I assure you that this is merely just for us to get to know each other. It is a prelude to your future lessons with me. After all, how would I be able to make lesson plans for you if I do not first understand you?"

Well... Fair enough I guess.

I went ahead to take a seat while the dark skinned Trasif went over to her kitchen to start making the promised tea.

I noted that she was using Umbramancy to do so as what appeared to be shadowy hands floated around her to help her open up the cupboards and gather the tea leaves as well as boil the water.

Interesting... I didn’t know you could just create floating hands like that.

I wonder if that was an original spell of hers or it’s something you can do as an Umbramancer after you reach a higher proficiency tier?

Well... I guess I’ll be able to learn from her now that I’m her apprentice~

She prepared her tea quite quickly and brought it out on a rather exquisite looking tray with an equally exquisite looking tea set on top of it.

As she placed it on the tea table, I just had to ask.

"Umm... Director Vesper? Are you a noble?"

She gave a curt nod without looking up from where she was pouring the tea out of the teapot into the two cups, "I am. I come from the Nightshade family based in Naibsele Town, although I am merely the third child of said family and not the heir."

Well, that explains why this place looked so expensive looking...

If I remember correctly, the town she was talking about was further to the north of the capital city which I unfortunately did not get the chance to visit during my journey here.

She placed one of the cups in front of me while taking the other for herself, prompting me to pick it up and take a sip.

Mmm... This is pretty nice~

Director Vesper sipped at her tea as well and the both of us just enjoyed the aroma and taste of our tea for a moment in silence before we set them down almost at the same time.

"So... Student Aster... As I said, this is simply me getting to better understand you, but I suspect you also have questions of your own?"

I nodded my head slowly. There was one question that I really wanted to ask but I wasn’t sure if it was a weird question to ask here.

But it seems like I did not need to because unexpectedly, she spoke out the question I had been meaning to ask.

"Perhaps... Your question might be... Why my skin is dark?"

I thought she managed to read my mind and leaned back a little, wondering if my boon was ineffective until I saw her giving me a slight smile.

"Worry not, I am not reading your mind, my apprentice. It is just a common question that people ask me when they first see me, especially when they have not visited the forests of my people."

I tilted my head, "I have been to Emmeflero Capital City though... And I don’t remember seeing any Trasifs that have dark skin... Is there a history or something?"

She seemed surprised by my words, "Oh? You’ve been to the capital and have not seen any dark skinned Trasifs? I admit that the darker folk like myself prefer to keep to ourselves and avoid more... Social events. But for you to not see any of us... Might there have been some trouble going on in the capital when you were there?"

"Oh... Err... There was a situation where the Tree of Creation was thought to be dying. Does that count?"

She froze up before slowly lowering her cup that she had wanted to take another sip of, "What... What did you say? The... The Tree of Creation... Is dying?"

"Was. Past tense. The situation was resolved. Don’t worry about it."

She let out a sigh and sunk back in her chair, looking like her energy had just been drained out of her.

"Phew... That’s good... So the Tree of Creation is safe?"

"Yes."

"What... What happened to it?"

"Ehh... It’s a long story... Don’t worry about it, seriously."

I really didn’t feel like telling the entire story about that and if I were to tell her the gods were also involved, I think it might make my apprenticeship under her become rather awkward as well.

She looked like she wanted to insist on it but decided against it and shook her head, "Well... In that case, I can see why you did not see any dark skinned Trasifs there. They most likely kept themselves out of sight from outsiders since they would be... Ah... I shouldn’t say more than that. Anyway, I suppose we should get to the main point of why you are here today."

She leaned forward and shifted her gaze to the space above my shoulder, eyeing the area right behind me where I could feel the presence of my Shadow Guards occupying.

"The first thing I want to know... How are you able to have an entire army stored in your own shadow, my apprentice?"

So she’s able to see after all...

Well... Crap err... Where do I even start?