Motivation

Ethan and Lena went inside the guards quarters; they didn't see Muller there. He was in the training field, which was behind the guards quarters. They learned it from one of the guards, and he showed them the way there.

The training field was split into two sections. One part of it was rectangular in shape, and the short sides were round.

A running track surrounded it, and in the center of it were square-shaped fields covered with sand. Some guards were sparring inside them. And Muller supervised them.

The other part wasn't visible because of the building, but gunshots were heard from there. It was a shooting range; Ethan and Lena learned it from the guard. They didn't have anything to do there.

The guard approached Muller, and Ethan and Lena followed after the guard.

The guard saluted.

"Head Knight, I brought the young master and his maid as you requested."

"Good. Dismiss."

"Yes, sir."

He saluted again and left.

Ethan and Lena greeted Muller.

"Good morning, Head Knight."

He responded with a simple nod of his head and resumed watching others train. It continued for some time, and Ethan started to get tired of waiting. He tried to ask how he should train, but before he opened his mouth,

"Your training for today will be walking at a fast pace."

"Walking? But..." 

[Why don't you try it before complaining?]

"Um, okay."

So with this, Ethan's training has begun. At first, he thought that it would be easy. How difficult can walking be? Even in the fast pace? But he quickly discovered how difficult it was.

The first lap was manageable; at the second, his breathing started to become shallow and more frequent, and sweat formed on his forehead. And at the end of the fourth lap, his breathing was rough and sweat was running down his face.

Muller was already waiting for him.

"Rest for one minute and continue."

"Huff... Huff... Okay."

Ethan rested as he was told and continued walking.

For the second time, he only managed to cover three laps before running out of breath. And again, he was told to rest for a minute and continue.

He wondered, while resting, how long it would continue. His legs were already shaking, and he didn't think that he would manage to cover another lap.

But he forced himself to do it, and he somewhat managed it. Muller was already waiting for him. Ethan thought that again he would be told to rest for a minute and continue.

"Your training today is over; come again tomorrow."

After saying these words, Muller walked away from Ethan and towards the other guards to supervise their training again.

But Ethan didn't leave; he was too tired to walk properly. He only managed to get to the nearest bench and sit down. And Lena sat down near him.

"Are you tired?"

"Yes, I didn't think that walking would be so difficult."

"After all, you were in bed for the whole month. But I didn't think that it would be so difficult for you."

Her voice was slightly worried.

"You talk like it would be easy for you."

"Yes, I think it will be easy."

"Then why don't you try it? If it's easy for you."

"Why should I? It's your training, after all. And I used to walk around at a fast pace."

Ethan knows that. Lena was a maid, and before she became one, she worked all day long on her feet. He only told her these words because he wasn't happy with how much weaker he was than he anticipated. But it wasn't her fault.

"Sorry, Lena. I told you something inappropriate."

"Hehe, you are too kind, Master. But I happily accept your apology."

They continued to watch other guards train for half an hour. Ethan peeked at her face secretly a couple of times, but she didn't notice it. She was too focused on watching other guards train. And Ethan thought that if she wasn't his personal maid and wasn't a little girl, she would happily join them in training.

But it made him slightly sad; he wanted her to look at him with such eyes.

After Ethan rested enough, they went outside from the guard's quarters.

Ethan didn't say anything, and Lena, seeing how down he was, decided not to bother him with unnecessary talk.

After they walked away from the guards quarters for ten meters, the sound of rifles firing and weapons clashing disappeared as if it weren't there at all.

[The Count's family sure is living very extravagantly. Not only is their territory vast, but they even used magic formation to cancel sounds from the guards quarters, even though the sound wasn't very loud.]

But Ethan wasn't in the mood for taking, so he ignored his teacher.

Walking from the guards quarters took more time than when they came there.

"So what do you want to do after the training, Ethan?"

"Nothing; I am too tired. So I go straight to my room."

"Em, okay."

She doesn't understand why he was so down. But nonetheless, she followed him to his room's door.

Ethan opened the door and went inside. Lena, too, tried to follow after him but was stopped.

"I want to be alone, so don't follow after me."

"Em, okay. But if you need anything from me, then just ring the bell to call me; I will be waiting outside of your room."

She said it worriedly.

"Okay."

Ethan closed the door. And after walking towards the desk, he sat down and stared emptily at the ceiling.

[Are you perhaps feeling down?]

But Ethan ignored him again.

[Is this because of that girl? Because she was so focused when looking at the training guards?]

[Yes.]

Ethan thought that it wouldn't be bad if he talked about it with him. He was older than he was, and he should know more about people and their relationships.

[Today, I understand how weak I was. I only managed to walk for eight laps before I got tired. And she can walk like that all day. But it doesn't make me sad. What made me sad is the way she was focused when she looked at how other guards were training.]

There was silence for some time, as if the person on the other side didn't hear him properly.

[Is this a reason why you're feeling down?]

[Yes.]

[Hahaha!]

[What's so funny?! Why are you laughing?! I'm talking with you seriously!]

[Because you are so funny.]

Ethan didn't expect that his teacher would start laughing when he was waiting for a serious response.

[I laughed because you didn't know how advantageous your situation was. She spends most of her time with you as your personal maid. She is also your friend. Both of you are not very different in age from each other. And don't forget that you are a good-looking young master. You have looks and status, and you are kind to her.]

The teacher's voice was serious. And what he said makes sense, but to Ethan, it wasn't enough.

[Um, but...]

[And it looks like you didn't notice because you were too focused on training, but she was looking at you like that. Even more, she is worried about you, even now, and she didn't stop looking at you before she sat down on the bench near you.]

[Really?!]

[Yes, I am not lying. But if this isn't enough, why don't you try to impress her with your magic? You are a mage, after all, not a knight. And she too wanted to learn magic. So why don't you teach her it?]

His teacher was right. Teaching Lena magic might really help improve their relationship.

[But before that, you need to learn it yourself. You don't want to disappoint her if she asks you a question and you can't answer it because your knowledge about the subject is lacking.]

[Okay, I will study hard so I can teach her.]

Ethan's voice was determined.

[Glad to hear it.]

[So, teacher, should we begin with my studies?]

[Not right now; before that, I want to see the content of your ring. I was curious about it for some time.]

[Um, okay.]

Ethan wasn't against it.