Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 911: Reunion with First Retainer

CH911 Reunion With First Retainer

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After the quiet moment at the top of the Enclave’s main spire, Alex and Zora returned to Alex’s residence in the Enclave to change clothes in preparation for Alex’s meeting at the Golden Palace.

When they arrived, they found the door to the residence unlocked, and it seemed someone was already inside.

Cautiously, the couple entered the residence and found a familiar red-haired figure seemingly studying from multiple textbook tomes in the residence’s study.

“Asta?” Alex called out.

Asta’s body froze as she looked up at the familiar yet strange face before her.

“Alex?” Asta called out, seemingly unsure.

This was the first time Asta had seen Alex since he first left the Enclave for the Fury Lands—more than two and a half years ago.

In that time, Alex had changed in many ways. Beyond his physical growth, the experiences the youth had been through had subtly shaped him, granting him a confidence and gravitas that the person he had been more than two years ago could not compare with.

“What? My first retainer doesn’t recognise her liege anymore?” Alex replied with a smile.

A happy expression bloomed on Asta’s face. She shot to her feet and almost lunged at Alex. However, Alex reacted first and reached out to hold her hand—seemingly in a polite greeting.

Asta blushed subtly as she realised that she had almost lost herself and let her lingering affection show. At the same time, she also felt a sting in her heart because she realised that while polite, Alex had subtly shot down her overly affectionate thoughts before she could even put them into action.

It was at that moment that Asta came to realise that they were not alone.

She caught sight of the blue-haired lady behind Alex.

Even though she hadn’t yet seen the person’s face clearly, she was aware of who it was.

She quickly and, more importantly, subtly regained her composure, not betraying her inner thoughts.

“I greet my liege,” she curtsied with utmost etiquette.

“Rise,” Alex said, reaching out a hand to her, which Asta used to stand.

Alex turned his body, fully revealing Zora’s presence to Asta.

Looking at Zora, he said, “Come, my Empress. I believe this is the first time you two have met like this. Let me formally introduce you.”

“This is the first of my people—my first retainer, Lady Asta Verborgen.”

Then he turned to Asta. “This is my wife, my Ice Empress, Zora Frost.”

Asta was initially happy with Alex’s introduction of her, but when she heard the tenderness in his tone as he introduced Zora, she felt a pang in her heart.

She quickly buried the unsavoury emotion.

“I don’t deserve to be described as a Lady, Young Master Alex,” she said in haste.

“Nonsense. Though your father is only a Baronet, it still makes you a member of the nobility, and you deserve to be treated as such,” Alex said with a comforting smile.

“Thank you, Young Master Alex,” Asta said with her head bowed.

However, it was clear from her tone that she was happy with Alex’s response.

“It is a pleasure to finally, formally make your acquaintance, Asta. I have heard many things about you from my husband. You are an important member of his House, so if you ever need anything, just let me know,” Zora said as she walked closer to her.

“Thank you for your kind offer, my lady. I don’t dare ask for more. Young Master Alex has already done a lot for me, and I haven’t even begun to repay him,” Asta said.

“There’s no need to stand on account with us, Asta. Like I said, you are an important member of our House, and my husband intends to invest in you fully—so do I,” Zora said.

She reached out and held Asta’s hand warmly and welcomingly.

“She is right. I told you back then, if you ever need anything, just let me know.” Alex patted the lady’s shoulder.

Alex sighed inwardly.

He remembered when he first came to the Enclave and she had been assigned to bring his food to him. Back then, she stood some heads above him. Now, however, he had come to tower over her.

In this life, at least, he had very few ‘friends’—if any, actually—and Asta was one of them, or at least close enough to becoming one.

He didn’t necessarily like her referring to him as ‘Young Master Alex’, for it sounded too distant. However, Eleanore had constantly impressed upon him the need to maintain proper boundaries in his relationships with people.

While it might be of little or no consequence to him, that was not the case for other people. The boundaries he kept in his relationships ensured that he earned and maintained the respect of those around him while also making sure people didn’t overstep their limits.

It prevented a mess from happening in the first place, saving him the need for a potentially strenuous clean-up.

He looked over the woman at the textbook she had been reading.

‘Textbooks on Spatial Magic?’ Alex realised. ‘They seem more advanced than the beginner stuff I have actively perused. That means…’

“Asta, are you already a Space Mage?” he inquired.

“Yes, Young Master Alex. I am a Tier II Space Mage. With the right resources, I am now able to design and build minor teleportation arrays across a relatively small area, like within an estate or large academy,” Asta revealed.

“Really? That’s great.” Alex smiled excitedly.

Asta smiled a little upon seeing this, but she quickly controlled herself.

“Of course, my array won’t be as solid as the ones we use at the Enclave—nor would it be as pleasant to use.” She quickly informed him of her shortcoming, or rather, limitation.

“Your evaluation… Was it done under Enclave standards or Empire standards?” Zora asked.

“Empire standards? What is that? My teacher evaluated me under the Enclave Spatial Mage testing standards,” Asta replied with a hint of confusion.

“In that case, you have nothing to worry about. Your array is most likely solid enough for everyday use. You are definitely a competent Spatial Mage,” Zora commented.

Alex also nodded in agreement.

“I thank you for your kind words, my lady, but I am still far from being able to design—never mind construct—an Interplanar portal from scratch on my own. At most, I can only aid in the construction process of one,” Asta said.

“Really? You have learnt that much in just over two years? I guess my husband was right. You really do have some talent for Space Magic,” Zora said.

“That’s right.” Alex once again nodded in agreement. “My eyes are never wrong,” he said with a smile.

***