"Can't you come up with a slightly more reliable suggestion?"
After brainstorming for quite some time, Aya still hadn't thought of a suitable birthday gift to give Tiran.
"It seems like your standards are just too high, aren't they?" Roger finished the drink in his cup, poured out the half-melted ice cubes and used them to ice the bruise on his cheek where Aya had punched him.
"Silence, sketch artist!"
"Well, I think it's not so much about the standards, but rather that Aya might be considering things from the wrong angle."
Mo shook the ice cubes in his glass, making a crisp clinking sound. "If it's just about giving a birthday gift, excluding Roger's crazy suggestions, we actually discussed quite a few good ideas earlier... Is Aya being too fixated? It's like... hmm, it's like a guy who's newly in love and is thinking a lot before choosing a gift for his girlfriend."
"What's wrong with wanting to give something special?" Aya mumbled.
"Ho~" Mo suddenly elongated his voice, looking at Aya with a somewhat ambiguous gaze. "Ah, I see, so your 'special' is meant to show the bond between you two - is this the kind of gift you're aiming for?"
"W-what! No way!" Aya stuttered, hastily defending herself.
"Alright, alright, no need to explain. Having been an assassin for so many years, I've seen quite a few things. I can pretty much guess what's going on between you and the Silver War Maiden."
Mo generously patted Aya on the shoulder - sorry, his arms were a bit short and he had a loli face, so it was quite awkward.
"In that case, why not just write a love letter? It's the most straightforward method! As long as it's well-written, it will definitely leave a deep impression on the girl."
- Of course, leaving an awkward impression is also an option.
Seeing Aya's stiff expression and incoherent defense, Mo became even more convinced of the situation. Oh, big news, the Princess of Milanía has been charmed by an unknown maid.
"Let's not talk about this anymore..." Aya covered her face and lowered her head.
...
The Magic Guild, a continent-wide organization on par with the Knight's Association and the Adventurer's Guild, had branches in various countries and major cities, including the renowned port city of Beacon on the western coast.
Apart from providing level assessments like the Knight's Association and dispatching enforcement teams to combat unauthorized practicing of dark Magic, the Magic Guild also had an affiliated Magic research institute and an internal trading post specializing in Magic-related goods, striving to provide services to its members in every way possible.
For most low to mid-level Magic users, joining the Magic Guild was a no-brainer business deal.
Apart from the advantages of accessing public Magic research results through the Magic institute which outmatched any independent Magic user, the discounted Magic materials from official stores and conveniences like reduced expenses in daily life provided by collaborating businesses were significant perks for Magic users.
However, Tiran was indifferent to these benefits; it was just a new experience for her to come to the Magic Guild.
The main building of the Magic Guild was a massive white tower, one of the tallest structures in the city - perhaps only comparable to the grand cathedral of the church.
Unlike the Adventurer's Guild and the Knight's Association, thanks to the revered status of Magic users and the fact that most branch leaders were powerful Magic users themselves, the Guild was not significantly affected by wars.
"So, is this place always this deserted?"
Holding Chirp's hand, Tiran murmured outside the seemingly deserted main gate, with only Magic apprentices in silver robes occasionally entering and exiting, she almost thought the place was closed down for good.
But then again, possessing a talent for Magic - elemental affinity or sufficient mental strength - was rare among humans. Even in a city with a population of tens of thousands like Beacon City, having dozens of legitimate Magic users in a large branch was already a feat.
"It's only at times like these that one can experience what the real world truly is..."
Walking towards the gate, Tiran sighed. After facing so many high-level battles, she had almost become numb, believing that anyone could be of high rank.
Upon entering, a cool breeze greeted her, feeling like a world away from the scorching sun outside. Along with the chill brought by the ice solidification Magic formation, there was an unwelcoming announcement.
"Miss, our records show that you are not an apprentice or a Magic user affiliated with the Guild. If you're here by mistake, kindly leave. If you need assistance, please inform me. And if you're just here to enjoy the air conditioning, I suggest you refrain from doing so. Otherwise, the supervisor on duty might just toss you out."
The speaker, also donning the silver apprentice robe, was a mature woman who contradicted the impression of 'apprentice.' The tailored robe enhanced her figure, especially...
"Hey hey, isn't this robe a bit too revealing?"
Tiran couldn't help but focus on her chest upon noticing her. How intimidating, every breath seemed to create undulations, the visual impact was too strong - was this figure and aura what a Magic apprentice looked like? She felt more like a sorceress hiding in the woods.
"Aw, darling, you're too kind~"
Bending down to poke Chirp's nose, the mature woman straightened up and looked at Tiran with a smile, "But even so, without a valid purpose, I can't let you in."
Unlike the initial impression Tiran had, Nifel was not lying; she was indeed just a Magic apprentice, and most likely would remain one for life.
While many would consider being a Magic apprentice as a step towards becoming a Magic user, in reality, most apprentices, limited by their elemental affinity or insufficient mental strength, would only study theoretical knowledge - the better way out being to transition into an apothecary or physician.
Their teachers, the legitimate Magic users, were aware of this when taking them on as apprentices, primarily aiming for them to assist and do odd jobs.
After all, having individuals with systematic Magic knowledge and basic skills was not easy in an era where illiteracy rates were still quite high.
Many Magic apprentices were dreamers, even knowing their talents were inadequate, they found it hard to refuse an invitation from a legitimate Magic user, some even remaining apprentices until their hair turned grey.
But Nifel was not in that category.
She was the daughter of wealthy city merchants, reaching the status of an 'old maid' by twenty-six or twenty-seven in her father's eyes, not having married yet. Stubbornly avoiding marriage, she found herself under a Magic user as a master, leaving her father no choice but to let her stay in the Magic Guild every day; serving as a gatekeeper with air conditioning during the summer was a pretty cushy job.
