Chapter 12

As Reshia was preparing to leave for the inn she’d been staying at, Faith approached her with a warm smile.

“Reshia, why don’t you stay for supper tonight?” Faith asked.

Reshia hesitated, glancing out at the fading sunlight. “Thank you, but I’ll have to head back soon. I don’t like walking through the village after dark.”

Faith exchanged a quick look with Marcus before turning back to her. “Actually, we’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. We’ve decided to give you a guestroom here in the house. You’re already like family to us, Reshia. You come every day to teach Raul personally, and that’s such an honor for us.”

Reshia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly—”

“Don’t even start,” Faith said with a playful wag of her finger. “We insist. You’re doing so much for Raul, and we’d feel better knowing you’re safe and close by. Besides,” she added, “we’re planning to give you an allowance on top of what the kingdom is paying you. It’s the least we can do.”

Reshia blinked, taken aback by their generosity. A faint blush touched her cheeks. “I… I don’t know what to say. That’s very kind of you, but, I don’t want to impose.”

“Nonsense,” Marcus said with a grin. “You’re practically family already.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Reshia smiled, a genuine warmth lighting her face. “Thank you. I’ll accept, then.”

By this time, Raul had already turned in for the night, worn out from using the healing spell. His mana reserves had taken a bigger hit than he expected, leaving him too tired to stay up. That left Reshia alone at the table with Faith and Marcus during supper.

As they ate, Marcus leaned back in his chair and fixed Reshia with a thoughtful look. “You know,” he began, “I did some digging into your background.”

Reshia nearly choked on her drink. “What?” she said, coughing slightly. “Why would you do that?”

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Marcus chuckled, though his tone was serious. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. I just wanted to understand why someone as young and talented as you volunteered for the mage training program. It’s rare for someone your age to take on something so demanding, especially in a rural village like this one.”

Reshia froze, her expression a mix of shock and discomfort.

Faith placed a reassuring hand on Reshia’s arm. “He means well, Reshia. You don’t have to worry.”

Reshia looked between them, her shoulders stiff. For a moment, she seemed unsure of what to say.

Marcus went on, his tone gentle but direct. “We know about your family.”

Reshia stiffened, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth. “Oh,”

Marcus sighed. “Your parents and older sister—they were arrested by the kingdom for using magic to commit robbery. It wasn’t easy to find out, but I made a few discreet inquiries.”

Reshia’s face went pale. She lowered her fork, her hands trembling slightly. “I… I didn’t think anyone here would know about that.”

“Reshia,” Marcus said quickly, raising a hand, “I also know you weren’t involved. You were studying at the Magic Research Institute in the capital when it happened. Your name wasn’t tied to any of it.”

Reshia looked down, her voice barely a whisper. “It doesn’t matter. People always assume the worst when they hear about my family. That’s why I never talk about it.”

Faith reached across the table, placing a comforting hand over Reshia’s. “We understand, dear. Everyone has their own struggles. What your family did doesn’t define you.”

Marcus nodded. “We know you’re here trying to raise funds to help them. And we don’t have any problem with that—it’s your business, and it doesn’t change what we think of you.”

Reshia’s eyes glistened, though she quickly blinked back the tears. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice unsteady.

Faith squeezed her hand. “You’ve been nothing but kind and hardworking since you came to this village. ”

As Reshia tried to gather herself, the soft creak of a door caught their attention. Raul emerged, his hair tousled and his eyes half-lidded with sleep. “Just heading to the washroom,” he mumbled, but as he passed, he couldn’t help overhearing snippets of the conversation.

“…trying to raise funds to bail out my family…” Reshia’s voice was quiet, tinged with a sadness Raul had never heard before.

He paused for a moment before continuing to the washroom. As he washed his hands, her words stuck in his mind. Reshia had been so good to him—patient, encouraging, and kind. She didn’t deserve to carry such a heavy burden.

Raul dried his hands and returned to his room, lying awake in the dark. Reshia had always seemed so strong, so put-together. But now he saw a different side of her—a side weighed down by pain and responsibility. He clenched his fists, his ten-year-old mind racing with ideas.

“I’ll find a way to help her,” he whispered to himself. “She’s done so much for me. It’s the least I can do.”