Under the Oak Tree-Chapter 250 - 11

250 Chapter 11

Maxi reached out to accept the firestone hand warmer.

Alec bashfully rubbed the tip of his nose and said, “You don’t plan on ever returning, do you? Think of it as a parting gift.”

“Thank you, Alec,” Maxi said awkwardly.

It only occurred to her then that farewells were in order. Seeing her at a loss for what to do, the twins grinned and patted her shoulder one after the other.

“Be well, and stay safe. Write to us if you ever get the chance.”

“I will. You must… take care of yourselves too. And thank you for everything.”

“As long as you know,” the twins said arrogantly.

They then proceeded to nag their sister to no end. Meanwhile, Maxi exchanged short farewells with the other novices who had come to see them off.

Soon, the carriages began to move. Sticking her head out the window, Maxi took in the manicured gardens, the vast courtyard lined with peculiar devices, and the massive tower which loomed above them like a pillar of white fog.

She had thought that leaving this place would fill her with elation. Surprisingly, a part of her felt forlorn and empty. It appeared that her efforts to keep her distance from this place out of sheer guilt for leaving Riftan had ultimately failed.

As she vacantly stared out at the rapidly shrinking tower, she ruefully murmured, “Thank you.”

***

Their voyage to Anatolium Harbor was uneventful. Though violent waves rocked the ship on the first day, causing a bout of seasickness, the sea was surprisingly calm by nightfall. Walking onto the deck, Maxi watched the swirling mist and white foam churning over the dark water. After a while, she returned to her cabin and passed the time reading books on magic.

Though this was her first respite since the start of her training at the Mage Tower, it gave her little joy. The closer they got to their destination, the more her stewing anxiety boiled to the surface. Not too long ago, she had been willing to do anything to see Riftan again. As their reunion grew closer, however, she was gripped with the desire to flee.

She recalled their final conversation. It was not until much later that she realized how vulnerable he had made himself to stop her from leaving, to which she had turned her back and left the room. That was the last time she had seen him. Her heart broke whenever that memory resurfaced.

His expression, his eyes, his voice — they were all imprinted in her mind’s eye as if it were only the other day. While she was filled with dread at the fear that he might never forgive her, a part of her resented him for not understanding why she had no choice but to leave.

“The clouds are gathering.”

Roused from her thoughts by Anette’s bleak voice, Maxi looked up. Sitting on her bed, an ashen-faced Anette was fiddling with a bowl of porridge. She looked out at the sea through the porthole and heaved a sigh.

“I think it will snow soon. There’s something unusual about this year’s Paxias (the season of repose, equivalent to winter). We’re in southern waters — it shouldn’t be this cold out here yet, but we’re already seeing sleet.”

Following her friend’s gaze at the overcast sky, Maxi asked, “Do you think the waves will get rough?”

Anette scowled as though the thought was enough to make her shudder. “I sincerely hope not. If we get more waves like the ones on the first day, I’d rather jump overboard and swim to Roviden.”

Anette lowered her barely touched porridge and slumped on her bed. Perhaps it was because their ancestors usually dwelled in underground mountain tunnels, but Anette and Armin were having a hard time adjusting to life at sea. Ghastly white, Anette began to murmur a prayer.

By evening, it became evident that her pleas were not answered. Angry waves began to toss the ship. Anette lay sick under her covers, moaning ceaselessly, while an anxious Roy refused to come out from under the bed.

The dismal weather continued for another few days. The sea was calm one moment and violent the next, and the wind grew more tempestuous by the day. It got so bad that even Maxi, who had grown accustomed to life aboard the ship by then, felt sick. As her dizziness worsened, she gave up on reading and sat huddled on her bed, praying for calmness over the waters.

There was a silver lining to the stormy weather, however.

In the morning, one of the sailors knocked on the cabin door and jovially announced, “We will arrive at Anatolium Harbor by noon. Please prepare to disembark.”

“A-Already?”

Maxi had been sleepily rubbing her eyes but jolted awake at the news.

Appearing amused by her expression, the sailor replied cheerfully, “The strong winds helped our speed. We’ll reach Anatol a week earlier than expected. Should be a record. God must have blessed your party of mages.”

Lying limp on her bed, Anette grunted in disagreement.

Maxi smiled wryly and handed the sailor a silver coin. “I’m sorry, but could you help us move our things to the deck?”

“It would be my pleasure,” the young sailor replied.

He hoisted the bags piled in the corner and left the cabin. After using the water in a kettle to soak a clean towel, Maxi wiped her face and changed into the cleanest dress she could find. She took out a small vial of fragranced oil she had brought with her. After applying a few drops to her hair, she combed her brittle locks until they shone.

Anette, who had barely managed to crawl out of bed to get dressed, clicked her tongue. “Going somewhere fancy? What’s the point of getting all dolled up?”

“Oh…” Maxi said, blushing. Then she said primly as she began coiling her braid into a bun, “I just wanted to look nice today.”

Cinching her belt, Anette strapped all sorts of magical devices to it before throwing on a thick robe. As if that were not enough, she also pulled on a woolen hat, gloves, and a pair of fur boots.

Though Maxi was not as warmly dressed, she wore her thickest stockings and a fur coat. The temperature had dropped in the last few days. Even inside the cabin, their breaths fogged with each exhale, and Maxi had spent the nights huddled with Roy under her blanket.

She slung a small leather sack on her shoulder beneath her coat and nestled Roy into it so she could carry the cat on her side.

Noticing this, Anette furrowed her brow as she tied one last pouch to her belt. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but you do know it’s impractical to bring that runt along, don’t you?”

“O-Of course! I don’t plan on bringing him all the way to the Plateau. I intend to find someone who can look after him for me here.”

Knowing how fond Maxi was of her pet, Anette arched a skeptical brow but did not ask who this someone would be.

Soon, they climbed to the deck. Though fierce winds battered the ship, it was a cloudless day. Walking past the sailors busily moving cargo, Maxi cut across the landing and stood against the railing. Beyond the shimmering horizon was a magnificent harbor lined with dozens of ships.

She blinked as she got a better view of the harbor. When she had left, Anatol’s only port had boasted a few large buildings, a warehouse, and a single, wide dock. It had been a busy place back then, but the path had been unpaved, and it had lacked any lodgings for visitors.

The Anatolium Harbor that stood before her now looked to be of the same magnitude as the port in Levan. Doubting her own eyes, she pried them away from the horizon to stop a passing sailor.

“W-Wasn’t this ship… bound for Anatolium Harbor?”

“Correct. This is Anatolium Harbor,” the sailor answered with a grin.

Bewildered, Maxi gazed out again. When they finally reached the dock, the crew moored the ship and lowered the gangplank. Maxi took in the sight as she disembarked with the other mages.

In truth, she had never doubted that Anatol would one day become the leading trade city in Wedon. It was a land full of possibilities, and no one had advocated for it as fervently as Riftan. He had restored the land to its former glory. Still, it was the speed at which this had been achieved that shocked Maxi. It had been only two years and three seasons since her departure.

Waddling with her bag beside her, Anette remarked with a whistle, “Impressive. I did hear of Anatol’s revival, but this is surprising indeed.”

Dozens of stone buildings stood along the pier. The pavements bustled with people clad in exotic garments, and baggage wagons lined the road. Maxi took it all in with a stupefied expression. She could not believe that so many merchants were here despite the chilly season.

Overwhelmed, she browsed the queue of ships anchored at the docks. Though most appeared to be from the Southern Continent, a few of them flew the flags of Livadon, Dristan, and Arex. Cargo from the northern ships was being loaded onto vessels from Lakazim, while goods from the south found their way to the vessels headed for the various kingdoms of the Western Continent.

Merchants sat around fires inside a spacious, three-walled structure. The sounds of their fervent haggling carried over the bustling pier. Once a bargain was struck, a tax collector came to collect the tariff. The mages watched, wide-eyed, as exorbitant amounts of gold changed hands.

Calto observed them for a moment before approaching to inquire if they would be willing to sell him a wagon. One of the men, who appeared to be an Anatolian native, gladly provided them with a wagon and a few hired hands.

With their luggage loaded, they showed the city custodian the small medals identifying them as mages of the Mage Tower. Soon after, they slipped out of the crowded harbor.