“Alea, what’s wrong?!”

After filling Parker’s eager mind with knowledge, Aino glanced over at the side and was startled by what she saw.

Alea sat against a tree, hugging her knees, radiating an aura of negativity so intense she might as well have “I’m in despair” written on her face.

Quickly calling out to her, Aino wasn’t about to let Alea linger in such a dark mood. After all, this woman had devoted her entire life to revenge. Who knew what drastic action she might take if she spiraled further?

Luckily, after spending time together, their relationship was no longer as distant as before. Alea, despite her reputation as an infamous witch, was unexpectedly straightforward—even a bit childlike.

Just like now, when Alea, hearing Aino’s concern, looked down and, a bit bashfully, expressed her feelings.

“No power… no hope… my life’s ruined… I feel so miserable…” She spoke hesitantly, as if struggling to find the right words to describe her emotions.

Even though her words were disjointed, Aino understood immediately. In fact, she had anticipated Alea might face this problem.

Living without magic was like being without money in the modern world—everyone would feel regret and anguish over it.

Without magic, one lacked strength and lived in constant fear, humility, and hardship in this world.

You might be killed in the street by an unknown creature or bullied by others because you’re weak. And when loved ones suffer in front of you, weakness renders you helpless.

“Without magic, you’re indeed powerless,” Aino said, looking directly into Alea’s eyes, “but I don’t care if you’re powerless—I already consider you my friend.”

“I want you to be happy and to keep traveling with me.”

This was indeed how Aino felt. Perhaps it was her presence, maybe her looks, but from the first moment Aino saw Alea, she remembered her.

“I want to create a story with her,” Aino thought, wanting to know her better, to be closer, to intertwine their lives and build a shared tale.

Sometimes, subjective feelings defy all logic.

“We’ll definitely find a way to restore your magic, or perhaps explore other paths. Don’t give up on yourself, Alea.”

Aino’s human form, possibly due to its dragon nature, often had an emotionless demeanor, rarely showing changes in expression or tone.

But the sincerity in her gaze and words, along with the encouragement and warmth in those red eyes, soothed Alea’s distressed heart.

“You want to stay with me…”

A life no longer driven by vengeance, but with a sense of self.

“Magic is based on four fundamental elements—fire, water, wind, and earth. Each element has its unique frequency and vibration. A mage attunes their mana and willpower to resonate with these elements, producing magical effects.”

“One’s mana is the trigger for casting magic. In battle, it’s essential to allocate mana wisely, because a powerful mage drained of mana is no different from an ordinary person.”

In the peaceful forest, no creatures dared approach Aino’s group. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a tranquil and safe atmosphere around them. Parker sat across from Aino, listening intently to her lecture, nodding occasionally or responding thoughtfully.

Parker was an eager learner and mindful of etiquette, never causing Aino the awkwardness she’d often felt teaching people in the past.

In other words, he knew how to engage well, providing the right amount of emotional feedback.

“Try to sense your mana,” Aino instructed after a long talk. She suspected she’d said more in this one session than she would in a month of teaching Parker.

Now it was up to him to process it all. If he could sense and control even a trace of mana, he’d have the foundation needed to practice magic. Starting with the most basic spells, he would build his command of mana gradually.

Some prodigies could instinctively wield mana, their sensitivity far surpassing that of ordinary people, feeling the power within them and learning to use it effortlessly.

But Parker was just an ordinary person. He needed Aino to explain in detail, guiding him verbally to help him understand and sense mana.

As for Aino, a dragon by nature, she had an innate ability to wield mana, learning her innate magic instinctively. Every dragon was a perfect blend of physical might and magical prowess, comparable to a galactic warship.

They could crash through anything with raw force or soar high and unleash attacks from afar.

However, this world was never short of dragon slayers. Whenever a dragon “strayed,” causing too much destruction, groups would form to hunt it down.

The Black Dragon King, Tananorn, was a prime example of a defeated dragon, with the hero Aestrelia, renowned as the Dragon Slayer, leading the charge.

Parker closed his eyes, trying repeatedly to sense mana, while Alea stood quietly beside him, occasionally offering guidance. Aino had already explained that, as a dragon, she couldn’t perfectly teach a human how to learn magic and could only provide general principles.

Alea, on the other hand, having once wielded magic as a human, could help Parker understand more effectively.

“Thank you so much, Miss Alea. You’re like my teacher too. I’ll never forget this kindness.” Parker was often stumped by things Aino didn’t understand why he struggled with, yet Alea’s brief explanations made everything click.

Alea smiled shyly, looking down. Aino remarked with satisfaction, “Without Alea, I couldn’t have taught you. You are indeed his teacher as well; we both need to work together to teach him.”

Alea straightened proudly.

“Hmph, this witch may not be able to use magic anymore, but you better learn well. Someday, if you can perform my favorite spells, it’ll fulfill my wish.”

“I didn’t have anyone to teach me back then; I had to figure everything out on my own! You’ve got it easy.”

Upon seeing her proud stance, Parker’s face flushed, and he quickly averted his gaze.

“Yes, yes, I’ll remember your kindness, Miss Alea. When I master your spells, I…” Parker responded immediately, showering her with a string of compliments and gratitude, which made Alea try to act modest but unable to hold back her smile, her cheeks also turning red.

The three of them wandered along the forest’s edge, not directly heading to any town. In this forested journey, they found a happiness that surpassed what any city could offer.