Following the map Alisa had drawn, I made my way to Rose’s house just in time for dinner. Since I wasn’t officially invited, I had initially planned to visit briefly before the meal. However, trusting the advice that D’Agnon people enjoyed lively dinner gatherings, I decided to delay my visit accordingly.

I didn’t want to arrive empty-handed, so I brought along the last of my fatigue recovery potions. Yet, I wondered if Rose’s grandmother would appreciate it, as it seemed too small to be considered a proper gift.

‘Grandmother can be a bit strict. She’s not the warmest person, but she dotes on her granddaughter, so you should be able to have a good conversation with her.’

Alisa’s cautious advice echoed in my mind. I swallowed nervously and knocked on the door.

“Hello! I’m Hazel, the healer.”

There was no response from inside. I had arranged this meeting through Rose, so they should have known I was coming. Perhaps the message hadn’t been passed on.

I stood there awkwardly for a moment, then raised my hand to knock again. Just then, the door swung open.

A thin, petite old woman looked up at me with a frown.

“What do you want?”

“Uh… I was just about to knock…”

She snorted in disbelief at my raised hand, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Come in, then.”

With a curt invitation, Rose’s grandmother turned her back and walked away. I hurried to follow her before the door could close. The house was filled with the delicious aroma of dinner preparations.

“Little teacher!”

As I entered the kitchen, Rose jumped off her chair with a wide smile.

“Rose, I told you not to run!”

Her grandmother shook her head as if dealing with a headache. Of course, Rose seemed unfazed.

I bent down to meet the child’s eyes.

“Hello, Rose. But why do you call me ‘little teacher’?”

“Because you’re shorter than our teacher.”

It was a simple yet somewhat logical nickname. I found even this small thing clever, perhaps because I was already quite fond of the child.

“I see. But you can just call me by my name.”

The child tilted her head.

“…Hazel?”

“You remember. Smart girl.”

When I responded with a smile, Rose excitedly repeated my name several times.

“Go ahead and sit down. Rose, you too, stop and sit.”

The invitation was gruff, but the food laid out on the table was anything but. Freshly baked bread, steaming potato soup, glossy stir-fried vegetables, and thick cuts of meat were all set out. Just looking at the hearty spread made me feel welcomed and stirred my appetite.

Rose struggled to climb back onto her chair by herself. As I reached out to help, her grandmother gave me a look that said to stay put. I silently cheered for the child as I watched. Soon, she managed to sit down by herself and neatly spread a napkin over her lap. Her grandmother’s affection for her was evident, reminding me of Isabel.

Only after watching the child get settled did her grandmother take her seat at the table. Before I sat down, following their lead, I handed over the carefully wrapped potion I had brought.

“I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced. This is a fatigue recovery potion I made myself. It will help if you’re feeling unwell.”

She scrutinized the bottle with narrowed eyes, then nodded slightly. She didn’t seem as displeased as I had feared. Relieved, I joined the meal.

“You can call me Larian.”

She tossed out her name nonchalantly, then cut large pieces of meat for Rose and me.

“So, why did you want to see me?”

She got straight to the point. I had been pondering when and how to bring up the topic, so I was relieved to explain it straightforwardly.

“This might be surprising, but your granddaughter has magical abilities.”

Rose, chewing on her meat, tilted her head as if the word ‘magic’ was unfamiliar. Larian was now holding a wine bottle. Despite the surprising news, her expression remained unchanged. Having cared for the child closely, she must have already sensed that her granddaughter was special.

“She can receive training as a healer like me. It’s a rare and special ability.”

“You need to explain what kind of training you’re talking about properly.”

She filled my glass with wine and gestured for me to drink. I wasn’t fond of alcohol, but I took a sip, fearing it might be rude to refuse.

“It means she can enroll in the National Academy in the capital. All education there is free, and once she enters the dormitory—”

“Dormitory?”

She frowned deeply at the word.

“Grandma, what’s a dormitory?”

She then put a finger to her lips, signaling her granddaughter to be quiet. Rose, unlike most children her age, didn’t whine and simply nodded before focusing back on her meal.

“Once she enrolls, all her living expenses will be covered. Of course, if the house is nearby and circumstances allow, she can commute, but that’s rare. In my case, I was an orphan, but I completed my schooling without any issues.”

“……”

“I noticed earlier that the child quickly recovered from an injury. Of course, there are a few more things to check, but seeing her heal herself at such a young age suggests she has plenty of potential. I didn’t awaken my abilities until just before entering school, and I was always catching colds.”

I tried to smile slightly, but her face remained set in a stern expression. She maintained her silence with a hard look as she began eating her soup. Having conveyed the key points, I picked up my spoon as well.

“Is it good?”

The child, having already finished half her bowl, propped her arms on the table and asked with her chin in her hands. Her every action was so endearing that it made my heart flutter. I wasn’t sure if this child was especially charming or if all children were this adorable.

“Yes, it’s really delicious. Your grandmother is an amazing cook.”

“I know!”

Rose lifted her chin slightly, as if she had received the compliment herself. I tried to suppress my laughter, fearing it might seem like I was teasing her, but it was hard to completely hide my twitching lips.

Thanks to this small, adorable presence’s antics and charm, I enjoyed the meal. Her grandmother, who had been silent throughout, finally spoke softly to herself after noticing the clean plates.

“If she can receive a quality education and grow up in a big city instead of this rural village, it would be right to send her, but…”

After a short sigh, she looked at me and spoke.

“When Rose was just a baby, both her parents were killed by bandits who came down to raid. Even after losing my son and daughter-in-law, I didn’t have time to grieve. I had to care for the baby crying for milk. I went around the village to find women to nurse her until she was fed and asleep.”

Faced with this sudden dark story, I couldn’t find words to respond. I had only heard that they lived together, not knowing there was such a tragic background…

Unable to contain my sympathy, I alternated my gaze between the two of them. Her wrinkled hands, seemingly just skin and bones, gently stroked her granddaughter’s head.

“Fortunately, the child was so gentle and good-natured that she never fussed, even when she started walking.”

“I’m really… sorry to hear that.”

I finally managed to speak, but I didn’t have much else to say. Larian put aside her troubled expression and looked directly at me.

“This is the child I’ve raised with utmost care.”

Her voice was firm, clearly indicating a refusal. Given the painful family history, I could understand how precious the child was to her. However, the child’s abilities were too valuable to let go to waste.

“If you truly don’t want to be separated from her, I won’t force you. But her exceptional abilities will be left undeveloped… Even if she goes to the capital, there are breaks at the end of each school year, so Rose could return to D’Agnon then… Family visits are always possible, and…”

The more I tried to persuade her, the less confident I felt. The journey from here to the capital took over a week by carriage. Letters would take even longer. Just exchanging news would take at least a month, and it would be difficult to notify immediately if anything happened to her. If she decided to keep the child with her, I would have nothing more to say.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Rose remained quiet and composed. She was indeed a smart child. She could surely become an outstanding student if she enrolled in the academy.

I was just about to resolve that, if permission wasn’t granted, I would teach her whatever I could during my stay in D’Agnon.

“How long can she live with an old granny like me? Of course, I’ll send her to school. She needs to learn how to live on her own…”

I had thought she would refuse, wanting to keep the child close because she had raised her with such care. But it turned out she didn’t want to miss the good opportunity precisely because she cherished her. Surprised by the unexpected answer, I found myself at a loss for words, feeling both touched and relieved. Larian, however, remained calm and asked,

“Honestly, I knew this day would come. It’s just sooner than I expected… So, what should I prepare?”

“Oh… There’s nothing you need to prepare. The academy provides everything. However, it will take some time to receive the admission approval, so until then, I’d like to spend some time with Rose.”

I quickly explained, fearing she might change her mind. She nodded in understanding and turned towards the child. The look she gave her granddaughter was filled with affection.

After ensuring Rose had properly cleaned around her mouth, Larian looked back at me.

“But what exactly can a healer fix?”

It was a slightly unexpected question.