Guilt

Mathew opened another box, in it lay a few colourful flowers.

"She called this thing five element flowers or something, right?"

As Mathew basked in the refreshing smell of these flowers, an intrusive thought to use it as spice flashed by.

It was just a random idea but he couldn't get rid of it for some reason.

"If we both use it then she won't be able to blame me right?"

Mathew thought about it some more, and took out a knife, carefully cut off a piece, went to the chicken coop, grabbed a chicken and killed it, and started prepping for making chicken stew.

"Since my student is practicing here, t is necessary to take care of the food."

"If I don't take care of the food, might seem too stingy, and adding something with five elements into her food is inline with the fake explanation I gave her."

Mathew muttered in his heart

On the way to lighting the fire for cooking, he took a look at Natasha.

She was still working out, but she seemed to be dizzy and she could no longer hold on.

After a while, she couldn't hold on anymore and started to rest.

This was her third break.

Mathew shook his head and ignored her.

He was still wondering how he could use her to leave this village and pass through Lefifi village safely.

He had already thought of an escape route, once he left the small village, he would go to Malla country, far away from the north east county of Botala kingdom,

Even if Natasha later found out that she had been cheated, she would not be able to use to find him to settle the score.

...

After half an hour of rest, Natasha started exercise again, trying to sense the feeling mana in her blood.

"Elemental mana exists in the body and circulate throughout the body. How do I sense and mobilize it?"

"The teacher said that the emphasis was on enlightenment and is on the content not in the form..."

Natasha continued to sense the blood, but in fatigue, all she could sense was sourness all over her body.

Apart from that, there was no so-called 'vague warmth of energy' at all.

"Don't be discouraged. It's only been a short time. Perseverance will definitely pay off!"

Natasha encouraged herself in her heart, with a firm look in her eyes, and continued to sense her blood flow.

The chicken stew was ready.

Mathew took a look and saw that Natasha continued to pace herself, so he didn't bother and started eating by himself.

"This colorful flower must be a rare treasure!"

After eating some of the stew, Mathew felt warmth all over his body and all the aches all over his body were healing quickly.

His slightly whitened hair started turning more black, and he felt that his joints had never felt better.

"Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?!"

"This kind of thing could easily subvert modern medicine"

After Mathew had eaten, he didn't know if it was a psychological effect, but he just felt much more energetic and his whole person seemed to have become much more relaxed.

"There's still a little left, I almost ate everything by myself. Well, she is a girl she probably doesn't eat that much."

He muttered, got up and came to Natasha.

"What's wrong?"

She stopped doing sit-ups and said with some frustration in her voice:

"Teacher, I haven't sensed the mana yet."

"It doesn't matter. The key to achieving anything is persistence and firm will!"

Mathew consoled her, but he found amusing in his heart.

'Of course you can't sense it, I made it up after all. If you could sense it, then there would be a problem."

"You still have a whole year, you should be hungry now, so go and eat."

Hearing about food, Natasha suddenly felt the hunger in her belly and said gratefully:

"Thank you, teacher!"

"By the way, teacher, what is your name."

Mathew decided to pretend to be confused, after all, this world is not normal, what if they can find him using his name after he runs away?

"Hmm, I haven't used my name in a long time, I will tell you if I remember it."

Hearing this, Natasha became excited, as she had read somewhere that strong mages could had very long lifespans.

'Could the teacher be Mage that has lived for thousands of years?'

Her faith that Mathew was a real mage was increased so inexplicably.

"This was stewed using those flowers you brought me, eat it. It will help you in sensing mana."

" Yes, teacher!"

Natasha was moved, these flowers were given as an apprenticeship fee, but her teacher made stew for her to eat.

Her teacher didn't seem to care about the apprenticeship gift at all!

He must care more about the fate that brought her here.

While eating rice and stew, Natasha asked:

"Teacher, how long does it usually take to sense mana and becoming an apprentice mage?"

"Well, it varies from person to person."

"Then how long does the fastest person take, and how long does the slowest person take?"

'How long did it take to sense mana and become an apprentice mage?'

Mathew rolled his eyes in his heart as he thought:

'If you do it by following the method I made up, then you will never do it in this life'

His mind turned quickly, trying to come up with something reasonable.

'If I set the standard too low, she might doubt it after she is unable to do it right?'

After a few moments of silence he spoke:

"You should already know that it is rare to have the ability to sense mana, but even among those that can sense mana, some are more talented than others."

"The best among geniuses are able to sense mana and completely refine their skin in five days, finish bone refining in ten days, and refine internal organs refining in fifteen days. They can easily become apprentice mages in less than a month."

Natasha's eyes widened and he was filled with surprise, after all, the dead line she was given was a whole year, this shows the difference among people.

'Can I complete skin refining in five days?'

'Can I finish everything within one month?'

'Is this the level of genius in the eyes of the my teacher?'

'I couldn't sense mana today, I think I won't be able to complete the skin refining in five days. Am I not qualified enough?'

Natasha suddenly became nervous

Mathew who had been paying attention to Natasha's expression, felt that it was good for her to feel nervous, but he still added:

"Of course, those that can do this are supreme geniuses, geniuses even among other geniuses, one person among thousands that are able to become mage apprentices"

"You don't need to be impatient, as long as you can become mage apprentice in one year, that is enough for me."

"So that is how it is, so if I take one year then I can only be considered as 'qualified', not talented."

Natasha's eyes became firm and she solemnly said:

"Don't worry, teacher, I will definitely be able to become an apprentice mage way before one year elapses!"

Mathew gave her a look of approval, with a look of relief on his face, and said:

"Just you thinking like this makes me happy for making an exception to accept you as a disciple!"

Natasha immediately gelt moved.

At the same time, the sense of urgency in her heart became stronger, so she ate her food quickly, stood up and said,

"Teacher, I'm going to practice!"

"I have to practice hard, and I must not let down teacher's hard work!"

Natasha was determined in her heart as she walked away quickly.

"This silly girl!"

Mathew shook his head and sighed, he felt slightly guilty for cheating her like this.

"But now, there is no turning back"

From the moment he accepted her and taught her some stupid exercises, Mathew knew that he could no longer turn back and he could only go to the dark side.

Before Mathew went to bed, he went out and took a look at Natasha, and she was working hard.

He couldn't bear it, fearing that she would be exhausted, he said:

"Practice, requires a balance between work and rest, or you will harm yourself and damage your body. When it's time to rest, you should rest!"

"Teacher, I know!"

Natasha responded absent mindedly.

Mathew could only shake his head, close the door, and go back to his room to sleep.